Work Text:
It was a cold afternoon, the sound of waves crashing against the beach near the motel Shinguji and Ouma had been living in, “Kiyo do you have the keys?” Ouma asked softly shifting the bag of groceries in his arms, His voice was so soft and worn since the game,
Muted purple locks obstructing his vision, he needed a haircut, or at least to pull his hair into a small ponytail, The other male nodded, taking the keys out of his pockets, Ouma moved to the side so the other could unlock the door, however, what they were welcomed to when they looked inside was unexpected,
Shuichi Saihara and Rantaro Amami, sitting right there on their beds, the pair turned to look at them, “aH.” Korekiyo turned to Kokichi, “Run?” The other nodded, dropping the bag, “Run.” The other two seemed to spring to action chasing the two down the stairs,
~~~~~~~~
See after the game nor Kokichi or Korekiyo stuck around, despite the constant attempts of their classmates to reach out to them they’d isolated themselves, after Korekiyo had woken up seeing the was his trauma was manipulated in the game grossly he never talked to anyone opting to stay in his room, refusing anyone who tried to visit, not that many did.
Kokichi was the same, Saihara had tried so hard to assure him that no one was mad at him, they just wanted to see him again, but he couldn’t believe it he wouldn’t believe it, the guilt of what he did ate at him night and day, so he stayed locked away, when he was finally cleared to leave he left in the night taking the small settlement sum he’d been giving by team Danganronpa leaving no trace that he’d even been there,
It’s what Shinguji had done as well, it didn’t matter, right? No one would miss him anyway. That’s what they thought at least. Ouma had taken his money and traveled away from Japan, to America, that’s where Shinguji found him,
On a small dock to a beach, staring out at the waves, it was a strange meeting, they had never talked much in the game, or even after it, of course, they saw each other in the halls on the way to mandatory group therapy but nothing much, “Hello Ouma-kun.” Ouma startled turning around, “Shinguji-ku-, if youre trying to bring me back you can fuck off-” He growled turning back to the waves
“Not at all, I was only surprised to see you here.” He said cooly, Korekiyo always had that cool air about him, it reminded Ouma of Amami, to which he winced at the thought Amami tried to visit him every day, he’d talk to him from outside the door and even if Ouma wouldn’t respond he’d keep him company, Ouma appreciated it, during the game they were close, friends before he died,
“What are you doing here?” He asked, staring out at the waves endlessly lapping at the shore, Shinguji walked to the end of the dock resting his arms on the rails, “Traveling.” “Traveling,” Ouma parroted back to himself, “Is Amami with you?” He could see Korekiyo flinch out of the corner of his eye,
“I’ll take that as a no.” He mumbled, “Did you want to see him?” Korekiyo asked, looking over to the other, who paused before shaking his head, “Really? I remember you two being quite close,” Korekiyo mused, that ‘during the game’ was left out for obvious reasons, “Yeah well. Not anymore” Ouma had cut everyone out, and then he disappeared, they probably hated him now, he didn’t care, he didn’t need anyone anyway.
“What about you, I thought for sure you two would be out traveling together now.” It’s what Amami had told Ouma he wanted to do with him in the game, Amami also tried to talk to Shinguji, repeatedly, and sometimes he would respond with little conversations, but Amami deserved better and Kiyo was a mess, that’s what he told himself at least, “No. I left without telling him.” He said grimacing under the mask, Ouma laughed, “Kind of a dick move Shinguji!” Ugh, there was the Ouma they all knew, “You’re one to talk, you left just the same.”
Ouma shrugged, “No one cared anyways.” Shinguji turned to look at Ouma “I’m sure Saihara did.” Ouma bit his lip, “Don’t.” It was a harsh warning, he didn’t want to talk about Saihara, he felt bad enough about what happened in the game, Saihara didn't care, even though he came to his door to apologize countless times, those were all lies, lies lies, lies. “I hate lies.”
