Ladies and gents welcome back! First of I am so sooooo sorry that this took sooooo long, I am worst at following deadlines, especially my own as life kinda carrys me away in a wave of bullshittery and procrastination. Only pro is that said procrastination has kinda helped me plan out the rest of this story properly rather than the senseless diving in I had sort of began with. As such I may do some tweaking of chapters and editing of character traits for some of the cast that I think didn't effectively represent their individual personalities.
In other news the drawings are on their way, I've been busy with doing costume stuff for Comic, as well as a community play I'm a part of whilst also dealing with a broken toe. So everything has kinda taken a backseat. Not only that, I work in a cinema and it's been absolute madness recently especially with releases like Suicide Squad... At least this is finally here! But also it is a chapter without FTEs... Which can only mean one thing~!
As always I only own my OC and this particular setting whereas all the other OCs/characters belong to their respective owners! The concept isn't mine however so please support the games and anime!
Also give the OCs' owners some love too!
Chapter 8
Daily Life: When Bridges Collapse
I was awoken from my short stint of rest by my aching stomach, lack of sleep clouding my mind as I twisted in my bed. My room was still dark as I roused myself, stretching and groaning as I battled the seductive grip of sleep. Guiding myself from my warm covers I wandered into my kitchen, preparing a much needed cup of tea.
The fragrant liquid helped to wake my senses as I sipped, settled comfortably on my couch as I watched the peaceful town through my window. The mute colours of the partially lit dome were like a greyscaled sunrise, dull without it's pastels but somehow still relaxing to watch regardless of the threats that hung over my head. I sat on long after I finished my tea, mesmerized by the sight even as the bells of the morning announcement sounded. But my mind was elsewhere and I paid the bear no mind, still captured by our artificial sky. In my mind's eye I could image my family, looking to a similar sight... Hopefully somewhere safe. My mind refused to even entertain the possibilty of an ugly alternative but still the words of that god damn bear niggled in the subconcious of my mind.
Dead or alive, every loved one you have is accessible...
My stomach flipped and my moutgh became dry at the memories of those toxic words... Corrosive and vile... A way to eat at our connections and resolve.
"I can't let that happen."
My resolve only grew at the cancerous thoughts gifted by Monokuma, so much so that my mind moved onto something my time as an archer had taught me; mental clearing. I pushed the black and white monstrosity from my brain and instead visualised my shot sequence, imaging the feel of my bow in my hand, the click of nock on string and the calming rush of loosing the perfect arrow. I released a tense breath I hadn't realised I had been holding and slipped into the familiar calm of a cleared mind. My trance was peaceful but was soon interrupted by a sharp tapping at my door. My numb legs wobbled about feebly as I walked to answer my door, still partially in my day dreaming state as I tended to the entrance. No sooner had I disengaged the lock then had Ane and... Fiona? Stomped into my front room, settling at opposite ends of the space.
"Good morning to you too..."
The fashion designer gave a snobby huff, pulling out a thick drawing book and a scarily sharp pencil, ignoring my existence as Shirane approached me and instructed me to settle myself on my couch. The forensic scientist undressed my wounds and carefully treated them, washing them down with warm water and a salty smelling liquid. Shirane dabbed the concoction onto my back making me recoil as sharp spikes of pain ran through my spine.
"FUCK! What the hell was that?!"
The black haired girl scoffed at me before settling a firm hand on my shoulder, holding me in place so that she could finish my back. "Hot water and salt. It will sterilize the wounds, now quit moving!"
"So you literally just put SALT in my wounds?!"
Ane pressed the cloth against my shoulder, applying more force then required with an inpatient growl. "Yes, it's called saline solution, now shut up!"
"SHIT! Fuck! Okay, okay! I'm shutting up!" I squealed due to the sudden burning sensation.
Squirming against Ane's hands, I. Would hear light chuckles flit from my visitors as they took pleasure from my pain. Sadistic assholes...
I tried my best to follow my "nurse's" instructions but failed to stop my jumping. Thankfully she quickly finished my back and my arm was easily treated due to my duller nerves from thousands of hits from my bow. As Ane wrapped my torso, I wrapped my forearm trying, and failing, to tie off the ends of the bandage. I looked to Fiona, helplessly making eye contact with the bored designer.
"Umm, excuse me Fiona... Could you help me tie off this bandage? I can't do it on my own..."
The brunette rolled her deep blue eyes, slamming her book against my kitchen counter top in frustration. She strode over with a snobbishness that could rival any aristocrat, but she assisted me anyway, snapping the material against my skin as she secured it tightly.
"There." The girl rose to her feet sharply, turning to return to her seat.
Without thinking, I reached out and grabbed her cherry red jacket to stop her, meeting her icy eyes cautiously. "Wait, Fiona I think we have got off on the wrong foot somewhere. Why don't we start over? Maybe even be friends?"
