DANGANRONPA V2: ECLIPSE

Chapter 1: Part 4

"Let's get started now, shall we? I've grown impatient and I simply can't BEAR waiting another moment for our first class trial to begin!" Monokuma's voice announced from seemingly everywhere. "Please proceed through the new red door located on the south side of the lodge! See you soon! Puhuhuhu!"

Ruji and I nervously looked at one another, panic filling our very beings. We barely had any time to even investigate. This was not enough information to go off of! We were screwed!

"Oh no," Ruji whispered as his breathing began to quicken. He placed a hand on his chest and heaved faster and faster. Sweat formed on his forehead as he gasped and sputtered for air. I had seen panic attacks before, but not this closely.

"Ruji, listen," I said, grasping both of his shoulders and holding eye contact. "Rantaro went off on his own. He probably found his own clues. Besides, you and I saw the knife on Daiki's bed. Maybe that's all we need to know."

"But what if it's not?!" he cried, his voice trembling just as much as he was. "We can't afford to get this wrong. I deal with the dead too much, if I cross over to the other side, they'll probably tear me apart. I'm not exactly their favorite person. Ghosts love to hold grudges, it's their whole thing-"

"That won't happen," I promised, though I wasn't sure if it was something I actually could promise him. Lying didn't matter at the moment, though. All that mattered was calming him down. It was impossible to think rationally in a state of panic. Besides, if I could somehow manage to calm him down, then maybe, just maybe, I could calm myself down too.

I took a few deep breaths. His eyes were glassy and wet. He reminded me of a baby hampster. Fragile and scared.

"Sometimes, we have to be strong, Ruji," I told him, fighting to keep a steady voice. 

He slowly nodded, then leaned forward and wrapped his arms around me. I could feel his shoulders shake. He was much taller than me, but ever since I met him he had felt so small. I wished I could just take all his fear and hold it in myself so he didn't have to be so afraid. 

My emotions were such a mess. Just a few minutes ago I hated him for investigating Tora's drawers, and now I wanted to protect him. Grief really can drive people mad.

"I want my brother," he whimpered again. 

"And your dog. I know. And you'll see them again soon, I promise," I said as I gently pushed him away and wiped his tears with the back of my index finger. "Now... let's go to the lodge and solve this murder."

I turned and gently grasped his wrist while leading the way back. My heart was racing, but Tora's words kept me grounded.

Sometimes, we have to be strong.

Sometimes, we have to be strong.

By the time we arrived at the lodge, everyone was there waiting. Yuuki's handcuffs were gone, though he was still standing next to Sora. A lot of people were confused as to what happened. When they heard the body discovery announcement, most were too scared to even go looking. 

We stepped through the red door, into what looked to be a large steel box. Ruji stood close behind me as I gravitated toward the front. I took a brief look around at where everyone had placed themselves. Yuuki was standing in the dead center. Maikeru was off in the left corner, glancing at the buttons. They were all dark. Saikoro stood by my left side, opposite Ruji.

"This should be quite the show," the gameshow host whispered to me while softly nudging his elbow into my side. "Right, Dreams?"

"Eheh, right..." I muttered. His bright and warm smile filled me with a sense of discomfort. There was nothing to be smiling about...