As dark and tragic as 'Death Game by Majority' can be, there's still room for genuinely sweet and uplifting moments throughout.
As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked as per policy. You Have Been Warned.
Your Turn To Die
- Sara's relationships with many of the other participants is full of these.
- Her and Joe are extremely close friends, with moments of casual teasing and mutual support throughout everything. In his first appearance, Joe's gushing about how great his date with Ryoko went and thanks Sara for introducing them, and offers to walk home with her if she's not feeling safe. Through the Death Game, he puts his trust in her to save everyone. And by the end of 1-2, after Joe is revealed to be the Sacrifice, he admits that he loves her and that she's his best friend.
- Kanna initially latches onto Sara because of how much she reminds her of her sister.
- Kai, who turns out to be the man who Sara thought had been stalking her, was actually doing everything in his power to protect her. He was originally sent to infiltrate and spy on the Chidouin family, but after how kindly her father treated him- something Kai had never experienced before- he chose to side against the organization and help protect them instead.
- After all the support she showed her following Mishima's death, Nao tries her hardest to be as helpful as she can for Sara and the rest of the group. She also tries to bear as much of the stress as she can so Sara won't have to.
- Her relationship with Keiji is quite sweet as well. While initially it's pretty obvious he's making use of her intellect they do develop genuine affection and a mutual protectiveness. He's always the one who gently shields her from the gruesome things they witness or pulls her back when her trauma and hallucinations get too bad. He at multiple points tries to keep her from seeing things related to Joe to protect her, let's her sleep on his shoulder when she breaks and puts her wellbeing above that of the entire group. He actually almost blows his and Q-taro's whole plan to trick Midori (which hinges specifically on him not being seen) when he realizes someone is luring her into a trap. He even openly states that sacrificing Sara for his own sake is the one thing he won't do. Sara for her part seems to gravitate towards Keiji for safety, looks to him for guidance when she's stuck and trusts him implicitly. When she briefly thinks he's been executed by Midori she almost slips back into the same state she was in when Joe died, though the group manage to give her hope that he may have survived. Multiple characters have emphasised how important he is to her and Midori even tries to use Keiji against her to survive. They've become quite the dynamic duo.
- Speaking of Nao, she and her old teacher Mishima still have a very close bond even after she graduated. When in the practice vote, he quietly says they should vote for each-other, only to vote for himself so he can protect her. While it sadly proves to be a Senseless Sacrifice, his bond with her still proves to be a source of strength for Nao.
- Joe's goodbye to Sara is nothing if not heart wrenching. But at the same time, it is a very sweet send off to Joe, who makes it known that Sara's his best friend and he loves her, and also holds no grudges against anyone for his upcoming death, instead saying he didn't want the plan to go through, as he discovered they were all good people.
- Reko smashing the Mishima A.I. might seem like a cruel thing to do to the emotionally dependent Nao, but it's revealed that both Mishima and Reko did it for her sake so that Nao could push forward rather than going back on her word. Unlike his first death, the A.I.'s death is not in vein as Nao takes several levels in badass, but it also shows what two people who genuinely care about her are willing to do for her sake.
- Alice trying to do everything he can to repair his relationship with Reko, even if it's a difficult experience for him. While she initially wants nothing to do with him, he speaks fondly of her and is proud to see how much she's grown from the person he used to know. With Sara's help, he even returns her the bongos he originally gave her.
- Speaking of the bongos, he originally gave them to her as a joke, but she grew fond of them and even after Alice was arrested for murder, she couldn't bring herself to throw them out. While Fake Reko ends up being the one who rejects his gift, if Sara looks through the security camera footage, she finds a shot of his room and the bongos still sitting on his bed. He was trying to fix them.
- If Fake Reko is killed, Alice will be fatally injured by Rio Ranger and seems to die just before the real Reko reunites with the group. Seeing him on the ground, she calls him "bro" for the first time in years and begs him to wake up. And, despite his injuries, he does- even if it's just for a few moments. Long enough to see Reko is still alive and that she wants them to be family again. He's too weak to say anything, but he smiles as he closes his eyes one last time. Sara even calls it a miracle.
- Sou may be a Wild Card and a Manipulative Bastard, and while the others always suspect he's up to no good, Kanna is the one whom he always treats with kindness. In return, she always comes to his defense and sticks up for him when the others suspect him, even calling him Big Bro. They care for each-other so much that, during the final vote in Chapter 2-2, both of them ask the group to save the other.
