I promise this doesn't have a sad ending

Virtual Reality AU

3rd Person POV

It had been days since Shuichi had woken up, almost a full week. He was in turmoil for a while, but after a few sessions of seeing a mandatory therapist, he had settled down.

Danganronpa V3 was a lie.

It wasn't real, which means it was fake, which means it was just a lie.

A simulation, for a simpler answer.

He, Maki, and Himiko all awoke at the same time, in the same place; a hospital room, in hospital beds, just a few days ago.

They were surprised to see an intact building instead of rocks and rubble. They were surprised to see people with concerned and pitiful looks on their faces.

Was this the real world? Technically, yes..

The nurses told them everything. It was all vr, a very advanced one at that. Even though everything was a lie, it was a nice lie; that their friends didn't actually die.

A kind lie, if you will.

A day after they awoke, others started to awake as well. The order they awoke was the earliest and painless first, to the deaths that happened later in the game, who suffered more pain.

First was Rantaro, then Ryoma, then Kaede, then Kirumi, then Angie, then Tenko, then Miu, then Korekiyo, then Gonta, then Kaito, then Tsumugi.

But one had yet to awoken, for he had the most painful death of them all.

A villain, yet a hero. A deciver, yet a helper. A manipulator, yet, a leader.

Kokichi Ouma.

The severe circumstances of his death caused an error. He hadn't woken up yet.

He layed almost lifeless looking on his hospital bed. His body was limp, but he still breathed.

Kokichi had gotten a few visitors at first, but less came as days went by.

The doctors had told everyone that, he might not ever wake up.

Some were saddened, and others treated it as a "Good riddance."

But Shuichi was troubled by the news. 'Even if the Supreme Leader did bad things he was still a good guy,' was what his heart told him, and his mind agreed.

The detective visited Kokichi everday. He spoke to him about his day and his thoughts, regardless of what whether or not they the other boy could hear him. He kept Kokichi company, even if the leader wasn't aware of his presence. He occasionally held the boy's hand, even if he couldn't feel their fingers intertwined.

Shuichi wanted to apologize. Once everyone else had woken up, they all apologized for what they may have said or done to each other.

He wanted to apologize for the things he said to Kokichi after the forth trial. Because, thinking back on it, Shuichi could tell he had hurt him with his words.

Thinking back on everything, Shuichi noticed more and more the mask the leader constantly wore.

The thoughts saddened him, but he knew the boy would want no pity.

Looking beside the chair Shuichi sat on, he got a good looks at Kokichi's face.

His expression was soft, but painful. It had determination, but nervousness. It held acceptance, yet fear.

When Shuichi touched his hand it almost felt cold.

Since the boy was unconscious he couldn't control his body, so the nurses had to pump food and water into him so he wouldn't pass on because of starvation.

Shuichi couldn't bare to let Kokichi die again.

It'd be a cruel fate to know he had a second chance at life but couldn't obtain it.

So the detective monitored him when the nurses didn't. When he'd read a book beside him, he always softly held his wrist, feeling his pulse.

If Kokichi died Shuichi might give into despair.

It took almost a week, but Shuichi's hoping praying finally paid off.

It was when the detective was reading that he felt the boy's arm twitch.

It twitched once, twice, three times.

Kokichi's expression scrunched up and his eyes shot open in a panic. It was like he had just remembered how to breathe.

He sat up and coughed, not even realizing that he could move his body again, or that he was alive.

The leader's body shook and he pat himself down for confirmation he was really there.

Kokichi's voice was shaky and raspy, "W-what....happened..?" He asked to himself.

"Kokichi!"

The detective wrapped his arms around the boy and started crying. He held him tightly but not too hard as to not cause memories of the hydraulic press.

Shuichi shed happy tears filled with relief.

"Sh-Shuichi?"

The blue haired boy pulled back and gripped Kokichi's shoulders, "You're alive Kokichi! Im so happy!"

"I'm alive? How?"

"The killing game...was all a virtual reality simulator."

"Virtual...reality?" The detective nodded.

"You were the last the wake up. The doctors told us that, you might die in your sleep. But I'm so happy you're awake."

Shuichi hugged the boy again and he felt the other hug back.

"I'm so sorry for what I said to you.. I let my emotions get the better of me and I said something I shouldn't have. But now that we're alive and hoping we could start over?" Shuichi asked shyly.

Kokichi paused and repeated the boys words in his head. He almost couldn't believe what he had just heard. If anything, Kokichi should be the one apologizing to Shuichi.

Kokichi smiled, "Yeah. I'd really like that."

That smile, was some of the first times Shuichi had even seen Kokichi with a genuine grin.

He hugged the leader again and they savored each others presence happily.

Shuichi had never been so happy to see Kokichi smile.

928 words. I hope you liked this! I love vr aus, its fascinating to see how the characters deal with their trama, and start to understand each other, especially with these two.

Anyway have a Saiouma picture!

Maybe someday I'll do this ⬇