✧ Chapter 10 ✧
[ The Hurting, The Dread ]
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He was in a blinding white room..and.. everything felt so stiff. He held up his hands, seeing that they were bruised and covered with tiny pinpricks.

As if he had received multiple injections.

There was a strange wind coming from somewhere. Not from one direction but from all around him. Far away, at the back of his mind, he could hear the sound of a heart monitor..

This felt like he was hanging between life and death, suspended, and unable to move.

Everything was still.

And too quiet, actually.

There was a strange feeling of emptiness within him.. like all his feelings were drained out of his body.

Like an out-of-body experience..

Fortunately, he could look around, his eyes analysing the empty room.

Where was he? What was he doing in a place like this?

And why did it seem so foreign. Yet familiar..? The words were strange in his mind. They contradicted each other, and made no sense. And he didn't know where he was. That was the main problem.

He forgot who he was. And no other memory resurfaced in his mind. No friends. No family. Just a ringing in his ears.

He took a step forward, then another, realising that he was barefooted and wearing a plain white shirt and pants.

He turned when he felt something pull at the back of his left hand. His eyes followed the transparent tube, which led up to a IV drip. It definitely didn't seem to be there before.

He struggled to figure out the symbolism. Why didn't the words he was trying to find surface in his mind?

A sudden burst of pain in his head nearly made him fall over. It was a sudden type of pain, like a stab or a shock. It vanished as soon as it appeared..

"He's still unstable, is he?"

A voice, sounding rather like a male, spoke up all of a sudden. It had a strange tone to it, like a weight of regret and sorrow.

He winced, the voice did not sound like it was from a person nearby but from all around him.

Where was he? What was going on?

"It seems like it. The medication does take time to take effect." another voice, sounding like a female this time, replied the first.

Medication? Another flash of pain made him fall to his knees, holding his head with one hand.

What the hell was going on? Can't the people talking see that he was in pain?

He took a shaky breath, his eyes widening when a spot of blood dripped onto the floor. Then another. He touched his nose, surprised when his fingers were stained with the liquid.

"I think he's alright now.." the first voice said, still resonating around him, "Let's just start the fabrication process."

"Yes sir." the second voice answered, "I'll inform you once the whole process is over, then we can send him to Hope's Peak again."

"What's the subject's name? Does he have a talent?" the second voice continued, as if fishing for information.

"..."

He held his breath, although he didn't know why. He didn't know why his heart was beating wildly. Or why He was feeling so uneasy.

"We do not need to know about the subject's talent or name. We just have to cure him from the fatal disease. Before it's too late. Now begin the test. And make sure you don't fail again."

"Y-Yes sir. I understand. The first two subjects-."

There was a loud slam, as if the first voice had hit his hand against something.

"We. Do. NOT. Speak of the first two subjects, remember.? It was a scandal.. a stupid test. A way to create something pure. Ruined by something as stupid as love.. now that they've escaped.." the second voice was full of hatred and malice, that He felt worried.

What were they talking about?

"Anyway, begin the test. And make sure you don't screw up this time, heishi (兵士)."

...

[ Shuichi ]

Shuichi gasped, opening his eyes and snatching at the air. He breathed heavily, instinctively touching his nose, expecting blood. But to his surprise, there wasn't anything.

That nightmare felt.. so real.

Of course, he looked over at Kaito's bed, his usual routine. And sure enough, the bed was still messy and unmade, just like how Kaito left it.

Shuichi hung his head, looking down at his feet. What was he expecting? To see Kaito again even after that strange nightmare?

Shuichi narrowed his eyes a little, trying to recall what he dreamt but even that memory was starting to fade away, much to his annoyance.

A sudden loud sound from outside made Shuichi turn to the window. What was that? It sounded like a huge commotion..

He waited. But nothing else followed the shouting. It was just deadly silence. Maybe he was imagining things.. since it was still rather early in the morning for any celebrations.. it was only nine after all.

However, just as those thoughts were about to fade away, the shouts was soon followed by a sound Shuichi knew too well.

He felt his heart pound as he walked over to the window, where he saw a large group of people around the girl's dormitories.

Shuichi gripped the sides of his window frame when he saw Kokichi, facing Monokuma.

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Kokichi sprinted down the hallway, his heart beating wildly as he clutched the note in his hand. There was no way his best friend was as stupid as this. No way.

He got to the stairs and ran down, not caring if he had pushed everyone else out of the way.

Keebo was going to get in trouble.. what the hell was he thinking?!

Why didn't Kokichi see the signs sooner.?

He threw the glass doors of the boy's dormitories open, and ran over to the girl's building. But he skidded to a stop when he heard a alarm, blaring loudly and of course, waking everyone up.

He was too late. That alarm signalled that he was too late.. No. He wasn't going to give up. Keebo was his best friend, after all.

Kokichi turned when he heard a roar, stopping just in time for Monokuma to jump out from the school building and land in front of him.

"Off to see your pal?" the bear laughed maniacally, holding his hands to his grinning mouth. "'Cause there's no need to wait! For I have him right here!"

Kokichi stood still when Monokuma swung out a hand, and the girl's dormitory door burst open. A Beast Monokuma was dragging Keebo Tetsuya out, followed by a girl. Miu Iruma..

