"We're going on a trip, to a place we've never been!" Shizu sang walking along the metal platted surface through fog.

"Skipping tooooo the city! Green and blue!" Shizu sang, continuing to sing a parody of little Einsteins theme song.

Blue walked next to him looking behind him, unable to see the cave that Black and Yellow currently inhabited.

Blue sighed as he looked towards the ocean, still several feet away from green.

The were surrounded by nothing but green metal plates that held the surface together. It almost reflected a perfect grass colour, but remained recognizable as just metal.

"We're so far from home..." Kichiro spoke subconsciously

"I know right?! I've never left Japan before man! This is awesome!" Shizu cheered

"Yeah... I've never left Japan either..." Kichiro said, still staring out to the foggy ocean. "We're literally at the the bottom of the world. Slightly below Madagascar and Australia while still remaining in between the two..." Kichiro spoke giving some exposition on their location.

(Just to get a better understanding of where they are, look at this

The MC is on the same X axis as lower Argentina, but on a Y axis directly between Madagascar/ Africa in general and Australia)

"I'm just glad it's not that hot. Where we are, we're close as hell to that piping hot dick in the middle of the earth!" Shizu blurted out

"....... Do you mean the equator?....." Kichiro asked with very little enthusiasm in his voice due to Shizu's poor choice of words.

"Yep! I mean, it's Summer right now? We're in August. We should be in, hehe, "blissful" heat!" Shizu joked beginning to laugh

Kichiro did not laugh, but gave a slight smile at Shizu's joke.

"Thanks Izu.... We're going to need that sense of humour on our journey"

___________________
(ITS BEEN SO FUCKING LONG)

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Tori: I see you clear, my light shining in the sky
You're so far away now
And all I want is to see you again!
Because you are my family

Yoru: I'll keep on running all day and night
I'll do it forever cause I can,

Troy: Never let you go!
never let you go!
I won't give it up until I see the light, I know!

Tori:Tell me something, how much farther can we pretend that we're not the same!

Yoru:Tell me how you feel, please stop playing these games!
Show me the answer so we can start breaking boundaries and setting the right pace
I'll fight the world so you can finally accept us as your place!

Kichiro: Yeah, you might say that it's impossible
Shia: Stronger together, we'll turn it into probable
Shizu:And in the darkest shadows we'll be shining, uh
Troy: So hold on tight 'cause we're gonna strike like lightning

Tsuki: I can't see you clear, my former light shining in the sky
Rosé: You're so far away now
And I don't know if I'll see you again!
I have to accept that this is destiny!

Rosé: I'll keep the facade all day and night
Just promise me that you will,
Never let me go!
Tsuki: Mever let me go!
Honey: I'll protect you with all the will I have!

Tori: No turning back

HRT: Find us!

AMS: We won't let you fall!

Shizu: Well find those lights in the sky!

Shia: Find them!

Kichiro: Never let you down!

Tori: Never let you down!

HRTTAMS: I won't give it up, I'll use the power bestowed!
——————————
Two months ago in Kobe

It was late at night. Ray had told the team of the mission a few hours back. Kichiro however, was wary of his forced partnership with Troy. He decided that it would be best to confront his uncle directly

"Hey Uncle. We need to talk" Kichiro said to his Uncle whom was laying in his reclining chair.

"And to what may I ask will our conversation be about, dear nephew" Ray asked in a playful tone.

Kichiro was having none of it.

"Why did you pair me up with Troy?!" Kichiro asked frustrated at his Uncle's choice

"Calling the Kid by his fake name now huh? Did something happen?" Ray asked looking up into the ceiling

Kichiro's faced scrunched slightly as he sat on the sofa next to his uncle.

"Uncle! He doesn't even have a plan!" Kichiro said informing Ray

"A plan? Plan for whaaat?" Ray asked exaggerating on the last word.

" The whole operation! All he has is a goal! Find Rosé, ask her we're the other two are and get them!" Kichiro explained
"What kind of plan is that?!"

Ray blew out and sat up properly in his chair.

"The Kid needs time. This whole ordeal happened only five days ago. He needs to clear his head" Ray explained to his nephew while defending Troy.

"Uncle! He's risking our lives! Mine! Shia! And Izu's! How are you okay with that?!" Kichiro angrily asked his uncle.

"Woah though Blue. Wooooah" Ray said gesturing for Kichiro to calm down.

Kichiro noticed his sporadic change in attitude and immediately calmed down.

"I'm sorry Uncle. I don't know what came over me.." Kichiro said apologizing to Ray.

Ray nodded and took a cigarette out of his coat and lit it. He took a puff and blew it out.

"I get it"

"You what?" Kichiro asked

"Don't get me wrong Nephew. I one hundred percent understand why you're angry. I would be too" Ray explained.

"Then why are you letting him just get away with it!? Tell him to wise up and stop being such an ass to us!" Kichiro demanded.

"I won't" Ray said to him

"What?! Why?! Uncle we could die!" Kichiro explained

Ray took a larger puff of his cigarette and blew it out.

"Blue. Do you hate him?" Ray asked

"Wha-... No. I don't hate him" Kichiro answered

"Then why are you so angry?" Ray asked his nephew

Kichiro was unable to say his answer due to an external reason

"I'll say it then. You and I both see this. He's a lot like how we were back then" Ray spoke looking off to the side

"Just like when our family was taken"

Present Day

Kichiro's POV

"So what's the plan man? Hey that rhymed!" Shizu said looking back at me for an answer

Troy still isn't ready to create Tactics yet. I've tried and tried encouraging my partner to regain the ability to do so as best as I could. But I just can't seem to get through. So, I've left it up to Shia.

