Hello readers and welcome to my new chapter. So, this will be free time events once again. The last chapter filled with events before getting back to the main story. Hope you enjoy the reactions to these certain events.
Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa.
A Lucky Soldier: Next Chapter is up! I'm excited to get these FTEs out of the way and start going back to the main story next chapter so look forward to that!
Chapter 51: Watching Ch 3: NGL! STGH! Part 10
The next scene was Makoto entering one of the classrooms at the third floor, where Genocide Jill is residing. "Oh, hey Mahkyutie!"
The sight of the serial killer caused Toko to yelp and curl up in fear yet again, while some of the others tensed up a little.
"Mahkyutie?" Hiro asked, confused. "I thought she nicknamed you Big Mac last time."
"You know Jill has the tendency to change up her nicknames for us." Taka reminded him.
'Mahkyutie?' Makoto thought in confusion. 'Is that me…?'
"Hey, listen to me, okay?" The serial killer requested, getting close to the luckster. "Something's building up, ya know?! Mainly stress…!" And once again, she pulled her infamous scissors out. "It cuz I haven't gotten to kill anyone lately! So it's building up! It's packed in there tight!"
Her words, along with how close she is too Makoto, made the group more than a bit nervous. "Is she thinking about killing Mr. Naegi?" Hifumi questioned nervously.
"I think she's just complaining to him…" Taka replied, though unsure himself.
Mukuro was tensed, looking at Toko cautiously. Jill better not be targeting Makoto. Else she will have to deal with her.
"..." Makoto was silent at first, not sure what to say at that. After a moment, he hesitantly spoke up. "So… why do you…?"
"Yes?" Jill asked, tilting her head.
"Why do you… kill people?" Makoto asked nervously. "You should really stop. I mean, it's just meaningless bloodshed, isn't it?"
Several students shot the luckster incredulous looks, not believing what he asked and requested. "Are you seriously asking for the reason of why she's killing people?" Byakuya asked him in disbelief. "And not only that, but to request a serial killer, who had already killed hundreds, to stop it?"
"Um, yes?" Makoto replied meekly. "Who knows? Maybe I could've stopped more deaths from happening."
"I still can't tell if you're courageous or stupid." Byakuya groaned. "Or both."
"Probably the latter." Junko chimed in.
"Definitely a ballsy move there, dude." Mondo spoke up. "Seriously, who in their right mind would confront a serial killer about their killing?"
"Who indeed." Kyoko pondered as she casted a sideways glance at Makoto.
Jill frowned at that. "Meaningless…?" She then exploded. "I know that, stupid! I don't kill because it has meaning!"
"At least she admits it." Leon muttered. Unlike most serial killers out there.
"Then… why…?" Makoto asked, trying to comprehend it.
"Let me ask YOU something, Mr. Smartypants!" The killer responded back. "Why does a soccer player kick stuff?! Why does a bookstore manager sell books?! You'd never ask them, right? It's exactly the same with me!"
Once again, the room was filled with an air of disbelief. "Is she really comparing normal, regular day stuff with killing hundreds of people?!" Hina exclaimed incredulously. "Those things aren't the same at all!"
"I know her views are odd, considering she's a serial killer, but still…" Taka groaned, holding his head. Her words never fail to bring them all headaches.
"Th-That's not the same at all!" Makoto protested. "It's totally different!"
"Hmm…" Jill looked at the luckster with interest. "You got balls, trying to lecture the mighty morphin' murderous fiend…"
"To the point I sometimes wonder if his self preservation instincts are working." Junko remarked, looking at the luckster.
Makoto's face turned red from embarrassment. "Hey! I assure you they are working fine!"
"Your tendency get yourself in the middle of danger says otherwise." Byakuya remarked dryly, causing Makoto to become even more embarrassed as he couldn't deny it.
"He's right. You do have a horrible track record." Hiro added.
"I don't want to hear that from you.." Makoto grumbled.
"Well, here's my response." The murderous fiend then grinned wildly. "It's easier to kill than to try not to!" She then ended that with her usual round of laughter.
'I don't know why I even bothered trying to understand Jack…' Makoto deadpanned to himself.
"No kidding…" Leon sighed, looking at his friend blankly. "At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if you manage to befriend an assassin."
Once again, Makoto turned red from not being able to refute it. "I'm not that bad, am I?"
"Yes, you are." Was the simultaneous answer of the entire group.
The serial killer continued laughing until, suddenly, she sneezed. The sneeze caused her to revert back to Toko. "H-Huh?"
The sight of Jack reverting back to her future self caused Toko to relax a bit, although she was still jittery.
"Oh, hey Toko." Makoto greeted awkwardly. "Um, are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah…" The writer stuttered, looking away. The two stood there in awkward silence for several beats.
'I thought Toko totally hated me…' Makoto thought to himself. 'But it's not like she's going out of her way to avoid me. Still… we're not actually talking, either.' Hesitantly, he spoke up. "H-Hey, Toko…?"
