Danganronpa: String Theory (DrV3)

4.16 - Mandatory TLC

❀ A/N: The above art is my own work and for my own use only! ❀
also...we're going to pretend I didn't totally flub up Kaito's birthday in an earlier version of this chapter thanks to my dyscalculia, we're going to believe that scene never happened....
(I swear I'm not a fake Kaito fan ;w;)

❀ 〰〰〰〰〰〰 ❀ 〰〰〰〰〰〰 ❀

My neck hurts.

With a small groan, barely audible despite the silence in the room, I shift my position on my pillow and try to get myself in a better sleeping position. Unsurprisingly, I bump my arm against a familiar form beside me, one that doesn't even flinch as my fingernails accidentally scratch their bicep.

Out of the room.

I crawl over my companion's midsection, hearing a mild grunt and then feeling movement on their part to correct my position beside them again. I whine sleepily and wrangle myself over the body successfully, ignoring their sleepy attempts to pull me back after I pitch over the side sleepily and climb up to my feet in a hazy daze. I hear rustling of the sheets as I shuffle over to the door and pull my coat from the hook atop the back of it.

"Prair..." I hear a velvety voice say with a drowsy edge before I open the door up and step outside of my dorm room. "Hey-"

I close the room behind myself in my sleepy daze carelessly, only making it to the top of the platform stairs by the time I hear my room door swing open. Rantaro's hands lock down on my shoulders, firm but gentle to stop me from going down the stairs as I'm sleepily wrestling my arm into my jacket sleeve the wrong way.

"Where do you think you're going?" I hear him ask pointedly, making me release my jacket to point at the dormitory exit with my arm. My entire jacket follows my arm, making the belt strap fall from the belt loops of the coat as I sleepily convey my intentions. Rantaro lets out a breath of amusement, leaning over to pick up my belt. "You're gonna head out barefoot? I don't think so."

"I need the bathroom..." I grumble sleepily as he pauses and helps me tug on my coat properly.

"My room has a bathroom, no need for you to go outside," Rantaro comments, hoisting me up in his arms easily and heading down the stairs with me. I've started to fall asleep again, but Rantaro eventually setting me on my feet jostles me from my sleepiness to see his room door in front of me.

He unlocks his room door with a key and directs me in with a hand against my back.

"I'll wait for you out here," Rantaro adds, coaxing me on before closing the door and leaving me to flip on the light in my sleepiness.

It doesn't take me long to finish my business and wash my hands, squinting at the mirror through my tired eyes to see my reflection. Having spent so much time here- all the mornings of daily routines to make myself presentable using mirrors- I've become a little more used to my own looks. When I see my reflection now, I actually feel as if I'm seeing me rather than someone else.

And boy, does it feel good.

I'm a bit more awake than I was when I walked out of my room a few moments ago, but there's a notable heaviness still clinging to me that's abnormal enough for me to be aware of. Clearly the remnants of the Kidwatch tranquilizer dose is still in my system...

I should leave now, I need to be well rested and ready for the party tomorrow. I can't be of any help if I get there all sleepy and lazy...only Himiko's allowed for any of that laziness. She's a professional anyways.

I turn off the bathroom light and exit, closing the bathroom door behind me and-

The announcement display that normally plays the morning pleasantries from the Monokubs blinks on.