Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hajime wakes up, damp clothes clinging to his body. His sheets are tangled around him, and he kind of feels like he’s suffocating, but that’s okay! Actually, he also thinks he might be boiling alive – Hanamura-Style (why would he think that? That’s horrible…) – but he doesn’t caaare. He feels great in every sense!

Why shouldn’t he?

Well, sure: Koizumi and Pekoyama died literally yesterday… buuut that’s all in the past! Let bygones be bygones; water under the bridge! Today is a new day.

Struggling to free himself from his sweaty bed sheets proves to be a struggle, but that’s nothing he can’t handle! He just needs to get dressed and go see the others. They’re probably in the main restaurant right now, waiting for him! Hopefully Nagito will be there…

…Huh? No… Komaeda lied to him. Komaeda faked his personality and… everything.

But that’s in the past! Of course he can forgive Nagito!

Bouncing out of his cottage and down the path, Hajime makes his way toward where his friends should be. And he only falls once! His legs are wobbly, and he’s still super sweaty, but that’s probably fine! He’s just excited! This is probably what Tsumiki feels like all the time! Is that rude? Nah; it’s just how she is. And they all still love her regardless. 

He giggles, smile growing wide enough to hurt, and his teeth start grinding. One of his eyes starts watering too. He hopes it doesn’t spill over; he doesn’t want to look like he was crying! Who could cry on such a beautiful day? Certainly not Hinata Hajime. 

In fact, his scraped knee barely even bothers him as he throws open the restaurant doors. He needs to share this feeling with everyone! They deserve to be happy too.

No no… this isn’t right. Why are Tsumiki and Owari crying? Sure, they were forced into a killing game, and sure, four of their friends have already died, but that’s all in the past. It’s a beautiful day!

“Good morning!” Hajime sings as he trots over to Saionji and her weird altar-ish thing. “What’s this? I mean, it’s super cool, and it makes me so happy just looking at it, but it’s a little weird.” 

Saionji glares and starts to say something, but he cuts her off. “These are such good pictures! I’m just so happy you’re honoring her memory!”

“What the hell?! Get away from me!” The dancer scoffs, but her face softens for a second. “And of course they’re good pictures – Mahiru took them! But your little compliment doesn’t hide you acting like a freak!”

Hajime laughs. This is a great start – she liked his compliment! 

“A-ah… Hinata? You’re acting weird too…” Tsumiki kicks at the ground before her eyes snap back up to his. “EEK! I’m s-sso sorry! That was so rude!”

He just giggles and toys with the nurse’s hair. “I forgive you! You’re my friend. But I’m not acting weird! In fact, I feel great! I think you should feel great too!” This is wrong. Stop it stop it stop stop stopstop- “Waaaait… what do you mean? Are our other friends having a good day too? Why would that be weird? This is amazing!”

Tsumiki peeks through her newly-braided hair. “N-no… I mean… Owari’s acting really ssstrang.”

“Yeah! That fatass won’t stop crying! It’s so annoying, but you’re worse!” Saionji glares at him with a venom he hasn’t seen since… yesterday, when Pekoyama killed Koizumi. “Why are you so happy? Two people died last night, you dummy!”

Ignoring how much his legs are shaking, Hajime wobbles over to the girl and pats her head. “That was yesterday!”

The room goes dead silent. Saionji’s fan falls out of her hand, hitting the floor with a clatter louder than a gunshot. Her eyes are blown so wide, he worries they may actually fall out of her skull. Ew. That would be a nasty way to die. 

“YOU LITTLE-”

“Mioda Ibuki has arrived!”

“Mioda!” Hajime shoves past the shorter girl, wrapping Mioda in a bone-crushing hug to lift and spin her. Someone is finally sharing his enthusiasm, and he wants to make the most of it! “Good morning, Mioda Ibuki! Isn’t today just great?”

The musician drops back to her feet and spins him around just the same. “Today is great!”

“NO!” Saionji stomps her foot, face turning red. “Today is awful; Mahiru’s dead!” She spreads her fan over her face, just a moment too late to hide her watering eyes.

“You’re… right.” Mioda sets Hajme down. Huh? Tears welling up, she puts her hands over her face. “Today is awful; we lost two friends yesterday.”

“STOP IT!” The dancer throws her fan to the floor. “Now you’re acting weird! Where’s your… everything!” She freezes and scoffs. “Not like I miss it; you’re just more annoying now.”

Pulling Mioda’s hands down, Hajime smiles. “That was yesterday! It’s okay now!” The girl’s grin grows, and he laughs.

The door bangs open. 

“WHAT IS THAAAAAT!? WE SHALL HAVE A GRAND BONFIRE TO BURN IT! AND HELP KOIZUMI REACH NIRVANA!”

Saionji growls, biting retort most likely on the tip of her tongue, but Nanami leans into the team manager’s side. “No. Someone made that to honor Koizumi, and it isn’t doing anything bad. I think we should focus more on the main battle in front of us. I think…”

After a delicate, practiced nod, Sonia tilts her head. “What is going on?”

“I’ll tell ya what’s goin’ on!” Soda storms in, Tanaka hot on his tail. Funny… Tanaka should be the one with the tail. “This- this- this- HE is- wait what?”

“As always, your inability to read the black and obvious aura of our dwelling has led to your downfall. So evil, even I have an issue reading it. What is this dark energy I sense swirling around this room? It must be purged before your mortal souls are destroyed!” 

“WHAAAAAT?! Ibuki’s soul’s gonna be destroyed??”

“Your soul will be fine! Today is too good for anything bad to happen!” Hajime grins and the musician’s smile widens to match.

“Would someone please explain? I apologize, Hinata, but you are not this happy.”

He lets out a hearty laugh, feeling almost sorry for the princess. He can’t imagine not knowing this joy. “Why wouldn’t I be happy? We’re all so lucky to be alive. Today is great!”

“I’m sorry to insert trash such as myself into such a hopeful gathering… but I heard-”

“-And it just got better!” Hajime jumps up and sprints over to Komaeda as fast as his shaky legs would allow. Throwing his arms around the taller boy, Hajime buries his face in the crook of his neck. “Good morning, Komaeda!”

Komaeda’s face turns a bright pink – a drastic change from his usual-but-abnormally-pale complexion. “I- what are you doing, Hinata? Why would you be glad to see scum like me?”

That painful smile drops for just a moment before coming back even brighter than before. “Don’t talk about yourself like that Na-gi-to! You’re incredible! And you make me so happy and hopeful!” Hajime purrs and presses closer, feeling Nagito awkwardly wrap his arms back around him. It feels nice! It feels good! His face hurts like hell, but why would he pay attention to that when he could pay attention to how amazing this day has been?

“Well this is fuckin’ weird.”

“K-Kuzuryu! You shouldn’t be up! Your eye still isn’t fully healed…”

With a scoff and an eye roll, Kuzuryu brushes past Tsumiki. “I’m fine. I think we should be worryin’ about the one willingly hugging that creep.” He looks around, pointedly skipping over the altar and jumping right to Owari. “And her. Isn’t she usually one of the strongest here? Quit fuckin’ cryin’.”

“SHOWING EMOTIONAL VULNERABILITY IS A TRUE SHOW OF STRENGTH! DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF LETTING YOUR FEELINGS OUT! LIKE A GOOD SHIT!”

Kuzuryu wrinkles his nose and turns away, narrowing in on Tsumiki. “You’re the doctor here. What’s wrong with these bastards?”

The nurse sputters and squeaks, inching past Kuzuryu while stuttering out her embarrassment. “Um… Hinata? Could you please let go of Komaeda so I can feel your forehead?”

He giggles and lifts his head off of the other’s shoulder. “Sure! I’m happy to make you happy.”

Her inner wrist brushes his forehead and she recoils almost immediately with a look of shock plastered across her face. “You’re bbburning up!” Tsumiki hurries over to Owari , the Mioda, taking their temperatures in a similar manner. “Th-they’re all so hot!”

With a chuckle, Hajime lets himself slump back against Nagito, the taller having to adjust to keep them both upright. “Thank youuuu!” He flips around, staring up into pale, blue-ish eyes. I don’t want to act like this. This isn’t me, please. Something is wrong.

Owari’s tears fall faster and runs over to Nidai. “What’s going OOON? Something’s wrong with us! I’m scared, Coach! What’s going on?”

“Puhuhuhu… I think I can answer that…”

Chapter Text

“Monokuma! Whaddya do this time, ya bastard?”

“Puhuhuhu… I didn’t do much – I just made them a little better!”

“Yes! Ibuki knows she is much better now!”

“N-no! Don’t listen to him, Mioda! You’re sssick…”

Saionji huffs. “Just tell us what you did to them, you stupid, ugly bear!”

“Oh, go back to building your freaky altar! I reeaaally wasn’t lying; I made them better! I mean, Owari’s always sooo confident, don’cha think? And Mioda’s personality was just so strong. It even drove away her old band…” Monokuma grins, putting too-sharp teeth on full display. “Not to mention Mister Tsundere-Debbie-Downer over there.”

“Y-you rewired their entire personalities??” A wide-eyed Soda glances over at Hajime, who only smiles and waves. It was supposed to make him happier, but Soda shudders instead.

“WHAAAT? No no no! I didn’t do it; it was my be-autiful creation known aaaas… the Despair Disease!”

Nagito frowns and moves to pull away, but Hajime won’t have that! He cups the boy’s face and using his thumbs, pushes the corners of his mouth into a smile. “Don’t look down – hope will always overcome despair! Just like you always say!” He giggles and doubles over, forehead knocking against Nagito’s chest. This is nice! Nagito makes him happy, and he doesn’t want to move.

“Nooo! Now Big Bro Hinata’s starting to act like that pasty freak! Hurry up and cure him, pig barf!”

Tsumiki squeals and covers her head. “I’m sssorryyy… I don’t know what’s wrong with them…”

Monokuma tuts, wagging his finger. Yeesh! You kids sure are dramatic. No need to get all rushed; you won’t be able to cure them.”

“What the hell does that mean, you bastard?”

“Weeeell, the only cure…” The bear draws out his words. Hajime can appreciate the need for dramatics. “Is murder.”

Middle finger in the air toward their captor, Kuzuryu glares pointedly around the room. “Fuck off! We are not gonna kill each other again! They can fight it.”

Monokuma clicks, unblinking stare darkening. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that, shorty. If I say that’s the only cure, that’s the only cure! And without it, my mag-ni-fi-cent sickness will only get worse! Oh… and did I mention its contagious properties?” 

A collective gasp rings out around the three sick, and Owari, Mioda, Hajime, and a captive Nagito find themselves in the center of an open circle. 

At this, his painful smile starts to droop. His face is burning, and his teeth are grinding, and this hurts hurts hurts. A giggle slips out and he looks back up at Nagito. “Why wouldn’t you want to share this? I feel incredible!”

Nagito stares down at him, eyes almost… questioning. Concerned? Hmm. Hajime giggles. It shouldn’t be funny, but Nagito never looks nervous like this. He always has such a calming air about him! Well, except for when he kind of loses it, but that’s fine! This is out of character. 

Hajime starts to laugh. 

He can’t breathe.

Has the room always been spinning?

Nagito’s eyes widen as he begins to tilt. “This is just like the day I first saw you! You’re so pretty…” Actually, he can barely speak.  

Hajime’s sentence ends with a wheeze, and stars start to fill his vision. 

“What’s that sick idiot doing now? It’s sooo freaky.”