"Wh-What?" Toko spoke, looking kinda eager. "You have a question? You have a question f-for your classmate…?!"
Makoto was slightly surprised by this. 'Huh? Is she… happy?'
The group noticed her eagerness as well. "Wow, you're looking pretty eager." Leon remarked. "More so than the last time you talked to Makoto."
"You must really want some friends." Hiro added, drawing an embarrassed glare from the writer.
"D-Don't act l-like you weren't as f-friendless as I am!"
"Hey! That's not true!" Hiro protested. "I've… got a few friends!"
"Oh, r-really?" Toko asked with obvious doubt. "T-Tell us their n-names, then."
"Um… well…" Hiro looked away at that. "They… are shamans who gave up their names, so I can't really tell now!"
Celeste snorted. "You need to come up with better lies. That's an absolutely pathetic one." The fortune teller slumped at that.
'I would normally be concerned that telling Hiro his lies are bad would actually encourage him to come up with more convincing lies but... since it's Hiro, I think I'll keep this to myself...' Makoto thought.
Shaking his head, he continued with his question. "So, I kinda asked before, but what do you like to do in your spare time?"
"I just write." Toko answered bluntly. "I'm serialized, so I'm a-always really busy! And when I'm not writing, I'm s-studying. I'm not an idiot l-like you…!"
"Seriously, Toko?" Hina spoke up, mouth agape. "Did you have to insult him like that?"
Toko flushed and looked away. "S-Sorry…"
"Seriously, it's like bitterness comes out of your mouth every time you speak." Hiro sighed, drawing a glare from the writer.
Her eyes then widen before groaning in frustration. "Agh, d-dammit…! I had to go and open my b-big mouth again. You must hate me for s-sure now, right?"
"No, it didn't really bother me…" Makoto reassured the girl. "But anyways… how do you get your ideas for what you write? Is it like, real-life experience, or…?"
That got several snorts from the group. "Yeah. Real life experience." Leon said dryly. "That as believable as Hiro being a ladies man."
"Hey!"
Toko scowled at the baseball player. "L-Like you're a-any better, skirt chaser."
"At least I'm not chasing after someone like Byakuya."
"W-Why you-"
"Guys, can we please not argue?" Makoto pleaded. The two Ultimates huffed and look away from each other, but complied with Makoto's request.
That triggered Toko. "Are you stupid?!"
"What…?" Makoto was taken by surprised at the outburst.
"I t-told you, didn't I? I write romance novels…!" Toko reminded him. "How could I use m-my real life experience for that…?!"
"Yeah, that would probably make for a really bad romance novel…" Hiro pointed out. "Or a depressing one…"
"Kinda make me shiver just thinking about it…" Hina shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.
Makoto sweatdropped at this. Maybe Toko should wait a while before publishing her latest work…
"It's all my from my i-imagination! It's just delusion!" She exclaimed. "Delusions let you fall in l-love as much as you want, even if you n-never do in real life! Or are you s-saying you can't write romance unless you already have lots of experience i-in love…?"
"N-No, not at all…" Makoto denied, holding his arms up.
"It's okay. I'm used to p-people making fun of me…" Toko stated, looking away. "B-But… someday, I'll show them! I'll get pretty s-someday and show them all…!" As she said that, she stormed out of the classroom.
"This time I'm sure she hates me…" Makoto groaned.
"Does she run away after every talk you guys have?" Junko asked, amused.
"Not every talk." Makoto protested. '...But most of them, yes.' He then admitted to himself. It still baffles him at him how he was able to become friends with Toko.
As he went out of the classroom, he was greeted by somebody in the hallway. "Makoto!" He turned to see Hiro jogging towards him.
This got a lot of groans. "I wish your intuitions weren't so accurate, Sayaka." Hina whined. "I don't want to see anymore of Hiro's conversations."
"Seriously, what's wrong with talking to me?!"
"Everything." Celeste stated with a straight face that was accompanied by several agreeing expressions by those around her.
"Hey Hiro," Makoto greeted, slightly wary.
"So," The fortune teller began, after stopping a few feet away from Makoto. "You ready for me to tell your fortune?!"
"I told you, I'm done with that!"
"Stop offering those damn fortunes already!" Mondo exclaimed in annoyance. "Once was fucking enough!"
"And no one sensible enough is willing to pay for your ludicrous price!" Byakuya stated firmly.
"Not even I would sell my best works for anywhere near that price!" Hifumi cried.
"Will you guys stop dissing my fortunes?" Hiro whined.
"How about a no?" Junko suggested innocently.
"C'mon, don't be like that!" Hiro pleaded. "This one's on me! Free of charge! No money down!"
That got the group's attention. "...What is he planning?" Hina asked suspiciously.
"What makes you think I'm planning something?!"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you don't give free fortunes so willingly." Leon pointed out. "Not unless you want some sort of favor."
The others were also staring at Hiro with some suspicion. Makoto, however, had a bad feeling as to what exactly this conversation is going to be about.
'Oh no… please don't tell me it's what I think is…' The luckster thought with dread.
