yogen | Naegi's introduction to such a charming school... (CW:Danganronpa Spoilers!)

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Naegi's introduction to such a charming school... (CW:Danganronpa Spoilers!)

Bathroom Woes (TW:Mention of unpleasant memories of bathrooms)

[When Makoto opened his eyes, he had expected to see the ceiling of his room on the ship. He had been on the way to the Future Foundation for his trial and had turned in for the night, anxious about the charges he would face. He didn't feel like what he did was wrong but he knew that the Future Foundation wouldn't see it that way.

After all, he did take international terrorists under his wing to save them from their deaths. And when the foundation found out he had let them go to live on an island without supervision? Well, he certainly didn't expect them to look at his situation favorably, despite what some of his friends told him.

He expected to see one of his friends waking him up when he opened his eyes. What he saw instead, filled him with dread. This wasn't his room on the ship. This wasn't even somewhere else he recognized. It was a surprisingly clean bathroom, no blood smears on the walls and floors like the ones he had seen in the broken world.

Groaning in pain and confusion, he rubbed the sides of his head in an attempt to stop the pounding of his head. He felt terrible. His throat was dry and scratchy, his head throbbed in pain and his fists felt raw for some reason. He lifted his hand to his eye level but saw no injuries that would explain the pain he felt. What he saw instead made him pale. Six tally marks were on the inside of his wrist and were sensitive to the touch. They also itched.

Staring at his reflection in the broken mirror, he looked down at his sore knuckles and flexed them, wincing at the pain that radiated through his hand at the movement.]

What...happened here?

Breathe

[Exiting out of the bathroom did little to curb his panic, as the halls outside reminded him of the halls in Hope's Peak Academy. With the anxiety clouding his mind, the halls looked ominous and foreboding as conflicting memories filled his head. The first year at Hope's Peak, walking with his friends...The killing game, finding corpses of those friends, and walking to the elevator to commence the trial...

His panic rose as he took in the surroundings. Muttering to himself, he tried to calm his breathing as his breath quickened in fear. Focus Makoto...It's not Hope's Peak. You're fine...It's not...The windows! The sight of the unblocked windows brought hope to Makoto as the dread slowly left him. It wasn't Hope's Peak! He wasn't back in that school!

Closing his eyes, he put a hand to his chest and tried to smooth out his breathing, remembering The Ultimate Therapist's teachings as he calmed down. Breath Makoto...That's it...You're not there...It's okay.

Opening his eyes, he decided to walk to the windows to see if they could be opened. Tugging on the windows, he tried opening them to no avail. Why wasn't he surprised...Sighing, he put a hand to his chin in thought, completely missing the sound of someone walking towards him.]

((OOC:Sorry for only having two prompts. It's my mother's birthday and I wanted to finish this before I burned out. Wildcards are very welcome. You can contact me at

CeyahWolfsong or at Discord at Anne#6966))

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[He tries to wipe his own tears away as he faces Naegi. He has to be strong! He's been the one representing their class here with the disappearances of the others, after all. It is heartening to see that Makoto seems to be in good health.

And then there's the mention of his death. Even if Ishimaru brought it up already, it's still not the happiest subject for him to dwell on.]

I... I know that this seems unbelievable. But right now, we are in a place that is... beyond life and death. [He's been led to believe this is part of the afterlife, but he's not sure if he wants to dump the knowledge on Makoto that he might be dead too now.]

The impossible is possible here. A number of months ago, you and some of our other classmates were here too. But you disappeared... a-and now, here you are once more. I believe that has happened a few times... students disappearing and then reappearing without their memories of this school. [It did happen with Kaede recently too.]

But do not worry! I am here to help you get back onto your feet here!!

[Makoto gaped at his friend in shock at the words he was saying. A place beyond life and death? How was this possible? And how did he get here?

Shaking his head in confusion, he watched Ishimaru talk in bewildered awe. Here was his friend talking to him again, alive and like how he was before Mondo's execution. It was a relief, filling Makoto with a warmth he probably shouldn't feel considering the situation he was in. But he couldn't help it. Seeing his friend so determined and happy to see him again healed some of the wounds he had from the killing game.]

I...I believe you. Well, it's hard to believe all of this is happening but I trust you.

[Another set of tears threatened to come but he wiped them away before they could fall. Smiling through watery eyes, he gave a small laugh as he watched Ishimaru try to get his emotions together.]

Well...You should show me this place while we're here. If this is where we're stuck, I need to know what I'm dealing with here.

Yes, of course! There is much more to see beyond this bathroom!

[Ishimaru tries to regain his composure, now that there's a task to focus on. He goes to lead Makoto out of the bathroom.]

