#it feels like they went out of their way to make the 77th class more resistant to despair by making them a tight knit group of great people

[nagito-kissmaeda]

Community Gardens - Komaeda/Reader

CHAPTER ONE [here]

CHAPTER TWO

Word Count: 4837

Contains: No warnings as of yet Summary: You were a member of the reserve course before everything went to hell. Now you're helping the Future Foundation by tending to a small farm on Jabberwock Island, the real Ultimate Farmer was busy, so you will have to do.

The last member of class 77-B has just woken up, and he has questions.

AKA: A talentless reader teaches Komaeda about the smaller things in life, and maybe they fall in love.

Read on Ao3

You are elbow deep in dirt when he comes up the pathway to the garden plot. Most of the 77th class have been polite enough to you, but it was very rare that you got a visitor because the garden was pretty out of the way. It was fine really, it was going to be a while before any of the vegetables you were planting would even start to sprout so there was no reason for visitors. Hinata would drop by every now and again, though it always felt like it was out of obligation more than genuine concern. So seeing the figure in the distance slowly coming closer is a real shock. 

You tip the brim of your straw hat up so you can take a look at your visitor. It’s someone you’ve never seen before, and with the small number of people on the island, that was an exciting development. You give him a warm smile and a small wave as he comes to a stop at the edge of the garden bed.

His brow furrows and his mouth pulls into a tight line, “Who are you?”

You laugh, “You must be the last one to wake up! Did Hinata not warn you about me before you started your walk?”

“I...no, he didn't.” He crosses his arms, and the sunlight bounces off the back of his metallic hand, “Hajime is in a meeting.”

You clap a palm to your forehead and laugh at yourself, “Silly me! I forgot it was meeting time, how do I keep forgetting something that happens once a week?” You take a moment to bring yourself up to your feet, dusting the dirt off of your overalls, “Did they let you leave early?”

He laughs breathily, “no, that's not it. I wasn't invited.” He swallows, looking down at the ground, “I'm not sure they've all forgiven me for…”

“Oh.”

He doesn't need to finish. The specifics of what went on in the Neo World program were not divulged to you, but you know enough.

“Well, i’m sure they'll come around eventually. Tsumiki had to drop by to check on a nasty bug bite I got a few days ago and she said that everyone was already starting to warm back up to her.” You smile up at him, “You’ll be okay.”

He doesn't say anything, he just blinks at you slowly, his white hair blowing in the breeze. You clear your throat, “well, since you're here. Do you think you could water the seedlings as I plant them? I'll finish up much quicker if you're happy to help.”

“Um.” He looks around for a second, seeming hesitant to answer, “...sure.” 

“Thanks! Two hands make light work, you know?” You hoist the full watering can up from the ground and pass it into his awaiting hands. The handle clinked against his metal palm, “And your name - It’s Komaeda, yeah?” 

“Mm.” He replies, “Komaeda Nagito.” 

“Okay! Well, we need to move onto the empty plot up the back, follow me!” You say, and start walking. Komaeda is a decent bit taller than you, but it feels like his steps are laboured, he'd probably only been awake for a few days and had just re-learned how to walk.

“You never answered my question.” He says

You look at him over your shoulder, his face is already turning a little pink from the sun, “what question?”

“I asked who you are.”

“Oh yeah. Sorry. I can be forgetful sometimes.” You crouch down to the ground and dig a small hole in the dirt before grabbing a seedling and burying it inside, “I'm from the Future Foundation, I stayed behind to get the farm set up so you guys will still have food if something goes wrong with a shipment. Water that one, but be careful not to drown it-” you point to the seedling you’d just planted and then move onto the next, “I should only be here a couple of months longer.”

“Oh! The ultimate gardener! What a hopeful talent!” Komaeda says, watering the seedling before giving you a blinding smile, “nurturing life itself! What could possibly be more hopeful than that?”

“Oh no! Please don't misunderstand. I'm not an ultimate.”

He blinks at you, “not an…”

“The ultimate farmer is on the mainland. Somewhere near Kyoto.” You wipe the sweat from your brow and look up at the sky, watching the clouds pass over the sun, “the ultimate botanist didn't make it through the riots and the ultimate gardener was in Australia last we heard. The Foundation did ask if they wanted to come, but the answer was a no and they weren't going to force them.”

You give Komaeda a polite smile, “I'm just a regular person who likes gardening. That isn't so bad, is it?”

___

Komaeda comes back the next week. You don't ask if he skipped the meeting or if he still wasn't invited, because either way you are glad for the company. He grabs your watering can again and starts following you around as you check on all the seedlings you had planted the week before, he doesn't have much to say. He seems content to water your plants as you walk from plot to plot, it’s good he’s here, the plants do need diligent watering. The sun on the island is always hot and there hasn't been a drop of rain in the month or so since the foundation left you on the island.

“You said you aren't an ultimate.” Komaeda says, snapping you from your rhythm. Today is less labour intensive, so you are wearing a knee length sundress instead of your overalls. Komaeda is still in jeans and a coat, you are worried about him getting heatstroke. 

“I did.” You reach out and finger the leaves of a particularly sad looking carrot, “it sounds like you have a question. Go on, don’t be shy.” 

He nudges you out of the way so he can give the sickly carrot some water, “I didn’t know the Future Foundation hired those without talent.” 

You laugh at that. A gentle chuckle that rises up from your chest, “Every business needs someone to get the coffee, and there are only so many ultimate personal assistants in the world.”

Komaeda is listening carefully, his head cocked gently in a way that makes the sunlight glint off his hair. 

“I think there were about 50 of us normal people in the building, but there must be more out in the field and across the globe. There aren’t nearly enough ultimates to fill every spot at the foundation, and some of them wouldn’t even help us much. Hiring an ultimate firearms expert to file taxes would be a waste, you know what I mean?”

“Hm.” Komaeda says in lieu of a real reply. His lips are pulled tight and his brows are drawn, he is thinking a lot harder about this than you had expected him to. So hard that he loses focus on the plants he is watering.

“Hey.” You start, reaching up to place a hand on his cold metal wrist, “I think that one has had enough.” 

His eyes flick to the carrot he is drowning, and he wrenches the watering can away, Looking at the soaking patch of soil with an expression of forced acceptance, “Ah. My apologies. I’ve ruined your garden...not that it comes as a surprise.”

“We’ve all killed a plant. Gardening is a crapshoot.” You gesture widely to the rest of the plot, “that’s why you plant so many! Kill one plant, kill a hundred, it doesn’t matter. There will still be plenty left.”

He laughs bitterly, tucking his free hand into his pocket, “not if I kill them all.” 

Your heart reaches out for him. For the sad boy who thinks he is so cursed that one drowned plant foretells the death of a thousand. Whatever happened inside the simulation was none of your business, But you can’t help but wonder if it made him like this, or if this is how he has always been. A gust of wind picks up and blows past the garden, picking up dirt and leaves as it swirls past you and through Komaeda’s hair. He is very pretty, you decide.

“Unless you decide to stomp on every plant, you aren’t going to kill them all.” 

He meets your gaze, his mouth curled in an imitation of a smile, but you can see his eyes are sad, “with my luck...you never know.”

___

It is a few weeks this time before you see him again. His green coat is rolled up to the elbows and there is an ill fitting wide brimmed hat on his head, it looks like his hair is all squished underneath it. As he comes closer you notice that the skin on his face is flaking.

“Sunburn?” You ask

He looks away sheepishly, “Mikan wouldn't let me outside again until it went away.” 

“Dr. Tsumiki to the rescue! Good on her!” You exclaim, jumping up from your spot in the garden, “can I...take a look?” 

“Mikan already checked on it this morning.” You can hear the creak of his metal hand clenching and unclenching at his side, “she’s the ultimate nurse, she won’t have missed anything.” 

“I know, I know. But I took a first aid course in middle school, so don’t doubt my expertise.” You chew on your lower lip, squinting up at where the sun disappears behind Komaeda’s head, “Please. I just...I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

He raises his hands, almost like he is planning to shove you away, but then he lets them drop, “hm. Okay.” You take a step towards him, the top of your head only reaches his collarbones. His eyes flit between you and the middle distance as you draw closer and he gives you an uneasy smile, “everything accounted for?” He asks.

You chuckle, “yeah, your nose didn’t burn off or anything. Did Tsumiki give you sunblock? The hat won’t be enough.” 

“She did. It smells weird.” He crosses his arms in front of himself as you continue examining the flaking skin on his face, “can I ask you something?” 

You make a sad noise at a particularly large skin peel under his left eye, your hand itches to touch it, “uhhh. Sure.” You manage, forcing yourself to look him in the eye. 

“Did the foundation scout you? Or did you apply?” 

“Uh, both? Sort of.” Your hands are getting fidgety, so you clench them at your sides to keep them still, “i was actually a student at Hope’s Peak in the reserve course and they were running through the list of students to see if anyone survived. Last they heard um…” you try to focus on anything but Komaeda’s intense eyes, “last they heard, it was just me. I mean, I’m sure there are others who maybe evacuated or didn’t answer the phone. It can’t actually just be me, right?”

“How did you make it out?”

You sigh, “I didn’t. I was sick with the flu the week the riots started, and once my parents heard about what was happening they didn’t let me go back to school.” You can feel your voice getting shaky, “lucky break, huh?”

“So the rest of your cohort died in the name of despair, while you sat at home in bed, huh?” His eyes are cold as he looks at you. His vitriol is palpable, “am I getting this right?” 

You shrug one shoulder, “pretty much.”

His eyebrows jump up at that, “you admit it?” 

“Yeah, no reason not to.” You kneel down to the ground and start absentmindedly weeding around a strawberry patch. They are growing nicely, and it doesn’t look like any birds have been trying to eat them either, “I know that it wasn’t technically my fault what happened there, but the fact that one small change would have left me in the same boat as the rest of the reserve course, well…” you pull back some of the leaves, and smile at the sight of tiny green strawberries just beginning to grow, “I’ve been trying make my good fortune worth something. That’s why I joined the foundation, and why I decided to stay here and help all of you. I know I don’t have a talent, but there are plenty of things I’m good at! So I think that doing my best to bring hope back to the world in whatever small ways I can, is better than doing nothing at all.”

“But surely you must understand that any meagre hope you bring to the world will be inconsequential compared to the deeds of ultimates.” Komaeda replies, staring down at you. With you crouched low in the garden bed and his already impressive height, he makes an intimidating figure. You swallow, “Doesn’t that upset you? Don’t you feel worthless?”

Something clicks into place when he says that. His tone has changed and he sounds far away, like he is talking to someone else. You feel yourself soften, “Why should it upset me?”

“Huh?”

“I can't sing well enough to perform in a stadium, but my voice is perfect for lullabies. I couldn't cook in a five star restaurant, but my class loved my brownies.”  You smile up at Komaeda, you can't help noticing he looks radiant in the sunlight, “I once watched the ultimate farmer plant a pumpkin under concrete and it still managed to grow straight through. I could never do that, but what I can do is grow enough food for you and the rest of the people on this island. Hope is still hope, even if it’s small. Right?”

Komaeda just stares at you for a few seconds, All is silent but for gulls and the ocean off in the distance. one curl of hair has escaped from under his sun hat and it flutters in the light breeze. Your heart is racing when you realise how desperately you want to tuck it behind his ear. 

Then, finally. He moves. He crouches down at your side, close enough that you can see flecks of gold in his eyes, “can you teach me?” 

“Teach you…?” 

“How to garden.” He rests his elbows on his knees and leans in to take a closer look at your crop, “I’ve looked after a few pot plants in the past, but when you leave we’ll need someone to look after the farm so-“

“That’s a wonderful idea.” You said, beaming at him, “I’d love to help!” 

“I hope I won’t be too much of a burden.”

You rest your hand on his and for some reason his skin feels electric, “Komaeda.” You breathe, and his eyes meet yours, “You could never be a burden.”

___

“Nice shirt.” You say the next time Komaeda comes to visit. When he expressed interest in helping you garden, you’d told him that he absolutely couldn’t show up in his big green coat unless he wanted to ruin it and pass out from heatstroke. Sending new clothes over seemed to be very low on the foundation’s list of priorities, so the other folks on the island spent a lot of time raiding the old Jabberwock island gift shop.

Komaeda’s new shirt is at least three sizes too big, he has it tied in a knot at the right hip to keep it from hanging down to mid thigh. The front of it reads in a bold bubblegum font, “Jabberwock Rocks!”

He laughs, “It was the only one left that wasn’t in kids sizes. Just my luck.” 

Most of his white hair is pulled up in a high ponytail, but some of the shorter bits at the front are hanging in his eyes. He lifts one arm up to tuck some behind his ear and the shirt creeps up a little on the side he’s knotted. You see a flash of his skin, it’s suddenly hard to swallow. 

“Oh, i wasn't trying to be facetious. I mean it, you look comfortable.”

He shrugs one shoulder, “It is comfortable I guess, even if i am swimming in it.” 

“Well that’s good, because we’re actually doing some more planting today.” You gesture for Komaeda to follow you as you head out towards your newest garden bed, you’d spent the last three days tilling and fertilizing so it was finally ready for seeds, “It’s not a huge plot, and with you here I’m sure we’ll be finished nice and quick!”

He tilts his head at you, for some reason you find yourself taking notice of the way the large shirt dips under his collarbone. You swallow, “I thought you were done with planting?” He asks

“Oh, I was! This is just for my own enjoyment.” You reply, bending down to grab a spare trowel and a collection of seeds to pass to Komaeda, “We’re planting flowers. Sunflowers specifically.” 

“Just because you like them?”

“I mean mostly because i like them. Tanaka also came by a few days ago looking for a more sustainable food source for his hamster- ah sorry. Dark Devas of Destruction.”

Komaeda nods pensively, “And they can eat sunflower seeds. I do remember him mentioning that.”

“So yeah, two birds one stone.” You crouch down and work on planting your first seed, gesturing for Komaeda to do the same, “I think it will be nice for you guys to have something pretty on the island. Sustainability is all well and good, but most people wouldn't want to live on tofu alone, if you know what i mean.”

He follows your lead, crouching down opposite you and copying the way you plant the seeds. Albeit slower and with shakier hands. They’re very nice hands, his fingers are really pretty. You feel your cheeks burning from more than just the sun, and quickly direct your attention back to the soil as you move onto planting the next seed. 

“Have you…” Komaeda starts, still too focussed on his planting to look at you, “ever wanted a talent?”

“Of course I have. I get a little caught up sometimes in who i am supposed to be, and what my path in life is and I wonder if maybe having a talent would give me some clearer direction.” Komaeda is looking up at you now, there's a smudge of dirt on his cheek, “I’m not always that philosophical about it though, I get jealous like everyone else does. I try not to let it bother me too much, when I can, I work on focusing on the good parts of being talentless.” 

“What good parts?” He says, it sounds more like a dismissal than a legitimate question. You have learned not to take these jabs of his to heart, it doesn't seem like they’re really directed at you.