- When Sara discovers the phone containing what seems to be a Dying Declaration of Hate from Kugie in Kanna's first trial room, she tries to hide it. Sou later finds it and, while he does accuse Sara of leaving it, if Sara grabs the phone from his hands, she finds that it's been changed to a hopeful message urging Kanna to survive. He later shows it to her and she's moved to tears by it. If Kanna is still alive by the start of Chapter 3, she reveals that she knew the message was fake, but chose to take comfort in it anyway.
- Choosing to save Kanna, Sou will actually thank Sara and offer her a gift in return. While his escape attempt fails, he crawls back to the hidden room in the ruined corridor, where Sara finds his body. And it turns out his final act was to show Sara a Joe AI that echoes his kind words from the end of the first vote. Sara then realizes that her hallucinations of Joe weren't really him, but her own guilt over his death. From that point on, she resolves to remember Joe how he really was. As a result, all her hallucinations vanish.
- In the route where Sara votes for and thus kills Sou, their final act before dying is to activate the AI of Joe (whose death he contributed to in the first round,) stating it's his "last present" to Sara. Getting to meet her best friend again as an AI, Sara is reassured at last that Joe doesn't hate her and puts to rest the hallucinations that plagued her all through part two, gaining the strength to continue fighting the death game. The fact that it's the deceitful loner Sou who does this for her makes it even more heartwarming under the circumstances.
- A bittersweet moment comes during the route where Alice dies, and you can overhear a conversation between Reko and Safalin. Safalin offers to wipe Reko's painful memories of Alice much like she does for Sara in Chapter 2-1. Reko refuses; since she and Alice had been separated for so long, nearly all of her memories of him are painful ones, so she refuses to give them up rather than risk forgetting her brother entirely.
- Though Reko's death route is hardly lacking in that same sort of bittersweet heartwarming content as its alternative. While both are mourning deeply over the loss of Reko, Nao gives Alice one of Reko's gloves and keeps the other, swearing to carry on her spirit and reunite with the rest of their family to break the news. Even posthumously, meanwhile, the usage of the tokens left behind on Reko's body are what are used to trade the sacrifice card away from Nao. Gashu may have made sure it came back to her, but still, Alice even remarks in the Main Game how, in this way, Reko had protected Nao one final time. In general, even when he's devastated enough to require the treatment from Safalin his sister would refuse in his shoes, he's legitimately making much more of an effort to be an involved and open member of the group.
- While it does make Sara’s hallucinations worse, Gin giving Sara Joe’s dog Keychain means that Sara has something to remember Joe with and she is genuinely grateful and happy to receive it … unfortunately her hallucinations ruin the moment.
- Keiji reveals that the reason he joined the police was because he was inspired by a kind, friendly policeman who helped fish his mother's bike out of a river and fixed it for him. When he joined the force, he wanted to know if the man was still there.
- In Chapter 3-1, Q-taro, even after he's just been stabbed by Mai, decides not only to spare her, but that she's a victim of the game too. He's sick of people dying and asks that the Dummies side with them in the fight against Midori, that it's the only way they're all going to survive. Sara even notes that he's crying during his heartfelt speech. And this is the same Q-taro that, just a chapter ago, was willing to sacrifice everyone so he could escape.
- The very neat way the other survivors subvert What Measure Is a Non-Human? with their Dummy partners. Alice (assuming he's alive), remembering his experience with the Doll Reko, points out that they're acting very human and makes the decision not to treat them like they're expendable. If Alice is dead, Q-taro does so instead. Later, when Hinako muses that each of them probably has some important information the others don't have (which gives each of them unique value), Sara has the option to say that it doesn't matter and that their lives all have value. Hinako is surprised, and Naomichi (who Sara earlier tells that she'll also fight if Ranmaru does) compliments Ranmaru on having such a good partner.
- Really, the way the Dummies and survivors grow as a group is really heartwarming. At first, both are tense and uncomfortable with one another due to clashing personalities, the former group often bickering amongst themselves due to a general unfamiliarity. However, throughout 3-1B, they all grow out of this mindset, the Dummies become more cooperative, open, and caring towards one another and the Survivors, who return the gesture completely. It should be no surprise that when they finally do reach the Banquet, the Dummies are just as much of True Companions as anyone else.
- Despite Reko's cold behavior toward Alice in-game, her flashback reveals that upon learning that he was innocent, she became desperate to get him out of jail, tearfully begging Midori for a way to do so.
- In Gin's flashback, it's revealed he was formally diagnosed with autism. When a disguised Midori asks for his wish, he is surprised when Gin replies that he wants his mother to be happy and healthy. When Midori asks if Gin is sure he doesn't want to use the wish for himself (which could be interpreted as Midori suggesting having his autism cured), Gin replies that he doesn't need it, confidant he'll turn out okay on his own power.