“Hajime, are you alright?” Sonia’s concerned voice in the last thing he hears before he tips over. At least he’d stop laughing.

Nagito lunges as Hinata falls to the side. Even while unconscious, he chuckles a few more times before the wheezing subsidies. That kind of laughter… it hurts. Hopefully Hinata won’t wreck his vocal cords. 

Not like him.

Not like him.

“Shit.” Kuzuryu pushes the heel of his hand into his eye and hustles over to assist in laying Hinata against the wall. 

“Puhuhu… good luuuuck…”

“EEWW! Let’s run away! I don’t wanna catch such a yucky disease.” Unfiltered disgust and contempt is the only thing behind Saionji’s eyes as she stalks out of the room.

As expected of the Ultimate Nurse, Tsumiki steps forward. “W-we need to get them t-to the hospital!”

Sonia straightens, sounding and looking much more confident now that they have some semblance of a plan. As expected of the Ultimate Princess, of course. She would gladly take it from here. “Yes. And Tsumiki will require help with such unorthodox patients! Who would like to accompany her?”

“I-it’sss fine… I’ll be okay…”

“Please, Tsumiki. It will be worse if you get sick with them.”

“O-alright then…”

A Game Over song rings through the room, and Nanami sighs. “Whoever else was in contact with them should go too… I think…”

Kuzuryu groans and stands up. “Fine. Party of three it is. Komaeda’s pretty obvious, and I just fuckin’ exposed myself.”

“I will volunteer as well – you cannot do everything with only three people.”

“I’ll go with ya, Miss Sonia! With five people, it’ll be easier to rotate shifts and bring food n’ stuff!” Kuzuryu rolls his eyes, but Soda just throws him a thumbs up.

Sonia smiles brightly, feigning obliviousness to the mechanic’s motives. “Incredible! Tsumiki, Kuzuryu, Komaeda, Soda, and myself will go to the hospital; Saionji, Gundam, Nidai, and Nanami will stay on the main island.”

“Great plan, Miss Sonia!”

Kuzuryu groans and palms Soda’s face, shoving him away before turning to Owari and Mioda. “So. Can the rest’a ya walk?”

Chapter Text

He wouldn’t say it out loud, but the walk to the hospital has got to be the longest, most unnerving shit Fuyuhiko has ever done.

And it’s only been five minutes.

Five minutes of dead silence, broken by Hinata’s awful giggling. He’d woken up when they started to move him, and honestly, Fuyuhiko wishes he’d stayed unconscious. Not to mention the fact that Mioda had joined in, making it so much worse. So yeah, now they sound like a group of fucking maniacs. 

And of course, the sick have been slowing them down and falling behind the entire time. Which, Fuyuhiko knows isn’t their fault, but still.

He does his best to space out during the walk. And is it irresponsible to ignore his sick classmates? Yes. But they’ll probably be fine. If the walk to the hospital kills them before the actual sickness, that’s just natural selection, and Fuyuhiko is not paid to lifeguard the gene pool.

“Kuzuryu, we are here.” He looks up to see Sonia attempting to coax Hinata into the hospital – the only one of the three unwilling to enter. 

He groans and grumbles, grabbing his friend’s arm and dragging him toward the open doors. 

“No! This place is the opposite of happy! No hospitals, no doctors- stay away from my brain-”

“Yeah yeah. Keep bitchin’ and we’ll damn well put ya in a straight jacket.”

“Ibuki doesn’t want to be not happy!” Fuck. Ugh. Fuck Mioda’s musician ears. Now they need to find earplugs or some shit.

Sonia puts a hand on the gymnast’s shoulder. “Owari, would you carry Mioda back into the hospital?”

“No! What if I drop her? I won’t put her in danger!”

“Dropping her won’t be half as scary as me if ya fuckin’ don’t. Now get.”

Tripping over her feet, Owari scoops Mioda over her shoulder and dejectedly drags herself after Sonia through the doors. 

Hinata turns toward Fuyuhiko. “Didn’t you tell me you’d start being niiicee? This isn’t very nice…”

“I’m being nice by putting all of your asses in treatment.” He crosses his arms, glowering up at his sick friend. “Now, it’d make me super fuckin’ stoked if you’d stop making Tsumiki’s job miserable.”

“Miserable? Oh, no no! My comfort and feeling of safety is a low price to pay compared to your combined happiness. I’ll get over it!” Hinata laughs, and while leaning against Komaeda – who at least has the decency to look away when Fuyuhiko sends a pointed glare his way – starts to hobble forward. 

“Come on now, let’s get a room.”

Hinata giggles and coos up at him. “Nagitooo, you’re so strange sometimes. It makes you interesting!” 

“...Heh, I’m sure…” Komaeda takes the other by the shoulders and guides him toward the hospital entrance, and while Hinata still seems nervous, at least he’s moving now. 

Fuyuhiko watches, lips pursed, as the two teens mosey through the doors. Now the only one left outside, he gives himself a moment to think in peace. Owari is terrified of everything, so anything can happen with her, Mioda is susceptible to any type of influence… so anything could happen with her, and Hinata is basically a copy of Komaeda – especially now that he’s going to be around twenty-four-seven – so anything could happen with him.

Fuck.

Chapter Text

Hajime had decided a long time ago that a hospital is not a happy place to be. Despite the room being so open, he feels as though the walls are inching closer, pressing in around him. 

The painfully white walls are covered in little Monokuma and Monomi stickers, likely in an attempt to make the room feel more welcoming, but inadvertently doing the opposite.

Or maybe that’s what Monokuma wants.  

Hajime feels like an insignificant specimen.

The only thing the room is good for – if anything – is dampening the smile that had infected his face from the moment he woke up.

He hopes Nagito will come back soon… the thought of lessened pain brought the psychotic, Nagito-esque grin back in full, excruciating force, and he needs him right now. 

He was exposed to the sickness… he could die. 

Buuuut the sickness is helping them spend more time together! So it’s really a positive. 

No. This is Monokuma’s sickness. AKA: a very bad thing.

But is it really that bad?

…

Actually, what’s he doing here alone? He could be out, visiting the others and making them happy too! 

Hajime pushes himself up and off of the cot, intent on getting to and out of the door, but a hand placed firmly on his chest stops him. “Haha… where do you think you’re going?”

“Nagito!” Hajime beams. When had Nagito gotten back? Eh. That doesn’t matter! He’s here now. “I want to go see our friends! They’re all probably lonely and sad, and that isn’t good at all. I just want to make them happy!” He speaks through gritted teeth, wishing, wishing he could stop smiling.

“Ah, well, it would make Tsumiki and everyone helping her even happier if you stayed in your room!” Hajime flops back down, and Nagito smiles softer than he had seen since they’d first met. “Everyone’s really busy.”   

“Oh…” Nagito runs a hand through his hair, and Hajime leans into the gentle touch, humming softly. “We could bring all of the other patients here? Then we’d all be in one place, and easier to take care of. That would make everyone happy!” 

“NO- ahaha… sorry, Hajime. That might be dangerous.” He runs a thumb under the sick teen’s eye and up toward his temple. “Bad things could happen.”

“Nothing bad will happen – we’d have you and everyone else to make sure of that!”

Nagito frowns, hand stilling. “Well-”

“Actually… you won’t!” Hajime yelps and jerks away when Monokuma pops up, standing over him- why is he standing over him? Get away get away get away- 

“Monokuma!” Soda tugs at his hair and beanie, himself and the other caretakers likely summoned by Hajime’s panic. “W-what are you doing here?”

“Hey! It’s my hospital! Don’t you forget it, oil-boy. Now, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, no one is allowed to stay in the hospital after curfew!”

Sonia’s hand flies to cover her mouth, concealing a concerned gasp. “But what if something happens to the ill while Tsumiki is gone?”

“Not my problem, Princess.”

Kuzuryu scoffs. “She has a point; that isn’t exactly murder as much as it is just letting more people die of natural causes.”

“Weeeelll… I suppose you’re right. Fewer people does mean fewer potential killers…” Monokuma puts a finger to his mouth, humming in what he wants them to believe is thought. “Fine. The doctor can stay, but no one else.”

“You bastard-”

“What a shame… I was planning on killing someone tonight. But, if no one else is allowed in the hospital…”

“Wha wha wha whaaaaat? Well you got me there, boy. Fine. I’ll let you brats stay because I’m benevolent and kind and blah blah blah. But if someone doesn’t hurry up and kick the bucket, I’ll kick you all out! Including your blubbering nurse.”

With a cartoonish, and incredibly out-of-place spring sound, the bear disappears as fast as he first arrived. Kuzuryu breaks the silence. “You better not fuckin’ kill anyone. Ya hear me?”

Nagito laughs and placatingly puts his hands up. “I wouldn’t kill anyone on my own, of course; I’m just a tool for you Ultimates to use as you wish. I just wanted Monokuma to let us stay in the hospital.”

A loud ding dong, bing bong punctuates his explanation, and Monokuma pops up onto every screen in the building. Which… is concerning, seeing as some of those were for monitoring patients. “Ehem, ehem, this is a school announcement: It is now ten p.m. As such, it is officially night time. Soon the doors to the dining hall will be locked, and entry at that point is strictly prohibited. Okay then… sweet dreams, everyone! Good night, sleep tight… don’t let the bedbugs bite…”

“Ah! I should get back to Owari – she might have been scared by the announcement.”

“I’ll come with you, Miss Sonia-”

“No.” She holds a hand up, stopping Soda before he can reach the door. “I believe it would be best if you and Kuzuryu slept.”

“Huh??”

Nagito leans closer. “I agree; Sonia, Tsumiki, and myself can watch over the sick for now. We can switch off later.”

With a soft giggle, Hajime pulls the other’s hand back toward him, causing the rest of the group to jump and Kuzuryu to slap a hand over Soda’s mouth. “I suppose you forgot I was here. I was really quiet! But, I can take care of myself. I’m not that sick – just very happy! And happy is the best way to be.”

“T-thank you for offering, Hinata… but Komaeda will be here to t-take care of you…”

“Until Monokuma gets bored.”

…

…

Hajimes laughs and Nagito winces. “Monokuma did say that he’d kick us out if no one dies-”

A loud sniff and a sob echo through the room, snapping everyone’s attention over to the door just in time to see Mioda get dragged away down the hall at top speed.

“Owari! Mioda! It will be okay! I’m sure he didn’t mean it!” Sonia runs to the door, leaning out and around to peer down the hallway. She sighs. They probably got away.

“It’ll be okay. We just have to ride out this sickness! It can’t go on forever, right?” Soda offers a shaky smile, and while Hajime loves his positivity, he can tell that everyone in and out of the hospital is teetering on the edge, and at this point, it’s just a matter of time until the first person falls.

Chapter Text

Hajime stirs to consciousness by the sound of his door clicking shut. He doesn’t remember falling asleep, but he’s thrilled he was able to; he was exhausted, and now his face hurts less! Guess he doesn’t need to smile like a maniac in his sleep.

He sits up and stretches before slinging his legs over the side of the bed, ignoring the head rush and pressing dizziness while he looks around. “Nagito?” His words come out rough and horace, and he receives no answer. 

Wobbling to his feet, Hajime slowly makes his way toward the door. If Nagito isn't here, he’ll just have to find him!

Locked.

Huh?