“Well, even though i find myself a little directionless from time to time. The fact that my future is entirely my choosing is a luxury that most talented people cannot afford, even if they would like it.”

Komaeda scoffs and wipes his nose with the back of his hand. There is more dirt on his face now, “What reason would an Ultimate have to squander their talent?”

“Just because you’re good at something doesn't mean you enjoy it.”

“ Enjoying it, is beside the point. If you are gifted with an Ultimate talent, it’s your duty to use it to bring hope to the world.” He’s stopped gardening now, gesticulating wildly with his hands, sending dirt arcing off into every direction, “If you don’t use your talent, you might as well just be-“ he stops himself, as if he just remembered who he is talking to.

“Talentless?” You offer. Smiling softly.

“I-“ he turns his attention back to the soil, “yes, talentless.”

“People are worth more than their talents.” You say, moving onto planting your next seed, “Did you know that Tsumiki is learning to knit? Last time i saw her she was halfway through making this wobbly little purple scarf, it was her first try and she was so excited. Why should skill mean anything if doing something makes you happy?” 

He doesn't reply, he’s looking up at you now and it feels like he is peeling back your layers with his eyes. You find yourself turning pink under his gaze. 

“You should ask her about it next time you see her. I think she wants to show other people.” You laugh a little, tucking some hair behind your ear, “I mean, she took the time to show me, and I’m not even her friend.”

“Aren’t you?” Komaeda asks, tilting his head to the side.

You scoff, “No. I’m just a worker bee, I don't expect any of you to be friends with me if you don't want to. Anyway, if you want a more straightforward answer to your question, Yes I've often wished I had a talent.” you laugh quietly to yourself, averting your eyes as you feel yourself going red, “I’ve always wanted to be the Ultimate Songwriter, i uh…I really like love songs” You turn to Komaeda and smile, “What about you?”

“Huh?”

“What about you? What do you want your talent to be?”

His brow furrows, and he frowns, “I have a talent. It may be paltry compared to the hopeful talents of my classmates, but i have one. Don’t reduce me to your level.” He crosses his arms, eyes glinting with vitriol.

You laugh, “You misunderstood my question. If you could have a different talent, what would you want it to be?”

“What? I- I don’t-“

You give up on planting for now, crossing your legs and tucking your hands in your lap, Komaeda is practically squirming, “Come on, you can do it! Picture you get to meet yourself from another universe, what talent do you want him to have?” 

Komaeda just stares at you, eyes wide. For a moment you think you’ve said something wrong, that you’ve offended him again. His mouth opens and closes, trying to find the words but unable, his hands are shaking, “He’s-“ 

His chest is heaving and what almost sounds like a sob hiccups in his throat as his arms wrap around himself. Trying to curl up inside of a coat that he isn't wearing, “He’s-”

It’s like something inside him snaps back into place, he shoots back up from the ground and turns away from you. For a moment you forget yourself and reach out to him. He leans away from your hand, panic visible on his face, “I have to go. I’m sorry.”

The wind is blowing gently and the sun is setting behind the trees as Komaeda walks off into the distance. You’re still sitting in the dirt, heart racing in your chest with the gravity of the moment that almost was. The stars, the planets, the whole universe stops, and you realise you are in love with him.

___

It isn't Komaeda who comes to visit next, but Hinata. You feel guilty at the way your heart sinks when you see him walking up the path, he’s wearing one of the shirts he thrifted from the giftshop, a hideous orange hawaiian affair decorated with apples and bananas. The shirt is like a beacon, you know it’s him from a mile away. 

You’d spent all night pondering your next conversation with Komaeda, what you were going to say. You wonder if there has been a shift in your relationship after that moment you stepped over the line in the sand. After he left , you didn't attempt to follow. If he needed space you weren't going to stop him. You just hoped he would trust you enough to come back.

“Good morning, Hinata.” You say, pulling yourself up from the ground and dusting the dirt of your overalls, “everything okay?”

“Oh, uh, yeah. Everything’s fine.” He tucks his hands in his pockets and takes a quick glance at your garden, “plants growing alright?”

You nod, “it’s slow going, I’ve been watering every day but there hasn’t been any rain.”

Hinata cringes, rubbing the back of his neck, “sorry I couldn’t help. I’m still...getting the hang of him.”

A few days after he woke up, Hinata had attempted to, as he described it, ‘wrangle Kamukura’ and use some of his talents to force it to rain. There had been a very quick and very aggressive torrential downpour, and then five hours straight of snow. After that it seems there was an executive decision to keep Kamukura locked away for now.

“I spoke to Souda about an irrigation system. He’s been scavenging for parts but he said it will

Probably be a few weeks, maybe a month.” You shrug one shoulder, “I just need to keep everything alive until then, it’ll be okay.”

“Thanks for giving him something to do. He was getting a little restless.” Hinata laughs to himself, “Kazuichi can be a nightmare when he’s restless.”

“I’m glad to be useful, even if it just means keeping Souda busy.” You smile and wipe your brow with the back of your hand. The sun is relentless as always, “Did you need something from me, Hinata? I doubt you just came by to chat.”

“Oh, uh yeah.” He starts, “The foundation sent the karaoke set that Ibuki has been begging for since day one.” Hinata smirks wryly at the thought, “So we’re having a party on the beach tonight.”

“Oh!” You say, “That’s nice, i hope you all have fun!”

Hinata blinks and clears his throat, “I’m inviting you.”

“Inviting me? You don't have to do that!” You say, heading a little further down the plot to water some more plants “I’ve been learning how to cross stitch so I have plenty to do tonight.”

Hinata’s red eye is boring into you. Your heart races. There is a secret that you haven't told even Komaeda about, a secret that maybe even the Future Foundation doesn't know, a secret that Hinata himself seems to have forgotten, so you swallow the thoughts down for now. It would be a waste to bring them up.

“Everyone is going to be there, that includes you.”

You smile, it’s nice of him to try and include you in the group. You know better. The class of 77-B has been nothing short of welcoming, but you are not their friend, “I’ll see what i can do.” he turns to leave, but right as he does you have a sudden thought, “Oh, Hinata?”

“Mm?”

“Can you tell Komaeda i said hello?”

Hinata blinks at you, “Tell...Komaeda…” he shakes his head, “Wait, is this where he’s been disappearing to?”

Your heart sinks like a rock in your chest, “He didn't tell you?”

“He didn't tell anyone.”

You try to swallow the lump in your throat, but all you can think about is Komaeda keeping you like some shameful little secret. You force a smile, “Dont worry about it, then!”

Hinata’s brows draw and he takes a step closer to you, “Wait, I have questions.” he sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, “Has he been treating you okay?”

“Of course he has.” You tilt your head to the side, confused, “He gets a little rude sometimes, but i'm not sure he entirely means it.”

“Nothing...weird?”

Now you’re really confused, “No. Nothing weird. He’s quiet, contemplative. He mostly just asks me questions.”

The tension leaves Hinata’s shoulders and he nods, “Okay. Good. I-” He crosses his arms and averts his eyes, “I’m worried about him. He’s been, I don't know, withdrawn? Since he woke up, I haven't had much time to talk to him about it. That is if he would even listen to me.”

“Hinata. I know-” You sigh, wrapping your arms around yourself nervously, “I know that what happened in the program is none of my business, and that there must be a reason the Foundation didnt tell me everything but-”

Hinata holds up a hand and says, “I’m gonna stop you there. You’re right that it’s none of your business, and i would honestly prefer you didn't know if you didn't have to.” he exhales, “but if Nagito wants to tell you, I’m not going to stop him. I’m just not sure that should be my choice to make.”

“I don’t think i want to ask him.”

He huffs and rests his hands on his hips, “Yeah, i probably wouldn't either. Look, it uh- it was kind of fucked in there, you know? I just want to make sure everyone is doing okay now that we’re out, so if you notice anything strange-”

“I’ll tell you.” your eyes are feeling heavy, and you suddenly realise that you are trying not to cry, “Don't um...don't tell Komaeda i mentioned him. I think he would prefer no one knew that he was coming here.”

“Sure…” Hinata replies, he sounds uneasy, maybe even a little confused, “I’ll see you tonight, yeah?”

You nod. 

Hinata leaves. 

You don't go to the party.

[thebusytypewriter]

So likeeeee Matsuda oneshot??? Maybe the two of them making out while on duty??? Or even just him bullying reader :33333 plssss (ok a more like formal idea would be Matsuda continuously bumping into reader in the hall and thinking he doesn’t like them when in reality he has a crippling crush on them and he’s just too tsundere to admit it or smth) (why is requesting smth off anon so scary to me)

EEE absolutely, Cressie! Thank you for requesting! I hope I do your bbg justice :D

The first time Matsuda bumps shoulders with you while passing in the hallway, he earns himself a large red splotch on the sleeve of his good dress shirt.

No, it isn’t blood. Yes, he makes sure of it.

It’s paint, of all things. It makes sense, he supposes, given how you are the Ultimate Artist. The two of you have never really spoken, even though you both landed in the same section of the 77th Class, but that also makes sense. After all, his talent is strongly rooted in the sciences—neurology—while yours is among the arts.

Matsuda scowls as he dabs at the stubborn red spot with a paper towel. The arts, to him, are a waste of time. They can be a source of endorphins, but there are better, more efficient ways to acquire them than to just… well. He’s not entirely sure what it is that you do, but he can tell by your frantic running that it brings you more stress than joy.

(Like he should be the one to judge for that.)

The second time, it’s a green stain. The third, it’s black. Fourth, orange.

Matsuda’s running out of good shirts.

The fifth time he bumps into you in the hallway, paint finally remains out of the equation. Instead, you nearly knock him straight into the trash can with the sheer force of your hurry.

He catches himself on the wall and manages to avoid falling into the can, cursing all the way as you scramble to a stop. You’re babbling, he observes, mostly filled with apologies and questions about his wellbeing, all while you look at him with those large doe eyes. Matsuda spots a dry patch of blue paint on your cheek, as well as some in your hair. Your painter’s smock is absolutely littered with colorful stains, of course. He doubts you’ve noticed or even care at this point.

It’s rather… cute.

You’re reaching for him with a pinched brow. Shit, he must’ve missed everything you said. He smacks your hand away with a grumble. “Watch where you’re going, then, ditzy bitch.”

Leaving his first words spoken to you hanging in the air, he marches away toward the psych lab. He feels your wide-eyed stare burning into his back.

You don’t bump into him again after that.

Matsuda can tell that you’re avoiding him on purpose, probably so there isn’t a repeat of last time. He wonders for a moment if he went too far.

No, he reminds himself. You both may be Ultimates, but you’re very different people. You are a neurologist, working in a lab and making history in the sciences. They’re an artist that… that…

Not quite sure what possesses him to do so, Matsuda feels determined to find out what it is that you do in your art room. It’ll help him better understand the differences between the two of you.

Yes, that would be the only reason.

Nothing else.

Of course.

That’s what he tells himself until he’s staring at a half-finished canvas in the art room.

Instinctually, he identifies the subject as a brain—superior view of the brain, looking down at the two halves. On the left, open surfaces of the gyri are filled with numbers and letters and shapes and equations, all added in a brilliant collage made of both magazine and newspaper clippings as well as paint. It’s orderly and precise, just like the left brain is wired to be. He notices that it’s covered with a thin layer of plastic taped to the board, likely for protection.

The other side remains empty. Blank. In-progress.

“M-Matsuda-san!”

You’ve returned to the room, a palette in hand—one with freshly-added globs of paint adorning it. He was willing to bet that you’d been preparing to finish the piece with all of that color.

He takes far too long to say something, anything, so you end up following his gaze to the palette. Your cheeks flush. “Oh. I, uh, couldn’t decide on a color scheme for the right brain yet, so I just brought them all over to compare. But you don’t care about that, right?” Before he has the chance to argue, you’re moving past him toward the canvas. “I heard that art bores you. The visit is appreciated, but you don’t have to stay. I don’t want to keep you from important things—”

Matsuda hates, he realizes, how you assume such things about him. It’s nothing against you—only disappointment in himself for not being crystal clear.

Much faster than he would care to admit, Matsuda turns and grabs you by the shoulder to stop that train of thought and clarify his affection—affection?—for you when…

For the first time, he bumps into you with too much force, and the edge of your palette catches on the canvas. The other end slips from your grip, and the entire surface lands paint side against the blank right brain.

You scramble back, aghast, as the palette remains adhered to the canvas, colors oozing out from beneath the wood.

“Shit,” he finally says. “Sorry. Sorry, that wasn’t intentional. I can… I can pay for new supplies to replace the wasted ones. I can hire someone to restore it. I can fix this.”

“No need.”

Startled by the dismissal, Matsuda simply blinks at you. “…Huh?”

You’re smiling. You’re smiling, and it does weird things to his stomach. The surprise has worn off, it seems, while you pull the palette from the canvas gingerly. “As a great man once called it, this is a… happy accident.”

Sure enough, when the palette is removed, a swirl and spattering of color is left over top of the right brain’s section. A good portion of your lining is covered, but it’s still visible enough to trace over again. All things considered, it’s an impressive visualization of the creativity of the right brain in comparison to the left, not to mention appealing on its own.

“Thank you,” you mumble, the flush on your cheeks mirroring the heat in his own when he realizes he’d been saying all of that aloud. “But I should be giving you at least some of the credit. I-If you want it, that is. I know art’s boring to you.”

The faintest of smiles pulls at his lips without permission. “…I’m beginning to see the appeal.”

[starlightshadowsworld]

The way I invision Danganronpa v3 is that it really was a TV show.

A reality TV / murder mystery.

However it was a lot more lighthearted than you'd expect.

The effects were goofy, the blood was pink to avoid a higher rating.

The trials were less serious and killed off characters usually always came back one way or another.

It was a show despite it's morbid premise, meant to inspire hope.

It was supposed to be fun, for the cast and audience alike.

... But than the 77th killing game hit the air waves and suddenly nothing else could be watched.

And Tsumugi was fascinated, she became more and more obsessed with the show.

With it's realistic story, with it's blood and gore that even though she knew it was real she was detached to it.

When it ended, Tsumugi was horrified and desperately wanted it to continue... So she turned to her own show.

Rebooting it for a new season and drastically changing it.

The cast were unsure and some uncomfortable with their new direction.

These being the "audition videos."

But it was the apocalypse out their, it's not like they were gonna find work anywhere else.

And so it began.

Gone were the lighthearted messages and goofy effects.

Now giant executions were in place and the stories a lot more hard hitting and dark.

The viewers ate it up.

Demanding more and more gore, more and more violence and Tsumugi loved every second of it.

Her cast suffered from it.

Physically.

Mentally.

But they still held on.

Partly from each other and partly from the kind and sweet "inner voice" coming from Keebo's ahoge.

Being the voices of the audience, the people who cared and were concerned.

Something Tsumugi wasn't aware of.

However as time went on, Tsumugi grew tired off the usual antics.

And decided to make the new season, the best, the most gore filled, dark.