Makoto narrowed his eyes at this. 'That just makes me even more suspicious…'
"You too, Makoto?!"
The luckster looked away at this. "Sorry Hiro, but to be fair, you never really inspired trust." He admitted, trying to ignore Hiro hanging his head. Not even he can deny that.
"I'll be waiting for you in my room! Meet me as soon as you can!" With that, Hiro began walking out of the hallway and to the stairs.
'I'm super skeptical… but I can't just ignore him.' Letting out a sigh, he began going to the direction of the dorms. "I guess I'd better just go and get this over with…"
"I would just leave the fool hanging." Byakuya scoffed. "Why even bother hearing his fortune? Or listen to anything he says?"
"Well, I kinda figured that he'll just keep pestering me until I say yes…" Makoto replied, rubbing the back of his head. "I don't think he would leave me alone if I just ignore him…"
"A fair point," Celeste sighed. "You can't ignore a pesky bug if it continues to fly around you face."
"Don't call me a bug!"
'But I'll have to be on my guard. This could be another one of his traps…' He continued thinking to himself. 'Considering how he's been up till now, there's no way I can believe he'd do anything for free.'
"Which makes me more concerned about the third motive." Sakura admitted. "Though I can't say for sure Hiro would do anything for money…"
"Y-Yeah, that's true." Chihiro agreed. "Hiro may have questionable morals, but he isn't completely bad."
Makoto kept his eyes away from everyone, actually knowing how far Hiro will go. And if this is what he think this is, they'll know too…
The next scene switched to Makoto entering Hiro's room, which contained several fortune telling items. "Yo, Makoto! Welcome!" Hiro greeted happily.
"Th-Thanks…" Makoto greeted back warily.
"Listen, before we get to the reading, I have a little favor to ask…"
The suspicious looks grew. "What are you planning to ask Makoto?" Sayaka asked, narrowing her eyes at the fortune teller.
Hiro sweated a little at the idol's glare. "I-I"m sure it's nothing…"
Before Hiro could finish, Makoto interrupted. "I knew it!" Right after the shout, the luckster began walking out. "Forget it, I'm out of here! I was right to be skeptical-!"
"No man! I'm super serious this time!" Hiro pleaded, quickly blocking Makoto's path. "Er- I mean, I really am serious! I want to talk to you about a problem I'm having…"
"A problem?" Makoto looked less suspicious and ready to leave at that.
"I listen to everyone else's problems all day, right? But who do I have to talk, to?" Hiro began. "Friends? Nope. I mean I literally have zero friends…"
'Jeez…' Makoto thought in slight surprise. 'I figured he didn't have many friends, but none at all…?'
"Yeah, I agree," Chihiro said, also looking a bit surprised. "I would've think Hiro must've had at least one friend."
"Even I had a couple friends in Fenrir." Mukuro commented.
"You're assuming that there are people out there who have enough patience to deal with that idiot." Celeste remarked dryly. "Makoto is one of a kind."
"No argument there." Mondo snorted, with several others nodding. Makoto blushed at that, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"This is the first time I've felt like there was someone I could talk to, could share my problems with." Hiro told him.
Makoto looked shocked at that. "H-Hiro…" After hearing his words, the luckster let himself relax. "Okay. If you don't mind telling me, I don't mind listening."
A couple of the students felt their suspicions go away some. "Is Mr. Hagakure gonna show some actual character development?" Hifumi murmured. "It would be amazing to witness."
"No kidding," Hina agreed with a nod. "It's starting to look like he's not going to be saying something dumb."
"Don't get your hopes up…" Byakuya murmured. This probably is setting them up for disappointment.
"Thank…!" The fortune teller said gratefully. "So, you remember I told you how I got held back a few times, right?"
"Y-Yeah, you mentioned that." Makoto nodded.
"Well, there's kind of a serious reason for that." Hiro told him.
Makoto bit back a long groan at this. So it really is THAT conversation…
"Wait, so it isn't just because you wasted all your money on those artifacts?" Taka questioned. "What else could've possibly stopped you from having your education?"
Hiro looked away at this. "U-Um…"
"I'm guessing you know, Makoto?" Kyoko asked, noticing the look on the luckster's face.
Makoto ducked his head down at this. "Y-Yeah… you'll see…" Kyoko braced herself for the truth as it looked pretty grim.
"There is…?"
"Someone's after me." The fortune teller revealed.
That definitely caught the group by surprise.
"What?!"
"S-Someone's after you?!"
"Who the fuck is it?"
"What did you do, Hiro?!"
The fortune teller squawked indignantly at the last question. "Hey! Don't put the blame on me!" Why does everyone think he did something?!
Makoto's eyes widen at this. "Someone's after you? Who?! What did you do?!"
"No, I - what makes you think I did anything? I just got dragged into it." Hiro claimed.
"I very much doubt you got dragged into it." Byakuya said dryly. "Most likely, you've con'ed the wrong person."
As if to confirm that suspicion, Hiro clammed up after that remark.
