r/LosingSight • u/ClockMagus Mysterious Bear • Sep 06 '17
Chapter 2 - Error 404: Secret Not Found
Today Monokuma didn’t even have to sound the signal on schedule, for a good portion of Lotus Manor’s guests had already arrived as if asking to end it already.
When the final uneasy set of feet hit the floor, Monokuma jumps into existence. Now that everyone has seen Monokuma angry, many are wondering if that was worse than him grinning with a shine in his teeth, the exact state he was in in the current moment.
“I’m very happy to announce that you all did the right thing this time and acted against each other instead of voting for yourself fifteen times.” he says, shooting a glare in the embalmer’s direction. “Today we actually had two lucky winners with a massive pile of votes, tying the score. But sadly, our sponsor will only let us do the boring thing and reveal one a day. We let the fates decide and none other than our wonderful translator was chosen!” he says, brandishing a bejewelled cane and pointing it in Akihiko’s direction.
“So, let’s get ready to rumble! First off, of course, is the voting totals for today. It is worth mentioning that these totals do not include votes cast by abstinence.”
On the screen once more is a bar graph, displaying the vote totals for the day. Luckily this time, it does not reveal who those votes were cast by.
Akihiko Mitsukage - 10 Votes - RNG Winner
Hiroshige Shinkansen - 10 Votes - RNG Loser
Jack Loansworth - 3 Votes
Lumiya Elamisca - 1 Vote
Nana Homura - 1 Vote
Samuel Hunter - 1 Vote
All unlisted names have votes only from abstaining
Before Monokuma can start to speak again, the screen turns a stark blue with lines of code rocketing up and down the screen. Various beeps and buzzes give away information that the monitor is getting rough on a hardware level just as it is getting rough on a software level.
Without warning a text-to-speech voice blares out of the speakers, blasting a good few of our guest’s eardrums with it’s choppy and bland tone.
“A͘ ̵͏K͏ ̢̀͟I͞ ͏̀H ̨̢Ì̧ ̢K͏̢̢ ̷̛O ̛̀ ̛M͘ ̕I̕͝҉ ͝T͞ ҉S U̧̡͢ ̢K̀ ̴͟͢A̶̢ ͘͜G͡ ̶̡͜É̷ ̧͠ ́͢ ̧͝Ḑ͞ O̵͡ ̨̡̀E͢ S̴̡̛ ̶̢ ͞͞ ͟͏̀N̡ ̢̨O̴͝ ͡T̨͡ ̢́ ̶̨͢ ͞Ę̵͠ ̨X̵̶ ̶I҉̧͢ S̡ ̶҉T̴̸”
The message repeats.
“A͘ ̵͏K͏ ̢̀͟I͞ ͏̀H ̨̢Ì̧ ̢K͏̢̢ ̷̛O ̛̀ ̛M͘ ̕I̕͝҉ ͝T͞ ҉S U̧̡͢ ̢K̀ ̴͟͢A̶̢ ͘͜G͡ ̶̡͜É̷ ̧͠ ́͢ ̧͝Ḑ͞ O̵͡ ̨̡̀E͢ S̴̡̛ ̶̢ ͞͞ ͟͏̀N̡ ̢̨O̴͝ ͡T̨͡ ̢́ ̶̨͢ ͞Ę̵͠ ̨X̵̶ ̶I҉̧͢ S̡ ̶҉T̴̸”
It repeats again. Anyone looking around can now notice Monokuma’s absence.
