Ouma's POV:

"We've managed to keep her status stable as of now, and she can be removed from the ICU shortly, it was lucky you discovered her when you did, had it been a few minutes later we wouldn't have been able to resuscitate her," the doctor told us calmly.

My father was squirming in his chair, he seemed to have aged decades, his hair was already turning gray but it only seemed to intensify as he put it back into a small man bun, "h-how....how did this happen?" My father asked.

"We suspect she tripped at the bases of your stairs and fell, due to the sharp edge corner she suffered a severe injury" he explained, "she...she tripped?" my father asked, though it sounded more like a mumble, "we suspect stress, her legs possibly collapsed" he threw out.

My father didn't respond, only removing his glasses as he wiped away whatever tears were in his eyes, "will...will she be ok?" he asked, the doctor nodded, "the injury was not severe enough to kill her luckily, but she has suffered a concussion and we will not know the severity of the injury until she wakes up" he told us, it looked like he was trying to give us hope but...

My father nodded, "thank you for taking care of her" he told him, "it's our job sir" he responded and that ended the conversation as my father left the room and I quickly followed behind him, he seemed to move as if his feet were made of lead as he finally found a seat and collapsed into the chair his back hunched over, his glasses placed on his lap as he seemed to try and calm himself down.

When I came home from hanging out with Saihara I had found my mother in front of the stairs, fainted, I screamed and my Dad heard me and we called for an ambulance, we must have been here for hours just waiting for some kind of news on her...every hour digging at us and my father seemed to have gained a large amount of stress.

He looked like a wreck.

"D-Dad...?" I tried to say, I didn't know what I should say to him, he looked at me nervously laughing, "oh..sorry bud, I haven't been helping you out with this huh?" he asked ruffling my hair, "don't worry...your Mom will be fine, and when she comes home she'll be back to normal in no time...which means you're going to have to clean up your room right?" he joked, he had on a large and fake smile.

"A-Aren't h-hospital b-bills expensive...?" I asked, he didn't respond for a while, "we'll make it work" he finally said taking a deep breath, "we always work it out in the end" he repeated trying to strengthen the lie. Stop it.

"Well this is something for a kid like you to worry about ok?" he told me, "I-I'm not a c-child!" I protested, "no...but this is something for me and your mother to work out ok? You don't need to worry about anything, I'll take care of us alright? All I need from you right now is to keep working hard at school...and don't get worried ok? We'll be fine...we'll be fine" he assured. I felt myself biting down on my tongue.

"W-What about y-you?" I asked he didn't respond pulling his hand back as rubbed the back of his neck, "I'll...I'll be fine, ok?" he told me. You're lying, why are you lying to me? "B-but, I w-want to h-help! I c-can help! I c-can take Mom's p-place in the b-bakery and, I c-could g-get a job! L-Let me help!" I told him.

"No Kokichi, that's the last thing I want ok," my father told me, "I know this is scary but I don't need you sacrificing your school life for this ok? Things will be a bit tight for us right now but we can't risk you losing your scholarship right now, so I need you to focus on school alright? Just leave it to me, it's my job alright?" he said.

I looked down gripping my hands tightly, I could feel my fingers digging themselves into my palms deeply, "It will be fine" my father repeated to the quiet and monochrome hallways, with only the company of beeping monitors and hushed whispers to quell his doubts and fears.

~-~-Three Weeks Later-~-~

"Ouma," Saihara said surprised as I looked up at him, it was raining heavily and he stepped aside to let me inside his house as I started taking off my shoes, "s-sorry to c-come so late...I n-needed some to t-talk to.." I told him.

Saihara looked confused but nodded as we headed up to his room, we sat on his bed as he carefully held my hand which I appreciated, "r-remember...r-remember a few w-weeks back...w-when my Mom g-got hurt?" I asked him, he nodded, "w-well...i-it looks l-like she h-has some b-brain damage...s-she c-can't work f-for a long t-time...and w-we need m-money for treatments...w-we a-aren't really p-poor but n-not exactly w-well off either...so my D-Dad has been w-working a lot lately..." I told him as Saihara started patting me on the back.

I took in a deep breath and sighed as I began relaxing, "h-he won't...he won't l-let me help...a-all he c-cares about his m-me doing g-good in school...I d-don't care t-though! I j-just want to h-help! I can't t-take s-seeing him s-stressed out a-all the time! A-and crying! He a-always cries w-when he thinks n-no one is t-there! I...I...I j-just want t-to h-help! WHY? W-Why am I so useless?!" I shouted.

