Danganronpa: String Theory (DrV3)

4.4 - Perks of a Survivor

A/N: The above art is my own work and for my own use only.

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I open my room door, watching as Rantaro looks back at me from where he's standing by the rails of the second story. My hair is still damp, although now it's because of a clean shower rather than getting doused by dirty fire-safe sprinklers. He steps back in wordlessly when I move out of the way, taking a seat on the bench chair in front of my vanity so I can face him where I sit at the foot of my bed.

Rantaro exhales heavily in a way that sounds a lot like disappointment to my ears.

"So while I was waiting outside for you to clean yourself up, Kokichi came by. Also soaking wet," Rantaro plainly puts out, eventually rubbing the side of his face in mild vexation. "It wouldn't be presumptuous to assume both of you happened to get into mischief then, right?"

I don't hesitate to make a face, scowling at him so he knows he's already headed in the wrong direction with that accusation. He seems bewildered by my reaction, up until a grimace coats his features when he senses what I'm implying. The teen closes his eyes for a moment out of what I could only assume is guilt.

"Sorry, I'm doing it again. Assuming you're up to funny business without knowing any details- just ignore what I was saying. I take it back," Rantaro apologizes. His words are enough to relax me, allowing the tension building up in my shoulders to drop gradually until I don't feel the familiar weight of pressure that Rantaro so loved to stack over me before.

"Thank you. Anyways, when I left you that note, I honestly meant what I wrote at the time. I was only planning to step out for maybe thirty minutes max, but one thing led to another- no thanks to Kokichi," I summarize off the bat, watching Rantaro reach out to take my hand with the kidwatch on it.

He presses the side button and looks at the time, only allowing me to pull my hand back to my lap quickly once he's given it a glance. There's a curious glint in his eyes when I do so, but he thankfully doesn't question it.

The idea of holding anyone's hand right now is a bit much for me after what Kokichi did.

"So walk me through it. Why'd you step out and what happened after you left the room?" Rantaro inquires curiously, folding his hands patiently.

I nod, watching him smile in mild relief. I guess he almost thought I'd be unwilling? I don't see why though. We've already agreed to trying to repair our friendship, which means we ought to be trusting one another. I don't want to undermine the agreement we made in the elevator before the class trial.

All I can do is hope that Rantaro also keeps his side of the agreement...

"I initially left to grab a bag I left behind in Hotel Kumasutra and was going to come back immediately after, but I had the idea to grab some books from the library that could help me understand the monokub blueprints I had," I explain, making Rantaro nod.

"Ah, those...I remember Maki brought it up after the gunshots we heard when you got back," Rantaro says, making my mind drift back to Kirumi with the battle axe from Maki's lab.

If Kirumi was able to rob Maki's lab at a time like this, Maki isn't in her lab. If Maki isn't in her lab, it's because she isn't guarding it anymore, right? I could be wrong about that guess, but I should ask Rantaro just to be sure.

"Um, can I ask something before I keep going? Has anyone besides the obvious seen Maki's lab during the time I was asleep?" I ask, keeping my response as vague as I can for Maki's protection.