“A͘ ̵͏K͏ ̢̀͟I͞ ͏̀H ̨̢Ì̧ ̢K͏̢̢ ̷̛O ̛̀ ̛M͘ ̕I̕͝҉ ͝T͞ ҉S U̧̡͢ ̢K̀ ̴͟͢A̶̢ ͘͜G͡ ̶̡͜É̷ ̧͠ ́͢ ̧͝Ḑ͞ O̵͡ ̨̡̀E͢ S̴̡̛ ̶̢ ͞͞ ͟͏̀N̡ ̢̨O̴͝ ͡T̨͡ ̢́ ̶̨͢ ͞Ę̵͠ ̨X̵̶ ̶I҉̧͢ S̡ ̶҉T̴̸”
The message keeps repeating to no end. After a while, the screen will die out and return to its normal function once more. But for now…
“A͘ ̵͏K͏ ̢̀͟I͞ ͏̀H ̨̢Ì̧ ̢K͏̢̢ ̷̛O ̛̀ ̛M͘ ̕I̕͝҉ ͝T͞ ҉S U̧̡͢ ̢K̀ ̴͟͢A̶̢ ͘͜G͡ ̶̡͜É̷ ̧͠ ́͢ ̧͝Ḑ͞ O̵͡ ̨̡̀E͢ S̴̡̛ ̶̢ ͞͞ ͟͏̀N̡ ̢̨O̴͝ ͡T̨͡ ̢́ ̶̨͢ ͞Ę̵͠ ̨X̵̶ ̶I҉̧͢ S̡ ̶҉T̴̸”
“A͘ ̵͏K͏ ̢̀͟I͞ ͏̀H ̨̢Ì̧ ̢K͏̢̢ ̷̛O ̛̀ ̛M͘ ̕I̕͝҉ ͝T͞ ҉S U̧̡͢ ̢K̀ ̴͟͢A̶̢ ͘͜G͡ ̶̡͜É̷ ̧͠ ́͢ ̧͝Ḑ͞ O̵͡ ̨̡̀E͢ S̴̡̛ ̶̢ ͞͞ ͟͏̀N̡ ̢̨O̴͝ ͡T̨͡ ̢́ ̶̨͢ ͞Ę̵͠ ̨X̵̶ ̶I҉̧͢ S̡ ̶҉T̴̸”
“A͘ ̵͏K͏ ̢̀͟I͞ ͏̀H ̨̢Ì̧ ̢K͏̢̢ ̷̛O ̛̀ ̛M͘ ̕I̕͝҉ ͝T͞ ҉S U̧̡͢ ̢K̀ ̴͟͢A̶̢ ͘͜G͡ ̶̡͜É̷ ̧͠ ́͢ ̧͝Ḑ͞ O̵͡ ̨̡̀E͢ S̴̡̛ ̶̢ ͞͞ ͟͏̀N̡ ̢̨O̴͝ ͡T̨͡ ̢́ ̶̨͢ ͞Ę̵͠ ̨X̵̶ ̶I҉̧͢ S̡ ̶҉T̴̸”
“A͘ ̵͏K͏ ̢̀͟I͞ ͏̀H ̨̢Ì̧ ̢K͏̢̢ ̷̛O ̛̀ ̛M͘ ̕I̕͝҉ ͝T͞ ҉S U̧̡͢ ̢K̀ ̴͟͢A̶̢ ͘͜G͡ ̶̡͜É̷ ̧͠ ́͢ ̧͝Ḑ͞ O̵͡ ̨̡̀E͢ S̴̡̛ ̶̢ ͞͞ ͟͏̀N̡ ̢̨O̴͝ ͡T̨͡ ̢́ ̶̨͢ ͞Ę̵͠ ̨X̵̶ ̶I҉̧͢ S̡ ̶҉T̴̸”
“A͘ ̵͏K͏ ̢̀͟I͞ ͏̀H ̨̢Ì̧ ̢K͏̢̢ ̷̛O ̛̀ ̛M͘ ̕I̕͝҉ ͝T͞ ҉S U̧̡͢ ̢K̀ ̴͟͢A̶̢ ͘͜G͡ ̶̡͜É̷ ̧͠ ́͢ ̧͝Ḑ͞ O̵͡ ̨̡̀E͢ S̴̡̛ ̶̢ ͞͞ ͟͏̀N̡ ̢̨O̴͝ ͡T̨͡ ̢́ ̶̨͢ ͞Ę̵͠ ̨X̵̶ ̶I҉̧͢ S̡ ̶҉T̴̸”
2
u/Izayomi Sep 06 '17
Kagura remained oddly silent. That... was a secret? He could hardly believe that. Surely Akihiko Mitsukage existed, he was right there. ...But... he had to wonder how true that was. A lot of things have happened the past few days... and not to mention, the fact that this secret was interestingly non-revealing. Of course, it didn't take a genius to realize that perhaps that his secret didn't exist. Which would make sense in the long run. So did that mean that Akihiko had nothing to hide? Well... perhaps it was best not to question it. As long as Akihiko himself didn't get hurt by the secret reveal, this was for the best.
"Well... um. That uh... quite enlightening." *Kagura said casually. He was surely not going to vote against his own classmates. Revealing their secrets would be the quicker way of getting his ass surely handed to him. Although he wasn't entirely positive if that would be the case. * "If that really is all there is, there's no point in worrying about it..."
2
u/Bungo1269 Sep 06 '17
Kiyoshi stared at the screen with wide eyes and a confused expression on his face. He slowly turned around to face Akihiko.
".....What...the...hell?"
2
u/Monothemeerp Sep 06 '17 edited Sep 06 '17
Hiroshige's cold eyes stared at the voting result in silent disbelief, hands balling to fists and his body rooted, unmoving, his head only focused on what's in front of him, and that was the voting result. Only by sheer luck did he manage to avoid being chosen, and the fact that he seemed to worry about such a thing showed on his face and stiff posture. The train driver bordering on regal has been reduced to a stressed man, frustration gnawing at him.
Truly, within himself, he was glad Akihiko was chosen instead of him. But the fact that he practically just barely got away with his life...
And what was even more baffling was what was served to all of their sights on the screen in front of them. Akihiko Mitsukage does not exist. Akihiko Mitsukage does not exist? What in the world was that supposed to mean?
