The Greatest Japanese Hero
Disclaimer:
Danganronpa is owned by Spike Chunsoft and Lerche
The Greatest American Hero is owned by Stephen J. Cannell
First off, many thanks to those who reviewed this fic, I really appreciated it and this gave me inspiration to work on the next chapter and here the story gets deeper and deeper now that Naegi became the talk of sports as he is being approached by Kuwata's baseball team and is asked to join the team even though he is being offered as a reserve player. Moreover, Kuwata's stalkers are now deeming Naegi a threat and this would lead to a deeper situation...
The Leon Kuwata arc continues...
At a nearby phone booth, the two men who were stalking Kuwata are talking to someone, and they inform him about the possibility of Naegi joining the baseball team as a reserve player and deem him a BIGGER THREAT than Kuwata, but the person on the phone told the two men to keep monitoring the situation and see to it that Naegi gets taken down no matter what, and also ordered them to get rid of Kuwata as well, which the two men accepted the orders without questions.
"...so you want us to get rid of that Naegi brat as well...?"
"Yes...and take out Kuwata as well...that way it'll make things easier for us...?"
"So who should we take out first?"
"Whoever comes first! If you manage to get close to either one of them, then you should do your job!"
"No matter who comes first?"
"Yes!"
"Okay...we'll do it..."
"Good!"
After that, the two then left the booth to resume their orders, keep an eye out for Kuwata and Naegi, and if the opportunity presents itself, take them out before the upcoming match starts.
Believe It Or Not by Joey Scarbury
(Opening Song from The Greatest American Hero)
Look at what's happened to me,
I can't believe it myself;
Suddenly I'm up on top of the world,
Should've been somebody else.
Believe it or not,
I'm walkin' on air,
I never thought I could feel so free;
Flyin' away on a wing and a pray'r,
Who could it be?
Believe it or not, it's just me.
Just like the light of new day,
It hit me from out of the blue;
Breakin' me out of the spell I was in,
Makin' all of my wishes come true.
Believe it or not,
I'm walkin' on air,
I never thought I could feel so free;
Flyin' away on a wing and a pray'r,
Who could it be?
Believe it or not, it's just me.
Ch. 29: Yakyū no Kōgeki
At the meeting room, Kanon is talking to Kirigiri and Naegi, and along with the team captain of Kuwata's team, and there they are willing to bring in Naegi to the team with Kanon looking forward to the day the match would take place, and there someone came in and he is glancing at Naegi from head to toe, looking like he is having doubts about him, before glancing at the team captain. He is identified as Nekomaru Midai, and he is the head coach and asks Kanon if hiring an "outsider" is a good idea, since the team already has Kuwata in the team.
"Kanon..."
"Yes?"
"Are you sure about this?"
"What?"
"Bringing in this kid? He's an outsider and doesn't have any experience in baseball stuff..."
"But he's talented in the bat...and maybe as a pitcher..."
"But we got Kuwata...so why add an extra player when we got the SUPER-DUPER BASEBALL PLAYER in our team?"
"So what? At least we have an option should Leon be unavailable..."
While Midai presents a good point, Kanon stated that it would be a good idea to at least sign up Naegi and have him as a reserve in case an emergency took place in which she said that in the event that Kuwata becomes unavailable, the team can at least have someone to fill him in, and Midai opted not to question any further and soon everyone came to an agreement and it appeared that all is set, and Kirigiri is eyeing the people involved, as she suspected that a possible culprit is among them, as her instinct tells her that there maybe someone who is tipping off the attackers who they are intending to target at.
After some several minutes both parties came to an agreement and the discussion ended, and both Naegi and Kirigiri left, and while alone, Naegi asks her why he had to be "inducted" to Kuwata's baseball team even though he is not really a baseball player and Kirigiri reasoned that once Naegi "makes wave", it would surely attract the culprits who murdered the recently murdered baseball players, and she stated that there is a possibility that Kuwata is the next would-be victim, and with just now, the culprits might be forced to shift their attention towards Naegi himself, and so Kuwata might be spared for the time being.
"Eh? So you're using me as a bait?"
"Not in the literal sense..."
"But..."
"You can do it..."
"But..."
"You have the RED SUIT with you...so there shouldn't be a problem...and that way it'll be easier in pinning down the culprits and get some information out of them..."
"..."
"I take it that you're agreeing with me..."
By then Kuwata and Maizono came and greeted the two and they are surprised when told of this, and when Naegi asks Kuwata if he is feeling uncomfortable about him joining the team, Kuwata said that he is not bothered at all, and by then Kirigiri went to Kuwata and decided to speak to him in private, leaving Naegi and Maizono alone and the two teens had a private conversation and both blushed as their conversation became a bit...serious, something that Naegi himself feels a bit awkward when alone with Maizono.
