86Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Danganronpa.
Side Note: Sorry for the late update! Hurricane Dorian wrecked our internet lol. Got it going again though:)
Chapter 3 – The Calm
Makoto woke with a start. Eyes wide; his breathing heavy and uncontrolled. Falling forward, he held his stomach in an attempt to resist vomiting.
"God…" he wheezed. "That was awful. I honestly didn't think my dreams could get any worse. Life once again proves me wrong."
Nightmares were far from an alien concept to Makoto. Ever since he was a child, bad dreams had been a fairly common occurrence for him. Of course, back then, they were about issues far less serious. A creepy monster from a horror film he caught his parents watching, receiving an F on a test, or being rejected by some of the more popular girls in school.
A certain blue-haired one, in particular.
"At this point I'd take a thousand of those so-called 'nightmares', to my current ones."
As the water from the shower fell upon his skin he sighed. Thatnight always taunted him. It was especially bad when his mind would substitute or, in this case, add other students that hadn't met their demise in that moment. It made him feel even worse for his failures.
"I really should stop being such a downer. Leave that job to Fukawa-san."
Makoto snorted and stepped out of the shower, rejuvenated. A good, quick workout followed by a nice wash-down was just what the doctor ordered. Well, it always served to make him better, at least. What else could he do about his mental state? He certainly wasn't going to talk to a psychiatrist about his issues. Who would believe him? He'd be labelled crazy and thrown into an asylum within the hour.
So, all in all, he was content as is.
Makoto got dressed and walked out of his room, intent on getting some breakfast as inconspicuously as possible.
He paused in his steps.
"Um… hey."
The small group stared back at him, unnervingly wide smiles on their faces. Makoto began sweating.
"You guys, uh… want something, or…?"
Sayaka and Chihiro's smiles only seemed to widen at the question while Celeste put her hands together, daintily.
"We were wondering if you were headed to breakfast, Naegi-kun?"
"Yes, I am." he cocked his head to the side. The girls resisted the urge to squeal. "Why?"
"We-well, we-we were wondering if you might…" Chihiro stuttered. "W-would you maybe um…" he gave up.
Makoto was lost.
"Uh…?"
"Naegi-kun." Celeste's eyes sharpened. "Would you please do us the honour of joining us for breakfast? You don't want to keep three beautiful ladies waiting, do you?"
'I don't see any ladies here.' Makoto thought to himself. 'let alone beautiful ones.' He smartly held back however and instead smiled brightly.
"No, I'm good. Thanks though!" and walked past them. He didn't get far.
"Naegi-kun?" Celeste's sugary voice cut deep. "It wasn't a request."
The Luckster felt three pairs of hands grasping him from different areas- wait, did someone just pinch his ass?
"Sorry!" Sayaka squeaked.
The idol didn't look particularly apologetic, to him.
Makoto just hung his head in resignation.
Maybe he could file a restraining order?
The cafeteria was empty. Aside from the cook (read: chef) humming a tune while making some food, the room was close to deserted. No one else present, not even Taka, on account of it being 6 in the morning.
'Which is why I wanted to get breakfast at this hour, in the first place!'
Makoto lamented his situation, as the group lined up to order their food. Then he saw something out of the corner of his eye.
After a moment of deliberation, he moved.
"Hey, Tsumiki-chan. How are you doing this morning?"
"EEP!"
Makoto blinked as the girl jumped nearly ten feet from surprise. Impressive air.
"Sorry about that. You, uh, okay Tsumiki-chan…?"
He watched as the girl began greedily intaking air. Eventually she nodded slowly.
"H-hai…"
"Good." Makoto grinned. "So. Mind telling me why you were spying on me from behind this pillar?"
"EHH!? You saw!?"
He shrugged. "No, not really. But good to know I've got a stalker on my hands."
The girl collapsed to floor in a sulking heap. The Luckster immediately felt bad.
"Hey, hey it's okay Tsumiki-chan, I was just joking." He held out his hand for her to take. "I'm guessing you were just nervous about approaching me, right? You strike me as that type of person. It's fine though, I'd love to talk to you!"