- Before going to the banquet, Kurumada will remark that he'd like to hear a song before going there at least one more time. If either Yabusame is still alive, you can request them to sing. The Dummies and some of the others join in the singing, which makes the moment quite sweet as we see everyone in harmony again before the utter chaos that is the banquet. When you talk to Kurumada again, Sara notes that he has a look of satisfaction on his face. Though this can double into a Tear Jerker if you fail Maple's first fight, as Kurumada dies from his wounds while listening to the singing.
- The Doll Q-taro comforting Gin as he shuts down, his human counterpart having given up his life to out-gambit Midori and results in saving Gin. It brings a rather bittersweet moment to it, as it marks just how much Q-Taro changed from someone who's sacrifice others to someone who'd sacrifice himself.
- Keiji revealing that he's still alive in chapter 3-1B after Sara thinks that the drill killed him.
- Keiji: You did good Sara.
- Q-Taro and Keiji's friendship is undeniably a bit peculiar, but it's certainly nice to see the two getting along. They first exchange smiles when they outwit Sou's gambit with a gambit of their own, and then they go on to exclaim the pride in their situation. It even comes to a head in 3-1, where upon opening Keiji's coffin, the two can share a a joke about leaving the police officer in there, but when he's pulled out, Keiji takes his hand with a smile on his face, happy to see his friend.
- This extends to Q-Taro's flashback sequence in 3-1, where despite the former feeling awful for taking up Midori's offer at what was undeniably a low point for him, Keiji reassures him that he's far stronger than he gives himself credit for.
- When examining Sou's memories with the lantern, you have the opportunity to examine a robot action figure on the shelf of his room which he claims belongs to Midori but actually belongs to him, and you are presented the option to either tell him that it looks like a stupid hobby or tell him it looks fun. If you choose the latter, he is presently surprised and lets out a genuine smile.
Your Time To Shine
- Overall, it's great getting to see Mishima, who never got to see past Chapter 1, interacting with everyone.
- In Kanna's fondness event, she admits that she wants to go home to her sister Kugie, but she's also worried about having to give her answer. When pressed, she admits she has to decide on whether or not Kugie should accept a Love Confession she'd received. Kanna doesn't want to be alone and watch her sister walk home with a stranger every day, but she's also mature enough to think she should tell her it's okay. Mishima encourages her to do so as long as she's sure Kugie isn't getting involved with a bad person. After reflecting a bit, Kanna's sure she isn't and decides she should respect her sister's decision and plans to tell her it's okay.
- It's also a small but significant showing of how much Kugie cares about Kanna's feelings. She could've easily just said yes, but instead she was willing to ask Kanna if she'd be okay with it, wait for her answer and even turn them down if Kanna said no. It's a wonderful look at how, despite how they used to fight and in spite of what the Floor Masters had said, the Kizuchi sisters really do love each other.
- Oh, and that person who confessed to Kugie? It was another woman, who Kanna describes as kind and mature. Kanna doesn't even mention that part until the end and says it like an afterthought, likely because it doesn't bother her. Mishima, while he's a bit taken aback, also readily accepts that gender has nothing to do with love.
- Kanna's final fondness event is her attempting to understand what it means to be mature. Mishima informs her it'd most likely be independence, to which Kanna admits sounds difficult. Mishima admits that it is, and while Kanna is a bit disappointed to admit she has some time before she grows up, Mishima reassures her that she does have value despite her young age.
- During his fondness event with Joe, Joe puts himself down a bit as someone who's not very good at keeping track of information. Mishima counters this however, saying that people are naturally attracted to him due to his personality and enjoy themselves around him, and it's for this reason he is loved by his friends.
- In another event with Joe, he frets that he may be stuck on the island long enough to miss his friends graduating and their bonds will erode, a common fear for teenagers. Mishima however insists that they'll get off the island soon enough, and in the end, the bonds he made won't fade away, and that they're strong enough as long as he treasures them.
- Reko's final fondness event revolves around the a famed band that Mishima heard when he was young. After he and Reko start talking, he admits that while he had been trying to just have a topic the two could discuss together, he wanted to give her memories of the band in their early days after hearing the lead singer died. The singer objects to the notion, stating memories are just that, but Mishima refutes that they can become something more. Moved by this, she states she's going to allow herself to sing a song for him: Specifically, a final version of a song that was never released by the band in her own way, as she feels she has a better understanding of them thanks to him. Mishima is excited upon the news, and they promise each other not to die until they leave.
