Wait, Mastermind? (KomaHina)

Chapter 6

"I don't care for what you're going on about. We aren't 'friends.'"

The group gave me a strange look. From indifference, to concern. Or in Nagito's case, nearly a smile. Shit, if he's seeing through this, at least he's not talking.

"It doesn't matter if you want to be friends or not. If we want to survive, we have to stick together," if I'm honest, I wasn't paying attention to who was talking.

"That isnt my responsibility, I couldn't give a shit if anyone else dies!" Gazes of anger and betrayal burn through me. Not all of them are visibly upset, but I can feel the heat of this action permeating through the room.

"But... Hajime, don't you want to survive?" Chiaki... Why do the things she says impact me more than most of the others? Dammit, no. I can't let her help.

"I really don't care if I die or not. Go play the motive game for all I care, it's not like it'll change anything!" I turn on my heel to leave the hotel. A hand grabs my wrist.

"Hajime-" Dammit Chiaki.

"Don't touch me!" I pull my arm away and leave the building.

I lay on the bed in my cottage. The day was still young, but my guilt was heavy as ever. I wish I didn't have to do that. Didn't have to make such an outburst. But I need them to hate me, right? Dammit... I do care if they die, I want them all to be safe. I just hope they have the sense not to kill eachother.

Tired of all this, I decide to hop down into the camera room again. I need to make sure everyone's alright. The only good part of this stupid role is being able to make sure everything is okay.

Everything seemed fine. A little tense, but fine. Fuyuhiko was busy avoiding everyone with Peko. Akane was having at it in the kitchen, while talking with Nekomaru. Kazuichi was constantly two steps behind Sonia, who was talking with Chiaki. Ibuki was being as obnoxious as always, with Mikan oddly enough. Gundam was walking through the store on the first island with his hamsters. Mahiru checked her mailbox and found... Something. A paper of some sorts. The same thing happened with Hiyoko. And Nagito was just standing near the pool at the hotel, blankly staring at the surface of the water.

It was nice, knowing I could make sure everyone's alright. Even if I'm not allowed to do anything if I notice someone die. Fuyuhiko and Peko seem to be in the beach house on the second island now. I wonder if they're going to try to be social. I won't hold my breath.

I check out the cameras of the other islands again. I still can't seem to get over the nonsense of the neon rooms. Who designed this eyesore? At least there are other... Moderately nicer places. One island seemed to be a giant theme park. That could be a nice break for everyone. I have no idea when that island will be available, though.

You can only look through the same few cameras for so long until you get bored. Everyone was okay and that's all that matters. For now, anyway. I really hope it stays that way. A knock on the door startles me. I clamber out of the camera room and shut the latch, before moving to the door.

I open the door, doing my best to look pissed off. "What the fuck do you want?"

"Hajime." Nagito. Shit. He's probably less than impressed with what I pulled this morning.

"Oh, Nagito. Why are you here?" I don't even think as my body opens the door more and steps aside. The pale boy strides into the room, with a knowing look in his eyes.

"About this morning-"

"What about it?" I snap before he can finish. Instead of defensiveness or something like I was expecting, Nagito's expression softened.

"You weren't telling the truth. You're a pretty bad liar, you know." Fuck. I can't even decide if I should be upset or relieved about this.

"Lying? What the fuck are you tal-"

"Tell me the truth, Hajime. Please." I felt a knot in my throat, and I hastily looked away. Dammit, I can't just lie to him. Not when he looks like a kicked puppy.

"I... You're right. Everything I said earlier... It was all a lie. I don't want anyone else to die. But... But I need them to hate me. It's for the best."

"Why do you need them to hate you? You can tell me, I won't hate you for it." Oh Nagito... You have no idea.

"No, I... I can't. Not just you, I can't tell anyone. Don't take it personally... Okay?" We were both sitting on the edge of my bed at this point. I've noticed the latch on my floor catch Nagito's gaze a few times now. Nothing slips by him, I guess.

"Why can't you tell anyone? Are you afraid of what we might do?" His gaze burning through me was certainly not helping. I fidgeted with my tie, and conceded... Well, as much as I could, anyway.

"I can't tell you because if I did, everyone would die."

The air in the room shifted dramatically. Nagito's expression was almost unreadable. I felt a hand on my shoulder as I flinched away.

"I understand. I'll leave now, I'm sure you don't want trash like me lingering in your room," Nagito stood up and headed for the door.

"Nagito-"

"Hm?"

I sigh, and stare at the floor. "Stop calling yourself that. Okay?" The atmosphere had done a 180. It's so much... Lighter than it was only minutes ago.

"Oh, right. I'll try, thanks Hajime!" Nagito shot me a smile, before leaving my cottage.

I fell backwards onto my bed with a groan. I have never felt this much guilt and stress in my life. I've never been a social person, but getting everyone to hate me... It was hard to handle. This is for their sake. This is so they don't feel betrayed. This is so they don't feel bad about what I'm gonna have to do.

After what I can only assume to be hours, I sit up. The sun had ventured pretty far across the sky at this point. Standing now, I dust off my shirt and leave my cottage. Maybe a walk will help.

Most of the islands were pretty... Dead. It seemed like most of the girls were going to the beach on the second island. At least they're having fun, that's always nice. The few people that I did pass gave me a pretty dirty look when they saw me. That's fine.

By the time I went to the second Island, I saw Hiyoko running away from the beach. Was she... Crying? I wonder what happened. I'd think someone must've just insulted her or something. But those tears looked a little too genuine to be from something so petty.

Kazuichi was standing outside of the odd burger joint, wearing the worst excuse for a swimsuit I'd ever seen. Even Nagito looked sufficiently uncomfortable, and he wasn't even that close to him. Or involved at all for that matter. Everyone seems to agree to avoid him.

I'd circled back and headed into the hotel, hoping to be able to eat while everyone was distracted with their beach outing. Luckily, it was deserted. Although, before I got a chance to make anything, the monitor in the room buzzed to life.

"A body has been discovered!"