And so she found several neurologists who once worked under Matsuda Yasuke and had every one of the casts memories removed.

She joined the game and this time, wanting a taste up close.

And this time the deaths would feel permanent. They weren't though, Tsumugi wouldn't let her cast die.

This show would carry on forever.

It would be what Junko's killing game should have been.

... Unfortunately the inner voice would turn out to be more of a usuiance than ever.

Especially when someone got word to Makoto "I'm to tired for this shit" Naegi.

He couldn't get into the building, much like how his class couldn't get out of there's.

Tsumugi really, really studied his killing game.

But he could guide them to find the exit.

He could give them hope.

Makoto could only hope it would be enough while he tracked down the survivors.

And that's what happens when you take Danganronpa and make it yugioh arc v 😂😅

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Order #1: Open for Business!

Hey, Kuripa. Can I borrow you for a second?

Sure. What’s up Boss?

This may seem a little sudden but...I have a job for you. Kind of an important one. You know how it’s Christmas?

...

*Kuripa sarcastically checks his watch.

Is it? I had no clue.

I could do with a little less of that attitude you know? I’m already busy enough this time of year as is.

Sorry Boss, I just don’t like it when you state the obvious.

Ok, well, I’ll make this brief then. Turns out that the Freedom Foundation decided to come and visit for the holidays.

And...God knows where she got this idea, but Maya decided that in order to “spread the festive cheer” or something, she’s asked permission to set up a mini coffee house in the main building cafeteria.

Kyoko thought that would be a nice idea, so she approved.

Ah, so THAT’S what all those transported resources were going for. I was wondering if the 77th Class were throwing another Christmas Party.

They’ve decided to take their celebration somewhere else this year. They don’t want to get in everyone else’s way.

Right, well...Sounds like she’s doing something good, and it’s bliss that everyone at Future Foundation will get to try Maya’s coffee. So, what’s the problem?

*sigh* The problem is that she CLEARLY underestimated the sheer scale of people who work for the Foundation. She’s got far more customers than she’s ever had at Freedom Café back in the states, and she’s feeling overrun.

Ok, well...Why don’t you provide her some staff?

We don’t have staff to spare with running a café, and those who have been chosen have pulled out. Apparently they find Maya...“difficult to work with”

Well...I guess that’s fair. Maya’s got an energy and creativeness level that’s difficult to match.

But YOU CAN match it Kuripa. Which is why I’m here.

Maya and her friends are here for 12 days, so the café is going to remain standing for that time. Do you think you could help Maya run her establishment for that time? I know how well you work as a team.

Plus, if the customers are satisfied with their orders, I’ll make sure you’re rewarded.

Well...I can make tea with my eyes closed, but Maya will need to walk be through some basic coffee making techniques first.

Still, I’m definitely on board. 

Thanks. You’re doing us all a great favor.

Also...I know how chaotic you can be, but I’m giving you this task with the intention of making sure you reign both yourself and Maya in. I really don’t want you two causing us trouble over the holidays, so please, try not to go crazy.

Wouldn’t dream of it Boss. I’ll go see her now. Happy Christmas!

‘Sup Asshole!

Kuripa!

*Kuripa strides confidently into the cafeteria towards Maya’s new stand.

Woah. The Future Foundation really went all out for you, huh?

I’m an esteemed guest. Course I deserve the finest hospitality.

That buff guy with the mohawk really did me a service. He helped me put all this shit up.

You’re probably talking about Mondo, right? That’s a pompadour, not a mohawk.

Unless...he had a weird haircut since the last time I saw him, but I doubt it.

How have you been?

Eh...Stressed. I’ve only had the store up for a couple hours and I’ve lost a crapton of orders. Four and the gang offered to help, but I want them to enjoy their Christmas, you know?

I heard you chased the staff away too.

...I guess I was a bit much for them.

Nah. Future Foundation are just wet blankets. The regular employee’s don’t have what it takes to put up with most people’s creativity and extremism. It’s not you.

But, you’re in luck. It just so happens that I’m here to apply for the job. Or I guess take it.

Huh?

Boss sent me here and asked me to help you bartend. We’re gonna be partners for the next two weeks.

Oh, fottutamente dolce! 

Ahem...I mean...Thanks. But...are you sure?

Why not? We make a great team.

No, no, we do! It’s just...Do you know how to mix?

Well...not really. I don’t make coffee often, but I make a mean cup of tea.

Right, that helps. I don’t really like making tea, so I can have you cover me for that.

But this place doesn’t just sell tea and coffee you know? We also sell beverages and cocktails. I know you can handle difficult tasks with ease Kuripa, but mixing cocktails is a whole different genre. It’s delicate work and requires a certain amount of...finesse.

It may have something to do with my ADHD, but even I struggle with it. Everything from ingredient ratio to your mixing technique could affect the final product.

First time I ever tried making a cocktail, I ended up mixing three kinds of hard liquor into one drink. My Grandad tried it and he passed out on the floor for 4 hours after a single sip.

Yikes...

Well, don’t you worry about that. I have pretty good uh...precision perceptiveness...If that’s a term.

Oh yeah? How good?

Hm...Well...

I know exactly where the average persons vital organs are in the body?

...Right...I’m not gonna question that.

Look, just don’t bite the hand that feeds, alright? If the staff have ran away and you don’t want your friends to help, I may very well be the only person you’ve got left.

Yeah, good point. Alright, fine. I appreciate the help, but let’s maybe divvy the tasks up.

I’ll handle the coffee making and the cocktail brewing.

Then I will handle the tea and other beverages.

Great! 

Just remember one last thing. Customer orders can be very specific. Some might enjoy a stiffer drink while another might want the same thing but a little more sour. Make sure you keep this in mind.

Got it.

And Kuripa...Truth be told, there’s another thing that I may really need your help with.

What’s up?

One very important part of bartending is communication. At my establishment, alongside making drinks, I also converse with my regulars. It lets me get a read on the personalities of those who come in, and oftentimes it means I’ve already made the drink before they’ve even sat down.

But...everything is NEW here. I don’t know a vast majority of these faces. But you DO, so...

Ah, say no more. I know exactly how to handle most of the stiff personalities we’ve got at this place. And I DO love a good conversation.

I can introduce you, and we can have a good ol’ chin wag.

...?

...

A chat. I mean we can have a chat.

Oh! Gotcha!

So...Shall we get this place open?

Took the words right outta my mouth ma’am!

[sips-tea-cutely]

May I request yandere Shuichi being overprotective, possessive and jealous with his s/o?

<3

Yandere! Shuichi

note: this is in honor of either kokichi or kaito’s death. i love you, and shuichi too kinda. he got too sassy at trial 4’s aftermath. hanayami is just a random name i use for placeholder characters.

tw: yandere, slurs and slightly nsfw (miu)

#Shuichi Saihara

shuichi had been following behind you the whole day. he didn’t like to think about it like a stalker way, more like.. an assistant. his eyes twitched with admiration, admiration for his ‘girlfriend’, s/o. his mouth gaped at your beauty. “wow, s/o. you truly are a treasure. just stay with me. i’ll treat you like a queen, i promise.” shuichi panted as his heartbeat fastened. he didn’t even care if you were miles away from him. you were his soulmate, he was sure you’d hear his confession in your mind.

“akamatsu! hey!! are you joining me and miu to the movies? i heard that the my little pony movie is in cinemas and miu really wants to watch it!” your hand waves over to the blonde pianist. plans? if you were busy, you wouldn’t have any time for your dear ‘boyfriend’. this made shuichi very upset.

“oh! yeah, i’m coming along! i’ll pay for snacks this time, okay? i feel guilty making miu pay for it all the time!” kaede smiled. “tch! i’m only doing it because you’re coming along with me to this. understand, small-tits?” miu scowled and you bless the world with your gorgeous giggle. the giggle shuichi fell in love with. all jealousy and envy he had for all of your peers fades whenever you even breath, everything you do is a blessing from the gods.

“alright then, meet me and miu in front of the school after school. plus, the upperclassman, gundham from class-77 might want to join too!” a boy too? shuichi’s whole body twitched in envy and wrath. “jeez! what does that emo fuckboy want to watch my little pony?” miu rolled her eyes. “we could ask you the same question, miu..” kaede giggled. “heeeee! stop kinkshaming me!i like watching them while i masturbate!” miu squirmed. “please don’t ruin the one thing that’s keeping us friends..” you mumble.

shuichi heard enough. he angrily stomped up the stairs to the classrooms of the 77th generation. he knocked on the closed door and was met with the sleepy class rep. “oh, hey, shuichi. what’re you doing here? your class is like.. two floors down.” chiaki yawns, the chime of another completed level ringing. “oh, hello, chiaki, could i talk to gundham, please?” his polite and timid tone fooling everyone to think the trustworthy detective could even be trusted.

“gundham.. shuichi’s here to see you. hurry up, ms. yukizome is coming for homeroom soon.” chiaki turned her back to return to her seat. gundham reluctantly went to meet the bluette and left sonia with mahiru. “heh, what is it? have you came to duel me. that is a foolish move considering i have my four dark devas of destruction on hand!” and out of his scarf, released a horde of hamsters.

ironically, he kind of came to duel him. “not really, just a warning. come close to my girlfriend, s/o, and i’ll slice you and your hamsters into a soup.” shuichi’s eyes darkened. “wh-what is this? you dare taunt me–– gundham tanaka, the supreme overlord of ice?!” gundham’s eyes morphed into true fear.

“oh, quit with that bullshit. i’m serious. stay away from her, or else you’ll end up just like natsumi.” shuichi harshly sighed as he walked away. now, he needed to back kaede and miu away. he climbed down the flights of stairs.

“ah, shuichi, your back!” kaede waved at him. “you should hurry, shuichi. class is starting soon.” hanayami, the class president and ultimate prodigy warned. “sure, little miss perfect.” shuichi spitefully whispered. kaede put a hand on his shoulder. “shuichi.. are you okay? what’s gotten into you? i’m worried for you..” kaede showed him an honest look of concern, a look that just forced him to spill his guts.

“ohh! so you’re jealous?” kaede giggled. “grh! it’s not like that, kaede!” shuichi angrily pounded his fist into the mahogany desk, his flustered face saying otherwise. “well, you’re really jealous of miu, if that would even be possible, we could always cancel our plans! there’s another showing tomorrow.” kaede gently smiled. “really, kaede? you’d do that for me?” shuichi took off his hat and covered his blushing face. “of course! you’re my friend, shuichi. good luck!” she smiled, going to her desk. that was… surprisingly easily.

————————

it was finally afterschool, he ran to the outside of the school, seeing if kaede truly kept her promise. and she did. he saw you on the stairs leading to the school, tears filling your glassy eyes. he was, of course, concerned for his dearest beloved.

“s/o, are you alright?” shuichi ran to your side. and stroked your back gently. “miu and kaede… ditched me.” you let out between sniffs and sobs. “how about you come over to my house? forget about them, if you stay with me, i promise you that i’ll you the way you deserve.” shuichi smiled. “a-alright… i’ll pack my things and meet you later.” you smile. his plan worked better than expected. now you were his.. Forever.

[multishipper-baby]

T4T PekoHina? Tell me more 👀

Oh, I just think they're a pretty nice (and underrated) combo. Besides the fact that I headcanon them both as trans individually, I also think they're just the type of trans people who could support each other best.

For example, Peko probably didn't have a normal transition, being part of the Yakuza. With the legal system being so unjust to trans people, do you think Fuyuhiko just let her suffer through it? Of course not. All her legal documents are forged, even her birth certificate, so that they all have her chosen name. She's been on estrogen for years. There's little to no pictures of her before transition and, as far as the world is concerned, she's just a cis girl who's good at swords. Only a few old members of the Kuzuryu clan know she's trans, and most of them don't even care- it's not exactly a good idea to get on the bad side of the next heir or his extremely capable bodyguard, after all. While she's had her fair share of issues, being trans really wasn't one.

Hajime, though, lived a more common trans experience: he had issues with his parents when he came out, still has his deadname on his legal documents, doesn't really have access to surgery at the time, etc. Hell, I'd say his issues with self worth and wanting to be exceptional probably stem from being trans: he went from being your average kid to being the trans kid, the one everyone wanted to comment on or ask invasive questions to. And then he started passing, so he went back to being in the background, largely ignored. He wants to be special, but for something people see as good this time, something they'll celebrate him for rather than judge (not to mention that graduating Hope's Peak would have him set for life, and he could definitely use that money for surgery so that he can be completely stealth in the future).

So, what does this matter to their relationship? Well, that each can learn something important from the others' experiences.

Having so much of her identity wrapped around being a bodyguard and taking care of Fuyuhiko, I doubt Peko had much contact with the trans community at large, or that she knew about the average trans experience. I feel like having someone like Hajime give her his lived experience would make her feel more connected to the community at large, and would help her understand their struggles and their fight to make things better. Besides, it's probably just good for her in general to have someone with an understanding of dysphoria and euphoria and the journey of transitioning. Having someone she can talk to about that stuff, knowing that he'll understand, must be great for someone who grew up without much chances to relate to others.

Meanwhile, Hajime probably needs someone like Peko to help him realize that being trans isn't a curse. He's always been a negative person, and he's had difficulties in life because of his transness. He doesn't hate his identity, but it's hardly something he's proud of, either. Having someone who grew up accepted, that lived in a community where her gender was never questioned or frowned upon, that could change her body to something that fit her... It would make him feel jealous, sure, but it would also give him hope that he can find a place like that for himself. Hell, it might help him realize that he's already found a place he can be himself- here, with Peko and the rest of class 77th. That here, he can stop thinking about being trans as a weight, and instead view it as a part of himself, something that makes him unique. I think that realization would heal him, in a way.

But yeah, T4T pekohina is king.

[idiotwhotalkstoomuch]

Explanation on DR3 Brainwashing

I admit it felt a bit cheap at first glance but it suddenly makes so much sense once you look into Junko’s character

This could be considered DR0 spoilers but it’s outright stated in the anime so it’s safe

Something common I see is

“WASTED OPPORTUNITY”

And while I admit it would’ve been cool to see Junko break these people down one by one something to remember is while the idea is cool would Junko even do it?

People tend to see “can” as “did” in Danganronpa which is something that should not be done

While it’s true with Junko’s super analytical abilities she CAN manipulate all of them one by one but did she?

No and here’s why

Junko’s whole character is defined by despair but the question is.... why is she so obsessed with despair?

Despair is a feeling of emotional feel over loss or anything that can cause them grief

Examples are the loss of loved ones and the failure of something you worked hard on

Junko has been born with extreme intelligence and can be talented at anything and see through anything and anyone with no issues and hardly any effort which bored the shit out of her

She likes to use despair as a way to not feel the boredom of knowing everything and to let it consume her by any means necessary

Examples are (okay there are actual DR0 spoilers now so stop looking at this paragraph if you’re sensitive): Killing Mukuro Ikusaba, her beloved twin sister and killing Yasuke Matsuda, her childhood friend and the one she loved most

These actions cure her boredom because she can predict it but the emotional pain she feels of losing these people are wonderful to her.

