Chapter Text
Kokichi looked at his phone, bored as he leaned against the wall. His cheek ached miserably underneath the white patch of gauze. His stomach and ribs felt bruised, and every inhale felt like a sharp punch that was once more, hitting him in the lungs. Exhaustion folded in on his body, and all he wanted to do was sleep for days and days. He didn't want to be here, in a brightly lit lobby with fluorescent lights stabbing him in the eyes and paining the headache that was blossoming in his head. The bullies already made him hurt enough. Going through this torture wasn't going to solve fucking anything.
He was grateful that no one was coming up to him and talking to him either. Two people were standing in the lobby beside him. Well, sitting down actually. One had a baseball hat tugged over his eyes and was messing around with his phone. A Monokuma charm dangling from the cellphone. The other was politely averting her gaze, legs crossed, and her fingers tapping away rhythmically across her knee. Kokichi was grateful she didn't rap on any of the surfaces. He wasn't sure he could contain his annoyance at any sound that wasn't the click-clacking of the receptionist.
After auditions, Kokichi was going straight home. He was going to nap, he was going to take a breather, and everything would be okay. He doubted he would get it anyway. He was only there on the off-hand chance that it actually would work, and he would get in.
"So um...what were your guys' favorite seasons?"
If the brilliant golden-eyed boy had any brains, Kokichi wondered if he'd actually used them. Where in his mind did he think the woman and himself wanted to talk?
Unfortunately, society taught them to be kind. The blonde girl was already talking. "I was a fan of the last season. I adored Amami-kun. I thought it was awesome that he sacrificed himself to play the game again."
"Yeah, he and Shirogane-san are said to be playing this season." The boy with the golden eyes grinned. His cheeks were heavy red, and a cold sweat was beaded around the forehead. Kokichi wondered if he was socially anxious. Why the fuck did he think that talking was going to alleviate anything? If anything, this was prolonging his torture. Kokichi rolled his eyes to himself. This kid was going to be the first one murdered, he could already call it.
Damn, and he was hoping that someone would murder him first. Maybe if his character was extra annoying...Kokichi hummed thoughtfully as he looked back at his phone. If he was annoying and good at it, perhaps he could get the golden-eyed boy to murder him? That was probably a dream.
"I didn't like Shirogane-san, I was kind of disappointed she survived the game," the girl commented.
"She is kind of boring," the boy agreed, as though that would appease her. Oh, he was that kind of fan. The boy with the bright gold eyes was the fan that would switch sides and had no loyalties. It was whoever was talking to him that he'd cater to. Any ships that girl liked, he probably liked it too. There was no discourse or argument. A doormat if Kokichi had any thought.
It would be a miracle in a fucking half if he managed to get it. If he got it and Kokichi didn't, then Dangnaronpa were sluts for attention whores, and that was that. Kokichi had no interest in trying to change himself to make himself look suitable for any camera or audition. The kid, though? Those two? They probably had a whole script in their heads about what they wanted the company to see them as.
Kokichi could bet that the boy would beg on his knees to suck a producer's dick, and the girl was probably going to make herself look like the next badass. No one was able to do that since season fifty. Hell, even the last season didn't have much of a badass unless they counted the Ultimate Guitarist. There was a reason why she lasted for as long as she did. Her death was so iconic, Kokichi was aching to see if 53 would be able to top it. He doubted it. If those two losers at the seats got in, then it would be even less likely.
"What about you?" The golden-eyed boy looked at him, his hat covering one of his eyes. He had dark rings and bags underneath them, Kokichi noticed. He was familiar with the look, he also had circles and bags underneath his. Only the bags under his eyes were from being depressed. The boy who was hyper-fixed on Danganronpa probably had those bags as a symbol of honor or something. "What was your favorite season?"
Kokichi thought about tossing a Byakuya Togami reference at him and asking him what made him believe that it was wise to talk to him. At the same time, he could perform a pretty good Nagito Komaeda impression too, but would that scare him or make him cum in his pants. Kokichi decided not to do either. They were going to wind up dead anyway if they all got in. There was really no point in trying to look nice. "I-I started last, last season."
"Really?" The girl looked miffed as she looked at him, giving him a once over. "You just liked that one season and thought this was your best chance at glory or something? Jesus, you make me sick. I keep telling people auditions should have more gatekeeping. Real fans know what they're getting themselves into, at least."
"I don't kn-know, are you looking to um to win, or are you want-wanting to die?" Kokichi bit back at her, and the girl blinked. "I don't particularly care if I win or if I die. Whatever makes it so that I'm not fucking bored."
"I want to commit murder." The boy cheerfully spoke up, and Kokichi felt all color go out of his face. The girl even looked horrified as she looked at the boy who spoke. Kokichi was reminded right then and there that not everyone was a suicidal maniac; some of them were psychopathic too. "I mean, I know that's insta-kill because I'm going to get caught, but...if I can make it at least entertaining, I want to be able to showcase that I can pull off at least something interesting!"
