Yuu

I don't know what I'm gonna do anymore. Both of my two strongest allies are gone... and both of them were the Blackened.

I'm sneaking to the dreaded Meeting Room A to get Sayuri's journal... they offered to just let me keep it, but I was... am... angry at her, so I told them to leave it where it's accessible to everyone. Nobody will care if I have it, but for some reason it feels like a vulnerable action. This one's cover is lacey all the way around, and I briefly take off one of my gloves just to feel its texture. I'm not rough with it, because I don't wanna hurt it— I mean tear it. It can't be hurt, because it's not alive, Yuu— but the coarseness under my fingertips makes me give an involuntary sigh.

I feel weird tucking it in my shirt and even worse trying to hide it under my arm while I try to make it back to my bedroom, so I decide just to chance getting seen. I could just stay in here, but that's not even remotely comfortable; this place is vile and rotten to its core, and somewhere in me, I know it's just a room, but it's stolen everything from us. So no... slinking back away and hoping nobody's walking by really is my best bet.

My footsteps don't make any noises across the tile, but I can practically hear the clacking of Joanie's boots— they always were quite loud— and I have to shove away an image of the chase that ended with her death. I find myself breaking into a run, and the instant I'm back in my bedroom, I shut the door forcefully behind me and slide down to a sitting position with my back to it.

"The ineffable tendrils

Of harmonies from long-lost dreams

Sewn into the very fabric of reality.

They have rung true for millennia

And yet they will not play for many more

And they are certainly not tangible o'er the heartbeat.

I am not worthy to grasp at them.

Yet I pray fervently, hands folded,

That I might one day settle the heartbeat,

Dipping into the universe's hopes for itself,

Shattering the 'cold truth' and the 'real world'

For all eternity."

I trace my fingers along the words she once wrote and then gently close the book. The instant I do, the doorbell rings, and I physically jump. I instinctively tuck the book under my shirt, despite my previous reservations, and open the door. It's a Monoinu. "Can I help you?" I ask, not sure whether this is our Monoinu or one of the many who oppose us.

"Umm... there is a... sticky situation going on in the kitchen, and you were the first person I could find!"

"Oh, God, did Bi--" I cut myself off quickly, biting hard on my tongue as self-punishment. "Did someone get hurt? Fujiko, maybe?" I ask.

"Tozen..."

"Tozen? Tozen hurt himself?" I repeat, somewhat incredulous.

"Yes, but... butbutbut... ack, I need to regulate my emotions, this isn't good."

"I'll try and take care of it. Dunno what I can do, but..." I trail off and shake my head before rushing to the kitchen, book still in tow. He's sat nursing his injury with antibiotic cream and swathes of bandages, a glass of grape juice in front of him. Looks handled to me. Why did Monoinu feel the need to get someone?

I sit down across from him nonetheless, and then I instantly understand. "Yo, you look like you're about to seriously crash," I remark bluntly.

He takes his darkened, baggy eyes away from his fingers long enough to cast me a slightly impatient glance. "I'm fine, you don't need to worry yourself about me."

"What happened?"

"Was grating some vegetables. Shredded the hell out of my fingertips. But it's an easy enough fix... I'm just annoyed that the vegetables got bloody... I'll have to start over."

"Damn, this is uncomfortable," I murmur, setting the journal on the table. "You're sure that won't get infected?"

"I'm sure."

"Want me to restart for you? You've been handling a lot lately, what with deciding to take over everyone's laundry and still managing mealtimes."

"No, no, it's okay. I promise, you don't need to do that," he dismisses.

"Okay, look, Imma just level with you right now. You look like you haven't slept in your entire existence. Let me tag in for you. I haven't really been of much use lately, anyway."

"Yuu, I can handle it, please don't worry yourself."