"I had an appointment come in, the daughter of some rich upper management type guy." Hiro looked away when he said the next part. "Maaaybe I pressured her a little to pull out her entire life savings…" He let out a sheepish chuckle. "Well, when her dad found out, he went apepoop, and it turned into a whole legal thing…"
"..." Several of the students have deadpan or baffled looks on their faces, any concern on their faces completely washed away. In all honestly, they really shouldn't expect any sort of depth from Hiro, but still…
"And I was right…" Byakuya sighed, pinching the bridge of nose to stop the incoming headache. "Your stupidity and greed never ceases to amaze me."
"How was I supposed to know that was going to happen?!"
"You shouldn't have cheated the girl out of her money!" Taka scolded. "That is completely unacceptable!"
The concerned look on Makoto's was quickly replaced with a baffled stare. "And it turns out, this Mr. Richie Rich guy just so happened to have ties to the mob." Hiro groaned. "So then I had these super scary gangsters coming after me…!"
"You gotta be shitting me…" Mondo groaned, facepalming. "Which fucking gang did you piss off so badly…?"
Hiro gulped as he remembered the scary yakuzas. "I-I think they were called the Kuzuryuu clan…?"
"THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY RIGHT NOW?!" Mondo shouted, his head shooting right back up with wide eyes.
Celeste also looked shock. "You managed to anger the most powerful yakuza in the country?!"
The others also looked very shocked and panic at this. "Dude…" Leon whispered, stunned. "How the hell are you still breathing, and not six feet under?"
"Especially with the heir of the Kuzuryuu clan in Hope's Peak." Sayaka added.
Hiro shivered at the mention of the Ultimate Yakuza. "I-I had to hide from the for a couple of years. It's another reason why I was held back for three years… and being in Hope's Peak keeps me from being gutted."
"And you tried to run?" Makoto's word was more of a statement than a question.
"Yeah. But they caught up to me, of course." Hiro confirmed. "They tried to force me to pay them… well, more than I could afford. So I snuck my way into Hope's Peak…"
"The instant I leave this school, they're gonna come for my guts!" He then exclaimed, getting into a panic. "Black market organs are in huge demand! But I love my organs! I don't wanna give 'em to someone else!" He then got onto knees in a begging posture. "So, here's the deal. Sell me some of your organs on the cheap, and I can resell 'em at the marketplace!"
"WHAT?!" Sayaka shouted, looking extremely furious. "What did you just ask?!"
"You want to sell Makoto's organs?!" Hina exclaimed, looking aghast and angry.
Kyoko turned to the luckster himself, who have his head buried in his hands. "Did he really ask you to do that?"
Makoto could only nod. "Y-Yeah."
The others also has varying looks of shock, anger, and disgust. "The fuck is wrong with you?!" Mondo exclaimed.
"How could you ask that of Makoto?" Sakura asked in disgust.
Mukuro merely gave him a murderous look, resisting the urge to kill Hiro right here and now.
Hiro shrank under the looks and glares being given to him. "I-I was desperate!"
"Understatement of the year." Leon scoffed. "Way too desperate."
Makoto could only be silent, just staring at Hiro blankly. "Just one! That's all I need!" Hiro continued pleading. The luckster continued staying silent. "Okay, fine! Sell me your identity! Those are pretty valuable these days!"
"Do you have no shame, Hiro?!" Taka shouted, giving a furious glare towards the fortune teller. "How could even think about asking something so immoral to your friend?!"
"Not to mention illegal." Kyoko said, giving Hiro a cold glare.
Meanwhile, Mukuro suddenly realized something. 'Wait… so when Makoto was cornered by those yakuzas, Hiro tried to…' This explained everything.
Again, Makoto was silent, making Hiro groan in frustration. "You're so selfish!"
"HE'S the selfish one?!" Hina exclaimed, mouth agape. "You're the one asking him to sell his organs and identity!"
"Why can't you just give the money back?" Chihiro pointed out. "That would solve the problem."
Hiro looked away. "I… can't…"
It clicked several minds. "You used that money on those so called 'OOParts, didn't you?" Celeste deadpanned.
Hiro's eyes widen in shock. "H-How did you know?!"
His statement was met with several groans and growls of frustration. "Just when I think I have seen the height of his stupidity…" Byakuya muttered under his breath.
"Be honest, you used that money to buy those artifacts of yours, didn't you?" Makoto finally spoke, his voice blank.
Hiro yelped in shock at this. "H-How'd you know?!"
"It can't be that obvious, right?!"
"Yes, it is that obvious." Junko confirmed blankly. "Anyone with a quarter of a brain can figure it out after the last conversation."
"So maybe, instead of trying to sell Makoto's organ or identity, how about you sell those damned artifacts?" Sayaka growled. The urge to strangle Hiro has grown more and more with each meeting. "Those things aren't even real!"
"They are real! You guys are just in denial! Or jealous!"
