Despair: Become Hope // komahina

Chapter 16 : A Short Day

DATE: NOV 30TH 2038
PM 12 : 01 : 04
FUKISHIMA, JAPAN

One day, Nagito was running away with an android after killing his girlfriend.

The very next day, he's running away with the android from the police after being suspected for the discovered murder of his girlfriend the night before.

Now? Well, here he was.

Wearing an unused uniform and taking orders from customers in the diner with a notepad and pen in hand.

Nagito was glad Aoi's diner didn't have many customers in the first place, but even then, he still got nervous around taking orders from the very few customers in the restaurant.

Amidst all the awkwardness, it was then he remembered why he was messing up so bad talking to the customers and taking their orders. And it was a bit of a stretch, but as well as the reason he didn't have many friends in the first place, other than the good-bad luck cycle he was trapped in.

He had crippling anxiety.

Early in the morning, Aoi had suggested that him and Hajime help her out in the diner. And while Hajime gladly accepted, thinking of it as a way to pay her back, Nagito agreed to it with reluctance.

It's not like he didn't want to help her at all, especially after she let them stay and bring them to Hokkaido with her. But it was the sheer fact that it had been a good 22 years since he had a normal conversation with another human being, ever since his parents passed away.

So when Aoi said he'd be helping her take orders, he practically screeched like a pterodactyl inside.

Is this my good luck or bad luck acting up this time? Nagito asked himself once he had the orders written down on the notepad and retreated back to the large counter in the diner.

"You're doing great so far, sweetie," Aoi complimented, patting the albino's sulking shoulder in reassurance. Hajime unknowingly clenched his hand into a tight fist when he heard Aoi call him sweetie, and a burning emotion bubbled from within his internal systems.

Hajime quickly loosened his fisted hand and shook off the feeling.

"Thanks, Asahina-san," the albino sighed. Aoi flicked her wrist in response. "Ah, no worries. And by the way, you can just call me Hina or Aoi," she responded. Nagito nodded before quickly handing Aoi the piece of paper with the order he wrote— well actually, scribbled.

"Good job, Komaeda," Aoi took the paper from his hand.

"Hajime, it's your turn now. Marshmallow here seems like he's gonna have a meltdown soon. I'll handle the food with Mikan and Komaeda," she then turned to the tan android, which nodded affirmatively before going off to do his job.

With a huff, Nagito sat down on one of the chairs tiredly, but not from physical exhaustion.

"Wow, you look like shit," Aoi remarked, watching the albino slumped onto the counter. "But seriously, there's only been like, three— four customers so far? Or are you not used to talking to people like this?" She questioned, folding her arms and leant onto the wooden counter.