Shinguji shrugged loosely, “Apologies.” Ouma groaned,”Don’t apologize.” he hated apologies too, he hated a lot of things, time passed than they stayed on the beach together silently, being in someone’s company was nice, Ouma had to break the silence eventually, “Don’t you like, have somewhere to be?” Kiyo shook his head, “No, not really. I’ll go back to my hotel room when it gets dark,” Ouma snorted, “Kiyo it is dark,” The nickname had just slipped from his lips
It was weird but they felt familiar now, Shinguji blinked at the nickname and was surprised to hear it, “It seems it is.” He hummed thoughtfully for a moment, “Say, would you like to come back to my hotel with me?” Ouma’s eyes widened a bit before laughed “Wow, trying to take me to bed already Shinguji? You’re not really my type but-” Ouma couldn’t really see his face well but he could tell he was unamused, “I joke I joke-” Ouma said with a little impish grin, “I am thinking about rescinding my offer.” Shinguji said narrowing his eyes
“I’ll come back with you,” Ouma said quietly, kind of knowing why he’d been offered this, both of them had shut everyone out and were terribly misunderstood, and were undeniably lonely. So since then, they stayed together, Ouma tagging along as Shinguji traveled, maybe they could really leave Danganronpa behind and find some sort of healing, forget all about it.
~~~~~~~~
Until Saihara and Amami found them, they don't get every far Amami tackled Shinguji on the sand and Saihara grabbed Ouma by the back of the shirt, “I give- I give-” Shinguji said looking up at Amami who was on top of him pinning him by the shoulders, augh so much sand in his hair, Amami just stared down of him before his eyebrows furrowed, “Why did you leave.”He gritted out,
Of course, he’d be upset, he’d ghosted the entire class, “I didn’t think it would matter-” Amami’s grip tightened, shaking him slightly, “Bullshit!” Shinguji flinched hearing him swear, “It mattered to me! Do you know how worried I saw when you just dropped off the grid? You just disappeared, you both did, do you know how scared I was seeing an empty hospital room and thinking I’d never see you again?” He frowned,
“How could you do that- I thought we were- friends…” They were friends in the game and Amami tried his best to reach out to him even after it, even though Kiyo was very closed off, he appreciated when the other would talk to him just a bit, his breath got stuck in his throat, but he spoke eventually, “I’m- I’m sorry Amami. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He paused, he was never one to fumble with his words but now, now he was all over the place,
“I just thought, thought you deserved better. You tried so hard to talk to me, even when I was so difficult, even after you’d seen everything that happened in the game, when I thought you’d be- “ He looked away and could feel tears prickling in his eyes, “Disgusted.” Amami’s face softened
“Kiyo i- I could never be disgusted with you... None of that was ever your fault.”
That seemed to break something in Shinguji, It wasn’t your fault. He took a sharp breath, tears falling freely, Amami wrapped his arms around him, pulling him up to where Amamii was slightly awkwardly sitting in his lap, but that didn’t matter he just hugged him tight, they both needed it.
~~~~~~~~
On the other side, Saihara was still chasing Ouma, he’d slipped out of his grip, “Ouma!!” He shouted chasing him down the road, “I don’t want to talk Saihara!” Shuichi groaned settling for tackling (oh wow that’s becoming a theme) him to the ground with surprising force, he’d been training the Kaito and Maki again, so his endurance was better now,
Ouma however, Ouma was super weak, “Augh!” Saihara lifted him up off the ground, holding him by the wrist like a child caught running off, Ouma brushed himself off with his free hand, “Geez! Saihara are you done man-handling me? I'm pretty sure you broke my arm!!” He said exaggerating but it was enough to make Saihara let go, “S-sorry!! You just- ran, i couldn’t think of anything else- You aren’t going to run again are you?”
