"Eh..? So, a party, huh?" (Name) rose an eyebrow as she and Komaeda sat on the table in the back corner.
"Yep. Sadly, I got unlucky and I'm stuck with cleaning this place." He sighed sadly, his lips curled in a frown.
"Hey, I could help you out. I really don't mind." (Name) glanced at him.
"Are you sure you wanna help a piece of garba-" His self-deprecating comment was cut off by her putting a finger over his lips.
"Stop calling yourself garbage, please." (Name) almost started pleading as she moved her finger. Nagito blinked, before laughing.
"Yeah, ok. I'll try." His facial expression turned serious, slightly worrying her. "Are you sure you're ok though, (Name)?"
"Of course! What Hiyoko said wasn't really bothersome."
Liar.
"You sure?" Nagito didn't seem quite so sure.
She wanted to smile, tell him she was alright. However, she couldn't smile. It's not that she didn't know how. She always lived by the same motto:
"If people know how you feel, they can take advantage of you. So it's easier that no one knows how I feel."
It wasn't the best one to live by, but it's how she's stayed alive this long. So for now, she was rollin with it.
"Yeah, I'm positive." With a nod of her head, she jumped down from the table, noticing the loud squeaking noise from that area. "Well, let's get started. We've got a lot to clean."
"Mhmm, sure." Nagito smiled and got down, the two making their way to the storage room. When they got there and turned the lights on, they frowned.
"Jesus, its as dusty as my grandmas nether regions.." (Name) mumbled.
"Ew." Nagito laughed, waving his hand in front of his face.
"We probably won't find anything useable to clean with in here. Maybe Rocketpunch Market has something decent." (Name) glanced at him.
"Yeah, that's smart. Let's get going then." Nagito held the door open for her, and she gave a nod of her head as she walked out the room. He took one last glance in the storage room, then closed the door.
A few hours passed, and the whole building was clean. The two sighed in exhaustion as they sunk to the floor, their backs against the far back wall.
"That was a lot... My back is killing me." (Name) groaned.
"Want me to massage it for you?" Nagito offered.
"That'd be great." (Name) laid on the floor, sighing. Nagito laughed softly before starting to press his hands to her back, thumbs rubbing out the knots in her shoulder blades. (Name) grunted, sinking deeper into the floor. After a bit, he stopped, and she sat up, rotating her right arm. "Thanks, I appreciate it."
"It's the best someone as worthless as me can do." Nagito smiled, and before (Name) knew what she was doing, she grabbed his hand that was on the floor, taking it gently in hers like she was holding glass. He looked at his hand in shock. "(Name)..?"
"Stop calling yourself all those bad things. Every human life has value, damn it." (Name) stared right into his silver eyes, and he stared at her intently.
"This is the first time your eyes have held something other then emptiness.." He muttered softly, his free hand traveling to cup her cheek. "Is that hope...? Hope... looks amazing in your eyes.. I want to see it more often."
Is this a cheesy romcom or what..? But is it bad that I want this..?
nO.. yOu will ju5t b3tray him in th3 3nd..
(Name) felt the ends of her ears get red, but before she could do anything, the doors burst open. The two Ultimates jumped, pulling away from one another. At the doorway was Teruteru, the Chef holding a few plates of food.
"Hey. Sorry if I interrupted anything." He seemed to wink. "The kitchen was getting full, and I didn't have much room. So I just brought the finished dishes in here."
Komaeda coughed gently and got up, (Name) standing up as well. "It's ok, nothing was happening. Anyway, the party should be starting soon, right?"
"Yep. Just about 30 minutes or so." Teruteru nodded, then exited the dining hall to presumably go back to the kitchen.
It was a bit silent for a minute, and Nagito spoke. "Ah, we forgot the storage room.."
"Meh, its fine. Doubt it'll be used anyway." (Name) shrugged.
"If you say so.. Ah, also.." Nagito seemed hesitant, but decided to do it anyway.
(Name) felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist, pulling her into the chest of a male. Her head was on his shoulder, her hands resting on his pectorals as instinct. She drifted her (eye color) orbs upwards, noticing he was staring down at her and smiling.
"Nagito...?" She frowned. "What're you-?"
"Thank you. I appreciate all the kind words." He tightened his grip on her slightly. "My own mother didn't even care for me. I mean, she's dead now, but.."
"I'm sorry. About your mom, anyway. I can relate.." (Name) sighed as she snaked her arms around his torso.
"It's alright. Nothing you could've done.. But, as I was saying, I like the things you tell me. Honest, I like your voice all together. But when you speak such kind words, I feel like I'm needed. And it gives me hope. Even though you probably don't mean it." Nagito continued to speak to her.
