I have been reading so many Danganronpa V3 fanfics lately and have realised with doing so I've been getting more and more ideas. I'm not going to shove those ideas into this fic as it would be confusing and forced. I was thinking of once I've finished one of the other ideas I'll create another story except it'll be a Danganronpa oneshot collection ranging from alternate universes to future verses to a different take on the killing game. Most of the oneshots will probably take place with the V3 characters as I've said previously they're my favourite cast. Though I will probably have some with characters from the other games. However, I want to focus on this fic for the time being before I think about putting up that oneshot collection. I want to have an idea of where this is going before I do so.
I have a few ideas of where this story is going, but they're not concrete yet. Right now I want to focus on the development of relationships between the characters. I mean, it's meant to be about the survivors from V3 and how they grow and live after the game. And as you all can already tell this fic is in an AU where the killing game is in the real world like the first one. So no simulation. Also, the stuff about humanity that was said in chapter five is only half-true; humanity is still in a terrible state, but not near extinction.
As I said last chapter if there are any couples I plan on there being in here they'll be slow-burn ones because I wanna work on developing the characters and friendships first before I get into mushy stuff. Naegiri will probably be the first one to appear first while the second is Oumeno. If I mention crushes they will be slow-burn as I said and Naegiri will be further as they've gotten to know each other longer whole the V3 characters have to further their relationships first.
Anyways, hope you enjoy!
Chapter III: Somethings Can Never Be Undone
Future Foundation Headquarters - Medical Bay - 2:20pm
The three survivors stared at Kokichi, wide-eyed with mouthes open. Shuichi shook his head as if denying it while Maki's expression changed to outright rage.
"You're lying..." She seethed, teeth grit together as her red eyes glared at the short boy.
The leader just shook his head at her. "Not this time. I'm done with lies. I don't need to do that anymore." A small smirk spread across his face soon after saying that. "Or do I?"
Shuichi quickly grabbed hold of the assassin before she could think of lunging at the bedridden boy.
"Wow, attacking a bedridden boy with one leg. How mean, Maki," Kokichi spoke with a smirk in it.
"Kokichi..." Kyoko scolded causing said boy to slump down in the bed and look like he didn't want to be there anymore. "Apologise. Now."
"I don't wanna..." He pouted, turning his head away from her. "She's a bitch."
His sister narrowed her own violet eyes at her brother, folding her arms across her chest.
He grumbled under his breath with a slight growl to it. "Sorry..."
It was hard to tell if the leader meant it or not.
He still seemed to be insistent on lying, but at the same time didn't want to be.
It's like he couldn't make up his mind of what he wanted to do.
Who he wanted to be...
The liar they had all come to know that had caused the deaths of three people...
Or the boy behind the mask that seemed to just want to keep hiding...
Shuichi blinked and looked to Maki; who seemed just as surprised that Kyoko was able to get Kokichi to apologise like that. He let her go, but still kept an eye on her to make sure she wouldn't attack the boy again.
He may still have some contempt for Kokichi, but he didn't want Maki to kill him.
Especially after they all survived.
And especially not after Kokichi had just been reunited with his sister.
He didn't want this woman to lose someone so important to her, even if that someone was Kokichi.
The glare that Maki held was defiant yet also held an infinite amount of anger behind it. "I want the truth, Ouma."
"Oh, last names now...?" He smirked and noticed her eye twitch. He held his hands up in defence. "Fine. Fine." He turned back to face her and the others. "It's true. I'm alive right now because of Kaito."
"How do you expect me to believe that?" Maki growled out. "After all the lies you've told. This could just be another one."
Kokichi sighed and ran a hand through his messy, violet locks. "I didn't expect to be. I'll just start from after you left us, Maki. When we were inside the Exisal Hanger..."
The Ultimate Academy For Gifted Juveniles - Exisal Hanger - 1:10pm
The sound of heavy breathing almost like choking sounds along with coughing was all that was heard inside the hanger as two teenage boys stared each other down. Kokichi's breath was laboured and it was getting hard for him to breath as he narrowed his eyes at the taller boy. Said taller boy had blood dripping down his chin and was frowning at the other.
"You want me to do want?" The taller of the two asked, incredulously.
"I want you ... to kill me, Kaito..." Kokichi stuttered out. "...create an impossible murder ... to trap the Mastermind..."
"That's insane, Kokichi..." Kaito narrowed his eyes at the shorter boy.
A broken laugh escaped the shorter of the two which then led to an eventual coughing fit.
After a minute of continuous coughing and the astronaut watching with a hint of regret in his eyes; Kokichi finally stopped.
He took a deep breath and pointed over at the machine behind him. "That hydraulic press ... it's perfect. We can use that. No one will ... know who died thanks ... to Miu's electro bombs."
This only caused Kaito to wince. "But whoever is under there will be crushed. That's ... the worse possible way to die."
A bitter laugh escaped the supreme leader. "That's why ... It'll be me..." He took another shuddering breath and smiled. "...besides ... who'll miss me anyway?"
The way the short boy spoke made Kaito angry.
It made him angry that he saw himself that way.
That no one cared about him.
As if he had already given up...