Did Nagito lock him in here? His smile drops as he wiggles the doorknob. Oh! Nagito was probably just trying to keep him safe! That doesn’t explain why Nagito isn’t here, but that doesn’t matter – Hajime trusts him. 

Nagito slips out of the door and into the hallway, cringing at the soft click as it closes. Hoping his luck keeps him from waking Hinata, he creeps toward the exit.

He needs to get out of here.

He hates the hospital. 

He doesn’t want to be back here.

He needs to get out of here.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”

Nagito’s eyes widen, and he spins around, coming nose-to-nose with “Kuzuryu, aren’t you supposed to be watching-”

“Aren’t you supposed to be watching Hinata?”

“Can’t a victim of this killing game take a walk?”

Kuzuryu snarls and steps closer, though his height doesn’t help his case. “Not when it’s you.”

“That’s pretty homophobic.”

“What?”

“Nothing.” Nagito sighs and brushes past the shorter teen, continuing on his journey. Ignoring Kuzuryu’s shouts and empty threats, he slips out of the hospital.

Fuyuhiko grows as that bastard pushes past him, but he doesn’t have time for this; he needs to see Hinata while Komaeda’s gone. 

He creeps through the building, hating how the dead silence is broken by his jiggling the doorknob. 

Shit.

Fuyuhiko takes a step back – he needs to act fast.

He powers down the hall, feet making barely a sound as he rushes into the supply room. He roots through the cabinets and shelves, nearly knocking over a stack of who-knows-what as he grabs for what he came for. 

Slipping back up to Hinata’s door, he slides one of the needles into the lock and uses the other to push the pins up. 

Click. One down. Lucky guess.

He pokes and prods. Nope. Nope. Nope… Click. Two.

As Fuyuhiko searches for the next pin, he realizes just how easy it is to hear. He can’t hear anything inside of the room. And maybe Hinata is just asleep, but the more likely option, at this point, is that Monokuma sound-proofed the rooms.

Shit.

Click. Three.

What is Komaeda doing anyway? He’s acting weirder than normal.

Click. Four. 

Hopefully the locks only have five or six pins – he can’t imagine Monokuma putting in the effort to make them unpickable. Especially in a killing game. Really, he should’ve made them easier, but Fuyuhiko isn’t the Ultimate Yakuza for nothing.

Click. Five. And the door drifts open. 

Closing the door behind him, he spots Hinata lying delirious on the cot, half-conscious, and giggling to himself. Eugh… 

This will all be over soon.

He knows Komaeda and Tsumiki have keys to the room, but he turns the lock regardless.

If Komaeda isn’t going to do this, Fuyuhiko will just have to do it himself.

Chapter Text

I have a Tumblr specifically for Ao3 stuff now! There’ll be sneak peeks of WIPs, estimates as to when new chapters will be posted, all that jazz :)

Mioda.

She needs Mioda.

Akane lies panting in her cot. She shouldn’t feel this scared, but she does! She is terrified, and it is so, so wrong. 

Owari Akane doesn’t get scared. She shouldn’t. 

…She is.

She wants Coach; she wants a friend; she wants someone safe that can protect her, but she is so, utterly, alone.

She needs a distraction; she needs help. Who else is a patient? Hinata? No, he’s not-

He just won’t work!

She doesn’t want his pessimism or his uncanny happiness. 

She can’t really remember which he is right now.

Mioda? Yes! Mioda! Mioda is loud, Mioda is eccentric! Mioda is kind and always willing to help her friends. She’s amazing when she’s healthy, and that eagerness to help is only amplified by the sickness! Sooo, either will be great!

Yes! Positive thinking!

She needs to stay strong.

She needs Mioda’s energy right now. Just until she feels better. Which will be soon – of course it will be! Owari Akane does not stay down.

Sonia walks back in, cup of cool water in her hand. She smiles as she places it next to the gymnast. 

“Sonia, can Mioda stay here?” Akane inwardly scowls, detesting the way her usually-booming voices trembles and breaks.

“Ah, I am not sure, Owari, you are both very sick.”

Her shaking picks up in speed, and she buries her face in her hands in an attempt to hide the fear in her eyes. She doesn’t want anyone to see her like this. This is so, so wrong. “I don’t wanna be alone! Mioda knows how this feels, and… I need that… right now…”

Sonia’s gaze softens in understanding, and she moves to sit down next to Akane. “I know… but it would be dangerous to keep you two together.”

Another tear rolls down the sick teen’s face. She hates this, she hates this, she hates this so much- She sniffs and lowers her head. “Alright… Tsumiki’s a nurse! She can do long nights; she’s really strong.

“Stronger than me…”

Sonia stands up gasping, hand moving to cover her mouth. “Tsumiki! She was not scheduled to switch with anyone! I believe you are correct; we need to give her a break. Please do not leave!”

Even in her haste to find Tsumiki, the princess still manages to close the door softly behind her, leaving Akane alone with only the medical equipment to keep her company.

Leaving Akane alone with her thoughts.

Mikan paces back and forth, trying to keep herself awake. There are still things she needs to do! Her work is never done, she just hopes that what she does will be enough… 

Ibuki is out like a light only a few feet away, forcing her to stay quiet. Mikan had told her to sleep, and Ibuki had apparently decided that sleeping was her entire purpose. Actually, the nurse is pretty sure that the musician had convinced herself that it was her own idea. 

Well, she isn’t going to complain. It does make her job easier when she doesn’t have to worry about Ibuki booking it.

A soft thud echoes through the room, and Mikan needs to slap a hand over her mouth to muffle her squeak. “H-hello…?”

The door opens slowly – did she forget to lock it? – to reveal Sonia standing behind it. “Apologies for my intrusion, but I would like to request that Mioda stay with Owari and myself for a night. Owari does not wish to be alone.”

Fiddling with her fingers, Mikan looks up to meet the princess’s eyes. “Are… aren’t you with her?” She yelps and covers her face. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to accuse you…”

Sonia places a hand on the nurse’s shoulder and smiles. “Do not worry, I did not interpret it in that way.” She returns to business just as quickly, expression falling serious. “You need rest. Let me watch Mioda. She will be safe.”

“But she’s my patient! Oooo… what k-kind of ffffriend would I be if I just sssent her away-”

“Enough.” Sonia’s palm obscures her vision and effectively cuts off her spiraling train of thought. “We need you rested! You are of no use to us if you are tired. I will take responsibility of your patient, and you will go sleep.”

Mikan sniffs, but smiles, glad to have someone else take charge. She’s a practiced nurse; this is her domain! But… she’s also really tired and stressed. She’s really grateful for Sonia. She didn’t do anything to deserve such an incredible friend. “O-o-okaaay… Thank you.”

The princess’s eyes crinkle with affection and care, and she walks over to the sleeping Mioda. She peers down at the girl, pausing for a moment before she starts rapping her knuckles on Mioda’s forehead. “Up! Up, Mioda Ibuki!”

The musician jumps up like a soldier called to attention, and grins. “Mioda Ibuki is up!”

“Ssssssonia! Please be more gentle… Ibuki’s sick…”

“Oh! Apologies. That is how I was woken as a child.” She turns back toward Mioda. “You are going to come with me to stay with Owari. It will be a sleep… over!” 

With a giggle and a salute, the young woman bounces closer to Sonia. “Yes, ma’am! Ibuki is coming with you!”

“Tsumiki, I command you to get some sleep. We cannot have you exhausted.” Leaving no room for argument or debate, Sonia walks out with Mioda trailing behind her, leaving the nurse alone. 

Akane yelps as the door opens. She hates herself for it, but this is a killing game! And that door opened way too fast. 

…Regardless, she’s furious at herself for getting spooked. The old Akane would be up and fighting no matter the circumstance. She’s glad Coach isn’t seeing her like this.

Sonia and MIODA! walk in, and she sighs in relief. “Y-” she clears her throat. “-you startled me… heh…”

“Apologies!” The princess offers a sympathetic smile as she leads Mioda into the room. “Now, Mioda, you are to stay here unless told otherwise by one of us.” When the musician nods, Sonia takes a seat in a stiff chair, posture picture-perfect as she watches over them. Heh… Even in a killing game.

With her balance, Sonia would make a great gymnast! Akane hopes they’ll be able to practice together when they’re out of here…

Mioda nods giddily and stumbles toward the cot, falling directly on and over Akane with an oof. Akane grunts at the impact, but settles in pretty quickly; the pressure is nice. It’s grounding. 

Safe.

She leans into Mioda’s ear, just loud enough for the musician’s ears to pick it up. “Mioda?”

“Ibuki!”

“I need…” She takes a deep breath. “I need your help… I can’t do this alone.”

Mioda wraps her arms around the gymnast’s shoulders and giggles, hugging her close. “Ibuki is always here for a friend!”

Akane deflates with relief and sighs, a small smile spreading across her face. Maybe this will work out after all.

Chapter Text

Fuyuhiko sighs up at the ceiling. 

Three in the morning.

Three in the fucking morning, and nothing.

It is silent, Hinata is still as a rock, and Komaeda is nowhere to be found. 

Where is he?

He sighs again, and glances over at his new charge. Hinata, despite being fast asleep, still has that nasty ear-to-ear, manic grin plastered across his face, resembling Komaeda in a way he never thought possible. Guess they aren’t so different under the right circumstances…

Fuyuhiko stands and stretches. This is so fucking stupid. He silently pads over to Hinata, and checks his pulse, medication levels, sleep stage (though he has no idea what the fuck REM is), and breathing before tip-toeing away toward the door. This is a stupid fucking risk.

He slips out of the door and down the hall, eyes scanning every room he passes. 

Empty patient room, empty patient room, janitor’s closet, supply closet… medication storage! 

He stops short, making a soft sound against the tile as he pivots and steps into the room.

There you are.

Hajime wakes up in a cold sweat, shaking and grinning and ready to take on the day.

“Heeellllooooo!” He beams, waving to the figure standing in his doorway. “Thhhhhankss f’r wakin’ me up… now I c’n get ‘n early start to the day!” 

Maybe he is better this way… Really, Monokuma was right; he is a bit of a Debbie Downer.

His friend grins and waves right back, the syringe in their hand silhouetted by the faint hallway light. They step closer. 

“Oooooh!” Hajime giggles and lets his arm flop over his eyes. “No no… you c’n tell Tsumiki I don’ need a’ymore medicine; I’m doin’ a-OK!” He gives them a thumbs-up, and they fist bump him before pulling his hand toward them and pulling it open.

“Your hands are sweeeaatty…” He laughs as they deposit a handful of half-dissolved pills into his palm – it’s the thought that counts! – accompanied by a small cup of water. While he takes them, they push the needle into his bicep, and push the thick liquid into his arm. 

“Thhan’ youuu…” He waves goodbye, but his friend barely spares him a glance as they hurry out of the room.

The door closes as he stares at the ceiling. The sun is coming up, peeking through the blinds and bathing the room in a soft golden glow. Beautiful…

Hajime rises to his feet, ignoring the way the world spins around him as he hobbles toward the window. Throwing his arms out as though walking a balance beam, he wobbles forward, intent on reaching the light no matter how much the room tilts and tries to knock him down. 

Or maybe he’s the one tilting. The floor is getting closer…

He braces himself for impact, ready to hit the floor with no buffer. Instead, he falls into some one. Face meeting a pinstripe suit, he slowly sinks to the floor. And when the room stops feeling like a rollercoaster, he looks up into his friend’s concerned eyes. “Kuzuryu!”

