Danganronpa: String Theory (DrV3)

1.2 - Ctrl+Z!

"Oh, so you are a liar," Kiibo comments off-handedly, blue eyes narrowed on Kokichi from under his hat and jacket collar. "So how are we to know you aren't lying right now? After all, Prairie hasn't given us any reason to doubt her. You on the other hand..."

"Nyahahaha~! Besides, didn't I see you bothering her in the first place? Maybe you deserved it!" The white haired girl with pigtails points out as cheery as ever, a dark shadow curling over her smiling face as a result of her last accusation.

Kokichi makes a noise of annoyance, growling things quietly under his breath and shooting me one last glare. I feel Rantaro's arm drape over my shoulder, directing my attention up to him.

"Don't worry about him," Rantaro reassures me with an easy going smile, even turning us so we face away from Kokichi and walk towards the other end of the gym. "...Next time, just walk away, Prairie. Stomping on people's feet is hardly the reaction someone our age should be resorting to," he adds in a low murmur, prompting my eyes to widen a fraction as I resist a squeak of shame. Rantaro saw right through me...?!

"I-I-!" I start to fish for some kind of excuse, until he glances my way again with his piercing gaze. The moment his reprimanding green eyes meet my blue orbs, my resistance completely falls apart and I crumble under the pressure. "...I'm sorry...!"

Rantaro stops us and chuckles when I grab my hair and cover my face up to hide my shame. "I'd normally suggest you go back and make an apology, but...something tells me that Kokichi is more the type that gets even rather than accepts apologies, so stay close to me," he suggests, making me uncover my face a little to smile thankfully despite feeling I don't deserve it.

I can still feel Kokichi's glare laser into the back of my head, but soon my attention is completely focused on something else I only then notice- that being Rantaro's arm still hanging over my shoulders. I want to remove it, but at the same time I don't want to. The attention is both nice and a bit nerve wracking, but I also don't want to offend him by removing it myself either. What if he thinks I think he's some kind of perverted fiend? Especially after what we've been through already!

Thankfully, Rantaro removes his arm from my shoulders just by chance, prompting me to blow out a small breath of relief that's nearly imperceptible.

I flinch suddenly in surprise as the doors to the gym are thrown open, two more girls storming in on quick feel like everyone else had with the mechas that chased us. Quickly proceeding after the girl with red eyes and the olive green haired girl beside her is a short guy with pink cheeks and a pair of sharp round eyes that narrow on everyone in the room he enters.

It's when I notice the new trio's eyes turning towards Rantaro and I that I end up half hiding behind Rantaro again sheepishly, feeling my cheeks turn red when he fishes me out from behind him so he can maneuver me towards a wall of the gym with him.

Once we reach the mossy vine covered wall, Rantaro takes a seat, patting the spot on the ground beside him until I follow suit and sit down as well. Both of us then quietly observe as the most recent arrivals are given a brief rundown of things so they aren't so confused.

Those three make it twelve of us so far... I think, before looking down at my skirt and smoothing it out so I'm not accidentally showing too much of myself off.

"How many people do you think will show up?" I find myself asking Rantaro, half surprised I'm comfortable enough to have blurted out the question unplanned like that.

Rantaro crosses his arms as he glances at everyone in the gym with a thoughtful hum. His eyebrows are furrowed, and I almost can't help but stare at him a moment too long. He's... He's so handsome- almost too good looking. Did Rome lose one of their city's statues or something?