65Disclaimer: Nope. Me no own Danganronpa.
Chapter 2 – Perception
The trip back to school was awkward. Especially so, for someone as socially inept as Makoto. The Luckster had found himself stuck between a rock and a hard place, with no clue on how best to escape it.
"Ne, Ikusaba-san…? Do you think you could stop looking at me like that-?"
"No."
"Okay."
Makoto hung his head in depression as the soldier continued to glare a hole in him. Sayaka, on the other hand-
"Naegi-kun, do you want to-?"
"No."
"I was asking Naegi-kun, not you Enoshima-san!"
A raincloud appeared over his head as he tried to tune the girls out. He had no clue what was going on…
When Makoto initially found the both of them, the soldier immediately claimed innocence regarding the scream they had heard. Apparently, she had been trailing Sayaka in an attempt to keep her from interrupting their alone time, when things got dicey. The idol had then turned the tables on her by pointing out how Mukuro's talent greatly outweighed hers in the scenario. There was simply no way that a singer could keep up with a trained assassin. Bottom line: they both claimed to have not been eavesdropping on them.
Right.
To avoid potential conflict, Makoto decided to accept their excuses as fact. Though, he seriously doubted their testimonies. Especially judging by the smirk adorning Junko's face. She was amused. Something that typically happened when she figured out the truth behind matters others tried to hide.
Granted, in this case, it wasn't exactly difficult to call the girls out on their bluff. He just chose not to.
"Grrrr…"
Sayaka's grumbling tore him from his thoughts. He gave her a small, sheepish smile, unsure what was causing her discomfort. Little did he know.
'I HATE THIS!'
The way that Junko's hand just seemed to ever-so-easily slip its way into Makoto's. The sweet little looks the two exchanged constantly. The conversations they were holding with one another, as if she wasn't even there. The dense idiot didn't even see anything wrong with it!
Not that there was anything wrong with it, mind you, but Sayaka didn't care. He was her childhood friend damnit!... If you ignored the fact that they had never interacted in the past, that is.
She decided a more direct approach was in order.
"Ne, Naegi-kun…?" the pop sensation spoke as sweetly as possible.
"Ah, huh?" Makoto blinked. "What is it Maizono-san?"
Sayaka smiled demurely. "I was just wondering if you'd like to hang out with me later? I thought maybe we could catch up over some pizza or something-!"
"Ah, that's a no-go miss idol." Junko shrugged unapologetically. "Koto-kun is spending the rest of the day with me. We already decided."
That was news to Makoto.
"Ehhhhh!?" he exclaimed. "We did!?"
"Yes, we did." Junko slipped on a pair of glasses; a smirk plastered on her face. "but of course, since you're my childhood friend, you shouldn't have any complaints with said arrangement, correct?"
"N-no." he shook his head, "of course not."
"Good." She squealed with wide, and rather adorable eyes. "It's settled then!"
"N-now just hold on a second!"
Sayaka had, had about enough of this.
"I asked Naegi-kun first! You can't just do that-!"
"Hoh?" Junko's grin was bloodthirsty. "Did you now? But I asked Koto-kun during our lunch break. He agreed, and that's that."
Makoto looked puzzled but decided not to intervene.
"B-but that's not true!" Sayaka sputtered. "You never said anything like that at the time!"
"I concur." Mukuro nodded. "The topics of conversation ranged from childhood nostalgia to current lifetime events. Spending time with one another had not been brought up."
Junko grinned.
"Yes, you're right." She turned towards her companion with an overexaggerated thinking pose. "Koto-kun, we never talked about spending time with one another, did we?"
He shook his head slowly.
"No… we didn't." he cocked his head to the side. "but how do the two of you know that, if you weren't listening…?"
Sayaka and Mukuro both gulped. They had fallen for the oldest trick in the book.
"Ohhh this is so scary, Koto-kun." Junko's cutesy persona came out. Grabbing onto his arm she began batting her eyelashes at him. "Whatever will we do? We have stalkers!"
