Work Text:
“What can I do?” asked the soft, cajoling voice of Shirogane Tsumugi. “How can I help?” A warm hand landed on her back, nails still painted a rich ocean blue. The touch was light, no pressure being applied, and yet it felt to Maki nearly impossible not to sag in on herself with it, to crumple until she was doubled over. It was pathetic, the feeling of being so beaten down by despair. Physically, she’d gone through much worse before than a couple of days without food. Doing push ups until she vomited and then doing some more. Being hit by her “instructors” for any minuscule infraction. And yet, back then, there always seemed to be hope at the end of the tunnel. Belief in something better, or at least a worthwhile cause to devote herself to.
“Nothing,” she said, beginning to raise a hand to swat Shirogane’s arm away. Halfway through the motion, she changed her mind and lowered it again. It didn’t seem worth the effort. “There’s nothing you can do, Shirogane, unless you have any suggestions on how to get out of this situation.”
At that, Shirogane just pursed her lips and sank down beside her on the floor. Maki watched her in her peripheral vision, tracking the little flutters of emotion under the surface that threatened to break through. Something about Shirogane fascinated her—she supposed that was why she let herself get involved like this, pulled into hurried makeout sessions in stairwells and alcoves.
“Well, no, I’m afraid plain old me doesn’t have any grand plans like that. Not yet. But I’d like to ease your burden however I can, Harukawa-san. That’s the least I can do when you’re being so strong for everyone.” The hand resumed its slow, gentle rubbing of her back, and despite herself, Maki closed her eyes for a moment, focusing on that rather than the ache of her empty stomach and the dizziness that struck her whenever she so much as thought about any sudden movements. She was used to physical hardship. The others were having it much worse, she knew.
“Someone will have to take action,” she said dully, picking at the hem of her skirt. “Sooner rather than later. The weaker we all get, the harder it’ll be to do what has to be done.” She opened her eyes again to glance over at Shirogane and gauge her reaction. She seemed small, drawn. Sad more than frightened. No signs she would go running off to blab about what she’d said, and in any case, Maki didn’t mind much if she did. She had no intention of getting away with murder.
Shirogane opened her mouth, then closed it again. She shifted a little closer to Maki, and the hand not on her back moved to rest against her thigh, intimate enough that Maki had the momentary desire to shove it off just to deny herself. Instead, she stared up at the vast wall of weapons in front of them and wondered which she would use and on whom.
“Monokuma’s got to be bluffing,” Shirogane said eventually. “If he sees that we’re not going to give in to what he wants... He’ll get bored and try to come up with some other way to provoke a murder. Something will happen if we all stay strong and wait.”
“Very sure of that, are you? Sure enough to stake your life on it?”
“I think it’s too soon to start making decisions you can’t take back,” Shirogane replied, dodging the question less elegantly than she probably thought she had. “It’s only been a few days. Humans can survive without food much longer than this. I’m not saying it’ll be pleasant, but...”
“Monokuma hasn’t backed down from any threats so far,” she said, equally hesitant to back down herself. “If anything, he’s become more dangerous and unpredictable, never mind those weird cubs of his. Betting everything on this being a ruse is either very bold or very cowardly. Waiting for our captor to make the decision for you.” Shirogane’s hand tensed at her back, clenching around a fistful of her shirt, and for a moment, Maki thought she’d struck a nerve sensitive enough to make the normally soft-spoken Shirogane lash out at her and reveal what might be hiding beneath that plain exterior.
“Just wait a little longer,” she urged again instead, grip loosening gradually enough that Maki couldn’t really be sure whether it had ever tightened in the first place. “I don’t want anyone to die unnecessarily. Especially not you, Harukawa-san.” Lips pressed chastely to her temple, and Maki fought to keep her breath from hitching. She was unwilling to show how desperately she wanted an excuse not to draw her weapon, not to ensure the deaths of both her chosen victim and herself.
“Let’s think about this together, somewhere other than your lab. Where we’re not surrounded by weapons.” Shirogane shivered, an expression of discomfort that came across as strangely phony. “I’m sure we’ll think of something if we keep trying.” Whether it was a lie or foolhardy optimism, Maki didn’t care.