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thisisourfuture

"This is Hinata. Leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can."

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From:

virtualbytes

Hinata-kun, this is Nanami Chiaki.

[ There's a bit of a pause before she realizes she should specify which one she is. ] ...The one from Jabberwock. I was wondering if we could talk for a bit, maybe. Just the two of us.

From:

thisisourfuture

Yeah. Where are you right now? I can come meet you or, you could come to me. [The amount of answers he needs right now make it hard to speak. Yet he manages it anyway.]

From:

virtualbytes

I'm in my room in the cabins.
It probably would be better for you to come with me, I think.

From:

thisisourfuture

Okay.

I'll be there soon.

[It isn't long at all before Hinata is telling her via wrist com that he's arrived. This whole situation makes him feel like he's on the edge of something. 'You looked like you were struggling with something.' What had that meant?]

From:

virtualbytes

[ When he mentions that he's arrived it actually takes her a bit to answer the door, seeing as she was actually in a middle of playing a game; more specifically, a rather particular RPG. ]

... You can come in, Hinata-kun. Sorry if it's a bit messy.

[ It actually isn't as messy as her room back on the island, but it's getting there. ]

From:

thisisourfuture

...it could worse. [He steps inside and waits for the door to shut. Hinata swallows, unsure where to begin. What does he even have to say? What could he say? No matter what, one thing is clear.]

...Thank you. For everything you did for all of us. Please, don't apologize again. You did everything you could.

From:

virtualbytes

[ It takes a bit of time for words to form for her, unsure of how to follow up at first. But when he thanks her, she can't help but tug her lips into what seems to be a rather melancholic smile. ]

Even so... [ There were many things that she couldn't do, because of who she was. ] But, mm, you're welcome. I couldn't do much, but... it's okay. Because you guys figured things out in the end, right?

From:

thisisourfuture

We did. [He agrees as he finally finds what he wants to ask.] Nanami. ...who is she. I don't remember her at all. But what she talked about...those are...

[He falters, his voice dying away. Hinata curls his hands into fiats and continues.] The suppressed memories. Aren't they.

Edited Date: 2017-02-19 01:17 am (UTC)

From:

virtualbytes

[ She's rather quiet as she listens to Hinata's voice carefully, keeping her ears perked but her gaze dropped. If Nanami's going to be honest, she... doesn't really know how she wants to feel, about the fact that the Nanami Chiaki they had both met was not only a part of Hinata's suppressed memories, but was, in actuality, a real person. A real student who had that talent from Hope's Peak Academy.

But she shakes it off before looking at him directly in the eye with a focused gaze. ]

... Probably. I don't know anything about her, Hinata-kun. It explains why there was a file for someone named "Nanami Chiaki". [ Because she was a real student after all. ] I haven't told her about me yet, so... can you promise me not to tell her? I want to tell Nanami-san myself, but I'm not really sure how to do it.

[ And it kind of scares her, in a way... because it means that she's some sort of copy of the original. And having that knowledge sends chills to her bones. It makes her feel guilty, in a way, since it's like she's stolen something important. ]

From:

thisisourfuture

...you. [He looks away. Some part of him is angry. So many answers lie right here out of his reach. But it isn't her fault. His anger lashes about his chest without a target to slam into.] I won't tell her.

....you're still you. The Nanami I spent time with and is my classmate.

[He raises his head, his eyes bright. He shuts his eyes and offers a smile.]

I thought I'd never get to see you again.

From:

virtualbytes

...

[ Honestly, Nanami doesn't answer him at first, instead keeping a tight lip as she looks directly at him with serious eyes. ]

I didn't think I'd be able to see any of you guys again, either. I... don't really understand how I'm able to be here.

[ It's a huge question mark, really. ]

From:

thisisourfuture

I'm glad you're here. [He doesn't know what else to say. All the questions crowd in demanding answers but he's pretty sure they've dealt with enough today.]

...I'm not sure what to believe about this place. But this much I'll believe in. After all you never let us down. And we're friends.

From:

virtualbytes

[ Nanami's lips part in silent awe and surprise in his words. There's a pang of guilt that hits her slightly in the pit of her stomach when he says that they're friends, but she manages to push through and persevere regardless of that.

But she can't... agree with what he's said. Not entirely. Especially about "letting them down". ]

I don't know either, but we'll make the best of it, probably.

