Danganronpa: String Theory (DrV3)

1.3 - Take Number Two

"HAHAHA! Finally some FRESH MEAT! Better speed the HELL up, or I'm gonna turn you both into mushy red stains!" I hear the pilot shout from inside, leading Rantaro around a corner just as it starts to speed after us- much faster than the red machine had in the previous run.

Thankfully, Rantaro and I are both pretty fast, and eventually relief comes to me when I spot the double doors to the gym as we approach it.

"That's the gym...!" I pant as we near it, taking a glance back to see that the machine is getting dangerously close.

We burst through the gym doors and skid to a halt, hands still linked as we glance back and watch the doors close on the blue machine as it comes to a halt.

"HA! Two down for me! Better hurry the HELL up, Monosuke, 'Cause I'm WINNING!" We hear the pilot shout, before the sound of the heavy machine starts heading down the hall away from the gym.

After we catch our breaths, we turn to look at the other four already present, one of them bouncing on his heels in obvious excitement while I search his face for any sign of him recalling who I am. I can't possibly be the only one that remembers, right...?

"Wooow, the first girl! And I was starting to think this would just be full of boring boys," Kokichi blurts out, eyes sparkling as he bounces over to us. "Hey, I'm-!"

"Kokichi Oma," I cut him off, noting the flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Which tells me you don't remember what happened before either..."

"Remember...? What exactly do you speak of?" Korekiyo inquires as he joins the three of us along with Gonta and Kiibo at his sides. "Do you perhaps know what's going on here?"

"Well..." Rantaro thankfully takes over explaining things at this point, much to my relief, leaving me to play with my uniform's tie until I realize someone is staring at me. Looking up, I'm not surprised to see Kokichi observing me quietly, not even averting his gaze when I clearly notice his stare.

Just when I'm about to ask him if he needs anything (like a life), I notice him shuffling one of his feet a little and decide to use it as a topic.

"What's wrong with your foot?" I ask, staring down at it and watching the violet eyed boy shuffle it again slightly. Don't tell me it's from...

"It's sore. I might have banged it against the locker before I woke up or something," Kokichi huffs, looking down at it in annoyance as he wiggles the tip of his shoe against the floor.

A sputter of a laugh makes it past my lips before I can stop it, causing me to pull my hair over my face to keep him from seeing the massive smirk forming across my features. I turn away quickly when I notice him look up at me, although I'm sure I've already given away enough to make me look suspicious. Not like I could help it though, he doesn't remember I stomped on his foot...! That's hilarious!

Seems like he's even keener than I'd previously assumed though, because he begins to stare even more at me. When I finally quell my grin in exchange for timid confusion so I can look back at him, he's got a studious leer trained on me. There's no way he'll figure it out, right...? He's not THAT smart, just mischievous.

"S-Sorry for laughing..." I quickly say since I know that's what's garnered his attention in the first place. Despite this though, Kokichi makes no move to tear his gaze away from me. Eventually, I can feel myself begin to squirm uncomfortably at the piercing stare. What's wrong with him? Is he really that upset that I laughed over his foot? "Fine, look. I don't like you and it made me laugh... You were a creep when we met last time, so e-excuse me for finding your suffering entertaining! I'm only sorry I didn't do it myself!"