Danganronpa 1.2 Beautiful Days

Beautiful Days SDR2: Super High School Level Friendship

Story: Onogami Meiya (小野上明夜)
Illustration: Fujiwara Ryou (冨士原良)

Some time had passed since the School Trip of Mutual Killing began on Jabberwock Island. Those who were intended to be classmates at Hope's Peak Academy had only just barely gotten acquainted. It was awkward at first, but now that they were familiar with each other's respective personalities, they had started to group off with those they got along with the best.

This was made clear by the seating arrangements at breakfast every morning. Lacking any instructions, the Japanese students had fallen naturally into alternating seats between boys and girls, but now they had begun to finalize who sat next to who. Amidst the clinks of utensils and plates, the restaurant on the second floor of the Hotel Mirai was filled with the sounds of idle, pleasant conversation.

"If it weren't for the Mutual Killing, this might be a normal school trip..." Or maybe it was like lunchtime at school. Back in middle school... As Hinata Hajime spaced out, sorting through his fuzzy memories, a tall figure came to stand before him. His antenna stood on end, expressing his tension.

"Good morning, Hinata-kun!" That characteristic swaying hair and bright voice had to be Komaeda Nagito. Perhaps because of his eccentric special talent, more than being close to any particular person, he seemed to swim through the group as aimlessly as his hairstyle. But lately, it was Hinata he was following around at random, asking, "By the way, Hinata-kun. Haven't you remembered your talent yet?"

"...I don't remember."

In response to Hinata's blunt sullenness, Komaeda only calmly sat down in the seat across from him, where Souda Kazuichi had been sitting up until just a moment ago. Incidentally, Souda had gone off to see Sonia Nevermind, interrupting her conversation with the other girls to offer the gentlemanly suggestion of "Shall we get dessert?" which Sonia refused with a smile. He seemed to be happy enough given the circumstances.

"I see; that's too bad," Komaeda murmured, seemingly genuine, before beginning to eat his food. Hinata poked at his salad, glancing over at Souda, who was still stubbornly talking to Sonia.

If only he would get back here already, then maybe he could do something about this awkward atmosphere. If he would even just talk to me then at least I'd have an excuse to get up from my seat. Or just anybody, even Saionji Hiyoko, picking apart everything, that would be fine.

But Hinata's wishes were in vain, as just a few minutes later, Komaeda asked the same question again. "So how about it? Have you remembered it yet?"

"I told you, I don't remember." His tone was even more clipped than before, but Komaeda, ever nonchalant, was unperturbed.

"I see; that's really too bad." He sighed, as if he really did find it unfortunate from the bottom of his heart. Whenever he looked so dejected, Hinata's unease would transform into sheer irritation, and so he glared at Komaeda.

"Souda may take the cake, but you're pretty stubborn too, Komaeda. You're the one who said something in the first place like, there's no rush, so why are you so..."

"I mean, yours is the only talent we still don't know, Hinata-kun. Thinking ahead, we need all the useful information we can get, right For someone like me, who doesn't have any better talent than something as insignificant as good luck, I have a great interest in everyone else's Super High School Level talents!"

Crap, Hinata thought, too late. Komaeda's eyes were starting to get a dangerous glint to them.

"For now, we could try thinking about if you have the same sort of talent as one of the others." Ignoring Hinata, who had now completely missed his opportunity to get up out of his seat, Komaeda waved his fork in the air and commenced his reasoning. "Super High School Level Cook... That can't be it. I've never seen you try to cook, Hinata-kun."