[ Maybe a change of topic is in order. ]

Do you want to sit down, Hinata-kun? We could play games together. I was in a middle of an RPG, myself.

Edited Date: 2017-02-24 09:52 am (UTC)

From:

thisisourfuture

[He blinks. Even if that seems like changing topics a smile graces his face moments later.] Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that. If you don't want to switch to another game I can just watch. I don't mind.

From:

virtualbytes

... This game has multiplayer, you know. You can play with me during the fight sequences.

From:

thisisourfuture

Alright. [He slowly sits down beside her, holding a hand out for the other controller.]

From:

virtualbytes

Here you go.

[ She takes the second controller from her side as she flashes him a soft smile, excited to have a player two once again. ]

Do you know how to play this game...? I can explain it to you if you'd like.

From:

thisisourfuture

Yeah, I'll need an explanation. I haven't gotten to play this one. [Or much of anything lately. He wants to ask more about his missing memories. But what the other Nanami had said still haunts him.

You seemed like you were struggling with something.]

From:

virtualbytes

Okay... there's actually a controls menu, so I can show you that.

[ She'll actually hit the buttons to show him the the controls menu, which shows all the combat. ] In this RPG, you can control up to four characters in battle if you have enough controllers for it. This is mostly the basics... the rest is up to you to figure out. You don't want to waste too much of your skill arts, though.

From:

virtualbytes

Hey, Hinata-kun... is there a reason why you should be locked up when you're giving presents to someone?

From:

thisisourfuture

[He had been dead. Dead asleep. A sleepy confusioned noise is the reply.] ....huh?

[The question hits his brain.] What? Why are you asking that?

From:

virtualbytes

Komaeda-kun told me to ask you.

[ This is probably a figures it was him moment, but Nanami seems to answer that as if it were only natural. ]

From:

thisisourfuture

[Of. Course he did. He sits up in bed and scrubs at his face.]

What exactly did he say? [So he can wake him up out of a dead sleep and see how he likes it.]

From:

virtualbytes

He said that you gave Komaeda-kun things as well, so it either means nothing or that you have to be locked up at night...

[ At least something like this isn't something that she'd hide from Hinata. ]

From:

thisisourfuture

...

[He sighs.] I gave everyone gifts. I wanted to say thank you for hanging out with me. It felt like they should go to people who would enjoy them.

Instead of being stuck in my cabin the whole time.

From:

virtualbytes

... Huh, really? I wonder why Komaeda-kun said that, then.

From:

thisisourfuture

[He grumbles and flops back on his bed.] I don't know! I just wanted everyone to be happy.

What's wrong with that? [He runs at his face.] I'll ask him later.

[As in right after this call kind of later.]

From:

virtualbytes

I don't think there's anything wrong with it... sorry for waking you up though, Hinata-kun.

From:

partyleader

[The conversation with Komaeda is draining, but just as Nanami thinks she's done with hurting for the day... She stumbles upon them, completely by accident. Komaeda's other conversations.

"Of course, it would have been nice if it had been Hinata kun...."

"Ah! So Nanami-san is the traitor?"

"And in the end we're all just worthless. It had to be done though, and I don't mind if you hate me."

"Nanami-san is here though, but then so is Nidai-kun. Not that it really matters who died in the end."

It's long moments as it sinks in what it all means, combined with the pieces she picked up from Komaeda. The details aren't there, but with the gravity of it all, it almost doesn't matter. It slots into place - what Komaeda did to himself. What Nanami must have done to him, and what happened to her after.

She knows there's hardly anyone left on the ship, most people having gone to the planet. And so she lets herself do what would make her hesitate otherwise - Nanami folds over herself and screams.

The pain in her heart, that's spreading through her whole body, does not ease. But it wanes enough, eventually, that she's able to fumble with her communicator. She doesn't want to burden him. She doesn't want to talk to him about this if it's painful or difficult.

But Nanami has to know. So she opens the channel and contacts Hinata. Realizes, too late, that she's mistakenly used voice instead of text, and prays her voice will stay steady enough.]

