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Korekiyo Shinguuji woke up feeling bad. Really bad. Like, they felt like throwing up all of their guts and coughing until their lungs came out. Sweat beaded down their face fast, but they couldn't stop shivering. Their head felt impossibly heavy and full. They tried to stand, but almost immediately fell; their head was spinning too much that it made everything feel impossible.
And Korekiyo felt weak.
Physically, they felt weak, and emotionally, they felt weak. They couldn't even stand without stumbling, for fuck's sake. They felt so, so exposed. So naked. So terrified. From the moment they woke, a sinking feeling was dropped into their stomach, weighing them down. Their trembling hands were not only there due to how cold yet hot they felt, but also their nerves.
Despite the pounding of their head and their wobbly knees, Korekiyo decided they needed to be productive today. They were part of a killing game, after all, and it would be a tragedy if people thought they were dead because they were cooped up in their room all day. At the very least, they needed to make an effort. The little voice in their head – their sister – told them so, anyway.
Now, my dear Korekiyo, the voice would whisper in that sickly sweet voice of hers, you want me to be proud of you, right?
"Yes… Yes, more than anything, Sister," he whispered back in an abnormally shaky and meek voice.
Then suck up your pain and get us ready. I'll be mighty disappointed if you don't. And I know you don't want that, do you?
Swallowing hard, Korekiyo sat up in their bed. They took a few deep, deep breaths, attempting to ease themself before standing up fully. Despite their efforts to be more calm and feel better, they felt just as bad as before. They had rooms steady themself with the shelf next to their bed and catch their breath before they could even attempt to walk again. Once they felt slightly more confident (mostly due to Sister coaxing them with one of their only weaknesses, praise), they slowly walked to the bathroom.
As they stared into the mirror at their own reflection, the realization of their state finally set in. Their cheeks looked sunken in, their eyes were wide but glazed over, and their hair was sticking up in odd places. A shaking hand reached to the glass to check if it was really them; they were horrified to find out it was. A soft cry escaped their thin lips as they backed up from their reflection. They shut their eyes, though, and tried it again. Sister told them to suck it up, so they must do it.
Their hands seemed to betray them as they shook and fumbled with anything they held, but eventually they had everything done. Red lipstick messily covered their lips, a small amount of poorly applied eyeliner sat below their eye, and their hair was somewhat brushed, though it looked remarkably more messy than normal. That was fine. Everything was fine. Korekiyo was fine. Just ignore every single thing they were feeling, and they were fine.
It took them a good moment to collect themself before they got dressed. They slid on their pants, their shirt, and their boots with no hassle and with Sister praising them in their ear. Then, they sat their hat on top of their head. Afterwards, they grabbed the mask they always wore, but didn't put it on. Their yellow eyes locked onto it as if in a daze. They didn't know if they could breathe in that, considering how bad and unsteady their breathing pattern had already become.
Do it, Korekiyo, dearest, Sister hissed. You wouldn't want the world to see…all of that, right?
"Yeah… Yeah, you're correct," they whispered back before putting it on. It felt so tight, so hot, but they had to do their best in keeping it on. Sister was right; Korekiyo wasn't ready for the world to see Sister's true effect on him.
With that, Korekiyo was dressed and physically ready to go and meet with the others, despite what his body was feeling and how loudly his brain was screaming at him to stop. He exhaled before opening the door to the rest of the dorms.
For just a few seconds, everything was perfectly normal. All was silent in the dorm room building. Most people had already gone to the cafeteria. Korekiyo was just about to do that too when the anxiety hit again, insisting that they forgot something. Giving in to their nerves, they began searching their body, patting themself down in hopes they could remember. However, what they forgot only hit them once they stared down at their hands.
They forgot to wrap them in bandages like usual.
As they stared at their scarred hands, their mouth hung open under the cloth and their eyes grew wide. The trembling from earlier arrived again. Their hands shook as they turned then over, examining the scars they were all too familiar with. After a few long moments of observing, a scream left their mouth. They knew their scars like, well, the back of their hand, but the thought of someone else seeing them horrified them. Nausea filled their stomach. They felt eyes staring at them, but they didn't care who it was or why they were looking. They just needed to go back inside and stay there for the entire day. Maybe even the entire year.
In an instant, Korekiyo was back in the safety of their dorm room. Their back was pressed against the door, not as a lock, but because they didn't know if they could actually make it to their bed or anywhere else in their room at that time. Their state only worsened as the day trudged on, it seemed. They had no choice but to just stand there and wallow in their sickness. All thoughts about what the others would think about their disappearance were gone, replaced by the pure fear and panic they felt over every little thing going on. They were sick with something they didn't know about in the middle of a killing game. It didn't matter if someone killed them or if they got executed, Korekiyo thought, because they were going to die over this illness regardless.
