A/N: Here's Chapter Four Daily Life Part Five. Please read, review, and enjoy!
Danganronpa 4: Next Generation Killing!
Chapter Four: Pride and Prejudice!
Daily Life Part Five: Free Time with Gonta and his Amazing Friends!
Kiki sniffled, lifting her head from her pillow before wiping her tears away with her wrist. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, letting them dangle as she sighed. Her eyes drooped as her lips tugged into a glum frown.
"Why…? Why didn't it work…? We were all having fun, and then it…it fell apart." Kiki slammed her fist against the mattress in frustration. "We're still divided, at least half of us still don't trust Sokyu, and we're arguing with each other. If this keeps up…if this keeps up…Monokuma might not even need a motive this time…"
Kiki shook her head, vehemently pushing the thought away. Naïve or not, she didn't even want to think about the rest of them killing each other unprovoked.
"I can't even go there…I need to get my mind off this…" As if on cue, Kiki's stomach growled, causing her to hop off the bed and slip her feet into her sneakers. "I need something to eat. Maybe a snack and some tea will help to calm me down."
With shaky steps, she opened her door, hoping that a trip to the kitchen would help to improve her mood.
"…Gonta?" Kiki asked, surprised as she walked into the kitchen to see the bug enthusiast.
Gonta turned to face her, plate of food in hand. His eyes widened as he saw Kiki's red-tinged eyes.
"Kiki, what's wrong?! Your face is redder than a fire ant!"
"Oh…" Kiki sighed. "Sorry, I was just…crying…"
"Crying…?" Gonta's eyes flared with anger as his free hand clenched into a fist. "Who made you cry?! Gonta will make sure they say sorry!"
Kiki sweatdropped, though she couldn't help but smile at his earnestness. "You…don't need to do that. I've just…had a lot on my mind, lately. So I figured a snack might help with my mood."
Now calm, Gonta nodded in comprehension. "Gonta understands. When Gonta gets upset, Gonta goes to his room and visits his bug friends." His eyes lit up as he exclaimed, "Oh, would you like to meet Gonta's bug friends?"
"Meet…your bug friends…?" Kiki cocked her head curiously, her hand rising to fiddle with her braid.
"That's right! Gonta was just on his way to give bug friends food. They're in his room. Come on, follow Gonta! Gonta promises you'll cheer up once you meet them."
I'm…not actually a big fan of bugs… Despite her hesitation, Kiki found herself swayed by Gonta's enthusiastic smile. Well, it's not like I'll feel any worse. Besides, I know Gonta wouldn't lie to me; he's an even worse liar than I am. Giggling at the thought, she nodded. "Alright, let's meet your bug friends, Gonta."
"Great, come with Gonta! Gonta promises you'll cheer up after meeting Gonta's bug friends!"
"Hopefully, this doesn't lead to another Insect Meet and Greet incident…" Kyoko grimaced.
"Insect…Meet and Greet…?" Koto asked, cocking his head in curiosity.
"…Sounds gross…" Kiri stuck her tongue out in disgust.
"That's right, you two weren't born yet when it happened." Makoto realized as Maki nodded.
"If I remember correctly, Moku was just a baby when it happened."
Mokubo's brow furrowed before he turned to his parents with a curious gleam in his eyes. "What was the Insect Meet and Greet?"
Makoto and Kyoko smiled nostalgically, the patriarch answering, "We were visiting Jii-chan and Baa-chan with you, and Tsumugi and Gonta were visiting Kiki, who was being babysat by Maki."
Kyoko nodded. "Gonta apparently had the bright idea to show the girls some bugs he brought with him, but they ended up chasing Kiki and Tsumugi and tiring them out." She shook her head in amusement at the memory. "Gonta felt so guilty about it, right Makoto?"
"Yeah, the poor boy was bawling on the floor, saying how sorry he was. Thankfully, Kiki and Tsumugi forgave him once they woke up."
Mokubo nodded in understanding. "Hopefully his bug friends will cheer her up this time…assuming they don't chase her again."
"I'm sure they won't." Kyoko smiled with a subtle confidence. "He's a grown adult now. Memory or no memory, I think he'll know how to handle them better than when he was a child."
The others nodded as they turned their attention back to the screen, hoping that Gonta's suggestion really would benefit Kiki's emotional state.
Free Time Event #15: Kiki & Gonta!
"Hey, bugs!" Gonta called as Kiki shut the door behind her.
A faint buzzing sound echoed in her ears as she glanced around the room. Kiki's eyes widened as she saw the numerous glass jars and tanks lining the shelves, each holding a different kind of buzzing insect.
"Wow…" She breathed in awe. "There are so many…but…where did you get them all? Did you bring them into the university?"