She looked up at him, an uncertain expression on her face.
"Are… are you sure…?"
"Of course!" he grinned. "We're friends, remember? I said as much."
She blushed. Obviously, she remembered. It was probably the happiest moment of her life. Some people would consider that fact, sad.
Mikan would have wholeheartedly disagreed.
Placing her hand into his, she felt him left her up; wobbling slightly from the sudden force.
"I gotcha, don't worry."
The blush on her face couldn't have gotten any brighter. He currently had his arm around her waist to hold her steady. The inclination to fall forward had never been so high.
"Naegi-kun, come get breakfast!"
Makoto looked up to see Sayaka yelling at him from the other side of the cafeteria. Evidently, she did not notice the person currently held up by him. He figured the idol would have asked about that.
"Just give me a second!"
He looked down at Mikan.
"You good…?"
She nodded slowly in acknowledgement; poking her fingers together as she did so.
"A-ano… Naegi…kun?"
"Yes…?"
"U-um… do you think that I… c-could join you for breakfast…?"
He nodded. "Yeah, let's go. I can even introduce you to some of my friends."
Letting go of her waist he made to walk away when-
"Wait!"
She latched onto his arm. He stared down at the nurse in confusion, the girl closing her eyes, as if scared he'd reprimand her for her actions.
Makoto frowned.
'Her psychological scarring must be even worse than I thought. I'm not sure what kind of past she has but I know for a fact it left a serious impact on her.' He considered the girl further. 'Perhaps she's concerned I'm going to leave her or something? She didn't strike me as someone who had many friends, sadly. Maybe it's best I let her hold onto me for now. It'll create a stable sense of comfort I can eventually wean her off of.'
"You good now?"
She looked up at him in disbelief. He wasn't going to make her leave? He'd allow her to stay by his side? Did he not find her disgusting?
His smile said all.
She hugged his arm tighter.
Sayaka was not impressed. Not one bit. For that matter, neither was Celeste.
Chihiro, on the other hand was greatly amused.
"Naegi-kun…?" The idol questioned, her eyebrow twitching. "Who… is this…?"
Mikan clutched onto Makoto's arm harder, though he hardly noticed. Oblivious to the reasons behind Sayaka and Celeste's apparent annoyance, he patted Mikan on the head.
"This is Mikan Tsumiki, the Ultimate Nurse. As well as our Senpai in the class above ours." Mikan cooed lightly from the head petting. The other two began growling louder. "I ran into her yesterday and we really hit it off, I think."
"Oh…" Sayaka's face contorted. "You hit it off, did you now…?"
"Yes, Naegi-kun…" Celeste bent her fork. "Do tell. What happened, exactly…?"
He deadpanned.
"I just said. I met Tsumiki-chan yesterday, and we hit it off." Makoto shoveled some food into his mouth. "We're good friends, now."
At that one word, Celeste and Sayaka both breathed sighs of relief while Mikan's eyes began to water. Chihiro's smile was positively blinding.
"Okay…?" Makoto said puzzled. "Mind filling me in with what's wrong…?"
No one answered.
He sighed.
"You know what? Forget it, I have things I need to do today, anyway." He stood up, having finished his meal in record time. "And no, before you ask; I'm not coming to class. It's more important than that."
Knowing an argument was about to break out he quickly retreated from the scene faster than they could track.
The sounds of annoyed screaming carried quite far, however.
Outside Togami Corp:
Makoto looked at his recent purchase. A top of the line phone, with all the functionality anyone could ever need and then some. He never remembered himself to have been particularly wealthy in the past, but evidently, his savings were nothing to sneeze at.
Granted, this expenditure used up the majority of his funds, but in his mind, it was well worth it.
'Though, it's worth it for a reason only prudent to my situation in particular.'
He had been planning on buying this particular phone ever since he arrived in this timeframe. It was just, that today, he got the feeling he'd need it more than ever.