I don't know how. But she seems to be able to get through into him the best out of all of us. He trusts her with a lot of personal stuff. And she seems very fond of him and getting him through this emotional regression he's experiencing.

Is there more going on that me and Izu haven't noticed?

"Hey, Blue?!" Shizu said snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Huh? O-oh. Well, we seem to be heading into a city of sorts. We're bond to get some info about where we are. Maybe even get some food and supplies" I suggested

"What about those soldiers and hot princess?" Shziu asked.

"Oh come on. She wasn't that hot" I stated losing focus of his question.

"Dude, she was totally hot. You're just saying that cause she tried to kill us" Shizu retorted playfully

"Dude, I'm hot. I think I know what I'm talking about" I joked back

Shizu laughed at this

"But in all seriousness, I'm not sure. I doubt it. If they are in the city, we would've heard them come or they would've gone past us already" I answered

"Hmm. Guess you're right. You always hear the good ones "cumming"~" Shizu responded making another dirty joke

"I'm telling your sister you keep making dirty jokes"

"Now hold on a minute-"

Meanwhile with Troy and Shia

Troy and Shia sat in the cave left behind by Blue and Green. Troys clothes had finished drying and was put back on. He sat across from Shia looking down at his feet. Shia was still wearing her spare clothes.

Seeing his troubled expression, Shia tried cheering him up as best as she could.

"It's a good thing we got it here unharmed. Right Yoru?" Shia asked cheerfully using his secret name.

"Mhm" Troy responded emptily

"It's also great that we found heating!" Shia stated cheerful yet again

"Mhm"

"By the way. Thanks for lending me your hoodie. Meant a lot!" She said thanking him

"Mhm" He responded still looking down

Shia noticed her attempts weren't working and resorted to other means.

She moved closer to him and held one of his hands with both of hers.
Troy finally looked up at her.

"It's okay that you weren't able to do it" She said warmly to him.

"... I couldn't even make a simple tactic Shia... What's wrong with me?" Yoru asked her

Shia clasped his hands tighter but still with a gentle feel to it.

"There is not one thing wrong with you Yoru. We all have boundaries and limits we need time to overcome" Shia said reassuring him.

"But... I let you guys down. Again... Maybe Blue and Green hate me for that.." Yoru said to her troubled by his current set back.

"Bro and Kichiro would never hate you, especially not for something like that. Neither would Ray. And especially not me" She said looking him dead in the eye.

"You're not alone Yoru. Remember what I always say" Shia said to him.

"You're still here"

Yoru remembered a saying constantly said by Shia personally meant to him.

"Thanks Shia" Said Troy.

Shia smiled and let go of his hands. She stood up in front of him.

"I'm going to check on my clothes and see if they've dried off yet. I'll be back in a few, okay?" She said still smiling.

"Yeah. Yell if you need me" Troy said to her.

She nodded and walked off.

All that was left in the orange lit cave was Troy. The one who came when he met his team. Team TAMS. The one tasked with leading them through their search of the Metal Continent in hopes of finding the lost members of Tori's team. HRTT.

Troy had a long way to go. He has new foes to face. Old ones still pursuing. And heavier pressures to carry. But he was wasn't alone. He had his partner whom he has a deep promise with. A girl who will help him through everything he would go through. And a boy, who reminded him of who he was, reminding him of what is to be when he finds him. However, he still had another person in Japan waiting for his arrival. A man, the guardian of his partner, who took him in, provided him a home and trained him and his new team for the challenges he would soon face.

Troy lost it all. But he's still yet to realize that he has gained it all as well.

Yet. There was one thing he could never be rid of.

"So, ya still can't do it huh?"

"What's it to you?" Troy asked to the voice.

"Oh don't be so aggressive. I'm just surprised really. You lost the one thing that made you useful to the team and now you're here sulking while others fight your battles"

Troy clenched his hands

"I'll make it up to them" he said internally

"Oh my god! You hear that lady and gentleman?! He's going to make up not having a plan, being able to make a plan and forcing others to make one for him! Give him a fuck medal.."

Troy clenched his hands tighter

"You know, this is why everyone liked me so much more. I was one of Danganronpas most well received characters. Unlike you, I don't hurt or break relationships. Like that nice girl Shia. So nice. So kind. Beautiful in and out. Deserves way better than dealing with your crap. The other two as well. Hell, you pretty much just came crawling to Ray. He probably only accepted you out of pity. All you do is force relationships"

Troy had enough to hear and shot the other of the cave.

"YOU'RE THE LAST PERSON I WANT TO HEAR FROM ABOUT MAKING AND BREAKING RELATIONSHIPS TORI!" Troy said out loud.

End
———————————

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

——————-
Tori: Did y'all miss me?

Author: Yes! A lot was revealed this chapter. More details on Troy and Kichiro's partnership, a little exposition on Ray and Kichiro's history too.

Now what else was there?

Is the hints of a deeper bond between Troy and Shia?
who knows!

How will Kichiro and Shizu fair in the first city they will venture in the MC?

How will Shia help Troy regain his ability to use tactics?

And what's this about Troy and Tori able to talk to each other?

How will the MC react to TAMS infiltration?

Where the fuck are HRTT?

Why did Rosé's brother come for her?

Where is Kodaka?

Where the hell are TAMS?

Find out soon!