Why is Maizono holding a knife? Is she already gearing up to stab someone?
I take a cautious look at her. It's a disaster. Her face is locked in the stiff grin of a taxidermy doll, her whole body quivers, and her eyes are brimming with lunacy.
"Uh… um… g-good-bye…"
This won't do. Now that she's armed, I can't handle her alone. I need to retreat and come back with backup.
Keeping one eye on her, I start inching backward toward the door…
Whoosh!
All at once Maizono springs to her feet and charges straight at me.
"Ugh!"
I dive sideways in time to dodge the blade, but while I'm down she slams the entrance shut, plants her back against it, and advances on me with the knife leveled.
I consider shouting for help, then remember the rooms are completely soundproof. All that would do is wind her up further.
So—force? With my scrawny build the only classmate I can overpower is Fujisaki, and that's when they're unarmed. Going hand-to-hand against someone wielding a knife is suicide unless you're a martial-arts prodigy.
Which leaves me with nothing but the old Wind-Style Blabbermouth Technique. But can I actually talk down a girl who looks like she's reached the terminal stage of despair?
"H-hey… let's calm down first, okay? We can talk this out… right?"
Damn. That was the sort of line an extra squeaks before getting killed. Telling someone who's out for my blood to settle things verbally—yeah, sure.
If I'd known this would happen I'd have brought the replica sword. I knew full well a situation like this could occur, yet I left any self-defense weapon behind. Brilliant.
"Look, I get it—what we're going through is almost impossible to accept. But if we start killing each other, we're dancing to the mastermind's tune…"
"…"
"The video was shocking, I know! The first time I saw mine I felt my heart shatter! But that's exactly why we have to keep our heads…!"
"….."
Nothing. No reaction at all. It's like her soul's been sucked out—only despair for this nightmare and murderous intent for me remain as she keeps closing the distance.
"Please don't give up! We still have hope! I've got a plan! Just give me a chance to explain!"
"Stop…"
"Everything you're doing is what the mastermind wants! They're trying to force us to kill each other!"
"Stop….."
She's right in front of me now. Panic spikes; I redouble the pleas, but Maizono only keeps creeping closer.
"Snap out of it! Do you really think this is the right thing to do!? Please, just—"
"STOOOOOOP!!!"
With a scream she lunges. The knife whistles toward my face. This time I'm ready—I seize her wrist.
"Agh!"
But the momentum bowls us over, and we crash to the floor with me still clinging to her arm.
"Shut up and DIEEEEEE!!!"
Straddling my chest, she bears down, trying to drive the blade into my face.
I strain to break free, but days of overwork have sapped my strength.
"Quit… acting… like you know everything…!"
"Ghh… please… calm down…"
"I can't! My whole life's been denied! My group, my members, my lifelong dream—ruined!"
"If you kill me here… what then? I die in your room, you'll be the obvious suspect…"
"So stop… playing… the wise guy!!!"
The knife tip touches my cheek. A hot sting blossoms. It's shallow now, but if she keeps pressing she'll carve my face open.
"I'm… suffering this much… so why are you acting fine? Why isn't everyone hurting as badly as I am? Why… why…?"
In the original timeline she plotted a trick and sent Leon a note—she still had some reason left. The Maizono before me has abandoned everything but blind bloodlust.
If she kills me, she'll be exposed and executed in a heartbeat, but she clearly doesn't care. All she wants is to plunge that knife.
I have to get out of this. Think. What's her weak point? Something as precious to her as that idol group…?
A flash of insight hits—my brain lurching into survival overdrive. All right, hail-Mary time. If this fails, I die here.
"Naegi would love to see you like this, don't you think?"
She flinches. The pressure on me eases just a hair. This is it.
"Hraaah!"
I twist with everything I've got. She loses balance, tumbles, the knife clatters away. Before she can grab it I kick it into a far corner.
"Hah… hah… that was way too close…"
I almost became Chapter 1's victim. I keep one eye on her in case she dashes for the blade, but she stays collapsed, utterly still.
I move closer to check her condition—then a jolt of pain sears my face. I touch the wound: it's deep. Must've sliced myself while twisting free. Great, a scar.
"….."
The murderous light is gone. She stares at the floor with empty eyes. Watching her look so hollow—so much like the old me—sparks an unexpected surge of anger.
"You asked why no one else is hurting as much as you."
"…"
"The truth is everyone's hurting just as badly. They just don't show it. I'm dying inside too, you know."
"…"
"You must've seen my motive video. The kids from the orphanage—all of them carry scars. Orphans, abuse victims, bullied until they shut the world out."
"….."
"Do you know when those kids smiled the brightest?"
"…?"
"Whenever your idol group came on TV."
"…!"
For the first time an emotion—shock—flickers across her face. I rein in my own agitation and keep talking.
"Kids who normally wore the same dead look you're wearing lit up whenever your group performed. And you—the leader—were their favorite."
I once asked the orphans whom they liked best. The kind ones insisted every member was the best, but the way they squealed whenever Maizono's close-up popped up told the real story.
"When they heard I'd be attending the same academy as you, their eyes sparkled. They begged me to bring back an autograph. Cute little rascals."
Those children must be in Towa City now—scared out of their minds. I'll end this killing game fast and rescue them. I have to.
"To them you were a refuge, a sanctuary. Not just to them—countless people around the world drew joy and energy from watching you. You were a global idol."
Since arriving in this world I've caught your music shows and variety spots. Your bright smile and relentless effort were a pleasure to watch.
Seeing you broken—mirroring the listless wreck I used to be—disgusts me. That's why I'm this worked up.
"So someone that important can't crumble here. You have to survive to the end and shine again. Give everyone hope, got it?"
I want to add, Especially when the outside world is drowning in despair—but I swallow it. Enoshima's definitely monitoring us, disappointed no murder happened. Filthy despair-pervert.
Tears well in Maizono's eyes. Good. Tears beat a dead stare any day.
"That's all I wanted to say. Think about it. And I'm taking this kitchen knife—too dangerous to leave lying around. Later."
Exhaustion crushes me. I stagger to the door, open it, then pause.
"Oh, and give me that autograph later, okay? I'm a fan too."
With that, I step out of her room.
.
.
.
"An autograph…"
Left alone, Maizono whispers the boy's parting words.
"He's… my fan…"
Yes. She's an idol who brings joy to others. And what gives an idol purpose if not the fans who love her?
Fans across the planet, the children at that orphanage, the boy who saved her life even as she tried to take his— all of them have felt happiness because of her.
If she collapses now, how much grief will her fans feel? An idol who breaks here has no right to the title.
For her fans' sake she can never break again. She'll survive, rebuild the group, and bring joy back to the people who love her.
Her body and mind drained, Maizono's eyelids grow heavy. Just before consciousness fades, she thinks of the counselor who rescued a would-be killer and asked for her autograph.
"He really is… one amazing counselor…"
She slips into the most peaceful sleep she's had since the day they were trapped.
.
.
.
Outside Maizono's room I find Kirigiri pacing with an uncharacteristically anxious look. When she spots me she startles.
'Huh? What's with her?'
Confused, I wince as pain flares in my face—and remember what I must look like.
"What… happened to you?"
Right. In the middle of a killing game, a guy walks out of someone else's room, clutching a knife, clothes soaked in blood, sporting a huge facial cut—terrifying barely covers it.
"I'll… explain later… right now…"
I want to tell her everything, but my body and mind are shot. The world starts spinning.
"Need… to rest…"
I collapse at Kirigiri's feet, her shocked face the last thing I see.