𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞'𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 | Inquisitormaster & Zsquad| Danganronpa

🕸𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟑🕸|| 𝐀 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐈𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐤

JUNIOR YEAR- 51 DAYS LEFT

*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: **✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *

October 31st

~Drake's POV~

"Thank you," Light beams as the stand worker hands him the red candied apple, the top decorated in orange, black, and purple sprinkles, which are shaped like bats. Eyes wide and shining, he drives his teeth into the apple, practically shaking as he waits for us.

Jaxx takes his drink, hot chocolate with foam on top, with a bright thank you, and I grab my bag of candy as I slip my money into the jar in the corner of the stand. We turn to walk off, stopping to avoid running into kids dressed up in costumes and laughing loudly as they pass. I'd almost forgotten that it's Halloween. Every year is the same, another regular day to me. We're not given a day off for it or anything, but exhilaration sparks through the air by the time the sun has finally set. By lunchtime time the younger kids have already started trick-or-treating. Seeing the eagerness around the holiday is nice, I'm just not willing to participate myself.

The city was drowning in Halloween decor since the last week of September. Rubber bats hanging from light posts. Carved pumpkins are displayed in the windows of coffee shops. Mannequins draped in monstrous attire posed outside clothing stores. Leaves resembling autumn's stay flutter from piles and coat the sidewalks and street, and the gray sky holds perfect clouds to wrap the world in just the right ambiance to get everyone in the Halloween spirit. Its spell has been cast. Light and Jaxx have been talking non-stop about where they're going tonight, what neighborhoods give out the best candy, and what methods they're going to use to get a big haul. After a bit of a snack detour, we're going to Spirit Halloween for some last-minute, sad excuses for costumes.

I unravel the candy bag, grab an M&M, and then pop it into my mouth. Light had managed to finish 3/4s of his apple, and I think Jaxx's hot chocolate cup is almost empty by the time we reach the center of the city. I used to think I was a fast eater until I met these two. Their abilities leave me surprised, then I got used to it, relishing in my slow-eater behavior.

As we walk farther into the city, farther than we'd usually go, I spot a black-and-orange triangle banner hanging from the entrance of an arched doorway, bat pins keeping it up, with the bright red sign "50% OFF" right across the street.

"Yo, right there, right there," Light points out the shop, his voice is muffled from the apple he's chewing on.

Jaxx follows his finger. "Oh! And it says it was about another thirty-minute walk to get there," he says, peeking at his phone. I guess he'd been using a GPS to get here, now it makes sense why he was leading the way.

"Maybe they'd moved it," I drone, then clear my throat. Trying to bring more energy to my voice is something I should have given up on a while ago. I'm not an animated person like Jaxx or Light. "I guess you're lucky."

"Drake, you should really come trick-or-treating with us," Light suggests once we reach the other side of the crosswalk.

"I went with you guys last year. And the year before. I'm not walking around at night for hours to play a game of 'poisoned or not' when I get home. It's childish."

"No, it isn't! We're making it a tradition. Just pick a simple mask and you'll be good." Light demolishes his apple in one large bite, tosses out the stick, then grabs the door. Jaxx steps through, and I follow with Light close on my heels. A wave of air conditioning dances across the back of my neck as we step over the threshold; I tug on my hood and slide my hands into the comfort of my pockets. This place is packed—as expected— but it's much worse than what I had envisioned. At every turn, each aisle is crammed with people chattering and yelling across the store, about five shoulders have bumped into mine already, and we've barely left the entrance. A grin stretches on Light's face as he scans the interior before he disappears into the spirited crowd.