The designer's eyes narrowed dangerously before yanking her jacket from my grip. Brushing it off as though my touch had tainted it. "First off never lay your filthy hands on me ever again and also I don't need the friendship of a brainless jock with little to no taste."
A sharp shock lit up my spine at her harsh words, alighting my gut but I held back my temper. Biting my tongue as acidic words filled my mouth, I instead looked to her with curiosity. "Okay, that's fine, at least answer a question for me... Why are you here?"
Fiona's indifferent expression dropped to one of genuine intrigue. "Care to elaborate?"
"If you are so disinterested in my existence, then why are you here? Why isn't Mitsuru?"
The brown haired girl scoffed, crossing her arms defensively at my questions. "I was asked by Mitsuru and Ane to be here. Turns out they don't get along so they asked me to be the middle party here for your "safety". Being close to neither of them nor yourself makes me impartial it seems."
With that the well dressed young woman returned to her previous location, ignoring myself and Ane as the latter finished my bandages. The forensic specialist assisted me with my black polo shirt before helping to tie my sling, standing quickly when she was done.
"Right, that should be you for now. If you experience any pain tell me but for now you shouldn't need more treatment and should be able to assist yourself. Just be careful when you wash as you don't what to damage the new skin."
I nodded and sloppily gave a mock salute with my good hand. "Yes Ma'am! Now shall we head to breakfast?"
The black haired girl nodded and quietly assisted me as I struggled to pull myself from the soft plush couch. Leading the way, so that she could leave quickly, Fiona pulled the door open and strode down the hallway without so much as a glance behind her, leaving myself and Ane to quietly shuffle from my room. Our travels were filled with a companionable silence, it was comfortable but I could tell that Ane wasn't in the mood to speak. Her previous interaction with me sprung to mind, her sudden drop of her defenses having brought a thin veil of awkwardness to our relationship but I knew it wouldn't last. I don't have many friends and I knew, even in our current situation, I refuse to lose my chance at continuing to strengthen my bonds with all my new acquaintances. With my mind made up we arrived at the cafe as usual to the sight of my fellow students quietly sitting to their breakfasts, a tension and heavy silence hanging in the air.
The silence was so thick that it was smothering, like a thick smog that poisoned the atmosphere.
I cleared my throat as I approached, breaking the quiet as the others looked to me. Some greeted me with smiles and others with disinterest, but my appearance seemed to break the tension somewhat as those around me broke their quiet and started to quietly converse. As I scanned the crowd that one gaze managed to connect with mine as it had so frequently, grey eyes piercing straight through me. Takuya seemed almost melancholic as he held my gaze, a timid smile on his lips which made my heart hurt as guilt sprung to my mind. Better start with him...
Taking a deep breath I approached the saddened medium, sitting cautiously beside him, an uncomfortable weight on my chest as he silently offered me a plate of toast.
I grimaced as I accepted the bread, munching quietly as he ate his own. My chest felt heavier and heavier until I felt as though I was being crushed, every breath hurt until I finally gave in turning to the boy with apologetic eyes. "Takuya I'm so sorry, I've been avoiding you for no reason and I feel bad for not even trying to get to know you... I will admit I was freaked out when we first met but if you're willing I'd like to try and understand you better."
The purple haired boy just quietly nodded continuing to chew on his toast. I released a heavy breath, the pressure on my chest lifting as I opened myself to the cautious boy.
"He really does forgive you, you know."
Every hair on my body stood up at his words, a shiver wracking my body. "How do you know?"
"He told me... He knows that you blame yourself and he would like you to stop."
I looked over at the grey eyed boy my expression hardening. "It's not that easy... You obviously know what happened..."
"I only get flashes... But I understand what happened."
I snapped my head away, tears threatening my eyes. "Please... For my sanity, keep it to yourself and I'll try for... Boe... Tell him that I always have him in my thoughts."
Takuya smiled gently. "I promise and don't worry, he knows."
Polishing off my toast I patted the boy's shoulder and stood, needing to escape my guilt. But as I walked away I could feel the lifting of a burden from my shoulders, it felt good to know that someone knew... It meant I didn't have to shoulder it alone.
Once again I wandered the streets, but instead of heading to the lake I went in the opposite direction, towards the forest where it all began. The twists and turns of the streets seemed to calm me as I lost myself to the greys of the builds, my mind wandering as though it was acting alongside my body. It buzzed with memories, both warm and cold, happy and painful until it stopped and had me frowning deeply. Although my wandering had been peaceful it became frustrating as a thought came to mind... There hadn't been a gift today... Did that mean he was going to leave us be?
My mind hoped but my heart worried... No, my heart knew better, he was up to something.
