What If The Bottle Didn't Break...?

Chapter 6

(TRIGGER WARNING: self-deprication, self-harm)

To Hinata-kun,

I'm making this to tell you, if... no, when I die, that I love you. I love you with all of my heart. I know this sounds very cheesy, and is basically unimportant coming from trash such as myself, but I wish we could've been together. I wish I could've just cuddled and kissed you. I wish we could've had a wonderful life together... decorating trees for Christmas, traveling to different places on your birthday, and even just having coffee at a coffee shop. This is getting long, so I'll cut it short. I love you~❤️

-Komaeda Nagito

Tears stung my eyes as I finished reading the letter. When did he write this? The paper looks a bit old... this was probably before he even started to stay at my cottage. I looked up at Chiaki, and she had an expressionless look on her face. I couldn't make out anything she was thinking.
"Hajime, were you in a relationship with Komaeda?"
I looked at her confused, then shook my head.
"We were just... friends... I guess..."
She looked back at me.
"What were you coming here for anyway?"
I blinked back my tears and thought a bit. I couldn't actually tell her what I was there for... she would stop me.
"I came to investigate. Alone."
She gave a slightly confused look.
"Why can't I go with you?"
"I JUST WANT!.. I just want to be alone... Okay?"
My snappy reaction made her jump a bit, but she just nodded and walked in a different direction. I sighed and entered the cottage. I looked around. It was practically empty, despite him going there quite often. Just what was he doing...? Knowing what I was there for, I immediately walked over to the closet. Many of the same coat was lined up there, as were shirts and pants. I pulled one of his coats from out the closet and inspected it. No stains... Good. I slowly slid it on, stuffing my face into the hood as I pulled it over my face. I felt tears welling up in my eyes again. This time I let them fall. They fell hard. I was shaking so much, I eventually fell to the ground... again, I'm not someone who cries that much. But here I am, crying again... I'm so weak... Such a baby. I couldn't protect Komaeda when it was my responsibility... It was my responsibility... to protect.... to protect Komaeda... my.... mine... I killed him. I killed him. It's my fault he's dead.

*╔═══❖•ೋ° °ೋ•❖═══╗*

About 20 minutes later, I got up from where I was crying on the floor. I unintentionally wasted a hell of a lot of time. I gripped his coat. It was a bit too big for me, but it was fine. I liked it anyway. I began investigating his room. Nothing much except a few white spots here and there. Either mold or milk. I doubt either one of them, but I didn't really pay attention to it. I began looking through his book shelf, going through some of the books. I picked up a small snow globe and looked at it. Two snowmen were holding hands and waving at me. I shook it and it started to "snow". I smiled a bit at it, then remembered I was supposed to be investigating. I stuffed it in my coat pocket. I continued searching the room until I found a little device. The style resembled a cell phone, but when I pressed the button it beeped. Text popped up onto the screen, saying "searching...". I raised an eyebrow and waited for it. Eventually, it said, "error18772 occured. Please try again."
I tapped the screen and nothing happened. I pressed the button a second time, and "searching..." popped up again. Again, it came back to the error screen. I stuffed it into my pocket and continued searching. I ended up finding nothing else, so I just left. I ended up at the crime scene a few minutes later. Kuzuryuu and Souda were investigating his body and around the restaurant.
"Hey, Souda." I asked, walking over to him. He turned to me and raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
I took the device out of my pocket to show him.
"Do you know what this is? I found it at Komaeda's cottage."
He took it from my hands and examined it.
"It seems to be a location device. Using satellite waves, it can pin point your location."
I thought back to the magazine I saw ages ago in the library. The islands there seemed to be different from here. I took it back and turned it on again.
"Why are you doing that? We're on Jabberwock island, we know that already." Kuzuryuu said, walking over to us. I ignored him, still staring at the "searching..." screen. Then came the error again. Souda gave me a confused expression as I pointed at the screen.
"Haah? What does it mean "error"?" Kuzuryuu asked, scratching his head while looking pissed.
Souda's eyes widened as he took the device.
"It should say Jabberwock Island. ARE WE NOT ON JABBERWOCK ISLAND??"
Kuzuryuu choked as I just stood there stunned.
"H-huh?"
I asked, peeking over Souda's shoulder to see the device.
"HAHA! HEY GUYS!"
We turned around to see Monokuma, standing with his arms folded and a grin on his stupid ass face.
"Monokuma! Where the fuck are we!?" Kuzuryuu yelled at him. "I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU IF Y-"
"Kuzu! Calm down. You won't be able to get anything out of him, trust me." I yelled at him. He turned around to look at me, then looked at Souda. He nodded slowly and folded his arms.
"So where the fuck are we?"
Monokuma just laughed.
"Puhuhuhuhuhu! That's for me to know, and you guys to find out!"
And with that, he disappeared. I could feel my face getting red with anger, but I just called myself down.
"Hey, Hinata. I just realized... why are you wearing that?" Kuzuryuu asked, pointing at the coat I was wearing. The coat...! Damnit, I was supposed to take it off before I got here!
"U-uh.."
Souda turned around and gawked at me.
"Aweee!" Kuzuryuu laughed teasingly. "You're wearing his coat! That's adorable."
"Don't make fun of me."
He tilted his head.
"I wasn't making fu-"
"Guys look!"
We both walked over to Souda as he showed us the screen.
"I typed in Jabberwock Island in this search bar. It looks completely different from where we are!"
So I was right. We're not actually on Jabberwock Island.
"This is live feed from Jabberwock Island! This island is just a fraud!"
Kuzuryuu sighed.
"So what? The location and name of the island doesn't change our situation."
I thought for a bit. He was right though..
"Why would Monokuma lie about that?"
They turned to me, apparently as I just spoke unintentionally.
"He probably... Uh..." Souda stuttered.
"I don't fucking know! He could've had no reason at all and just wanted to lie to us!"
Eventually, I ended up with the device back in my pocket, heading over to my cottage. I opened the door and entered the bathroom. I found Chiaki there.
"Ah! What are you doing here!?"
She turned around from searching the cabinet above the sink.
"Komaeda stayed with you right? I would need to check your cottage too."
I sighed and face palmed.
"Say, why are you wearing that? Nevermind, why did you have a blade in here?"
She pulled it out of her bag and showed it to me.
I left it in here...

I didn't hide it...

Make an excuse, quick!

"I-I..."
"Hajime. Let me see your arm."