Danganronpa/D4DJ One-Shots

I Just Wanna Tell You How I'm Feeling, Gotta Make You Understand!

Clownish cackles, chirring doves, and whinnying horses. The symphony, the cacophony, danced around the Ultimate Detective's head as he chased down every darkened hallway, hunted through every sleezy back alleyway, and all in the name of capturing the Phantom Prince of Pranks and Thieves, Ultimate Supreme Leader, Kokichi Oma.

"Give it up, Kokichi!" Shuichi murmured, face grim as he spotted a black, horse-shaped chess piece sitting on a windowsill exactly at his eye level. "Your calling card. Of course you meant for me to find this... Why not cut to the chase? We both know you'll be waiting at the end for me anyway... You live for this..." The Ultimate Detective closed his fist around the dark horse, turning his gaze further down the hall...

Upbeat music blared from the PA system a second later.

"Huh?!" Shuichi jumped in alarm as horns assaulted his ears, then they were accompanied by a jolly male vocalist. It almost sounded like he was laughing. Of course, it was a dead giveaway that it was another one of Kokichi's calling cards, but Shuichi was so thrown by the music blaring from every intercom that it took him a moment to find his bearings. Then some of the intercoms fell silent. Others continued to blare the man's loud vocals, and Shuichi knew at once what Kokichi wanted him to do. Follow the sound of music.

ooo

"Shuichi Saihara?"

Shuichi yelped and whipped around, then he realized who else was roaming the darkened auditorium with him. "Haruna Kasuga!" he said, recognizing her long, dark red hair immediately. The Ultimate Chairman!

"Pardon me! Are you all right?" Haruna stepped back, resting a hand over her heart, alarmed by his reaction.

"Y-yes, sorry!" Shuichi winced at himself, mortified. Some detective I am! Wait. Detective! Kokichi! It was then that Shuichi realized that Haruna also seemed to be in a hurry, her own expression distracted and troubled. "Are you looking for someone?"

"Ah, Ultimate Detective, you know me too well..." Now it was Haruna's turn to smile sheepishly. "I regret how easy I am to read, I fear it is not befitting of a proper Ultimate Chairman; however, you are correct. I have discovered a trail of tricks, traps, toys, and pranks, and I determined to get to the bottom of this!" she gestured to a door on the other side of the auditorium, where she came in. Shuichi was immediately on guard.

I don't THINK Kurumi and Koichi know each other... She's a first year, and he's a third year, for starters, but they're both equally vicious and devious! Besides, Haruna and I know each other. We aren't in the same year or class either. Granted, it was far more likely students with "legal" Talents would know one another whereas those with "delinquent" Talents had a higher likelihood of clashing or being lone wolves rather than having to work together to help Hope's Peak maintain peace and order.

"Perhaps you could assist me, Mr. Detective Saihara?" Haruna asked suddenly, face turning hopeful.

"O-oh! S-sure! And you can call me Shuichi, by the way, n-no need to be so formal..." He looked away, chuckling embarrassedly. Haruna opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, a nasally voice cut her off.

"Chairman Cheater! You said you'd catch me all by yourself!"

"Kurumi!" Haruna's head jerked up to the catwalk above the stage. She couldn't see the Ultimate Prankster, but she could hear her.

"Awww, c'mon, Kurumi! Don't be too down! We're no strangers to trouble—" An overly cheerful, male voice sing-songed.

"Kokichi!" Shuichi whispered, bristling.

"You know the rules, and so do I! Maybe Don't you think it's only fair they team up if WE team up?" the Ultimate Supreme Leader continued.

"Since when did you care about fairness?" Kurumi whined back. Haruna and Shuichi's heads whipped back and forth as their eyes pierced the darkness, struggling to locate the two delinquents. Finally, two little shadows slunk out of the darkness.