Chapter Text
For the first couple of weeks or so of the year, only a few people in 77-B came to class, coming and going as they pleased. Only Tsumiki, too timid to skip out on class, and Nevermind, who actually seemed to enjoy the lessons being taught, consistently showed up. Most people never even came at all.
Now, everyone was present, some having been persuaded by Yukizome to show up, others having been coerced, and were consistently attending class, and had been for the past few days.
It was nice seeing Nanami again, who was quietly sitting in the back of the classroom, tapping away at her console, while her classmates, being ultimates, stirred utter chaos.
Komaeda knew fully well that it was presumptuous of him to approach Nanami when she seemed so engrossed in her game, but…
He had an idea.
He would offer Nanami some advice!
“Ah, excuse me, Nanami-san?”
Nanami, apparently not having heard him, kept playing her game for a few moments, before looking up with a little gasp.
“Oh, sorry. Um, how’d you know my name?”
Komaeda giggled, waving his hand.
“How could I not know the Ultimate Gamer? I’m quite a big fan of yours!”
Again, it was disgusting of him to hide the truth from Nanami, an incredible beacon of hope, but it was for the sake of the greater good. Nanami would succumb to utter despair if she knew of the tragedy, the monokumas….
Her gruesome death at the hands of a monster in a teenager’s clothing, the twisted acts he and her beloved classmates carried out in her torturer and murderer’s name…
So no. He couldn’t tell her. No hope could grow from that despair!
“Thanks, I guess.” Nanami replied, with a small smile. “What is your favorite game?” Nanami asked, lighting up.
“Oh, I don’t play video games!” Komaeda replied cheerfully.
“Huh? But…” Nanami tilted her head. “Well, it was nice meeting you…”
“Komaeda Nagito,” He replied with a slight bow. “But there’s something I must tell you first. Nanami... I know this is a lot to ask from worthless trash like me… but keep this advice in mind.”
Nanami blinked. “Worthless…?”
“These people are- sorry, may be counting on you someday to bring hope and good to them, and you must be prepared for when that day may come.”
Nanami squinted. “Why… are you telling me all of this?”
“Just in case!” Komaeda said cheerfully.
“…Are you a time traveler?” Nanami asked.
…
Komaeda laughed nervously, waving his hands in front of himself. “Whaat? That’s…”
“Just kidding.” Nanami shrugged. “But you talk just like Garingo.”
“…I’m terribly sorry, but I’m not familiar-”
Nanami turned her counsel to Komaeda. “In Gala Omega, on level 14, you unlock a character named Garingo. He’s from the future, but he came back in time to stop a nuclear war from breaking out.”
On the counsel, a character Komaeda could only assume was Garingo was displayed on screen, with various stats next to him.
Nanami tapped the screen once, and in response, Garingo spoke.
“I must protect the future from ruin- er, not that I’m from the future!”
Nanami turned the counsel back toward herself. “He tries to fix the future by giving people really strange warnings and advice, but he doesn’t actually tell anyone that he’s from the future. What you said about hope and good… it just sounded like something Garingo would say.”
Komaeda laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, I’m not a time traveler. Just someone trying to give you advice.”
Nanami nodded. “Alright.”
Komaeda internally sighed in relief. He really ought to be more careful around Nanami. She was a smart girl, after all.
“Do you want to play?”
“Huh?” Komaeda frowned at Nanami, who was holding the counsel out to him. “Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly…”
“This level is really easy, but it’s still really fun.” Nanami interrupted, nonplussed.
Komaeda looked from the counsel to Nanami.
She was always so protective over her counsel. He knew how precious her games were to her. And she was entrusting her counsel to a worthless piece of trash like him?
Truly, she was the kindest person Komaeda had ever met.
“W-well, if you insist…” Hesitantly, Komaeda grasped the counsel, and pressed play.
BEEP!
“You Died! Better luck next time!”
“Oh, man…” Komaeda frowned down at the machine.
Nanami scrutinized the counsel. “How did you die…? This was a tutorial level…”
Komaeda rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, worthless trash like me shouldn’t have been touching your stuff anyway-“
“About that…” Nanami started. She glanced at Komaeda intently.
“Don’t say things like that about yourself.”
Komaeda laughed nervously. “Ah, what do you mean, exactly?”
“Worthless. Trash... I keep hearing you say things like that during class. Being mean to yourself is still being mean, you know.”
Komaeda shook his head. “Oh, did I offend you? If so, I apologize-“
“No. Listen,” Nanami looked down. “I don’t know you that well. You’re… kind of strange. But you’ve been nice to me, in your own way, so you’re probably a nice person… so you can’t be worthless. Nobody is, I think.”
Komaeda shut his lips that he unconsciously parted while Nanami spoke, who gazed at him unwaveringly.
“How poetic, Nanami-san!” Komaeda giggled. “Alright, I’ll take your words to heart.”
He’s lying, of course. He’d known since the day he was 13 years old that he was a useless piece of garbage, who’s only real purpose was to be stepped on by those who weren’t.
But Nanami didn’t need to know that.
“Okay,” Nanami said, with a small smile.
“You know, although I died borderline instantaneously, I rather enjoyed that game!” Komaeda beamed. “I might check it out in my free time.”
Nanami’s eyes widened. “Really? That’s great! The graphics, the music, the gameplay… don’t you think they’re amazing?!” There was a near manic gleam in Nanami’s eyes, that, frankly, caught Komaeda off guard.
Komaeda laughed. “It must be good, if it’s approved by the Ultimate Gamer.” Nanami nodded vigorously.
“Say… me and my new friend are going to meet up and play some of the sequels after school. Do you want to come with?”
Komaeda frowned, silently formulating ways to reject Nanami’s offer as politely as possible. Her presence didn’t deserve to be stained by Komaeda!
However… bonding with Nanami could potentially be of some benefit to his mission. Even if he felt guilty about pestering Nanami, it’d be for the greater good.
The greater good. The sole reason he was accepting this offer.
“Alright.” Komaeda smiled.
“Okay, meet us at the fountain after school.” Nanami nodded, and turned back to her counsel, he eyes glazing over as she fiddled with the gadget.
Komaeda heard Yukizome’s voice call out shrilly, announcing class was in session, and he sat back down.
This ought to be interesting.