Now.... WHY THE H E L L would the crazy bitch who literally kills her loved ones waste her time manipulating those 15 fuckers when she can just brainwash them?

I’m not gonna say she was always gonna do brainwashing but her meeting Mitarai is what caused her to decide brainwashing

She can see through anyone’s character immediately due to her powerful analytical talent so she already knows everything about everyone without even speaking to them.

Well maybe not everything but she already has a solid idea.

She even went for people who were kinda transparent in their character like Mikan and Chisa first

Mikan clearly had mental issues and Junko saw it and just took her cause she was easy.

Chisa was clearly devoted to her class, her friends and the children of Hope’s peak which makes it easy to use the student council killing game on her.

People say this devalues her targeting the 77th class since she could’ve brainwashed ANYONE

N o

Just

N o

She chose the 77th class because of their tragic and traumatic pasts would make them mentally weaker than a normal person and make them easier to brainwash

Why do you think she resorted to lobotomy on Chisa?

Chisa had a stronger mental state on them and the reserve course were all insecure and sad blue fucks the despair video did the job

To put it simply, Junko manipulating the 77th class would give her the last thing she wants

Boredom

People say “ohhh but that brings her despair!”

NO IT DOES NOT

Despair and boredom are different. Boredom is numb misery and despair is emotional and mental destruction. Very different

Brainwashing was quick and easy and she could get straight to her despair without the pointless road of talking to 15 people who she already knew what to do and say to make them her bitches

It’s like playing a visual novel already knowing the full plot and the effects of every choice made. There’s no point

Saying that brainwashing devalues Junko is devaluing Junko’s character which is defined by despair and boredom

(This rant just came out because I actually like the brainwashing now and want to see more content of it so here’s outing the reason)

[toto-doodles]

First Date

This is for the @danganevents valentines fic exchange :) I was assigned @deadpunkin who wanted komahina fluff! This was my first time doing something like this and It was a cool experience- I hope you have fun reading it! ^^

Hajime Hinata was running late.

This wasn’t a common nor uncommon experience really. Hajime’s most remarkable quality (excluding his abnormally spikey hair) would have to be how average he is. And being late occasionally is just a part of life! That was something anyone could understand and be understanding of, surely..

This is what was repeating through Hajime’s head as he dashed to the bus stop down the street from his apartment complex. Just a little bit further-

“OOF!”

Upon rounding the street corner Hajime collides with an immense and immovable object. This ‘object’ was none other than Nekomaru Nidai.

“Woah, there- What’s the rush!” Nekomaru exclaimed, helping pick Hajime up from off the ground where he had fallen. The Ultimate Team Manager was built like a brick house and running headlong into him made that especially clear.

“I appreciate your enthusiasm, though your form is severely lacking!” He continued, helping brush Hajime off lightly and doing his best to smooth down the spiky mass of hair “Having heart is important but we’ll never reach play offs on that alone. If you really want to improve your run time I can help you devise a solid regiment suited to your build!” At this point Nidai had given up on fixing the mess known as Hajime’s hair and punched his fists together enthusiastically “Just give me the word an-“

“Nidai I am so sorry but also- I do Not have time for this today.” Hajime sputtered out darting around the managers’ form and making a run for it, “We can talk about this another day!” He half-heartedly promised over his shoulder, already trying to calculate how much this detour would affect his time. As he was not the SHSL Mathematician, however, Hajime soon abandoned this line of thought.

Nidai huffs to himself lightly, as the smaller student flees away in a full on sprint, “He must really have to take a shit..”

Across town a lone figure arrives at the door of Jabberwock Java, a local coffee chain renowned for its fun and exotic take on the classic café theme.

-

“Huh. I’m 15 minutes early! That’s just my luck..” He sighed before sitting at one of the outside tables to wait for 6 o’clock. Better than being late, really. Nagito had made sure to leave Hope’s Peak with plenty of time and to take the most secure path available according to Google maps. That way even if was waylaid by criminals or caught in a storm he would have plenty of time to deal with the issue.

Despite emotionally preparing for something unfortunate the entirety of the trip, it had been remarkably easy. Almost frighteningly so.

“A lot can happen in 15 minutes,” Nagito thinks to himself while thoughtfully gazing towards the horizon.

-

He made it! The bus was leaving right as he arrived but due to Hajime’s quick reflexes and the bus driver’s kindness (ie. Running alongside the bus as it started to pull off and knocking on door), he was now seated in the fourth closest seat to the door.

“Finally, something is going right,” Hajime sighs, taking a moment to try and catch his breath. The fellow bus occupants were likely judging him, but he had made it on and that’s what really counts. The person in the next seat over was openly staring daggers at him.

They would probably stop once they realized he wasn’t going to acknowledge them. Sweat dripped down the side of his neck and Hajime wished he had the foresight to bring water.

Or the foresight to just leave on time instead fussing over his stupid outfit for half an hour. Its not like he even wore anything that different from his usual clothes..

“Hajime?..”

Sure, it was a slightly nicer button down. Crisp collar, unlike his every day outfit. And the tie he chose was not the usual green- but a more grey-ish green shade than usual. Not that he bought it specifically for this or anything! He just… needed a new tie.

“Hajime!”

Oh fuck.

So much for ignoring them, “Oh! Hey there Ibuki,” he smiled in what was hopefully a nonchalant manner “What’s up?” He went to lean in to more of a relaxed slouch against the handrail but, upon realizing an outer seat didn’t actually have that, stopped before he could fall into the center aisle.

He could play it cool. Right.

“What’s up with Ibuki?! More like what’s up with Hajime!” She exclaimed loudly, almost certainly drawing unnecessary looks from everyone else on the bus, who hadn’t paid attention to his frantic pounding on the bus window a couple minutes back “Ibuki saw you run from alllllll the way by down the street.”

“Now what could Ibuki’s favorite drummer be doing running so desperately,” She crossed her arms in thought.

“Its- really its no big deal! I was just,” Think Hajime, think “Getting in my steps for the day.” Nailed it.

“Oh!! Ibuki sees,” Here she shot a wide grin, and nodded in a self satisfied manner “And after his steps Hajime always goes to treat himself with some tea! Of course!!”

“Uh.. sure.”

“And of course the best place to get tea is the Hanamura Family Diner!”

Hajime felt his heart drop.

“Which is why you are on a bus alllllll the way to Aoyama!” Ibuki continued, unaware of Hajime’s turmoil “Ibuki still needs to go there one day, but she can never seem to find it! Even when she goes to watch concerts in that area no one ever seems to have heard of it!”

“..This bus is headed where?”

-

Nagito checked his phone. It was only just after 6… Hajime probably just got lost on his way here. At this point it was almost rude to loiter outside without at least going to buy something.

Mind made up Nagito headed inside the café, deciding to order a small drink and stake out a nice spot for when Hajime arrives. He checks his phone again, as a force of habit.

No new messages.

-

After getting off at the next nearest stop and declining Ibuki’s invitation to play ‘Will I get there?’ Hajime has to be completely honest with himself.

This isn’t just a little late anymore. Assuming Nagito arrived on time (and not early as Hajime feared) he would have been waiting for at least 45 minutes now. While the luckster has come a long way from disdainful student he had been (And only seemed to be warming up to Hajime more and more every day), surely, he was pushing the others patience at this point.

Hajime was across town with no way to the café. He should just call and tell him what happened, reschedule for another day and cut his losses.

He reaches into his pocket to retrieve his phone.

Aaaaand finds nothing. Hajime blinks for a bit, before re-checking each and every pocket he has. The search comes up with his wallet, the apartment key, a pack of mint fresh gum, and absolutely nothing else.

“Ughhhhhhh..” He puts his head in hands for a moment and thinks. He had been avoiding checking the time since he first left so as not to psyche himself out too much. It must have been left at home. And if it was lost anywhere else, then… Well that would be a problem for future Hajime.

Current Hajime has very specific problems to deal with. Namely not disappointing the guy he was supposed to meet up with any more than he already has. With renewed energy Hajime stands up and looks over the map located at the stop.

The next bus he needed wasn’t coming for a good while. There must be another way to get there… Suddenly a car with deeply tinted windows pulls up next to Hajime on the curve. The window starts to roll down on the passenger side and Hajime tenses up ever so slightly. If he throws the gum then that should be enough of a distraction to make a run for it if need be.

“Hey Hajime! What are you doing all the way on this side of town?”

“….Fuyuhikyo?”

Behind the Kuzuryu heir Peko waves lightly from the driver seat.

-

Nagito is easygoing in a lot of ways. Life happens and things often out of your control can make keeping plans difficult at times. It was like his luck with its ups and downs and the unpredictable nature of things, honestly. But Nagito is also a realist.

He had his… reservations about this outing from the beginning, and it was becoming increasingly clear that so must have Hajime. It was 7:30 with no calls or messages, and no sign of the spiky haired teenager. Though the timing was unfortunate, he must have finally realized his time would be better spent with almost anyone else. It was an unavoidable outcome really. Nagito was almost surprised it took this long, even with the young man’s stubborn nature.

Either that or something could have happened to Hajime- which was unthinkable. A light shudder wracked his frame at the idea. Nagito would be fine with ignoring whatever this could have been if Hajime is okay. He would have to be okay.

For everything else the universe had taken away from him it should owe him this much at least.

With that Nagito strengthens his resolve to greet Hajime normally tomorrow, as he always does after class. He won’t mention being stood up or talk about waiting on him. He won’t push for more than he deserves.

Though only a reserve course student Hajime had so much hope in his heart. That was really the only way Nagito could put it. He had a way of making everyone around him feel acknowledged and cared for just by being there. It’s really no wonder that he had become such an essential part of the 77th class of Hope’s Peak Academy, despite being an unofficial member.

Though the two had taken a while to get used to each other and only recently started to understand one another, they worked well together. There was a base attraction that only flourished as they shared their stories, love of Hope’s Peak Academy and what it represents, even their deepest dreams with one another.

Or at least that’s what Nagito had thought.  

It had seemed reciprocated if the confession (Could it even be called that?) from Hajime was anything to go by. It had been pretty round about in the way he did it, but the intent seemed clear. His eyes had been bright and cheeks flushed as he mentioned with a forced off-handedness about this café he had been meaning to try, and ‘Gee, wouldn’t it be nice to go together, Nagito?’

Really, the nail in the coffin was Hajime insisting that they do this on a couple’s holiday. Nagito didn’t consider himself to be oblivious but the implications of that seemed... pretty straightforward.

Lost in thought and fidgeting with his long since empty cup he almost doesn’t notice the shadow that crosses his table.

“Hey.” The seat across from him pulls out as a somewhat ruffled looking Hajime takes a seat.

“Sorry to keep you waiting for so long- there was an issue with the bus and misplacing my phone. It was kind of crazy trying to get here honestly!”

Seeing how much of a mess the other boy’s hair was (Which is to say it was slightly worse than usual) and how his tie (..Was that new? It was a silky looking grey-green shade that was endearingly familiar) noticeably askew, that seemed believable. Not that Hajime was the type to lie to protect someone’s feelings, but it was comforting evidence, nonetheless.

“Oh! That sounds rather troublesome,” Nagito answered after a moment “I’m honored you invited me here in the first place, but you really shouldn’t go to such lengths just to meet with me!” He laughed a bit self-consciously.

“I wanted to.” Hajime reply’s immediately. Firmly.

A warm hand grasps Nagito’s own on top of the table. He can feel his heart skip a beat.

“Whether it’s talking about whatever comes to mind or even just saying nothing at all,” Hajime pauses as if searching for the right words “being with you is.. good, Nagito. You are really important to me.”

As Nagito begins to flush at the unexpected praise, at the counter across the room Fuyuhikyo and Peko order a couple of green tea’s and a bag of fried dough cookies to go.

“It’s about time,” Fuyuhikyo huffs lightly nodding at their friends joined hands. Peko hums in agreement, collecting the sweets bag and passing a cookie over.

“They’ve only been dancing around each other for the past three years. Sheesh, were we ever that insufferable?” Peko gives him a look that speaks volumes, and the two leave Jabberwock Java and the soon to be couple behind.

[incorrectdanganronpaquotes]

Incorrect Danganronpa Tales: “Technical Difficulties”

Jabberwock Island, some time during SDR2…

Byakuya Togami paced back and forth in the central computer room for the Neo World Program. Before him, two of his fellow Ultimates- Makoto Naegi and Toko Fukawa- awkwardly waited for him to say something, having been called here several minutes earlier. It had been three weeks since the group had come to Jabberwock Island, rebelling against the Future Foundation in the process; Makoto, unwilling to see the captive Remnants of Despair executed, had sought to use the technology contained in this very room- the Neo World Program- to reverse the brainwashing inflicted on the 77th Class by Junko Enoshima. The program had been activated this morning and was now running independently, the Remnants’ bodies lying dormant in nearby stasis chambers; the screens throughout the room displayed various images of the simulated Jabberwock Island, showing the students walking around in the virtual environment.

“So what’s this about, Togami?” asked Makoto. “Is…something wrong?”

“S-shut up!” exclaimed Toko angrily. “Master Byakuya will speak to us when he’s g-good and ready!”

After another long moment, Togami finally stopped his pacing and turned to look at his two classmates. “Makoto,” he said, “are you trying to kill me?”

Makoto blinked. This conversation had immediately taken an unexpected turn. “Um…no?” he said cautiously, not sure if this was some kind of trap. “Why would you-”

“Because I am going to have a goddamn heart attack!” shouted Togami, causing both the others to jump backwards; this was easily the angriest they had ever seen the Ultimate Affluent Progeny, including that time Yasuhiro had accidentally touched his bare skin.

“Again, I really don’t understand what’s going on,” protested Makoto.

Togami, rather than speaking, simply pointed to the nearest screen. Makoto turned to look…and took a step backward in shock. The screen, which had previously displayed a beautiful tropical paradise, now showed an island with overcast skies. That wasn’t the worrying part, though; the worrying part was the fact that, rather than the adorable rabbit mascot designed by the program creator, the students of Class 77 were now being addressed by a suspiciously familiar black-and-white teddy bear. All of the students looked visibly alarmed by what this bear was saying.

“Do you know what that is?” asked Togami.

Makoto stared at the screen, the ever-so-familiar feeling of dread slowly overtaking him. “I don’t know, I mean…I guess it looks a little like Usami, or…?”

“That,” said Togami, “is a despair-themed virus overtaking the entire Neo World Program- something that should not be possible unless the firewalls specifically designed to counter such a virus were somehow disabled. Makoto, who was the last one to use this room?”

Makoto’s eyes went wide, the magnitude of what was going on finally hitting him. “Oh god. Byakuya, look! It was my first day on the job, my first time even in this room! I don’t know how to use a supercomputer!! All I did was push some buttons!”

Byakuya looked around in enraged confusion at the control room; every single piece of equipment was touchscreen based, courtesy of the facility’s ultramodern design. “H-how is that possible?!” he exclaimed. “How is that possible?! There are no buttons in here!!”

