Chapter 49
I opened my eyes slowly. Memories flashed through my mind. It was hard to take in. Everything was a blur at first, but then it became clear. I was in a pod. I pushed myself out, lightly pressing my forehead. I remembered everything. The killing game, segment of despair, everything. But I didn’t know what to do. Before I could say anything, Amaya ran toward me and wrapped her arms around me tightly. “Misaki! You’re here, I was so worried!”
I coughed. “Yeah, I’m here.”
“Did you decide?” She asked.
“Decide?”
Akira walked by. “Misaki, how do you feel?”
I waved my hands. “Hold on, wait, too much is happening right now.”
“Are you going to be part of despair or hope?” Amaya asked.
“Hope? You forgave me for what I’ve done?” I asked.
“It wasn't your fault,” Amaya said. “Misaki, you have to stop blaming yourself for everything. It was Satoshi’s.”
I nodded. “Again, thank you.”
“Why do you always have to say that?” She asked, red in the face again. “Is that a new catchphrase or something?”
I smiled.
“Guys,” Isamu said. “Check this out.”
We followed her. A woman with a ponytail and a mic with two other people were there. And Satoshi was handcuffed on the floor.
“We’ve got you this time,” The woman said. “You will be captured!”
“Do what you want,” He spat. “But be careful. I will show everyone how much despair I can show. So much, the Future Foundation will fall in it too!”
“He’s bullshitting again.” One of the side people said.
“Are you the Future Foundation?” I asked them.
The woman with Satoshi looked at me. “Ah, you. A member of the segment of despair.”
“Will you capture them too?” Isamu asked, worried.
“Well, this whole thing is complicated, so we will see,” The woman said. “They’ll definitely stick with us for a while though.”
I sighed. But I understood.
“What about the dead students?” Amaya asked.
“Hmm, it’s just their consciousness, right?” She asked. “Perhaps we can make a separate virtual world and reset their avatar and create a new code to return their consciousness. If that doesn’t work, then we have no choice but to bury the bodies. Leave them to me. But first, I’m going to take Satoshi.”
“No! They were supposed to be dead! Bury them now!” Satoshi screamed. “Isn’t that what despair is all about? Don’t waste your time being stupid like returning their consciousness.”
“It’s not a waste of time,” She replied. “And that isn’t what the Future Foundation is about.” “About Asami,” Akira said. “We should leave her in that state. She’s a serial killer.”
“Is that so?” She asked.
“Yeah, she admitted to killing her family and friends.” Akira said.
“We’ll consider that.” She said before walked away with the others while Satoshi screamed.
I crossed my arms. “Well, I guess I do deserve to be captured.”
“It’s a consideration,” Akira said. “But first, let’s shut the virtual world down. Give me my knife.”
I handed it to her. She stabbed the screens and they were cracked with a pitch black screen. She then proceeded to cut the plugs off the pods to disconnect them to the virtual world
“So what now?” Amaya asked.
“Just stay with me for a while,” Akira said. “Everything will be fine.”
I held Amaya and Akira’s hand. Akira was holding mine and Isamu’s. And then there’s Katashi. My whole life has changed. One minute I was in the real world, the next I was in a virtual reality. And that virtual reality taught me a lot. Who to trust, who to forget. I looked down the path Satoshi was screaming from. I will never feel despair again. Not when I found the true source of hope.
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