A/N: I don't want to give the usual excuses of school for how late this next chapter is. I will say that I am now determined to focus on this story! So let's kick off the overall storyline with this first, official chapter. Let's see what our girls our getting up to in Towa city. Anyway, it's time for romance!
Chapter 1: Towa City is definitely doomed
The next morning, Kirigiri asked for Makoto and Aoi to meet in the main lobby of the hotel they were staying in. Aoi, however, was still thinking about everything that had occurred yesterday. Were Kyoko's deductions correct? As the Ultimate Detective, Kyoko had never led them wrong before.
But Aoi had a hard time wrapping her head around the idea that Toko was harboring an attraction towards her. The relationship between the two girls was (relatively) cordial now. Before that, however, it hit a lot of rocky patches because of the Killing Game. Aoi's desire to befriend Toko was partially motivated by the desire to make up for how Aoi damaged their bonds back then.
Kyoko would probably tell her not to bother, since Toko probably wouldn't make the same effort to fix their friendship. But something deep in Aoi told her the two of them could become friends. And if Kyoko was right about Toko's feelings, and one day the writer wanted to be more than friends… Aoi found herself shaking her head of those thoughts, feeling her face heat up. She would deal with that- later. Much, much, later.
"Asahina, are you paying attention?" Kyoko suddenly asked.
"Ah! Yes, I'm listening," Aoi said, feeling herself going redder from embarrassment. "So what were we talking about again?"
"You weren't actually listening at all, were you, Aoi," Makoto said, sweating.
Kyoko sighed, but went ahead and repeated her lecture. "We still need to locate Togami, and Naegi and Fukawa are our only leads. They plan to patrol the streets of Towa city, and I have deduced that Asahina would be best suited to go with them."
Asahina jumped up in her seat at these words. It would make an excellent chance to talk with Toko. Even so, Aoi felt a little bad that Kyoko would go through this all this effort for her.
"Well, Aoi is the friendliest of the three of us," Makoto said thoughtfully. "I can see her getting along with well with my sister."
Kyoko being Kyoko, she didn't react to the unintentionally insensitive part of Makoto's statement. Instead, the detective continued, "Makoto and I will stay here, in case trouble arises that we need to resolve. Asahina, take this walkie talkie. You can stay in contact with us here in the hotel with it. Radio us if you are in trouble and I will send him as back up."
"Why am I the backup in this plan?" Makoto asked.
"Logically speaking, it would not be wise to send both of us at once. It would be best to send you first, Makoto, so that I can stay in contact with you from here," Kyoko said with her usual cool headed attitude. "And if I lose contact with you, then I will intervene personally."
"You really thought this out, Kyoko!" Aoi said, impressed with the her logic.
"When you put it like that, I suppose I understand," Makoto said. "It's just that I don't feel comfortable letting Komaru out of my sight after reuniting with her like this."
"Aw, it's sweet that you care about your little sister," Aoi said. The swimmer talked with Komaru yesterday, and she seemed like Aoi's kind of girl, optimistic and perky.
Kyoko smiled at Makoto's concern. As understandable as your concern is, your sister has managed on her own for this long. And Asahina and Fukawa will be with her, so I do not believe she will be in any danger."
This did make Makoto feel a lot better, if his relieved expression was any indication. "I do trust Aoi and Toko to keep Komaru safe. Now hopefully they don't argue with each other like they usually do."
"We won't argue with each other!" Aoi immediately exclaimed. "In fact, I'm going to get along with Toko whether she wants to or not!"
"Somehow that doesn't reassure me," Makoto said, sweating. Kyoko could only shake her head in disbelief. Now even she was starting to have her doubts about this operation.
Regardless, they set their plan into motion. Aoi received a walkie talkie, which she placed in the pocket of her Future Foundation uniform. Next, she bid farewell to Makoto and Kyoko and made her way to the apartment complex where Toko and Komaru are were currently staying at. The city was still in bad shape, and the streets were empty.
Even so, Aoi heard that it used to be a lot worse before Toko and Komaru cleaned the place up, so Aoi found herself really impressed. Especially with Toko- the Toko that Aoi first met wouldn't have been capable of everything Aoi heard Toko did, but evidently the writer had grown a lot. So Aoi tried to maintain a positive attitude as she knocked on the door to their apartment.
"Hello, Komaru! Hello, Toko!" Aoi greeted cheerfully as the two girls answered the door.
"Oh, hello again Aoi!" Komaru greeted back. Toko, on the other hand, stood a few feet behind Komaru, gazing sullenly at the swimmer. "...What do you want?" Toko eventually asked.
"Well, Komaru told me that you plan on patrolling the streets, so I thought I'd join you!" Aoi said, pumping her fists. "I get restless when I just stand around and do nothing."
"You told Aoi we were doing that, Komaru? Why?" Toko said, glaring at Komaru.
"H-hey! Don't look at me like that, Toko!" Komaru said, stepping back from the writer. "I just thought we could use a little extra help today, while Aoi's still here."
Toko looked at Aoi, and for a moment Aoi couldn't read the writer's expression. The Toko said, "Fine, I guess she can come along." With that, Toko slunk back into the apartment.
For a moment there was silence, before Aoi and Komaru shared a knowing, sheepish smile with each other.
Just as Aoi thought, she and Komaru immediately got along with each other. While traveling through the streets of Towa city, Aoi learned that Komaru was kidnapped in her home, kept prisoner in an apartment, and wielded a special megaphone that she fought with. Aoi could see Makoto in Komaru, but Komaru had an energetic quirk to her that made her unique.
"So you're the Ultimate Swimmer? Then you must be pretty fit!" Komaru exclaimed, clearly interested in Aoi's talent.
