Chapter Text
05/14 Mon, 2:04p.m.
It had been an unusual day at Hope’s Peak Academy, which had a different meaning compared to other unusual days in other places.
An unusual day meant it was quiet, some would even describe it as peaceful even, some may consider describing a peaceful day as unusual, but to the Ultimate Imposter (or nicknamed Imposter by her classmates), after nearly three years of attending this school, she’d call the description accurate.
“You wouldn’t happen to have spotted our missing underclassmen, have you?” The only issue today was that two students, Naegi Makoto from 78-A and Tamba Ruiko from 79-D, appeared to have vanished and weren’t answering anyone’s messages.
“I haven’t seen them, no.” Mikan shook her head. “S-Sorry Imposter-san.” She had decided to check the med-bay since it wasn’t uncommon for a student to require visiting the med bay due to getting into an accident or if they needed restocking on medication.
But according to her friend, neither of them had been there all day, while Imposter couldn’t assess if that was normal behavior for Tamba, she knew it was odd for Makoto since he couldn't go a single week without needing a med bay trip.
“It’s alright, thank you for telling me, it’ll help narrow down the search.” She reassured the nurse, taking note of how Mikan’s demeanor brightened at her words.
“I-I’m sure Makoto and T-Tamba are alright.” Mikan stuttered, she was worried of course, but she wouldn’t let that get to her. “Wherever they are.” It was strange to hear such uplifting words from Mikan, but Imposter supposed it showed how time had changed.
Back during their first semester, Mikan was a stumbling, frightened girl that could barely look anyone in the eyes, very odd and unusual behavior for a nurse, but considering her home life and history of bullying, it explained why she feared talking to people.
Imposter smiled. “Thank you, Mikan.”
“Oh, no problem-”
Ring-Ring!
“Ah, apologies, that’s my phone.” She explained as Mikan glanced around trying to find the source of the ringtone. “Excuse me for a moment.” Imposter stepped out of the med bay so as to not disturb the medical staff with her phone call, glancing at the phone, she saw Ryota’s number.
This didn’t surprise her, Ryota’s one of her closest classmates, they talked almost every day, with Imposter reminding Ryota to take a break from animating and getting food, while Ryota talked about his work and would share interesting details and facts from his favorite anime shows.
She accepted the call, and immediately was greeted by a distressed animator. “Oh thank goodness you picked up!” Ryota sounded like he had been crying, his words coated in sniffles. “There was… Oh god how do I even… I can’t I can’t do this I-”
“Here, I can take over for you.” It was Sonia who spoke.
“Th-Thank you…”
Imposter’s concern only grew as she heard Ryota hand the phone over to Sonia. “What’s going on?” She asked, not liking this situation if it drove one of her friends into a panic attack.
“It’s a very long story I’m afraid…” Sonia sounded hesitant, but pushed forward. “Where are you right now?”
“The med bay, I was just talking to Mikan.” She explained.
“That’s good, can you bring her over? I believe you’ll take the news better with someone supporting you.”
Still concerned but she did what the princess requested, re-entering the med bay and gestured for Mikan to follow. “Is everything alright?” Mikan asked after Imposter explained what little she knew of the situation.
A sigh came from the phone. “I’m afraid not.” It took a few moments for Sonia to speak once more, likely trying to find how to break whatever news she had for them. “You recall how Makoto and Tamba disappeared? Well, we found them, and they found… Something that relates to your origins.”
…What?
Imposter didn’t think she heard that correctly, and turned to Mikan for clarification. “They found something connected to Imposter’s past?!” Nope. She got it right the first time.
Somehow, her underclassmen had achieved in a day what she had been trying to search for years, part of her wanted to celebrate having reached a milestone she thought would take decades to accomplish…
But the part of her that recalled Ryota’s panicked cries and Sonia’s hesitance over the subject made her realize that perhaps her origins were connected to something… Sinister.
Her past was a blank canvas, seemingly empty with no artwork or material, but she could still collect some information out of it, like how she could recall nothing in her earlier years, or how impersonating people’s appearances and mannerism was as natural as breathing air.
Imposter had speculated for a while that her past might’ve been a dark and cruel one, it appears that today, these speculations would be confirmed.
“Where do I need to go?”
05/14 Mon, 2:40p.m.
Her classmates were gathered by the elevator, standing there like meerkats, keeping alert for any movement.
As they noticed her and Mikan walk over, Imposter noted their expressions of relief, worry, concern, even fear in some places. “I take it, we’re the last two to get here?” She addressed the group.
“Y…Yeah.” Fuyuhiko nodded, it was the most distressed she had ever seen from the future yakuza leader. “I… fuck, listen I don-”
“Be at ease, Fuyuhiko.” She told him.
He took the moment to compose himself, then pointed to the elevator. “Nobody else has gone down there except Kyoko, the junior Saihara, and the cop.” Ah. The supposedly “haunted” elevator of the school, she supposed those rumors weren’t so false if it was where her two underclassmen found the information she desired. “We already got Makoto and that Tamba girl out, so you’ll have the floor to yourself.”
