Danganronpa AZ: Stained Destiny

Side-Story: Reika Kawamura

[5 years before the start of the Killing Game. In a high school classroom, a girl is asleep at her desk.]

[Reika: Age 16]

[Suddenly, Reika is awoken when the chair she is sitting in is pulled out from underneath her. She falls over and hits her head on her desk on the way down.]

Student 1: "Heh, sorry! Was just trying to wake you up, y'know?"

Student 2: "Pfft, she was out so cold!"

Reika: "...ow..."

Student 1: "Y'know the bell rang like, a few minutes ago? You slept right through that shit, haha!"

Reika: "...Uh-huh... Shouldn't you go on ahead, then?"

Student 2: "Eh, where's the fun in that? You can't just fall asleep in class like that, dumbass, we had to wake you up somehow! Hell, you should be thanking us for that, you'd probably miss the bus!"

Reika: "...I don't take the bus, my mom picks me up."

Student 1: "Damn, really? Psh, your mom still treating you like a little kid or something?"

Reika: "...Are little kids exclusively picked up from school?"

Student 2: "Tch, smartass. Y'know, everyone's always making fun of you for fallin' asleep all the time. Like, everyone says they've seen you asleep at some point, haha."

Reika: "...Can't help it."

Student 1: "That so? Go get a coffee or some shit, then!"

Student 2: "This is prolly why you have no friends, lets be real. Everyone probably thinks you think they're boring since you're always fallin' asleep on them, haha!"

Reika: "...Sigh."

Student 1: "Hey, what's the matter? Gettin' tired or-"

Reika: "...Are you so insecure after getting cheated on that you must be doing this, Sachiko?"

Sachiko (Student 1): "Wha - Huh?! The hell are you talking about?!"

Reika: "...Quite the reaction. A mix of panic and anger, it would seem."

Sachiko: "The fuck- How the hell did you even find out about that?! Who told you?!"

Reika: "...Coincidentally, I overheard Azumi talking about it."

Azumi (Student 2): "H-Huh?! I never said that!"

Sachiko: "The fuck?! I told you not to talk about that!"

Azumi: "I-I wasn't! She's lying!"

Reika: "..."

Sachiko: "You're the only person I ever told! Argh, dammit! How many people know?!"

Azumi: "I-I don't know, I'm sorry!"

[Reika quietly exits the room while the two argue. As soon as she exits the room, someone walks over to her.]

???: "Never took you as one for gossip."

Reika: "...I'm not, I just happened to overhear it during lunch today."

???: "Makes sense. You know, you're gonna get beat up one of these days with those kinda tactics."

Reika: "...Probably. People tend to lose their wits when being attacked mentally."

???: "Geez, why do you make it sound so edgy? Y'know, you're basically just making fun of them."

Reika: "As did they. I see no problem with getting even."

???: "Haha. Aren't you going into psychology or something? I feel like you're a little too mean for that kinda job."

Reika: "...Am I mean?"

???: "Uh... Depends on who you're talking to. You're pretty passive aggressive. Like, I don't think you're that mean to me. But to those girls? Different story."

Reika: "...Hm..."

???: "Ugh, don't tell me I'm lying just by looking at my face like you always do, I'm telling the truth."

Reika: "...No, I know. I'm just thinking. You're right. I could probably do with being a little nicer, I suppose."

???: "Oooh, alright. I could totally train you!"

Reika: "Do... Do I need training to be nicer?"

???: "You? Probably, yeah. Alright, gimme a smile!"

Reika: "...Now?"

???: "Yeah!"

Reika: "...Forced smiles rarely appear nice. They are nearly always clearly fake."

???: "Ugh, this is what I mean! Just smile! See, watch me!"

[Reika's friend gives a quick, beaming smile.]

Reika: "...You don't need to demonstrate how to smile, I know how."

???: "Then do it!"

[Reika sighs, then gives a smile. It's extremely forced.]

???: "...Yeah, that needs some work."

Reika: "...As I said."

???: "Eh, don't lose sleep over it. Er, no offense. You know what I mean. A-Anyway, one step at a time, y'know?"

Reika: "...Sure."

???: "...Also, do you feel like, even the slightest bit guilty that you probably just ended that friendship?"

Reika: "Of course not. That girl ended that friendship the moment she started gossiping."

???: "Yeah, fair enough, I guess. Anyway, I have a basketball match at 5 tonight. You coming?"

Reika: "...That depends. Are you going to win?"

???: "Uh, yeah? Duh!"

Reika: "...Really? Because you lost the last 2 matches I've attended."

???: "Hehe, c'mon... This is what I'm talking about though, you're so passive aggressive!"

Reika: "...I'm joking, I'll be there."

???: "Nice! When you become a psychologist, are there any matches or whatever that I can come to to cheer you on?"

Reika: "Of course not. You could schedule an appointment, I suppose."

???: "Hehe, damn. Well, if I ever need that kinda help, I guess I know who to call."

Reika: "...Chuckle. Thanks, Hitoshi."

Hitoshi: "Oh shit! A smile and a laugh?! No way!"

Reika: "...It's not a big deal."

Hitoshi: "Aaaand she's back to stone-faced."