His gut feeling rarely steered him wrong, so he followed it. Hooking something small onto the front of his jacket, he breathed out.
"Now that my errand is out of the way, I can finally get down to exploring the other campuses."
His memories of Hopes Peak were, fuzzy to say the least. Unclear. As in, he couldn't remember anything. Due to this, he figured that a look around Reserve Course building as well as the Hopes Peak Elementary school, were in order.
He decided to start with the latter.
Makoto smiled at the kids going about their days. For the most part, the place looked peaceful, serene. The idea that anything negative would ever happen in the vicinity felt… alien, to say the least.
Then he turned the corner.
"Hey. Did you have a good day at school?"
"Mhmm…"
"Good girl. That's what I love to hear."
Makoto raised an eyebrow at the scene he stumbled upon. Tucked behind the school's courtyard, and just out of sight, his first thought of what he was seeing wasn't a good one.
Could these people look anymore suspicious?
'Three creepy old men in suits are crowding around a little girl.' He frowned. 'I don't need to know the specifics to know I don't like it…'
Should he wait for an opening-?
"We'll make sure to be extra gentle for you tonight."
Alright, no.
"What exactly is going on here?"
Makoto suddenly appeared in front of the girl at speeds the group couldn't follow. The pink-haired child snapped out of her trance and looked up in confusion at the newest arrival. He returned the look briefly, before staring back at the others.
"I asked you guys a question." He motioned to the girl standing behind him. "What were you three planning on doing with her?"
"WHY YOU-!"
"Hey, hey, let's not be hasty, here."
Makoto raised an eyebrow as the probable leader of the operation stopped his employee's tirade. The man exuded an aura of calm that the Luckster had no doubt affected many a person before.
He wasn't one of them.
"Now. You look to be a healthy young man!" he laughed. "Surely you must need to take care of your… urges, from time to time, correct?"
Makoto didn't answer immediately. This situation would need a more subtle approach, he decided. Placing his hands into his pockets, he subtly flicked a button on the side of his phone.
Nobody noticed.
"Urges, you say? What exactly are you referring to here…?"
The mans smile was made of plastic. In a way that made his skin crawl. A quick glance behind showed him that the girl was just as affected.
"Well," the man crooned. "Sexually, of course."
The ultimate cocked an eyebrow at the rather direct manner of speech.
This would be easier than he thought.
"Of course, I do. Who doesn't feel that way from time to time." He shrugged. "Though I fail to see what you're implying. Please, be upfront with me."
The mans smile turned bloody.
"Why, it's simple young man!" he pointed at the girl now cowering behind him. "If you promise not to say anything about the situation, we'll let you have your way with her. For as long as you want. Free of charge! She's quite worth it, my associates here can assure you of that."
Makoto's blood turned to ice. He figured the situation was bad, but to hear it so casually said, with no concern for human life. Let alone the life of a goddamn child.
It took everything in him to keep the act going.
"I… see." He forced out. "Tempting offer, I must admit."
Makoto looked to be considering the proposition. Inwardly however, he had never felt so dirty.
"Fine, then. I'll accept on one condition."
The man blinked; composure broken for a second. His recovery was nothing but speedy, however.
"Why, yes of course young man! Go on?"
"Well, my condition is rather simple. I'd like two of my questions answered before I start. Is that alright with you…?" Makoto hedged. The man nodded. "Firstly, I was just curious; do her parents know about this? I must confess I find it… empowering when they do."
He felt the urge to dry heave get stronger after every word. It was a necessary evil. A psychologically proven way to get information, and the best strategy to employ in this situation.
Didn't make it any easier, however.
Thankfully, his answer came concisely, "well considering I am little Kotoko's father, yes they are aware! Hoho." He guffawed loudly. "Satoshi Utsugi, at your service! As for my whore of a wife? She died from a drug overdose a couple years ago, but this little money-maker has been keeping me afloat! Early retirement is a hell of a kick, son."
Makoto closed his eyes and breathed out. He was close.
"I see." The young man muttered. "Mind if I get to it then?"