Imposter raised an eyebrow. “To myself?”
“I figured you’d wanna see it alone or somethin’.”
Her friends knew her well. “Thank you. If there’s anything else anyone wants to add, speak now.” Some of the group glanced at each other to see if any of them would speak, but they appeared to not have the words they wanted to say.
Ibuki then approached, a rare worried look on her face. “Hey, Po, I dunno what's down there, but if it's got papy gangsta here shaking… Please, be careful.”
She placed a hand on the musician’s shoulder. “Worry not, being careful is how I operate.” To survive in a world where she had nothing to herself, not even a name to call her own, she found playing on the safer side kept from facing much harm from others that would use her talent for nefarious purposes.
Natsumi also approached. “Here, take this.” She handed her something that made Imposter debate if she should ask her friends for an explanation instead.
“A… baseball bat?”
“Just in case, y’know?”
She dreaded what was down there to have Natsumi give her a weapon of all things to confront her past with, but she supposed she’d find out.
05/14 Mon, 2:48p.m.
If there was one thing she found both a blessing and curse, it was that her instincts are always right.
What laid before her out the elevator, a sterile but abandoned hall. The dust and grime on the floor lay out the pathings of multiple people exploring this floor for the first time in years.
Sonia had told her that the information she craved was in the pod room… Which had concerning implications but she pushed forward, flashlight illuminating the worn and abandoned space
A hollow dread filled her chest as the flashlight showcased broken, dusty computers, broken glass in labs, showing a cold and unwelcoming environment, one that did not encourage warmth or love.
…It made her wonder why she had been born in a place such as this, and how she had escaped.
Eventually Imposter reached the “pod room” and realized the name was fitting, as in the center lay a giant pod that made her chest ache and her head dizzy so she averted from looking at it for too long and focused her attention elsewhere.
A torn piece of paper had been placed onto the keyboard. Hey Imposter, this has the information you want. Warning, it’s kindaaaa fucked up, Kirigiri and the other detectives got all the stuff onto a hard drive so you’re free to like, smash the computer. -Souda
She appreciated the warning and steeled herself, grasping the mouse next to the monitor and began to open up files.
“-Honestly creepy how well it mimics voices-”
This…
This is…
“-Surprisingly in shape for an artificial being, Kimanari knows what he’s doing-”
“-If we refer to Kamukura Test Subject 001 with a name, more than likely someone will get attached-”
What words did she even use to describe these callous and apathetic beings? No wonder her peers looked so disturbed, and she could not blame them for it.
“-It’s imitation is impressive, although expected-”
“-Waragaki is now in counseling for Imposter Syndrome-”
…Huh, was this perhaps her first ever rebellion? Did she perhaps realize back then, her creators were not good people and thus sought to show them the consequences of her actions?
It’s not as if she could remember, whatever they had done to remove her memories, Imposter knew they were ones she wouldn’t ever get back.
“-Failed trying to pose as Junior Researcher Kawazuishi-”
“-More than one person-”
“-Needs too much time to imitate-”
“-Attempt Two already on the way-”
Attempt Two. So that’s how it is.
As much as she loathed to admit it, the implications that another poor soul shared her origins did not come off as a shock.
“Experiment 001 failed. Proceeding to memory erasure and disposal.”
Ah. Imposter supposes she’s reached the end of this dark tale.
With a heavy hand, she turned the computer off, getting up from the chair and pushing it away, glancing around the abandoned, decaying room of her birth, she let out a resigned sigh.
So that’s her origin, a science experiment, a discarded one for that matter, created here in this very school where she’s made so many meaningful memories and formed everlasting bonds with her peers.
All for a nonsensical attempt to create some sort of superhuman that could hold all of the world’s talents at its disposal, dusting their hands of her when she didn’t meet their ridiculous and unrealistic expectations.
…They could’ve at least had the dignity and thought to drop her off at an orphanage, but perhaps it’s too much to expect manners from such heartless individuals.
Did they recognize her when she got scouted into Hope’s Peak? Too focused on their other projects to remember the once-child they had discarded? Or had they enrolled her to see if they could gain more data from their failed experiment.
All these questions with no answers, no one to ask them to.
Not that she’d rush finding those, the information she wanted had already been found.
So with her curiosity stated, and concerned classmates she should reassure, Imposter left the lab without sparing a glance at the room of her origins, more than ready to close this somber chapter once and for all.
05/14 Mon, 3:20p.m.
As the elevator opened and she stepped out, her classmates approached, cautious and worried about how she handled the news. “So uhhh, you need a hug or anything?” Akane had her arms stretched out, ready to launch one of her signature bear hugs.
“Or perhaps a decent meal?” Teruteru offered.
“Nah, what she needs is some good ol 'training to work those feelings out!” Nekomaru flexed an arm.
Hiyoko scoffed. “Now is not the time to rope Imposter into one of your intense exercise regimens.”
“HEY! Science shows that exercise can be a huge benefit for your physical and mental health-!”