Gonta shook his head as he walked over to the bugshelf. "No, Gonta didn't bring any of his past bug friends with him. Those bug friends are still at Gonta's house."
"Then where did these guys come from?"
She watched with an impressed eye as Gonta skillfully lifted each lid ajar before sliding some food into it. Gonta repeated the process with each bug as he explained to Kiki.
"Sometimes, when Gonta goes by a window, Gonta sees a bug against the glass. So Gonta keeps glass jars in his jacket so Gonta can bring them inside. Oh, but some need more space, so Gonta brought tanks from the Warehouse to give them more room."
Kiki couldn't help but smile at Gonta's peaceful disposition as he tended to his bugs. "You really like bugs, don't you Gonta?"
Gonta turned around, beaming at her. "Yes, Gonta loves bugs! Gonta's always been happy as long as Gonta's had plenty of bug friends."
"What is it about bugs that makes you happy, Gonta?" Her head cocked curiously as she waited for Gonta's explanation.
"Bugs live in colonies, so they understand the importance of sticking together! Gonta knows they won't easily abandon him, so Gonta doesn't feel lonely when he's surrounded by bugs."
We could really use more of that right now… Kiki thought wryly.
"And looking at bugs fills Gonta with fight!"
"Huh?" Kiki furrowed her brow in confusion. "How does looking at bugs put you in a fighting mood?"
"Cause…when Gonta looks at bugs…Gonta is reminded of how vulnerable everyone is. We've lost so many people…Monokuma's killed so many of us, like insects under his paw. So, when Gonta looks at his bug friends, Gonta is reminded of how much he wants to protect his human friends from being squashed!"
"Gonta…" Kiki gasped in awe, touched by Gonta's commitment.
She frowned however as Gonta frowned. "But still…Gonta couldn't protect anyone yet. Gonta couldn't protect Rantaro, Kaede, Snake, Clover, or Lotus. They've all been exterminated, one by one. Gonta believes gentlemen are supposed to protect people, but Gonta could only watch as Gonta's friends fell. How can Gonta call himself a gentleman when Gonta can't even keep everyone safe?!"
Kiki walked over to Gonta, resting a hand on his quaking shoulder. Gasping, Gonta looked down and saw Kiki smiling gratefully at him.
"You've been doing your very best, Gonta. That's all any of us can do." She sighed, her eyes lowering in regret. "I'm also frustrated at myself. I wish I was strong enough to have stopped this Killing Game…then all our friends wouldn't have needed to die. But…"
Kiki's eyes narrowed in determination as she felt the smallest flame start to ignite and keep the despair she felt away from her heart's core. She removed her hand from his shoulder, clenching it into a fist.
"But we can't be too hard on ourselves. If we keep blaming ourselves, then it'll just be harder for us to stay united…and easier for Monokuma to continue picking us off. So, we have to stand strong and believe in ourselves, no matter how hard it gets!"
"Kiki…" Gonta's lips tugged into a hopeful smile once more. "Yeah, you're right. Gonta will continue doing his best to protect everyone! Then, once we get out, Gonta will bring new bug friends to meet old bug friends!"
Kiki giggled before her stomach growled. She smiled bashfully, admitting, "Guess I am hungry."
"Sorry!" Gonta bowed, apologizing profusely, "Gonta should have brought a snack with him before we left. Come on, Gonta will get you a snack from the kitchen!"
"Sure, let's go!" Kiki exclaimed with a small amount of excitement.
"Oh, but first…" Gonta reached over at the nearby wall and removed a small butterfly net. "Here, take Gonta's net."
"A…a net…?" Kiki repeated, looking down at the wooden handle and netted material.
Gonta nodded. "That's right. With this, you can make more friends like Gonta does! Of course, they can't replace the friends we lost…but Gonta believes new friends can help heal the wounds left by old friends…sorry, Gonta isn't making much sense, is he?"
Kiki giggled, smiling appreciatively. "Thanks, Gonta. Maybe once we get out, I'll make some more friends. But first, let's drop this off in my room and get some food, shall we?"
"Right! Follow Gonta!"
Kiki felt a small burst of warmth in her heart as she followed Gonta out of the room. The girl felt a slight spring in her step as her eyes drifted from the net in her hands to the friend who gave it to her.
I finally understand Gonta's love for bugs a little better...no, I understand Gonta a little better, too. Gonta's brave and honorable, and he wants to help everyone, even if it's not in his own interests. Gonta…whether you realize it or not, you already are a true gentleman!
Makoto smiled in relief. "I guess Gonta managed to cheer her up after all."
"Indeed." Kyoko mused "And she did the same for him. It's almost like the good old days, when they and Tsumugi were joined at the hip."
Koto frowned, remorse evident in his lavender eyes. "Now I feel bad for threatening to douse his house in bug spray."
