short danganronpa oneshot
"What's your favorite season?" It's lunch, and Kirigiri is stopped by a curious Naegi. She momentarily stops packing up, and stands straight.
"Why do you want to know?" Her voice stops just short of a statement.
"Well, I'm curious," Naegi offers sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Is that wrong?"
"No," Kirigiri replies. She watches as Naegi waits, standing awkwardly. Deciding to answer, she replies, "Winter."
"But why?" Naegi presses. "Why winter?"
"Because I like snow." She opts not to tell everything.
"I see." Regardless, Naegi looks pleased to get an answer. "Did you know I like spring?"
"Not really." It's not important information, but Kirigiri still tucks away the fact somewhere in her brain.
"Ok. See you later!" With that, Naegi gives a little wave and smiles, bounding out of the classroom.
Kirigiri returns to her schoolwork and folders, exiting the classroom a little while after Naegi.
"Did I ever tell you why I like spring?" A week later, Naegi decides to continue pursuing the subject.
"No."
"Well, I really like flowers, y'know? They're always so bright and pretty! Spring is so full of life, and the weather isn't too hot or too cold."
"I see." She doesn't. To Kirigiri, flowers held no significant meaning.
"You remind me of a lilac. They're about the same color as your hair." Kirigiri vaguely remembers a shower of flowers, her father, and her mother on a warm spring day.
"Mhm." Kirigiri has no other words to say. Naegi takes it as his cue to leave.
"See you soon, Kirigiri!" He practically leaps from the room, a bright smile adorning his face.
This time, Kirigiri is reminded of a sunflower, always facing the sun.
Kirigiri and Naegi are walking side by side in the hallway, only a few days later. Kirigiri had been walking home when Naegi joined her, beaming.
It's a pleasant silence, filled in by the absentminded humming of Naegi. It's calm and peaceful, and the dimming sunlight streaming in through the windows lights up the halls warmly.
Kirigiri thinks of winter, and spring. She thinks of snow and cherry blossoms, mist and flowers.
She thinks of her father, a man who had left behind his family for his school. She thinks of cold days indoor by the fireplace, and spring days outside in a grassy field.
"I like winter because of hot cocoa and family," Kirigiri starts. Naegi looks up in surprise, practically glowing. He waits for her to continue.
"Winter, to me, means warmth and comfort. It means snowmen and snow angels, and family." Kirigiri thinks of her father and her mother, both gone but not quite.
"You're right!" Naegi nods enthusiastically, breaking into a grin. Kirigiri nods back, a half smile resting on her face. Her memory of her parents is replaced by one of her class, painted in bright colors in contrast to her black and white memory.
"But spring's not half-bad either."