“Guys.” Imposter spoke up before the conversation snowballed, as it always did with her class. “I’ll be fine, I just… Need to process alone for a bit.” Their care and support warmed her heart, but for now, she wanted time to herself to go over what she had seen.
“That’s fair.” Hajime nodded.
Beside him, Chiaki looked more skeptical but they didn’t argue against it. “If that’s what you want, then we’ll respect your wishes.”
Ibuki stared at her with a deep worry, Imposter hated the absence of her cheery and bright attitude. “I’ll be alright.” She reassured her. “Thank you all for being there.”
“Not as if you can get rid of us.” Natsumi chuckled. “We’re basically head lice.”
“Please do not refer to us as head lice.” Mahiru sent her a disturbed frown.
“We’d be the coolest head lice ever!” Sonia exclaimed, which prompted an exasperated sigh from the photographer.
Imposter chuckled, even in dreary times, her friends could still brighten a room with their humor. “I’ll talk to you guys later.”
“Do you w-want someone to walk you back?” Ryota offered.
She shook her head. “I’ll be fine, but thank you.” With her piece said, Imposter departed from the hallway that was haunted by old ghosts.
Perhaps she’d avoid that particular hallway from now on, just so it didn’t bring up bad memories.
On her way back to her room, she ended up walking by Class 79-C, led by Sora, who had a look of murder on her face, whilst the menagerie had mixed looks of concern and curiosity.
“Imposter!” She stopped as Sora approached. “Is… Is it true? Is the truth down there?”
…Ah. Right. Sora shared the same dark origins as she did. The two of them had even bonded over mysteries surrounding their pasts, and their unique talents of mimicry.
How ironic, looking back on things.
“I believe it’d be best if you saw for yourself.” No words she’d say could truly capture the horrors she had seen with her eyes. “You might need this.” She still had the bat Natsumi gave her so she handed it to Sora.
“Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of.” Sora winced, yet her determination remained. “Am I really gonna need a baseball bat though?”
“Just in case.”
05/14 Mon, 6:35p.m.
Private conversation between Volume: yes and Echo:
Volume: yes: Heyyyyyyy just checking up on you
Volume: yes: since yanno today was uh super duper grim
Volume: yes: and heavy
Echo: I am alright
Echo: It’s Sora I’m more worried about
Volume: yes: Oh yeah u two are buddies
Volume: yes: Hope shes okay
Echo: I hope so too
Volume: yes: Are YOU doing okay?
Echo: Yeah
Echo: It just feels strange that I was created HERE of all places
Volume: yes: I always had a bad feeling about those guys
Volume: yes: but doing evil science in the school basement???
Echo: It’s a shame we can’t charge them for those crimes
Volume: yes: Heard Kyoko and Kinjo were gonna make arrangements so it’s not set in stone yet
Echo: It’s odd seeing those two work together
Echo: From what I’ve seen of Kinjo, he’s stepped on the toes of many students
Volume: yes: He’s a grumpy one
Volume: yes: Did you hear he even worked with Fuyuhiko???
Echo: Forrrr?
Volume: yes: Sending the bounty hunter from 79-D on the scientists that worked on the Kamukura project
Volume: yes: Apparently some of them fled the coup back when ol Jimmy cleaned house
Echo: …Why am I not surprised by you referring to the headmaster as “ol Jimmy”
Volume: yes: You know me too well 😉
Volume: yes: but dw those sickos are gonna be brought to justice! For you and Sora
Echo: That’s good.
Volume: yes: Teruteru just finished making dinner, it’s all the seafood in the world!
Volume: yes: We’d love for you to come down but if you need more time to yourself that’s okay too!
Volume: yes: I can bring food over
Echo: No need, I’ll be joining you guys soon
Echo: Just need a few minutes to compose myself
Volume: yes: take all the time you need i’ll save a plate for you
Echo: A monumental task considering Akane is why we don’t have leftovers
Volume: yes: I’d defend your food with my life
Echo: You’re too kind
Echo: Alright I’ll be down in a few minutes
Volume: yes: Lets gooooooo 🎉
Echo: Can you do me a favor first?
Volume: yes: Anything!
Echo: Tell the others that Futaba will be joining them for dinner instead of Imposter
Volume: yes: ehhhh??? Who’s Futaba?
Volume: yes: WAIT
Echo: I knew you’d pick it up
Volume: yes: YOU PICKED OUT A NAME???
Echo: It had been on my mind for awhile, but I had been putting off making it official
Echo: I figured I’ve stalled enough
Volume: yes: It’s such a cute name for youuuuu <3
Volume: yes: You need help picking out a last name?
Echo: No need
Echo: I am going to be taking your name in a few years, so there’s no point in coming up with another
Volume: yes: EEEEEEEEEE
Volume: yes: IS THIS A PROPOSAL???
Echo: Not yet, you deserve something special
Volume: yes: Aw Futaba you sure know how to win a woman’s heart!
Echo: I learned from the best
Volume: yes: 😊