“Well, that sucks, because I pushed them!” exclaimed Makoto, now shrinking away in terror.

“Well, great!” Togami exclaimed sarcastically. “I don’t know how to fix this! And,” he added, rounding on Toko, “when I woke up this morning and tried to call the only man who could, I found out he was stabbed in the face! Do you know who stabbed him in the face?”

This time it was Toko’s turn to come to a horrifying realization. Her mind flashed backwards to her last mission with the Future Foundation, where she and Komaru had been sent to retrieve stolen documents believed to have been in the possession of Junko and the Remnants. While following the trail of evidence the two girls had encountered a man who had referred to himself as the Ultimate Tech Support, who refused to let them search his shelter for clues and became violent when they tried to force entry; it was around this point that Toko had been overtaken by Genocide Jill, who then- by Komaru’s account- entered into a fight which ended with at least one pair of scissors embedded firmly in the man’s skull.

“B-b-but master, I don’t understand!” stammered Toko. “H-he must have been working with the Remnants! He knew about Junko’s d-documents!”

“You mean the manual on how to fix this place?!” snapped Togami.

There was a long silence following Togami’s words.

“W-wow,” said Toko finally. “What are the odds?”

Togami buried his face in one hand. “How did none of you peons manage to recover any of the documents?!” he exclaimed.

It was at this point that Makoto decided he was going to stand up for himself, in the futile hope that this would somehow fix things. “Well, for starters, you sent two of us after three terrorists!” he exclaimed.

Now it was Byakuya’s turn to look embarrassed; his mind flashed back to Yasuhiro’s decidedly unsuccessful mission to pursue the third potential suspect. “Well, that’s…not entirely true…” he admitted.

At that moment, Togami’s cell phone began to ring. After checking to make sure that the security protocols necessary to keep the Future Foundation from tracking them were still active, he answered. “What do you want?!” he snapped.

“It’s Kyoko,” said the familiar voice on the other end. “Hina and I have a lead on the documents. We’ll keep you updated as we go.”

Byakuya sighed. “Well, it’s good to know that someone besides me has their act together today.”

“Oh, and by the way,” added Kyoko, “if you can at all resist it, try not to tell off Makoto too badly for this.”

Byakuya rolled his eyes. “Listen,” he said, as if explaining the situation to a child, “I understand that the two of you are dating, but I really don’t think you should be protecting him in this case, considering that he’s just jeopardized-”

“Who said anything about protecting him?” asked Kyoko, her tone of voice now hardening. “Believe me: when I get back to the island, I’m going to be one to yell at him. Over and out.” And with that, the phone clicked off.

“Was that Kiri?” asked Makoto, eager for news about Kyoko. “Is she okay? Is she coming back soon?”

“Oh, she’s fine,” said Togami, a smirk spreading across his face. “Tell you what: I’m feeling generous today, so I’m letting you off the hook for this.”

“R…really?” asked Makoto, now certain this was a trap. “Because I mean, I’m pretty sure this is kind of a big deal.”

“No, I understand,” said Togami, his smirk now somehow seeming to stretch beyond the boundaries of his face. “Plenty of people have difficulty with computers. You just head back to your dorm room and wait for Kirigiri; I’m sure she’ll be very happy to see you.”

With that, Togami turned and strode from the control room, leaving Makoto and Toko more confused than ever.

[A/N: So yeah, this is the kind of idea I had for Incorrect Danganronpa Tales; a lot of the dialogue is Incorrect Quote (mostly the middle section, in this case), but I also added original scenes when I felt the official dialogue didn’t work well, wanted to establish context, or just thought it would be funny. Let us know if you like this, and if so we might do more in the future! - Mod Snake] 

[mic-and-cheese]

Because you seem to be in a ranting mood, and the fact you reblogged that whole thing about Despair Arc, can we agree that it basically focuses on Chiaki 100% and tries to make her someone every loves but doesn't have like any interaction with at all? //Excuse me if you don't agree but this is something that I personally think//

(I am about to seriously rant about EVERYTHING I've been thinking about lately, so be warned)Yeah, I have to agree with you there. I don't really like Chiaki much to be honest, but I would be able to put up with the series being about her if it were just executed better (no pun intended jfc). Despair arc could have been better for what it was if it didn't ignore already existing character dymanics for the sake of forcing Chiaki to be a central character to everyone, despite pretty much everyone already having someone that they'd naturally be more invested in than the girl that they played video games with once (ex, mentors, family, close friends). Maybe I'm just not seeing it for what it is because I just don't connect to her. Maybe she is a good main character, I don't know, but what I do know is that it honestly felt forced to me. But that's just one of my main gripes in Danganronpa in general. It's a franchise that has no choice but to be character driven because of the nature of the premise, yet it only focuses on 2-3 main characters? I understand that the series also can't rely too much on fleshing out everyone because the majority of them are going to die anyway, but I feel like there's an equallibrium between character driven and lack of character development that Danganronpa just hasn't mastered yet? Idk the story of the games are phenominal, but the characters feel really weak sometimes? Especially when you can tell that characters have so much potential if different things had just been highlighted. Of course when I say that the first character that comes to mind is Teruteru (mostly because I'm invested enough in his character to see his potential, but I'm sure most if not all of the other characters have untapped potential). Reading between the lines of Teruteru's backstory I and many others have noticed that there's a story there about a boy who was forced to grow up too fast and didn't have the guideance he needed, all while having to deal with selfish, overachieving younger siblings who are in harmful conditions that make him feel like he has to resort to their level of sexual behavior just to feel good about himself, and hiding who he really is in the process. Sure, maybe not all of these things connect to one another in reality, but regardless of the narrative created to explain his character, there's no doubt that there's something deeper than "that one pervert character".And then there's the fate of the remnants of despair. I know it's not really on topic with the rest of my rant but I did say I'd be talking about everything on my mind, but I had hoped I could have transitioned to the topic better. Either way, I'm really happy the remnants lived! And not just because it means that some of my favorite characters lived. As nice and mushy as it would have been if the remnants just fucked off to Jabberwock Island and lived happily ever after (which Hope arc seems to communicate) I think it's good that they lived even just based on the implications of their situation. Think about it. They're going to have to live the rest of their lives seperated from their homes and (remaining) family and friends, unable to achieve their dreams that they went to Hopes Peak to fulfill in the first place. They're going to have to live with being known as nothing more than terrorists by the entire world and by those who previously loved and supported them, instead of as victims in a situation far out of their control. They're going to have to live with the fact that they committed atrocious acts against their loved ones, themselves, and the world, with some of them even having to live with the physical manefestations of those atrocities (ex. Nagito's arm, Fuyuhiko's eye, and those are just the ones actually mentioned). Not to mention we don't know the exact state that (the real) Jabberwock islands are in. For all we know, the place is a wasteland unsuitable for life? I really do want the remnants to be happy in the end which kinda contradicts everything I just said, but saying that they got off scot-free is downright false, even if it's not directly stated in the anime.And of course I can't mention the remnants without talking about the brainwashing video and Chiaki's execution too. Not gonna lie, it felt like a cop out. I'm glad that Chiaki ended up being a real person, but even through my own opinions about her, Despair arc felt like a major disservice to her character, despite how much they tried to show how much everyone loved her, because it really just boiled down to "kill off a beloved character for shock value." Maybe I could have accepted it for what it was if we hadn't been previously told that Junko corrupted them individually and they joined Ultimate Despair on their own accord (to be honest I don't remember any canon material that says or hints at Junko individually breaking the 77th class, so forgive me if I get something wrong, but that's a different topic) but at this point, DR3 just disregarded its own canon for a cop out. Now it wasn't a horrible cop out, being unwillingly brainwashed brings an interesting narrative about how they took the blame for the Future Foundation killing game despite being victims of their own unwilling actions, which I'll admit, I really enjoy from a story perspective. But on the other side, the story of the 77th class being exploited for their weaknesses and then finding the strength to reform themselves after escaping the Neo World Program is really good too!! Really my biggest issue with the canon storyline is that it felt lazy, but that doesn't necessarily mean it was. I can see them merits in its "flaws" though it's the implications of those flaws that breaks the narrative. Even though I've been ranting for a while, I don't really blame Kodaka for going the route he did. I think I see what he was going for, and though I would have preferred a story that was actually about what the remnants actually did while they were despairs (which, is also an entirely different topic) I can accept DR3 for what it is. I can say that from this rant I've noticed that Danganronpa is a series that relies really heavily on its implications due to the lack of fleshing out certain aspects, for better or for worse.Man I wish I could write like this for class

[sunnycarrztakesthemba]

I was hoping this post would be that of my success... sadly it is not.

Not sure if I have mentioned this in any of my previous posts - but one’s application to an MBA programme is made of 4 components: 

1. The GMAT score - it is only natural that the higher you score, the better the schools you have a shot at 

2. Your application essay - lots of introspection required, refer to previous blog posts. 

3. Your work experience  

4. Your undergraduate GPA

Item 4 is pretty much set, so there is nothing you can do about it. But items 1, 2 and 3 - you can act on. Honestly, items 2 and 3 are actually not that difficult if you play your cards right. But item 1. Let me tell you. 

I’ve taken the GMAT thrice now. It’s been 10 months. I’m tired. Of doing it over and over again, of keeping my motivation up and of being stuck on this for the past 10 months.

First Attempt: 590 - ok fair enough, I’d barely studied, work sucked and I brightly decided to check my work email before the exam, only to find one from an angry boss which also kinda threw me off my game and gave me even more test anxiety. Bombed it, as expected. 

Second Attempt: 660 - I studied for a good whole 3 months. I’d analysed my weaknesses and had worked on them. I was also scoring 710s in mocks consistently so I thought i’d minimally score a 710 on the actual test. Missed the mark by 50 points... Needless to say, I was disappointed. I said ok, third time’s the charm. Held my head up high and booked my next test. A good friend asked me to consider hiring tutors and going for GMAT Prep classes (and because I actually value his opinion a lot and he makes sense 99% of the time), I did a couple of trial classes and picked Jamboree. 

Now, these guys are amazing. I was assigned one quants tutor and one verbal tutor. Within 5 weeks, I was scoring between 720-750 for mock tests. My fundamentals were pretty much set. But this process was tiring - juggling a full time job, and doing my “homework” I got really burnt out. But it’s fine because I was finally producing results. 

Third Attempt: I was scoring between 720-750 on my mocks, I knew I was going to crush it. My final score was a pathetic 650. I was speechless... I mean come on - it is lower than my previous score. I wasn’t anxious before the test, but got thrown off by a few slightly difficult questions on the quant section and that’s when everything started to go downhill. The worst part is knowing that I am capable of so much more, and the only reason why I’m back to square 1 is that I’m just terrible at keeping my cool when things go awry. Also low-key bummed I have to DO THE TEST AGAIN because that 77th percentile with my 660 is not getting me into an M7 school. 

Honestly, today I just feel defeated, upset, disappointed and angry. I just want to lay in bed, cry and nap. Though I couldn’t get myself to nap. Why? Because every time I closed my eyes, that 650 just flashed in front of my eyes. So I did the next best thing - worked a little and watched gossipgirl (LOL, my guilty pleasure). I also spent 3 hours just living on gmat forums and reading about people who took the gmat multiple times to get their ideal scores, and about people who overcame their test anxiety. It gave me comfort, knowing that I’m not alone. More so, knowing that there are ways to overcome the issues I am facing and that I’m not a lost cause. Which I personally don’t think I am. 

I’m not going to lie, I have had thoughts of giving up multiple times today. 

“Maybe I’m not cut out for this”, “Maybe I should consider doing this later”, “Maybe...[any other excuse I can find]”. 

Same friend who makes sense 99% of the time sent me a video of Kobe Bryant - may he rest in peace - today (because I was complaining about feeling defeated, god bless ur soul, pal), and I watched it (duh). One thing stuck with me though, when Kobe said that every time something went bad or he felt like giving up and found himself making excuses, he’d tell himself that he was not going to negotiate [with himself]. He was gonna honour the contract he’d signed with himself, no matter how things were going. Monday sucked? Tuesday wasn’t that great? There’s still Wednesday to get better, and Thursday and Friday etc. What matters is that we keep going every day and make an effort to be better than yesterday. And that is what I’ll do. Like Dory the fish, I will just keep swimming.

I made myself a promise 9 years ago that I’ll study in an Ivy League (here’s looking at u, Columbia) and another one at the start of this year that I’ll get a GMAT score above 730. Those are the contracts I’ve signed with myself, and I’m sure as hell gonna honour them. My dream is worth fighting for and I know that I won’t forgive myself if I let go of it. 

I guess the struggle makes victory taste better. And I will taste it soon. For now, I will take the 2 week break that I have earned (even though it may not have translated into results yet, but I have definitely put in the work and spent time & energy), and I need to be back stronger and energised for that final push. I know I can do it. And I will be living my dream in the next 2 years. 

[trashy-fujoshi-blog]

Hey Ho.

So this was a request on Amino, by ⚜Kami~Anon⚜#ATUACULT

I like the TPL so I posted it alongside this c; IF YOU’D LIKE TO REQUEST ON AMINO, THE BLOG TO DO SO ON IS HERE >> Here.

I reference the V3 cast, but I promise it’s in a spoiler free way! 

ANYWAY:

Where Chiaki is a ghost, post Despair Arc, and cannot pass on, due to ‘Unfinished Business,’ so she just kinda follows Hinata around and stuff... lol?  

Ship: Hinata/Chiaki

(Distant sobs as my Komahina-loving heart shatters because I betrayed the gay.)

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Chiaki didn’t wait long for Hinata.

A part of her wanted him back alongside her, to simply sit beside him once more, the calmest of atmospheres his presence caused and the fact the two could get along with minimal effort. Chiaki had wanted him to return to her side, as the boy he had been, not the one he had become, the person he thought he had to be, just so he wasn’t the odd one out around them.

Chiaki didn’t need him to change. Hinata was perfect how he had been, he had been a little aloof, and probably needed more confidence in himself, but he was human, he had flaws and he had talents. Maybe not at a Hope’s Peak Level, but he was human and that was nice, because it meant he was a breath of fresh air.

All Chiaki had was games, and sometimes it felt a bit suffocating, so having Hinata around had been nice. When he’d vanished, she’d been worried and confused. Had she done something wrong? Something to insult him? Was it that she was boring? Or that she always played games? Or had someone said something to him.

Chiaki never found out the answer as such, but in those last few moments, where she could feel her pain numbing, and the blood blocking her eyes, vision blurring from tears, she knew the boy in front of her was Hinata. Perhaps not the Hinata she knew, but deep down, past the piercing red eyes that stared at her, she could still feel him in there.

There was no saving her. That she knew. It was nice to see him though, before the end, knowing that he was alive. Maybe not okay, but alive, he’d live on, and that was enough for her.

