Danganronpa: String Theory (DrV3)

2.15 - Traumatic Behavior

"-mean?"

"I mean it's been more than four hours and I haven't seen a single strand of hair from Prairie. I'm worried."

"She's probably hiding in a locker somewhere. You know our silly little Prairie Dog!"

"Hmm...well, perhaps can go our separate ways looking for her. I'm content searching for her whereabouts outside in the courtyard. Kokichi can-"

"Nnnnope! I'm not interested in looking for, Prairie Dog. She's always a meanie to me and hurts my feelings!"

"If that were true, why do you always seek her out then, Kokichi?"

"Because deep down...way deep down...I'm truly and irrevocably in love with her!"

...

...

"You're banned from talking to Prairie."

"Heey, that's not your call to make! It's Rantaro's!"

"It's Prairie's call. And if you want to keep squabbling over here, Kokichi, be my guest. Kiyo and I are gonna keep looking around."

"Hnnn, fine. I'll help look for her inside the school then since you're gonna be bullies about it. I'll probably find her before you guys do!"

As soon as Rantaro, Korekiyo and Kokichi are quiet, I get up on my knees to lean over the edge and peek down at them curiously. The three of them are looking over their Monopads, likely looking around for my GPS signal from my Monopad.

"It would seem she's set her signal to be hidden. Not the most honest thing for a person to be doing in a killing game..." Korekiyo points out, prompting Rantaro to turn his head towards him.

"Some people like the security of being alone once in a while," the green haired teen defends, turning his monopad off and shoving it in his pants back pocket. "If you can't understand that, I don't know what to tell you, Kiyo."

"Ooo-hoo-hoo~! Careful there, Rantaro, you don't know what kind of hexes a guy like Kiyo can throw on you!" Kokichi laughs, ever the clown despite the tension in the air. Meanwhile, I just look down at the three as they interact, Kokichi moving his Monopad in a few angles as if to get a better look of something on his screen.

Doing nothing really comes easy when you're scared out of your wits and hiding, that much I've learnt.

Maybe it's time I come down though. I should really-

"Guys, when you find her, can you send her my way? There's...something I need to apologize for. It's extremely important," I hear Kaede's voice as she steps into view, causing me to duck down behind the cavity of the wall instantly as my stomach twists in discomfort.

"Oh? Why's that?" Korekiyo inquires, obviously curious for more details.

"Um...I'd prefer talking it over with Prairie first. If she's okay with it, then I'll tell you guys..." Kaede answers uncomfortably, to a level that has my heart thudding painfully with guilt. She sounds sort of sad, and even though I shouldn't feel guilty since I didn't do anything wrong, I can't help the emotions that well up in my gut.

Is she regretting the attempted murder? Or simply making a show of guilt so the boys bring me to her where she can finish the job?

I don't know. I don't know what to do, I don't know who to trust, Kaede just proved to me that even the people with the purest of intentions can be sullied by the likes of Monokuma. What do I do if Rantaro gets twisted in a similar manner? Then who am I left with? Kokichi? Tsumugi? Maki?