Chapter Text
You're scared when you wake up.
It's easier to recognise how you feel you note. You squint your eyes, cringing at how bright it is. the sun. You're out of the void.
You're surrounded by something. Some things? A few of the blobs begin to move out of your blurred vision and you start to realise how loud it is, covering your ears to try and block out the sounds of multiple sounds mashing themselves together, blinking as colours begin to make themselves more vibrant, more known. your view is beginning to define itself, which you're happy to know as you notice that you're mostly alone now.
There's a light touch on your shoulder, and blinking away the last feelings of sleep you come to realise the girl seems oddly familiar. She tucks away a strand of purple hair behind her left ear and you can't help but notice how choppy the ends are.
She must have cut them herself, you muse. She looks down at you, and a feeling lodges itself inside your chest, and you can't help but lean your head back again. you feel weak, and she seems to know this as she begins to speak, her voice hesitant and soft.
"A-are you okay? You just appeared passed out a-and I don't mean t-to say you can't take care of yourself. I'm not trying to b-be annoying or anything, I just w-wanted to m-make sure you're feeling a-alright!"
You stare up at her, slightly annoyed at her inability to speak clearly, though you can't say you don't appreciate the notion. though through her kindness there's something about her that you can't ignore, or rather something to do with you.
You know her name. You recognise her.
Unable to find it in yourself to speak, you find yourself nodding, lifting yourself as she supports your back. Mikan Tsumiki. She had been an... interesting character to observe through the screen of your Nintendo switch. only now she's undeniably in front of you, breathing and staring at you with a worried, and yet slightly scared gaze.
"Y-you shouldn't strain yourself too much! Try to t-take it slow, I'll stay with you for the time being to make sure you're stable. I-if you don't mind that is. It would just make me feel a lot better, seeing as I-I'm the ultimate nurse and such."
You clear your throat, nodding at her as you begin to speak.
"of course not. I really appreciate it."
Your voice is better at least. The tension in her face starts to slowly slip away, a more relaxed expression making its way onto her features. It suits her more pleasantly you note.
"T-thank you. Can I ask what your ultimate is?"
Ultimate.
Can she ask what your ultimate is? Your ultimate?
You don't suppose you have one. Her brown eyes stare at you with curiosity, a finger placed on her chin. you don't suppose you should lie. but do you really want to let yourself be seen as a loser? A talentless *loser*?
Your eyes wander around the island, meeting the back of someone's head. You suppose a little white lie wouldn't hurt.
"I forgot. quite strange it is."
Her eyes slightly widen, though you can tell she's trying to hold back some of her shock as she responds.
"You forgot? that is strange, every other student remembers theirs. I don't suppose you have a concussion or something? perhaps I should examine your head. Oh n-not that I'm trying to accuse you or anything! I just think it's a bit weird- I'm not calling you weird I just-"
You cut her off swiftly, lightly flapping your hand.
"I understand what you mean. rest assured, I take no offense. I know it's a bit weird, but thank you truly for your clarification. I... appreciate it"
This only seems to shock her more, but she seems assured at the least, giving you a small and thankful nod.
"Thank you. Uh, if you'd like we could explore the island together? As we do that could you maybe relay to me what happened before you passed out so I can come to understanding what might have caused you to a-and maybe try to get the situation more as you weren't in the classroom with us."
You weren't? You suppose it makes sense, and your thoughts linger back to the time you spent in that spaceless void, trapped and alone. You can't tell her about that though, how can you expect her to understand what even you don't? But you can't let her know you're not from here. Wherever 'here' is. You don't want anyone to know that you shouldn't be here, at least nobody who can't help.
"I was walking into hope's peak academy. I'm assuming you're also a student there? Anyway I don't remember much but I do remember seeing a room. I'm unsure of what happened next though. I don't recall walking inside, or anything of the sort."
She nods in response, and you can't help feeling slightly accomplished. Your lies are believable at least. You're running on improv but maybe somehow you'll be able to make this work? Worm your way correctly in the code and be overlooked? She's speaking again but you can't help but let your mind drift away again.
Danganronpa. you're in Danganronpa 2. it's been a while to say the least. But why? Out of anywhere why would you end up here?
Your eyes flitter around, taking in your surroundings. The game hasn't really started yet, has it? You can note other students walking around, observing the subtle things they do, the looks they give around unseen.
What brought you here? You should be asking yourself that, right?
But somehow you can’t bring yourself to ponder around it for too long. Before long mikan has noticed you aren’t really paying attention, though it seems she actually has something she deems important to say, placing a hand on your shoulder.
“Are you sure you’re okay? I-I’m not trying to be a bother but you still look a bit out of it?”
You glance at her for a moment. She’s nice at least, though you can very clearly remember her being batshit crazy in the game. you’re glad her memories aren’t back.
“I’m fine. I’m just now realising that I still haven’t introduced myself. I’m [name].”
“Oh! I can’t believe I skipped past that. argh... I’m so sorry. I’m Mikan Tsumiki, but you’re free to call me by my first name.”
There’s a silence between the two of you. You can’t help but think you’re missing something, but she seems to think the same too, her gaze wandering away from yours.
“There’s a supermarket. We should go inside.”
You nod. She sounds slightly more assertive now, though you can’t find it in yourself to mind, following her as she leads you towards the entrance, skimming past shelves. You stare at mikan for a moment, though seeing her focus is elsewhere you make your way to a shelf, picking out an aloe vera drink. You make your way back to her, finding she seems to be in a conversation with none other than...
Hajime and Nagito. Which to be fair you didn’t find too unnatural, as you lightly scratched your head trying to recall the contents of the conversation they had had in game.