When she’d woken in what she could vaguely call the Afterlife, she’d been slightly bewildered. She was quite the logical thinker, so she hadn’t really believed in anything after death. It was more like being a ghost if she was honest. Chiaki figured out fairly quickly what life after death entailed. Upon death, a door arrived, and said door would let them pass on. She’d seen it happen plenty after her death, as the world fell into mass despair.

Chiaki’s door never came though.

And the only reason Chiaki could think of, as to why it hadn’t come, was that there was surely something she still had to do.

As the Ultimate Gamer, Chiaki’s life was mostly just games, but her thoughts instantly went to Hinata at the thoughts of ‘unfinished business.’ It made sense. She had too many unanswered questions about the boy. Why had he left so suddenly, and who was he now if not the Hinata Hajime she had grown so fond of the company of. It took a while before she found him, because the world was in chaos.

She found him eventually though, and was horrified at who this boy was. When he wasn’t in the presence of Junko Enoshima, he was out aimlessly wondering, causing despair in his wake. This wasn’t Hinata. She refused to believe it.

When the boy was finally called Izuru Kamukura by the blonde, Chiaki could put a name to the monster Junko and Hope’s Peak had created. This wasn’t Hinata. She was sure.

Makoto Naegi was a name Chiaki had heard once or twice, from Komaeda. He was the Ultimate Luckster in the year below her own class, and Komaeda felt unsure about the boy, who seemed to have more potential than him as an Ultimate. It was only once or twice that this name had come up, but Chiaki hadn’t expected the boy to seek out Izuru, and especially not in what remained of Hope’s Peak.

The exchange between the two was watched only by Chiaki, who remained invisible, but by Izuru’s side. She wouldn’t lose this boy, and she would stay by him, until the day Hinata returned.

The talk was short, and somehow Makoto convinced the taller boy to cooperate, in the Lucksters plan, to aid the Remnants of Despair and revert them to their original selves. Chiaki’s heart soared at that, because she couldn’t help the guilt she’d felt. Her death had aided Junko in using her friends to destroy the world. The 77th class didn’t want such a thing deep down, Chiaki believed in them, and if there was any way to undo what Junko had done, Chiaki would wholeheartedly support it… if she was alive.

With Izuru’s help, eventually all of the 77th class were gathered, and shipped out to some remote island. It hurt Chiaki to see them in such a state, some were restrained heavily, and others looked so blank and empty. The only two who looked any part sane, was Izuru and Komaeda. Komaeda, if anything, remained his normal self, maybe just a tad more intense. Izuru looked calm, and not worried in the slightest about what was to come.

It took a lot of help from Izuru to securely get all 15 students into the pods, but Chiaki was glad to see there may be salvation for the friends she had loved dearly.

Everything was relayed onto Monitors, and Makoto and two of his old classmates watched the entire thing. Chiaki watched too, because she knew this may be her chance.

Sure enough, the first person she saw on the monitors was not Izuru Kamukura. It was Hinata, her Hinata, slightly covered by Komaeda’s hunched over form. It was a little weird to see herself there too, but from what conversation she heard from the three overlooking the program, it was an AI formed from the remnants of the 77th classes memories, constructed into a form that all of them combined wanted. They all wanted to see her again? After everything? Even Hinata?

It touched her.

It was nice to see Hinata get along with everyone too, to meet the friends she had died to try and save, to see the boy slowly get along with everyone, to feel like he belonged somewhere. It was nice to see Hinata happy for once, a smile Chiaki had barely seen from the boy in the entire time they’d known one another.

When it went terribly wrong, and the murders and executions of her friends begun, even if it was all just part of the Simulation, Chiaki wished ghosts had the ability to cry. One by one, her friends perished to each other, friend killing friend, and horrible executions that no one deserved. It hurt that they didn’t remember each other, that they didn’t realise they were hurting those closest to them, and Chiaki wished there was a way to stop it, just like Makoto and his friends, as they tried in vain to stop the error planted in the system by an unknown source.

From watching them slowly starving in the Strawberry House, to her own Execution, Chiaki felt torn, her emotions a mess, but her belief in Hinata never wavering. Hinata would come out of this, not Izuru, and that was all she needed.

When it was revealed Izuru himself had been the reason for Monokuma’s appearance, and Hinata had wholeheartedly denied it, pained at the thought he himself had been responsible for all their torment, Chiaki wanted to give the poor boy a hug, and never let go, tell him he wasn’t to blame at all, but she couldn’t. When Hinata needed someone the most, to comfort him, he had no one.

To make things even worse, according to the ‘Junko’ in the Simulation, it wouldn’t even be Hinata that woke up, and Chiaki wanted to hit something, because she’d finally gotten to see Hinata as himself once more, the world wouldn’t be cruel enough to make him vanish into nothingness once more, right?

Chiaki could only hope, because hope could overcome anything, right?

Her hope wasn’t misplaced either, sure when the boy awoke, he needed a haircut, and a change of clothes, but finally Hinata was back in reality, with heterochromatic eyes, and tiny bit of Izuru’s personality that slipped forward sometimes, but he was back, and he had made it his mission to make sure everyone else woke up too. Chiaki was proud of him.

She was even prouder, as Hinata slowly but surely began to awaken everyone from the program, Komaeda being the last up. When they ventured off, to save Makoto, and the world, it touched her heart even more. These were the people she knew so well, and it was so nice to see them all back.

After the events at Future Foundation, the world finally started to recover, it took a step back in the right direction, and Makoto Naegi even began to rebuild Hope’s Peak, the first class of the new school were certainly exciting characters too, the 16 of them ranging from a Pianist to an Astronaut, but all of them were wacky and cheerful enough that Chiaki could see the Hope’s Peak she had loved slowly return to the world, as a much more understanding and fair place. As to be expected of the boy who she knew was now actually considered Ultimate Hope.

Hinata and the 77th class helped rid the world of nearly all the lingering traces of despair, and balance slowly returned to the world. After clearing their names, Hinata even went on to be a Teacher at the rebuilt school. It was nice to see, and a part of Chiaki hoped Hinata would live a long and happy life, after all the shit he’d had to endure in the last ten years of his life. Another part of Chiaki didn’t want to wait any longer, didn’t want to wait who knows how long, just to be able to tell him she was proud, so proud of him.

Chiaki didn’t wait long for Hinata.

Shortly after he’d started working at Hope’s Peak, there was an attack on the school, from a small group still under Despair’s influence. They were weak, uncoordinated and possibly the last remnants living from Junko’s ideals. They’d only really attempted to shoot a few people, and then give their lives in some insane bomb plot, to destroy the rebuilt Hope. Hinata had intervened, his students threatened, and if there was anything he remembered about some of the Hope’s Peak Staff he’d encountered, people like Chisa and Kizakura, it was that the teachers adored their students and would do anything to protect them.

That’s the example Hinata followed, taking the bullets for the short red haired Magician, and the boy Chiaki knew lied more times than he blinked, and two more bullets while staggering forward to tackle one of the crazed gunmen to the floor.

It ended quickly, because Hinata could still tap into the array of talents he had been given, and taking down a couple of gunmen didn’t prove too hard when you weren’t caring for your own wellbeing anymore, and had the talents of several hundreds of Hope’s Peak Alumni. Chiaki wasn’t sure what feeling was more overpowering, the respect she had for Hinata, or the horrified feeling deep in her gut, at the wounds Hinata had gained in places she knew he’d not likely recover from.

It was quite touching to see, if Chiaki was honest. She wanted to cry but ghosts lacked that ability, but the students Hinata had tried so hard to protect, to guide in the right direction, like he himself had longed for his own Hope’s Peak Experience to go, were all safe thanks to him. Not only that, but while two dashed off for help, the rest stayed by him. There was plenty of tears, as two of the larger males restrained the unconscious attackers, one of the girls trying desperately to stop the blood flow. It wasn’t enough, but the effort they went to try and save their teacher moved Chiaki.

It didn’t take long, before the lack of blood became to much of a strain, and Hinata Hajime followed in suit of her own death, about 4 years beforehand, dying knowing he had died trying to save those he felt closest to.

It was weird to see, but Chiaki was used to it by now, the process in which one's soul became a ghost, and this was one soul she hoped wouldn’t instantly be dragged through a door, without her getting the chance to talk to him.

And thankfully her wish came true.

“Ch-Chiaki?”

Chiaki could only nod, because the words she had spent so long wanting to say wouldn’t come out of her mouth.

“I.. I’m so sorry.” That was Hinata’s first words to her, and a part of Chiaki wanted to slap him, and the other part to hold him and never let him go.

“Don’t blame yourself.” Chiaki finally got her words out, noticing the shake of Hinata’s shoulders, fists clenched, and eyes squeezed shut. He couldn’t cry, but Chiaki liked to guess this was a ghosts equivalent.

“But- I could have-”

“You couldn’t. I’m just glad you found yourself once more.”

“Y-You were watching?”

Chiaki nodded and Hinata’s eyes widened.

“The entire time.”

Hinata just covered his face with his hands, and Chiaki gave a small smile.

“Don’t beat yourself up over it. You did so well, Hinata, as yourself! You never needed to change.” Chiaki mumbled, resting a translucent hand on the taller boys shoulder. It was a nice surprise that ghosts could feel one another, and Chiaki was grateful she’d finally be able to tug the boy into a comforting hug, a hug way long overdue.

Hinata ended up tentatively wrapping his own arms around her, after she initiated a comforting hug, and Chiaki could feel him slowly relax, the scene of reality still playing around them, the horrified sounds of distress from the students he had died for, and for the staff that arrived just a bit too late.

“I’m so proud of you, Hinata.”

That was how Hinata found out that alongside crying, ghosts couldn’t blush either, which was good, because he’d be lit up like a Christmas tree by now. Praise the lord for the lack of blood in a ghost.

It was in that tight yet comforting embrace, that Hinata finally noticed the door that had appeared, two initials engraved where the house number should be.

“Wh..What’s that?” Hinata asked and Chiaki turned to look, with a small smile.

“It’s for us.”

“Us?”

“Yep.”

Hinata looked hesitant, but Chiaki took him by the hand, gentle pulling him over to the door with her.

“We can do this, together Hinata.”

Hinata nodded. He had no idea what waited for them, but he trusted Chiaki more than anyone, and if she was by his side, he felt invincible.

“Together.” Hinata nodded in response, his own hand giving Chiaki’s a reassuring squeeze, before the Gamer turned the door handle, assaulted by the bright white light that the other side of the door emitted.

And so, hand in hand, reunited at last, both took their first step, through the archway, and into the unknown, completely unaware as to what to expect, but it didn’t matter to the two, because they had each other.

As long as Hinata could feel Chiaki reassuringly holding onto his hand, he could take on anything. As long as Chiaki could feel Hinata squeezing back, beside her once more, she could take on anything.

They’d do this together, because that’s what Chiaki had waited to do all this time.

Her unfinished business hadn’t been to get answers to all her questions.

Her unfinished business was simply to be there for Hinata Hajime, the boy who secretly stole her heart.

[askthedespairkids]

A Game of Questions

*Nakashima approaches Maverick Storm.*

Maverick: Atsushi. What do you need?

Nakashima: I heard you were around, so I figured I might as well visit.

Maverick: Well, I appreciate the courtesy. If I remember right, you were about the only underclassmen I could stand.

Nakashima: That so?

Maverick: Pretty much. Considering Ando and Izayoi were always making out, Kimura was just… weird… Hyde and Mori were… well, still are insufferable, and don’t get me started on Oroya and Suzuki, optimists get on my nerves. Both of the 77th classes were full of annoying little fucks as well

Nakashima: I see. Perhaps I should be honored to be given such prestige.

Maverick: If you are, then you are, if you’re not, you’re not. Really doesn’t matter a whole lot.

Nakashima: I suppose not.

Maverick: What did you think of your classmates? If you hated them all from the start, you certainly did a better job of hiding it than I did.

Nakashima: I was a bit skeptical at first. The only one I knew going in was Malcom. But I can’t say they’re the worst people you could meet.

Maverick: Heh, that honor probably goes to mine.  So glad I’ve already taken out more than half of them… I think I’ve only got four of them to go? Something like that.

Nakashima: Sounds like you’re pretty dedicated to this manhunt of yours.

Maverick: There’s only one that hasn’t actually made it to the Future Foundation, but she’s proving such a pain to hunt down…

Nakashima: Though it’ll be much more satisfying when you kill her.

Maverick: True enough.

Nakashima: I dunno if I’ll end up doing the same with my class. I feel they could probably destroy themselves without my help.

Maverick: You know, I should’ve done that. Planted little pieces of evidence here and there, then sat back and watched as everyone tore each other to pieces… perhaps I’ll do that to whatever-her-name-is, get her to go and blow up the Future Foundation building or something.

Nakashima: That would certainly create some fireworks.

Maverick: Not to mention get rid of a lot of pains in the ass… Though, knowing Nakamura… fucker’s like a cockroach, he’d probably survive and come on a roaring rampage of revenge because his girlfriends died.

Nakashima: He’s certainly hard to put down.

Maverick: Too hard for any reasonable human. Thankfully, I’m not reasonable… well, not when it comes to him… *He walks over to his possessions and pulls out a bottle of wine* Thirsty?

Nakashima: I suppose I could use a drink. Walks over

*Maverick pulls out a couple shot glasses and pours* Sorry there’s nothing fancy to drink out of, but it was a stroke of luck finding this thing almost a year after everything went down. I mean, first thing you’d think people would do would be to get drunk off their asses and wait for death

Nakashima: I’d figure if someone wanted to kill themselves, they would’ve just gotten it over with.

Maverick: Some do. Some don’t. Humans are weird like that.

Nakashima: Indeed. *Takes a glass*

*Maverick drinks*

*Nakashima drinks as well*

Maverick: Shit… either I’m a lightweight or this stuff is stronger than I thought.

Nakashima: *Coughs a bit* Might be the former.

Maverick: *He shrugs, before pouring himself another glass*

Nakashima: If my sister was here, she’d have a riot with this stuff.

Maverick: Akagawa, right? That’s her name?

Nakashima: Yep.

Maverick: I’m curious… what’re your plans for when you cross paths with her next?

Nakashima: I’m not sure, but there will more than likely be an alteration.

Maverick: Heh, sounds like fun. I’m curious though… think you’ll kill her?

Nakashima: I’m not sure, honestly.

Maverick: Fair enough. Can’t imagine killing a family member would be easy.

Nakashima: No, it wouldn’t.

Maverick: I wonder… would you rather kill a family member or die for them?

Nakashima: That’s….difficult.

Maverick: Fair enough… you in the mood for a game? We give each other hypothetical scenarios, and see what the other answers

Nakashima: Sure, sounds fun.

Maverick: All right, I’ll start. You’re a bodyguard, being paid a million yen an hour to protect someone rich. Someone offers you a hundred million yen to kill them, but you have to do it in public, in front of millions of people, where you’ll probably get caught. You’ll still get paid though. Would you accept?

Nakashima: Hmm….this might sound stupid, but I wouldn’t do it.