Makoto sweat-dropped at the rather over-dramatic nature of his friend.
"Ah, I doubt it's that serious, Ryo-chan. They were probably just shy and wanted to join us or something! Nothing to worry about."
The three girls deadpanned at the boy in unison. He gulped.
"Wh-what…?"
Junko unlatched herself from his arm and began walking away. Her face was blank, a bad sign.
"Ahhhh! Ryo-chan, I don't know what I did but I'm sorry!" he ran to catch up with her. "Don't ignore me please…"
The model gave him a once over.
"You have always been so insanely trusting, it boggles my mind."
He couldn't deny that.
"I just don't see how putting trust in people, is a bad thing." Makoto argued. "Especially in situations as minor as this one. I mean, it's only because I trusted in you all those years ago that we became as close as we are now!"
She flinched imperceptibly.
"You know," Junko muttered, "some people would call your attitude naivety."
He didn't look bothered by that.
"Even so, I won't change."
She stared at him.
"No… no, you won't, will you. But I guess you wouldn't be my precious little Koto-kun if you didn't have that unwavering optimism, now would you?"
Makoto looked sheepish.
"My one redeeming trait, right?"
She grinned widely.
"Yep! It's just as interesting as ever."
"Hey!" Sayaka yelled, interrupting the talk. "Slow down, you two. What are you guys talking about?"
Junko stared down the approaching idol; pointedly ignoring her sister who was watching them from a nearby tree branch.
She was bored.
"Well! As I said, it's time for Koto-kun and I to have some quality time together." she grabbed his hand tightly in hers. "We'll just be downtown somewhere. Don't wait up for us. Bye-bye!"
"Wait! What about class-?"
A dust cloud was Sayaka's answer. The idol couldn't recall the last time she had felt such aggravation.
Makoto and Junko had arrived at their destination in record-setting time. The latter pulling her friend a good deal of the way.
"I forgot *pant* just how fit you are, Ryo-chan." Makoto panted. "You could be an athlete considering your *gasp* speed and strength."
The model grinned with a crown atop her head.
"Yes, I could! I could be a lot of things though, of course."
He involuntarily rolled his eyes. Her arrogance was going to get her in trouble someday, he just knew it. Though, he had a far more immediate concern.
"Ne, Ryo-chan? I've been wondering something…"
Junko turned to him with an eyebrow raised.
"Hoh? You thinking!? The world must be ending, or something." She cackled. "I'm kidding, Koto-kun. What's up?"
The Luckster thought of how best to phrase it.
"Well… I was just wondering: why does everyone call you Junko Enoshima, now? You never mentioned it when we were kids. Is it your real name, or-?"
"No. It's a stage name." Junko revealed with a small smile. "Ryoko is my actual name. It just doesn't… roll off the tongue as easy. Not a name to capture the masses. Or at least, that's what my agent said when he first approached me."
Makoto frowned.
"I disagree. Ryoko is a beautiful name. It suits you perfectly!"
The girl flushed at the admission. Her smile, thankful.
"I appreciate that, Koto-kun. I really do." she shrugged. "But, eh, it's life. My name isn't that big of a deal to me, at this point. I'm known as Junko Enoshima, the Ultimate Fashionista; so that's who I am."
As she finished, the Luckster stopped walking. He stared, unfocussed, at the ground. Junko looked at him, intrigued.
"What's wrong, Koto-kun-?"
"Your name is Ryoko."
The model giggled.
"Yeah, it is. Congrats, Mr. high schooler. You understand basic Japanese-"
"If that's really your name, then why don't you use it?"
Her mouth went into a tight line.
"Because it's not that simple. I have an image that I am required to maintain."
"I don't care."
Junko blinked.
"What do you mean?"
Makoto narrowed his eyes.