The man and his two cronies both laughed.
"Why yes, go on young man! We'll just be here to supervise. Ensure that the merchandise doesn't get damaged too badly. You can rough her up a bit, of course, just don't do anything irreversible." The man sighed wistfully. "Had that happen one time. Hospital bills aren't cheap, let me tell you. I'd rather not go through that again."
Makoto turned away and grit his teeth. Hard.
"Right."
Getting down on one knee he looked at Kotoko. She avoided his line of sight, having backed away from him earlier on in the conversation.
"Kotoko, please… just look at me for a second, okay?"
She opened one of her eyes a crack. The smile he gave her took her breath away momentarily. It was so… different, to the ones she had become used to.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that just now. I had to act like I was going to go through with... that." He spat. "I won't, though. I promise."
Her question was obvious; 'why?'
"I'm going to get you out of here. Away from these guys." Makoto revealed. Her eyes widened and he quickly put a finger to her lips. "No, don't speak. Not yet. Just tell me, do you know if they are armed?"
The girl looked hesitant to answer, worried, but he was nothing if patient.
Sadly, they weren't.
"Hey! What's the big idea, man?" one of the cronies yelled out. "Why haven't you started yet? She's only getting older by the minute!"
Makoto ignored him.
"Please Kotoko-chan. Tell me."
She nodded slowly.
"Alright, that's fine." It was more of a leading question, anyway. He wasn't actually worried about these no-names. "Then sit tight for just a second. I'll be done momentarily."
He got back up and turned back to the three men. His expression, vacant.
"He-hey man, what's the big idea? I thought we had a deal?"
"We did." Makoto agreed. "You haven't fulfilled your end of the bargain yet."
"No…?" Satoshi appeared puzzled. "How so?"
The Luckster cracked his neck. "You never answered my other question."
"You're… correct." He conceded. "Very well then, what is it that you wanted to know?"
"It's an easy question to answer, even for one of your miniscule intellect."
He vanished.
"Does this hurt?"
"NGH-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"BOSS!"
"Huh." Makoto shrugged. "Guess that answers my question. Thanks for being so cooperative."
Kotoko stared at the scene with wide eyes as the brown-haired student knocked her bastard of a father down with one hit.
'I didn't even see him move!'
"Why you-!"
The gun wasn't out of its holster before the henchman found his arm twisted behind his back, and his head smashed into the pavement. Less blood than expected, but it undoubtedly hurt.
The third crook wasn't even given the chance to react as Makoto kicked him in the chest. He was flung back into the wall and sent to the ground; the wind promptly knocked out of him.
Makoto looked at the situation in disgust. Searching the moaning bodies for any weapons he may have missed, he found a taser alongside two additional pistols and put them out of reach behind him.
"Alright." He looked down on them. "Let's talk about what happens to you low life's now."
"Nothing!" Kotoko's father barked, a victorious grin upon his face. "You may have beaten us down, but this means nothing!"
"Oh?" Makoto drawled. "Do tell."
If the man felt unnerved from the Luckster's lack of fear, he hid it well. "You think you're the first child to turn on us? The first one to knock us down? How naïve."
"And…? What exactly is your point?"
"My point!?" The man exclaimed, laughing heartily, "is that you have no proof! In fact, if anything, with all your fingerprints on our weapons over there, it would be easy for us to pin this on you. I may be retired, kid, but I was a highly respected orthodontist in my time. I'm loved by the community; I'll get away scot-free." Satoshi smiled. "And don't expect to get anything out of my little girl, either. She would never turn on us. She knows what will happen to her, if she does. She's just an unwanted disease, after all. Someone who's only truly loved when she's 'performing'."
He grinned as Kotoko's face fell. Ecstatic in spite of the marks littering his body.
It felt good to be in control-
"Is that all?" Makoto idly picked at his ear. "Shit, I almost got worried for a second there. But thankfully you laid all my fears to rest in one fell swoop. So, good job, I guess."
"Wh-what-!?"
"Allow me to explain."