"I'm sure you can, but you should get some rest--"

"I said NO!" he snaps abruptly, standing up and glaring down on me. His arms tip over the grape juice, and I cover the journal with my hands the instant before it would've gotten drenched. My gloves are soaked, and my hands start to quiver from both cold and anxiety. A chill runs up my spine and we're both dead silent. He gives a couple slow blinks of his tired eyes and his expression starts to soften. "Shit... I'm sorry. Are your gloves going to shrink? I'll go get paper towels."

"My gloves will be fine. I'll need to clean them, but as long as nobody tries to blow dry them, they won't shrink," I call out after him. I don't say this part out loud, but I sullenly snark that he's just lucky I have good reflexes.

"Good, good. I'm sorry again. It's just... way at the beginning, I decided that it was my job to tend to everyone's needs. I know I'm not a great leader like Gou and Kana are, but I AM a good caretaker. And you all need me more than ever. I have no time for rest."

"But that's just the thing: you said Gou AND Kana... and we've kind of all taken leadership roles over the course of this fucking mess. Why should it be any different with the domestic shit? You can be the primary caretaker without being the ONLY caretaker, right?"

He silently cleans up the table, a pensive expression written all over his face. I take off my gloves and wash my hands, scrubbing a bit too long for anyone's good and staring at my distorted reflection in the water as the sink fills up. I take out the plug and dry my hands. "U-Um. I can tell you what I was cooking... if it would make you feel better for me to nap."

"Sure. Just write down the instructions somewhere and leave it on the table. I'll put away the journal and scrub my gloves clean."

So I spend the evening dealing with some chores... worrying about stupid shit. Like every day of my life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kana

We're refining our pasodoble and actually putting choreography to it. We don't have any need to have a routine right now, but it's just nice to try and pretend like we're still in the flow of our normal life. "Strike the poses a bit sharper. You're obviously doing great as it is, but I feel like it oughta be a bit snappier, right?" I urge. He makes a quick popping sound with his mouth and gives a slight nod. "Ah. Your hair is getting quite long. Is it bothering you?" I ask, reaching up to touch his head. He nods even more vehemently as our breaths slow down. "Right. You're a buzz cut guy. I can handle it, dear." I tilt his forehead to mine and then kiss him on his nose. He chuckles and squeezes me tighter before I lead him to the beautician's.

"Hi hiii! You're up here pretty early!" Fujiko greets, effortlessly drawing flawless eyeliner wings like it ain't no big thing.

"This boy is due for a haircut like nobody's business. The thing is, he always wants it super short, but his hair grows real quick, so some TLC is in order, baby!" I grab the razor and turn it on so it blares to life. Monterio opens his eyes wide as though in shock, but I know he's really just doing that to tease me. Fujiko giggles.

"Mind if I hang around? Still gotta finish up my look, but I don't have anything to do today afterward!"

"Duh. Course you can chill," I confirm.

She glares at herself in the mirror. "Hmm... I'm usually a gloss girl, but I'm feeling matte today! A nice peachy nude, maybe?" While she's working out her plan to herself, I shave my partner's hair so that it's the length he likes. His eyes close in relaxation, and I can't help but feel my heart flood with fondness. I hum to him. It's the first song we danced to together. I hope he remembers it, but even if he doesn't, I don't really mind. Shortly thereafter, I finish up.

"Eee! Do you guys wanna try out that cute little indoor playground we just got? I'm feeling in the mood to be an itty bitty kid!" Fujiko

My partner smiles earnestly, eyes still closed. "Being little sounds fun."

Once we're all done in the beautician's, we run upstairs to the new playground. Just like I always did, I sprint to the swing set. Monterio immediately takes to the climbing structure like the monkey he is, and Fujiko does the thing that every kid did and tries to run up the slide, laughing manically. I close my eyes and pretend that there's a sky for me to reach toward instead of a ceiling. After a while, I hear a ruckus, so I open my eyes. Monterio is now trying to help Fujiko in her pursuit, so I leap off the swing and rush over, not wanting to be the only one left out.

"I wish that all of us had met when we were this little. Everything would be super different!" She squeals as she grabs the top of the slide and pulls herself to the top. We cheer.

