Danganronpa: Painful Truth

Punishments

Maki eyed Tenko with concerned disdain as her wailing disrupted the peace of the lounge. "What happened now?"

Natsumi mirrored her expression as she guided the distraught aikido master to an unoccupied couch. "Just her mortal enemy, reality. What the fuck else?" She sighed before disappearing into the kitchen again.

Yoshi and Ryu rushed in next and sat on either side of Tenko. Neither seemed to know what to say. All they could understand was that their support was needed. They each patted one of her shoulders awkwardly as she sobbed. She was too distraught to even question the sudden physical contact from her male peers.

Ayu and Shigeri appeared moments later, wearing matching grins of pure delight. Ayu, in particular, seemed unable to speak without giggling.

"I'm so excited! Did you see him? It was so cute! They're totally gonna g-oh..." Her grin shriveled into a guilty grimace when her gaze landed on Tenko. "Oops..."

"What's wrong?" Shigeri questioned her innocently. "Weren't you about to mention how fuckin' awesome it is that Kokichi and Himiko are probably out there makin' out?" Their tone became pointed and deliberate as they eyed the sobbing girl on the couch.

Ayu's eyes and grimace both widened frantically. "Shhhh!"

"Awwww, but w-"

"C'mon, Shig," Natsumi sighed, returning with a glass of water for Tenko. "Too real. Banshee's been through a lot today, and now she's gettin' her heart broken in real time. Ain't that enough?"

"Dunno," Shigeri shrugged. The faintest shadow of a pout flitted across their bored face. "What's the exchange rate for bein' thrown into a wall these days?"

"Grow up, you're fine," Natsumi snapped. "Karma's been enough of a bitch for both of you, in case you couldn't fuckin' tell." She pointed at the crying, dejected mess that was Tenko, as if anyone could have missed the spectacle.

Shigeri wrinkled their nose, but relented. "Fine, whatever, I'll be nice to your new girlfriend."

Rolling her eyes, Natsumi helped Tenko to her feet and began to guide her to her room. She glanced at me and Maki wryly before disappearing into the kitchen. "See where Kokichi gets all his fuckin' charm ?"

"Hell no, Big Sis, that shit's on you," they called back with a smirk.

With the lounge quiet once again, I was able to focus on my growing curiosity. "So, uh..." I addressed Ayu carefully. "What exactly happened out there?"

Her cheerful excitement returned just as quickly as it had vanished. "Shuichi, weren't you listening? Kokichi and Himiko are out there talking! Privately !"

"So?" Maki muttered, still reading. "That doesn't mean he'll actually manage to say anything he wants to say. He'll probably just spout some nonsense, make her cry, and run off."

Ayu crossed her arms. "You weren't there! It's gonna happen, I can feel it! I know these things!"

"You do seem to have an uncanny ability to read others," I agreed, glad for an opportunity to ask about her talent. "I'm guessing that's something you learned from your mom, right?"

"Um, yes and no," she frowned. "Mom taught me how to read body language and stuff like that. She knows a lot about how people think and act. But my dad was the one who taught me how to use that to figure out how people feel!" She looked proud.

"Which one taught you how to cry?" Shigeri interjected, picking their nose.

Ayu stole a cushion from beside me and threw it at them. "I'll teach you how to cry!"