Sayaka was about to rip his head off when Makoto grabbed her arms. "Don't bother. He's not gonna change his mind." The luckster deadpanned. "Trust me. I tried."
"I'm surprised to hear you say that." Byakuya remarked with a raised eyebrow.
"Even I know when to give up." The luckster stated. Plus, there was the other fact the others don't know yet…
"I remember you mentioning how expensive that stuff was. What else could it be?" Makoto pointed out.
"Wait!" Hiro suddenly took a step back from Makoto. "Y-You're not suggesting I sell my OOParts, are you?!"
"Why not? That makes the most sense, doesn't it?" The luckster rhetorically asked. "If you can't bear to do it yourself, I'll help you!"
"No! No, no, no!" Hiro denied vehemently. "No freakin' way! That collection is all I have in life! How could you even suggest such a terrible thing! You're a cruel man, Makoto Naegi!"
"Says the dude willing to ask for somebody's organ to save his own skin!" Leon retorted in frustration. "Seriously dude, get your priorities straight!"
"It is straight!" Hiro claimed. "I can't just sell my OOParts!"
"You can if you want to keep from being six feet under!" Mondo told him. "The Kuzuryuu clan aren't people to fuck with!
"I know! And if I can sell an organ in the black market, I can make enough money to be scotch free!"
"So you're willing to sell anyone's organs, even a friend," Sakura spoke, disgust in her tone. "Not only to save yourself, but to keep these artifacts?"
"You're even worse than some of the villains I come up with!" Hifumi cried out.
Hiro gulped, deciding to be silent is the best thing right now. He then went pale, remember the next part of this conversation…
"You can call it terrible, but-"
But Hiro didn't want to hear it. "That's enough! Forget I ever asked!" He interrupted. "No matter what it takes, I'm gonna get out of here! Even if it means demolishing my life savings!"
THAT caused everyone to freeze, as they slowly processed the clairvoyant's words. "What… what did you just say…" Sayaka hissed, her features darkening.
"You have life savings…?" Kyoko questioned, her features turning even more icy.
Makoto's eyes widen at this. "Wait, you have life savings?!"
"Tch. So now you know." Hiro groaned. "I figured if I sold your organs, I wouldn't have to dip into my retirement funds…"
That actually angered Makoto. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"What?!" Hiro look offended at Makoto's anger. "Okay, I've had it! If you're not gonna give me your organs OR your identity, you can just get out!"
"Gladly!" Makoto then left Hiro's room, all too glad to go.
"..." Even though there wasn't a single word said, Hiro could feel the oppressive air in the room, unspoken words of disgust being said about him thanks to his future self's words. Makoto didn't say anything, having already experienced all of that and more. While he had long came to terms and forgave Hiro for the entire mess, it didn't mean he was going to say a single word in the fortune teller's defense.
"H-Hey! Come one! Don't give those looks!" Hiro pleaded. "I worked hard to earn all that money! Is it really wrong that I didn't want to blow it all off on that stupid debt?!"
"Yasuhiro… I can now say with certainty that you are a disgusting and abhorrent individual." Sakura declared with obvious disgust.
Desperate, he turned to Byakuya. "Byakuya, help me out here! You know what I'm talking about, right?!"
"...Hiro, even as someone who values their money above most people, what your future self asked of Naegi was absolutely disgusting." The heir stated.
"And that's not the worst of it." Everyone turned to Mukuro, who has an absolutely murderous glare aimed at Hiro. "Earlier this year, Yasuhiro had tried to follow through on this. Tricked Makoto into meeting up with members of the Kuzuryuu clan and threw him to the dogs once they did. Isn't that correct, Makoto?"
Makoto nodded, knowing that Mukuro figured already. "If it wasn't Mukuro that day, I would probably be dead in a ditch somewhere." He isn't even gonna bother trying to defend Hiro's position. Normally, he would be optimistic and forgiving, but this future watching reminded how awful what Hiro tried to do him was and how lucky he was to get out of with little to no scratches.
In response, the guys, Toko, and Sakura have varying looks of shock and disgust, while Makoto's admirers gave the sweating and panicking fortune teller glares so intense, he swore they were heating up his skin.
"...Just when I think you can't get any worse, you somehow manage to find a way to lower the bar even further." Kyoko hissed coldly.
During all this, Junko had brought her hands up to her mouth, mainly to hide the ear-splitting grin that was growing on her face. 'He's sooo lucky he's not indebted to me!' She thought to herself as she just imagined over 50 different scenarios on how to torture him.
As he walked away from Hiro's room, he thought about the conversation. 'Well, in the end, I think I'm better off having talked to him about… all of this.' He mentally sighed. 'If nothing else, I got to know him a lot better. I learned to never let my guard down around him…'
"How did you manage to fall for his tricks in the first place?" Celeste questioned, her glare never leaving Hiro.
Makoto rubbed his head sheepishly. "I didn't think he would resort to tricking me like that…" While he was suspicious, it wasn't really in his nature to abandon his friends, even if he thought that they're leading him into some sort of trap. "Again, thanks for saving me back then, Mukuro."