Just follow me, Naegi-kun. I will give you the grand tour of Yogen High School!

[Makoto smiled at the response of his friend, and nodded.]

Lead on Ishimaru-kun.

[Following after Ishimaru, he looked around as he was led out of the bathroom, absentmindedly scratching his wrist. The halls reminded him of Hope's Peak but he didn't mention it. He was relieved to see small details that separated Yogen from that school. Such as the windows not being blocked and the colors of the walls.

Well of course it would be different. This is the afterlife. Or at least right after death and before the afterlife. A purgatory of some kind... A thought entered his head before he could stop it and he opened his mouth to ask.]

You said that some of our classmates were here before. ...Are they still here?

[Ishimaru nods promptly and begins to lead Makoto down the hallway. The Home Ec. classrooms are nearby, but his steps slow as Makoto dwells on the subject of their classmates. It's a difficult truth to impart, but after a pause, he gets it out.]

...N-no. No, I am sorry. But... they are gone.

[Not to mention that he saw both of them are dead. Ishimaru's not sure about imparting that to his classmate just yet, but he sure feels pensive just thinking about it.]

It is only me, and some other Ultimates who are not from our class.

[Makoto watched his friend struggle with his words with sad acceptance. So that was how it is.]

I see.

[Letting out a sigh, he looked around at the school sadly before turning back to Ishimaru.]

What others are there? Anyone I'd know?

[It's a welcome conversation shift from dwelling on those they'd lost. He frowns thoughtfully as he thinks of how to put this.]

Ah... I am not sure. I doubt that you would know them personally, considering that we were prevented from attending Hope's Peak Academy proper, but... Hajime Hinata and Nagito Komaeda are two students from another class. Komaeda-kun actually seems to share your talent of luck, although I must warn you that he has a habit of saying... troubling and confusing things.

There are also Rantarou Amami and Kaede Akamatsu. They are an unusual case, as they have Ultimate titles but no apparent knowledge of Hope's Peak. Things can be quite confusing here, you see! [He tries to punctuate that with an attempt at a laugh.]

[Makoto listened quietly to his friend talk, his almost peaceful expression falling at the false memory of their involvement with Hope's Peak. Of course he wouldn't know. He died before gaining those memories back. He was jolted out of his thoughts when he recognized two of the names Ishimaru gave him.]

Wait...Komaeda-kun and Hinata-kun are here?

[Did they die as well? What about the other Remnants? Did the Future Foundation find them?!]

[His expression falters, and he looks back towards Makoto in confusion.]

...Ah, yes? Yes, they have been here for about as long as I have. So... you are acquainted with them? [He didn't know that, but he supposes it's possible that Makoto met other Hope's Peak students before attending the school and just never brought it up before!]

[Makoto nodded slowly, his mind full of worry for the Remnants.]

I uh...met them after we escaped.

[He couldn't tell Ishimaru about the truth of home could he? To let him know that they had been classmates for a year before the Tragedy destroyed most of humanity? The things they both lost...It would be too much.

He knew he needed to tell him someday but he wasn't ready for that. He wasn't sure he could take that dead, despair-laden face on his friend again so soon after reuniting with him. I hope the others are okay at least.]

We had some... similar experiences.

[He frowns thoughtfully as he puts together how he means. And there's a hint of a smile at part of what he says.]

So you did manage to escape. How- how splendid! [It's a bittersweet realization, because he's glad that it eventually came to an end, and that Makoto was able to survive at least. Komaeda had hinted at something like that before, calling him the Ultimate Hope, but Ishimaru's often not sure what words of Komaeda's to take at face value, so now he has confirmation at that. It's just bittersweet in that he could not escape with them.]

Are you talking about... the killing games? I- I am aware that, unfortunately, all of the other Ultimates here have experienced some manner of killing game in the past.

[Makoto winced at the words yet managed a weak smile at his friend. His friend didn't seem to resent him for escaping without him but Makoto still blamed himself. If only he had kept an eye on Ishimaru like he should have. Maybe then he could have stopped Celeste from killing both Hifumi and Ishimaru...He looked away with a sigh and rubbed his neck.]

Yeah...I met Hinata-kun and Komaeda-kun through a killing game. We managed to escape again.

[After a moment of silence, Makoto dared to peek at his friend's expression and opened his mouth again.]

...Do you want to know who else escaped?

[He can't resent anyone to surviving... it's especially hard to given that they've ended up here in Yogen. If anything, he feels bad that Makoto might have perished sometime after escaping.

He does give a confused gasp at his explanation.]

Through - another killing game? I... am glad that you managed to escape! [But it's troubling that he had gotten involved twice.

He pauses at that question. He's worried about the possibility of more of their number having perished, but ultimately, he feels that it's best for him to know what has happened at home after he has left.]