“-And... I went through all the trouble of preparing 5,000 different topics to discuss after conversation!”
Ah of course.
“It’s okay if you take your time and remember slowly. We’ll wait as long as it takes. We’ll wait for you forever, if that’s what it takes.” Nagito responds, and staring at him you can’t help but think of how... boring he is. for the time being, you suppose it’s for the best though.
“Huh... aaaaaah!”
You’re content to let their conversation continue, making your way through the shop silently as you search through the shelves more. Not much finds itself to be of interest, though looking through the food brands you find that at the least you shouldn’t have too much problems with craving foods too often.
“I can’t remember the last time I made any friends... other than [Name] I mean. Are we friends? Ah not that you actually want to be friends with me.. wait where even is she?”
“[Name]? I thought we must have introduced ourselves to everyone by now.” Hajime mutters, and you can’t help but think about how tired he must be by now. Mikan starts to look around, and as she makes eye contact with you mid-sentence, you smile, inching closer though slightly nervous.
“You w-were passed out and she was as well. She’s- oh t-there you are! Where did you go?”
You stand besides her, a small ding! sound going off as you finally pause by her side. Hajime takes out and checks a small tablet – crap you forgot its name – and stares at it for a moment before putting it away in satisfaction.
“I’m Hajime.”
He finally greets you, a calm expression on his face. You nod, focusing your gaze away from him as you meet Nagito’s, his eyes skimming over you in a slightly sceptical and yet annoyingly kind expression. You offer him a nod as well, to which he returns it, introducing himself.
“And I’m Nagito. It’s weird, I don’t seem to recognise you from the website either.”
“Website?” You ask, tilting your head.
“The Hope’s Peak academy one. I thought I must have skimmed past Hajime’s one but I don’t think I saw your name on their either.”
Of course you wouldn’t be there, you thought. You could only ponder on the majority of the questions you had still unanswered, and Hajime seemed to pause at a realisation, his voice gaining your attention again.
“[Name]? You’re not in the e-handbook either.”
There’s a moment of silence.
It’s called an e-handbook! Oh, but the slightly tense silence should be your main priority now, but you can’t help but remain unbothered. but clearly the awkward situation is starting to get to mikan at least.
“I did find it weird that we haven’t reached a hope fragment yet.” She says, staring at you and you offer her a thoughtful hum, trying your best to appear confused but really you can’t help your thoughts at bay.
So you’re really not supposed to be here? It doesn’t make sense, and the explanation as to how you even wound up here is one you need to solve as well. but you suppose for now, surrounded by other – slightly sweaty – teens they wouldn’t be the best person to ask.
Damn. The park really did have a warm atmosphere. You stare back at Hajime.
“How am I meant to respond to that? Surely you don't expect me to know more than you do.”
Another small moment of silence. Can you be blamed? You suppose Nagito must be thinking along the same lines though, as he asserts himself into the conversation.
“A witty response, as expected from the ultimate...”
He’s waiting for you to finish his sentence. He stares at you with an expectant look in his eyes, his words trying to subtly coax you into formulating an answer. You look away from him for a moment to look at Mikan, who’s also waiting for you to explain yourself, before looking back at him. Come a few seconds later, she seems to realise you don’t intend to respond, hastily saying something in your place.
“It seems she’s still in a state of s-shock as to be expected of course. For now, they don’t seem to recall their ultimate.”
By this point they were all staring at you. you couldn’t help the small anxiousness that begin to surround you at their unflinching gazes, avoiding eye contact as you try to fumble up with some kind of response-
Ding dong, Bing bong.
“Was that a school bell just now..?” Hajime asks, trailing off as he frantically looks around. In the corner of your eyes you can make out a small monitor starting to come to life, and Nagito follows your gaze, before nudging Hajime lightly.
“Hajime. look at that monitor over there.”
He looks over and you all wait in anticipation as the bear you can easily recognise as Usami starts to speak.
“Congratulations everyone! It appears that everyone has finished collecting the hope fragments!”
You can feel yourself starting to become slightly sick, noticing the way Nagito gives you a blunt side eye, as Mikan starts to fidget lightly with her fingers. It seems Hajime is the only one giving Usami his full attention, and she continues to drone on.
“I’m *sniff*... I’m so happy... soooo... I’ve prepared a present for everyone that’ll make you all veeeeery happy! I apologise for the trouble, but please gather at the beach! tee hee hee! may shining hope be with you all!”
Before you can embarrass yourself by calling out to the screen it switches off, leaving yet another small tense silence between the four of you. Hajime opens his mouth to speak, but just as quickly Nagito is already cutting him off.
“No matter! She said to meet at the beach, right? How about instead of overthinking this we make our way there? I’m sure Usami has some sort of explanation. Hajime, let’s go on ahead!”
You feel as though it doesn’t take too long for them to leave, Hajime scurrying on to follow Nagito. You almost roll your eyes, finding it pathetic to witness as you stare back at Mikan, who seems even more nervous than she was before, though she still tries to speak and assure you.
“J-just as he said I’m sure it’s nothing! L-let’s head over to the beach!”
You sigh. At least with this you know that Usami probably hasn't even realise you’re here. After all, this whole hope fragment situation? You only hope you’ll be able to speak to her before Monokuma can corrupt the files.
You wonder if you’re doing the same thing? You’re definitely not supposed to be here but surely it can’t simply be some kind of mess up of code to so randomly entrap you here. You’re here for a reason, you’re sure of it. You’re here for some kind of reason and as the beach starts to come into view you promise yourself one solid resolution.
You will fulfil it. you must, because somehow something tells you that if you don’t you’ll wind up deleted, before you can willingly find your way out. After all, relating yourself to Junko placed yourself in the same fate as her.