"What I mean, is that it seems as if you're forgetting who you are, Ryo-chan." He ignored her stunned look and continued to rant. "You're Ryoko Otonashi. Not Junko Enoshima. You're a person; not an object, a thing. Not something for people to gawk at, admire, and never get to know beyond a surface level. You're a person, a wonderful, if misunderstood person, and my best friend."
His eyes took on a pleading quality.
"Please, Ryoko. Please start using your name, at least with those you care about?" He took her hand back in his again. "Please? I just want to make you happy."
Junko, for the first time in so many years, simply had no idea how to react. What persona should she use? What would bring her the most enjoyment? The most chaos? The most-? No. Not now. Do nothing.
"Happy, Makoto?" her face was blank. "You know true happiness… true hope, as you call it. It's just a pipe dream for me. It always has been, even when we were kids. It always will be."
"No, it's not Ryoko!" Makoto shook his head in denial. "The fact that you are even considering hope, means that you are changing. Compared to when I first met you, it's night and day! I will make you feel hope Ryoko, someday. You're my best friend, and I would never abandon you. I promise."
"Never…?"
Her voice was hollow.
"How can you make promises like that. They're just empty words."
He weathered the pessimism, with his never-ending optimism.
"No. I only make promises I intend to keep." he stared deep into her eyes. "I said this all those years ago, and I'll say it again now. I will make you happy. I will keep you entertained. And I-"
"will be your hope…" she finished softly.
Makoto smiled.
"That's right."
The Luckster stepped back, letting his words sink in. Then, as if just realizing what he had said, he began rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.
"Ah, sorry Ryo-chan… I didn't mean to go off there. I just got really upset with what you were saying. My bad…"
The girl didn't respond for a few seconds before she began giggling. Then laughing. Then cackling. Her laughter soon became uncontrollable.
Makoto cocked his head to the side in confusion.
"Oh, Koto-kun, never change." The model giggled. "Only you could say such powerful, confusing, and downright impossible words, and then follow them up with something so ordinary."
She put her hand on his cheek and smiled.
"Alright. I'll do it for you then. Don't expect me to get close to anyone else but… you're right. I shouldn't forget who I really am."
The boy felt as if her words held more meaning than what was on the surface but grinned in agreement anyway.
"Good." He held out his hand. "Want to go have some fun, now?"
The model smirked; a crown atop her head.
"Of course, peasant. Do your worst to keep me entertained, won't you?"
As Makoto returned the look and turned away, Ryoko, smiled sadly.
'Hope, huh...?'
Four Hours Later:
The day was… pleasant, Ryoko thought to herself with a content smile on her face. She felt at ease, and entirely comfortable within her own skin. Which, of course, she ordinarily did anyway, but it was still a plus. I mean; brains, and beauty? It honestly just wasn't fair!
"Ryo-chan, you've got that look in your eyes again."
The model cocked an eyebrow.
"What look, is that?"
He deadpanned.
"The one that says 'you are above everyone else on this planet. Including me.'"
She giggled.
"But I am above everyone else on this planet, including you. So, there's no sense in hiding it. Don't you agree, Koto-kun…?"
Makoto stared blankly at her.
"Sure."
Ryoko began to fake cry at his dismissal. Seeing her attempt to garner sympathy fail spectacularly, she switched tactics.
"I've told you before, Koto-kun," she donned a pair of glasses. "it isn't narcissistic if it's the truth. I've been told by millions just how beautiful I am. Literally millions. If that's not enough to impress you, just take a gander at my body. I won't bite, if it's you." 'Unless you asked.'
Makoto blushed and turned away.
"You're always so forward…"
She looked affronted.
"Moi? Parish the thought!"
Makoto chuckled at that, causing her grin to widen.
"Aside from the obvious beauty," Makoto rolled his eyes at that, "I'm also very intelligent. Though, admittedly, not many people know that about me."
"Really?" Makoto was surprised. "Aside from me and you, who else?"
"Muku-chan."
…
…
…
"And…?"