"Don't remind me, please." Kiri muttered. "I still can't believe Kiki gave us such a tongue-lashing."
Mokubo smiled a rare smile at the memory. "It's never a good idea to make Nee-chan mad."
Koto and Kiri groaned as they watched Kiki and Gonta eat in the Dining Hall together. "At least she's calmed down a little." Maki pointed out. "Hopefully with a more level head, she'll be able to figure out a way to pull everyone together."
"First, she has to figure out how to get everyone to stop being so hostile." Mokubo commented. "Considering how her artistic mediation idea went, that's…easier said than done."
"Indeed." Kyoko nodded grimly. "Without some new development, the half that wanted to punish Sokyu will only continue their hostility. Solving this issue will not be easy."
The others hummed in reluctant agreement. Falling silent once more, the family watched as Kiki continued about her day, praying that nothing would happen to shake her barely rejuvenated spirits.
Kiki sighed in relief as she collapsed onto her bed. After her time with Gonta, she attended a largely peaceful, albeit slightly tense dinner. Everyone was on edge, almost as if they were waiting for the moment Sokyu would arrive and another argument would break out. However, he never came to the Dining Hall, allowing everyone to breathe a temporary sigh of relief.
Freshly showered and with the nighttime announcement still ringing in her ears, Kiki drew the covers over her exhausted form. With a sizable yawn, Kiki curled up under the blankets, her muscles relaxing for the first time in a couple days.
My idea to get everyone to band together turned out to be a flop. We're still divided, half of us still distrust Sokyu, and we can't even eat a meal together without us tensing up with hostility. And yet…even with all that…we can't give up on each other. I won't give up on anybody! Motive or no motive, I won't let Monokuma have another murder!
As Kiki's consciousness began to fade, she felt a slight shiver in spite of the blankets keeping her insulated. Her lips tugged into a frown, as the sudden feeling confused her.
Still…why do I suddenly have such a bad feeling…? I…I hope I'm just making a mountain out of a molehill…
With one final yawn, Kiki surrendered to slumber. Everything around her faded into black as she faded into her dreams.
"…Mother…?" Mokubo frowned as his mother's anxious look, causing her husband to frown.
"What is it, Kyoko…? Is…is Kiki experiencing…?"
Kyoko sighed, shaking her head. "I don't know. It could just be the stress of the past few days getting to her…or it could be…the skill only Kirigiri Detectives possess."
Makoto felt his face go pale, breathing "Wait, so…"
"So…what?!" Koto interjected impatiently.
"What's he saying, Mom?!" Kiri demanded, her normally gentle green eyes glowing with intensity.
Kyoko gritted her teeth before she relaxed, shaking her head. "It's…it's probably nothing." I just hope I'm wrong about this…
Maki sighed, standing up as she offered, "Want me to take them to bed?"
Kyoko nodded gratefully. "Thanks, alright, you three. Say your good nights and go with Miss Maki."
"Good night." The three Naegi children chanted as they gingerly stood up.
Once they followed Maki out of the room, Makoto turned to his wife and guessed, "You're afraid there's going to be another murder, aren't you?"
Kyoko bit her lip anxiously, fearing that if she admitted it, then it would come true regardless of her daughter's efforts. "…I could be wrong. Let's hope that I'm wrong, and she really is just overreacting to pressure."
Makoto frowned, but nonetheless nodded. Any further conversation on the matter was cut off by the familiar jingle from the TV. They turned to see the curtain pull back from the stage and Monokuma speak into the microphone.
"If you're searching for the meaning of life, you're already doing it wrong. Your life doesn't need a meaning…It just needs a purpose. In other words, you just need something to live for. You can live for spending time with loved ones, or chasing dreams…You can even live for eating delicious food, or playing games…Most people can get by as long as they have something to live for. If you say Danganronpa is your reason to live, I couldn't be happier. Puhuhu…Please keep it up."
Makoto sighed as the screen faded to black, shaking his head. "Who would live for this?! Certainly no sane person."
"Indeed." Kyoko nodded in agreement. "When I find out who orchestrated this…" Her eyes darkened as she seethed, "…They'll wish they'd never been born."
Makoto sweatdropped, shivering in rare fear of his wife. "Sometimes I forget how scary you can be when you go into Mama Bear mode…"
Her eyes returning to normal, Kyoko smiled wryly at her husband. "You can be even scarier, when you become Papa Bear Makoto."
Makoto chuckled, scratching his cheek. "Y-You're exaggerating…"
Kyoko giggled before she stood up. "Come on, let's see if we can get a good night's rest, Papa Bear."
Makoto smiled as he stood and took her hand. The duo walked hand-in-hand out of the living room, secretly hoping that Kyoko's hypothesis was wrong, and everything would turn out okay.