Danganronpa: Truth and Lies

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞, 𝟏

Everything's dark... Where's the light gone? It was so bright just now, what happened? It feels like an ocean is smothering me, but I can still breathe. Why can I still breathe? I don't want that. I don't want any of this. I didn't want this to happen. I didn't. I promise. I didn't want them to die! I didn't, I didn't, I didn't! I couldn't save them. I tried and I failed. I failed... I failed... I failed again... As always. Again, again, I always fail. Fail everything. It's going... darker... Is this what dying feels like? Smothering and strangling me. Enclosing me. It's horrible. It's horrible, it's horrible, it's h o r r i b l e!

Himitsu gasped, sitting up. Fear racked his frail body, manifesting into shakes that only scared him more. One glance around the room proved that he was exactly where he was meant to be. Sun filtered through the grey curtains covering the window behind his desk, casting his work into the light. A notebook filled with scribbles and plans that would be unreadable to anyone besides the initial creator sat in front of him, and the ink smudges on it that he'd slept on were imprinted onto his cheek. Desperately scrubbing at it as he stood up, he slipped his loose boots on and headed out of his room. 

"Heya kiddo," a tired voice said. Himitsu looked up at the top of the stairs and waved at his uncle who was jogging down the steps. As he passed the teenager, he ruffled his hair, a grin on his face. "How's my favourite Ultimate doing?"

Himitsu flushed a bit, and followed his uncle into the kitchen, sitting down at the table. " 'S weird to be called that, y'know."

"Gotta get used to it though." His uncle placed some toast in the toaster, "Robotics Engineer, huh? That's gotta be one of the coolest this year."

"Yeah but you're right biased, Aiko." Himitsu's uncle had tried many times before to get the boy to call him by 'Uncle' but was stubbornly refused with the response of 'But Uncle's your title in the family or something.' 

"It's just 'biased', Himitsu."

"What?"

"It's not 'right biased'. It's just 'biased'."

The response was an annoyed huff, followed by the ping of the toaster. Aiko placed the toast onto a plate, took out some jam and handed it to his nephew, who thanked him.

"You have to get to the initiation soon," said the man, as Himitsu finished washing up his now eaten breakfast. A non-committal hmph came from the Ultimate, as he headed next door into his room. One last surveying gaze around the room was enough to solidify his feelings. He wasn't staying here. His Aunt and Uncle weren't bad people, not at all, but they could never really get along like family should. A sigh escaped Himitsu's lips, as he grabbed his notebook and backpack and headed back out. His Uncle gave him a tight hug and a half-finished goodbye, and his Aunt checked him over to make sure he had everything (even though the school said they'd supply him with anything) and smothered him in a bone-crushing embrace. 

"Alright, remember. Developing your talent is what matters the most, alright? Having fun is very important too but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" She patted him on the head, and he smiled at her.

"And no getting a boyfriend, young man. Studies first." Himitsu flushed a deep red, as his Uncle chuckled good-naturedly. The trio smiled at each other, in the agreement that it was time to say a final farewell.

"Well..." The boy started, glancing between them, "I, uh... yeah. Be seeing you." 

His uncle patted him on the back. "I know we haven't got along all the time since... well..." The unspoken truth hung in the air by a tight noose, before Aiko continued, "...well, that... and I just want you to know that you're genuinely loved here, alright kiddo?"