My Best Friend (A Nontoxic Pregame Saiouma Fanfiction)

Chapter 5

I had calmed down and lunch was almost over, so I double checked if my application for Danganronpa was still in my bag.

Huh...?

It wasn't there. Suddenly, I heard footsteps approach me and panting breaths.

"S-saihara-kun! There y-you are!! You dropped this..."

Ouma-kun handed me my application. I looked back up at him, all signs of life drained from my face. I took it silently and stuffed it in my bag.

"S-saihara-kun does that m-mean you want to a-audition for Danganronpa?!?"

I looked at him solemnly. "You won't be afraid of me anymore...no one will..."

"B-but-!" He started crying this time. "I d-didn't think the r-rumors were true!! I j-just w-was- I wanted to m-make sure.." He breathed more, hugging me tightly. I flinched. I didn't understand.

Doesn't he hate me...? Isn't he mad..?

"I didn't think the d-deaths in D-danganronpa were real! I don't w-want you t-to die , I WANNA BE YOUR FRIEND!" He sobbed into me more. "I always have! Please don't audition! I-I'm sorry!"

"Ouma-kun-" He refused to let go of me.

"Pl-please don't go...you can't g-give up yet..." he said without bringing his face out of my chest.

Maybe this story isn't gonna go how I thought it would... I thought to myself.

I hugged him back softly at first, tightening my embrace as the minutes passed on.

"Ok, I'll give it another chance..." I said softly. My heart was still racing a million miles per hour from this much contact with him but I ignored that for the time being.

"Really?!?" He looked up at me with the cutest face of joy. "S-so you w-won't audition?!?"

"N-not yet.."

"YAY!" He cried, a smile glued onto his face. "This is the best birthday I've ever had!"

"Wh-why is that?" I asked, my cheeks unintentionally getting red when he smiled at me.

"Because I made friends with you, Saihara-kun!" He giggled and hugged me tighter. That was the first time I had heard him say something and finish without stuttering.

I will be excluding the detail of how flustered I was in lieu of how I hugged him back tightly and said "Th-thank you for giving me another chance.."

"Huh? O-oh it's no problem!" He pulled away from the hug and fiddled with his fingers nervously. "H-hey S-saihara-kun? D-do you wanna get c-cake pops after school to celebrate? Harukawa-ch-chan said she couldn't make it but I still have enough m-money for two people.."

I grabbed my arm and looked down at the ground, speaking softly. Not like I was flustered or anything, but I said, "If you'd do me the honor.."

"Ah, yay!" He flashed that adorable smile at me again. "I-I'll meet you after s-school then?"

"Sure thing..." I said with a smile.

"Perfect!" He giggled again. "I'll k-keep you company until lunch ends," he said sitting down next to where I was standing.

I certainly wasn't expecting things to turn out the way they did. I thought everything was ruined, but I learned something.

They say hope always wins, but that's not true. Hope only works if you give it a couple chances and keep working for it.

That's what I promised to do. And I can tell you a little something. I haven't and don't plan on ever auditioning for Danganronpa anymore.

END: PART 1