Before I could muse upon my doubts a sharp pain came from the nape of my neck, throwing my step as I stumbled, reaching to the pain. My hand brushed with something prickily and metalic. Pulling the object I saw what I recognised as a dart just as the dizziness began, nausea fogging my mind before I fell back only just registering the pain in my back and a sinister giggle as the darkness overtook me.
"Wakey, wakey boys and girls!"
Startling awake to the taste of rubber in my mouth and the sharp stabs of pain in my back, I sat up to see myself in a pile with the others in the middle of the town square. My poor arm was pinned under the muscular torso of Takeo who jumped away as I cried out in agony, clutching my injury protectively.
"Oh shit Ash! I'm so sorry!"
"What the actual fuck is going on?!"
"What the-?!"
As the other students roused the air exploded into a chorus of confusion and anger as we all tried to stand up, only to tangle ourselves further. I scrambled from the pile and shakily stood as the others followed suit. The others started to help eachother up but as Takeo tried to help up Azusa the writer yelped as though she had been struck jumping away at the boy's touch, only upsetting the fisherman further as he glanced between me and Azu in distress. I looked to the girl in confusion but she just looked away, a look of fear in her expression when the manic voice of our captor rang through the area only scaring her further.
"Ah nothing funnier than half drugged teens trying to figure out what the hell is going on! Upupupu!"
We all turned to face the bear who stood where he had on our first meeting, looking to us in amusement.
"Oh and don't worry I won't punish you for "loitering", it would be unfair considering the fact that I was the one who put you to sleep."
We looked about eachother in worry, when I noticed something I had previously never seen. I stared at the boy in confusion when he looked to me, his gaze perplexed.
"Ash, are you okay?"
I shook my head and pointed to my neck in confusion. "Umm I should be asking you the same question..."
The young man tilted his head and reached for his throat only to pull his hand away with a start. Rin yelped loudly trying to bury his chin in his shirt as he searched the floor in a panic. "FUCK! NO! Where is my scarf?!"
The others looked to Rin in terror before also searching themselves only to cry out in shock and fear.
"No! where is it?!"
"Who the fuck took it?!
"WHY?!"
My stomach dropped at the reaction of my friends. Mitsuru looked like she could explode at any moment as she held her hand around where her necklace had been, whilst Azusa was in tears as she wrapped her arms around herself now in an unfamiliar white t-shirt instead of her coveted shirt. Feeling numb I reached for my wrist, feeling the lack of my charm bracelet leaving my skin feeling naked. Tears of rage welled in my eyes as I snapped to Monokuma who just smiled smugly as the rest still panicked at the disappearance of their precious possessions.
"You sick bastard, what is wrong with you?!"
He shrugged innocently, his sickening grin still plastered to his plush face. "The clock is ticking Miss Saiki, which of your "friends" will strike first?"
Before I could react, he disappeared before my eyes in a literal puff of smoke, my stomach dropping as he did. Feeling deflated and worried I turned to my friends who all looked to be in various stages of anger and desperation. My chest hurt at the sight of their distrustful gazes but before I could speak up one of the others beat me to the punch.
"Now, now why is everyone so upset? Surely there is something you guys need more then mere trinkets? I'm sure I could get something sorted!"
Before I could look to the source of the voice, the sound of flesh meeting flesh resounded through out the square and everyone sprang into a flurry as I watched Takeo and Rin try to hold back the infuriated leader of the Black Guard as she tried to throw herself at the now downed Akeno, who was clutching a bloodied nose. I threw myself between the two as Mitsuru began to spit insults at the terrified salesmanher, blue eyes full of fury.
"JUST A TRINKET?! THAT WAS ALL I HAD TO REMEMBER HER BY YOU INSENSITIVE SHIT!"
I placed my good hand on the Sukeban's shoulder and shook her slightly. "Mitsuru! Stop! This is what he wants! Don't you see?! Monokuma wants you to hurt him! This isn't right!"
The pink haired girl looked to me coldly, her eyes wild with icy fire. "I don't care Ash." She jerked her arms from the grip of the boys and pointed to Akeno who was being tended to by Ane. "Just keep him the fuck away from me."
With her ultimatum made, the dangerous girl strode away leaving everyone shaken, especially the boy on the floor. The bruised merchant looked to me with steaming eyes that seemed to have changed to a natural grey colour. I noticed what looked to be a blue contact on the boy's cheek which he brushed off as he looked to me thankfully, his usual chipper attitude gone.
"Thank you for protecting me Miss Saiki."
Shaking my head I offered my hand to the well dressed boy, pulling him up from his place on the floor. "Don't mention it, we can't give into that bear no matter what, just get yourself sorted."
He nodded as he was lead away by Tohru into the cafe on Ane's instruction. The specialist looked to me with worry, her gaze dark. "He's got my notebook Ash."
