Danganronpa: Painful Truth

Victory

Kokichi's face was split into a wide, menacing grin as he watched his victim struggle with the agony of his losses. "Well well, looks like I win again," he observed, his voice layered with sinister amusement. "Are you ready to give up what's most precious to you? Or would you rather suffer a little longer? Oh, and it's not too late to try begging, ya know!" His eyes sparkled with joy and mischief. "C'mon! Beg for your life! Pwetty pwease? With sugar on top?"

Shinji got to his feet, clutching the controller as though he intended to break it in half. "NEVER!" he roared. "This world shall never see a day where I prostrate myself for your sadistic entertainment!"

"Okay~! One more round then!" Kokichi sang gleefully. "Just one more win, and I get to keep aaaaany card I want from your collection!"

"I CANNOT ALLOW THAT!" Shinji declared. "For you see, the power of the Cursed Eye, passed down to me through my demonic bloodline, has allowed me a glimpse through time itself! I have witnessed your fiendish desires firsthand! You intend to liberate the most legendary incarnation of the reknowned Hell Dragon from my control, do not deny it!" He pointed determinedly at his opponent. "But this outcome shall not come to pass!"

"Awww maaaan," Kokichi pouted. "All this drama over one useless holo Charizard. It's not even shadowless. It's just cluttering up your collection, right? I don't even really want it, I was just offering to take it off your hands because I'm such a good friend!"

"I will no longer be swayed by your senseless trickery! Come! Let us do battle before the gods themselves!"

"Nee-hee-hee! Suit yourself!" Kokichi shifted excitedly in his seat, readying himself for the next round.

Meanwhile, in another part of the elaborate game room, a dramatic aerial battle was taking place. Kaito's training seemed to significantly help his maneuverability, but it wasn't quite enough to match Shigeri's gaming experience.

"Dammit!" Kaito shouted as he was shot down once again. "Rematch!"

"As much as I'd absolutely love to have a twelfth rematch of this same fuckin' map, I'm thinkin' we should switch it up." Shigeri crawled to the shelf below the TV and pulled out a fighting game.

"What, you scared I'll win this one?" Kaito taunted. "You're a man, aren't ya?"

"Nope."

Kaito blinked, looking flustered. "Oh, so...you were a girl this whole time? My bad."

"Nope."

He furrowed his brow. "What the hell does that mean?"

Shigeri yawned, briefly hiding their obvious annoyance at the line of questioning. "Nope."

"That ain't a real answer!"

"Nope."

Suddenly, they were interrupted by a wordless cry of anguish from Shinji.

"Yesssss! Victory is mine!" Kokichi cackled. He stood up and grinned cheerfully down at his distraught friend. "Don't worry, you can keep your cards. I just wanted to watch you suffer."

"In...excusable..." Shinji lamented, clearly more affected by the defeat itself than any potential loss of property.

Kokichi giggled as he left Shinji to nurse his ego alone. He plopped down between Kaito and Shigeri with a bright smile. "Oh hey, a flight sim! Kaito must be sooo great at that, he's an astronaut, after all!" He eyed Kaito curiously, then gasped. "Wait, you didn't lose, did you?"

"I was just a little off my game, alright?" Kaito grimaced. "Lemme get some more practice in!"

"It was literally twelve rounds, dude," Shigeri grumbled. "I counted that shit."

"By the way, if you really must know, Shigeri's gender is 'lazy bum,'" Kokichi explained. "So no more dumbass creepy questions."

Shigeri's face brightened into a relaxed grin. "Works for me."

Kaito still looked confused. "But--"

"Ohhh, so Kaito has a crush on Shigeri?" Kokichi smirked. "Maki Roll will be so sad! Who's gonna tell her?" His eyes sparkled.

Kaito turned red. "What the hell're you talkin' about? Don't go tellin' anyone anything!"

"Why else would you wanna know what's in their pants so bad?" Kokichi asked innocently. "But don't worry, none of us are brave enough to deliver bad news to a deadly assassin!"

"Come on, man, you know she ain't like that," Kaito shook his head stubbornly.

"Well, based on how many times she's attacked me, no I don't," Kokichi frowned. "Do you even know her? Have you ever asked her how many people she's killed?"

"Only you would ask a screwed up question like that!"

"I guess that's a no."

"Guys, we got ways to settle this kinda shit," Shigeri interrupted, waving the fighting game impatiently. "Like I said, I'm the boss today. I should get to kick your asses at this one at least once."

Kokichi adopted a sympathetic expression. "But Shigeri, should we really keep humiliating Kaito like this? I mean, hasn't he suffered enough?"

"Hey! I'll show you!" Kaito growled, snatching up his controller. "I'll be WAY better at this one, you just watch!"

"Oh yeah?" Kokichi smirked. "Wanna bet on that?"

The day continued as the four of them began a chaotic free-for-all battle on a rapidly changing stage. Kokichi, Shigeri, and Shinji all won a comparable amount of times, but Kaito only managed to scrape out a single victory. A victory that he refused to let them forget.

"I told you guys, I just needed practice!" He grinned proudly.

"Jeez Kaito," Kokichi grumbled. "If this is how you act when we let you win then we definitely won't next time!"

"Let me win?" Kaito demanded angrily. "What the hell do you mean, let me win?"

"This guy's so easy to fuck with it ain't even fair," Shigeri chuckled. "It's almost boring."

Before Kaito could argue further, a blonde woman floated elegantly into the room, holding a plate of sandwiches. "Everyone! It is time for lunch! However, we do not wish to interrupt your merriment, so please enjoy at your leisure!" She smiled benevolently at them.

Shinji got to his feet and bowed. "You have our sincerest gratitude, Mother."

She curtseyed with a light, tinkling laugh. "Your father is busy making more, so there is no need for restraint. Please, help yourselves!"

"Aww, Miss Sonia, you brought sandwiches?" Kokichi whined. "But you know I'm allergic to bread!"

Sonia closed her eyes with a patient smile. "Yes, you are very welcome, Kokichi." She patted his head. "Now please, be silent."

Kaito joined in the mocking laughter as she left the room, relieved that it was finally aimed at Kokichi instead of himself. He also couldn't help but notice that the longer they spent there, the more Kokichi seemed to act like a harmless, bratty kid. Was Shigeri's plan working? Or was he just getting used to the group's obnoxious behaviour?

Whatever it was, Shigeri seemed to notice it too. They glanced at Kaito with a satisfied smirk, then back at Kokichi. "Looks like I win again."

"We haven't started playing again yet, idiot." Kokichi rolled his eyes. "You never know! Kaito could make a big comeback in the second half!"

"Whatever dumbass, I win. Trust me."

Kokichi frowned suspiciously. "You know I don't trust anyone when they say that. Especially you."