Danganronpa: Goodbye Despair

Chapter 32: NOTHING MATTERS

For the last few hours, Hajime was just lying in bed, staring at the ceiling in his cottage. It was admirable of Gundham to help Hajime take his mind off what happened to Fuyuhiko during breakfast time, and how Akane's been missing all day. But the moment Hajime got back to his cottage, he honestly didn't feel like doing anything. His mind was going through way too many scenarios, and it ended with him tiring himself out. The only time he shifted his gaze from his ceiling was to check what the time was, and it turned out to be late in the afternoon.

Hajime: 'It's getting dark outside... it's nighttime already, huh... that felt fast.' Ever since arriving on this island, a day passes by abnormally fast.

*Ding dong*

At first, Hajime thought that sound was Monokuma, ready and waiting to do his announcement saying that it was now 10pm. But as it turns out, it was Hajime's doorbell. He cautiously walked towards the door and opened it slowly, wary of who or what might be on the other side.

Ibuki: "Nice to have met ya! It's the past tense of 'nice to meet you'! You know, since we've already said nice to meet you earlier!"

Hajime: "Ibuki... you again..."

Ibuki: "Allow me to apologize for surprising you with my sudden visit, I'm sorry!"

Hajime: "Well, it's a lot better than last time when you broke into my room."

Ibuki: "Haha! You must be the type who holds grudges! My ears and joints hurt!" That probably just means she has gout.

Hajime: "So, what do you want?"

Ibuki: "Um... Ibuki doesn't get it either... but it looks like... an invitation was sent to everyone."

Hajime: "Invitation?"

Ibuki: "See, this thing." This invitation in question Ibuki was holding on to was pretty colourful, a majority of the piece of paper was covered in a black and white chessboard pattern. Pink and blue lines went across two of the corners, and the writing was coloured in too. It actually looked similar to a kid's birthday party invitation.

Invitation ticket, 9pm at titty typhoon. Party for Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu's recovery. 

Hajime: "Let's see... a recovery party for Fuyuhiko at titty typhoon at 9pm? What is this? Is this Monokuma's doing again?"

Ibuki: "H-How rude! Don't put that in the same category as Monokuma!"

Hajime: "...Is this your doing?"

Ibuki: "I-I don't know what you're... talking about... at all. I-Ibuki just... just brought the invitation..."

Hajime: '...It's definitely her.' She couldn't do a worse job at trying to convince him that she wasn't the one behind this invitation. In retrospect, it was pretty obvious, the handwriting looked like it was written by a girl, not to mention the colours used match Ibuki's dyed hair perfectly.

Ibuki: "Well then, Ibuki has some preparations to attend to, so I'll go on ahead! I'll leave it to you!" She even said 'preparations', she's completely behind this. But if she's really throwing a party for Fuyuhiko to celebrate his recovery, it might mean that Fuyuhiko is out of the hospital. Let's hope that he doesn't try to do anything reckless again any time soon, no one wants to see him slit his own stomach again.

Hajime: 'Um... titty typhoon is that music venue on the Third Island, right? Huh, 9pm... that's in thirty minutes!' It is possible that Fuyuhiko isn't able to attend, but that doesn't mean Hajime should be late in any way. After Ibuki left to complete her preparations for the party, Hajime left the area as well, ready to see if Fuyuhiko really did make a full recovery.