"Maki, you okay?" I bang on the door to the research lab. After a minute the door cracks open and Maki slips her lithe frame out before slamming the door behind her.
"What do you want?" Maki looks tired as she slumps against the door, upon my questioning look, she explains. "I had idiots like Kokichi and Kaito coming by constantly, couldn't really sleep."
I frown before shoving a box into her hands, "I got it from Kirumi. If you've been here all night, I doubt you have time to get food, right?"
Maki nods slowly, gazing down into the box with an unreadable emotion, "Thanks. Is that it?" At my nod, she thanks me once more before going back into her lab.
"Wow, she can speak!" Kokichi saunters up to me with a grin, Gonta following quietly behind him. "Get the reporters, we've got a new headline!"
"Kokichi, leave Maki alone." I glare at him, placing my hands on my hips, before sending a haughty look his way. "Did it ever occur to you that she might just not want to talk to you."
"Ouch, low blow." Kokichi mockingly puts a hand over his heart, "I can feel your betrayal right here!"
"Sure it isn't your unrequited love for Maki?"
Kokichi sputters, glaring at me. "What the hell!? As if I'd even care for kill- that girl!"
I raise an eyebrow before patting him on the head, "Keep telling yourself that. Bye, Gonta!" I skip off in the direction they came from and towards my new destination.
"Ryoma!"
He looks up with a sigh, "Angie, what are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you, why are you here?"
"It's my lab, Angie." He deadpans before a mocking tone enters his voice, "You do know that, don't you?"
I gasp dramatically, "You made fun of me!"
He rolls his eyes, "You spend too much time with Kokichi."
I puff out my cheeks, "Do not."
His eyes glimmer with amusement, "Keep telling yourself that." He responds, unintentionally echoing my words from earlier.
"I deserve that." I mutter before perking up, "Are you psychic or something?" At his look, I elaborate, "You just repeated what I said to Ko- I mean, someone else not even 10 minutes ago!" I tap my foot against the ground three times, "That would make so much sense if you're psychic."
Ryoma watches me, "You're an odd kid, Angie." He laughs softly to himself, "Guess that's what makes you unique, right?"
"Umm..." I trail off as Ryoma walks to the door, half expecting him to walk out, I'm surprised when he turns around.
"I'm headed to the casino... want to come?" He asks the question hesitantly, staring at the ground in contemplation.
"Yeah!" I leap at the offer, seeing his attempt. Maybe I can save him. He's already getting better.
"Don't be that excited." Ryoma huffs as we start walking towards the casino.
I send him a warm smile. "I want to save you," I whisper the words in the privacy of my mind, hoping I can succeed in my one wish. If not... I don't know what I'll do.
"Ah, Angie, Ryoma. Are you both headed to the casino as well." Kiyo approaches us with a smile hidden under his mask as we confirm his suspicion, "May I accompany you? I have not visited that place yet and am curious."
"I don't mind," Ryoma grumbles under his breath as we all start walking again, soon reaching the doors to the casino.
"I wonder what we shall find. There could be secrets anywhere." Kiyo whispers vehemently and pushes the doors open where were greeted with a unique sight.
"I just don't understand why the instincts of Kaito Momota, Luminary of the Stars, were off!" Kaito shouts, banging his fist against one of the machines. "I don't get it!"
"So you're positive you'll win it this time?" Kokichi asks in a drawl, examining his nails, clearly disinterested in Kaito's plight. "Kaito, it's good to be confident, but not when you're wrong about everything all the time." I snicker to myself, catching Kokichi's eye, he sends a wink my way, placing a finger over his lips.
"What!? You take that back! Don't you dare underestimate the instincts of Kaito Momota, Luminary of the stars!" I grimace, that was getting old fast. I see why Kokichi was always annoyed in the later chapters when he said that. "I challenge you, Kokichi!"
"Nee-heehee..." Kokichi grins at Kaito, looking satisfied, "I accept!"
"He's so easily manipulated..." Ryoma sighs, taking a seat nearby to watch. "Reminds me of a puppy."
"Kehehe... So simple. I believe it to be more like a moth to a flame." Kiyo murmurs, "Shall we all participate?"
"Yeah! Everyone but the pig can join in!"
"Why me!?" Miu wails to herself
Later Shuichi escorted a very depressed Kaito back to his room while the rest of us lounged around the casino.
"Hey, where's Gonta?" Miu speaks suddenly, with a lecherous grin. "Don't you virgins follow each other around everywhere?"
"Please be silent." Kiyo glares darkly at Miu, causing her to screech and fall of her seat.
"We don't follow each other around!" Kokichi shouts indignantly before calming down, "He was helping Kirumi with some magic crap."
"The magic act short stack wants to do?" Miu asks with a flush
"What are you talking about?" Ryoma asks quietly, the chain attached to his leg banging against a machine as he moves. "I don't remember anyone talking about that."