"I caught these two confessing in the name of L-O-V-E!" Monokuma cackled, waving his hands in the air, "Seriously, you kids can't behave yerselves. Sooner or later, I'd have to invent some bangles or something and maybe make y'all explode when you guys say the L- word.!"

"Keebo.." Kokichi muttered. "Why did you.."

Keebo Tetsuya hung his head, surprisingly still holding Miu's hand, despite Monokuma being in front of him. "I'm sorry Ouma.. but.."

"You could've at least told me!" Kokichi yelled, losing his temper. "I would've just helped.. and you didn't have to get arrested and now you're going to.. to the hospital."

"Awww are you actually crying, Kokichi?" Monokuma asked, tilting his head. "Wow, that's the first time I've ever-."

"I'm not." Kokichi replied, making Monokuma stop mid-sentence. He smiled at the bear instead, "So? What are you going to do now?"

"W-Wait, You're actually calm about this? Wowzers!" Monokuma exclaimed, "As for your question.. say your final goodbyes 'cause they're gonna leave!"

Kokichi held his hands by his side as he watched the Beast Monokuma drag Keebo and Miu away, the two still not letting go of each other's hand.

Keebo and Kokichi looked at each other, Keebo looking afraid but somehow, he was able to give Kokichi a small nod of reassurance, despite the chain around his neck.

"..."

Monokuma just continued to laugh till the two figures were dragged away, metal chains around their necks.

"Keebo Tetsuya, Ultimate Robotics Scientist and Miu Iruma, the Ultimate Inventor, students of Hope's Peak Academy," Monokuma announced, "You are under arrest for breaking the first rule of Dangan Island! ITSSS PUNISHMENT TIME!"

His worst nightmare had come true.. Keebo was getting arrested..

They were going to the Heartbreak Hospital. A place worst than hell itself or at least, that was what the people said.

Monokuma gave Kokichi one last wide grin and sauntered away, leaving him standing alone.

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Damnit.

Damnit.

Damnit!

Kokichi rested his hands against the wall, his knuckles covered with blood. The wall in front of him had little spots of pink, marking where he had punched it. If Keebo were here, he'd be stopping him by now.

But stupid Keeboy wasn't here to stop him. That idiot.

Kokichi turned and leaned against the wall, his eyes closed. Just last night, Keebo was with him, talking proudly about his latest project..

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[ Twelve hours ago, 8:00 pm ]

"Say Keeboy," Kokichi held up the charm on his necklace, tugging at its chain. "What if I told you I was bored?"

"You're bored all the time, Ouma," the other boy replied, not taking his eyes away from the gadget he was inventing. "That's no surprise."

Keebo's goggles were perched on his head as his nimble hands connected fragile wires. He was wearing his 'inventing clothes'. The ones Kokichi always made fun of. But Keebo's fashion sense was somewhat practical and comfortable for working.

Dressed in a a light grey jacket, and a pale blue-grey shirt. A pair of light blue goggles Miu gifted to him on his head.. He also wore grey pants and white socks. Overall, Keebo's whole outfit just showed how serious he was, inside and out.

They were like opposites. Keebo liked to work, while Kokichi liked to laze around like a cat. But they worked well anyway, ever since they met.

"But if I'm bored, you gotta take me out." Kokichi continued, rolling over onto his stomach and half dangling off the small bed.

"'Take you out', as in out to somewhere, or kill you? That can be phrased in two different ways." Keebo replied, sounding unconcerned. "Besides, we have that rule about me working on a project, you're not allowed to stop my progress."

Kokichi sighed, admitting defeat and dropping the necklace on the ground. He faced the marble tiles of the dorm room, seeing his faint reflection stare back at him.

He was running out of ideas to try to cheer Shuichi up. He's played tic-tac-toe, rock paper scissors. That joker card game...

What else could he do to get Shuichi to be happy again? Maybe he should try getting Kaito back..

"Just to see Saihara smile again.." he muttered to himself.

"If you really want him to smile again, Ouma," Keebo held up a soldering iron with one hand, "Just keep talking to him."

"Sometimes I forget you can hear me with your enhanced hearing or whatever.." Kokichi muttered, making the other boy smile a little faintly. "That girl gives you so many things, it's unfair."

Apparently, Keebo had a whole closet of items, given to him by Miu.

Like, his earpieces, which could improve his hearing by 20%. Or a bracelet which can detect lies, which Kokichi confiscated, of course. It would be no fun if Keebo could detect every lie he said after all.

Kokichi sighed, his eyes closing. He struggled to stay awake, but his vision soon darkened. After nights of watching Saihara by the window
and making sure he was alright, Kokichi was exhausted.

"Anyway," Keebo turned away from his desk, placing down a mini robot, which was half completed. "I have to go out tomorrow morning.. so maybe-."

Keebo faltered when he saw Kokichi fast asleep, half hanging off the bed. He smiled to himself, getting up from his chair and flicking the lights off.

Keebo looked at his watch, where there was a message from Miu. He smiled to himself and carefully moved Kokichi, so he wouldn't fall off.

"Goodnight Ouma."

Keebo walked over to the window and faced the girl's dormitories. He held a blank piece of paper in his hand, closing his eyes.

He was going to risk it.

In the name of love.

♥ End of Chapter Ten ♥