"Yeah, it would've solved a lot of problems if we'd known each other since the beginning," Monterio agrees.

"Gosh! Imagine it. Drinking juice boxes and drawing pictures and stuff!"

"And doing group projects together," he affirms wistfully.

"I bet you two were the cutest little stinkers!" She makes grabby motions like she wants to pinch our cheeks.

"Well, why don't we pretend we did know each other back then? Just for a day," I offer.

"Umm... well, when I was little, my bro used to bring the hose over and we'd turn this into a water slide!" she smiles. But then she grimaces. "Let's not. We used to bang up our heads a lot."

"How about we play planets? It was a stupid game my siblings and I made up as an excuse to trip each other! We each claim planets— if we count Pluto, we can all have three— and we can steal a planet from someone if we trip them successfully! The person who claims all the planets, or at least the most before lunchtime, wins! Oh! And also! Hands firmly behind our backs!"

"That's barbaric. Of course your siblings came up with it," Monterio banters playfully.

"Shush. Your brother blows air horns in your ears every April Fool's Day. And we barely even do that in this country," I snark, poking his face. "Besides, the floor is foam, we'll be fine."

"Ooh! Ooh! Dibs on Venus!" Fujiko cheers.

"I'm definitely taking Mars. I always have Mars," I demand, grabbing a lock of my bright red hair as explanation.

"...Neptune, then."

"I want sweet little Pluto."

"Jupiter!"

"Mercury."

"Saturn and her pretty little rings for me!"

"So then I'll take Earth!"

"You guys really left me with Uranus?" he grumbles, unimpressed.

We giggle childishly, and I stick out my tongue at him. "We need to take our shoes off! Fujiko and I are in heels!" I point out, kicking off my shoes and flinging them into the air.

"Wait! We gotta treat them nicely, or Yuu'll be mad at us!" Fujiko wails. I'm already getting a pretty good image of who she was as a kid. Having been, from what I've heard, a pretty obedient child, Monterio simply slips them off and walks to set them into the cubby area. Fujiko quickly follows suit.

Just like my siblings always used to do, they steal Mars from me every time they trip me, and I always focus all of my efforts on getting it back before starting my own conquest. Mars is my planet. I wonder if my siblings are watching us. If they can see us playing OUR game. Maybe my parents can see, too. I look at these two and I notice... we're all just doing our best to wear a brave smile, for the sake of the group and maybe for the sake of our loved ones. I'm... doing okay, guys. I'm doing okay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wakumi

Nobody should e'er trust me with swords. Not cause I dunno what I'm doin' with 'em. Nah. It's cause I know exactly what I'm doin' with 'em. 'Specially me cutlasses.

We got trainin' grounds, n' everyone immediately knew where they'd find me fore'er now. Frankly, I think it's a ploy fer that bilge-sucking bear ta not-so-subtly give us a shitload o' weapons ta off each other with. But ain't nobody gonna get hold o' any with me constantly keepin' watch.

There's a supply o' what was explained ta be prototypes o' Monoinu, and when the current design was hit upon, the Mastermind apparently decided ta give 'em fightin' capabilities. 'M assumin' that was in case everyone decided ta whoop Monokuma's ass all at once n' overwhelm 'im 'fore 'e could bust out the heavy weaponry. Nowadays, though, they're good fodder. Dirt 'neath me heels. Apparently, there're different levels o' difficulty fer me ta challenge. Stage one is too wimpy fer me, but I have a feelin' that stage two might be super ramped up ta take us off guard, and I sure as hell ain't gonna meet Davy Jones due ta fuckin' protoinu.

They got a nice variety o' weapon specialities, though. Even if they're, fer the most part, pieces o' cake, it's nice ta spar against opponents with whips n' gauntlets n' whatnot.

Still ain't tried out one with a staff.

I sweep down the last o' the archers— they're only really any hassle as a crew— and take a breath ta go fetch me water canteen. When I turn around, 'e's there. "Aye. Ye really are obsessed with me, just like I said," I roll me eyes.

