Work Text:
Kaede laid on her bed, nervously tapping her foot on her wall as she looked through her Instagram feed to distract herself. But it was just filled with Danganronpa news. News of the upcoming 53rd season, everyone talking about how excited they were to see the new cast, setting, even motives.
The blonde would’ve been excited too, if she hadn’t auditioned and was now waiting for the results.
A month ago, Team Danganronpa had posted they had concluded auditions and were now looking through the thousands of candidates to choose the 16 who would be put in. Kaede was among those thousands. She didn’t have much faith in being chosen, just like with anything else in her life. But she still couldn’t help being nervous about if she would be in the next season.
As she scrolled through the feed, Kaede got a notification from her DMs.
Mikankinnie: Anything yet?
Her eyes softened a little, smiling just a little.
Kaede had no faith in humanity whatsoever. Part of why she auditioned. But Kokichi was an exception. He was such a sweet and pure soul in this dark. Well, as pure as someone could be while also being a Danganronpa fan. Someone like him liking a twisted and dark show like Danganronpa surprised her, but that same person liking someone like her? That was unheard of.
And yet, he confessed to her right outside her school gates when she was walking home. She was shocked and thought of rejecting him, but she was intrigued. That’s how it started, just curiosity. But it had grown into more. Though, she would never admit it.
She opened her DMs and clicked her boyfriend’s account, texting him back.
Humanitysucks: Nothing yet. You?
Mikankinnie: No. Do you think we didn’t make it?
The thought had obviously crossed her mind. But Kokichi saying it right out made her heart almost stop. She didn’t care for much, and she thought she didn’t care if she didn’t make it. But maybe she was just trying to fool herself. She loved Danganronpa and wanted to be a part of it, which, again, she wouldn’t admit. Just like with Kokichi, what started as curiosity turned into more.
Humanitysucks: Maybe. There were thousands of people who auditioned. It’s like a needle in a haystack
Mikankinnie: That’s true.
The conversation seemed to stop there, so Kaede simply went back to scrolling. However, only a minute later, Kokichi texted again.
Mikankinnie: My parents aren’t home. Do you want to come over and watch Danganronpa?
Kaede thought about it. It would take their mind off things and they can do something they love together. Maybe it would even lead to something else. They were high schoolers, after all. She nodded to herself and texted him back.
Humanitysucks: Sure. I’ll be there in a bit
Not bothering to change out of her uniform, she hurried downstairs and grabbed her house keys. Taking a glance in the living room, she saw her father sitting in his chair, watching baseball with a beer in hand. He hadn’t moved an inch since she got home.
“I’m going out, Dad.” He simply grunted and took a swig of his beer.
He didn’t care. Like always.
Kaede took the subway across town and made it to Kokichi’s neighborhood. Once she got to his house and he let her in, they went to his room and Kaede sat on the bed while Kokichi went to his shelf that held all 52 seasons.
“Which one do you want to watch?” “I don’t care. Surprise me.”
The blonde thought he would choose Season 2, on Jabberwock Island. He loved Mikan Tsumiki, sometimes a little too much. Her body pillow was right next to where she sat on the bed. But to her surprise, he instead grabbed season 52, which ended about a year ago now.
The purple-haired boy put the DVD into his player and grabbed the remote, going and sitting next to his girlfriend and leaning on her shoulder as he pressed play.
They watched the episodes in silence, slightly cuddling while people were mercilessly murdered on screen.
Right before the second trial, Kokichi turned the TV down and sat up, looking to Kaede. “What do you think will happen? If we are chosen?” The blonde looked at him a little confused. “What do you mean?” “I mean…well, you know what happens to people when they’re chosen. Their memories are erased. They don’t remember anything from before, even being given fake backstories.”
The girl next to him was still a little confused. Everyone knew that. They erased everything so that the despair is heightened and they’re more likely to kill, especially if the cast know each other, like when Rantaro Amami and his classmate Hikari Shingetsu were chosen in season 52.
“Kokichi, what are you talking about?” “Kaede, I…I don’t want to forget you.” He looked up at her with those same innocent puppy dog eyes he had when they first met, even when he confessed. The eyes that softened her ice heart.
