Danganronpa: String Theory (DrV3)

3.3 - Not A Child

I'm not exactly aggravated at this point. Although Kokichi is undoubtedly annoying, he's at least not unbearable right now and that much I can appreciate since it honestly could be worse.

And of course as soon as I think that, it gets worse.

Kokichi catches my hand in his and I freeze, looking his way for an answer as to why he's decided to hold my hand. If it's because of what I think it is, he's dead.

"Oh, I'm just making sure you don't get yourself into too much trouble! You know how you can be, Prairie Dog-"

Kokichi ducks just moments short of when I lurch forwards to punch him in the face, only for my gloved knuckles to fly towards the wall behind him. Just before I go shattering my knuckles or wrist, Kokichi grabs my wrist and forces it up so I hit air instead.

"Jeeeeez, Prairie Dog, I'm only lying! Don't go hurting yourself, without you we're all screwed, remember?" Kokichi huffs with an annoyed grin, making me wring my hand away from him to take a step back. Is he making fun of me because he doubts someone small like me can be useful...?!

"Can you go away? And don't hold my hand, it's bugging me," I snap, turning to continue down the corridor at a faster pace. Kokichi is undeterred by my behavior as per usual, following quickly and trying to link arms with me even when I dodge his attempts multiple times. "Stop it!"

Gah! I should have just kept the last item on my own person, this little jerk doesn't deserve anything!

"Kokichi, I may not want to murder you, but if you keep trying to get in my personal space, let's just say I know a few organs you can live without-! Ack! You leech!" I bark, grabbing his wrists myself to push him back...until he grabs on to me in turn and yanks me forward into him in a hug that makes me yelp when I crash into him.

"Hey, Prairie Dog, you know what's good about being cute like us?" Kokichi purrs, making the skin at my neck tickle from the feeling of his breath grazing it. It boils my blood, reminding me of that stupid prank he pulled on me about being stuck in the tall grass of the courtyard when he totally wasn't. I try to move back so I can maybe try punching him again, but he forces my arms behind me so I'm unable to retaliate. "Not only can we get away with a whole lot more, but just about everyone can't help but underestimate us."

I glare at him, moving my shoulders back enough to see him.

"How is that any good? I don't like being underestimated, everyone is treating me like a baby," I growl, nonplussed by his claims. He's only saying that because he knows exactly what's bugging me and wants to aggravate me even more.

"You tell me. Do you think Shuichi would have approached you for who-knows-what if he even just slightly suspected you might have the nerve to pick his pocket?"

I open my mouth to object...and then promptly close it after a beat in which Kokichi grins and raises a meaningful brow my way.

"Do you think Kaede would have tried to bash your skull in after being caught with a shot-put ball if she thought you wouldn't be too scared to dodge?" He continues, saying Kaede's name with little remorse of sympathy. Clearly he doesn't like her for her attempted murder of someone, even if she failed. "You see how powerful we are? Because people underestimate us, whether they're willing to admit it or not, they automatically box us in a category beneath them, making it easier for us to pull a fast one on them if we need to. With Himiko and Tenko, it's to the point Himiko is always complaining about Tenko being too clingy...but technically Himiko could probably use Tenko to her advantage. Or better yet, she could even k-"

Kokichi pauses, as if noticing something. There's a tingle at my cheeks and I was hoping I could hide it, but he grins and leans forward more despite me having leaned back enough already when he catches a weak point on my shell. My cheeks heat up entirely and I lean back more for space, only to squeak when I recline to the point I lose my footing and the only thing keeping me from falling becomes the stupid leech himself.