The Neo World Program was the total sum of Miaya Gekkogahara's research.
It was utilitarian in theory, which made it controversial in Miaya's field. Many people argued that it was unethical — a way of altering problematic personalities more than actually engaging with their issues. Every therapist worth their salt knows about repressed memories; knows that taking away the memory does not alter the trauma that lingers. Yes, it's only through remembering the memory and dealing with the trauma from it head on that you can truly start healing from your issues.
The thing about these arguments, Miaya mused, was that they assumed the Neo World Program was meant to heal . That is not it's purpose: it's purpose is to deprogram .
When Yasuke Matsuda first came to her with the theory, Miaya Gekkogahara was, like many of her peers, appalled. She tried to explain the unethical implications of altering memories, but Matsuda was staunch that it could help. That the world had a need for such a thing, even if it wasn't strictly “ethical.” Cult deprogramming was a big example he had, but also, he argued, it could be used to redeem criminals and the like as well. It could, if they apply it to society well enough, completely revolutionize the justice system. Instead of people wasting away in jail, or being put to death, you could functionally “redeem” and “reform” these criminals even without their consent, essentially giving them a second chance at life. Sure, it may not heal , but it can alter , and isn't that good enough? Isn't it worth it to save lives? In truth, it's revolutionary .
It must be said that Yasuke Matsuda is an extremely persuasive man when he wants to be. It must also be said that even if Miaya Gekkogahara never agreed with him, he would merely look for someone else's help, or do it himself. It was happening no matter if Miaya joined; the best thing she could do was accept and minimize the negative effects.
So thus became Miaya Gekkogahara's legacy: a simulation built on faulty theory, that she spun to the world at large as a way to heal , even though she knew it wasn't.
But with Chisa Yukizome's hand in hers, she does not regret the Neo World Program. She doesn't think she can, even if she tried.
(A part of her wondered what Yasuke Matsuda wanted.
She doesn't have to wonder with Chisa; she's never had, even as she tries to pull away.)
Her face is pale and washed out as she watches the simulation. But there's a spark in her eyes, one that wasn't there before. Miaya, unlike Kyosuke, was not an idiot—Chisa Yukizome had loved that class as if they were her own. That spark in her eyes, what can it be but hope?
(Kyosuke would never see it, of course. Because the Remnants, to him, were the enemy. And how could the girl he loves love the enemy?
But Miaya thinks that maybe he loves the image of Chisa Yukizome more than the truth.
Maybe that's uncharitable. But Miaya's loved Chisa Yukizome since high school, and even she was not so arrogant to think she knew her.)
This was Miaya's gift to Chisa Yukizome: the redemption of her students.
Chisa's hand is cold. It often is. She runs cold, after all—always has. But it curls around her fingers, as she watches with sparking eyes. (She almost looks like the Chisa Yukizome she once glimsped, under cafeteria lights, ontop of school desks.)
That hope, though—is once again swallowed up by Junko Enoshima's despair.
(The mask doesn't crack. Under Kyosuke's watchful eye, only Miaya can feel how Chisa Yukizome trembles. A little piece of honesty: for Miaya Gekkogahara alone.
Not nearly enough. Selfishly, greedily, she wanted everything.
“Are you okay?” The Usami from Miaya's monitor asks, and she flinches, but her eyes are steady and flickering with something dark.
A part of Miaya wonders. Why does her senpai, that girl with sparkling eyes, feel so far away from her? Untouchable even with her hand in hers. Was she ever as open and honest as Miaya thought, or was she always this far, just covered with a cheerful smile?
“I will be.” Chisa Yukizome promises with brimfire eyes.
But Miaya doesn't think she believes her.
She thinks she's known the answer from the start.)