He can see that the other teen is saying something, but he can’t actually hear him. Something is wrong. Has it always been this hard to move?

“Th’nks f’r catchin’ me, Kuzuryu, but ‘m fiiinnnee!” He tries to pick his head up to properly look at his friend, but quickly finds out that he… can’t. He can’t move at all.

Oh boy.

Where’s Nagito?

Hajime frowns, and Kuzuryu’s concerned face fades to black.

Nagito feels himself practically deflated as he exits the hospital.

Was it wrong to leave Hajime- Hinata alone? Yes.

Should he have stayed with him? Yes.

Should he have told someone where he was going? Yes. 

Did he do literally any of this?

No.

And he doesn’t want to. 

He needed to get out of the damned hospital.

Seeing as well over half of his life had been spent in one, Nagito is decidedly done with them. 

Now, would he let any of his classmates know this? Also no. 

He needed to get out of the hospital first. He has done that. Now there’s something else he needs to do. 

Despite Nagito’s feet eventually taking him back to that disgustingly sterile building, he feels better. Lighter. The walk had cleared his head, and now that he’s gotten away from that despair-filled place for a bit, he can come up with a tangible plan. 

For starters, even if the illness took Mioda, Owari, and Hinata, it wouldn’t stop there. Three down, three more, three down, three more. With every life the disease claimed, another would take their place until there is no one left. 

A lose-lose.

He wanders through the dark hallways, stopping in front of Hinata’s door for just a moment, a borderline-manic grin stretching across his face. The hope that will bloom from this despair… it will truly be a spectacle. 

Nagito turns, skipping back the way he came, moving toward the medical supply room.  Humming a tune he had long since forgotten the name of, he roots through boxes and shelves, grabbing what he needs, what he may need, and anything that just feels right. 

Picking up the box nearly too heavy for him to carry, he turns around, coming face-to-face with “KOMAEDA!”

The box falls from his already shaky grip, medical supplies scattering across the floor with a clatter that may as well have shaken the building. 

“Ah, Kuzuryu. That wasn’t a very warm welcome.”

Nagito bends down to grab his fallen supplies that would now need to be sterilized, but the yakuza storms forward, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. “You think I give a shit?!” He pulls the taller down to his – very low – level. “First you pick a fight, then you abandon your one fucking job, then you run off to hide, and now you’re snooping through Tsumiki’s shit!” Kuzuryu’s eyes narrow. “So forgive me if I’m not inclined to listen to your bullshit.” 

Nagito puts his hands up in a placating gesture. “You’ve got it all wrong… Really! I just want to help-”

“By killin’ someone!”

“Now now, Kuzuryu; didn’t you leave poor Hinata alone as well?”

“I- URGH! It’s not the same, you jackass!”  

A sharp, repetitive clicking swiftly makes its way toward them, sounding angrier with every noise. “Cease your fighting immediately!” Sonia plants her heeled foot and points at them. “Three of our friends are life-threateningly ill, we are in a killing game, and you two are arguing! For shame!”

“This bastard was plannin’ on killing someone.” Kuzuryu releases Nagito, but his glare doesn’t falter for a moment. 

The princess frowns. “Well, we will not know what he was planning until he tells us.” She turns to face the taller boy. “Now, tell us what you were doing!”

“No.”

“You BASTARD!” A palm connects with his cheek.

He looks up, having expected a punch from Kuzuryu, but sees Sonia shaking out her hand. She sighs. “There is no point to this. It is my understanding that all of our charges have been left alone; we have been neglectful.”

“What about Tsumiki and Soda?” The shortest of the three huffs. “They have to pull their weight too; I know Tsumiki had first watch, but Soda’s s’posed to switch off.”

“You are correct, but I sent Tsumiki to bed.” Sonia frowns at her clasped hands. “She was two steps away from falling asleep where she stood – but you need not worry about Mioda: she and Owari are currently having a sleep-over.”

“A sleepover? Really? While that is a touching display of trust, why?” Kuzuryu respects the princess – and not because she’s royalty – but that sounds dangerous. 

“Owari requested it, actually. She said she was scared and wanted to be with someone who knows how the sickness feels.”

Nagito, having gathered the stolen supplies off of the floor, pipes back up as he makes his way toward the hallway. “Then why are we all just standing here?”

Ignoring Kuzuryu’s furious sputtering about how this is your fault, Komaeda! You’re why I came here in the first place, Nagito closes the door behind him as he floats out of the room, effectively plunging his classmates and fellow Ultimates into darkness.

Chapter Text

Fuyuhiko reaches to open Hinata’s door, but it swings open all on its own.

Wait, no – Komaeda had opened it.

“Kuzuryu…” An uncharacteristically-nervous expression is plastered across his face as he stands there, looking uncharacteristically unsure. “We have… an issue.”

Before Komaeda can even finish his sentence, Fuyuhiko is shoving past him, storming into the room with a new vigor. 

No one is dying again.

Not here. Not now.

He runs in just in time to see Hinata, shaking and wobbling with his arms thrown out like a caricature of a tightrope walker, start tipping over. 

They’d known he was a flight risk – no one who hates hospitals to the point of refusing to enter even while dying would stick around without a fight – but oh wow. Maybe they’d been wrong; Hinata can barely walk. 

Fuyuhiko runs forward, intent on breaking his sick friend’s fall even if he has to use his own body, and they both go crashing to the floor. 

“HINATA!”

Glazed, green eyes slowly rise to meet piercing blue. “Kuzuryu!”

“Hinata, tell me what happened now! We need to know what happened!” A quick glance at his vitals is all anyone would need to know that something is wrong.  

A human heart shouldn't be operating at twenty-nine beats per minute. 

“Th’nks f’r catchin’ me, Kuzuryu. But ‘m fiiiinneeee…” The sick teen’s head flops onto Fuyuhiko’s chest.

“No- NO! Hinata Hajime fucking listen to me! What is going on?!” He grabs the other by the shoulders and tries to shake him, but his friend only ragdolls until Fuyuhiko stops. “FUCK! He passed out! Get Tsumiki now!”

Without wasting a moment, Sonia sprints out of the room while he picks his friend up and moves him to the cot. “You,” he snarls at Komaeda, “you can make yourself fuckin’ useful by grabbin’ whatever you stole from Tsumiki and putting it on that counter for her to use.”

Thank fuck; he just puts his head down and does as he’s told. 

“Don’t die on me now, bastard.”

Tsumiki practically breaks through Hinata’s door with a strength none of them knew she possessed. “What happened?! Where is he?!”

“You’re the nurse!” Fuyuhiko steps back and sharply gestures at their unconscious friend. “Fix him!”

Tsumiki stumbles past him and toward Hinata and – thankfully without tripping – bends over to take and check vitals. “I need to draw blood… K-Kuzuryyu, can you please pass me that needle? I can connect it from there.”

Fuyuhiko has no idea what she’s doing, but he damn well hopes she’s doing it well.  

“Uh-um… with how quickly he passed out, I’m pretty sure someone gave him sleeping pills…” The nurse looks like she wants to fiddle with something, but she restrains herself, keeping her gloved hands from touching anything but the medical supplies she uses on Hinata. “But I think he also took… everything?” 

“Everything? What the fuck does that mean?”

Tsumiki squeaks, but surprisingly doesn’t start groveling. Not that Fuyuhiko wanted her to. “Someone just grabbed everything they could! His throat’s scratched up, so I know he took a lot of pills at once, and there’s a mark here on his arm, so I know someone without a lot of experience injected him with something.”

Komaeda tilts his head. “Not to question your expertise, but can you tell us what any of it was?”

“No… I’m sorry!” She stumbles back. “I won’t know exactly until the bloodwork comes back…”

Growing very impatient – seeing as his friend is dying – Fuyuhiko’s glare darkens. “Then put it in, and fix him.”

Hastily placing the vials of blood on the counter, Tsumiki grabs a bottle of… something, and pours it into Hinata’s mouth. “This will neutralize whatever he took.” She holds his nose shut and tilts his head back, muttering her apologies when he thrashes and gags.

Moving to his IV drip, she changes the bag, gasping at how many drugs had been put into it.

What the fuck.

Whoever was here was intent on killing.

‘Oooh but it’s a killing game’ shut the fuck up. 

This is overkill. 

“O-okay…” Tsumiki disposes of her gloves. “I’ve done everything I can.” Picking up the vials, she makes her way toward the door. “I’m going to run some tests on these… please monitor Hinata while I’m gone- i-if you’re okay with that, of course…” 

Komaeda sits at Hinata’s bedside, suspiciously keen on being his keeper. 

With a sigh, Fuyuhiko stands up. “I guess I’m taking over for Soda?”

Sonia softly gasps, hand moving to cover her mouth. “I do not believe anyone informed him of a switch; we were all too busy here with Hinata.”

“So that lazy ass is just sleepin’?” He facepalms. “So I guess I’m not covering his shift; I’m wakin’ that sonofabitch up.” He stands and faces Komaeda, eyes narrowing. “For the record, I trust you about as far as you could throw me – which I know isn’t even half a meter. You are staying here, and if one thing goes wrong, I’m blaming you.”

Komaeda just smiles airily and waves. “Good luck, Kuzuryu!”

With a scowl, Fuyuhiko reaches the door in three angry strides, only stopping when he hears a bubbling, choking groan ring out from behind him. 

An eye roll and a few steps forward, and he’s in the hallway, set on checking on his sick classmates and waking up his fucking bum of a friend.

Fuyuhiko continues, refusing to feed into Komaeda’s antics.

“Hajime!”

Chapter Text

“Hajime!” Nagito yelps with more sincerity than he had shown in a while. 

No… maybe he’s always been genuine, just in his own way. 

Hajime gags, stomach rolling over itself as he rolls over on the cot to vomit on the floor. 

“Hinata!” Tsumiki runs over with a cup of water, but slips, spilling half of it over Nagito’s head. “I’m ssssorry!!” She pushes a paper towel into his hands and passes the half-full glass to Hajime. “I didn’t know if you were going t-to make it! What kind of nurse am I? You shouldn’t have woken up that fast-” 

“Tsumiki! Not the fuckin’ time.” Kuzuryu snaps, nudging her out of the way to grab Hajime’s face. “Hinata, what do you remember? This is important.”

“Pu’ me down…” He squirms with no real energy, resigning to just letting his head hang down. 

Nagito gently pulls him back and helps him sit up. “Before we start an interrogation, how do you feel?”

“I feel awful.” Kuzuryu finds himself on the wrong end of a very pissy glare. “Back up.”

While he does oblige, the yakuza doesn’t let up. “Hinata. You what?”

Green eyes slowly blink, and Hajime hides his face in Nagito’s lap, voice muffled by the fabric. “I feel like shit. Wha’ happened?”

Everyone – excluding Hajime – freezes.

Nagito runs a hand through the teens knotted, curled hair, attempting to make his movements and voice as gentle as possible. “Dear, aren’t you happy about our predicament? Can’t you find the positive?”

“What the hell?” Hajime sits up, eyebrow raised. “Why would I be happy about this?”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“Oh.”

“H-Hinata… you’re healed.” Tsumiki moves to take a step forward, but shies back, indecisive. 

His face falls slack but the rest of him tenses. “Shit.”  

Nagito yelps as the teen jumps up to make a break for the door. Grabbing his wrist, he holds Hajime back, inadvertently pulling him onto the cot. 

