Danganronpa: String Theory (DrV3)

4.24 - Echo of a Person

Rantaro nods in confirmation and lifts up his free hand to inspect his wrist. They don't look as purple as they were before, but you can tell they've been partly damaged from the right cuffs that Kirumi slapped on them.

"They're still pretty tender, but they're not as bad as the bruises on my body. Kirumi kicked my ass- she really knows how to swing things. On her last swing, she hit me so hard I vomited."

Rantaro pauses at the sight of the pained grimace on my face, but resigns himself to continue.

"Anyways, I don't know what happened between the two of you in her lab. I passed out in the snow after the confrontation with her, and by the time I woke up, there were still noises coming from just outside the screen door. I'm surprised she brought me along too, but I guess it makes sense considering it would count as murder if she beat me up and I died as a result of being left out in the snow," he says after resting his arm back on his lap.

"People are probably going to be looking for us then. Heck we're only waking up now, and it's two in the aftern-" I start to say, just as movement from my left has me leaping up into a defensive position. Rantaro may not have noticed it in his state, but I planned where to sit so he would be further away from the doorway. Just in case Kirumi changed her mind about coming after us. I may not be willing to kill her, but I could do some damage to protect Rantaro if I have to.

To my relief, it's just Maki- who is both visibly upset and confused by the dress I'm wearing along with Rantaro's presence.

"Prairie? Rantaro? Where have the two of you been? We've all been looking for you," she cuts to the chase, her expression suddenly twisting in discomfort when she steps closer. My cheeks warm up in embarrassment almost instantly when I realize why. "Ugh...you smell just like Himiko does. We're missing others too. Have you seen either Gonta or Kokichi?"

Gonta or Kokichi? They should be in the dormitories with the other boys, right? Gonta's the one that was standing guard at the doorway in.

"Those two are missing? Are you sure they're not in their own rooms?" Rantaro asks, gingerly hauling himself up on unsteady legs. I quickly rejoin his side and help him stand- watching as Maki takes in his full beaten state. Almost immediately, she ducks under the arm of his opposite side, making him laugh awkwardly. "You don't have to do that, but I appreciate the support..."

"What happened to the two of you?" Maki changes her question, resulting in a sigh of relief when Maki gestures to the hallway for me to walk ahead. "I've got him, just explain."

"Okay..." I say, looking up at Rantaro to make sure he's alright with it before I leave Maki to handle him. "Well, I was attacked by Kirumi again and when Rantaro tried to fight her off, he lost. I don't really remember what happened from the point I finished smoking with Himiko to when I woke up in Kirumi's lab, but Rantaro said he woke up and...considering the mess in the Ultimate Maid Lab, I think Kirumi and I may have fought? I dunno. I'm confused too."

"Prairie only woke up recently. Kirumi probably didn't want me dying in the snow after my fight with her, because she had me tied and cuffed alone in the laundry room while she dealt with Prairie. When Prairie got me out, she seemed totally fine and Kirumi was sitting in a dark corner of her lab mumbling to herself. She's probably still over there now..." Rantaro takes over, only for Maki to halt as we exit the Tennis Lab and enter the main hall.

"'Still'? As in she didn't leave? Hm..." Maki's pause also makes me stop and turn, watching as her red eyes shift about thoughtfully. When they land on the door to the Maid Lab, I can already tell what she wants to do.

"I can go ahead to the dormitories with Rantaro while you handle Kirumi, if that's what you want. After seeing Kokichi pick locks over his shoulder, I've gotten pretty good at letting myself through locked doors. I'll be able to see if Gonta and Kokichi are in their rooms!" I say, watching Maki half scowl at me.