Ouma's POV:

I cleaned my room more as I made my bed and then wiped the sweat off of my brow looking over my hard work, it will have to do...it's the best I could do...I didn't know what to do, what should I do? I wish Kazue was here for me to talk to...or #*(!~!(~! they probably would have been able to give my good advice.

It was my last day, not even a full day, more like the last morning. Saihara and I to our luck had both been accepted into Danganronpa, I couldn't believe it to be honest and when they told us the details they explained we would be arriving a few days before the actual simulation started so they could give us a 'check-up' I didn't understand much of what they tried to explain to me.

They mentioned there were slight side effects after the simulation? They didn't make it out to sound that bad though, just mentioned some occasional headaches, and we just needed to stay a month or two afterward so they could prep us for the inevitable press afterward which did intimidate me.

However, they've all been so nice and supportive telling me I made the right decision and they can't wait to 'meet me' whatever that meant. I think they were joking? I meant they already have met me so I guess they can't wait to see my character?

I wasn't told much about what he would be like, so I guess when I wake up Saihara and I can watch together because according to them, I won't be conscious during the actual game. It makes sense, I mean otherwise, it wouldn't look realistic right?

That has to be why...

I felt guilty though, I hadn't told my father what exactly I had been up to for the past month and he had no idea what I was about to do, I know that if I had told him he would have tried to talk me out of it...and I might have listened.

I can't...I can't go back...I already signed the contract...it's too late...so...should I tell him? Should I tell him today? Or should I pretend like it's any other day...that might be kinder, I don't want him to worry about me...

He'll find out eventually...I managed to lie to him telling him I would be with Saihara all weekend so by the time he realizes something is wrong I'll already be in the simulation and hopefully, Tsuki will tell him where I am.

I bit my lip, I felt bad for putting her in such a position but I didn't have a choice, when Kazue died most of DICE began boycotting the show, I think they blamed it for Kazue dying despite from what the staff told me it wasn't their fault, and it had to have been all Kazue because most of the participants don't die after the games.

It hurt to hear that...but they must have not been lying...right? They can't lie, there's no way. They aren't lying...I just...I must be wrong about what I thought about Kazue is all...that's all...

...

...

I should go. Closing the door to my bedroom I walked down the stairs, I was wearing my school uniform on but had normal streetwear I would change into once I was out of my father's sight, who despite his busy work schedule still insisted on at least being able to see me before I walked to school.

"Good m-moring..." I mumbled to him, he was reading a newspaper as he sipped on a cup of coffee, "oh good morning Kokichi, how are you?" he asked, I shrugged, "I-I'm good..." I told him he smiled, "that's good...I saw your test on the counter, you got a B! I'm so proud of you!" he told me, I smiled in pride as I felt my chest growing heavier.

"Thanks..." I said, "I'm sure if your Mom could have seen it she would have been proud, do you want to go to the hospital?" he asked. 

My mother was still in the hospital recovering from the brain damage, she was slowly but surely coming back to us but she still needed help.

"No, I'm s-sorry I have p-plans with Saihara r-remember?" I lied, he looked down and nodded, "oh...right, I forgot sorry. Can't believe it to be honest" he said, I looked at him curiously, "can't believe what?" I asked, "that you're beginning to hang out with others again...it's no secret you were a shy child, and while I don't exactly get what you see in Saihara it's nice to see you make friends other than the neighborhood kids," he told me proudly.

I'm sorry...

"Thanks..." I told him again, I felt like my voice was cracking as I tried to hide the tears and shame building inside of me, "hey bud is something wrong? You look worried about something" he told me concerned.

I shook my head, "No! It's f-fine! I...I h-have a t-test today...that's a-all" I lied, he looked at me for a second I wished he wouldn't fall for the lie, for that second I wish he would know what exactly I was planning, hoping somehow he would just hold me tightly and wouldn't let me go.

"Ok then, have a nice day," he told me returning to his newspaper, I didn't say anything not giving him another second to doubt me as I quickly grabbed a piece of bread feigning a breakfast as I headed out the door.

...

...

...

I love you Dad.

~-~-~-~

I left the bathroom as I left the room wearing a black hoodie and white pants walking down the street using a mask trying to avoid eye contact with others, the van where I would be picked up was another few blocks away and I was cutting it close to the meeting time.

I knew I should've left earlier, what if they leave without me? I don't want to be a burden to them-

"Oh sorry, sir I wasn't-Kokichi?" Riko asked confused as my eyes widened. No...no this can't be...

"What are you doing here?" she asked confused, "you're not even wearing a uniform...WOAH IS MY SWEET BABY BOY SKIPPING?!" she screamed in shock.

I felt myself blushing, "s-sorry Riko I c-can't talk right n-now I have to g-go," I told her, trying my best to move past her but she kept blocking my way, "oh why not? If you're ditching I'll come with! We haven't seen each other since....you know...and I've missed you! You've been so quiet lately and I want to have some fun with you Kokichi!" she said enthusiastically.

"Riko I-" I tried to reason but she grabbed onto my hand tightly dragging me off towards the opposite direction, "c-come on! We can go to McDonald's...we can h-have fun at the arcade!" she said stuttering, my eyes widened as I realized...I realized what she was looking at.

The wrist she was grabbing so tightly, had one feature so the person picking me up could tell I was the contestant, not only did it have my name and a scanner...right in the center of it was the Danganronpa logo and Riko...