Tsumiki yips, hands over her mouth. “Hinata! You’re still weak from the sickness… please don’t move-”

“You two are staying right fuckin’ here,” Kuzuryu shouts over his shoulder as he runs out. “If even one thing goes wrong in this room, I’m killin’ you both.”

Tsumiki and Sonia don’t spare the boys a second glance as they sprint after the yakuza, disappearing around the corner without bothering to shut the door.

Fuyuhiko bolts down the hall, the two ladies hot on his heels as he throws open the door to what they had deemed the breakroom. Soda had apparently shifted positions, lying snug as a bug in a fucking rug while the rest of them had been busting their asses.

“WAKE YOUR LAZY ASS UP, YOU BASTARD.”

The mechanic screams, leaping to his feet in an instant. “Kuzuryu! W-wha’ happened? Is it time to switch? There are nicer ways to do it y’know…”

He grabs Soda’s wrist to drag him out and down the hall. With his back still toward the women, he snaps, “which one is Owari’s room?”

Tsumiki squeaks and hurries to the front of the group. “F-follow me!”

Fuyuhiko slams every lightswitch he sees as he tailgates the nurse down the hallway, practically clipping her heels in an effort to spur her on. 

Is it rude? Yes.

Does he give a shit? Hell no. His classmates could be dead; they don’t have time for a stroll. 

The only sounds in the building are heavy panting and heavier footsteps as the fucking fly toward Owari’s room.

Tsumiki barely has a chance to tell him they’ve arrived before he shoves the door in hard enough to dent the wall it hits. 

The Ultimate Gymnast lies weak in her cot, breath shallow, but there. 

Her eyes peel open, and when she sees them, she tries to stand. “Guys? I feel b’tter! Wha’s goin’ on?”

Tsumiki runs over to check her IV, and Owari falls into Sonia’s open arms. “T-this is the same medication that was in Hinata’s!”

The teen groans into the princess’s chest. “C’n one’a ya explain? ‘M not scared anym’re, but I feel so uuugh… and wha’s this with Hinata?”

“I’ll explain in a minute, Owari. I-in the meantime, please take this.” Tsumiki hands over some of the same whatever-it-was that she had given Hinata, and Owari eagerly accepts. “O-oh! Owari… you’re hurt!”

Owari grunts and raises her head to peer at what the nurse had pointed out. “Must’a fell or s’methin’...”

“Owari,” Fuyuhiko snaps about as gently as Fuyuhiko can. “Where is Mioda?”

“Isn’t she in here? She slept with me last night, I think?” Color slowly starts returning to her face. “Kuzuryu, what’s goin’g on?”

“FUCK.” Fuyuhiko whirls around. “Sonia, stay here with Owari. Tsumiki, show me where Mioda’s room is.”

“Eek! O-oookay!” Tsumiki moves to cover her face, but resorts to just clasping her hands together as she hastily stumbles toward the door, Fuyuhiko and Soda close behind. 

The trio sprint into what the nurse claimed was Mioda’s room – why the fuck are the rooms so far apart? I’d rather risk them killing each other than run this much – and find it… empty. 

Empty.

“Tsumiki… why the fuck is it empty?”

“EEEE!! I don’t knoooww!”

Soda stumbles back, pulling his beanie over his eyes; breathing faster and faster with every step. “I don’t like this, guys! This is all givin’ me the creeps!” He clenches his hair, a few stray, pink strands falling to the floor. “I- I gotta get outa here!”

He runs for the door, vision still obstructed, and hits the wall with a bang.

BANG.

…What?

Soda had run into the wall, but in tandem, a cracking and a clatter ring out from somewhere outside of the room.

“Move.” Fuyuhiko shoves past his standing classmates as he stalks toward the hall. 

The lights are out.

He knows he had turned them on. 

A rancid mixture of dirt, grime, and decay hits his nose a second before the source does. Fuyuhiko gags.

We don’t have time for Monokuma’s faulty fucking construction. We need to find Mioda. 

Shoving the legs and feet out of the way, he continues down the hallway, listening for the footsteps of his classmates behind him. We need to find Mioda.  

The WHAT.

He whirls around, stumbling back at the gruesome sight before him. “FUCK.”

Soda is the next to come out of the room. Flying out of the doorway, he dodges just in time, only narrowly avoiding making the same mistake as Fuyuhiko.

Tsumiki is not so lucky.

She runs into the hall – squeaking about something way less fucking important – and runs headfirst into the hanging object, causing it to come crashing down, causing herself to topple under its weight.

The two hit the tile with a painful smack, and Tsumiki screams.

When her vision clears after the fall, the nurse finds herself in a very unflattering, indecent position; on her back on the floor, pinned down and nose-to-nose with none other than the cold corpse of Mioda Ibuki.

Chapter Text

Ibuki stumbles down the hall. The fever is starting to take a toll on her body, but it’ll be okay! With her goal clear in mind and medication acting fast in her blood, the musician tightens her grip on the syringe and pills. They’re a bit sweaty, but no one will mind! 

She counts the room numbers until she finds who she’s looking for. It’s dark, but that’s no problem for Mioda Ibuki! She’s excited! She’d come up with this all on her own!

After nudging the door open, she sees Hinata squint at her. His lips are moving, but she can’t hear him. That’s fine! They don’t need to talk! He waves at her and she happily waves back. 

Ibuki hands over the handful of pills and cup of water – hopefully he won’t mind them being kinda dissolved – and injects him with whatever’s in the syringe. Hinata starts to tilt over and go back to sleep, so she rights him on her way to his IV. Pulling one, two, three more syringes out of her hospital gown pockets, she empties them into the bag. 

Mission: Accomplished! Who’s the bomb? You da bomb!

She hurries out of Hinata’s room and back the way she came – she still has another person to visit, after all. 

“A body has been discovered! You know what that means, chickadees! Get to investigating! Puhuhuhu!”

Fuyuhiko slams his fist into the wall, drawing blood from his knuckles, but leaving no signs of damage to the building. “DAMMIT!”

“AAAAAAA!!” Tsumiki screams and scrambles to shove the body away-

“NO!” Hinata coughs, leaning heavily on Komaeda’s shoulder. “I need to see how she fell if we’re going to solve this.”

Soda scratches at his arms. “W-WHAT?! So she’s just gonna have her girlfriend’s corpse on her until we finish?!”

Tsumiki screams again, and Komaeda puts a finger to his lips. “Were they official? I don’t remember that-”

“Not the time, Nagito.” Hinata stands straighter, glaring around the room, daring anyone to question the way he nearly falls over. 

Fuyuhiko huffs. “You stay there, loverboy; I’ve got it.” Holding Mioda’s body in place, he helps Tsumiki wiggle out and away from the corpse. 

“S-sh-she she’s dead- what happened?!” The nurse scrambles to the wall and curls up with her face pressed into her knees, arms held protectively over her head. “Why why why would anyone do this?!”

Sharp, clicking footsteps come up behind Fuyuhiko, drawing his attention to the source of the sound. Sonia – with Owari panting, eyes half-closed on her arm –  hurries over, hand lifting to cover her mouth. “No…”

The gymnast looks up, glaze slowly fading from her stare, taking in the scene before her. She looks up and directly across their impromptu circle, finding Hinata first, then following his sad gaze to Mioda. “NO! How could this happen?”

“Someone got desperate.” Fuyuhiko crosses his arms. “And someone is going to pay.”

Hajime squats down next to Mioda, grateful for the fact that the fog over his brain had finally faded. He doesn’t have time to be sick; they have a murder to investigate. 

Monokuma File:

Victim: Mioda Ibuki

Time of Death: Approximately 05:46

Cause of Death: Mioda Ibuki died after overdosing on four different types of slow-working medication. Her body was found after falling through the ceiling and into the central hallway.

External Wounds: The body has multiple injuries related to needles, being three pricks in the right bicep, and two punctured veins. The body also shows bruising to the forearms and over the ribs, but these injuries appear to have been sustained after the victim’s death.

Mikan’s Account:

“Uh-um… Hinata?” When Hajime hums in acknowledgement, she continues. “I uh… I did an autopsy on Ibuki.” She slips into a more professional and direct cadence. “Cause of death matches the Monokuma File, and… well, you probably already read it…”

“I did.” He nods, shifting his gaze from the body to meet Tsumiki’s eyes. “But I’m more interested in your side of the story.” Hajime stands up, and the nurse pulls at her hair. 

“W-what do you want to know?”

“Start at when Sonia moved Mioda into Owari’s room with her. What did you do?”

“Well… when Sonia came for Mioda, she told me to get some sleep – and I was really tired! I mean… I tried to stay up, but I couldn’t! I’m sorry…”

“Don’t apologize; we wanted you to get some sleep. What happened after that?”

“I went to a spare room right down the hall. I didn’t want to stay in the room I was in before because Mioda was so sick, so I slept right across the hall.”

“And did you see or hear anything at all last night?”

“I’m not usually a heavy sleeper, but I was more tired than normal, so I d-didn’t really wake up.” Tsumiki pauses, but before Hajime can ask another question, she continues. “B-but… I did wake up once – I don’t think it was because of any noise; I think it was just… a normal interruption – but I didn’t see anyone.”

“You didn’t see anyone?”

“No, b-but I heard someone.” The nurse twists a strand of hair tightly around her fingers. “It sounded like snow pants or sssome kind of spandex.”

“What time was this?” 

“It wasn’t too late, I think; maybe 23:30?”

Fuyuhiko’s Account:

“Kuzuryu! Hold on.”

Hajime expects a scoff or a snarky comment, but receives only sincerity. “What’s up?”

“Ah- uh, can you tell me your side of the story? What happened last night with you?”

“I took over watchin’ you when your boytoy disappeared.” Ignoring Hajime’s sputtering, he explains, “he left – said he wanted to go on a ‘walk’ – and locked you inside. I get in and pick up his fuckin’ slack until about 03:30 in the goddamn morning. At that point, I just decided to go look for his lazy ass.”

“Shots fired, but I can’t blame you there… What about after that? Something happened between 03:30 and 05:46, so we’ve got a two-hour time frame.”

“Well, at around 04:50 we found you half dead in your room, so I think your alibi’s pretty strong. An’ I saw Sonia and Komaeda in the supply room, so even though your freak was acting weird around the syringes, he has a partial alibi.”

Hajime sighs, and steels his stare. “Yes, but I want your alibi. Where were you, Kuzuryu?”

“Yeah yeah, right to the fuckin’ point I guess. I saw Komaeda sneak out – tried to stop him, didn’t work – so I picked the lock to your room to watch you. 03:30 rolls around and I’m bored outa my mind, so I go looking. I found him in the supply closet fuckin’ around with some shit-” Hajime sighs again, pinching the bridge of his nose. “-so I stop him.

“We argue and Sonia shows up. She tells us that apparently all of you have been left alone, and I figure, ‘they probably already kicked the bucket, may as well check it out’ so we come to find you.”

Hajime grimaces. “Ah… and that’s when…”

“Yup. Your door was unlocked when I got to it, and when I walked in, I saw you actin’ like a fuckin’ maniac before you passed out.”

Green eyes shift to the side as Hajime hums. “So you weren’t the first person to come in after I was poisoned?”

“Come on, Hinata; you were there.” Kuzuryu punctuates with a scoff.

“Yes, but I want to hear it from you directly – for evidence.”

“Okay, fine. Komaeda was the first person to find you.”

Nagito’s Account:

“Hajime! I’m assuming you want to hear my side of the story.” 