Hinata-kun... I-I know you said we'd talk, and I'm really sorry if I'm messaging you while you're b-busy, but- [She stops, swallows. Feels herself slipping into being Too Upset again and doesn't know if she can control it.] Can I please meet you here or on the planet? I... need to talk to you right away. A-about me, and Komaeda-kun-

[And that's it. Saying his name is what does it, makes a choked noise spill out of her throat and the tears spill down her face with a vengeance. She tries to wait and blink fast. It would be bad if she started sobbing into the communicator.] I've heard some things and I need to talk to you [and the other Nanami, but that conversation terrifies her, because it will make it all real-] , please... Hinata-kun, if you can, then please tell me-!

[She almost hurts herself biting her lip to ward off saying anything else, makes a sound that's nearly a yelp of pain. Nanami has never felt like she was going to cry so much as she has today, but she's scared of not being able to stop if she starts in earnest.]

From:

thisisourfuture

[For a long moment he doesn't say anything. He had worried when he'd come back up to the ship that too much had been said. He'd read through all the replies and his worst fears were laid out. All but one.

Well. At least Komaeda hadn't directly broken the promise.

He speaks at last with a gentle tone.] I should have talked to you about this a lot sooner. I thought I'd have time. I'm sorry. I'll come to you.

Just tell me where you are.

From:

partyleader

N-no, Hinata-kun, I- [She sniffs hard. Blinks fast to clear her vision, but it doesn't help much.] Please don't be sorry. It's my fault for dumping it on you out of nowhere.

[A lot of things had been her fault, apparently.]

I'm in my room, though... I'll wait for you here.

From:

thisisourfuture

I'll be there soon.

[The walk to Nanami's room is a slow torture. He wants to run the whole way but that won't make the jaws of the past opening wide to swallow them all stay open. He takes the elevator lift. As he leans against the wall in the back he thinks back. It is his fault. He should have anticipated that no one would want to tell her the truth. He glances at his reflection and in his mind's eye his hair flows out to obscure part of his face but nothing could cut the intensity of the glowing red eyes.

'You looked like you were struggling with something.']

You have no idea how much it was.

[He tells the empty lift. The ride ends and he steps out into the corridor. The cold air and emergency lights suit his mood as he strolls slowly down to her door. He wishes he were sure in purpose or even just a little capable of shutting off pain.] Hey. I'm here.

You didn't dump this on me. I just thought I'd have more time before I had to explain everything.

[Time to just be Hinata. Not a former destroyer of the world. Not a construction of the suppressed pieces of himself. The world they knew had been so far away.] I'm still sorry.

Edited Date: 2017-03-22 06:39 pm (UTC)

From:

partyleader

[She wipes futilely at her face when Hinata enters the room, but Nanami knows she can't erase the evidence of her tears. If she were of a better mind, she'd try to dissuade him from saying sorry again, because it hurts her heart so deeply. But it's taking all she has to speak calmly at all.]

It's okay, you... You didn't know I was going to come to you with... this. ["This" has never seemed like a heavier word than it does now.] I thought we had more time, too...

[She doesn't fault Hinata or Nanami for not saying anything sooner, or even Komaeda for being the catalyst of all this.

But Nanami wishes she hadn't learned about it the way she has.]

I... should probably say what I'm about to differently, I think. But I don't know what other way to say it. [Maybe if she knew how to use her words better, she could tell it to him more gently. But as it is, being upfront about the truth seems like the only option left.] I heard Komaeda-kun's feed. All of it. The conversations with you and Nanami-san, Nidai-kun and Kuzuryuu-kun and Owari-san... [She didn't even have the chance to speak with Kuzuryuu and Owari, or to be happy that they're here.] And I've spoken with him too.

[Nanami takes a breath, but there is nothing that can prepare her for how horrible this feels. To say it. To make it more real.] Komaeda-kun said... He died. That he killed himself. But Komaeda-kun said to others that there was a "traitor", and that it's me-

[Her breath hitches in her throat. Don't cry for real. Don't do it yet.]

H-Hinata-kun, what did I do? I-it's... my fault Komaeda-kun died in that program, isn't it?

From:

thisisourfuture

It was never your fault. You or Nanami's. [He feels the heavy weight of reality come down on his shoulders like prisoner's chains. He reaches into his pocket and produces the student Id. It clicks and whines as it loads. He waits until the blue light illuminates his face before he looks away from it.] The program was meant to fix all of us. But someone.

