Dangan Ronpa:return to Despair Academy

Forming Bonds

The ceiling of my dormitory was black, with a grid of white support beams.The ceiling itself seemed cracked and aged, which would be natural since Hopes Peak Academy has existed for as long as I could remember.It had always seemed like a place of hope, where the best in the country would be able to use their talents for the good of the country.

But as I lay staring at the ceiling,every impression I had once had about the school vanished.

I couldn't bear to stay in the dining hall with everyone, so I had retreated to the one place where I knew I could be alone.

*knock knock*

'Well so much for that.'

I sat up and hopped off of my bed.I warily made my way to the door, unlocking it and opening it an inch to peek at whoever was there.

It was Minako.

Minako was a fairly kind person.She had stood up along with myself when Tomoko was being harassed, and she was shouting at Monokuma for putting up the security cameras.

I felt that I could trust her to a degree.

I opened the door wider,about to invite her inside,when she said-

"I like anime!"

"...!"

"And I once peed in a bush because I didn't feel like going to the toilet!"she went on.

"...okaaay."I said, utterly dumbfounded at the outbursts.

She continued, her eyes fiery, as if she were telling me the secret of the universe."I hate ramen and I always will!","I eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches still!","One day I want to travel to America and see the sights!"

"Okay okay I get it!"I shouted over her list."Is there a reason you're telling me this?"I didn't want to seem rude, but I was honestly puzzled.

Her eyes powerful and determined she said,"The reason no one can trust anyone is because we don't know anything about eachother!So I've been going door to door telling people about myself!"Then, with shining eyes,she shouted."I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO BE KILLED!!!"

I smiled at the actress, and stepped aside so that she could enter my dormitory,and allowed her to continue.She looked as if she were close to tears."When I was doing this,some people like Satoru and Akihiro shut the door in my face...Maiko just pretended I wasn't there...but people like Yoshio,Tomoko,Yoshie...they listened to me...and they shared stuff about themselves..."she took a deep, shuddering breath and said."There are such good people here!No one deserves to die young!"

My heart went out to the girl.It had occurred to me she was faking the tears, and was trying to trick me.But as I was looking at her,sobbing with fear,I believed her.Perhaps you would call me a fool...but it was true.I couldn't find it in my heart to doubt her.

I let her cry for a few minutes, then, as if she realized what she was doing,she wiped underneath her eyes and at the sides of her nose,and it was as if she had never started.She gave me a sheepish grin,which I returned, and we sat on my bed.

"You know you're a pretty weird actress."I said.She drew herself up proudly as if I had just complimented her."Its true!"I gestured at her black graphic tee and black combat boots."I've never seen an actress dress like you!"

"Well, I like these clothes, so why not wear them."she shrugged as if it were the most obvious thing.

"Well , your parents must be very proud of you!Ultimate Actress!Thats pretty cool."

"Have you ever seen a furnace?"she asked.

"Huh?"

This surprised me,it seemed like a natural enough question,but it still seemed like she didn't want to talk about her parents.