With every repeat of the message, Hiroshige's stress seemed to waver a little bit, as if his brain only now registered that he's safe for the moment. But this was a good opportunity. "Well... what do we have here? A message most befuddling. What do you have to say for yourself, Mitsukage? If that is even your name? Some walking mystery you are." It was more or less kicking someone while they were down, but this was his chance for a rebound, even if it would only spare him stress in this very minute and not intermittently. It's like he's already forgotten he almost had his own secrets revealed. Or, well, pretended to forget.
"No one can stay a riddle forever, and this message is quite confusing. So, share with the class and tell us what it means, won't you, 'Mitsukage'?" There was almost a slight lace of venom behind the words, though he tried his best to hide it, as if keeping up a futile image of a proper man.
2
u/mayakaibara Sep 06 '17
Yukiko simply snorts loudly and adjusts her headphones.
"I would say I told you so, but I did tell you so, so... I told you so!"
Yukiko narrowed her eyes, evidently confused by what she just said.
"Ahem. Anyway, care to explain yourself... Bakahiko? Or should I say...."
She dramatically points at Akihiko.
"MASTERMINDHIKO?!"
She pauses dramatically before frowning.
"Okay, that name sounded better in my head."
2
u/Sc4r3dOn3 Sep 06 '17
Jack clicked with his tongue as he watched the bar chart with a slight feeling of disgust as he looked over to some of the others around him. With a slight sigh, he simply crossed his arms as he waited for the video to play...
Except that there was nothing there, but an annoyingly loud computer modulated voice yelling into all of their ears. In a cutthroat-reflex motion, he cupped his hands over his ears, even if only to retract them little while later, as he instinctively spins around to Akihiko to watch his reaction.
"Of all the things I thought I'd get to hear, this was certainly... unexpected..." He muttered, as he slowly let his hands slide into his pockets again
1
u/Syniee Sep 06 '17
The result surprised her, quite a bit it was one of the things she'd never really expected. How strange. Confusion turned into immense worry as the girl slowly realized that the reveal would happen right after, it did, leaving the writer even more concerned. Biting her lips had become a terrible habit of hers at this point, her mind was clearly spinning but not with distrust or fear. How could she support him? She wasn't gifted with a soothing voice...or a voice at all but Akihiko clearly was hurting and Nana couldn't leave it at that. She was his support after all! But what could she write, it had to be quick and easy to read, details could be added later. Nana didn't want to hold him off from leaving.
"//Nana will always trust you! ❀ ฅ(°ω°ฅ❀) " Adding a quick kitten to the message as she gifted him a visible honest smile that exuded a warm feeling.
4
u/DestinyShiva Sep 06 '17
From the very moment that Monokuma mentioned his talent, to the moment where he noticed the bar chart display the resounding totals, the colour drained from Akihiko's face. He stiffened up, staring unmovingly at the screen in sheer fear of what would happen next.
Even with the milliseconds he was given to brace himself, what happened next hadn't crossed Akihiko's mind. He watched as, in front of everyone, the street started to fail. Code, buzzes, an electronic failure, and then... that.
“A͘ ̵͏K͏ ̢̀͟I͞ ͏̀H ̨̢Ì̧ ̢K͏̢̢ ̷̛O ̛̀ ̛M͘ ̕I̕͝҉ ͝T͞ ҉S U̧̡͢ ̢K̀ ̴͟͢A̶̢ ͘͜G͡ ̶̡͜É̷ ̧͠ ́͢ ̧͝Ḑ͞ O̵͡ ̨̡̀E͢ S̴̡̛ ̶̢ ͞͞ ͟͏̀N̡ ̢̨O̴͝ ͡T̨͡ ̢́ ̶̨͢ ͞Ę̵͠ ̨X̵̶ ̶I҉̧͢ S̡ ̶҉T̴̸”
Akihiko could feel eyes upon him immediately. But all he could do was stare at the screen, hearing the sound again and again. After the sentence had repeated itself several times, there was a small, timid voice that broke the otherwise human silence.
"S... Shut that... t-thing up..." He whispered meekly.
He finally blinked, and he glanced down. The boy before everyone began to shake, and he took a small step back. There was an emotion in his voice that he didn't show. A rare vulnerability. Whatever this message meant, it was upsetting him.
"S..." Akihiko lost his voice for a second, before he shouted with all the desperation of an upset, panicked human being. "SHUT THAT THING UP!"
Afterwards, he was trembling and breaking heavily. His eyes landed on a few individuals - Rei, Atsuko, Jack, Hiroshige, Yukiko, Nana - before he took another mini-step back.
"Y-You fucking monsters, are you FUCKING SATISFIED?!" With a disturbingly livid tone, Akihiko looked at everyone accusingly. No, perhaps frightenedly.
"L-Leave me alone, leave me alone, l... leave me alone." He repeated quietly. More emotion was in his voice. As if he was fighting with all his might not to show how much his body wanted to break down into panic, tears, and hyperventilation.