Alternate (Shuichi Saihara x fem reader)

Chapter Six: Part One

Tired. We all felt so, so tired. Tsumugi wasn't even crying anymore. None of us were. We just felt...tired. Empty. Hopeless. I wondered what Kaede would do if she could see us right now. She would probably give an inspirational speech, or invite us to her lab to listen to some uplifting piano. Then Kirumi could serve us all some tea, and Kiyo could analyze the ethnic background of the music we were listening to. Ryoma could pretend not to care, hiding his obvious enjoyment in his large hat, and Angie, the bubbly opposite, wouldn't be able to contain her satisfaction. Gonta would get some beetles or cicadas to harmonize, and Rantaro could give mini pep-talks to the others, quiet enough to not upstage the music. Kaito would attempt this, but clearly upstage the music. Maki would have to drag him back to his chair, trying to keep him quiet. She wouldn't ever admit it, but I bet she would secretly be enjoying the melody. It would be okay for a moment. We would get along. There would be no killing game. No Monokuma. We could live in harmony.

If only no one was killing our harmony.
•••

Daybreak. Less than half of us remain. I didn't want to. I didn't want any of it, not at all. I didn't want to wake up. I didn't want to exist any more. Not in this hell. I clapped my hands against my face to try to shake the feeling off. Nothing. What had happened? I was once so positive, so eager to greet every day, but the dread was eating away at my soul. In only a couple weeks at most, I felt like a completely new person. A melancholic shell of the eager girl who wanted to get out and escape with everyone else. If only...

I decided to greet the day after all, forcing myself to move my body to the closet to get dressed, and go through the door. Who knows what excitement the world has planned for me today? What exciting, gruesome, dreadful horrors the day was to present upon me? If I didn't know for a fact that God was dead, I would think he was toying with me.

On my way to the dining hall, I heard the daily "rise and shine, ursine!" announcement. I had gotten used to the annoyance to the point where I was able to tune it out, and be alone with my thoughts. It was Tsumugi's day to cook today, since the next few people in line were deceased. Some passed away just yesterday. I tried not to think about it, though it wasn't possible.

She was already in the kitchen when I got there. Must have been some breakfast she was cooking up. "Good morning," I said calmly as I sat in a chair and yawned.

"Morning," she sang back. "I'm making eggs and toast for breakfast. How do you like yours?"

"I don't mind," I responded tiredly. "Whatever's easiest." She returned promptly with the laptop—she must have taken it everywhere—and placed it beside me. "Hello, Keebo," I greeted, "good morning."

"Good morning! You seem a bit out of sorts today, why is that?" He asked.

"I think the killing game has finally broken me," I said, trying to soften the tone by adding a light chuckle. "How much longer will we have to do this?"

"Actually, Tsumugi and I were talking last night, and we came up with a plan. Once everyone gathers for breakfast, we'll tell you." That was enough to get me to want to listen. The others filtered in, and took their seats. Tsumugi asked them all how they wanted their eggs, and they all gave their responses. I looked around, and saw I wasn't the only one feeling amiss. In fact, the only ones that seemed even remotely okay today were Keebo, Tsumugi, and Kokichi. We tried to make light conversation, but nothing stayed. After a few moments, any conversation we tried to have was put down. Soon, Tsumugi served us all our food, and we ate.

"Everyone, please listen!" Keebo called. "Tsumugi and I were talking last night, and we came up with a plan to find the mastermind and end the killing game." We all listened intently.