“I really like you, Kaede. Really really like you. The world is dark and cruel, but you make me happy through it all. If I forget you…I don’t think I could survive.”
Ah. That’s what it was. Kaede couldn’t help but smile at the boy. She reached a hand over and cupped his cheek, getting close to his face. “I could never forget someone like you. The person who shone like a star in the darkness. My little puppy.” She gently placed her lips on his, kissing him softly. Kokichi returned it just as softly, placing a hand on her shoulder as he leaned in.
After a moment, they pulled away from the air, Kokichi smiling and leaning into Kaede’s hand. “And I could never forget my princess.” The blonde couldn’t help but giggle. She always hated pet names, princess was one of them. But coming from Kokichi, she didn’t mind.
“If we are chosen, our memories will be erased. But I know that I will not forget you. Even if I forget your name, your face, I will never forget the happiness I feel when I look into your beautiful eyes.” The purple-haired boy blushed softly, glancing away. He was usually the one being soft and sweet. But Kaede’s words weren’t unwelcomed.
With one more peck, Kokichi laid back on Kaede’s chest as she leaned back onto the wall, watching the execution of Reito Myoga unfold. They finished the episode with Rantaro proclaiming they wouldn’t kill anymore, which was a lie as always. Once it was over, Kaede put her shoes on to leave.
“How about I walk with you? It’s already dark out.” Before she could refuse, he was already putting his shoes on and grabbing the house keys. The blonde giggled softly as her boyfriend took her hand and walked out with her toward the subway.
As they walked, a black van rounded the corner and began slowing down toward them. Kaede’s hand tightened around Kokichi’s as the van stopped and men in black suits got out. They grabbed the couple and forced them apart. All they could do was kick and scream, but no one came.
The two were tossed into the van and the men got back in, closing the door. One spoke into a radio. “We got them.”
Kaede held onto Kokichi in fear, unable to speak. It was Kokichi who finally spoke up. “Wh-Where are you taking us?!”
The men looked at each other. The one with the radio smiled, his face unreadable.
“Congratulations. You’ve been chosen for season 53 of Danganronpa.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Look, there’s another door. Probably another classroom.” Saihara spoke, pointing to a door near some stairs heading down. “Let's go ahead and check it out, there might be more people.” Akamatsu responded, walking to the door.
Once they entered, they encountered a chase scene, a short male in white clothes chasing what seemed to be a robot. Once they got the boy with purple hair to stop chasing the robot, the robot introduced himself as K1-B0, or Kiibo.
“Heeey, no fair! You’re not the only one who gets to show off!” The shortest of the four yelled, making Kiibo seem annoyed. “Well then, go ahead.” He giggled, almost like a horse, as he spoke. “I’m Kokichi Ouma! The Ultimate Supreme Leader!” ‘ A supreme leader? Jesus… ’ Akamatsu thought, beginning to get a headache.
While Kiibo and Ouma continued to bicker, Akamatsu thought hard about the shorter’s talent. “Hey, Ouma. What's this about being a supreme leader?” “Oh? Well, I’m an evil supreme leader with over 10,000 members!” “10,000 members!? How-” Ouma then laughed again with this horse laugh.
“Nah, that was a lie.” Akamatsu groaned. “So you were lying.” “Well, I am a leader of an evil organization.” “Sooo are you lying or not?” “I’m not saying!” His horse laugh once again filled the room, which began to annoy the pianist and detective. Saihara tried to pry more information from Ouma, but he just continued to evade the question or argue with Kiibo again.
The blonde had enough and turned to Saihara. “Come on, let's go see if there’s anyone else.” The bluenet nodded and walked out with Akamatsu behind him. She turned back for a moment out of curiosity, seeing that Ouma had again begun asking about if Kiibo had a dick or not.
Almost like he felt someone watching, Ouma turned and made eye contact with Akamatsu. He smirked and winked at her, making her blush a little, which in turn made him giggle. Not like a horse, but a silly, school boy laugh.
The blonde quickly turned away, blushing even more. Saihara seemed to have noticed she stopped and turned to her. “Akamatsu?” She looked up and cleared her throat. “Sorry, I’m coming.”
She looked back at the now closed door for a moment before hurrying to catch up with the detective.
Akamatsu had just met Ouma, but she could tell he was a strange one.