Flushing at the use of his first name – after barely giving it a second thought while sick – he sputters out, “that would be great, yes.”

Nagito starts with a light-hearted drawl. “Yeah… sorry about leaving; you were asleep, and I had to use the restroom.”

“Sooo…?”

“So, I left your room at around 00:10 and Kuzuryu came in to take over for me. Eventually we ran into each other again in the medical closet. He got upset and thought I was planning to kill someone.”

Hajime raises an eyebrow. “And were you?”

“I thought my Hajime knew me better than that! I will only ever be the victim.” He laughs lightly, shaking his head. “We went back to your room after that. I left first so I found you first. You were very sick… you passed out almost as soon as I entered.

“You know most of the rest; Tsumiki helped treat you, you woke up cured, and the rest is history.”

Sonia’s Account:

“Hello, Hinata. How can I be of service?”

After the first two murder investigations, he doesn’t need to explain a lot. “I just need your perspective from last night.”

“Of course!” The princess smiles. “I will help as much as I can. 

“I went to Tsumiki and Mioda’s room after Owari asked if Mioda could stay with her. Tsumiki was exhausted… She needed a rest! So I brought Mioda to Owari’s room. They fell asleep quite quickly, and I am regretful to admit that I did too.”

“You fell asleep?”

“Unfortunately, I did. Mioda and Owari were sleeping, and I know there is no excuse for my actions, but it was late – maybe… midnight? – and I was exhausted.” She closes her eyes with her head tilted down in apology. “When I awoke, Mioda was still there, so I assumed it safe to investigate the argument between our two classmates.

“It is my understanding that you know the rest?”

Kazuichi’s Account:

“Sooo…” The mechanic scratches his head. “Whatcha need?”

“I need to know what you were doing last night.”

“Really, not much.” He purses his lips. “No one came to wake me up – not that I’m complaining about gettin’ extra sleep – so I didn’t switch with anyone.”

Hajime frowns, eyebrows furrowing. “To get this straight: you were just sleeping the whole time?”

“I mean yeah. Until Komaeda, Kuzuryu, and Miss Sonia came to get me, I was out cold.”

Akane’s Account:

“Hey… Owari.”

Owari looks down, more sullen than she had been since the last murder. “Hi, Hinata. How’re you doin’?”

“I’m sorry, Owari, but we both just want to get this over with.” At the gymnast’s nod, he continues, “what were you doing last night?”

“I was really sick, man. I was in my room and scared outa my mind of nothin’. I asked Sonia if Mioda could hang out with us, y’know? It’s… pretty embarrassing.”

“Nah. The disease affected us all differently; there was no telling what we’d think or do.”

“Yeah… yeah! You’re right, Hinata! Thanks!” With a new pep in her step, Owari looks him in the eye, showcasing a returned confidence. “I guess I fell asleep at some point – not sure what time though – and when I woke up, I felt awful! Like… just-ran-a-triathlon-after-eating-an-entire-buffet awful-” Hajime nods along as if he actually had any idea what she was talking about. “-and Mioda was gone.”

Ibuki’s Body:

Hajime hums and leans closer, Nagito standing close by. He checks the arms, confirming what the Monokuma File had already told them, and frowns. He starts to step back, when something catches his eye. 

Ear plugs?

Bright orange ear plugs had been stuffed into Mioda’s ears – stuffed in with enough force to keep them from falling out. 

Her body, weirdly enough, had scratches down the forearms, chest, and face. They hadn’t bled, and it would appear that they had all been obtained at the same time with the same object. 

07:01.

An hour after Mioda had died. 

They had been so close…

If only they had been faster.

Chapter Text

“Buckle up, sweethearts! It’s time to get this show on the road!” Monokuma’s laugh echoes across the room. “Will you find the blackened? Was there only one killer? Is this case really as simple as it appears? I dunno! I’m just breadcrumbing! Puhuhuhu…”

Hajime relaxes, allowing his body to settle into the (unfortunately) familiar routine. His eyes sweep over his classmates, he didn’t get a chance to interview all of them, but he hopes the whole story will come out with some teasing. One of them killed Mioda. And they’re not gonna get away with it.

He takes the lead. “Alright, let’s piece together a loose timeline.” 

“Yes!” Sonia nods. “Owari was the first one of the sick we saw. Hinata came in second, and Mioda third.”

“Oh please. Does the exact moment everyone came in matter? Mioda fuckin’ died, so let’s get on with it!”

“You’re right, Kuzuryu. We can start from when we got to the hospital.”

“Yeah… okay!” Soda grins. “My alibi’s pretty solid; I showed up at the hospital with everyone else, and Miss Sonia told me to sleep so that I could take the second shift. No one ever came to get me, so I dunno what happened there, but I was asleep basically the whole time.”

“C-can anyone vouch for you…?” Tsumiki’s voice is somehow even quieter than before, eyes fixed on the ground as if she doesn’t want to acknowledge the situation. 

“Well- no, but I swear! I stayed in there the whole time!”

Hajime pauses, thinking back to Tsumiki’s account. “Hold it, Soda. I don’t think that’s exactly right – Tsumiki, can you tell us what you said you’d heard on the night of the murder?”

“Uh- um… okay… When Mioda moved to Owari’s room, I went to a spare room to sleep. I’m really sorry! I didn’t know anything would happen!” She sniffs. “I woke up once and heard something that sounded like spandex or… um… sssnow pants?”

“Snow pants? Fuck you mean, snow pants?”

“Wait, Kuzuryu, she has a point. While no one here wears snow pants, someone does wear something made of a similar material.”

“Yeah! That’s you, stinky, stupid mechanic.”

“Wait wait wait!” Soda flails. “I was just using the bathroom! I didn’t say that because I didn’t think it was important!”

“Everything is important, dipshit.” 

“Yeesh, okay, I’m sorry…” He rubs the back of his neck. “But I really didn’t do anything!”

Nothing from Soda just yet…  

“Interesting…” Nagito hums, finger to his chin. “You know, Soda, if you wanted to lie, you could have at least made it believable.”

“Huh? Whaddaya mean? I’m not lying!”

Hajime’s eyebrows raise. “Nagito, can you explain?” 

“Well… I told you this morning that I had also gone to the restroom around the same time, and I didn’t see Soda once.”

“Wait a fuckin’ minute!” Kuzuryu slams a fist on his podium. “I was suspicious of that bastard too, but you just changed my mind!”

“Please, explain!” Sonia’s eyes widen.

“Hinata, remember when I told you I took over for ‘im?” At Hajime’s nod, he continues. “Yeah, well it’s not that clean – I only took over because he ran off! And it definitely wasn’t for the fuckin’ shitter.”

Eyes narrowing, Hajime frowns. “Nagito, what does this mean?”

“Ah, I see… Well, you got me!”

“Of course we did; I saw you leave the hospital!”

Soda jumps, relief clear across his face. “S-see? I wasn’t doing anythin’ weird! It was Komaeda.”

“No, Soda, you’re the only one here that could make a sound like the one Tsumiki was talking about, so we can’t let you off the hook just yet.” Hajime sighs. “But, I agree. Nagito, is it true? Did you leave the hospital?”

He laughs. “Since my Hajime is asking so nicely, I guess I’ll spill. I did.”

Saionji scoffs. “Tell us what you were doing, you freak!”

“Yeah, I dunno why ya’d wanna leave.” Owari stretches, seemingly at ease with the whole situation, as if she didn’t almost die too.

“She’s right. Nagito, we know you left, but why? Nothing was happening on the main island, so why would you leave?”

“Just wanted some fresh air. That’s all. I did my best to keep you safe when I left, so I’m sorry I failed you so miserably.”

“That’s wrong – you locked me in my room!”

“I think you’re wrong here, Hajime. I locked the door, not to keep you in, but to keep everyone else out.”

Recoiling with a start, Hajime takes a moment to think it over before begrudgingly admitting that… it makes sense. His plan didn’t work, obviously. But it really doesn’t feel like Nagito had or has any ill intentions. “So why did you leave? If it was all in our best interest, you should have no problem telling us that.”

“I’m afraid of hospitals.”

…Huh?

“What?”

“Yeah… Pretty embarrassing, I know.” He laughs. “But it’s true! I didn’t want to talk about this, but if it will help hope prosper, I will. 

“My childhood was full of hospital visits and doctors; I’ve been sick since I was a little kid, so let’s just say that I don’t have many happy memories of anything medical.”

“And how do we know you speak the truth?” One of Tanaka’s snakes slithers out of his scarf in a silent warning.

Nagito sighs, shaking his head. “Just ask Tsumiki; do I look very healthy for you?”

Eyes snap to the nurse, and she squeaks. “I- yes… But I can’t ssssay much just based on ap-appearance.” 

“If that isn’t enough for you, I have the paperwork.” He reaches into his coat and pulls out a thick folder. “I found this in the hospital; turns out, they have files on almost all of us! Did you know Nidai has a crippling heart condition?”

Soda yelps. “Y-you went through our medical history?!”

“What? Do you have something to hide?”

“Wha- I- no! Of course not!”

Hajime pinches the bridge of his nose. “Nagito.”

“Oops, sorry!” The teen passes the folder over. “The first page should be all you need, but feel free to read the rest.”

Squinting at the page, Hajime scans the words. “Uhh… Malignant Stage Three Lymphoma, Fronto- Front-” He passes the papers over to Tsumiki, who gets through barely half of a page before shrieking.

“H-how are you a-a-ALIVE?!” Her grip grows tighter, crinkling the edges. “Malignant Stage Three Lymphoma, Frontotemporal Dementia?! He- he should’ve died years ago!”

“Heh… yeah, crazy what a bit of luck can do.”

Hajime feels his heart stop. He can barely breathe. He knew Nagito wasn’t in the best shape – people can’t just… lose all color from their hair, skin, and eyes. He thinks. Hmm. 

Well, the very ends of the teen’s hair are a faint red-brown, so it clearly hadn’t always been white. Not to mention how shaky he had always been. And the diagnosis would explain his erratic behavior. 

“Dementia?” Soda wrinkles his nose in confusion. “Isn’t that only for old people?”

“N-not necessarily.” Tsumiki sets the folder so gently she could have been handling an active bomb. “It’s more common in the elderly, but it can still affect teenagers…” She squeezes her eyes shut. “Komaeda! You shouldn’t have been in that hospital at all! Your immune system… it must be r-really messed up!”

“Oh, that.” Nagito shrugs her concern off like she’s talking about a scrape. “Yeah, most common ailments could kill me, but I’ve made it this far, so I’m not worried!”

The fist around his heart squeezes tighter. He could have died! Nagito could have died, but he stayed.

“I don’t think Nagito did it.”

“Big Bro Hinata?! You’re gonna write him off that easily?”

A chorus of agreement shows just how many people are on Saionji’s side. Not good.

“Hinata, I believe you are biased. You mustn't let this cloud your judgement!” 

“Wha- I’m not biased! And yeah, I am. He was with me basically the whole time, and he only left once. In that time, Kuzuryu saw him leave the hospital – which was where the murder took place – and Kuzuryu and Sonia were there when he came back. It doesn’t make sense for him to have killed anyone! Even if no one saw what he was doing after he left, at least one person saw him leave and return, so he definitely has an alibi for when Mioda was murdered!”

A slow nod ripples through the class, and Hajime exhales in relief, meeting Nagito’s equally-as-relieved eyes.

