Danganronpa: String Theory (DrV3)

1.4 - Third Time's a Charm

"I might need your other sock since this one is kinda thin on it's own," he admits, making me murmur a confirmation and straighten up. Just as I'm about to do it myself, Rantaro reaches down and easily pops off my sneaker, making my cheeks turn red when he slips his cold fingers between the hem of my sock and thigh. I can't help but squeak and giggle involuntarily at the tickle it causes, causing Rantaro to smile a little. "Sorry..."

Once the sock is off, he takes my arm and wraps it tightly around my bicep where the other sock is already tied, layering it over before finishing the job and giving me a satisfied smile once I'm completely patched.

"There we go. Oh, by the way, I'm Rantaro Amami. And you?" He asks pleasantly, his earlier suspicions clearly having completely faded away in the time we've been in each other's presence.

I guess he just can't help seeing me as a shy girl that reminds him of his little sister... I think with a mildly embarrassed smile.

"I'm Prairie Marble," I introduce myself for the third time, watching as he reaches over and helps lift me off of the counter. Due to my light weight, he grins and and then lifts me up really high like a kid, prompting a silly laugh out of me as he sets me down on my feet properly. When I look back up at Rantaro, he's got this honest smile on his face that eases most of my nerves.

"We should probably leave," Rantaro suggests, smile dropping slightly as his eyes scan the bathroom. He takes hold of one of my hands and leads me towards the door, stepping out to check the hall before pulling me out with him.

Hmm... No mechas, I think, looking down either end of the hall. Did they decide not to chase us this time? That's strange...

Rantaro thankfully leads us to the right of the hall, visibly taking in the massive overgrowth of vegetation in what should have been well kept school grounds. I still have no answer to that or even an answer as to where we are, but...

"Are you absolutely sure this is a killing game ground?"

"I can't believe your boyfriend spoiled everything!"

The bears exclamation from before is all the proof I need to know Rantaro had hit the nail on the head. They must not be very smart to have confirmed it like that...

But now he doesn't remember anything... I think, looking at the back of his curly green hair with a somber frown. I wish I could tell him, but it's best I keep silent since talking could put us in danger.

Rantaro and I apprehensively turn a corner to take a right and-

The sound of a familiar revving engine to the left makes Rantaro and I spin around for a moment, until we see the mecha that appears to have been silently waiting for us to appear. My heart jumps up to my throat, but soon Rantaro and I turn to run down the long hall hand-in-hand towards the gym doors that is in view.

"Get back here! I'm gonna turn you into a pretty little pair of bloodstains!" I hear the voice from the red and white bear blaring out of the mecha, voice considerably mechanical as it comes through the machine's loudspeakers.

We slam into the gym doors when we reach them, turning to quickly look back as the mecha skids to a halt behind the doorway.

"Whoopsie! Don't want a repeat of that last time!" The red bear chirps on the other side, much to my uneasiness. "Hey, girlie! Do me a favor and keep your mouth shut this time, or else!"

Shoot! I think, quickly blowing out a breath of anxiety as I look towards Rantaro. As expected, he's already looking at me, confusion over his features as I look away from him. I can't say anything... I don't like lying to him, but there's just no point telling him the truth anyways. He's probably just going to forget again...! What else am I supposed to do? Hit him in the head and hope everything just comes flooding back?