At that thought, tears began forming in their eyes. For the first time in years, Korekiyo felt like crying. Something in their brain must have changed, because they didn't cry and they weren't afraid of anything and they could hold their own. But they're not like that anymore. They're crying and terrified and defenseless.
And, to make matters worse, a knock came from the other side of the door. It was a light sound that repeated twice, but it was still enough to startle the person on the other side. They jumped from against the door in shock, then turned around to face it. Their breath shook as they took a deep breath in, then let it out. They knew they needed to open the door and say something, but they didn't want to. They were scared of interacting with anyone. Even Sister made them feel unsafe, for once.
Despite their fear, they opened the door just a crack so they could see who was out there. They were greeted by the smiling face of Angie Yonaga, another participant in the killing game they were trapped in. Her bright blue eyes darted from the center of the door to where it was open. She turned her head towards it. "Hellooo? Kiyo, is that you?"
"Yes. Please leave now," Korekiyo responded, trying their hardest to come across like they normally do. They couldn't let their illness get the best of them again. Absolutely no way.
Angie tilted her head. "Are you not going to come to breakfast? Everyone is already there."
"Why aren't you?"
"I thought I heard something come from your room."
Shit. They had been caught. Angie caught them. Now, she was going to whip them and torture them and–
No, no, Angie wasn't like that. She was sweet, and kind, even if she did get rather pushy with her religious beliefs at times. Deep down, everyone could tell she had a heart of gold. And it was a damn shame she was wasting it on the shivering, scared Shinguuji sibling.
"Well, you didn't. It must've been someone else, or perhaps a hallucination. Please go on now." Their voice was becoming more firm, but they felt just as bad, if not worse, inside.
"Mmm…," Angie hummed, taking a minute to contemplate the possibility, but shook her head after around ten seconds. One of her hands wrapped around her face to hold her cheek, while the other grabbed her side. "Nope! That is not a possibility. I only hear the voice of God; that's the closest I experience to hallucinations."
In an instant, her entire demeanor changed. She had a finger pointed at the door and a dark shadow cast upon the upper half of her face. "Now, I suggest that you let me in soon. God is telling me something's wrong with you, Kiyo."
Korekiyo's heartbeat beated faster. A lump was in their throat and they just couldn't swallow it. They knew Angie was much, much smaller and weaker than they were, but they were so afraid. Hell, if Himiko even had a somewhat angry tone with them, they'd be trembling and apologizing in a matter of seconds.
"Sorry, s-sorry, I apologize," Korekiyo whispered, "but I really don't want company. Please come back another time. I-I may be sick, and–"
"You are sick!?" Angie exclaimed, putting both hands on her cheeks. She had changed her mood yet again. "Oh my! It's a good thing I was also a healer on my island. I can try to make you feel better, Korekiyo."
Her voice was so genuine and so kind that it hurt Korekiyo to listen to. They didn't deserve to hear that. They didn't deserve her treatment. They didn't deserve her. Guilt struck their chest. They didn't do anything, really, not here, but they just felt so, so, so bad.
They shook their head through the door. "I am fine for now. Just…a bit ill. I can get past it."
"Kiyo, please. I promise I will nurse you back to health!"
They shouldn't drag this on longer than they needed to. It was cruel to. Angie was pleading to take care of them, and they truly needed it, no matter how much they didn't want to admit it. With a sigh, they opened the door fully.
Angie looked up at them with wide, caring eyes. Her smile was plastered on her face. Korekiyo, however, couldn't look her in the eyes. Their hands were behind their back and their head was tilted down and to the left. The nausea died down, but the sweat and the headache was back with a vengeance.
"Thank you," the girl said, walking past Korekiyo and into their room. "Now, go lay down. Or sit. Either works, but you must rest!"
They had no arguments to that. Their feet dragged as they walked to their bed and sat. A hand massaged their head while the other rested on their leg. Instead of feeling Angie's eyes burning into them, they heard her footsteps walking around the bed. Then, they felt the bed shift with weight. Their torso turned to see Angie sitting on the bed next to them. Her hand hovered over their back for a minute, then rested gently on it.
Korekiyo flinched at the contact. "Please d-don't touch me. I-I…," they paused, "I don't want to get you sick." And, they thought, I don't like touch. Please don't touch me. It'll lead to hurt. Sorry.
The girl simply smiled, though, and removed her hand from their back, settling on just putting it on the bed. "That's okay! Anyway, do you know what illness you have?"
"No. I just…woke up feeling this horrible."
"Hmm, hmm… Maybe it's because of the trial last night? Maybe the stress is getting to you?"
"I don't believe that's it, I apologize. It feels like a cold, but worse."
Angie looked at the floor in contemplation. Then, she brightened up with an idea. Korekiyo's heart fluttered at her enthusiasm, much to their dismay. "I know, I know! I can go tell Monokuma and the others, we can devise a plan, and then we can go from there!