"Nagito, it's not.." She slowly pulled away, frowning. "It's not out of pity. I don't believe in giving pity to people."
"Then what would you call this..?"
(Name) thought to herself for a bit. "I don't know how to describe it. It's a problem. Tell me what I'm supposed to do." She stared at him intently, somewhat frustrated about it.
Nagito stared at her curiously, blinking his eyes. "I don't know what to tell you."
(Name) groaned, running her hand through her hair. "Well, that's not good." She then poked his chest with her finger. "Hey, when we survive this, you better have a way to tell me what to do."
Nagito laughed, nodding. "Yeah, ok. I'll try to remember."
"Good." (Name) gave him a small ghost of a smile, before turning on her heels, somewhat satisfied.
Before anything else happened, Togami walked in, carrying a case. Nagito quirked an eyebrow. "What's with the case?"
"No reason.. Just safety precautions. I've already performed the checks on Hajime and Teruteru, however I need one for you two." Togami stated.
"Checks?"
"Body checks. Just to see if you have any weapons." Byakuya explained.
"Fine. But if your hands get grab happy I'm breaking your wrist." (Name) threatened as she walked towards Togami. The male nodded, patting her sides and the area from her thighs down. He also felt along her biceps, then stopping.
"You're clear. Nagito, your up."
Nagito was searched the same way she was, and after which, Teruteru came bringing more food. The Monokuma announcement went off already, and now people we starting to file in.
The one person (Name) didn't greet was Hiyoko. The two just exchanged hateful glares and walked by each other. Nagito and Mahiru exchanged looks, laughing softly.
(Name) was standing next to Nagito when Mahiru came around taking pictures. (Name) gave a small smile during the picture, to which Mahiru cried happily.
"(Name), you smiled! We have photo evidence that you smiled!" Mahiru cheered.
"Shut up! I did not!" (Name) protested, crossing her arms.
"You totally did~ Woah (Name) you look pretty when you smile!" Ibuki glanced over Mahiru's shoulder.
"I hate you!" (Name) huffed and turned away.
"Now now, don't say that." Nagito laughed as Mahiru walked off to take more pictures.
(Name)'s eyes glanced at the A/C system next to her, then back at Nagito. "Hey, Nagito.."
"Hm..? What is it?" Nagito glanced at her, slightly looking down at her.
"I'm sorry."
And with that, there was a loud buzz followed by the lights going off. Cries of shock flew out of people's mouths.
"Woah! It's a blackout!"
"What the hell happened?"
"It's pitch black! My future is pitch black!"
"Calm down everyone!"
"Hey! Don't step on my feet!"
"What the hell?!"
"T-This is..!"
"Ow!"
"Turn the damn lights on! I can't eat this way, you know!"
"Y-You guys.. Where are you? Wasn't the blackout just in the kitchen..?"
"Perhaps the breaker overloaded?"
"Hang on. I'll go along the wall, and do something!"
"What the fuck!"
That last statement was followed by a loud crash, then a very feminine yelp then another crash. There was a groan. "Ow, fuck.."
Suddenly, the lights came back on, and sighs of relief were heard. "Kazuichi must've fixed the breaker." Sonia smiled.
"Ah, Mikan!" Hajime frowned, and everyone noticed how Mikan was positioned.
"Yay! Fan service!" Hiyoko cheered.
"No, don't look at me!"
"Hey, how'd you get in that position?" Hajime laughed nervously.
"Uh, shouldn't we help her?" Mahiru raised an eyebrow.
"R-Right!" Hajime nodded, and everyone started helping Mikan. Once that commotion was over, Nagito looked around.
"Where's Byakuya and (Name)..?" At that question, everyone started looking around.
"Weren't they here before the blackout?" Sonia questioned.
"Yeah, (Name) was right next to me." Nagito frowned, walking around to where they used to be.
"N.. Nagi..to.." A shaken voice called from the direction of the back table. His head turned in that direction, and it was then when he noticed the gigantic hole on the floor next to the table. He quickly rushed over, looking inside.
(Name) was laying there, completely still, her eyes wide. Nagito sighed in relief, smiling at her being ok. Hajime and Ibuki rushed over as well, the two looking into the whole.
"What're you doing down there?" Ibuki laughed.
"Under the.. table.." She could barely make that out, squirming a bit. Hajime raised an eyebrow, then went to the table.
"(Name), are you alright?" Nagito questioned, and before the assassin could answer, Hajime screamed. Nagito quickly rushed over to see what was happening.
And then the body of Byakuya Togami was found.