Danganronpa: String Theory (DrV3)

1.4 - Third Time's a Charm

This time my eyes snap open seemingly on command with little effort on my part, making me fumble to open the locker door I know is somewhere around me after finding myself in here two other times.

My door swings open and I stumble out, yelping when I feel a sudden gash in my left arm I didn't feel the last time since Rantaro had helped me out of the locker.

Glancing at where Rantaro's tied sleeve is on my bicep, I make a face when I realize I've not only managed to rip the carefully tied fabric, but I'd gone and sliced my arm in the same place again, making a sort of "X"-like shape that begins to seep blood all over.

Oh no... I think in disapproval, attempting to shift the torn sleeve around where it might cover it better. Since I can't tie it around my arm properly anymore due to the tear, there's unfortunately no pressure to stop the blood flow either. I guess I'm just gonna bleed out then, huh?

Just as I swallow thickly and pull off one of my sneakers, the second locker beside mine flies open and-

"Oof...!" Rantaro spills out and onto the floor in a heap, making me yelp in surprise. Thankfully, I'm not in front of his locker this time, so he didn't fall on me this round either.

Rantaro clutches his head and pushes up onto his hands and knees, blinking his eyes until they accustom to the light. Although I'm half relieved to see him, the other half of my conscience knows what's to greet me when he finally looks my way, mild suspicion in his eyes until he notices my left arm's bloody state. "Oh, are you okay? That looks pretty bad... What happened?"

...I guess I probably should keep my mouth shut about the "before". That bear is already upset with Rantaro and I- maybe it's best we don't push things until later...

"I...I sliced it falling out of the locker," I answer, unable to keep the melancholy out of my voice when I speak. Since seeing that suspicion in his eyes stings my heart, I avert my gaze and roll my right sock off my thigh and calves to get on with fixing my arm.

He frowns when I put aside his old sleeve that had been wrapped around my arm, glancing down at his "vest" before looking back at me in confusion. I keep from making eye contact, pretending to be focused on trying to wrap the sock properly around my arm. Thankfully, he doesn't ask about it.

"...Do you need help with that?" He asks when I struggle to tie it around my arm like he'd done already twice before, evidently prompting me to eventually give up and nod quietly in shy embarrassment. I offer him my arm, watching his guard slightly lower. "Alright, let's see about cleaning it off first, or it could get infected even if it's wrapped properly."

Oh... I didn't know that part, but that must be why he cleaned it before too, I think, standing up with him and grabbing my shoe from behind to pull it on my bare foot.

"Oh," I respond, turning red in embarrassment and quickly hiding my face when I notice him smiling at my reaction.

Oh no, he's doing it again...! Being all attractive on accident...!

I use my good arm to fluff my hair up over my red face, hiding my shame from him. "D-Don't look at me like that...! I don't know anything about survival- it's not my fault...!"

My weak whine prompts Rantaro to laugh as a result.

"Alright, let's see if we can find a water source- that should help," Rantaro says as he stops laughing, making me nod and follow him to the door cautiously as he opens it up and looks out to check the halls.

Thankfully, there are no mechas around when he does, so leads me to one of the two bathrooms where I find myself seated at a counter once again. Rantaro cleans off my arm with a few paper towels before wrapping my sock around the wound and tying it off. After a second, he wrinkles his nose and gestures to my other sock.