"That's it."
"EHHHHH!?"
Ryoko chortled.
"I only show my true self to those I actually care about. You know this, Koto-kun."
That… he was aware of. It still served to make him feel sad though.
"You really only care about your sister and I, then…?"
She shrugged.
"Yeah. I don't see that as a problem though. You're all I need, really. I have 'friends', sure. Plenty of them. I just don't… care about them, like I do the two of you." She paused. "Mainly you."
Makoto furrowed his brow at the admission.
"I see… well then, you can at least start referring to yourself as Ryoko around Mukuro, right-?"
"No."
"No…?" he hedged, concerned. "why not-?"
"I can't. Not her. I still might need her."
The Luckster was completely lost.
"What do you-"
"I said," she began speaking cutely. "I might still need her. I can't do that, if I'm not still Junko-chan to her!"
"B-but what do you mean 'need-?'"
"Mouuuuuuu." She pouted. "Never mind that, Naegi-kun! You promised me you would introduce me to your family, so let's go!"
"What!" he yelled, successfully diverted. "I know for a fact, that I never said that."
"But you didddd! I'm sure of it!"
He rolled his eyes at her attitude.
Ryoko grinned.
The pestering always worked with him. The model had no doubt it would, this time as well.
It was only a matter of time.
Ten Minutes Later:
The strawberry-haired Ultimate sulked on her way home. Who knew Makoto could grow a backbone when it really came down to it? Well, she did, but still. Why did he have to shut her down like that? She just wanted to say hi to his family, that's all. What exactly did he think would happen, anyway? That she would burn his house down or something?
…
Okay, maybe his paranoia was justified, after all.
"Muku-channnnnnn," the fashionista yelled out as she unlocked the front door. "I'm home."
"Hello."
Not at all surprised by her sister's abrupt appearance she moved past her.
"How was your day?" the soldier questioned. "I did as you implied and stayed out of the way. I also successfully kept Maizono-san from tracking you two down and even copied the notes from class for you-"
Junko groaned.
"Boringggg. I didn't ask to hear your life's story, my unfortunately revolting sister." she waved the soldier off. "I'm going to my room. Do whatever you want, just don't involve me."
"Right."
It took everything she had to resist spitting at the boring, involuntary response her sister responded with. God, she did have a brain underneath all that brawn, right? Somewhere!?
"Probably not."
Snorting at the mere concept of her sister possessing a moderate level of intellect, she closed her bedroom door behind her. Locking it to be safe.
"Hope, huh…"
Fighting the growing feeling inside of her, she opened the drawer to her bedside table before reaching down and picking up the notebook that lay unassumingly within.
"Koto-kun, I want to see the world the way you do… your interest in the mundane; the simple, and the unspoken. The people who go about their days, never contributing anything to society. The lives that you claim to have so much potential. Your unclouded perception."
Absentmindedly playing with the booklet in her hand, she stared, unfocused, at the contents within.
"But I don't think I can. If you truly believe it's possible, then you'll need to prove it to me."
She frowned as she flipped over the final page.
"Because I've tried, and I can't."
The girl felt a spark of remorse. She ignored it.
"I just can't."
The picture of a black and white bear stared back at her.
Author's Note: For those who are curious; she'll only be going by Ryoko with those she truly cares about, as she said earlier. In all other instances, in her mind, she is still Junko. And, at this point, that's truly just Makoto. The writing is intentional. :P
A/N: Holy hell. Your response was absolutely insane. Seriously, for this fandom in particular, which is rather small in the fanfic side of things, I never expected so many reviews/favs/follows. I'm kinda floored honestly. Keep it up please, especially the reviews! :D Every notification I get helps to motivate me to actually plan this story out somewhat, but I won't lie, I'm still largely winging it. Hope the quality was okay! Let me know in the reviews how everything went, and/or, if there was anything you are hoping/expecting to see:p. I'll be interested to read!
Until next time!