"Ah, you were not there." Kiyo laughs, "You, Angie, Kokichi, Maki, and Gonta were not in the dining hall this morning where it was announced."
"Short stack planned it with that girl who stalks her everywhere," Miu adds, looking annoyed when she mentions the second person.
"You mean Tenko, right, right?" Kokichi wiggles in his seat as he waves his arms around, "I totally remember them whispering about something yesterday!"
"They have planned to perform a magic act to entertain us all tomorrow morning after the announcement." Kiyo finishes with a sigh, "I believe Kirumi has enlisted Gonta's help to prepare."
"it's gonna be big, I can taste it!" Miu drools, "They're doing it in the gym!"
"Be silent... Permanently." Kiyo sends Miu a disgusted look before standing up, "I have enjoyed our conversation and would love to stay, but unfortunately, as long as that is here, I cannot." Kiyo stalks out of the casino.
"Wh-What!?" Miu squawks, "The hell, Kiyo!? Wait up!" She sprints after him, causing him to let out a scream of rage heard by all.
"Doesn't that cum dumpster realize no one likes her?" Kokichi asks lightly, hopping out of his seat and stretching, "I'm gonna go find Gonta, maybe I can get him away from Kirumi." He sends us a mischievous grin, "Oh, you might want to watch yourselves later. There's going to be a... let's say a game of extreme hide and seek is planned to happen later, capeesh?" He cackles to himself. "See ya, Ryoma! Angie!" Kokichi strolls out of the building, leaving only me and Ryoma.
"I don't think everyone dislikes Miu, Keebo doesn't have a problem with her and..." I trail off, my thoughts caught up in Kokichi's words.
"You?" Ryoma puts in, chewing on some candy, "She spends most of her time alone, I only ever see you and Keebo willingly hanging out with her." He catches my eye. "Though I have seen Kokichi at her lab once or twice."
"Really? Weird."
I walk around the school grounds, whistling the Danganronpa theme for my amusement.
"Angie!" Kaito runs up to me, gasping for air, "R-Run!" He flails his arms around as I sweatdrop, "H-He's checking everywhere!" I yelp as Kaito grips onto my shoulders, "Don't get caught!" After his obscure words, he starts running towards the dormitory.
"Kaito, what the hell!?" I scream after him, before hearing the ground around me rumble.
I start walking backwards, and my leg hits a twig of a bush. I glance at the dormitories, then to my left, and make my decision. I walk off the path and into the tall grass, hiding behind two containers, I kneel down and wait. I'm not disappointed, as the ground rumbles and someone runs straight past me, heading right for the dormitories.
Gonta. My eyes widen as I realize whats going on. The Insect Meet and Greet!
I was suddenly very pleased with my decision to hide here. I watch the dormitories and witness Kaito run out of there like a chicken with its head cut off. Smiling, I watch as Shuichi runs out next, looking horrified, as he looks around. Ryoma approaches him, but from my distance, I can't hear them. I take a step forward to try to listen in, but catching sight of something at the same moment as Ryoma, I stumble back further into the grass, holding a hand over my mouth to keep quiet.
"There you are... Hey, where you going?" Gonta appears from the dormitories, his entire aura releasing a warning sign of danger as his eyes shine blood-red while he glares down balefully at Shuichi and Ryoma.
"Gonta..?" Shuichi backs up, looking terrified, "W-What?"
"Sorry, Shuichi, but I'm gonna run... I've still got things to do." Ryoma explains as Shuichi turns to stare at him in obvious distress.
"No!" Gonta shouts, changing his stance, "Gonta no can let you leave! Sorry, but... is for your own good!" Gonta starts charging at them with incredible speed that no one normal could hope to avoid, or more accurately, Shuichi couldn't dodge fast enough.
Though I know it's going to be a good laugh later, I can't help but back away in fear, my back banging into the container next to me.
As Gonta's picking up Shuichi, he misses the sound, but Ryoma doesn't. He glances in my general direction with narrowed eyes, seeming to contemplate something. "Smart." He mutters before breaking into a full-blown sprint away from Gonta. Gonta raises his head in surprise, shouting something unintelligible as he starts to follow, though he's too late. By the time he starts running, Ryoma already turned the corner, passing the containers, and jumping right into the grass, falling in front of me.
Ryoma places his hands over my mouth before I can scream on instinct, smirking as we listen for Gonta's movements.
We hear Gonta's thumping footsteps heading towards our direction, stopping near the grass we hold our breath, only for him to carry on running down the path, Shuichi hanging off his shoulder like nothing.
"Nice hiding spot." Ryoma comments as he removes his hands and leans back, "Wouldn't have known you were here if you hadn't made that noise earlier."
"Thanks, though you scared me when you jumped in here!" I glare at him, hugging my knees to my chest as we sit there, "He could have found us, then what?"
"Heh, sorry kid." We both let out a laugh, relaxing as we wait for Gonta to leave the courtyard and hopefully go into the academy. Sadly, that ends up being a long wait.