"You're not useless," Saihara told me making me face his direction, I shook my head, "n-no I am! I c-can't do anything r-right! I'm s-stupid! A c-coward! I c-can't ever m-make a right d-decision and I c-can't ever p-protect anyone who I l-love! I c-can't even protect m-myself! I'm-"

"Please stop insulting my best friend," Saihara told me, "b-but I-I"

"SHUICHI!" a voice rang out from the hallway interrupting what I was about to say, I turned around and Saihara immediately let go of me heading towards the door as he patted whatever dust he might have had on himself standing straight, his old deadpan expression returned to his face as he turned back to me.

"Just...wait here," he told me, for one he seemed worried and unsure as he opened the door and quickly left. My eyes widened as I watched him leave, I nervously got up and walked near the door trying to hear whatever was being said...

I've...I've never met Saihara's parents before...I'm kind of scared...he says that they're strict with him because he loves him but...I held onto my hand tightly, it's always sounded like abuse to me...they've hurt him...they always hurt him...and I don't understand why they would hurt him...he's so kind and amazing-so why can't they just appreciate the son they've been given rather than some image they have made in their head?

"Have you seen your grades? They're pathetic, you should be better than this, you need to do better than this and cut out the distractions in your life, grades mean everything, do you understand?" she pushed.

"Of course Mother" Saihara responded, "don't call me Mother, just do as I ask, I have too much on my plate to be worrying about you like this," she said, "it's pathetic, you should have done better than this alright? Next semester, hundreds all around and I don't expect anything less, you don't want to embarrass me do you?" she asked him, her voice was cold and laced with malice and just hearing those words sent shivers up my spine, I have no idea how Saihara feels hearing them.

What if they hurt him?! What are they mad about?! WHY?!  Why am I just standing here doing nothing...? I...I promised I would protect him...I promised him so...I can't...I CAN'T JUST WAIT IN HERE FOR HIM!

I opened the door and headed out quickly, every part of me wanted to turn back and run but I held firm and turned the corner of the hallway where I saw Saihara and his mother, she looked angry.

Be brave...

"P-Please stop" I mumbled, she turned to face me before showing me a look of disgust, "Saihara who is this?" she asked accusingly, "Kokichi Ouma, he's a friend from school," Saihara told her. He hasn't told her...

"Regardless, you know the rules about guests Shuichi, get him out of here before you give me another gray hair...little brat..." she mumbled the last part out but Shuichi stiffened when he heard those words glancing over at me as he started to walk over to the front door.

No.

"H-Hey! Y-You shouldn't t-treat him like t-that!" I shouted, she looked at me coldly, her eyes narrowing, "look, I don't know who you are, but a little boy like you has no right to come into my home and insult my parenting, you don't know what you're talking about so shut up you little brat, get out of my house, and stop speaking to my son do you understand?" she asked.

I felt myself sweating as I shook my head, she walked up towards me her face was cold and expressionless and before I could even register what was happening she had slapped me hard across my face, destroying my balance as I fell to the floor, as I clutched onto my face it was burning.

I looked back up at her, I could feel any confidence I was feigning crumbling as she glared down at me shaking her head as she leaned down towards me, "you're a pathetic little boy, someone like you doesn't deserve to be associated with my son you disgrace, do you understand? Or do I need to remind you again of your worth?" she asked.

I looked down and slowly nodded, she almost smiled standing back up straight as she walked past me, her heels clicking on the floor, I felt myself trembling as I looked back up at Saihara, he didn't say anything just walked over and helped me get back up.

"I-I'm s-sorry..." I told him, he didn't respond instead he only held my hand tighter as we headed towards the front of his house, Saihara...he seemed sad and I could tell he was stressed, I had a feeling I only added to that if not wholly responsible, "I...I j-just wanted to...I w-wanted to..." 

"You should go home Ouma, it's late," he told me, I felt tears brimming in my eyes as he held open the door for me he was only staring down at the floor, "S-Saihara-"

"You need to go...ok?" he told me, I felt my body trembling as I quickly put on my shoes and left the house into the pouring rain, I wanted to look at Saihara one more time to tell him how sorry I was for getting in the way but he had already closed the door.

I'm sorry...I'm so sorry Saihara...

I'm sorry for being useless.....