"So, Naegi-kun..."
"Um...yes...?"
"So you really join the team...?"
"As a reserve player..."
"That's nice...at least you have something to do...and you won't be just a SUPER DUPER LUCKSTER...you could even become a baseball player as well..."
"Um..."
"You should be happy to have an extra talent..."
"Maizono-san..."
As Maizono complimented Naegi about having a "hidden talent", she stated that he is LUCKY that he has found something to do besides attending Hope's Peak Academy, and said that this was a good thing, and Naegi could only blush at the compliments he is getting, but he is starting to get drawn to her because of her smile, and there Maizono took the initiative to confess her feelings for him and he is taken by surprise at what she is hinting at him.
"Um, Naegi-kun..."
"Yes..."
"I wanted to tell you this...I've been meaning to tell you before..."
"Wh-what is it...?"
"Y-you see..."
"..."
"I...I..."
"Eh...?"
However, Kanon came and unintentionally interrupted and called Naegi to come with her to the dugout so he would be familiar with the other baseball team members, and he nodded as he went along with Kanon, and Maizono sighed as she failed to tell him her feelings, but decided to look for another chance to tell him how she feels about him. She then decided to leave the area and went home seeing that she is alone while her classmates are elsewhere preoccupied with a lot of things.
-x-
The next day, the scene shifts to Hope's Peak Academy where Naegi went to class and there he is approached by several students who have learned about Naegi joining a baseball team as a reserve member, and somehow a video of him doing a pitch which seemingly rivals that of Kuwata was leaked to the internet and the students began praising him and even asks if there is a rivalry between him and Kuwata, and Naegi sweat-dropped as he tries to answer their queries without giving them a bad impression.
"Hey, short-stuff! Is it true?"
"Eh?"
"You joined the same baseball team as Kuwata?"
"Um..."
"That's cool!"
"And we thought you were just a LUCKSTER..."
"You sure are lucky!"
"Um...ah..."
As Naegi answered their queries, more students came and asks why he joined the baseball team and the Luckster quickly went to his classroom, and there he is greeted by his classmates and some of them began asking him why he joined a baseball team where Kuwata is already a member and Asahina asks if he is competing with Kuwata while Hagakure began to "forecast" a fortune reading to predict whether Naegi would make it BIG or not.
"Naegi-kun...are you joining the baseball team to show Kuwata that you can also have multiple talents...?"
"Uh..."
"Naegi-chi...let me read you a fortune...I can predict if you can make it big or not in the baseball league..."
"Uh...Hagakure...I don't think that's..."
"Naegi-kun...if you want to compete with Kuwata...you need to add more muscles...having a slim figure might be a disadvantage..."
"Uh..."
"Naegi-chi...here's my prediction..."
"Shut up, Hagakure...I'm talking to Naegi-kun..."
"G-guys...wait...one at a time...!"
Ishimaru urged Asahina and Hagakure to calm down seeing that Naegi appeared to be pressured and they let Naegi alone for now, while Kirigiri just sit on her chair watching, while Maizono is eyeing Naegi as she thinks of a way to tell him her feelings before she gets interrupted again, and she notices that Kirigiri is eyeing Naegi as well and once again she get a bit jealous and is determined to beat her to get Naegi's affection. By then the teacher came and classes are about to commence just as Kuwata arrived and the class of 78 is assembled.
-x-
During lunch break, the others were asking Kuwata if he is fine with Naegi joining his baseball team and he assured to them that he is fine with it and doesn't mind Naegi being a reserve member, saying that he and Naegi talked about it and they are fine with it since his baseball manager was the one who "discovered" Naegi, and Yamada, Hagakure and Asahina are astonished to hear this since they know that Naegi is not an athletic person and being ordinary person who is not THAT physical.
"Hmm...Naegi-dono getting scouted by you manager...that's rare..."
"But did she really hired him because of his hidden talent...? Naegi-kun isn't really athletic in nature..."
"Hmm...I'm going to read a fortune and see if Naegi would..."
"Stop that, Hagakure! Naegi-kun would get discouraged if he hears that your prediction shows bad news..."
"I agree with Asahina-dono..."
"Come on...my fortune telling is true about 30%..."
"Only 30%...?"
"That's so fake!"
"It's not!"
At the rooftop of Hope's Peak Academy, Naegi and Kirigiri are talking and he is telling her that he is feeling uncomfortable about being in the "spotlight" and asks her if this is a good decision or not, but she said that this would serve their plans of luring out the attackers and they will be pressured whether to target Kuwata or Naegi, and the Luckster wondered if this plan would work or not given the attention he's receiving.