[He did it. But his throat works because he can't even look at her.] Someone put a virus in it. The Enoshima ai within the virus forced us into a killing game. It was kill or never leave. When someone was killed we had to hold a trial to determine the guilty. If we picked wrong we were all to be executed. But if we picked right. Only the murderer was.

[In he can still remember Hanamura's terrified face before he hit the oil. Peko's quiet smile as she protected Kuzuryuu while the bots fell upon her. Gundam telling them all to live. Komaeda with his wide eyes and pained expression. Nanami and Usami trying to escape. All of it... his fingernails dig into his palms as he shakes his head.]

She was just meant to watch us as we got better. Not...be witness to all the horrors. She deserved better than that! You do too!

From:

partyleader

[There are so many questions that crop out of that, Nanami doesn't know where to begin.

But the truth sways over her like the ax waiting to fall, and she's numbly aware of the way it hangs over her. The self-condemnation she feels is probably worse than whatever anyone else could ever throw at her.

But she swallows, manages the briefest of smiles.] Hinata-kun... You're really, really kind.

[The smile fades, then.] We were supposed to watch all of you in the program that was supposed to "fix" you... But fix what? Why was it even necessary?

[Nanami laughs, weakly and without humor.] I guess it doesn't even matter in the end, though. Her, me... We couldn't protect everyone in the end. ["We", because she won't let the other Nanami bear the burden alone. Whichever one of them was responsible, it would be wrong to let her carry that alone.] Now... Now what Komaeda-kun said makes sense. That's why I couldn't be there for him in the end. [She smiles, no longer sniffling as the tears roll down her face. More of the pieces slot into place. The puzzle is incomplete, but the center has finally come together.] It's me. I'm the one who killed him. And you had to pick me so that everyone else would be okay.

[The ax falls.]

Hinata-kun, did I... die?

From:

thisisourfuture

I don't know. We're all missing our school memories. [His head hurts. If he could reach inside and rip out the details...he has a feeling he would see terrible things. He stares at his shoes as thoughts rage back and forth, like soldiers fighting a war.]

You....you have it wrong. [He raises his head, his eyes a bit too bright. He blinks a few times to clear them. Is he really that kind to expose her to the truth they all know? How is it kind to let her know how little she had known about him?]

She did protect us. Komaeda set up his own murder and she had me prove it was her to save all of us. [He knows he is stalling. The important things wait as the past reaches towards the present with icy fingers.]

...we had to be fixed, Nanami. Whatever happened to you...the rest of us became...other things. [He stares down at the floor to avoid her gaze again. His reflection is mostly in shadow or that's what it feels like.] It's my suspicion you were the last person to see Hinata Hajime.

Before I became someone else.

[He doesn't want to see her face. Not right now. He just feels cold and empty in a way that's hauntingly familiar. All he ever wanted was to be proud of himself. Now he can't even hold his head up to face a friend.]

From:

partyleader

[There's something missing here. Not quite slotted into place. Is he holding things back for her sake.] But... Are Nanami-san and I really so different? If she died, doesn't that mean I'll die too?

Unless we're... we're really that different. [Her hands tighten on the fabric of her skirt.] If something changed everyone, in a way they needed to be fixed afterwards... Maybe I couldn't protect everyone after all.

[She bites her lip against the litany of apologies that tries to flow through her head. If she hadn't let everyone down, then maybe...

No. There's still things left to unravel here, and if she really did let everyone down, it's up to her to figure out what she can.

And... Not just for her classmates. Hinata, too. That day... If she had stopped him that day, would he have not needed to get "fixed"?]

I don't know what happened to you after I saw you. I... There's something I should've said, maybe, that I didn't. I... should have. And I'm really sorry. [She blinks fast, eyes stinging and chest tight.]

But... Hinata-kun is Hinata-kun. The fact that you're here in front of me, talking to me... That means whatever needed to be fixed, the program must have worked, right? [It trembles, but she manages a small smile.] I'm... I'm really grateful Nanami-san was there to help you.

[The smile drops, though. He still... hasn't lifted his head. Her hand moves without any thought and-

She only barely brushes against the skin of his jaw, but Nanami snatches her hand back with a gasp, clutching it tight to her chest like it's been burned. That was-] I-I'm sorry. I... I shouldn't have done that...

[Regret and guilt slosh together in her stomach. She shouldn't have done it.]

