Dangan Ronpa:return to Despair Academy

Tomoko's Burden

There was a cool sensation on my body,but all I could see was blackness.Images popped up here and there out of the depths.Some of them made sense,while I didn't really know what to think of others.Minako helping me onto someone's back,a note passed between hands,Akihiro shouting at someone whose back was turned to me,a flash of white hair,someone typing on a computer,the image of Mondo standing over Chihiro's body.As these images were swirling in my mind I was concious of having the thought...

'These are my thoughts...'

"H-hey!Are y-you okay?"

Tomoko's stuttering voice echoed in the distance,as if she were calling me from across a gymnasium.The voice came closer and closer.

'What have I forgotten?'

"H-hey she's coming t-to!"

The thought escaped me as I felt my back press against something soft and warm.My eyelids regained their feeling,and I struggled to peel them open.I adjusted myself to the new light shining through the lids and was aware of two peoples presences.Tomoko and Monokuma were standing at my bedside.

"Puhuhu!You sure have a knack at getting in the infirmary!"Monokuma sounded entertained as he stared down at me from atop the bedside dresser.Then he suddenly grew serious."But don't think pretending to be sick will get you out of my classes!So don't get any ideas!"

"What,are you doing here."I mumbled slowly,still trying to get used to the feeling of being in my body again.I had morning breath and my joints ached.

"Oh!Is it so weird for a teacher to be concerned about his student?!"Monokuma mimed being hit in mock shock."What kind of teachers have YOU had in the past?!"

"W-well Monok-kuma,since she i-is alright now,y-you should g-go!"Tomoko looked quite relieved to have an excuse to ask him to leave.

"You're absolutely right Tomoko!I'm off!"Monokuma leapt off the table and did who knows what to disappear.

"...a-are you okay n-now?"Tomoko asked me again."I-I think you had a-a panick att-tack."She looked down at her hands,which were wringing together."N-not that I blame y-you or anything.Wh-what with our stuff being t-taken."

I sighed,all of the panic having been worked out of me.'I'll just have to find who took the stuff so I can talk to that person about the videos.'I groaned in discomfort and annoyance.

"So why was Monokuma really here?"I asked."I know it wasn't for my health."

"W-well,he was t-talking to me while y-you were under."She wouldn't look me in the eyes.

I woke up and leaned forward in my bed."Did he try to hurt you?!"

"N-no!Its j-just,ever since I l-lied for Akihiro and Yoshio,h-he's been keeping t-tabs on me."

I recalled what Monokuma said to Tomoko after she lied.

"Miss Hisakawa,I hope you know the punishment for hiding the truth."

I didn't even understand why Monokuma would just let them go for that.My only guess could be that he had something even more excruciating in store for them.

"Just tell us when he bothers you,we won't leave you alone with him for another second."I felt a strong sense of responsibility for the smaller girl,mainly because of how much she reminded me of Chihiro.I wasn't able to protect him,but I was determined to help Tomoko out.She had always been kind to people,even Satoru after what he did to her!

"By the way,did Monokuma steal...?"I trailed off.Tomoko seemed to know what I was talking about,because she nodded gravely.I looked away feeling pity for her."So,it is really important to you,huh."

"Absolutely."she said,not a trace of a stutter.

"Well it makes sense.I mean,you are a professional clarinetist."

"That h-has nothing to d-do with anything."Tomoko continued to wring her hands nervously."I need to p-protect it n-no matter what.I...I have a d-debt to repay."

"Hm?"The statement didn't really make sense to me.

Tomoko took a deep breath,as if to steel herself,and said,"The clarinet s-saved me,so I h-have t-to be able to save it in r-return."

Something painful worked its way into my heart.I didn't really have to work hard to guess what she meant.But she kept going.

"I was bullied e-ever since I can r-remember...F-for my stutter,height,l-looks,interests,y-you name it.People d-didn't like me b-because I d-don't talk a lot.And wh-when I do,it comes out l-like this.F-for a long t-time I was alone.Th-then I transferred schools,a-and s-saw a poster f-for the schools b-band.I j-joined,thinking I would b-be better liked."Tomoko had a look on her face like that of an old lady reminiscing about when she was younger."B-but I found something a m-million times b-better...I...I don't honestly know wh-what I would have d-done had I n-never joined the band.I m-mean...It gave m-me a d-distraction.Something t-to work for.I w-was nine years old,b-but...I kn-know,that I wouldn't be h-here had I n-not discovered music."

"Y-you don't have to...it's fine."I didn't want to hear anymore.

"I h-had to tell someone,I mean,it's like you all say...we have to be f-friends..."Tomoko looked just as bad as I felt.

"Well...we just have to find our stuff."I assured looking at my blankets."In forty-eight hours."

I couldn't look into her eyes.I didn't know if she was crying,I didn't even know if I was crying.I didn't want to know.But hearing her say all that just made me want to help her even more.

"Have you told Yoshio any of this?"I asked.

"Oh!N-no no n-no I really couldn't!I know h-he looks all big and s-scary but he is r-really sensitive to the f-feelings of others!It w-would make him so sad."

"Well you guys are good friends aren't you?"

"Well,he's m-my friends,but I-it's not my p-place to say if I'm h-his."

I finally looked up at Tomoko.I smiled as I told her,"He seems to like you enough to think of you as a friend."

Tomoko smiled widely."Really?!"

"Yep.But what about you?"I decided I would lighten the mood by clearing something up that had been bothering me.

"W-what do you mean?"Tomoko tilted her head confused.

"Well,do you think of him as 'only'a friend."I made air quotes on the word 'only' so that she would understand what I was talking about.

Realization slowly made its way on to Tomoko's face.Her cheeks turned pink as she started panicking,her stutter getting worse.

"Wh-Wh-what a-are y-you ta-talking about?!I-I d-don't an-an-and h-he,I d-don't -"

"I'm sorry I'm sorry,I was just kidding."I tried not to grin but failed horribly at it.

Tomoko froze in place,not saying another word.

"We should go get the others and start the search for our stuff."I shakily got to my feet,still feeling dizzy.Tomoko gave me her shoulder,and while it wasn't very good for support,it helped me keep my balance and walk to the exit.

"H-hey,Shizuko?"Tomoko started.I turned to face her.She was looking at her feet in embarrassment."I...I know I-I am k-kinda boring,s-since I don't t-talk a lot.I'm n-not too f-fun to be around."She took a deep breath,then finally looked me in the eyes."B-but I'm going t-to try my best!So p-please don't ignore me!"

I gave her a soft smile as I grabbed the door handle."Wouldn't even consider it."

Tomoko looked immensely relieved at hearing this.Before we left the infirmary I made a promise to myself in my heart.

'Don't worry Tomoko.We'll get out of here.And when we do,all of us will stay together as friends.So I promise...I'll get you out of here.'