"You don't have to thank me. I would have done it again, if needed." Mukuro responded back before glaring at Hiro once again. And if Hiro tries something like that again, he will regret it.
Unknown to her, her four rivals were in the same mindset.
His thoughts were stopped when a voice called out to him. "Makoto," The luckster turned to see Sakura walking towards him. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah… kinda." Makoto sighed. He shook his head and wave off the concern. "It's nothing to worry about. Is there something you need, Sakura?"
The martial was silent for a moment. After a moment, she asked this, "Have you decided?"
The luckster tilted his head at that. "Decided what…?"
"Decided not to laugh at my story." Sakura cleared up.
That got the group's attention, momentarily forgetting their anger at Hiro. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that conversation." Leon remarked. "Still no idea what could cause us to laugh."
"Looks like we're about to see." Mondo remarked. Sakura, meanwhile, tensed up, nervous on the group's reaction.
"Oh, you're talking about Kenshiro?" Makoto asked, remembering the last conversation they had. "I mean… I honestly don't know what there is to laugh at…"
"Then join me in my room, and I will continue my story." Sakura offered. "Just the two of us…"
'Just the two of us, in her room?' Makoto thought in confusion. As he thought that, Sakura dragged Makoto into her room.
"The two of you are going into a room by yourselves…?" A perverted glint entered Hifumi's eyes. "Are planning something Miss Oog-" A baseball hit his face before he could finish. "Ouch!"
"Dude, just stop." Leon said flatly. It was honestly for the Hifumi's sake more than simply stopping his obscenities. Who knows what Sakura or Hina would do if Hifumi finished that question?
The next scene switched to Makoto and Sakura in the latter's room, which is filled with several martial arts equipment. 'Yep… this is pretty much exactly how I would've imagined it.' The luckster thought to himself.
"You know, I'm starting to see a lot of snarky thoughts from Makoto…" Leon noted. "Especially dealing with people like Hifumi and Hiro."
"His 'snarkiness' definitely came into full force with the last conversation with Mr. Hagakure…" Hifumi stated.
"Um, can we please not bring that up?" Hiro gulped, feeling the glares being sent on him.
'But hanging out in a girl's room, just us… gettin' kinda nervous!' He continued. 'And it being Sakura makes me nervous for a whole other reason…'
"Oh?" Sayaka gave Makoto a teasing grin. "What kinda thoughts are running around in your head?"
"Um- I just- well…" Makoto turned beet red at this, especially when giggling entered his ears. "I'm sorry, Sakura!"
"Don't worry, it's fine Makoto." Sakura assured him, slight amusement in her tone. "I can see how a guy and a girl being in a room together could lead to those thoughts."
"Is there a reason you're glancing around?" Sakura asked him.
"Oh, s-sorry!" Makoto stuttered, stopping his look around the room.
"Anyway, I shall continue my story…"
"Oh yeah." Makoto paid full attention to that. "The one and only Kenshiro…"
"That's right." Sakura nodded. "My lifelong rival. And… my…" Taking a deep breath, she said the next word. "My first love."
That caught several in the group by surprise. "Say whaaaaaa?!" Hifumi gasped in shock. "First love?!"
"You're saying this Kenshiro guy is your boyfriend?" Leon asked, taken by surprise.
Sakura nodded, a small tint of pink entering her face. "Yes…"
"Okay. Didn't see that coming." Mondo admitted.
Suddenly, much to the shock and horror of everyone, someone laughed. And that someone was none other than Hiro.
"Good one, Sakura." Hiro laughed out. "That was a good joke."
His words and laughter caused Sakura to tense and clench her fist anxiously, while Hina grew a darkening look of anger. "You think it's a joke…?" Hina hissed.
"Yeah." Hiro nodded, not seeing the gestures from several other students to SHUT UP. "I mean, it's a joke, right? I can't imagine Ogre dating anybody. Or any guy wanting to date her…"
His words, along with the flinch from Sakura and memories of Hiro's conversation with Makoto, caused her to snap. "That's it!" Hina roared, standing up from her seat. As she raised fist and went to punch Hiro, Sakura quickly grab her arm. "Let me go Sakura! I'm gonna punch Hiro in the balls! Punch him again and again until he faints!"
That caused Hiro to squeal and cover his privates, while several of the other guys winced and subconsciously covered their own legs.
"Hina, please calm down," Sakura requested. "There's no need to hurt him."
"He deserves it!" Hina growled. "He insulted you, thought you were joking about having a boyfriend! And not only that, but he threw Makoto to a bunch of yakuzas weeks ago! He earned a good smackdown!"
That got the luckster to speak. "Hina, please! It's okay, it's over and done with now." Makoto told the girl. "Besides, you know that Spirit won't allow you to hurt Hiro. So please, calm down."
After a moment, the girl stopped struggling from Sakura's grip. She gave the fortune teller one last glare before settling back down in her seat.
Hiro gulped and shrunk in his seat, feeling the disgusted, disappointed, and angry looks sent at him. For once, he finally realized he needs to be quiet for a while.
