AN:Hey everyone! I know I said that the chapter I updated recently was going to be the final chapter, but then I thought..."What would happen if Akemi chose to live instead of to commit suicide. And if she did, who would convince her to? After many hours of debate, the final outcome was this chapter. Please enjoy. :) Also, the picture on top is the AI version of Mondo that Alter Ego allows Akemi and Taka to see.

((Akemi's POV))

Akemi:*Murder number two. Gender-bending Chihiro Fujisaki. Murdered by the man I loved more than anything, Mondo Oowada. But why? Why is the person running this place so bent on turning us into monsters?! The day after Mondo's trial, we were granted access to the third floor. No signs of an out there; surprise, surprise. We're still trapped like ANIMALS. And help is DEFINITELY NOT on the way. So, same as before. Our situation is desperate.*

-Dining Hall, Morning. Two days later-

Akemi:*I walked into the Dining Hall and sat beside Taka. He looked terrible. His eyes were still in that void stare of horror they'd been in since Mondo's execution.* Poor Taka...He hasn't said a word...Since Mondo's execution...*I did what any kind friend would do in my situation and placed my hand gently over his* Taka...I know you're hurting inside...I am too. But...I want you to know...If you need me...I'm here for you. After all...That is what Mondo would want. Right? 

Taka:*remains silent*

Byakuya:A waste of time, princess. The little peasant refuses to speak since Oowada was turned into butter.

Akemi:*I shot a death glare at Byakuya* At least I'm TRYING to cheer him up! All you seem to be doing is putting him down and setting him back FARTHER! So if you've got something positive to say to Taka, then fine! Say it! If not, then you can take your sulky, rich-boy ass OUT OF HERE! Because the last thing Taka needs is for you to remind him of what happened!

Byakuya:*growls angrily and leaves, mumbling something under his breath*

Akemi:*I turned my attention back to Taka* Taka...Mondo wouldn't want you to sulk like this. H-he'd want you...To be happy. He'd want us...to be friends. To talk and laugh like we used to. I need my best friend back. I need you back, Taka. We all do. 

Taka:*still silent, despite my attempts to cheer him up*

Akemi:*I took Taka's hand in my own and squeezed it gently. Reassuringly, even. No matter what, I had to let Taka know I was still there for him if he needed me.* I'm not giving up on you. The Taka I know is still in there somewhere. He just needs the right motivation to come out.

Taka:...

Monokuma:*appears on the Dining Hall Monitor and laughs* Hop to it, half-asses! Toddle yourselves to the Gymnasium on ze double! And don't get lost on the way! Explanation is forthcoming! *disappears as the monitor goes black*

Hina/Sakura/Kyoko/Makoto/Hifumi/Celeste:*head to the Gym*

Taka:*gets up on his own, as if he were a robot, and starts to walk away*

Akemi:*I grabbed his hand gently before he left* You're nuts if you think I'm letting you walk to the Gym all by yourself, Taka. I'm your friend. And I'll always be by your side, no matter what. Because...That's what friends are for. *I smiled*

Taka:*doesn't reply, but walks with me anyway* 

-Gym-

Akemi:*As we walked in to the Gym, I stuck by Taka's side. Toko was there with Byakuya, who was glaring at me, as if to say "Give up. He's never going to be the same Taka you knew." But I could care less what Byakuya said or thought right now. I wasn't giving up on him. Not now, not EVER.*

Makoto:Hey. You guys are here already? That didn't take long.

Celeste:So...What became of the homicidal maniac?

Toko:Ugh! *looks away, embarrassed* Why's the peanut gallery GAWKING at me?

Byakuya:A simple sneeze reverts her back to her "cheerful" self. 

Hifumi:*frowns* Seriously? That's a bit clichéd (clee-shayed). 

Toko:L-like YOU have any room to talk!

Monokuma:*over speakers* Here, here! The gang's all here! *pops up and sits atop his podium* 

Byakuya:What sadistic scheme have you cooked up NOW?