~-~-Three Days Later-~-~

The past few days have been lonely, to say the least, Saihara hasn't approached me and has ignored all my texts so far, I should have known that he wouldn't want to hang out with a person like me forever, I'm awful but...my god why am I so selfish? Why do I still want him to talk to me, to smile whenever I tell him how much I loved the new book he shows me, to be my rock every single time I want to hide, I...I need him...

But...he doesn't need me, does he? He's never needed me in the slightest, it was just me...I'm the one who can't support themself, I'm the one who needs someone to live, I AM the problem, not Saihara's mother, it's me...it's my fault that he doesn't want to see me anymore...

I'm...

"Have you guys heard the rumors?" a girl asked, I was sitting up on the rooftop and a group of first years had gathered near the area, "no what are you talking about?" another asked, "the rumor about the Danganronpa forums!" the first one said excitedly.

"What's that about?" she asked, "well apparently there's a super-secret group online dedicated to that murder show Danganronpa, apparently that's also how you can get scouted out for the show as well," she told her.

"Scouted out?" another asked confused, "well apparently Danganronpa also scouts out people for their shows, kind of like what Hope's Peak did with its students, and to do that there's a secret forums page online, the people who manage to find it are the ones who eventually make it on the show," she said.

"Wow that's way to extra," the girl said, "yeah maybe huh?" the other said laughing.

...

...

A forum...huh? I mean...I think Kazue mentioned something like that when we had our first binge-watching session, maybe I can meet others like me who like the show? I don't want to join, it's a bit scary, but it might be nice to meet someone else with similar hobbies.

At least till Saihara forgives me...if he ever forgives me...alright. I'm going to do it! But wait...how am I even going to find the forums in the first place if it is secret like they say...? I guess I can just google maybe...

...

...

Kazue left me his computer.

~-~-~-~-~

The room was dark and I felt nervous as I opened up Kazue computer, it felt like an invasion of privacy, he had left it behind to me because he said he "wouldn't need it" due to him being in the season...but if what those girls said is true then that means he must have the forums on his computer.

After logging into the computer, I found a webhook immediately directing me towards the forums, it wasn't even hidden it was right there and it kind of surprised me how easy it was to find, making me wonder how Kazue figured out about this in the first place.

Nonetheless, I clicked on it, and it offered me the chance to create an account, I felt myself sweating, why am I so nervous? It's just a forum page...its just a website...there's nothing to be scared of....right?

I...I just need to do it.

Welcome! Panta-Chan!

ScifiGirl: Oh cool a new person what's up?

Panta-Chan: Ah! Oh gosh, I'm nervous, hi! 

ScifiGirl: Hah no need to be nervous we're all cool here! 

Panta-Chan: That's a relief...I'm not exactly well-liked where I live :(

ScifiGirl: Awww what? Who wouldn't like a cute nervous girl like you? Guys at my school would eat you up darling!

Panta-Chan: I'm a guy...

ScifiGirl: WOAH- Ok then the GIRLS at my school would eat you up, seriously cute shy boys are popular these days you got a lucky roll, no one likes my personality they just call me a slut.

ScifiGirl: I think they're assholes but you know what they don't care what the 'dumb bitch' says ugh I hate them to be honest.

Panta-Chan: I'm sorry D:

ScifiGirl: Nah it's fine, I'm just glad I got to find these forums it's pretty cool.

ScifiGirl: Anyways since you're new want the grand tour?

Panta-Chan: Yes please! :D

ScifiGirl: Ok so basically there's like three features, friends which is like private rooms for people you've friend requested, by the way, you can drop me a request, then there's the public chat space like where you are right now.

ScifiGirl: Usually there are more people on but people are still binging the new season and don't want spoilers.

Panta-Chan: Ah! I understand :3

ScifiGirl: AW HECK YOU EVEN TYPE CUTELY! TEACH MY YOUR SECRETS!

Panta-Chan: You're making me embarrassed...

ScifiGirl: I'm sorry! You're just so cute! If you were in Danganronpa I would kill everyone in the room and then myself if anyone dared lay a finger on your head! 

Panta-Chan: Aww you don't need to do that! D:

ScifiGirl: I will mark my words! 

ScifiGirl: Ok yeah and the final page is basically where you can post like questions, like a little section kind of like an announcement board for your account/page where you can post like your theories

ScifiGirl: I think that's all you need to know!

Panta-Chan: Aww ok! 

Panta-Chan: Thank you very much for your help!

ScifiGirl: No problem! 

Panta-Chan: It was fun chatting on here! I have to go do homework now

ScifiGirl: Ok then! Bye!