I looked to her, clenching my jaw in anger. "Of course he does... It stacks things against his wants... It makes the "game" unfair."
The dark haired girl nodded seriously. "Yeah... Let's just hope that no one breaks."
I hummed gravely as everyone began to disperse, leaving me alone in the square. Left to my own thoughts and fears. I tried my best to hang onto what little positivity I had left but as I steered myself towards the apartments I could feel my grip slipping as my doubt clouded my thoughts and a stone of fear plummeted into my gut. He has us cornered... It's only a matter of time.
When I arrived back at the apartment block, I gave a tired sigh and swiped in only to hear the sounds of pitiful sniffling coming from the small seating area. Turning my gaze to the corner of the foyer I saw a mess of long hair, in an oversized white tshirt curled up tightly on the couch. My heart broke at the sight of the shivering novelist as Azu resigned herself to whatever emotions the loss of her shirt had caused.
I approached quietly and cautiously as though my friend was an injured animal, gently placing my hand on her shoulder, making her jump fearfully.
"Easy Azu, it's just me... Are you okay?"
The long haired girl shook her head, revealing the extent of her decline as she revealed her face. Her eyes where puffy and red and ringed by deep black bags that almost looked like bruises. Her sickly pale complexion made her look so much older than she was and the sunken quality of her sick had me questioning whether or not she was really eating at meal times. She seemed so much worse than my last interaction with her and my worry aroused a feeling of protective worry in me as I looked her over.
"You don't look good Azu, I know things are stressful and Monokuma's confiscation of your shirt is sick but you look really ill? Have you been sleeping? Eating? You look as though you haven't slept in months!"
Asus looked away, avoiding my eyes as she refused to speak, instead she looked to her lap as she picked at her nails.
I gave a frustrated sigh and held my hand out to my first friend, pulling her off the couch and towards the door. "We are gonna go eat and you are gonna explain to me what's up, we can't let you get sick or-"
As I opened the door we were greeted by the sight of Take standing with his hand raised to ring the doorbell and a strange netting dropped over his arm. He gave a startled grunt and glanced between us as Azu hid behind me, much to the fisherman's obvious disappointment.
Clearing my throat I greeted the dark haired boy calmly. "Take, what brings you to the apartments?"
The muddy eyed boy gulped, glancing at Azu again before offering the strange object in his arms. "I came to apologise... To Azusa for earlier... I didn't mean to scare you and also for hurting your arm... I'm really, really sorry for that."
I nodded and looked to the net expectantly
He cleared his throat and turned to look at my companion, gently gesturing to the net. "Also I came to give you this Azusa... I figured you were tired because your bed was uncomfortable so I put together a hammock for you... It's not much but I always found that they were a lot more comfortable when I was out at sea, it's like getting a hug..."
Azu shifted behind me, unsure of what to make of the boy's gift so I stepped forward and accepted it for her. "Thanks Take, I'm sure it will help."
The man of the sea gave a sharp nod, glancing once more to the novelist apologetically before taking his leave. Turning back to my timid friend, I smirked slightly, placing her hammock beside the door inside the apartment block.
"Seems you have an admirer."
The sickly girl just looked to me questioningly as we began our travels to the cafe in search of sustenance. We remained in a companionable silence, quietly traversing the narrow streets. From the darkening dome I could tell it was getting close to dinner time as it seemed Monokuma had kept us asleep over the course of lunchtime leaving a dull ache in my belly that was echoed by the gargling of Azu's gut.
I smiled at my friend about to make a jestful comment when a blood curdling cry shattered our peace. My heart began to race as the blood drained from my face and my heart began to plummet. Looking to Azu in terror we ran in the direction of the cry, Azusa becoming paler as we went only to come upon something we would never forget.
My stomach flipped so suddenly that I had to turn to empty what little contents were within my digestive tract. Azusa had dropped, passing out from a mix of shock and low blood sugars at the sight nestled so gruesomely in that little alley. Sarau knelt leaning against the brick wall of the opening, shaking hands clasped over his mouth as he cried, shaking uncontrollably at what he had discovered.
My body was numb and after my heaving but before I could even begin to comprehend the scene before me my thoughts were destroyed by the chiming of bells and the grating tone of the "mayor's" voice as he confirmed what I once thought was the impossible.
Bing bong, ding dong.
"Ahem this is an announcement from the Mayor's office, a body has been discovered! Finally ladies and gentlemen a murder has been committed... Let the fun begin!"
A/N- Oh no, who is our first victim?! Was it panic induced or an accident or was it carefully planned?! Will they find the murderer before someone else is hurt? Place your bets people! There is a 1/15 chance of you guessing the murderer correctly... And you never know... There might be a prize for the winner ;)
As always remember to review! And I will see you guys in the next one! :D