“Depends, I told you I don’t want to talk,.”Ouma was bitter, “I’m not going to apologize for leaving.” Saihara frowned, ”Why did you leave?” Ouma laughed bitterly, “What a stupid question Saihara-chan! Because i was alone Saihara, just like you said i’d be. Sure some of you tried to talk to me, but can you truly say it wasn’t just out of pity?” Even Ouma didn't notice how much venom he’d been carrying about that,
“They all hated me for what i did, they hated me in the game and they hated me after it, so i left, and no one cares so i don’t know why you pretend you do!” That wasn’t entirely accurate. While a good sum of the class still did not like Ouma there were people who did care and worried when he went missing, like Akamatsu, Amami, and Saihara, Miu and Gonta too!! they’d long since forgiven him, he just didn’t forgive himself enough to talk to them
“That’s- that's not true Ouma… they do care- i care.. That’s why we all worked so hard to find you and Shinguji-kun,” He could tell Ouma didn’t believe him so he fumbled for his phone, “Look,” He scrolled through messages in a group chat with Saihara and the few mentioned
-------
Rantaro: We found Kokichi and Kiyo’s room!
Kaede: I knew you could do it Amami, Saihara!!
Shuichi: Thanks, Akamatsu
Shuichi: I hope they’ll be back soon so we can see them,, and i hope they don’t run when they see us here
Miu: When ya see Kokichi put a tracker on that little twink! Who does he think he is bailing on us like that!! Sending us on a wild goose chase’
Miu: Bring him home safe ok Shuichi? Or else i'll put ants in your boxers
Gonta: Please do not do that with ants Miu! But yes, please bring him back ok! I miss our friends :(
-------
The rest were supportive in the same way, Ouma couldn’t understand he stared at the last two messages from Miu, “What did you guys-” He swallowed hard, “Why did you try so hard- to-” He could feel his eyes getting misty “Because we care about you Kokichi.” Shuichi said putting his phone back in his pocket,, he couldn’t find the words,
“T-thats-” He choked on his words “That’s the worst lie you’ve ever told-” He said fighting back tears, Saihara smiled, cupping the side of Ouma face, “It’s not a lie Kokichi” Saihara’s eyebrows furrowed, “So please… stop running, please come back with us,” Ouma shuddered at the touch it was so gentle, too gentle
He didn't know what to say, “I-i, i don't know… Saihara-kun” He said letting his shoulders drop and letting his tears fall looking at the ground, seeing everyone again, it would be such a strong reminder of the game,
“You don’t have to come back just yet if you're not comfortable but- i want to stay with you- you until you're ready,” Ouma was thrown for a loop, “You want to- stay here- traveling with me?”
Saihara nodded, “I don't want to leave you again, so- i want to join you and Shinguji traveling until you're ready to come back- If that’s ok with you!” Saihara was sure Amami would want to do the same,, “I- i guess it’s fine… You’ll have to talk to Shinguji about that, I'm sure he wouldn't mind as long as ran-ran is staying..” He mumbled,
Shuichi smiled, taking his hand off of Kokichi’s face and holding his hand instead” Let’s go talk to them then,”
Once back at the motel Amami and Kiyo were already inside, the pair looked a mess, eyes red from crying but Shuichi and Kokichi didn't look much better and it made Kokichi chuckle, “We look terrible.” they all chuckled at that “we really do” Amami sighed, “perfect time to take a picture now that we're all back together” Kokichi snorted
“Really Amami?” Amami nodded, taking out his phone and patting the side of the bed, “MHM! You get in here too Shuichi” “Alright alright-” Shuichi let go of Kokichi’s hand walking over,they all smiled and Rantaro took the photo, it was a terrible photo! Their eyes were all red and swollen Korekiyo had sand in his hair, Amami had sand on his clothes, Kokichi had dirt all over him, Saihara looked exhausted and sweaty from chasing Kokichi
But even so, it was the happiest photo they’d ever taken. They still had a long way to go but now, they could do it together.