Chiaki Nanami's IF

3

Kamakura opens the door walking into the hidden apartment. The gamer jumps up and run towards him.

"Kamakura-kun! Did you find anything good?" She asks.

Kamakura had found an apartment building in Towa City to hide her. It was the same apartment building as the people that had relationships with the 78th class. Their apartment is underneath the captives. Kamakura goes out checking on what used to be Nanami's friends and finding food and games for her. She took the bag that he held out to her.

She was like a kid on Christmas Day when she saw the new games he got her. She ran over to the game console and put them on top of her video game pile. Kamakura sits on the couch and watches her enjoy herself. Nanami turns around and looks at the long haired man. Memories of her playing games with Hinata came back.

Oh how she loved getting out of class and meeting up with him. He was pretty decent but couldn't beat the SHSL Gamer herself. She loved playing games with him and how he knew about her favorite retro games. Now sitting in front of her is what used to be him. Kamakura Izuru was not Hinata. Hinata, despite Nanami telling him that even if he didn't have a talent he could still do all of these things with her, joined the Kamakura project. After erasing everything that made him, him, Kamakura was born using Hinata's body. Kamakura even told Nanami that if Hinata ever came back he wouldn't remember her existence.

"May I help you?" Kamakura asks. Nanami realizes that she was staring at him.

"Do you know what happened to my classmates and Yukizome-sensei?"

Kamakura knew this day would come. In fact, he predicted it. She stares at him waiting for an answer. He calculates the best response and how she would react. He could tell her the despairful truth of them carrying the will of Enoshima Junko. Or he could tell a straight up lie.

"They heard you talk about not giving up hope. That Komaeda kid convinced the rest of the class to do the same. Because they think you're dead they say that they're carrying out your will."

"Then why am I here? Hidden in an apartment."

Kamakura didn't even hesitate. "The world was destroyed by Enoshima Junko. It's still dangerous to go outside. Your friends are out there fixing it."

What he just said was the opposite of what's actually happening. But he was sure that Nanami wouldn't be happy with the truth. His lie was a little exaggerated. But she didn't ask anymore questions after that.

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"I'm done!"

Kamakura sighs at her childish actions. Nanami had been playing with his hair for weeks. She made a giant French braid this time. Kamakura didn't object and let her have her fun. He asks her why she does stuff like this when it has no purpose, but she always gave the same answer.

"Because it's fun."

"How?"

"Hmmm... well because it has no purpose makes it fun. You can do it and not really have the fear of failing. Doing senseless things are fun and thrilling."

The conversation was followed by a small argument about fun and how everything has a purpose. Ever since then he asked that question and she gave the same answer. Kamakura then felt warm arms wrap around him. Nanami was hugging his head.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm hugging you." Nanami said bluntly.

"Why?"

"...I don't know."

They sat there in comfortable silence. Kamakura didn't want to admit that he liked it. He quickly got bored of her hugging him but she kept holding on.

Nanami was holding back tears. Her breath was ragged. She missed Hinata. The way he laughed at her childish side. How he new the basics of video games. How he went out of his way to meet her at the fountain during his lunch period when Nanami could leave anytime she wanted. His olive eyes, brown hair, smile.  She missed all of it. The thought of him not remembering her or never coming back was heartbreaking. Even though she'd grown found of Kamakura and liked messing with him, it wasn't the same.

One day if Hinata ever came back, she would let him win her video game.

Just once.