This story is related to another of my works (Can't Say Goodbye to Yesterday). It's not a direct sequel but an AU based on that setting and its characters. Reading CSGtY isn't required but it does put perspective on things.
April 2016
Friday, 1:14 am
Three knocks on the door before he opened - His mousey brown hair even more disheveled than usual, signifying he'd just woken.
"Yo, Makoto. Can I come in?" ▇▇▇▇▇ said
The boy quickly nodded, less surprised at a girl waltzing into his room past midnight and more taken aback by her asking. Ordinarily, she would have stormed the place and that would be the end of it.
His head swayed to the sides of the hallway, making sure they weren't seen, not unlike a toddler sneakily stealing away snacks their parents hid away.
"Make yourself at home." He closed the door, welcoming despite Makoto himself being a new resident.
She shamelessly took his invitation, sitting cross-legged on his bed. Her gaze flew to every corner of the room before grinning. "Hmm, you've hidden them well. Those cultured magazines of yours."
"I-I don't have anything like that!" He spluttered, the innuendo not lost on him. They couldn't be when voiced in that sultry tone ▇▇▇▇▇ perfected. "How would I even get any in the school?"
He regretted his choice of words. The silence that fell was concrete proof, diffused only when She tapped his bedside. "Sit."
Anxiously, he acquiesced, maintaining just enough space between them to not go mad from the scent of fresh, high-quality shampoo.
She closed that gap, her shoulder brushing his.
"W-What did you want to talk about?" His voice cracked.
"You. It's already been a month since the world got turned upside down. How're you holding up?"
"We see each other every day. You didn't need to come all the way over just for that." There'd be trouble if they were caught. The headmaster was very clear about the rules of their imposed living arrangements.
"Does that mean I'm not wanted?~"
"N-No, you're always welcome." He regretted those words as well, as soon as the snaky grin appeared on Her flawless features. Teasing Makoto was a beloved past-time of many. His companion was no exception, but the extreme.
"Talk. It's just us here and we can tell each other anything, right?" Her hands clasped over his.
He returned the gesture, locking his fingers with hers. He wore a forlorn smile non-fitting his usual cheery demeanor. "I miss my family."
Obviously. Everyone missed their families and friends. That was the point.
"I'm sure they're alright. That sister of yours is tough. Tougher than you are, and you're still alive and kicking." ▇▇▇▇▇ assured him with neither evidence nor sincerity.
Concern overtook Makoto's boyish features. "What's gotten into you?" It wasn't like her to comfort others.
She replied with faux-indignation "I'll have you know I'm a monolith of kindness, but I can see it's totally wasted on you. Dummy. Stupid. Go die!"
Makoto softly laughed at the relentless insults. "That's more like it."
▇▇▇▇▇ turned away from that warm gaze, choosing to twirl her strawberry-blonde hair instead. "I'm scared too. About being trapped here." With nothing but danger surrounding them at all sides.
They – not her – were cornered like mice.
Ah, what amazing Desp-
"We're not trapped."
She blinked, slowly motioning towards him. Towards that resolution which would overcome any hardship he faced – that would defeat her. "We locked ourselves in here for our own protection…and once everything blows over – once the world returns to normal – we'll leave. All of us, together." He squeezed her hand even tighter. "What I'm saying is, we can't give up hope just yet. Not ever- "
His speech was caught off (She'd heard enough by that point) when She nipped at his neck, biting deep enough into his skin deep to leave a mark. Her hands straddled his waist, pushing him onto the bed.
His words were caught in his throat as he stared into her sky-blue eyes. They burned with an intensity he'd never seen before.
Without waiting for a response, she pressed her lips onto his.
Makoto didn't resist when ▇▇▇▇▇ undressed him.
January 2013
Tuesday, 7:04 am
"Do I have a name?"
A toddler spoke. He had charming features. His voice both hopeful and wary. His skin an unnatural pale, matching his plain-white shirt, shorts and socks.
By the boy's side was a docile golden retriever wagging its tail. The boy stroked the dog's head, the hair as smooth as his own amethyst-purple.
The inhuman recipient of the inquiry met him with curiosity. "…When'd you start caring about useless things like names?"
"Outside. I escaped last night and met someone. He said his name was 'Shouji'…before he ran away screaming." The unusual word choice in the boy's account would turn heads if any ordinary person were to hear.
"How'd you escape?" The issue of the name had fallen into irrelevance, as far as Monokuma was concerned.
"There's a hole behind the poster in my room. I've been digging an escape route with a spoon for months." He showed his caretaker and captor, a cheesy grin.
"That's a lie isn't it?" Monokuma's head tilted to the right, accentuating the innocuous question with its white, bear-like features.
"Yup."
"You also lied abut escaping."
He gave a tiny nod.
The animatronic swayed to the left, the jagged streak for an eye glowed red. "That's a lie, isn't it?"
The boy giggled. As did Monokuma. They both knew what was coming.
The bear turned and walked down the corridor. At the end was a brown door leading to the basement. Monokuma turned the knob and vanished into its dark depths.
The door was left partway open. The toddler followed, closing the door and preventing the dog from accompanying him.
The canine barked incessantly for the next hour, until the door re-opened. Monokuma pushed it out of the way. Following behind him was the child, whose shirt was noticeably less clean than before – His movements were awkward, tenser. A pink trail left on the floor with every step taken.
The golden retriever jumped to his side, licking at his feet, unintentionally hurting more than helping.
"I'm fine, Watch!" He bounced up and down, ignoring the wet squelches.
The house pet quieted down, the liar so talented that the dog believed in spite of what its eyes perceived.
"Hey." The boy turned to the bear. "Do I have a name?" He repeated the earlier question.
"How the hell should I know?" Monokuma relied, annoyed. "Actually, you're nuts for thinking a bear would know anything about human names."
"Then how can I find out?"
"Don't know and don't care either. Names don't mean squat…especially to you kids. You and your sister don't even exist." The robot found no small degree of amusement in his confusion. "But if you're so interested in names…why not make up your own?"
"I can?" Was it that easy?
"Not like you've got any other options, like parents to do it for ya! Upupupupu" Monokuma cackled, assuming he had any idea what 'parents' were. Or maybe the bear realized and wanted to laugh at the fact.
Nevertheless, he hopped with joy. "Okay…then my name will be..." What should he call himself? Something cool. "Will be…will be…will be…"
Will be.
Like a broken record, he continued and with no end in sight.
"Enough!" The bear interrupted his mantra. "Twisted brat." Its irritation quickly gave way to pleasure. The child knew that smile. After all, the robot had shown him that same expression seconds before their session. It was always the prelude to disaster. "I'll name you, if you just shut up."
"You will?!" He chirped.
"Sure. It might even be a good thing you've brought this name business up, I've gotten tired of using 'you' or 'boy' all the time." Monokuma said.
Then why'd you punish me?
"Your name will henceforth be…Kokichi." With that, Monokuma strode off
"Ko-ki-chi." He sang his new name aloud, enjoying the simplicity. It was the first gift Monokuma had ever given him. It would also likely be the last.
Kokichi ran after the artificial plushie, his footsteps leaving a trail of pink blood, that he would no doubt be forced to clean later. "What's it mean?"
A sneer fit only for the monsters in horror films spread across Monokuma's metal face as he spoke the words
"Little luck."