"You must have someone on the outside waiting for you like everyone else here..."
A snort was his response. "I might. But I haven't ... seen them in years, so ... how would I know if ... they still care."
This answer caused Kaito to look down as Kokichi limped over to the press, examining it. "I'll ... be the victim. You'll be the one that kills me instead ... of Maki." He turned his head to face the astronaut with a smile. "Your execution will be space-themed ... so Monokuma might shoot you into space. You'll ... experience your dream before you die. That's what ... you always wanted, right?"
Kaito stared at the supreme leader in surprise as he turned back to face the press.
He didn't know the boy had this side to him.
He never showed it.
He was always an annoying little brat.
Now when they're dying does he decide to rip his mask off and show who he truly is.
"Why?"
"Huh?" Kokichi turned back around to face the astronaut.
"Why all the lies? Why not be yourself around us? Everyone would have liked you if you did," Kaito asked, confused of why Kokichi kept his emotions behind a mask of lies.
The boy just stared at the other teenager before a small smirk spread across his lips. "Because..." He took a deep, shuddering breath before letting it out. "...I would have been ... an easier target if I hadn't. ...Selfish, I know. I was scared stupid ... and after Kaede died ... there needed to be someone ... else to find the Mastermind."
This little speech from the leader; who was finally opening up only made Kaito angry. "We were all scared! We all had targets on our backs! Any one of us could have died at any moment if someone decided to kill!" Kaito coughed into his hand; the yelling not helping much.
So, why?
Why did Kokichi see it as his purpose to find the Mastermind?
He could've asked them for help.
Kaito eyed the boy before him, "Why ... didn't you come to any of us? We could've helped you?"
Kokichi just gave the astronaut an annoyed look. "What do you think?" Kaito blinked at what the leader said, causing Kokichi to sigh at his ignorance. "The main one is that ... you never know ... who would fall for a motive. This is a game ... of suspicion, betrayal, deceit, death and despair. How do you know ... who to truly trust in it?" Kaito swallowed, knowing Kokichi had a point, but trust is what kept most of them alive. Kokichi takes another shuddering breath after how long he's been talking. "Monokuma is most likely ... controlled by the Mastermind. Kaede had the right ... idea with it being one of us."
The astronaut closed his eyes, clenching his hands together and looked away from the shorter boy. "I...Is that why ... you never confided in anyone about your ... plan? Y...You were suspicious of everyone and kept you're distance to figure out who it was."
Kokichi turned his head away, nodding his head, slowly. "I guess you're not ... such an idiot after all..."
The taller of the two blinked, looking back to the shorter noticing the small smile on his face before he erupted into another coughing fit from the poison coursing through his small body.
The boy turned back to face the press, looking ready for what was going to happen.
What he had planned.
Kaito swallowed back the blood that had come up from his previous coughing fit, staring at the smaller boy's back. "Kokichi...?" The leader turned his head to look at the astronaut from the corner of his eye. "Who was it?" Kokichi raised a brow at the question as Kaito let out a breath. "Whose the person ... outside that you care about? I'm curious is all..."
Ouma eyed Momota before finally letting out a sigh of his own. "Well, considering ... you're going to be witnissing my final moments..." Those words made Kaito wince. "It's my sister."'
A fond smile spread across Kokichi's lips.
It shocked Kaito.
The expression was so genuine.
Not like the smiles he's beeen wearing throughout the game.
"Your ... sister?"
"Yea, my older sister. She has an ... ultimate talent too; the same as Shuichi's. I haven't seen her ... in years so I don't know if she even ... still knows that I exist. You know detectives ... mysteries interest them more than ... family or friendship..." A hollow laugh escaped the supreme leader and Kaito cringed.
Kaito listened to what Kokichi said.
He listened intently on how he spoke of his sister.
How much fondness was in his voice and it made him smile.
But also saddened by how Kokichi spoke that he hadn't seen her in so long because of her being a detective.
It had obviously affected him and made him into who he was today.
He really wished he had gotten to know this side of the shorty before now.
It hurt him that the only time he got to see it was before he died.
He clenched his hands together, swallowing.
The boy had a sister out there that was probably watching this right now.
She was probably hoping he would make it out.
She was probably hoping to see him again.
He ... couldn't do it...
He couldn't take something like that away from Kokichi.
Kaito had been dying long before he entered this game and just had to pull through it all.
Kokichi didn't have to die, especially like this.
He knew Kokichi did some things that were unforgivable, but ... everyone deserves a second chance.
He didn't want this...
"Well, we best get started..." Kokichi breathed, coughing. "...I'll wear your jacket to ... make it look like it was you. My clothes ... will get thrown in the toilet ... and we lead a bloodstain back over here. There's going to be a lot of blood..." He coughed, groaning, breathing slowly and frowned. "Are you even listening, Kaito?"
"Yea, I am..." Came the astronaut's voice from behind the supreme leader. The shorter boy blinked, turning around to see the taller and noticed Kaito's raised fist with tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry Kokichi, but I won't become a killer before I die..."
"What...?" Kokichi sputtered out before the fist met the boy's face, causing him to stumble back and bang his head on the hydraulic press.