"Either way, I intend to care for you until you're well again, Kiyo."
—
"Yaa-haah, everyone, I have an announcement to make!" Angie said as she walked into the dining room, where everyone else was. Their heads all turned to look at her. The expressions on their faces ranged from happiness to shock.
"What, is Creepshow dead or something? Where are they anyway?" Miu asked.
Ignoring the nickname Miu gave to Korekiyo, Angie continued. "You all shall find out in due time! Patience is a virtue, Miu. Anyway, Monokuma, please come out!"
Almost as soon as the girl made her request, Monokuma appeared out of nowhere. He asked Angie what she wanted, and she began explaining the sickness Korekiyo was facing.
"Um… What?"
"Hm? Is there a problem, Monokuma? I thought I explained things well."
"You did, but I– it's just that–" The robot began sweating (how, no one knew), and its eyes grew wider. "This is the wrong game for that!"
All eyes landed on Monokuma, begging him silently to go on. He obliged after a few seconds passed.
"You see, this is – well, was – a motive. It's something called the Despair Disease, and it affects everyone differently. But, ah, the thing is…this was meant for a whole other group of people!"
"So how the fuck did it get to Creepshow!?" Miu shouted
"I-is it gonna spread to us?" Tsumugi asked in a panic.
"Quick, Himiko, quarantine!" Tenko yelled.
"E-enough already!" Monokuma shouted, making everyone fall completely silent. "Jeez, you kids are so impatient, not even letting me speak…
"You see, this motive only affects one person each day until someone kills, and it's completely random. But…if people at home were watching this, they'd get so bored because it's something they've seen before! Sooo, I'm switching it up. Kinda."
"Kinda? Is Kiyo not gonna get better?" Angie asked. Internally, she was feeling a bit sad, but she tried to not let it show, especially not in front of Monokuma.
Monokuma scratched at the back of his head. "Oh, no, they will. It just may take a few days. I have to create a whole new cure for the Despair Disease, since I kinda didn't have one last time this was used."
"Well," Tsumugi said, "are we still going to get sick each day? Should we quarantine or something?"
"It will spread every day, one by one, but it's far from contagious, so there's no need to worry!"
"I have one more question," Angie interjected. "How does it affect us differently? Does Kiyo have a specific type?"
Monokuma nodded. "Yup, yup, that's exactly right. Korekiyo has been infected with the Anxiety Disease, a disease which, as the name suggests, makes them anxious and paranoid."
Angie nodded back. That explains the way they acted, she thought. Monokuma asked if anyone else had more questions, then disappeared once more. Angie picked up two servings of breakfast, one for her and one for Korekiyo, said her goodbyes, then headed back off for the dorm rooms.
—
Gonta Gokuhara prepared a fine breakfast for everyone, but Korekiyo didn't feel like eating it whatsoever. Though Angie ate all of her food, the person she was looking after couldn't bear to even pick it up. They were nauseous as is, and they didn't know if they could exactly hold down any food. Besides, their brain was worried it could potentially be poisoned or contained razor blades – it wasn't like Gonta or Angie to do something like that, but that didn't stop them from being scared of the possibility.
"Well, I have some good news, and some bad news. I shall start with the bad news first, is that okay with you, Kiyo?" Angie asked, sitting across from Korekiyo on their bed. They nodded.
"You have a subset of the Despair Disease, a made up illness Monokuma used as a motive in the past. You specifically have the Anxiety Disease!"
Korekiyo's eyes widened. They looked from Angie to their bed. "I…," they whispered, breath ragged. "I'm going to die like this, aren't I? I'm going to die, Angie! I-I'm–"
"Kiyo, that's not it at all," Angie interrupted. "Nothing bad can happen to you. All that will happen is that you will feel sick and very scared for a few days! Here's where the good news kicks in, too.
"You're not contagious. You can't get anyone sick, so I am going to take care of you until you recover! Speaking of recovery, Monokuma says that you won't die, and that there will be a cure in no time!"
Angie expected this news to calm Korekiyo. It did not.
They raised their head. Long black hair draped over their face, obscuring their expression. It was clear, though, that their eyes were still big and their eyebrows were creased. "No, n-no! It won't be done in time! I'm going to die here!" Korekiyo cried. Tears dripped down their cheeks as they yelled. Their hands grabbed onto Angie's shoulders, who was staring at them in mild surprise.
At the realization of what they'd done, they removed their scarred hands off of her immediately and stood up. Their gaze went from their hands to the girl, who still sat. "I'm…I'm sorry. I didn't– I don't– I apologize. Please forgive me. I'm sorry."
Their apologies went on and on, getting quieter and quieter, as they backed up towards their bathroom. Angie simply sat on the bed, watching Korekiyo with concerned eyes. "I'm…going to excuse myself.," Korekiyo said quickly before opening the bathroom door.
