Danganronpa: Digital Daze

Chapter 8: Old Friends, New Enemies?

I ended up falling asleep rather quickly, but it was not a peaceful rest. A dream came to me, of my past. Of...right before it...happened.

My mom and dad were discussing me, once again, in the Living Room. I was in the Kitchen, finishing up dishes. I was younger, and...not who I am now.

"But how are you going to get this surgery done? She's not even 18 yet." Mom was worried, thinking a mere parental consent form wouldn't be enough to get the insurance company to fund it.

"Don't worry about it!" My dad shot back, clearly irritated. He had that tic in his right eye, which he got when he was trying to hide something from me or Mom.

"But I AM worried about it, Henkutsuna! How are we-"

"Shitateya, that's enough," my dad cut her off, before his facial expression changed.

"Actually, you really wanna know? Fine, I'll tell you, but keep...your mouth...shut!"

My mom nodded in silence.

"Fine. You know those three men I've been speaking with lately? Sharp suits, tattooed, always speaking about money?"

My mom nodded again.

Dad took a deep breath. "They're...Yakuza."

"What?! What are you thinking?!" My mom shouted at him.

Dad put a hand up. "I'm not finished yet. They have connections to a well-reputed surgical center, but it's in San Francisco, California."

My mom's eyes went wide again. "In America? The United States?"

Dad nodded. "One of the surgeons there is a member of their organization. They have agreed to transport us to their surgical center, get this stupid operation she wants, and transport us back home."

"In exchange..." Dad trailed off. "I had to do some...favors for them first. I'd rather not talk about it, but I didn't harm or kill anyone."

I finished up the dishes, walked into the room and, against my better judgement, spoke up.

"If you think this is stupid, then why are you still doing this for me? I mean...I appreciate it, but...I...don't understand."

Dad looked over at me, annoyed. "Because I'd rather have an actual boy, rather than a girl who pretends daily to be a boy. That's simply disgraceful for me, and for this family. So if this is the closest I can get to having a REAL boy, then so be it. There, happy?"

I felt a rock form in my stomach. My face felt flush, and my eyes dropped to the floor. I heard my mom say something, and my dad respond, but I was too stunned to comprehend any of it.

"Wake up, everyone! It's 7am, and Nighttime is now over! Time to enjoy another fun-filled day at The Ultimate Talent Enhancement Center!" Monorakun's face and voice woke me up from the dream. I stretched in bed and yawned, then slowly dragged myself out of bed and headed for the shower. Going through my playlist, I settled on "My Funeral" by Dark Funeral, put it on repeat, and showered up, singing happily along to the song blaring from my E-Handbook.

After finishing my shower, drying up, and brushing my hair to the left (as I always do), I got dressed. I put on a new black hakama and black socks, a blue T-shirt, and grabbed my dark blue jacket. I considered checking the Group Chat, but decided to look at it later, heading to the Dining Hall instead.

I sat down between Mukuro and Kaede, and across from Leon, with my strawberry bagels with cream cheese and some chocolate milk. Kaede and Leon each had breakfast sandwiches of some sort, while Mukuro was eating...

Wait, what WAS that?

"Military rations," she answered when I asked her. "I'm more used to these than I am the food here." She had barely even looked up when she answered.