Chapter Text
Hajime thought this had to be the stupidest motive Monokuma could’ve possibly thought up. Not to mention it should be completely impossible. You can’t just make up a disease. Still, he had to just accept what his current reality was. That being, he was stuck in a hospital taking care of Nagito Komaeda of all people as he lay dying in bed.
Despite some of Hajime’s reservations about the other boy, he was still worried about him. Some of the others didn’t seem bothered by his condition, but if Komaeda died… Well, in the worst case scenario, Monokuma would declare Hajime or Tsumiki as the blackened, since they were supposed to be caring for him.
It was also concerning just how much the disease affected Komaeda. Owari and Mioda were pretty ill, sure, but they weren’t on death’s door the same way he was. Hajime would’ve asked Monokuma if Komaeda’s disease was different somehow, but he doubted the bear would give him a straight answer.
Komaeda stirred slightly, snapping Hajime’s attention back to him. With a groan, he opened his eyes slightly. “Hinata-kun…?”
“How are you feeling?” Hajime asked.
“Oh, I’ve never felt better!” Komaeda replied with a pained grin.
“Try to fall back asleep if you can.” Hajime said with a sigh. It was annoying having to flip the meaning of Komaeda’s statements, but he was starting to get the hang of it.
“Ah, of course. I’d love to fall back asleep instead of the torture of conversing with you.”
“You… want to talk to me?”
Komaeda nodded. At the very least, he was able to gesture to answer yes or no questions without any issues. “I can explain it perfectly. Everytime I speak to you, I get filled with rage.”
It took Hajime a second to decipher what exactly Komaeda meant. “He can’t explain it, but he finds me calming? Is that it?”
“I’m furious that you’re the one taking care of me. And you’re doing a horrible job too.” Komaeda continued rambling.
“Ah, I’m just doing what anyone would.” Hajime reassured him, even if he didn’t fully believe it himself.
“I hate you, Hinata-kun. You’re awful...” Komaeda’s voice trailed off as he passed out again.
“Yeah, yeah. I don’t like you much either.” Hajime mumbled, his voice sounding far more fond than he meant it too.
Even if Hajime didn’t fully understand Komaeda, he wouldn’t abandon him. He wanted that bond they’d had when they’d first arrived on the island to be real. And he wanted Komaeda to live. He wanted Komaeda to live so badly.
But right now, he just needed to keep watching over him.