Once inside, they immediately unhooked the strings of their mask from their ears and tossed it onto the counter. They felt to their knees once it was off, landing in front of the toilet. One of their hands grabbed the toilet seat while the other held their hair back as best as it could. Then, they opened their mouth and spilled out of all of contents in their stomach with a horrible scream.
"Kiyo!? Are you okay!?" Angie called from the other side of the door. Korekiyo shut their eyes.
"I-I'm–" Korekiyo managed before another load of vomit came right up. Their throat stung and their stomach burned. He felt so, so awful, awful about yelling at Angie, awful at letting his disgusting hands touch her pure body, awful about having her take care of him. His body felt worn out and the few hours in the day that had passed dragged on forever. They just wanted everything to all be over.
They were so caught up in their head that they almost missed the sound of the bathroom door opening. Almost.
Korekiyo's head whipped around to see Angie standing in the doorway. The lipstick on their face was smeared and a small amount of vomit also sat on their lips. Their hair was even more disheveled from them holding it in such a tight grip. They knew they looked as disgusting as they felt, but Angie didn't seem to care. No, she just walked over to them with a smile. She sat next to them and ripped off a small piece of toilet paper.
She sat down in front of the kneeling person. They looked down at her, and she looked up at them. They expected an even more disgusted look now that she saw them up close, but her smile never wavered for a second. Even though her face was so open and accepting, Korekiyo couldn't help but cover up the lower half of their face with their arms.
"Don't…l-look at me," they pleaded quietly. "I don't want someone as g-good as you to see me like this. I-it's wrong. I'm disgusting."
Angie shook her head. "You are far from that, Kiyo." She gently moved one of their arms away from their face, and they moved the other on their own. She took the toilet paper and dabbed at their lips, cleaning them. "You are just ill. I wouldn't judge a person for being sick, God would punish me if I did."
Would God punish me? I've done horrible things that He must've seen, if He does exist. I deserve it. I deserve whatever punishment comes my way, Korekiyo thought.
"Besides," Angie continued, throwing the dirty paper away, "God and I can both tell you are truly good. I'll make sure you can recover from this illness and become the best version of you you can be!"
For the first time in their life, Korekiyo was experiencing a new emotion. Their heart fluttered and, despite everything else going on, they could feel heat in their cheeks. Something, a deeply repressed feeling, bloomed inside of them, like a flower receiving water for the first time.
That feeling was love.
Sure, Korekiyo thought they had been in love before. For most of their life, they thought they were in love with their sister. She had treated them in horrific ways, but she always told them how much she loves and cares for them, and how she was only doing what was right. Korekiyo believed her. They were in love with her because they had no choice but to be.
But the feeling they had towards Angie was a different feeling, a different type of love – a love that was not forced, but came naturally. Their heart ached as they heard Angie say how they were truly good, and that she would help them, but it hurt in the most fantastic way. In that moment, they wanted nothing more than for her to care for him forever, and for them to do the same for her.
"Angie… Thank you, th-thank you."
Angie's hand went to Korekiyo's cheek, her thumb stroking the soft skin gently. They leaned into the touch. "Of course, Kiyo. Is there anything I can help you with now?"
Korekiyo thought for a moment, before nodding their head. "Could you hand me the makeup remover? It's on the counter."
Angie grinned and stood up. She grabbed the package and tossed it down to Korekiyo, who was still comfortably on the floor. They caught it, then closed their eyes. They took a deep breath before grabbing one of the tissues and letting it out. Their hand shook as they pressed the material to their lips, wiping away the lipstick. Sister, in their head, screamed at them to stop, but they didn't listen. The act was done, and it felt freeing to say that. Without another look at the wipe, they put it in the trash bin.
"Again, Angie, thank you. Your dedication to helping me…it makes me a bit concerned, but…you seem good as well. I t-trust you. For right now."
The girl grinned and offered her hand out to Korekiyo, who took it and helped themself up. "Of course, of course! Let me know if I can do anything to help!" Angie said as she led them back to their bed. As they approached the bed, Korekiyo let go of her hand and hugged themself.
"Stay. Please. Even if it's just for the night, you…you help whatever this disease is. You make me calmer with your presence."
"I wouldn't have it any other way! I'll sleep on your floor tonight, and spend the rest of the day with you. Is that okay?"
"More than okay. Oh, and, I have one more request: tomorrow, could you cut my hair?"
"Gladly!"
Korekiyo smiled their most genuine smile, and Angie smiled back. The taller of the two leaned down slightly, then hugged the girl. She hugged right back instantly. When they broke apart, Angie planted a soft kiss to their cheek, and the feeling in Korekiyo bloomed even more.
"I think we can conquer this disease as long as I have you around, Angie," Korekiyo said.
They meant it, too.