I smiled to myself as I left the chat and glanced at the third page, Why You SHOULD Join Danganronpa!

Hm...ScifiGirl said I would be good, didn't she? Oh well, it's not like I have a good enough personality to be in Danganronpa...I can't join.

Normality: hah this guy sounds pathetic.

Neon-Fusion: I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HE WAS A GUY!

CuriousFish: I know right? What a weirdo!

...

I glanced at the responses before I turned off the computer.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"Yes?" I called turning around, my Dad was standing there looking down at the ground.

....

...

...

...

What...?

~-~-~-One Week later-~-~

We all gathered around the grave as the rain kept pouring down, it didn't feel real. None of this felt real as I glanced back at my friends.

"WHY?! WHY DID HE DO IT?!" Riko screamed out between her sobs.

Kazue Mori was one of my best friends, we met as children, I must have been maybe four or five and he was the cool older kid, even if it was only by one year, he got to do everything before me and he was the one who introduced me to many of my hobbies.

He wasn't always a nice person, he was snarky and often overly sarcastic, he had a softer side, but he rarely showed it even to us, maybe it was because he had a more guarded personality or maybe the reason why died with him.

He was ambitious and had so many dreams, and every day you could tell how hard he was working and how intricately he had planned out his future, every step perfectly calculated...which was why this fate was impossible for me to accept.

When Kazue joined the fifty-first season of Danganronpa I felt happy for him. He seemed to be happy about the outcome so of course, I wanted to support my friend, I let him go...I let him go...I let him go and look what happened...

When he showed up in the show as the ultimate tailor it seemed to almost be a perfect copy of Kazue, it was almost uncanny how tiny the differences were that only us his life long friends probably would have been able to tell, how the tailor was kinder and more open-minded, how he was snarky but had charm meant to allure people.

He was much more cunning and seemed to act like a mastermind, which I guess was meant to be a red herring that didn't end up working out because of what happened.

Chapter two, something none of us ever could have expected happened.

He murdered #*(!~!(~!. It wouldn't have been as terrifying it wasn't for the fact we knew something the audience didn't, because we weren't screaming at the fact just Kazue would die as the blackened...we were screaming because of #*(!~!(~! was also our close friend, but more important to Kazue...his girlfriend.

Maybe that's what led him to make the decision he did that day.

We haven't heard from #*(!~!(~! and they aren't here with us today, we guessed maybe she was still recovering from what happened to her inside the game and the crude and horrible way that Kazue had murdered her, it would possibly scar me for life.

Because...because despite it being a month since that fated day...without any warning, without us ever being able to see him at least one more time, we didn't even think of saying any last words to him when he left...

He one week ago climbed up the hospital stairs, went to the secluded roof, and he jumped.

Gone, gone and we didn't even know why or what he might have been thinking. According to the one kind person who was working with him, he had only woken up a few days prior and had remembered only what he had done in the game.

I wonder if he did know...if he knew the people he left behind that day. If he knew that it wasn't just another participant, but a close friend of his...I hope he didn't, to be honest. Because I don't want to believe he died suffering more than he probably was.

I...

The funeral service was private and his death would only be announced to the public at the end of the season, I guess I could understand? They wanted to give us time to grieve before the public bombarded us right?

They...they weren't trying to hide this...right? I don't think I'll ever know.

The whole service, no since the moment I figured out what happened, I couldn't feel anything. It was as if a numbness had invaded my body and no matter how many people said sorry for your loss, I couldn't even register what was even happening because there was no way...no way that Kazue...Kazue couldn't have been the person we cremated, Kazue couldn't have been the person his parents and teachers made tear-filled speeches about, the one Riko was proudly saying how she wished she told him more jokes, how Tsuki was still sobbing for...

Kazue couldn't be the one I had to say goodbye to.

Because...Kazue deserved to live.

Kazue had so much more to give to this world, he was talented and determined to live life, he didn't even try to give up like me, he was special and amazing and I can't...I can't believe that the universe would ever try and discard him like that, why would it do this to HIM?!

Why...

My feet moved without me thinking, the day moving by like a blur as I walked past my school, where I felt my body tense slightly without my consent, back into my house, past the spot where my mother's blood still could be faintly seen on the floor, back into my bedroom where a laptop laid closed as I opened up a site my fingers typing before my brain could register what I was doing.

Panta-Chan Asks: If a person is truly worthless if they don't have anything to give to the world, should they sign up for Danganronpa? If I signed up for Danganronpa, could I become someone worth keeping alive?