I'm so sorry Riko...

"Riko...y-you have to l-let go..." I told her, she shook her head laughing through ached breaths, "n-no I don't!" she told me, "because we're going to have fun today...just Kichi and I...we're going to have so much fun...and then we'll do this tomorrow...and no one will go anywhere this time...no one will be leaving me this time...no one is going to die or get hurt this time...because you're not going to go...you're just going to stay right here...with us..." she told me, although the way she stared at the ground and seemed to be holding back tears made me wonder if it was just for me.

"Riko..." I mumbled, she was shaking her head as she kept trying to drag me further away, her grip only tightening as she seemed to grow more erratic, "d-don't worry! It's fine...we're going to be fine, come on Kichi...just follow ok...? Don't...don't..." she tried to say, her voice started cracking as she finally turned back to face me.

Her eyes were red and puffy and full of tears, "You can't leave me Kokichi...you can't leave me alone...ok? So that's why...you need to stay with us...I need you...I need you Kokichi...so please...don't leave me...don't leave me alone here...DON'T LEAVE ME HERE LIKE KAZUE AND #*(!~!(~! THEY DID! PLEASE JUST STAY HERE! I'LL DO ANYTHING YOU WANT JUST PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!" she begged.

"We can hang out like when we were younger, if you're scared I'll make your fear go away, I'll be here with you-SO PLEASE DON'T DO THIS! DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE! PLEASE DON'T GO! DON'T GO KOKICHI!" she pleaded, not caring how much attention she was getting as she clung onto me for dear life pulling me into a tight embrace.

"Don't...don't leave me..." she whispered, I didn't know how to respond as I looked at my tear-stained friend...I'm...this...what can I tell her? How...how do I convince her that this is for the best? How do I...?

"Riko...I w-won't go..." I told her, she immediately pulled back her eyes full of hope, I bit my lip as I pushed her back, she was surprised and fell onto the sidewalk as I started running against the now downpouring rain, "WAIT!" she screamed as she seemed to scramble to get up, I didn't wait for a second pushing through the weather and all of my doubt that wanted to take her hand and run away.

Eventually, I lost her in a crowded street, I didn't even know where I was as I felt my hoodie getting grabbed I screamed when I quickly realized these people had the Danganronpa logo as they forced me into their van and I quickly got put into the back seat, the pedestrians didn't seem concerned as the door slammed shut.

I felt myself sweating as I turned around and looked at the window, where I saw Riko, her hair had been ruined in the rain and somewhere along the way she had ditched her book bag and even one of her shoes as she stared at the back of the van, and yelled words I couldn't hear before she crumbled onto the sidewalk wailing.

"A friend of yours?" someone asked also observing the scene, "y-yes..." I told her, she nodded and then looked at me, "it's best not to look back" she advised and without another word, a black window appeared and I couldn't see her anymore.

I...I looked forward.

~-~-~-~-~

I felt nervous as I laid down in the tube, as the nurses occasionally came by the check my vitals as I turned to Shuichi who was in the pod next to mine, he looked nervous like me...but with a tinge of excitement also added which made me feel relieved.

"You ready?" he asked turning to me, I looked down nervous, "I d-don't know...b-but...I'm j-just going to g-go for it," I told him, he nodded as he observed the bystanders, "are we still sticking to the plan?" he asked, I shrugged, "w-we won't r-remember it t-though..." I told him, "true...well maybe it will be like a subconscious instinct then" he theorized.

"Instinct?" I asked Shuichi nodded, "something will draw the two of us together, and something I'm sure deep inside of me will make us become friends, or closer until I eventually kill you," he told me confidently.

I looked down nervous, "ok...I-I'll trust instinct t-to then," I told him, Shuichi nodded pleased before looking down, a bit of worry on his brow, "what's w-wrong?" I asked, he shook his head, "you'll think it's silly" he told me, "t-try me" I told him before he took a deep breath.

"What if...what if I don't remember you when we wake up? What if I only remember you for how we were inside of the killing game?" he asked. I paused, the possibility had never even crossed my mind that I might not ever remember Shuichi for how we were right now.

"I promise," I told him, he looked at me confused, "I promise, t-to always remember y-you! B-because even if they t-take my memories..." I told him as I placed a hand on my heart, "m-my heart...it w-will always r-remember you...s-so...I WILL A-ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU! And I'll a-always be b-by your s-side!" I told him.

He looked at me shocked as I held out my pinkie, "i-it's a promise..." I told him, he hesitated as he also held out his pinkie as we promised. We promised to be with each other and promised to remember each other.

....

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..

..

That's the hope I held onto when eventually the mask was placed over my head, as darkness overcame my body and a weird dreamless slumber ensued...that was the hope I held onto when I woke up in a body no longer belonging to just me...the hope I held onto when I fought every day desperate...desperate for a chance to live again, a chance to see my friends and family again...a chance to see Shuichi again...that was the hope I gave up the day I realized my limited time left on this earth...the hope I let go when I intended to die that day on the rooftop once again, only to be stopped by a person who bore the same name as my beloved...and that's the hope...

The hope and wish that was doomed from the start, the one...the one I still want to believe in our words...I want to believe...in my happy ending...even though I know...I've known all along...it's my fault it became a tragedy in the first place.