That took Makoto by surprise. "First love…?"
"...Did you just laugh?" Sakura questioned, tensing up.
"N-No! I definitely didn't!" Makoto quickly reassured her. 'I mean, it's pretty surprising and all, but…'
Taking a breath, he continued. "You made the choice to tell me this story…" He stated, his voice firm. "So of course I'm not going to laugh. I would never…!"
His words, along with the conviction in his voice, brought smiles to the group's face. It especially brought Hina back from her darkened mood.
"This is a proper reaction to a secret reveal!" Taka said, pride in his voice. "I am proud of your honest and mature words, Makoto!"
"It definitely helps understand how you're able to make friends with all of us." Sayaka said, smiling.
"As well as become our class representative with no competition." Kyoko added, a smirk on her face.
Makoto could only blush, especially from the beaming smile of Hina, as well as the grateful smile of Sakura. "It's not a big deal, is it? I mean, it's obviously not right to laugh at someone's secret."
"Most people would make fun of Sakura for that." Hina remarked, frowning a little. But quickly, her frown disappeared. "So it is a big deal that you didn't laugh! And don't try to say otherwise, mister!"
Sakura was silent, taking in his words. Then, she looked down in shame. "I'm ashamed of myself. I underestimated you." She then bowed her head. "I beg your forgiveness, Makoto."
"N-No, that's totally not necessary…" Makoto nervously told her.
"I just… didn't want to be laughed at." Sakura sighed. "Can you imagine? A girl like me, using the word love? And being shy about it is even more girly, right? I creep myself out, to be honest…"
Hina frowned at that. "Sakura…" She couldn't but emphasize with her best friend. It's probably one of the reason why she so close to her. They both share the same insecurities.
"I never imagined that a woman like that would have such insecurities." Byakuya remarked, ignoring the glare from Hina. "Especially with the confidence you carry."
"There are always thing we aren't so confident about." Sakura told Byakuya. "Something we're unsure of or nervous about."
"But you are a girl." Makoto pointed out."You're allowed to have a feminine side."
"But my goal is to become the strongest warrior on the planet." Sakura argued.
"Maybe, but you don't have to be 'manly' to find that kind of strength." Makoto retorted.
Sakura couldn't help but smile. Makoto definitely share similarities with Kenshiro. 'While he isn't as physically capable as my love, he's just as wise and strong-willed. And we will need that strength as we progress through this…'
That caused Sakura to make a strangling noise, taking Makoto by surprise. "Huh? Are you okay?" He asked in concern.
"Y-Yes, I just… you made me remember something." Sakura confessed. "Kenshiro once said something very similiar. I'd forgotten about that… but there's no point to recalling his words now." She then let out a sigh. "I really am a girl… still dragging his words with me like a chain around my neck…"
Her wording quickly cause some conclusions to be made. "Wait a minute… is Kenshiro…" Taka voiced out the group's concern.
"That would be explain why Sakura was scouted instead of him…" Byakuya murmured in thought.
Hina and Makoto, however, held back laughs, knowing that it isn't what they're thinking.
'Huh? What do you mean…?' Makoto thought in concern. An answer then came up into his mind. 'He might be already gone.'
Sakura eyebrows rose a little at this, especially seeing the concern and sympathetic looks from the others. Did she really gave the implication that Kenshiro is dead to Hina and Makoto?
Hesitantly, he spoke. "Right now, Kenshiro is…"
"He's fighting." Sakura stated.
That caught the others by surprise. "Seriously? He's just fighting?" Leon questioned. "Geez, you had me thinking for a moment there!"
"We thought Kenshiro was dead for a moment, Sakura!" Taka chided the martial artist.
She gave everyone an apologetic look. "Apologies. I didn't mean to make you all think that he was dead."
"O-Oh!" Makoto exclaimed, a bit startled. "Jeez, I thought you were gonna say-"
"He's fighting an illness."
And once again, the full attention of the group was grabbed. "He's sick?" Sayaka asked in concern. "How bad?"
"My future self will probably explain," Sakura assured him, as well as kept everyone from bombarding her with questions. "But it's very bad."
Kyoko, however, quickly made a conclusion. This illness must've weakened him, to the point that Hope's Peak wouldn't have been able to consider him for scouting. Thus left Sakura as the next best candidate.
"...Huh?"
"When they found out, the doctors said he only had six months to live." Sakura said. "But six months has come and gone, and he's still fighting. That's just how he is. He would never let a disease beat him. He has to get better…"
The truth both shocked them and touched them emotionally. "Well, damn." Mondo cursed. "Didn't think it would get this heavy…"
"An illness that suppose to kill him in six months…" Taka murmured. "And yet, he's able to persevere through that allotted time…"
"Your boyfriend really does sound strong Sakura…" Chihiro said in slight admiration.
"An admirable character indeed." Hifumi added.
Sakura smiled at that. "He is."
"He's the strongest human alive. I admit that - no, I believe that." Sakura finished with conviction.