Maverick: Really? Care to elaborate?

Nakashima: What good would a hundred million yen do for me if I’m in prison?

Maverick: Bribes. You’d be surprised at how the judicial system can be swayed by a little bit of cash.

Nakashima: *Shrugs* I guess.

Maverick: All right, your turn. Give me a scenario.

Nakashima: You live in the slums, and you can’t afford much. One day, you’re approached by a man who’s willing to give you a job and pay you a lot of yen. However, you have to break into the home of an old lady and steal as many belongings of hers as you can. Would you do it?

Maverick: Hell yeah. I mean, I’d probably do it even if I didn’t live in the slums.

Nakashima: Heh, I suppose she wouldn’t need them for much longer.

Maverick: Exactly. Old bat’s already on her way out, might as well grab what we can before the lawyers descend and take it all.  Now… next scenario… let’s say that a coworker of yours plans to leave and start up his own company to rival the current one. He offers you a job there, and tells you that if it all works out, you’ll be paid better than you are at your current job. You know your boss isn’t a fan of this idea, but a few of your fellow coworkers see the appeal and are willing to sign up with the leaving guy. Whose company do you join?

Nakashima: Might as well go with the coworker.

Maverick: Taking risks then? Nice.

Nakashima: If I think the guy could run a better company, it would make sense to go with him, no?

Maverick: Very true.

Nakashima: Alright, here’s one. You’re a wealthy tycoon with a ton of cash, but you find yourself in a gambling circuit with incredibly good players. Would you play with them and risk losing your fortune, or wouldn’t you risk it?

Maverick: I’d play them. And I’d find a way to win… bending the rules if necessary.

Nakashima: I’d expect nothing less from you.

Maverick: Heh. One more, then call it a night? My head’s starting to get really fuzzy…

Nakashima: Sure.

Maverick: All right… so, you find out someone who you were once very close with has been keeping a secret from you. A really big secret, in fact. They gave something that you wanted, something you really wanted, more than almost anything else, to another person. Eventually, you find out that thing you wanted, that you didn’t even know existed up until now, was broken beyond any sort of repair… and you find out who both the person who’d been keeping it a secret and the person who broke it was. What do you do to them?

Nakashima: Probably sock ‘em. As hard as I could.

*Maverick nods at this, then indicates for Nakashima to give him the final scenario*

Nakashima: You have a kid who’s a major troublemaker. He gets himself into an illegal situation that could result in him being locked up for life, but the cost the bail him is more than your yearly income. Do you bail him out or let the law have its way?

*Maverick stiffens slightly at the mention of him having a child, then relaxes once Nakashima says “he”* This is tough… but ultimately, I think I’d bail them out.

Nakashima: Yeah, I probably would too.

Maverick: Gotta look out for your own flesh and blood right? *He stands, only to sway and lose his balance, collapsing into a heap on the floor*

Nakashima: *Smirks a bit* Need a hand?

Maverick: Thanks for the offer, but I’m good. *He makes no move to get up* This was fun, Atsushi, we should do it again sometime.

Nakashima: Indeed. You’re probably the most enjoyable person to be around here.

Maverick: Well, thank you for the compliment. See you ‘round.

Nakashima: Yep, later.

*Once Nakashima’s walked off, Maverick stands, dusting himself off. All signs of nausea or intoxication are gone as he tidies up, then lies back down with a notebook. He jots down a few things, then smiles to himself. Nakashima Atsushi was an interesting case study… a very interesting study indeed…*

[starlightshadowsworld]

Danganronpa 3 Despair arc episode 8

Thonks.

Annnd Junko has already gotten to Mikan.

I'll say it makes way more sense to me that someone would join Junko.

Than so done wanting to join Munakata.

Junko's cruel but she's very good at making someone feel like she cares about them. She finds people who the world ignores or belittles and is able to get them to trust her.

And she'll build them up as much as she'll shatter them, and it'll get to the point they depend on her.

Much like Mukuro.

While Munakata has these big ideas but he screams of entertainment. Like first game Byakuya if he never developed or made any friends.

People who think the world owes them a favour.

The fact Munakata managed to get a hold of two people who adore and would lay down their lives for him, is insane.

Gotta wonder what the hell he did to them. Because that is not healthy nor normal.

I think it's interesting because he and Junko are very similar individuals, in terms of how they view and treat others for their own goals.

Anyway, back to this.

Is... That the last supper but everyones a Monokuma and it's a puzzle?

Okay than.

And than she throws it, because of course she does.

The pieces falling over the faces of the 77th class.

I like that, it's clever.

And the dig at Ryota for not wanting to go to the celebration.

I think the person I'm the most afraid and curious to see interact with Junko, is Nagito.

That's gonna be interesting, because even by Remnant status, that boy ain't right.

The reserve course kids crowding the gates of the main building, honestly I don't blame them.

They were all used by the school.

I know Hajime was selected but any one of these kids could've become Izuru Kamakura.

We saw that with Natsume, just how far people are willing to go.

Wasn't expecting Ryota to figure out that Mikan is being brainwashed, or the footage from the student council killing game.

Yeah throwing up at the sight of that is the most normal reaction to this shit.

People laughed at Makoto screaming and than passing at the sight of Sayaka's body, that is the proper way to respond.

I'm not mock him for being unable to comprehend that Junko did this, because honestly its a lot.

We're so used to Junko that remembering a time we didn't know she was the mastermind is wild, because it was insane when we and the survivors found out.

It was unfathomable that someone who was their friend and classmate could do something so horrific to them.

Man theres a lot of rants in this one.

Confirmation the student council was a test run, wild thing to say but yeah given the later games production it makes sense.

I don't know how Mikan got brainwashed watching this video, presumably it was this one, and Ryota's okay but idk maybe they'll explain it later.

Also wow... There's a lot of reserve course students. I didn't think that there would be that many but in hind sight, yeah makes sense.

Definitely makes the project worse.

Ohhh there climbing the gates.

... Wait... That kid... That just showed for like a second glance.

Was that... Matsuda? Yasuke Matsuda, Junko's boyfriend.

... I didn't know he was in this.

Which I guess doesn't make sense because he clearly helped her with everything. But I've never seen him, ever I have heard of Danganronpa Zero but I've never gone into it.

I know, my bad.

Hmm that makes things interesting, if that actually was him because he's the Ultimate Neurologist and she's brainwashing people.

I know he had a hand in the memory wipes but not this.

.... Maybe don't mention that you went on a date with Izuru.

Wasn't expecting this discussion on student protests.

Yeah listen to Chisa guys you'll be fine... From the reserve course students that is... Although... Maybe not.

Man watching them try and just sweep this all under the rug like it was absolutely inhuman and disgusting, is vile.

I have no sympathy for Hopes Peak or it's staff in regards to this.

Especially those who were involved with the Kamakura project.

Because even those who weren't still are trying to brush off multiple student deaths.

It's fucked up.

Mikan... Noooo back away. This got very uncomfortable.

I never thought I'd be glad for Junko wacking Mikan across the head with a chair... But yeah, that was... Ahhh.

... I forgot how uncomfortable despair Mikan is... I'm getting despair disease flashbacks.

I love how the execution music went off.

Teacher Junko giving a presentation on why Ryota should help with the "mutual killing video."

Mikan being the test subject suddenly makes everything make more sense.

Poor Mikan.

Oh fuck so Junko manipulated Ryota into helping her so she wouldn't go after his class... Man...

Knowing she does just that anyway... And that he will live to see it, God that's awful.

"Alas my 12 zodiac generals" Gundam showing up with 12 hamsters on his arm.

Love it.

And Nagito has returned.

No one cares, poor Nagito but your not Mikan.

He didn't recognise Hiyoko because she's taller now, love that.

And they're all going to help her.

Wait, why does Nagito need to talk with Peko.

At least they left a note this time when they all left class.

Juzo kicking around reserve course students saying they should know their place.

Ew.

And Munakata's here, great.

You know I think Gundam's onto something with his whole Mikan may be devoured by the gates of purgatory, definitely seems that way.

Nekomaru having 2 umbrellas is everything.

I do love that the whole class went to find her, I'm just... I don't think this gonna be a fun discovery.

Are you fucking kidding me? Of course it's Nagito who accidentally finds a secret passage

Of course it's him.

He knows, he absolutely knows.

"I didn't do anything you've got to believe me."

Oh Ryota... Oh this poor boy. He's just sat in the dark looking absolutely terrified and begging these guys to know he's innocent.

I feel so bad for him, he looks and sounds absolutely terrified.

The guilt he feels and knowing it's going to get so much worse... God..

Mini Miyazaki is a fun nickname tho.

And Junko's here.

I wonder if Junko knows her class by now and knows Makoto's talent, because if so her reaction to hearing Nagito's talent is so much funnier.

Just, so bored.

OH so that's why Nagito needed to speak to Peko, so she can keep Mukuro busy.

Good idea, how he knew about her is beyond me but damn.

Nagito you shady bitch.

I forgot how scary and creepy Mukuro can be, like Junko takes the reins and the cake for being the worst of the two, but man.

Can see the family resemblance.

Okay but when she yelled "which pisses me off" she even sounded like Junko, but not the same..

Which is cool because it shows she has the capability to imitate Junko, which she will do in the first game.

I know they have the same voice actor, but I still find it cool how similar but distinct they are even down to their voices.

Man all we need is Sakura and this would be the best 3 way duel in history.

Awh Ryota... He's just staring into nothing repeating that he hasn't done anything.

Annnd Nagito is hope speeching.

Man, I can't believe it's been so long but I should've expected it.

I WASN'T EXPECTING THE GUN THO

WAAAAAT!!!

Who gave Nagito a gun?! Why does Nagito a gun?! What is happening?!

I thought he was just gonna start preaching, nope... Man's got a gun.

The Russian roulette game in the second game is never gonna feel the same after this.

Oh he just found it over seas? Where were you that you just found a gun?

Good to know Nagito is against killing people but will if he has to... Man he just waltzed into this episode out of nowhere and it is instantly so much more chaotic.

Somehow.

If he had just shot her, that would be the end of everything. Mukuro night go insane but yeah, that would've solved a lot.

Lot of people would've lived.

Makoto would be a loooot less traumatised.

"Your the biggest hope fan boy I've ever met." Oh so she doesn't know about Makoto yet.

Although yeah Nagito is definitely worse.

Izuru showing up too.

What was that, hope spidey sence?

Guns jammed, typical.

Oh no way Izuru has ultimate luck as well... Confirmed 3rd luck boy.

I know he has talents, that's his thing but genuinely wasn't expecting them to include luck. Because so many people even the people with that talent don't consider it one.

Here's the confirmation it indeed was one.

I know he's gonna be fine but wow Nagito got shot.

Ryota screaming in the background, I hope this therapy... A lot of it.

Kid just wanted to draw anime.

And Nagito's okay.

Ryota got out! But the others are still in there. I keep saying it but poor guy, I didn't give too shits about him before now and now... Now I just wanna give him a hug.

It's gonna be a miracle if Ryota doesn't end up with the same amount of survivors guilt as Makoto.

Not too worried about Chisa because we know she survives this but it's still tense.

And end credits scene... Where Chiaki recognises Hajime.

Well you found him.

The whiplash this episode is giving me...

[n00dl3gal]

Despair is How I Say I Love You (Danganronpa)

I'm still fairly new to the DR fandom, but I always wondered just how broken Junko's psyche really was. These are my ideas for how she'd react to the Killing Game unfolding, and her relationship with the rest of the 78th Class.

I was inspired partially by @lukastarkiller​‘s series "glory and gore go hand in hand (that's why we're making headlines)." It's a fascinating look at the 77th Class's despair, I highly recommend it. 

Thanks to @mustardpig​ for proofreading.

Read on AO3 here.

Junko Enoshima could count on one hand the number of times she had cried in her life- genuinely, actually cried, not the crocodile tears she used to manipulate people or for the camera during photo shoots.

The first was when she was mere hours old and she had realized how utterly boring the world was. So predictable and meaningless. It was her first real taste of despair- the despair of living, of knowing how life would unfold.

She cried for the second time when she was cornered by a bulky man, whispering what he could do to a pretty girl like her. She managed to scramble away, but her heart beat faster than she thought was possible. Junko was scared for the first time, and the despair of fear was something she relished. It felt real, it was something new and unprecedented and so, so good.

Junko cried for the third time when her dear sister Mukuro ran off to join a band of mercenaries. She wept not out of concern for Mukuro- she knew her older sister would be fine, she figured that out immediately, given her prowess in combat and agility- but rather out of jealousy. She wanted to feel the despair of the battlefield, to be surrounded by death and suffering; maybe even enjoy the ultimate, bitter despair of death- God, wouldn’t that just be wonderful? But instead she was stuck doing modeling jobs, forcing a smile and a personality.

The last time Junko Enoshima cried was when she began the second killing game and knew her classmates would die.

. . .

Headmaster Jin screamed all the louder when Junko turned off the voice modulator for Monokuma. “Hope has peaked,” she drawled, “and despair comes crashing down.” Not her best line, to be sure, but it did the trick. The headmaster struggled against the ropes, pleading with her by name, wondering if this was a mistake-

And then the doors to the rocket closed. And he went flying.

When he crashed back to earth, Junko chuckled and gathered his bones. She wondered if Kyoko would admire the effort she went to to get such a despairing present.

. . .

Things were going mostly according to plan, boringly enough. The memory removal process had gone perfectly and none of the students suspected they knew one another. Sakura was willing to be the mole and feed Monokuma- and by extension, Junko- information on the group. The only flaw was Mukuro’s performance. She slipped out-of-character more than once and deviated from the script. Something might have to be done about her.

Junko turned to the controls for the trap door in the gymnasium and began to reprogram it.

. . .

The first one to go was the Ultimate Pop Sensation, Sayaka Maizono.

It’s not surprising, really. The girl was an idiot for thinking she could kill Leon, a professional athlete. Granted, it was mostly an accident- Leon didn’t mean to stab her in the gut. But murder is still murder, and must be punished.

She readied the courtroom and prepared a batting cage.

(Makoto’s screams when he discovers her, though- Junko has plans for him. Such despair-inducing plans.)

. . .

For once, Mukuro was following the script. Throw a fit and step on Monokuma. It’s most unfortunate that Junko had decided to change the plot.

She felt the sharpest pang of despair to date, and buried beneath it, a speck of regret. She’s killed her beloved sister, her dear, ugly, pathetic Mukuro Ikusaba. The other half of the Ultimate Despair (well, unless you count Izuru and the 77th class, but she cares little for their activities). It’s heartbreaking and Junko was nearly overcome with despair.

And then she saw Mukuro’s face, her shocked expression, her eyes wide, the gasp of realization still painted on her lips as she dies. Knowing that she felt the same level of despair Junko was at death is overwhelming. Unbearable.

It was all she could do to keep Monokuma running properly.

. . .

It’s almost pitiful, the way Leon pleaded for his life. Begging for forgiveness, pounding on unmoving doors. In fact, most people would have considered it pitiful.

