Danganronpa: String Theory (DrV3)

3.1 - Confide

A/N: The two attached art pieces (above and at the end of the chapter) are my own work and for my own use only.

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"Prairie, that's enough, you don't have to-"

Rantaro flinches and shuts up when I smack the sopping wet washcloth on his cheek to silence him, water splashing on the both of us as I clean up the rest of his kiss stained face. After I finish scrubbing his face free of lipstick, I let him get back up and rinse his own face off as I wait for him to finish.

Of course, we returned to his room to finish cleaning him up. Kokichi however, went back to his own room as well, but I couldn't care less about where he's gone, to be honest.

I can't believe that stupid jerk had the gall to laugh and crack jokes when Kaede died. Him and Angie. Who does that? What's wrong with them? Don't they even care Kaede is gone?

"Prairie, wait," Rantaro stops me when I turn to leave, making me sigh and look back at him. What for? I know it's morning still and we have the whole day ahead of us, but...I just want to go back to my room and hole up for a bit. Specifically, alone.

"Rantaro, I'm soaked in blood from head to toe and Kaede just died in my arms. On top of that, she was killed in my name and her killer was released with zero consequence. It's been a long morning. If you're going to ask me to stay..." I trail off tiredly, only for Rantaro to continue with the simple request, "Come back here when you're cleaned up then? Please?"

I give him a dubious look. Why?

"I don't know about you, and I don't want to assume anything, but...I could use some company for a while after that," he explains, looking somewhat embarrassed despite this insistent glint in his soft green eyes.

I can see right through his claim though.

He's only saying that because he thinks I need the company, isn't he? Rantaro mentioned before that if it wasn't for him trusting me or liking me, he'd slink off to think alone. This lying green haired idiot...

"If you're worried about me, can you just say it rather than make up dumb illogical excuses like-"

"I'm worried about you," he immediately switches tactics- so fast that I can't help but call him out on it with my own irritated quip of, "About-face." Rather than pay attention to the fact that I'm blatantly pointing him out to be a weirdo, Rantaro simply continues with what he wants to say.

"You in particular were heavily tied to what happened in the bathroom- with Kaede, Miu, and Monotaro. In my mind, that's a recipe for a reckless Prairie to cause some kind of uproar."

I wince a bit at that but say nothing. He's sorta right, I'll give him that. I'm frustrated and I wish I could dropkick Monokuma into the sun with an Exisal since this is all his fault. My friends were manipulated and he threw Monotaro away like he was garbage. Sure I feel exhausted now, but maybe later- especially if I'm alone- I'll potentially fall into a spiral of negative thoughts.

That's not something I want right now.

"A-Alright then. I'm gonna clean up and I'll come back here when I'm done," I agree with a small sigh of resignation.

Rantaro looks absolutely elated by my agreement, relief coating his features as he grabs my hand and pulls me into a bear hug before pressing a kiss to the crown of my head.

...wait.

What.

Rantaro pulls away quickly at that, hands up and cheeks red with stunned shock from his own actions. A sheepish laugh escapes him and he suddenly looks uncomfortable under my gaze as I stare at him for a response to the fact that he's done something so out of character.