"Kirigiri-san..."
"What is it now?"
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Are you shirking?"
"Well..."
"This plan will work...and with you wearing the RED SUIT, you'll do fine..."
"Mou...I feel like bad luck has struck me..."
"Whatever happened to your optimism...?"
As the two are debating, they are unaware that Maizono is secretly watching, feeling jealous at seeing them getting close, though she failed to hear what their discussion is about so she misunderstood them and is wondering if they are an "item" or not, and yet she couldn't help but feel suspicious about their status. By then, the bell rang which signals the end of lunch break and both Kirigiri and Naegi head back to their classroom with Maizono waiting for them to go ahead before heading back to the classroom as well, her eyes shooting a suspicious stare towards Kirigiri.
-x-
Later that night, Naegi and Komaru are watching TV, and there the two siblings got into a light argument regarding her elder brother joining a baseball team and mentioned that Kuwata is there too, and she wondered if Naegi would ever get his turn to "shine" though he reiterated that he is only a reserve member and doubts that he would get the chance to play, though he secretly whined at lying to Komaru that he is doing this as part of an undercover investigation with Kirigiri, and there Komaru began teasing her elder brother.
"So...onii-chan is now a lucky baseball player..."
"Eh...?"
"I bet you have a reason for joining that team..."
"Well..."
"I know! You're doing this to impress Sayaka!"
"Eh? Y-you're wrong!"
"Then why are you blushing...?"
"Komaru!"
However, a newsflash appeared on TV, and the report shows that Kuwata's belongings are found on an alley, with bloodstains and a discarded shoe, and the reporter stated that Kuwata is possibly attacked and abducted, and Naegi is taken by surprise by this and became worried that the reported attackers of the recently murdered baseball players may have gotten to Kuwata. He is becoming worried and is bracing himself for any emergencies and he is sure that Kirigiri may have learned about this as well.
He wondered what awaits him as the current development is spiraling all over the media, and by then his cellphone rang and he answered it, where the caller turns out to be Kanon, and her tone was a serious one which is full of worry, and he braces himself as the conversation took place and the topic is centered around the now-missing Kuwata.
"Naegi!"
"K-Kanon-san...!"
"You saw the news?"
"Y-yeah...just now..."
"Leon is missing...I'm worried!"
"Me too..."
"Naegi...be ready...this incident might prompt us to change plans..."
"Eh...?"
Kanon told Naegi that the latest incident caused her to have the upcoming match due this weekend to be postponed and an emergency meeting will take place instead, and she told him that a very important discussion will be held and his attendance is a must while the police will conduct an search and rescue on Kuwata, and Naegi can tell that she was emotionally shaken about Kuwata becoming the latest victim and he slowly deduced that he is likely the next victim of the assault on baseball players now that Kuwata was "taken out".
-x-
At outer space, the scene shifts to the alien ship that is hovering over Earth's solar system, where the scene zooms inside, where Cherubi is rather alarmed at seeing Naegi using the red suit to play a baseball game and assumes that the teen is misusing it, but Ophani, who is monitoring the events, reasoned that Naegi is using it for an undercover mission and that Kirigiri is coaching him on using the red suit to solve a crime, in which Cherubi is reluctant to see the reasoning behind Kirigiri's involvement in Naegi using the red suit.
"That earth boy! What is he thinking?"
"Calm yourself...he is doing some kind of undercover mission..."
"Using the suit's power on an earth-like game?"
"That boy's female friend is seeking his help in solving a crime...and he is using it discreetly...there is no malice on that boy's part..."
"But still..."
"Let us place our faith in that boy, Cherubi..."
"But Ophani...!"
"Ophani...Cherubi...calm yourselves..."
By then Seraphi joins in and calms Cherubi, assuring him that Naegi is doing the good deed and that up until now he has never used the red suit for selfish and personal gain, and the three alien beings resume in monitoring the events that is happening n Tokyo, as they wait and see the events unfold as Naegi is now embroiled in a situation where he would be forced to use the red suit to solve a mystery of the baseball player murders.
To Be Continued...
Another Danganronpa 2 character enters the fray...and he is Nekomaru Midai...who, in the game, is hinted to be Kuwata's coach. He appeared to be against the idea of Naegi being a reserve player but Kanon persuaded him to have Naegi in the team.
Maizono came close to telling Naegi of her feelings...only to be interrupted again...
Kuwata is missing...and probably abducted...now Naegi is starting to feel the pressure...and likely puts him in the spotlight once the game arrives...
Preview:
More baseball drama...and action finally arrives...
See you next week...
Reviews and comments are welcomed...
:)