Taking his phone out of his pocket, he watched as the men in front of him paled considerably.
"This is a little gift I got myself with the majority of my savings. A celebration for me making it into Hopes Peak." He motioned towards the button on the side. "While not for this exact purpose, I wanted a recorder on my phone, and one that was easily accessible. This one happens to attach to the small camera on my chest. Technology is incredible, isn't it? The highest quality sound and video available, and it can all be found on something as small as this?"
The men didn't rise to his bait.
"My talent is Luck, you see, and it's not always the good kind." Makoto continued. "I wanted to ensure that I could always gather proof of my innocence no matter the situation I found myself in. This, of course, being one of them. This case, in particular, required a little acting on the side but… this is the result: I have successfully coaxed all the needed information out of you."
Makoto looked down at the three men below him. Unrestrained fury in his eyes as they all wet themselves in fear.
"And despite my what I said about my talent, don't any of you think that I consider myself unlucky for ending up here." He growled. "It was the greatest stroke of luck I could have ever received. With this, I now have all the proof I need to haul your fat-asses to jail; alongside the ability to issue a warrant for a formal investigation to be undertaken in this town. Since, obviously, there has to be more than just the three of you involved here. I refuse to believe it's just you three."
He shrugged.
"So that's the first thing you got wrong. I have my proof, and I have it in spades." The brunette mocked. "The second one is even easier to explain."
Makoto turned around and approached Kotoko. She looked up at him in wonder, apprehension, confusion; and, while masked,
Hope.
"Don't you dare say that Kotoko is a disease. No child is. It's an excuse shitty parents use to blame their lack of success in parenting on the potential failings of their offspring." He got down on his knees and looked the girl in the eyes. He smiled softly. "Kotoko-chan. You can do anything your heart sets itself on. I promise you."
He held out his hand.
"Let me prove it to you, okay?"
Everything inside her told her not to take the hand. It was a trick. This was just a ruse to get her to lower her guard. So, he can enjoy himself more. So, he can be gentle with her.
"Kotoko-chan."
He spoke softly, calmly. His eyes held no deceit in them, only a promise of a future where she could be free. Be happy.
Be loved.
She took his hand in hers.
Makoto smiled.
"Let's start then, Kotoko-chan. The first step towards recovery."
Side Note: The next chapter of The Ultimate Assistant will be up sometime in the next day or two. Look forward to that! :D (This chapter was pretty much done before the hurricane struck so that's why it's going up first lol).
N/A: As I said at the top, sorry for any delay; Hurricane Dorian wrecked our internet ;/. Granted, I never promised a consistent schedule with this story comparatively to my other one but I felt it good to say anyway:p. Please reviewwwww;D it makes me so happy even when I get criticisms. Anything you wanna say makes me wanna write faster :). Till next time!
Reviewer Responses:
Doomqwer: Yes I loved writing it… may go back and extend it at some point tbh. He might have, yes XD.
Guest: As someone said above you, yeah I didn't forget that, Makoto just doesn't know that much about the future :p. This is a different story where he tries to prevent things without really knowing how to go about it xD.
Survivor Naegi: I love reading your reviews they never fail to make me laugh:p. Yessss I love your ideas too. Teruteru will be getting some time learning from him for sure ;D
Fortitude501: Thank you for trying to explain things for me! :). LOL. Well, we'll see about that ;p but it wouldn't surprise me either…
Pokemon Trainer Tom: I mean, same; they are fun to read and write XD just not deep lol.
1995hzq: I'm glad you did. I'm loving writing their interactions ;p. Yeah, you and me both XD jk.
Average Joe: Thank you for the compliments and criticisms I appreciate both :D. Unfortunately, I just find it easier to write the names the Japanese way since I grew up with that fan translation years ago :P. Some of the Japanese phrases though, I try to limit to only a couple words :).
Kleptor: Thank you! Hope you enjoy this chapter too:)
Stapler Guest: Same ;D he's easier to write than regular Makoto for me lol
Victor155: I don't know! Glad you like all that about it :P