Monokuma:*laughs* That's the million dollar question! *points his arm as stacks of money falls from the ceiling and lands in a towering pyramid, which he appears behind* Ten million to be exact! That's right, kiddies! This mountain of moolah could be yours if...You graduate! Pretty sweet, right? Eh? Eh?

Toko:Th-that's a...A lot of cash!

Akemi:*My eyes narrowed. Just how desperate was Monokuma?! Would he do EVERYTHING IN HIS POWER to make sure we turn on each other?!* Th...This is ridiculous, Monokuma!!! Now you've gone too far!!!!

Sakura:*nods as her eyes narrow at Monokuma* She's right. Is life so cheap, you'd label it with a PRICE TAG?!

Makoto:I know what you're trying to do! We're not going to massacre each other for MONEY!!! Period!!!!

Monokuma:*laughs* Sure. Whatever you SAY, Saint Francis! I'll just leave you co-eds to scratch out a living as professional STUDENTS!!! *disappears into the floor*

Hiro:*keeps saying "money" over and over again*

Toko:Fine! I'll be the one to say it! You know SOMEONE'S hurting for cash!

Hiro:*whistles*

Sakura:Quiet your minds! If we give cretins to money, our situation will only WORSEN. 

Toko:OH! YA THINK?!

Celeste:*plays with her hair* So the lure of escape wasn't enough. The Mastermind will pull whatever strings he can to pit us against each other.

Akemi:*I quickly and bravely spoke up* Well, it won't work!!! After what he did to Mondo...I'LL NEVER GIVE IN TO THE MASTERMIND'S DEMANDS!!!!!!!!!!!

Celeste:Adapting to life as fellow prisoners is our only means of survival. 

Hina:*sighs*

Sakura:Hina...What is the matter?

Hina:*looks away* I-it's nothing. I mean...*looks up at her* Don't think I'm crazy...But um...I think I might've...Seen the ghost of Fujisaki.

Akemi:Huh?! Chihiro's ghost?!

Hina:*nods* Yesterday, actually...*she lead us to the Bath house near the dorms* In here. 

Akemi:*I kept close to Taka, hoping that this discovery wouldn't make him any worse*

Makoto:*sees a half-opened locker* Wait...*opens it to reveal the computer from the library Chihiro was fixing* Didn't this belong to-? Then how come-? Did somebody just LEAVE it here?

Akemi:If that's the case, it had to be Chihiro. Chihiro was fixing this very computer. He took it to his room. I saw him with it the other night. Right before Monokuma gave us those paper secrets. But if he truly did leave it here...Why in this particular area?

Kyoko:Haven't you noticed? The layout of this room. It's very different here. 

Makoto:*gasps* There are no surveillance cameras in here! At all!

*Everyone looked around and noticed that he was right. None of the cameras in our rooms, the classrooms, and everywhere else were in this room.*

Kyoko:Yes, that's right. Monokuma can't see or HEAR us. Which makes this *she switched the computer on* an ideal hiding place.

*The computer came on and had a green glow around it. Much like the one HIna was telling us she saw that night.*

Akemi:*And on that very screen...Was a face I never thought I'd see again. Chihiro's.* 

Chihiro:Ah! Master! Good to see you!

Hiro/Hifumi:A g-g-g-ghost!!!!! *both get on their knees and pray* 

Sakura:Calm down. It's a computer. 

Chihiro:Wait...Master? Where'd you go? *looks around*

Akemi:Master? D...Do you mean...Chihiro Fujisaki? 

Chihiro:*nods* 

Akemi:There's no way this program is him. If it were Chihiro...He would've said hello and known who we were when he saw us. 

Makoto:What is going on?!

Kyoko:*goes to the computer and types in the words "What are you?"*

???:*smiles* Why hello! My name is Alter Ego! A specially designed Artificial Intelligence program! 

Hina:So creepy. The voice actually sounds exactly LIKE him!

Sakura:That is slightly unnerving.