This boy, Kokichi's mouth quirked as he looked at him, this boy was indeed something fascinating wasn't he? "Wh...what's your name?"
"Shuichi Saihara." Shuichi grinned.
"I'm going to sit away from you then." The girl retorted. "Fucking freaks the both of you."
Kokichi paid her no mind, but the boy immediately lost his expression. He tugged his hat down and suddenly curled into a ball. How on earth was this kid going to commit murder if someone's little comment got underneath his skin? Then again, wouldn't it be super ironic if the girl was killed by Shuichi because of it? Not that they were going to remember any of this anyway. Still, he doubted that the golden-eyed boy would forget a comment like that any time soon.
He was those kinds of kids that he read in the newspaper anyway. The type that is so kind and gentle and gets shit on time and time again. He walked over and sat down next to him, wincing at the pain. Shuichi's eyes flickered at him, concern evident in his eyes. "Tell me how you'd murder," Kokichi coaxed.
"I...well….I don't know yet." Shuichi admitted, "I don't know what kind of setting we'll be in."
That was a fair statement, Kokichi couldn't fault him for it. The scenario changed from season to season. The method of murders and the motives were ever-changing too. There was no way to figure out what crime would look like until they were in the game. Sure, Shuichi may have all those plans that were in his mind, but he couldn't plan for everything. "I-I see." Kokichi cleared his throat. His jaw ached. He wanted to just pass out.
"Umm…" Shuichi nervously looked away and then looked back at him. Golden-eyes dancing all over him. Kokichi wondered if he'd forget what those eyes would look like when they were in the game. "You look...sick."
"I got j-jumped before I got here." Kokichi hummed. "Or may-maybe I'm just dicking, dicking around, and I think that if I look pitiful enough, they'll take me in." That was a persona he could do. He wouldn't be acting too much if he curled in on himself while auditioning. He was in pain, and his stomach did hurt.
"I think you'll get in because you sound like a character they want," Shuichi said without hesitation.
"Y-you think so?" Kokichi's breath hitched wrong, and the pain went up to his chest and burned at his eyes. He blinked back the tears and tried to keep a shallower breath going. "I think Shuichi-chan will work just fine as a character too. Much better than the bitch that just left." He said the last part loudly but realized belatedly that she was already gone from the lobby. Aw, they must've called her to the audition room already. That was a shame. That's okay; he could taunt her in the game later. Maybe he could even make her cry.
"R-really?!" Shuichi brightened like a dog that was promised a treat. Kokichi felt his breath hitch again as he looked into the face that was staring right back at him. His eyelashes were long and pretty. His cheeks were pink and only made him look cute. Kokichi felt his heart flip. This really wasn't the time to be crushing on someone that he might be dying with in the next season. "Y-you really think so? I never got your name…"
"Kokichi Ouma." Kokichi grinned. "De Facto lead-leader of the mafia, shh though. Tha-that's a secret between you and you and me."
Shuichi giggled, and Kokichi's heart flipped again, and his stomach knotted painfully. "Th-that's cool," Kokichi forgot what it was like for someone to play along with his lies. With a small game. "I don't have anything interesting about me like that. Oh well...I stole a car once…"
"Really?!" Kokichi turned sharply to face the boy, and he winced and fell back into his seat when his ribs reminded him that he had been bruised and beaten. "That's so co-cool. I didn't know Shu-Shumai was a joyride!"
"Ouma-kun, are you okay?!" Shuichi completely bypassed the compliment, instead of looking at him with more concern. Kokichi hated that look. That look always seemed like a tasteless pity to him. It was a shame. He really thought the boy was going to be different. "I don't want you to get hurt worse. You look cute when you're like that...oh god, what am I saying… I'm sorry, I know I'm creepy."
Maybe Kokichi was wrong to judge so quickly. "What part eh what part of Danganronpa do you want to play?"
"You mean, what Ultimate?" Shuichi asked, but continued as though he never had to pause. "Detective!"
"Detec-detectives rarely murder, you-you really are fascinating. I hope to see what k-kind of murder you do. Hey, hey, you kn-know what?" Impulsively, Kokichi gave Shuichi a grin. "Shuichi-chan should murder me."
"Hahaha, maybe. I think I'll keep you alive though Ouma-kun. There's someone else I want to murder more."
Kokichi was going to call it and say that the girl was going to be murdered. He decided to bite back his tongue from saying so, "Well, I'll be sure to mourn you."
The girl walked out of the room and headed past the lobby, sparing no look at them. Shuichi's name was called, and the detective-wannabe got up on his feet. "Later, Ouma-kun."
"Later, Shu-Shuichi-chan." Kokichi wheezed as he watched the golden-eyed boy leave.
Much later -when the game was over- Kokichi would be in his hospital bed rewatching the season for the first time. He would notice that Shuichi got his wish. He killed the girl brutally by pretending to be her friend and then outing her attempt to murder to the class.
Furthermore, Kokichi got his wish about being dead too...with more pain and the inability to walk as the scars that he'd forever be with.