B-but... Hinata-kun... You're my friend, right? Or at least, I was friends with the Hinata Hajime-kun who changed... So please... Please look at me. Please don't bow your head in front of me.

From:

thisisourfuture

[He stares at her unable to look away from her hand. His jaw feels like it's on fire.] ...Nanami.

[Hiw can he word this? She is trying to take all the blame for what they became. He can't allow that. He covers his face with a hand for a long moment and just breathes.]

It's not about who is to blame. In a way we all were. We all made choices that led to...becoming what we did. I made mine. You weren't responsible for me accepting and becoming,

[He swallows. His chest feels tight and his eyes sting. This is what he wanted, the right to tell her everything himself. His breath leaves him in a rush but the words still don't come out. Hinata looks away right into his reflection. Ashamed of himself he finally meets her eyes again. Forcing himself to keep his head up.]

Hope peak's labrat to make the perfectly talented being. I let them destroy me to give rise to Him. I don't know what happened after that. To even load me into the program they had to reconstruct my personality and memories from within him. I'm to blame for that.

We needed fixed because we became Ultimate Despair. I don't know the details. I just know when Komaeda found out what we were he decided to wipe us all out. He intended only her to live. It's...you two are different. But you're still alike. You're both still my friends.

It doesn't have to deal with who failed to protect anyone. It's about accepting what we did and moving forward. All of us.

From:

partyleader

[She squeezes her eyes shut for a moment. There's warmth from him calling her his friend, like sinking into a warm bath, but that pain is still present in her chest.] You're right. I know you are, it's just... I promised Sensei to watch over everyone, and then-

[Nanami breaks herself off, opening her eyes and blinking rapidly. It isn't right for her to tell that to Hinata and not be able to do the same as what she asked. Even if her face feels a little warm when she sees where his eyes are directed.]

Moving on, though... That's something we can aim for, I think. We're here now. And I'm- I'm sad about what's happened to you and me to everyone, I don't even know if sad is the right word for it but- [Realizes she's talking too fast. Takes a breath through the tightness of her throat, and tries again.] But we're here now. And even if I'm sad, I'm so happy we're here together. We can try again here, for as long as we have.

[It still hurts. She thinks about what they must have done to Hinata while she'd probably had no clue and it hurts, it hurts, it hurts-

She breathes again, once more. But now...] You're here now. Like you said, we don't have to blame ourselves for whatever happened. Even if some scary things are happening here, we can protect each other. We can be safe. [Again she grabs the traitorous hand from before with the other, before it can make another bad life decision and try to reach for him.] I know we can. Even if I can't do much... I'll do whatever I can to protect everyone, to make it safe for everyone here. I'll... do better by everyone this time.

[Almost word for word what she had said to Komaeda, but for some reason it... It hasn't stopped hurting, but there's something like hope mixed in now where there hadn't been before.]

From:

thisisourfuture

[It hits him all at once that she doesn't understand. She accepts them but she doesn't truly understand. In a way he's glad. The innocence she still has is something precious that he wants to keep safe. But it won't be. Not with them.

They are to blame for the state of their world. She's trying to protect them but, what about herself. He steps closer, slowly step by step until their height difference is all too clear.] Nanami.

[His voice breaks the quiet, soft and steady. All too close to the tone he'd used in the boat when he was someone else.]

You need to remember to protect yourself too. We can all find some way to make things work out. But we have to do that together, watching each other's backs. You didn't fail.

We did. But that's something we have to deal with ourselves. ...that means right now, asking me whatever you want to ask.

I'll tell you everything I know and remember.

From:

partyleader

[Protect... herself? The thought is almost... foreign. She's spent so much time worrying about everyone else, she's barely given herself a thought. She hadn't really cared, as long as she could keep everyone happy and as together as she could... But...

It feels like she failed. Not blaming herself is so hard... Especially when everyone she cared about had gotten hurt in the end.

...Maybe this is the start, though. Maybe from this, she can learn.

She tilts her head up to look at him. He's so tall. It's one of the first things she ever noticed about him, and for some reason, rather than intimidating it has always been... comforting.]

Tell me what the simulation was like. The good things and the bad things. About... everyone else who died in the program, but also about the time you shared with them. [The corner of her mouth tugs up, like it wants to smile.] Especially about Nanami-san.