His eyes rolled into the back of his head as his body slumped forward on the ground, a small puddle of blood forming around his head wound.
Kaito took in a deep breath before approaching the unconscious boy, kneeling before him and checking his pulse to see that he was still alive.
After checking that Kokichi was still alive just that the bang had reopened his old wound back when he fell through the floor during Tenko's murder.
Kaito put a hand into his jacket and pulled out a vial filled with liquid, looking at it before looking at Kokichi. "You deserve a second chance. I'll finish your plan and hopefully it works..."
Future Foundation Headquarters - Medical Bay - 2:49pm
After the long explanation of what happened in the hanger before the body discovery announcement; all Kokichi could do was shrug his shoulders. "If you don't believe me ... fine, but its all true."
Shuichi was devastated that his friend had done something like that.
Himiko was surprised, but indifferent since she wasn't that close with Kaito.
Maki however, was still in the cold embraces of rage as her red eyes narrowed at Kokichi.
It seemed she wasn't giving up the fight that the boy was lying.
"As if Kaito would save someone like you," she snarled out, anger in her voice.
The short boy huffed, folding his arms and turned away from the assassin. "It's not that hard to believe. Kaito didn't want to become a murderer before he died, he knocked me out and used my plan to frame it that he really did commit the murder."
"Kaito would do no such thing!"
"If he was desperate he would."
The leader noticed how quiet the other two were as if they had already come to terms with what Kaito did.
It was just that Maki couldn't accept that Kaito sacrificed himself and left Kokichi alive.
"HE WASN'T DESPERATE!"
"HE WAS DYING, MAKI!" That seemed to catch her offguard. "Or did you really not notice him cough up blood after Gonta's trial?"
"That's because you punched him!" She was really desperate to make him out to be the bad guy here.
It was something he was used to by now.
But they weren't in the killing game anymore.
There was someone here he knew.
That knew the real him behind his mask.
He really wished that they would at least try and get to know the real him ... like Kaito had done...
But he guessed it was too much of a bother for them to try if he kept using said mask.
But it would have been nice if they at least tried...
A sigh left Kokichi's lips as he shook his head. "No, Maki. He was sick. He knew he wouldn't live until the end, but he kept up a mask for you guys." He gave them a look. "A liar knows a liar after all..." His eyes fell onto Maki; who kept a glare levelled on him.
"I doubt it." Kokichi turned his head to Shuichi; who looked as though he was in thought. "I think that maybe ... you punched Kaito to purposely reveal his sickness to us. You thought because he was going to die anyway he would be of use to you." The detective's eyes narrowed after saying all that and all Kokichi could do was let out a sigh.
'Damn ... and I thought he was smart...' Kokichi thoight to himself, frustrated. 'They're taking their anger out on me and not listening at all. They're way too biased because they were friends with the idiot.'
"You might see it that way, but I didn't plan on him..." Kokichi was cut off by the detective as the leader glared at him.
"I agree with Maki. How are we supposed to believe you after everything you've done. The only person who was a witness is dead and you're just a liar."
"Geez, you guys ganging up on me after I finally decide to tell the truth. I knew you guys were mean, but this is just cruel!" One of Kokichi's signature grins spreads across his face.
"I knew it," Maki grumbled out, glare still aimed at the little leader.
The grin disappeared from Kokichi's face as he rolled his eyes. "Let me ask you this. If I was the one behind everything in the hanger why wouldn't I be walking out on two legs?"
Thw question seemed to catch Shuichi offguard while Maki seemed indifferent to it.
"He's right. Why would he be injured if it was his plan to stay alive and have Kaito take the fall?" Himiko finally decided to speak up.
Maki scoffed, shaking her head. "I don't know, but I really don't care. You still caused Kaito's death. It's your fault and I will never forgive you for it." She turned around and headed out of the medcial bay with Shuichi chasing after her, probably to calm her down.
Kokichi watched them go before his eyes moved to his sister; who had watched the whole thing and didn't seem the least bit surprised with how things had turned out.
"You don't look surprised. You knew they wouldn't believe me, right?" He asked, lifting a brow at her.
A smile quirked on her lips as she turned to face him. "Possibly."
Kokichi scoffed and rolled his eyes. "You're always like this. You're worse than Shuichi." A small smile appears on his lips. "But I can tolerate you a bit more..."
She raises an eyebrow at him. "I certainly hope so. I would think it would be me who has to tolerate you."
A small laugh escaped the leader at that before his eyes noticed someone was still in the room with them, bllinking in surprise.
"Himiko? Why are you still here?" He questioned her.
She blinked, realising she had been seen, grabbing the edge of her hat and pulling it down, trying to hide her blush from the boy on the bed. "Nyeh ... I ... umm ... didn't think to leave. Sorry..."
The redhead hurried out of the room and Kokichi watched her leave, with a confused frown on his face. "Okay then ... weird..."
Kyoko watched the interaction between her brother and the mage, noticing her blush, the stammering and the way she avoided eye contact with Kokichi.
A smile wormed its way onto Kyoko's lips.
Even though her brother was being a bit oblivious at the moment she knew.
Someone had a crush on her troublemaker of a brother.