Kyoko:It's not uncommon for hackers to make phantom avatars. Remember, Fujisaki was somewhat of a hacking prodigy before being ensnared by this place. *types in "What are you doing here?"*

Alter Ego:Analyzing all files on this Hard-drive. Give me just a second, please! *pauses before flipping his head* Oh! The encryption's INSANE! I don't know. Something tells me files THIS protected must belong to Hope's Peak! *winks and smiles*

*Everyone was happy to hear that. Even Taka, who hadn't spoken in days, seemed light-hearted after hearing that.*

Kyoko:Anything to give us an advantage over Monokuma.

Makoto:*smiles* It's about TIME we had a little luck!

Sakura:*smiles as well* You may have just found our escape.

Hina:*laughs* 

Alter Ego:Umm...So guys, I haven't seen Master for a while. Know where he is?

*Everyone gasped and looked away after hearing that. Everyone, that is, except for Kyoko*

Kyoko:*types in "Fujisaki was murdered by Oowada".*

Alter Ego:*gasps and cries a bit* I understand...*sniffles* I was prepared...*talks a while* 

Hifumi:Poor little man...

Alter Ego:...It was only a matter of time.

Akemi:*I gasped as Taka let go of my hand and walked up to Alter Ego. Not knowing what to expect, I quickly followed him* 

Taka:*walks to the computer and kneels, crying* Y-you're still with us! You never really DIED!

Akemi:*I covered my mouth and cried as well, happy that he'd finally spoke. But sad it was under these circumstances.* Taka...

Alter Ego:Ishimaru...Hi.

Taka:*still crying* I-it's okay...if you hate me...I understand...I couldn't stop him from doing what he did!!!

Akemi:*I knelt as well, sobbing* Neither could I...If I'd stayed in Mondo's room that night...And listened to what he had to say...I'm almost certain...He would've told me about his brother...And I could've...Stopped him...From murdering you...P...Please forgive me...

Akemi/Taka:I was a...COWARD!!!!

Kyoko:*gently pushes us aside and types in "Do you hate Ishimaru and Minako?"*

Alter Ego:*gasps* Uh-oh...You both feel responsible for what happened to me...*disappears*

Akemi:*I gasped as I saw the image that appeared where Alter Ego had been. It was Mondo.* M...M...Mondo....

Mondo:*eyes closed and narrowed* Lighten up! Neither of you can carry the weight of the world on your backs for something I did!

Taka:*gasps as well* O-Oowada? 

Mondo:*opens his eyes and looks at us both* I made my own decisions. Mulling over a bunch of what-ifs won't do either of you any good. This wasn't your fault. I'm my own man. Just like you, bro. *closes his eyes again and smirks in his usual way* Thing is...If you both wanna feel angry, then fine. Just don't marinade in it. Use it for something that's worth it. Might manage to wake yourselves up from this nightmare. Think about it. Seriously. Both of you. 

Akemi:*I stepped closer to the computer, still sobbing* Mondo...I...I'm sorry...I know you'd want me...to be happy...And that's why you left me your jacket, but...How can I?! You can't just expect me...To be okay after what I saw!!! I...I love you...I love you so much that watching you die and knowing I couldn't stop it killed ME. It's eating me up on the inside, day in and day out...There's no way...*I sobbed harder* No way...I can...cope with this! Not without you!!!

Mondo:*scoffs slightly and looks at me as his eyes narrow* What's wrong with you? That's not the Akemi Minako I know. And it's definitely not the Akemi Minako I fell in love with. Listen to me...You're so strong. Too strong to let something that small eat you up inside. 

Akemi:It wasn't SMALL!!! You mean EVERYTHING TO ME!!! I...I need you...*I sobbed more* Why...WHY COULDN'T YOU STAY?! I...I could've...helped you...If you'd told me...about your brother. We could've escaped together...And gotten married...And had a family...But...Now we'll never have that chance!!!! Because I was WEAK!!!