"Uh huh! I make sure to work out every day," Aoi said proudly. "It helps keep my body in top shape! Although, not many people know that swimming is sometimes a team sport. For example, me and Yuta compare times with each other and compete for the best one."
Komaru giggled nervously. "Yes, I'm sure you and your brother must have shared a lot of good times with each other."
Aoi couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow at this. Come to think of it, she hadn't seen Yuta in a long time, and she heard from Kyoko that something may have happened to him- Aoi could feel a sinking feeling in her stomach upon hearing those words. Aoi wanted to believe he was okay, but both today and yesterday whenever she brought up Yuta, Komaru became very evasive.
Aoi didn't want to suspect anything, especially from Makoto's sister. But her behavior was very fishy. "Hey, Komaru-"
"Oh, of course your body would be fit."
Aoi started at the sound of Toko speaking for the first time since they started this patrol. The words made Aoi feel foreboding- she knew what usually followed when Toko spoke words like that.
"But I don't think Komaru wants to know all about the unsavory activities you get up to," Toko continued, her face going bright red. "Just what do you do in behind closed doors at the Future Foundation, I wonder?"
Despite saying earlier to Makoto she would get along with Toko, Aoi felt a familiar feeling of irritation. Now she was suddenly remembered a big reason why they didn't get along- they could never have a normal conversation. "Toko, are we really going to start this again?! We haven't seen each other in forever!"
"I don't think you needed to go that far," Komaru said, sighing with a familiar weariness. Even so, she also seemed to be relieved. And Aoi got a feeling that she was forgetting something important, but she couldn't think of what it could be.
"Why did I have to be here, again?" Toko asked, sinking back to her usual sour mood. "You and Komaru seem to be getting along without me."
Aoi flinched at this. Indeed, she had so much fun talking with Komaru she actually forgot about Toko. And given that Toko was the entire reason Aoi was on this patrol, Aoi couldn't help but feel guilty.
"I was hoping I could be friends with Komaru since she's your friend too!" Aoi said quickly. "I mean, you want to be in the Future Foundation, don't you Toko? I could try and get both of you in."
"Yeah, it would be good for us to have Aoi on our side, if we do decide to join them," Komaru added.
It seemed like their words reach Toko, as her foul aura receded slightly. "Tch. Having to rely on Aoi's help makes me feel like I've already lost."
Aoi sighed. "I heard you changed, Toko, but five minutes and it's like we're back in Hope's Peak Academy. I guess some things never change."
At this, Tenko actually smiled. "Having you get so angry at me almost makes me feel nostalgic. You were always bugging me and yelling at me back then."
"Well it's not like I want to yell at you," Aoi said. "But you really know how to get on my nerves, you know. And I'm pretty sure you do it on purpose, too!"
"Yup, I can definitely tell that you've both known each other for a long time," Komaru said, with a deadpan tone that was similar to her brother's.
They decided to camp out for the night in an abandoned subway tunnel. Toko and Komaru had their personal sleeping bags, worn by constant use. Aoi had a small tent that was provided by Kyoko, which she set up by herself. When Komaru and Toko went to got scouting, Aoi updated Kyoko and Makoto by walkie talkie. When they got back, the three girls had a dinner together, then Toko retired to sleep first. Aoi took this chance to talk with Komaru privately.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Komaru asked curiously.
"It's about Toko. You two seem pretty close," Aoi said. "And I guess I'm curious about how it happened. I mean, I've known Toko for a long time, and- well, you've seen how things usually go with us."
"Oh believe me, it was far from easy," Komaru said, quietly so she wouldn't wake Toko. "She even tried to kill me once, but this crazy girl was manipulating her and- it's a long story."
I have a feeling it has something to do with Byakuya, doesn't it," Aoi said, sighing again when Komaru nodded in confirmation. "She gets kinda… crazy when it comes to him."
"But you've refused to stop trying even after all this time," Komaru said in a reassuring tone. "I mean, Toko does seem to like you. She just pushes away everyone around her. I know she really tried with me."
Aoi once again felt a flash of guilt. In fact, Aoi did give up on Toko at one point, when Sakura died. Aoi raged against everyone in the Hope's Peak, and tried to get everyone killed, including herself. And Sakura being hurt wasn't even Toko's fault- it was Genocider Jill's fault, and that was something Toko couldn't help.
"No, I don't plan to give up on Toko, not after everything we've been through!" Aoi exclaimed. "I just don't know how to break her walls."
"This is going to sound weird, but don't try so hard." When Aoi gave Komaru a confused look, she continued, "I know that Toko tends to bait you, but you can't let her get to you. Don't give her the reaction she wants. Then you'll be making some progress with her!"
"Thanks for the advice, Koramu!" Aoi said, smiling at the younger girl. "I'm thankful that Toko has a friend like you!"
Komaru looked over to where Toko was sleeping. "After the kind of life that Toko has had, she really deserves better people in her life. And I feel like you would be really good for her. So I want to help you get along with her, too."
Aoi knew a few details of Toko's life, and she agreed with Komaru. More importantly, Aoi felt her determination burn brightly as a result of this conversation. Whatever happened in the past, Toko did deserve happiness in her life. And Aoi wanted to be one of the people to give it to her. Starting tomorrow, she would take Komaru's advice when dealing with Toko.
With that, Aoi turned in for the night and Komaru went to go scouting again. However, right as the conversation ended, a shadow at the top of the subway station stairs disappeared right before either girl could see it. And when Komaru exited the subway station, there was no one in the surrounding area.
A/N: By necessity, the romance between Aoi and Toko has to be slow burn. So I'm setting up a foundation here for their bonds to grow. Meanwhile Danganronpa fans can spot several plot thread I'm also setting up- keep an eye on them. Until then, this has been Orion Fowl, and thank you for visiting my Corner of Romance!