But Junko wasn’t most people.

She maneuvered Monokuma into hitting the gavel, beginning the execution. A chain flew out of a side door to grasp Leon’s neck. He was already screaming in terror, and he hadn’t even been chained to the post and hit by a single baseball yet.

Pathetic, Junko thought.

Predictably, everyone- save Leon- was forced into stunned silence, as bruises and blood appear over Leon’s body. Junko hadn’t accounted for him to hold out so long, but by the time all 1,000 balls have been shot, his corpse was limp against the chains.

And the despair. Oh, the despair on her former classmates’ faces. She could bathe in it, swim in it, drown in it. It’s but a taste of what is to come, and she knew that this would be entirely worth it.

. . .

She had deduced that Chihiro would be an easy target, especially since the students were once again clueless to his real gender. Junko also had realized Mondo would likely end up a culprit- between his size and temper, eventually something would push him over the horizon. Mondo hadn’t even doctored the crime scene to save himself; no, it was to honor the secret Chihiro had trusted him with. What good were secrets to a corpse?

But for all her planning and analysis, she hadn’t been expecting Byakuya of all people to tend to Chihiro’s body. Except… this was no process for burial or even mourning. He was acting far too suspiciously for that. The way he was assembling the scene… it resembled something one of her other classmates might create.

It was a setup. Oh, how interesting.

. . .

Kiyotaka, the idiot, had voted for himself. Was that the moron’s “hope?” Believing in a confessed killer, trusting his “friend’s” innocence over factual evidence? God, he was a fool.

But he was falling, sinking deeper into despair. It was plainly obvious, and Junko relished in it. The rest of the class had teared up some over Mondo’s past as well (save Byakuya and Jill, of course- oh, Jill was now a factor. That could be fun ), but once the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader was strapped to the motorcycle…

Ah, delicious despair. She applauded her idea to allude to Little Black Sambo, it really gave the death an added layer of irony. With any luck, the other students would pick up on her subtle commentary. If not, what did it matter? Another student was dead, another well of despair had sprung.

(She watched Makoto very carefully. It was still too early, but she would outsmart him.)

. . .

Of course Junko knew about Alter Ego. She may have not kept any broadcasting cameras in the baths, but she was still fully aware of everything going on inside of the school. Still, it wouldn’t be a problem. Just an additional challenge to overcome, something to alleviate the boredom.

And on the subject of boring, the deaths kept being predictable. Kiyotaka may have stood a chance, had he not become so close to Mondo. Admittedly, Hifumi being the killer was a bit surprising, but whatever. She had custom executions for everyone, even if most wouldn’t see any use.

Would it be fair to call Hifumi the blackened, though? True, it was him that dealt the fatal blow, but it was under Celeste’s orders. Ah, the Ultimate Gambler. Worthy of her title, Junko admitted. She, at least, was playing the game as intended, offing and framing her opponents. Junko wouldn’t say she had “high hopes” for her- why would she, when it involved hope- but perhaps “high expectations” would be appropriate.

But then, Celeste killed Hifumi herself. And Hifumi, ever the dramatic, had seemingly damned Yasuhiro even more than the ridiculous Robo-Justice suit. Ah, would they make the right decision? Most likely. They still had Kyoko on their side. Not even wiping her talent from memory could remove the ability itself.

She prepared the stage for Taeko Yasuhiro. Even with all her skills as a gambler- and a liar- it is nothing in the face of Ultimate Luck.

. . .

“Perhaps we’ll meet again, in another life.” It figured that Taeko would attempt to go out with dignity. A sore loser did not match her elegant persona.

But it was still just a persona, and that was something Junko would not indulge her in. Burning at the stake was a fitting death for Celestia Ludenberg, true, but for plain, boring, ordinary Taeko Yasuhiro? It simply wouldn’t do.

There would be no despair in it.

And thus, a fire truck rammed into her flaming body, ending the witch hunt prematurely. Would her classmates- would the world - appreciate the irony? It was doubtful. They had yet to pick up on any of her commentary with the executions. How disappointing.

At least should could despair in her efforts going to waste, just as they despaired in the most despicable murder yet. Celeste really was a monster, planning her murders like that.

Another life, though. The words rung around in Junko’s head. Only seven students remained- it was due time she considered her plan failing and her own, personal despair. She must get in contact with Izuru and Monaca, and quickly.

. . .

Technically, Sakura had fulfilled her duty as the mole by killing a student. Junko had only herself to blame for not making it more clear it should’ve been someone other than Sakura herself.

And the students upon discovering her- they all so desperately wanted to blame themselves. Even when they knew she was a traitor, a person willing to kill for her already destroyed dojo, they refused to believe it was a suicide. How could they be so blind? It was despairingly obvious, between the locked doors and her manner of death.

Still, she might as well have some fun with the whole charade. A fake suicide note would do wonders to make the trial more of a puzzle. She really was growing bored with the whole game. Maybe if she still had Mukuro to talk to… but it wasn’t as if Mukuro ever said anything interesting , even while alive.

. . .

When the trial began, Junko snuck out of the control room and into the baths. She had to retrieve the special guest.

It didn’t take long, fortunately, as the students seemed intent on calling on Monokuma for clarification at every possible point. How despairingly annoying. They were really so daft, so naive , to think that they had forced Sakura to suicide? They might as well have, Junko was beginning to seriously consider it. No, better to wait. She’d miss out on the despair, otherwise.

And this execution was particularly heartbreaking, or so she imagined. Seeing a link to a tragically killed friend, their supposed lifeline to the outside world… ah, the horror and grief on their faces would have to subside her for now.

She focused on two students in particular, however- Kyoko and Makoto. As bored of the plan as she was, they were making it interesting. Unpredictable . And with the students vowing to stop the killing game, Junko would have to use their unpredictability to her advantage.

Mukuro might actually be able to serve her a purpose, now. How fitting.

. . .

She had intended to kill Kyoko. But Makoto and his stupid hope, his disgusting trust in others robbed her of her most interesting toy. Junko wanted nothing more than to throw a temper tantrum like a spoiled child, to end the game right there and massacre them all.

But she maintained her composure and sent Makoto on his way.

The irony of the execution would be mostly lost, sadly. Junko supposed it could be taken as “crushing the student’s hope,” but she had an execution for Makoto planned. And now the world would never get to see it. Well, no use crying over it. She had lasers and stages and 8-bit Monokumas that were left unused, what was one barrel and a few swords?

The desk inched closer and closer to the pulverizer. Junko wondered idly if this would be Makoto’s only sex-ed lesson.

And then- it stopped. The shaking, the pounding stopped. And on the screen that was meant to display Monokuma was-

“How in the hell did that survive?” Junko screamed. “I destroyed your computer! I wiped you from the mainframe! How are you-”

Makoto fell, fell deep into the pile of trash, and Junko was left shaking with rage. It didn’t last long, however; she simply smoothed her skirt and grinned. Makoto would still die, rotting with the garbage. And even if he escaped- as if, even with Ultimate Luck, he’d still succumb to thirst and hunger- well.

Junko Enoshima would have her despair, one way or the other.

. . .

So this is how it ends.

They chose hope. Junko Enoshima had filled the remaining students of Hope’s Peak Academy with absolute, undeniable despair, and they still managed to choose hope. All because of Makoto Naegi.

“Why that’s just…” she growled, curling her fists… before letting her hands fly to her face, body quivering. “Simply the best!”

This was the despair she had been craving! The despair of failure, of defeat, of death! She was finally going to die! Oh, she had dreamed of this moment, and to finally have it realized was more despair-inducing than anything she had ever felt in her life! She would join Mukuro and Yasuke in the bitter afterlife, if there was such a thing, she would finally know-

But then they interrupted her monologue, her gushing of despair and how delightful it all was, to blather on about hope and peace and friendship and rebuilding the world and it caused her more despair, the wrong kind of despair, Junko had to do something-

“Fine, let me just say one last thing... If you guys wanna get all hung up on the word ‘hope,’ that’s no skin off my nose… but just be warned…” she said, deliberately keeping her face blank. “From this point on, one despair after another will stand in your way. No matter where you run, no matter where you hide… maybe you’ll find some hope, but there is a very fine line dividing that hope from bitter despair.” She laughed, drool sliding down her chin, sweat dripping from her bangs. “Knowing that, you still plan to cling to your hope?”

Makoto spoke then, but Junko didn’t hear it. “Shut up, shut up! That was a rhetorical question!” she screeched. “I’m almost done though, so, whatever… Because it’s almost punishment time, isn’t it?”

The remaining students stared at her, gasping, suggesting that- that she live- that she not succumb to despair- to give hope a chance- “DON’T GET IN MY WAY!” She dashed to Monokuma’s throne, flipping the lid over the button.

“Puhuhu… puhuhuhu! So this is how the despair of death feels… ahh, it’s so wonderful!” It really was, nothing had made her feel so good, not the act of killing her boyfriend, or her sister, or watching the entire world fall at the knees because of her- “Even a tenth of this despair, even a hundredth…” Junko’s body shook, knowing the agony she was about to suffer. She rambled, wishing for the whole world to feel the same despair as her, to die and live full of despair, despair was everything, despair was all that mattered, despair was Junko Enoshima-

“Let’s give it everything we’ve got. It’s… PUNISHMENT TIME! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

And as her laughter echoed across the courtroom, she slammed her fist on the button.

All of the punishments, the batting cage, the burning castle, the rocket ship- all of them. She would go through them all, taste the same despair as her victims. Even if they didn’t individually kill her- she had lowered the lethality quite a bit, she wanted to despair through them all, she would succumb. She would perish .

Junko Enoshima would die.

It wasn’t the baseballs that did her in, nor the motorcycle. She yawned and meditated through the flames. The excavator was little more than a back massage . The rocket ship left some bruises, leaving only the crushing machine to do her in.

How fitting. What was meant to take out her greatest adversaries would instead be her demise. The irony was despairing. Despair, despair, despair, she was going to die, Junko would die, THIS WAS THE ULTIMATE DESPAIR- The conveyor belt froze beneath the block. Junko, still clutching Monokuma to her chest, looked up. She was supposed to be dead. Why wasn’t she dead why wasn’t she-

[ladylucindae]

[Komaeda didn’t deserve it.]

I was inspired by @mostladylikeladythateverladied and that post. However, I’ll cover different period of time. SDR2, later maybe?

A lot of people talked about how unfair class 77th treated Komaeda before events od SDR2 or even bomb’s accident involving Seiko. It’s understandable. He tried to help them even if he used wrong methods to do it. We focus mostly on him because his character is really well developed. His struggles were shown on the same level as Hinata’s and Chiaki’s in Despair Side.

“Why Komaeda was treated far worse than the others? He was innocent!”

Random Anonymous Fangirl

I want to take different insight on this matter.

We are only human. We aren’t capable of liking everyone and treating the same way. It’s an unconsious selection we are doing in our minds. It’s someone’s behaviour which starting to interest us, their clothes, their talents, their character and little details like their smell or tone of the voice. All those facts matters.

Komaeda has everything which is needed to be likeable.

He looks good as Genocider stated, he is fashionable which proves his profile in artbook. He seems calm and composured at first and in short-term contact he can act like a nice person without showing his “true colours”. His short relationship with Seiko proves that.

Then, what exacly went wrong?

His tactlessness is partially to blame, of course. He was using every ocassion to brought up his main goal. It’s not only creepy but also making people around uncomforable. If you were constantly reminded how earth’s safety was depending on how good you are doing things, weren’t you feel pressured or annoyed?

Still, the worst was his attitude. He was consequently distancing himself by his low-eestem. Komaeda wasn’t even trying to hide that he treated himself as worse than the others. It’s just annoying to deal with someone who everytime you try to talk is saying something along the line they aren’t worth it. It’s like this “friend” which is crying over how fat she is but she isn’t. One time, you are trying to comfort her, next time too, maybe even third time but at some point you just don’t feel like doing it. It’s like a repetitive circle which will never ends. It’s not like we are really close to help each other.

Naegi was in the same situation as him but he managed to be liked by many people in his class… Yet, Komaeda’s name could be easily wiped out and put Mikan in his place. Their cases are really similar.

Komaeda isn’t looking for a pity and attention which is Mikan’s main goal. It’s easier to accept someone who seems hurt and delicate rather than a maniac.  Only Hiyoko treats her equally as everyone or even worse. I feel Hiyoko treat them differently because for her Komaeda doesn’t seem like a “attention wh*re”. It’s also a fact Komaeda’s is disliked by everyone while Tsumiki only by her.

What about the others?

It’s simple. We aren’t forced to like everyone and talk with them. 77th Class wasn’t acting like a class to begin with. All of them were focusing on their own talents with some which attended to class. While they started coming, first barrier was shown. Sonia was alone, Hiyoko was feeling comfortable with Mahiru, Nekomaru was looking after Akane, Souda tried to get Sonia’s attention, Gundham was interested in his animals, Fuyuhiko ignored everyone despite Peko, Ibuki and Teruteru carefree talked with everyone but they weren’t in anyone’s longer attention. While Chiaki was spending time alone on games. There wasn’t anyone feeling a need to talk with him or had a reason to. It’s Hinata who made a difference.

What I’m pointing out is that in the beginning everyone except Mahiru/Hiyoko and Fuyuhiko/Peko were alone.

Their relationships progressed as Despair Side was progressing. Sonia and Gundham found their matching interest, Akane started training with Nekomaru, Souda formed weak brotherly bond with Teruteru, Ibuki were more interested into spending time in the class. All of them a little opened up incluenced by Yukizome but the one who changed the most was Chiaki.

She wasn’t popular. She was mostly ignored because she wasn’t saying anything. If Komaeda wouldn’t talk as much as he is, he would probably end up as her. Invisible. Yet, when she showed up her interest in class she showed her best side and they accepted it.

“Lucky Accidents”

We all know about Komaeda’s talent and it surely influenced Souda the most. While Gundham never blamed Komaeda’s for his dog dissapearing, Souda was sure who’s fault that was. While Komaeda never was exacly sure what will happen because of his talent and decisions, Souda isn’t one of those silent people who would swallow it and try to understand. Especially, if he was more than once injured because of it. It’s only one more reason to dislike Komaeda and avoiding him.

To be fair, Souda is also treated very coldly. Sonia has a point to dislike him even if as a princess she should be more considerate. She probably had many fans in Novoselic Kingdom. I guess she was tired of it. There is also a fact all her fans weren’t spending time so close to her. Well, it’s just Souda can be useful while Komaeda even if his actions saved them were just making them uncomfortable or just bad.

Will you be happy if your friend risk life of many people? If he would constantly making you worry or sad? They were prejucided that he will do something wrong or strange. It’s like Komaeda is equal to word “only bad things happen”. They builded a wall formed by doubt.

Is it justyfing how harsh they were for him?

No. No one deserves to be bullied. No matter how annoying their attidute is. It’s much better if they would ignore him and they mostly did this. They just weren’t able to resist it all the time.