"Just checking in again..."

I snarl. "Still angry. I ne'er stop BEIN' angry. I dunno what ye haven't drilled inta yer head yet, Gou."

"Okay. Wanna scuffle? I'm no good with any weapons, but maybe I'll improve enough at wrestling to give you a challenge!"

"Ye got enthusiasm, I'll give ye that. Ye oughta warm up first, though."

He nods zealously and starts doin' stretches with vigor. Sometimes I wonder if this laddie has any sorta off switch, cause it seems like 'e's ne'er even remotely calm. Now that Haruto's gone, 'e's the most passionate o' us all. Nobody's quite as hotheaded. 'Fore I even get a chance ta process what's happenin', 'e's body slammin' me, and we're back inta the fray. 'E fights fiercely, but 'e sure as hell isn't gonna take me in a duel. I won't stand fer mutiny. By the end, we've worked up a sweat n' are pantin' like dogs, sittin' back ta back ta prop each other up.

"Um... Wakumi...? What did Joanie's note say? And... was that the memento you chose?"

" 'Er note was frustratin'... all 'bout how that was the only option she could think of ta fix everything n' whatnot... n' how she was soooooo glad ta have met us. Not glad enough that she had the guts ta stick around, clearly. It was a lily-livered, moronic decision. Ripped the letter up. Chose ta save 'er work-in-progress script. She spent a lot o' time on it, and she always was absurdly concerned with how 'er audiences viewed 'er."

"And... Bisque's present?" 'E sounds like 'e's almost afraid ta ask. As 'e should be.

"I smashed it, Gou," I inform 'im defiantly. I scoot out o' the way so that 'e falls flat on 'is back.

"You... seriously?" 'Is voice is hushed n' he looks like 'e's flat-out shell-shocked. I don't get why everyone in this god-forsaken place is so damn sensitive.

" 'E ne'er shoulda gone along with 'er idiotic plot. 'E was a naive, impulsive little nitwit, n' 'e helped someone who thought 'er own death would fix all the world's problems. I was so ready ta keelhaul whoe'er offed Ginny n' made 'er break 'er promise, but she did it 'erself. In fact, now that I'm thinkin' back on it, she didn't even agree ta me pact in the first place. N' Haruto doin' what 'e did was useless. I'm pissed that ye all treat 'im like some kinda hero. Now listen here. The dumb present ain't beyond repair, but I'm not in any sorta mood ta fix it. Yet. Savvy?"

"I... I'm sorry. I don't understand you the way I wish I could. That's always been the case. I'm trying."

"I'm not angry with ye, but if ye keep tryna pull sappy shit inta our conversations, ye may find yerself on the other end o' me cutlass, savvy?"

"Fine. I'm savvy, I'm savvy. Could you just... maybe teach me a little about your talent? I don't care what it is that you choose to teach me; sword fighting is fine, cartography if you do any of that, literally anything."

I stand up instantaneously. "Ye wanna learn how ta cure a ham? We don't always have easy access ta food when we're on open waters, so we gotta preserve shit, right?"

"I told you, I'll take whatever I can get."

I put me cutlass back inta its spot n' then I dash all the way down ta the first floor. I don't stop ta check if 'e's followin' me, but the laddie is known fer bein' quite quick on 'is feet, so 'e's only a couple o' steps behind me by the end. "We're gonna salt cure, not brine cure, so get some red pepper, black pepper, n' brown sugar. I'll get the curin' salt, cause it has ta be non-iodized. Now, c'mon, let's get in that damn meat freezer. We gotta do this when it's roughly between two n' four n' a half degrees Celsius."

'E shivers in the chilly air. Throughout the whole process, 'e seems out o' it n' unusually guarded, n' it ticks me off so bad that I threaten ta crush 'is barnacles. Yet 'e stays vigilant enough ta repeat the whole process right back ta me by the end, so I can't say it's a total loss.

I don't know what 'e expects o' me. I live in constant anger, n' that's that.