Sonia hoists her chin up, the small movement pulling everyone back on track. “I believe we should make a list of people that are undoubtedly innocent.”

With a huff, Kuzuryu kicks it off. “I guess Komaeda’s on that list, and we can rule out anyone on the main island.”

“Huh? Why?” Owari tilts her head, crossing her arms. “They could’a done it too!”

“Sorry, but no; someone would’ve seen them. Either someone in the halls, Nagito on the beach, the killer wandering around; they would’ve been spotted!” He leans forward, planting his hands firmly on the podium before him. “So far, we can rule out Nagito, Saionji, Tanaka, Nidai, and Nanami. That leaves Soda, Tsumiki, Sonia, Kuzuryu, and Owari.”

“Nice job leaving yourself out of that list, bastard.”

“Ah- that’s- that’s not what I-”

“Shut up. You couldn't have hurt a fly.” Kuzuryu huffs a laugh. “I know ya didn’t do it – you were too busy with Komaeda or with me. Or with dying.”

“Very funny.” Despite the circumstances, Hajime grins.

“Now I’d like to argue my own case.” Kuzuryu looks at him, and at his nod, begins. “The time of the murder is between 03:30 and 05:46, yeah? That rules out Sonia, Owari, Tsumiki, and me.”

“Wait a second, Kuzuryu. I don’t think that’s entirely true.” Hajime’s eyes flick from Sonia to Owari, to Kuzuryu. “You, Sonia, and Nagito can all vouch for each other in that time because you were all moving together, but Tsumiki and Owari still don’t have solid alibis. Tsumiki, can you tell me your story again?”

“Uh- um… okay… I did an autopsy on Ibuki right after we found her. Cause of death matches the Monokuma File, and… well, you probably already read it… but she definitely died of an overdose. There were four different types of medication in her system, and if she took all of them together, she would’ve had around an hour to an hour and a half of life left.”

“So you’re saying that Mioda was drugged at around 04:10 to 04:46.” Nagito nods slowly. “Tsumiki, would she have been able to walk around in the earlier stages?”

“Y-yes, the drugs would’ve only started to affect her in the last thirty minutes of her life.”

“S-so that settles it, right?” Soda tugs at his hair, a nervous chuckle slipping out. “It has to have been Tsumiki – she’s a nurse! She’s the only one that could’a done it.”

Hajime’s eyebrows raise, the mechanic’s words practically unlocking a new side of the case. “Sorry, Soda, but I disagree. And, I think you just helped us rule out Tsumiki as the killer.”

“Huh? I did? I mean- of course I did!” He laughs, rubbing at the back of his neck. 

“You’re right; Tsumiki is a nurse, so she wouldn’t have messed up something so simple. The Monokuma File and Tsumiki’s autopsy both proved that Mioda’s body had multiple injuries related to needles. Apparently, there were three pricks in the right bicep, and two punctured veins – I don’t think an experienced nurse would do that.”

Sonia tilts her head. “But, it can still happen; I do not believe this is enough.”

“Of course it still happens, but not to the Ultimate Nurse. Mistakes happen, but two completely punctured veins in the span of under a few minutes doesn’t happen to the Ultimate Nurse.”

“Very observant, Hajime!” A wide smile takes over Nagito’s face, and while manic, it feels genuine. “In my own investigation, I found that all medications were color-coded based on how fast-acting they were. I assume this was to help people know what to take before bed, or for a life-threatening illness, but of course, Monokuma could’ve done that to help us kill.

“Anyway… in the medical supply cabinet, three bottles of injectable medication were missing.”

“Okay… so you’re saying that the killer wouldn’t need to be a doctor to know what to use!” Nagito’s eyes tell him he’s right, prompting Hajime to continue. “But that still doesn’t account for the fourth medication in Mioda’s system.”

“Oh, but I have something that does. Those were only the slow-acting drugs, however, there was a fourth bottle missing from the fast-acting section.”

Owari frowns, hand on her hip. “Wait a sec, weren’t there only three prick marks?”

Nodding, Nagito smiles. “Yup! That’s because the fourth medicine wasn’t injected.”

“I get it! You mean Mioda also took pills, don’t you.”

“Exactly! I’d give you a cigar, but my doctors say I’m not allowed to smoke…”

“So our timeline is as follows:” Sonia takes a deep breath. “We all stay in the hospital, myself with Mioda, Tsumiki with Owari, and Komaeda with Hinata. Owari later told me that she wanted to room with Mioda, so I relieved Tsumiki to go and sleep and Mioda came with me. At around 23:30 Soda went to the restroom and Tsumiki heard him, then forty minutes later, Komaeda left the hospital.”

Hajime takes over. “At that time – 00:10 – Kuzuryu takes over for Nagito and nothing else changes until 03:30 when Kuzuryu leaves to find him. They meet up and soon find Sonia, so at this point, Tsumiki is sleeping, Soda is sleeping, Owari and Mioda are rooming, and I’m sleeping.

“Mioda died at 05:46, so she has to have taken the drugs at 04:10 to 04:46 – only a bit before you three found me at 04:50.”

Kuzuryu hums. “So if we think about it that way, Mioda could have been the one to try to kill Hinata.” 

“W-wha… whaddya mean?” Owari reels. “Mioda was the victim!”

“Actually, I see what you’re saying, Kuzuryu.”

“Hinata?!”

“Really. Hear me out. If Mioda was drugged between 04:10 and 04:46, and I was attacked a little before 04:50, the medicine wouldn’t have taken effect at that point. And I mean, the more I think about it, the more the intruder seems like Mioda – the waving, the mannerisms; I can’t explain it, but it makes sense!”

Owari’s eyes narrow. “But wasn’t Mioda gullible? That was her sickness, right? You could’a just… asked her not to kill ya!”

“No, Owari, that’s wrong; Mioda – or whoever influenced her – had already thought of that.”

“Oh I get it.” Nanami looks up from her GameGirl. “You mean the earplugs stuffed in her ears. They were in so deep, we couldn’t get them out, so she definitely wouldn’t have been able to hear.”

Komaeda’s eyes light up. “So Mioda was destined to die from the beginning.”

With a gasp, Sonia throws a hand out in front of her. “Explain!”

“Just think about it – the way the earplugs were shoved in her ears, if Tsumiki couldn’t get them out with any medical supplies, Mioda certainly wasn’t gonna pull them out. And remember: what arm was the medication administered?”

“Nagito, you’re right! The way Mioda holds- held her guitar… she was right-handed.”

“Yeah, and?” Soda licks his lips. “I don’t get what that has to do with the case.”

Tsumiki blinks, leaning forward. “They were in her right arm… so she couldn’t have done it herself.”

“Come on, pig barf! That still doesn’t explain the pills!”

“I-Ibuki must’ve taken them herself…”

“Stupid! That doesn’t make any sense!”

“I dunno… This doesn’t feel like an angry murder.” Nanami speaks, this time without turning her gaze away from her game. “Look at it this way: Mioda was targeted first, being injected with three lethal, slow-acting medications. Hinata was next, it’s possible Mioda was influenced by a third party to attempt to kill Hinata with multiple types of fast-acting medication. Owari was last, having been given a fast-acting medication in the form of pills.

“What do all three have in common?”

“We all had the Despair Disease.” Hajime inhales sharply. “Could this have been a mercy-killing?” 

Scoffing, Kuzuryu glares around the room. “A pretty fuckin’ stupid reason to kill. We were all trying to save you bastards.”

Owari rubs the back of her neck. “Yeah but, what if killin’ ‘em was their idea of saving everyone? I mean, if the sick people die, they’re not sick anymore and no one else has to worry about catchin’ it.”

“Owari!” Sonia gasps, hands daintily but nervously covering her mouth. “That is a horrible way of thinking!”

“I… sorry…”

“LET’S GET BACK ON THE TRACK! WE HAVE A MURDER TO SOLVE!” Nidai slams his fists on the table, drawing all eyes. “HINATA! WHO ARE OUR SUSPECTS?”

“Uh- well, Saionji, you, Nanami, Tanaka, Komaeda, Tsumiki, and myself are undoubtedly innocent, so that leaves Sonia, Kuzuryu, Owari, Soda, and Mioda herself as suspects, however, I would like to rule out Sonia and Kuzuryu.” Hajime turns toward the teens. “I know we already discussed this, but I want to lay it out. Kuzuryu was with Komaeda or me the whole time; from 00:10 to 03:30 he was with me, and that was before I was attacked; from 03:30 to 04:50 he was with Komaeda – so he’s completely ruled out.

“Sonia’s similar: she was with Owari until a little after 03:30 – when she met up with Nagito and Kuzuryu – so that takes our suspect list down to Owari, Soda, and Mioda.”

“Before we get into that,” Nagito’s intense eyes flick over to their captor – a stark contrast from his airy speech. “Monokuma, can there be two killers?”

“Whuh? Huh? Oh, it’s you again. Hmmm… yup! But with a catch!” The bear sneers. “Only the person that commits the last killing will graduate. Take Monomi and I for example: in this case, we have me, Monomi, Kurokuma, and Shirokuma. Kurokuma kills Monomi, then I kill Kurokuma – I graduate.”

With a soft hum, Nagito follows up. “But what if Kurokuma kills Monomi, and you kill Shirokuma? Then there would be two killers.”

“Ooooohoohoo! I guess that means I have some homework to do! Well, I don’t know right now and I don’t wanna figure it out! So I’ll give you kiddies one hint: You were right! There were two attackers.” He laughs. “Do with that what you will. And get on with it, will ya? Papa’s gettin’ bored.”

“That didn’t explain anything!” Soda yelps, hesitantly glaring at Monokuma. 

“Actually, I think it does.” Hajime addresses the room. “Monokuma doesn’t want to make new rules for the second scenario, but he said there were two killers. That means that Mioda has to have been a killer.”

“Sorry, Hajime, but I disagree.” Nagito winks, fucking winks at him from across the room. “He said that there were two attackers, so I don’t think this was a suicide. Of course, we already disproved that, but just to bring the topic back up, Mioda was drugged by someone else. She then went to attack Hajime, and once she thought he would die, she left and took the pills.”

“But-” Owari crosses her arms. “-that means it could’ve been a suicide.”

“Oh, silly me!”

Kuzuryu’s eyes narrow as his gaze sweeps the room. “So either Soda or Owari drugged Mioda, told her to drug Hinata, then told her to take the pills. It's a fifty-fifty.”

Sonia raises her hand. “Owari was drugged too, was she not?” 

“I mean, I do remember feelin’ super sick.”

“So it was that smelly, stupid mechanic!”

“W-wait! Guys, I swear it wasn’t me! Come on… Kuzuryu found me still in the break room!”

“Come to think of it, I remember seeing your hair when I was drugged!”

…Oh. “Owari, can you repeat that?” 

“Uh, sure? I said that I saw Soda’s hair when I was drugged.”

“Owari, earlier in the trial you said that you fell asleep with Mioda and woke up sick; you never told us you woke up.”

The gymnast’s breath hitches. “Really? I must’a forgotten to say that.”

“It is fine; it happens.” Sonia smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Can you tell us your side of the story?”

“Yeah, of course! I was… uh… pretty scared, so I asked if Mioda could come room with me. Sonia and Tsumiki said yes, so Tsumiki went to sleep and Mioda came back with Sonia.

“We went to sleep and I woke up to see Soda in my room. He injected something into my arm and told Mioda to kill Hinata, but by then, I was already out of it.” She scratches the back of her head, eyes trained on the floor. “I passed out, and when I came to, Mioda was dead and I felt half-dead myself!”