"S-Sakura…" Makoto stuttered out.
"My, my. Such strong conviction there." Celeste said in slight amazement. "You truly believe this Kenshiro will be able to survive this disease?"
"I do." Sakura stated with no hesitation. "He's been in worse situations. He won't let a disease take him."
"And if Sakura believes it, then it must be true!" Hina stated with absolute belief. "Kenshiro will beat that cold!"
"I think so as well." Makoto said, giving a soft smile. "If Kenshiro is even half as strong as Sakura says, then he won't die from the illness."
Sakura directed her smile towards Hina and Makoto. "Thank you both, for believing in me." She told them sincerely. "As well as Kenshiro. I cannot wait to introduce him to the both of you."
"And I can't wait to meet him!" Hina said eagerly, with Makoto nodding in agreement.
"I visited him once." She confessed, looking up at the ceiling. "He'd lost so much weight. He looked like an entirely different person. But do you know what he said? He told me that now I was the strongest human alive. That I had taken the title. He said he'd return someday to get his title back. He said I'd better not let anyone else take it."
Sakura then faced Makoto once again. "He didn't need to say the last part. I'll never give up that title, not until he gets better. And when that day comes…" A fierce look enter her gaze. "I will defeat Kenshiro and earn that title for real."
Her story had Sayaka, Chihiro, and Taka tearing up at the story. Celeste and Mondo felt themselves getting misty in the eyes and looked away from everyone, while some of the others had looks of respect or admiration.
"That's a really touching story, Sakura…" Sayaka said, wiping some of the tears away. "I really do hope he's get better."
"As do I!" Taka stated passionately. "And when the two of you faced each other, I wish you the best of luck Sakura!"
"I-I think I found inspiration for my next work!" Hifumi said, shedding a tear while Toko also took note for the same idea.
"If this Kenshiro manages to get back into his physical peak, then it will be an interesting fight to watch…" Byakuya said, a hint of respect in his voice. While he wouldn't admit this aloud, Sakura is one of the few people he respected, even before this. It's obvious that she worked her way up to her current position. And hearing this made his respect rise up a bit more.
"And that's why I have to get stronger…"
"I had no idea…" Was all Makoto could say.
"That's my biggest reason for becoming the strongest human alive." Sakura concluded. "I'm sorry for wasting your time with such a long winded story…"
"I don't think you need to apologize, Sakura." Makoto spoke up. "I'm sure my future self didn't mind. Especially after… the last conversation." That had several glaring at Hiro once more, causing him to wince once again.
"Then I'm glad my future self was able to relieve of any stress you felt." Sakura responded back.
"I'm… not even sure why I told you." She looked down in thought. "I think that somehow… you remind me of him."
"Huh?" Makoto pointed at himself in confusion. "Me?"
"Well, in certain ways." The martial artist corrected herself. "Your build is obviously different, but you both have a strong core."
"Strong core…?" A blush entered the luckster's face. "N-No, I…"
"You don't have to be modest. I know strength when I see it." Sakura said, a smile entering her face. "Okay?"
"O-Okay…" Still, Makoto couldn't help but look down bashfully.
"Yeah, you're definitely way too modest, Makoto." Hina scolded him. "If Sakura says you're strong, you have to be!"
"And she isn't the only one who thinks that. I also think you're strong." Chihiro spoke up, twiddling his thumb. "And I'm sure everyone else think so too."
"Chihiro is correct on that!" Taka stated. "While not physically capable as some of us here, you have an inner strength that few can match!"
"I have to agree with my bro and Chihiro hear." Mondo said, his voice soft. "You definitely got a lot of courage inside your heart."
Sayaka let out a giggle while Kyoko smirked, when Makoto's face turned beet red. "If everyone else says so, then it must be true." The blue haired grabbed a hold of his arm. "You have a big heart, one that's willing to face anything."
"And I'm sure that heart will help everyone in the killing game." Kyoko spoke up, grabbing Makoto's hand with her gloved one.
Makoto was able to croak a small, "Th-Thanks…". Then clamped up, not knowing what to say without embarrassing himself.
'I agree as well. Makoto really is strong…' Mukuro thought to herself, admiration in those thoughts. Anyone willing to help others, even when dealing with their own demons, had to have a large amount of inner strength. 'Unlike me, who can't decide who to side with now…'
Junko, meanwhile, had the resist the urge to fall asleep. This is boring to her. While their brief moments of interesting happenings, much of this was so boring to her! Why they can't they get to the most despairings part more quickly? Is that too much to ask?
Fortunately for her, and unfortunately for the others, her wish will come very soon…
And that's the end. I hope you enjoy the chapter, especially the group's reaction to Hiro's free time event. And I hope none of the reactions feel repetitive, or at least not too repetitive. Next up, we'll be finally getting back to the main plot. Review, favorite, and follow and I will see you guys later.
A Lucky Soldier: Nothing to note here except finals coming soon ): It's that time of the year again isn't it... *cries in despair*