Mondo:*smiles gently* That's what's been bothering you? Akemi, that's crazy! You're not weak. And you're right. Maybe if I'd told you, things would've been different. I'd be standing beside you right now, holding you. But because of my stupid ass, that's not what happened. I know you're hurting inside...That you blame yourself and feel terrible about what happened...But don't. 

You can't let this eat you up inside. You have to move on. Find your happiness and stick to it. Don't let go, no matter how hard it may seem. And finally...Live. No matter what, you have to live. I know how badly you're thinkin' about suicide, but that ain't the answer. That'd be no different than runnin' away from your problems. And it wouldn't change the fact that I killed Fujisaki and I died. So please...Put that idea outta your mind. For me. 

Akemi:*I couldn't stop crying. I knew this would be the last time I'd see Mondo until I died.* O...Okay. I...I will.

Mondo:*smiles* Good girl.  And hey! No more tears! They don't suit a beautiful face like yours. They'll only ruin it. 

Akemi:*I dried my eyes like he said and nodded* R...Right. Got it.

Mondo:*smiles* Okay. I gotta go now. *he turned to Taka* Bro! Make sure to make due on our promise! Look after her, okay? Don't let anything bad happen to her!

Taka:*nods slowly, still crying*

Mondo:*smiles and turns back to me* Akemi...Keep that same love and warmth you showed me. Use that to help the others through this. Okay?

Akemi:*I nodded again* O...Okay, I'll try.

Mondo:Akemi...*voice echoes into the distance as he says his final words to me* Keep fightin' no matter what! I love you. Never forget that! *disappears* 

Akemi:*I smiled as tears of joy formed in my eyes* I love you too. And I'll never forget you...Mondo Oowada.

Taka:*cries a bit and hugs me*

Alter Ego:*reappears* That was pretty good, wasn't it? Oowada's speech patterns were tricky to simulate, but I'm confident that's what he would've wanted to say to both of you.

Akemi:Oh, Alter Ego...Thank you...I really needed that...To wake me up.

Taka:I'm...touched. Deeply and truly. Those words were just like his! I can feel his soul...It's moving through me! *cries out like a mighty warrior as his hair and eye color both change* 

Makoto:I...Ishimaru, are you okay?

Taka:No, bro. But who's ISHIMARU!? I'm...KIYONDO!!!!!!!!!!! *takes off down the hall*

Makoto:Well...At least...That got him over the hump.

Akemi:*I smiled* I'm...so glad...That Taka's gonna be okay. But...Just to be safe...I'll check up on him. *I followed the path Taka took and went into his room*

-Taka's room-

Akemi:*I knocked on his door* Taka? May I come in?

Taka:*opens it, his hair and eye color still the same* Akemi...Come in...

Akemi:*I sat on his bed* Listen...Taka...I know what Alter Ego did really helped you. And I'm glad you're happy again...But...Can you tone down the whole "Kiyondo" thing when you're around me? So we can talk...like we used to? Please?

Taka:*sighs as his hair and eyes return to normal* I suppose I can.  But Akemi...There's something...I really need to tell you. 

Akemi:What is it, Taka?

Taka:A...Akemi...You're the only one...Who stuck by me...even when I refused to acknowledge you...And...You're so kind. And...I know it's too soon after Mondo's death to ask, but...I was wondering if you'd...Be my girlfriend.

Akemi:*I gasped* T...Taka...I...really don't know what to say.

Taka:I...I'll do everything that Mondo did. I'll treat you like a queen, and...I'll always be by your side...So...Please...

Akemi:*I smiled* Yes. 

Taka:*smiles and kisses me gently*

Akemi:*I kissed back, wrapping my arms around his neck* 

Taka:*pulls away and smiles* I love you, Akemi Minako...More than anything.

Akemi:*I smiled and blushed a bit* And I you.*Soon after Taka confessed his love for me, we both fell asleep. He made due on his promise to Mondo...Right until he died. And since then, I've vowed to help Makoto and the others put an end to Monokuma's madness and Despair...Once and for all! In the name of those who died...We will....DEFEAT THE MASTERMIND!!!!!!!

-The End-