“O-Owari?” Tsumiki sniffs, dread darkening her face. “I checked you and Hinata over after we found Ibuki… Hinata had prick marks, but you took pills.”

“WHAT ARE YOU SAYINGGGGG? AKANE WAS ATTACKED!” Nidai grips the podium before him so tightly it starts cracking. 

Tsumiki squeals and ducks behind her hands. “I-I’m sssoorrryyyyy! Hinata vomited when he woke up and there were pills, so I checked Owari’s room, and it was the same! The only medication I could find evidence of her t-taking were fast-acting pills…”

“So Owari drugged Mioda, instructed her to kill Hajime, waited until she thought Mioda would have died, then drugged herself.” Nagito hums, lips quirking upward. 

“Wait- Big Sis Owari couldn’t have done it!” Saionji stomps her foot. “She was acting weird, yeah, but she wouldn’t do all of that! She was a scaredy-cat!”

“Actually, Saionji, I think the fear is what drove her to do it.”

“Hinata! Stop!” Owari grits her teeth, the gnashing audible from the other side of the room. “I didn’t do anything; Mioda killed herself! What about Soda? He still doesn’t have an alibi!”

“Not to spread doubt, but I see her point.” Sonia locks eyes with Hajime, then with Soda. “We are forgetting something crucial – something that happened post-mortem.”

Hajime sighs. “You mean how the body was found, don’t you?” At the princess’s nod, he continues, “she was hanging from the ceiling, but she wasn’t attached to anything, right?”

With a wince, Tsumiki softly responds. “...Yes. The Monokuma File didn’t say anything about this, but my autopsy found that she had scrapes on her torso, forearms, and face.”

He nods. “They probably weren’t in the Monokuma File because they were obtained after the murder and cover-up; I think she got those injuries when she fell – the ceiling boards were probably caught on her skin, keeping her suspended.”

Nanami slowly blinks, one eye at a time as though just waking up. “How does this connect back to Owari? Sorry… I don’t understand your reasoning here.”

“First,” Nagito butts in before he can get a word out, “I think it’s important to establish that she wasn’t just in the ceiling. Rather, there was an attic full of medical supplies.”

“How did you find it?”

“Hajime! Are you doubting me?” The teen laughs. “My luck, of course. The door fell on me while I was investigating.”

Resisting the urge to facepalm, Hajime resorts to just sighing. “Were you able to get up?”

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t. There wasn’t a staircase or a ladder, so I’m really only going off of the bottles of medication that fell on me.”

Kuzuryu huffs proudly. “There we have it; Mioda couldn’t have gotten up there on her own.”

“Wait, why? Sorry, man, I am not following.”

“Think about it, Soda – Mioda was too short to reach the attic entrance, and too high and sick to try to jump.” Hajime rubs his eyes. “Even on someone’s shoulder, she wouldn’t have had the strength or balance to pull that off.” He faces the rest of the class, projecting his voice and leaving no room for argument. He knows what happened now. “Soda’s a mechanic, so of course he’s strong, but pushing Mioda up from the bottom would just make her fall.

“We can also look at the Monokuma File again. It says that Mioda had bruises on her forearms, clarifying that they were inflicted after death. The fact that those injuries were included at all tells us that they were specifically part of the cover-up, so I believe that her body was pulled up.”

“So… someone would have had to get into the attic first…” Tanaka puts a finger to his lips, mysterious aura considerably dampened by the hamsters rooting through his hair.

“Oh.”

“...Oh.”

“Yeah…” Hajime takes a deep breath before fixing his stare on Owari. “The only one in the hospital that would have been strong enough, athletic enough, and motivated enough… is Owari.”

“Hey there, Hinata! You’re a cool guy but what the hell? You don’t have any evidence! This is all circumstantial.” 

“I’m sorry, Owari, but it all checks out. You took fast-acting pills, so you wouldn’t have been drugged when you pulled her up; the bruises on her forearms match the size of your hands; the scrape on your upper-arm – the one Tsumiki pointed out earlier – looks almost identical to the ones Mioda had on her torso, implying that both injuries were made by the same material – say, for example, the ceiling boards.”

Even as the rest of the group refuses to look up from the ground, Owari persists in arguing her case. “It’s all circumstantial! I told you, I fell. An’ there’s nothin’ more to it!”

Nagito meets his eyes, disappointment flooding his gaze. “Hajime, if you wouldn’t mind laying everything out? I believe… it’s time to finish this.”

He squeezes his eyes shut, the process never getting easier. “Alright, here’s how it went down…

The Blackened arrives at the hospital with everyone else, not knowing what the sickness has in store for them. They help set up room assignments, but instead of staying put, they sneak out while the caretakers are distracted in Hinata’s room. They steal a variety of slow-acting and fast-acting medication in different forms – planning for any and everything, fearing for their own safety – and grab some ear plugs to block any sounds that could cause them panic before heading back to their room to wait out the sickness.

At around 22:30, The Blackened lures Mioda into their room. 

They stay awake, waiting for their caretaker to fall asleep to enact the next part of their plan: waking Mioda up and telling her what she is to do. They stuff the hospital-supplied ear plugs into Mioda’s ears, and inject her with the slow-acting drugs, accidentally puncturing her veins due to their shaking, before sending her off with even more fast-acting medication to attack Hinata at 04:40. 

Thinking this killing would be more merciful than the disease, The Blackened preps their own drugs, getting ready to kill themself and the risk of anyone else getting sick. 

Mioda returns at around 05:00 with the drugs starting to affect her functioning, prompting the Blackened to begin covering up the murder. They take Mioda into the hall and open the door to the attic before using their preexisting talents to jump up and through the opening.

Once in the attic, The Blackened reaches down, taking Mioda’s arms to pull her up, scraping themself in the process. They secure a near-unconscious Mioda in the attic, give her some extra fast-acting medication to ensure death, and jump back down, closing the door behind them, going back into their room, and finally taking the pills they had prepared earlier in the day. 

Mioda dies, Hinata is discovered and saved, and The Blackened is found in their room by their caretaker. Their caretaker helps them out into the hall, where they are met with the corpse of Mioda, and Hinata – who they thought they had killed.

Murder-suicide gone wrong, The Blackened plays along, pretending to have been drugged at the same time as Hinata, all while knowing that they had failed.

“Isn’t that right, Owari Akane?”

The entire room seems to shatter with Owari’s heart, and the gymnast breaks down in tears. “I- I’m sorry.” She hiccups. “It wasn’t supposed to go like this! Hinata! You know what it was like! I was scared, I didn’t know what to do!” She looks around, wildly scanning the class for anyone on her side. “I was so scared, we were all going to die – I had to do something!” Nidai walks over to her as if in a trance and puts an arm around her shoulder. Owari tucks into his side, only sobbing harder. “We were all going to die, Coach! It hurt- it hurt so badly, I couldn’t just sit around while he picks us off one-by-one!” 

“Oooookay! Are you ready? I hope you’re ready!” Monokuma leaps up, clicking his heels. “Cast your votes! I wonder if you’ll choose right…”

Hajime looks down, unable to meet the gymnast’s eyes as he votes for her. In a way, he understands. It hurt, of course it did! But he wasn’t going to kill anyone for it. 

But, he understands.

That stupid slot machine pops up from the ground next to the bear and starts spinning. The faces of his friends – dead and alive – fly by, taunting him until the photos slow to land on Owari.

“Cooooorrect! Puhuhuhuuuu!” Monokuma’s sadistic laugh morphs into a cackle as the wailing grows louder. 

“AKANE!!”

“Aaaaalright! Let’s give it everything we’ve got… it’s punishment time!”

Chapter Text

Hajime doesn’t want to think about Owari’s execution. 

It was long.

It was painful.

It was excruciating. 

Monokuma had quite literally worked her to death.

Owari had always seemed so strong, but not even she could handle lifting weights, running on a treadmill, and performing acrobatics all at once. 

Of course she had fallen.

And the treadmill didn’t stop.

Her hair had been sucked in first, leading to her head and her face.

At least the screaming didn’t last long.

“Hajime?”

He turns from his post at the docks, eyeing Nagito as he slowly sits next to him, wincing as his joints creak in harmony with the wood. “...Hey.”

“Sitting alone on a Friday night?” He tuts, scoffing with less heat than a doused fire. “Pathetic.”

With a huff and an eye roll, Hajime leams back, tilting his head just far enough to stare at the stars above. “Laugh all you want – you’re out here with me.”

“Only because I felt bad.” 

He doesn’t acknowledge Nagito shifting closer, refusing to pull his eyes from the sea until long, thin, musician’s fingers begin combing through his hair. A shiver runs down his spine and he stiffens. In any other scenario, touching his head would be a huge no, but… he needs this right now.

They both do.

The taller teen pulls the other in, wrapping his jacket around both of them. Hajime flicks his gaze from the water to stormy gray irises, sighing softly. “Cut the crap, Nagito.” Fingers freeze in an aborted circular trace. “How do you really feel?”

“You first.”

“Fine.” He exhales sharply, chuffed. “I don’t know. I hated being sick and not having control over my actions, I hated being in a hospital, and I hate that another murder happened, but our time spent together was… nice.

“I enjoyed that.”

Nagito resumes his placating trace, creeping behind his ears and down the back of his neck, just shy of brushing his shoulders. “Good.”

“‘Good’? Just good?”

“You need to work on your patience, Hajime.” A smile tugs at cracked lips, revealing the echo of long-lost smile lines. “I am in love with the hope that sleeps inside of you, and by extension, you.”

“Are you confessing to me right now?”

“You aren’t in a position to say no.”

Hajime sits up to cross his arms, giving little resistance when the other pulls them apart and him closer by the wrists. “Because everything has to be a power-play with you.”

His smile grows wider. “Now you get it.” Olive eyes drift toward pale lips, and a sly look falls over Nagito’s face. “Go ahead.”

Any insults Hajime could have thrown are stifled by a kiss, the taller tugging him in until their teeth clack and their noses bump. Taking his bottom lip in his teeth, he adjusts until Nagito is at a more natural angle. 

A drop of saliva rolls over and down both of their chins, disregarded in favor of focusing on the kiss itself, and the two shift, connected by the lips, until they’re lying on the dock, the chill of the wood and nails forgotten. 

Nagito is the one to break away for air, but Hajime is the first to speak. “Are we gonna talk about… everything?”

“Not right now.” Near-albino fingertips skim gently over a healthy brown, following veins until he can’t find any more. “One thing at a time.”

“Okay.” Hajime takes a deep breath. “Okay.” He slowly stands, taking Nagito with him. “Can we go back to my cabin?”

That familiar, raspy laugh warms the air in a way he would never admit. “How forward! And without even a first date.”

“Nagito!” His face flushes as he yanks his hand away, only for the bastard to grab it back. “You know that’s-”

“I know, I know. So little faith.”

“...Shut up.”

Hajime’s scowl carries no weight as the two wander through the night, basking in the light of the stars, breathing in the salty smell of the sea, watching in wonder as the last of the cabin lights blink out, stranding them in an intimate darkness.

They enter the abode in silence punctuated by soft breaths, climbing into bed and curling up together without a word of confirmation or insecurity. Nagito pushes his lips into Hajime’s one final time as they wrap their arms around each other, past set in stone, future uncertain, but present as perfect as the tainted paradise in which they reside would ever allow.