He was tired.

Curled into a ball upon his bed, his phone held loosely in his hand, Nagito Komaeda felt eternally tired.

Ping!

Hajime or Chiaki, most likely- two out of his three closest friends. Those two could sense when he wasn't himself, even through the screen, and both had been messaging him for over two hours.

Despite being alone, Nagito's eyes flicked open and he mumbled, "Leave me alone."

Vvvvvvrrt.

His phone vibrated in his hand and Nagito brought it up to his eye-level, his brow furrowing at the contact that was calling him.

(Y/N) (L/N) is calling.

He clicked 'decline' before allowing his hand to drop back down to his side.

Worthless, trash, insane, psychotic- he had heard it all. On the outside, he had seemingly brushed it off, while on the inside it merely added to the growing list of insults constantly bouncing around in his brain.

Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping!

Nagito didn't bat an eye, rolling on his side in attempt to ignore the noise.

Ping! Ping!

"Why would someone...someone as hope-filled as her..want to speak to trash like me...?" the Ultimate Luckster muttered to no one in peculiar, his words hanging in the air, as heavy as bricks. Bricks heavy enough to crush his shoulders when they fell.

Ping!

He relented at last, a hand groping around behind his green jacket to grasp his phone and bring it over to him, reading the last message.

(Y/N) (L/N): Nagito! Speak to me already. You're worrying me...please, talk to me.

The white-haired boy was going to turn off the device, but another message appeared.

(Y/N) (L/N): You might think you're trash, but I believe you're a truly wonderful person. Seeing you, okay, everyday, brought a smile to my face. Nagito, I want you to reply- I'm about to alert Monomi and Monokuma.

Nagito tried his best to hold in a snort, clamping a hand over his mouth as he read the last sentence. Monokuma and Monomi, the headmaster and vice-headmaster of their school.

But her first words puzzled him. (Y/N) (L/N), the third out of his closest friends. The SHSL (Talent) compared to his pathetic title. Why would someone want to try and help him, out of all people? Gundham Tanaka needed talking to sometimes- the SHSL Animal Breeder often had panic attacks during school.

Typing in his passcode, Nagito's fingers hovered over the keyboard, debating the words in his head as he ran them through carefully.

Nagito Komaeda: Why do you keep attempting?

Blunt, honest, to the point- what answer would she reply with?

(Y/N) (L/N): Yay, you replied!

(Y/N) (L/N): *cue the snort* Well, obviously- I care about you.

She, care about him? What a laugh.

Nagito Komaeda: I'm trash, and you've full of hope. Leave me be, (Y/N), it'll be better off this way for your hope-filled future.

She didn't answer right away, and the 'writing' icon, a pencil, didn't pop up.

Nagito let out a short, bitter laugh- as he expected. He had convinced her to go away.

He was wrong.

(Y/N) (L/N) has sent a picture message!

(Y/N) (L/N): Do you see that picture there?

It was loading, the white circle going around as he waited.

Nagito Komaeda: It's loading.

(Y/N) (L/N): Well, let me tell you what it says.

The Ultimate Luckster couldn't help but roll his grey eyes as she typed. He still couldn't see the picture, but the way she was at least trying brought a sorrowful smile to his lips.

(Y/N) (L/N): H.O.P.E

That drew his attention. His eyes flicked over to the message immediately.

(Y/N) (L/N): Hold on, pain ends.

H: Hold

O: On

P: Pain

E: Ends

Hold on, pain ends. Hold on, pain ends. Hold on, pain ends. Hold on, pain ends.

Nagito Komaeda: ...thank you. But why?

(Y/N) (L/N): Worth it.

He was worth it.

Not worthless. Worthwhile, worth something to someone one.

(Y/N) (L/N): :) Love ya, Nagito.

Love you. Something his family never said to him.

Nagito realized he was smiling. Not that sad, wistful smile he almost always had, but the bright, wide smile that caused his cheeks to hurt. And he knew his next words before the keyboard popped up.

Nagito Komaeda: Love you too. <3