Danganronpa: String Theory (DrV3)

3.3 - Not A Child

"Hey, What were you even saying just now, you pink leech? Prairie would totally purify any water sources she comes in contact with! She could sell her bathwater for millions of yen!" Tenko exclaims, completely erasing all of my concerns for the moment as my brain pauses and rewinds to replay exactly what's come out of her mouth. I rip my gaze off of Monokid's back to look at her in disbelief.

My bathwater?! Who would do that?!

I look up at Rantaro, wincing at the downright displeased expression on his face. Clearly it wasn't just me that thinks that's a bit of a stretch.

"L-Let's just go in already. We still have other places to look through," I speak up before Monophanie can object with another rude comment. She gets along with Tenko as well as she gets along with me.

"I agree! As long as it's not dangerous, it's best we examine our surroundings thoroughly. There's no such thing as having too much information, after all," Kiibo states, following right behind me when I move out from under Rantaro's hold on my shoulder to traverse into the building. Figures it would be a pool, we could have guessed it from just the billboard of the water and dolphin above the entrance after all.

I can hear Rantaro let out a sigh of mild exasperation when I escape him once again, following after Kiibo and I with Tenko and Shuichi behind him and the monokubs tailing us.

Once we're inside, Kiibo continues towards the edge of the pool while I pause a few steps behind momentarily at the sight of the water. By the time everyone else is inside, I manage to puck up the courage to join Kiibo by the edge and give the water a frown.

Such shallow water...who would be able to swim in this poor excuse for a pool?

"Ooh! Look at that, Ugly! It's perfect for your size, a kiddie pool!" Monosuke comments, pulling on a nerve I'm sure he spotted a mile away considering how I've been pretty vocal about what I dislike about being treated like a child.

"Excuse me?" I demand, turning a dark gaze towards Monosuke who jumps a little at my sudden and unexpected attention on him. Before either me or the yellow kub with the smart mouth can say anything though, Tenko jumps to my side to take my hand in hers. Probably not a good idea right now, but she seems unafraid as I turn my look her way.

"That's okay! If you can't swim, I mean. I can't swim either, it's nothing to be ashamed about!" Tenko tries to comfort me to my irritation.

Why don't they get it? Did this little standard of 'everyone baby Prairie-wee-Marble' result from Rantaro's behavior, or am I really so childish looking and "moe" that it's a reaction these idiots can't help?

Hating the feeling of Tenko trying to come to my aid as if I need consoling, I promptly snatch my hand out of hers and turn away to cross my arms as I hold my tongue. To ensure I won't lash out, I take a few steps away from her quickly and pretend I don't see the flicker of hurt that makes itself known in her hazel eyes by my reaction. Honestly though, I'm sure it would be much worse if I really opened my mouth and told her to put a cork in it with her misguided sympathies.

Prairie is a ticking time bomb right now, and she's guaranteed ready to blow at any moment.

"Ha! What's wrong, Ugly, no tantrum outbreak like usual? You look like you need a juice box~!" I hear Monosuke pile on, making my head spin a little from just how angry I am. It's not even because of the attempt at saying these sort of things- it's that what comes out of his mouth is literally just a dramaticized version of how everyone treats me here.

I took down an Exisal alone and saved Kaito from being killed early on. I climbed a giant wall to learn an extra secret of this cage we're trapped in, which is only a cage inside of a cage. What more do I need to do before they see me to be at their level? What am I supposed to do that will make them realize I'm perfectly capable of whatever they are- and more at that. Is that arrogant? It sounds like it and I've asked myself that before...however, maybe I wouldn't have to tell myself arrogant things like that if Rantaro and the others didn't always make me feel like I'm infantile or in need of 'hand holding'.