...Yes, please. Please, let me know which of you managed to escape from that dreadful place.

[Makoto managed a weak smile at Ishimaru's exclamation. He still felt terrible about how the simulation turned out. If only he had been paying more attention, perhaps he could have stopped it before it got worse. He is just glad that the effects of the killing game weren't permanent. I hope the others recover soon...]

Yeah. It wasn't easy but we managed to stop it before there were too many casualities...

[He looked at Ishimaru solemnly before sighing. He took a deep breath before answering.]

...6 survivors. Only six of us escaped from that hell. Kirigiri-san, Togami-kun, Hina-san, Fukawa-san, Hiro-kun...and me.

[He looked away in pain as he remembered the dear friends he lost, the pain worse since regaining his memories.]

I...I'm sorry.

[To think that Makoto got caught up in another killing game... He thought that he was supposed to be lucky! He's relieved to hear that he made it through that one as wll, at least.

The rest of what he has to say brings more of a mix of feelings. He feels some contentment knowing that six of them made it through safely... Although that's dampened somewhat by Naegi and Kirigiri having ended up at this school... and the fate that befell the latter. It also leaves him feeling hollow to think of how a single moment changed everything... and kept him from being in that list of students.

And there's another sadness that comes with that list, as he compares that with the students who he remembers being around before his own end. He does know that Hifumi and Celestia were responsible for his death, so he's not surprised by their absence. Just disappointed. But that leaves one more person, which makes him feel q pit in her stomach. Sakura... Her too? But how? Why? Who could she have killed or been killed by, if there isn't another deceased student? He decides not to voice that question, because he's not sure if he wants to know.

But he is just still and silent for a few moments as all those thoughts go through his head. Finally, he closes his eyes as he speaks.]

I... I see. I am quite happy that the six of you were able to survive that, Naegi-kun. ...And... I am sorry that you are now trapped here in this place.

[Makoto watched his friend take in the news sadly, wishing he could tell him something else. Relaying the news of their friends' fates...It always hurt no matter how many times he told it. Why did this have to happen? Why did we have to lose so much?

He waited patiently for Ishimaru to speak his thoughts, his own mind scattered with thoughts filled with regret. But when he heard the defeated voice of his friend, he put a hand on Ishimaru's shoulder in comfort.]

It's okay. Even if...Even if we're trapped here...At least we're together again.

[Seeing his friend again and so full of life...It was too precious to him to put into words.]

No matter what comes, we'll deal with it together.

[Ishimaru feels Makoto's hand on his shoulder, and it's hard to maintain his composure. He's been trying to be strong and brave for his dear friend, who has just been thrust into this situation. But seeing him and having his support again... It's a lot. And this is the final straw, prompting Ishimaru to just wrap his arms around Makoto in hug.]

Thank you... Naegi-kun! You are right. I am glad to be here with you. And I know that by working together, we may truly overcome this ordeal! I- I have faith in our chances, and in our diligence!

[Makoto blinked in shock at the sudden movement as Ishimaru pulled him into a hug. But the shock soon melted into something warm as tears once again gathered in his eyes. Ishimaru was so warm around him, filling him with hope again. Quickly wrapping his own arms around his friend, he buried his head into the other's shoulders and took a deep breath before replying.]

Of course we will. I believe in us.

[It's not a gesture he's expertly acclimated to, but it is one that he's gotten more practice with during his time at Yogen. And really, the emotions at seeing Makoto alive again are essentially overwhelming! He'll keep a firm grip for several moments, letting some tears flow as he feels the weight of this reunion. And in that moment, Makoto's words sound more sincere than ever.]

As... as do I, Naegi-kun. It is good to have you back.

[Makoto took a sharp intake of breath at those words before he tightened his grip and whispered back.]

...You too.

[After a long moment of just taking in Ishimaru's warmth and scent, he reluctantly loosened the hug and stepped back. He smiled as he wiped his eyes, before grasping his friend's hand and waiting for him to lead the way.]

Lead the way Ishimaru-kun. I'll be right behind you.

[He doesn't think he's ever hugged Makoto before, despite him being among the first person he's sincerely called a friend. He's the one who taught him a lot about friendship and fun, after all! And now here is, back and alive and well once more. The expression of camaraderie certainly feels powerful and warm!

As he steps back, he quickly rubs his sleeve across his face to wipe away his tears, and then he faces him with a bright smile.]

Of course! Please follow me, Naegi-kun. Now let me treat you a thorough tour!

[And with that, Ishimaru will guide him around the school, while pointing out the various rooms and other landmarks to him!]

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Naegi's introduction to such a charming school... (CW:Danganronpa Spoilers!)

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