Danganronpa: String Theory (DrV3)

4.24 - Echo of a Person

⚠️ tw/ sexual assault ⚠️

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"So, can I ask how you even managed to get your hands on cannabis of all things? In a killing game with no access to the outside world?" Rantaro asks after some gentle scolding of his own following the dress incident.

Or faces are both still lava red respectively, but this change of the topic slowly ebbs away some of my worries and embarrassment in the process.

"Cannabis? What's that?" I ask, lifting my head from where it's propped on my arms over my knees and frowning slightly. "Shuichi said something like that, I think."

"Prairie, it's weed. The devil's lettuce."

"...Weed like what grows around grass to steal their nutrients?" I push for more information, watching as he gives me a stern look. There's clearly a misunderstanding somewhere in this conversation, I just don't know where. "I legitimately don't know what you're talking about, but I'm sure you can explain it to me to clear up the confusion."

Rantaro relaxes his expression and looks away with a sigh, resting his head back against the wall so he's half looking up at the corner of the ceiling.

"Recount your day after everything that happened when you left the boys' prison quarters. Or as we also call it, the dormitory building," he says, causing me to slightly shrink back at his descriptor of our sleeping quarters now that Angie and Tenko have taken over.

"Um...well," I start, feeling my stomach drop as I think back to the events. "Tenko and I got in a really bad fight when we reached the dining hall. It wasn't open for morning hours yet, so we were waiting outside in the hall and stuff."

Rantaro's stern mood rapidly dissolves, softening as he turns to look at me. I repeat everything I've told Himiko, my stomach knotting up as I anticipate his reaction to the news. It was easier to tell Himiko in a way, and I was sure she'd become upset or angry hearing how I used her name to hurt Tenko.

Now that I have to tell Rantaro though, what if he hates me for my behavior?

"Man...we've both fucked up then," he simply sighs after, both to my surprise and chagrin. I cross my arms to hide how relieved I am by his words, although...

"You can say the same thing without using the 'f' word over and over..." I grumble, prompting him to let out a chuckle and reach over to muss up my already messed up hair.

"You're right, I'm sorry. Excuse my French," he answers without true sincerity, to which I go to pull on his ear for his carelessness. After fighting my assault off with amusement, he rests a hand on the back of my neck and gently massages the area. It feels tender back there when he pushes close to the nape of my neck. "Tenko made a mistake too though. There's a way to handle things, and while I understand why she wouldn't want to tell you the truth while you were still fresh off of an anxiety attack...well, look where it's got us."

"...I don't know," I pipe up after a moment of thought, my stomach sinking the more I think about it. "I just think it's my fault altogether. I shouldn't have told her how I felt."

I fidget with the cuff of my dress sleeve as pessimism and doubt sprouts from the seed in my chest.

"Maybe I'm just dumb for getting my hopes up and thinking someone would ever like me like that."

"No, Prairie, don't think like that. There's someone out there for everyone, believe me," Rantaro tries to cheer me up, smiling gently and poking my nose. "Besides, haven't I told you? Someone as cute and fun to be around as you are will definitely find somebody when we get out of here."