★ ↯ || ❝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑖𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎. —

#RTRChallenge

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★                     A/N                    ★

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cyberspace/kiimota. (part 3/?)

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word count; 2.2k

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(mm/dd/yy)

started; 10/25/22

published; 11/29/22 (cst)

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•Kaito = they/them ||

Keebo= he/him || other

characters too ig

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•heavy spoilers for dangan-

ronpa v3, chapter five.•

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this is a request

from zero.

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fluctuates between kg

and postgame— non-linear

plotline.

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this includes / tw’s ;

death, sickness (more specifically coughing up blood), mentions of gore, implied self-injury (in art), kiimota/cyberspace.

▕▁▁▁▁▁▁▵▁▁▁▁▁▁▏

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *. .* :☆ﾟ. ───

❝ 𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑖𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎.❞

(𝑛.) 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑖𝑠ℎ

𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *. .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Just like they had expected.

Once they got to their podium, the interrogation began. There was no hesitation as the voices shot at them, piercing their skin like bullets. Before they could get a word out, another question would form, forcing Kaito to repeat the same process.

They had to repeat the same process over and over. They couldn’t respond to any of the inquiries tossed at them, which was something they should be doing, they assumed.

They could handle everyone asking if they were okay, or if they needed anything. That could be dismissed.. but as soon as Kokichi’s name was brought up, their head raised instinctively, the irritation rising as well.

“What about him?” A stupid question, they knew that. Then again, it seemed they were always the one with the stupid questions, so that wouldn’t affect anything. It was what was thought of them, that *they* were stupid. They had given up on fighting it, because they knew it was true.

“Where is he?” Shuichi inquired in more of a rhetorical manner, hands wrying with anxiousness. Kaito just.. stared. The detective knew, and Momota didn’t want to say anything about it. It was a win-win situation, except someone had died. So, not really a win-win.

Once the realization set in, Saihara nodded. “Right,” he sighed, looking towards the astronaut’s podium. They could tell he was about to say something else, but their attention was dragged away from him, instead on everyone else.

Everyone’s eyes, although shaped different, looked the same. They could barely make out the faces in general, so only seeing eyes was frightening. That could have been the several problems they had with their vision, but they knew better. It was real.

They were all watching them closely, as if they could die at any moment—they probably could, but it unsettled them nonetheless.

Their fingers tapped against the fabric of their pants, anxiously waiting for someone, anyone, to speak up again.

Yet no one did. The uncomfortable silence which was so unbearable, so irritating, returned. No one liked it; why did they allow it to occur, to persist?

Monokuma didn’t seem to like it either: “Alright, since no one’s gonna talk, I think that’s my cue!” Its laugh sent shivers down their spine.

They weren’t going to die, not how he wanted…hopefully—they had no idea what the stupid bear had in store.

“Come on, come on, let’s go!” Exclaimed said bear, clapping its hands with impatience.

“Give me a minute,” they insisted, weakly waving a hand towards the “heaster’s” throne.

Then, they were yelled at again. “You- why aren’t you fighting back?” Shirogane questioned, hand toying with the ribbon near her neck.

“No point.” They responded, securing the jacket on their shoulder, as it was close to sliding off.

“What do you mean, ‘no point’? Of course there’s a point, there’s so m-“

“Keebo, there’s literally no point. Why can’t you see that?”

Their own voice surprised them—the tone wasn’t harsh, exactly. But however it was said, it rendered the robot speechless.

“I’m gonna die either way, so like.. I’m not ‘fightin it anymore.”

Now they’d done it. They had ruined everything.

———————————

???

———————————

beep.

beep. beep. beep.

what the?

beep. beep. beep. beep. beep.

They were just imagining that, right? The obnoxious beeping noise wasn’t real?

They could no longer see, almost as if a light was turned off. Maybe that was what happened. No, they were just zoning out, right? That would be a reasonable explanation. They could not feel their fingers, or any other part of their body.

beep. beep. beep.

Before their mind had any time to get used to the new environment, they drifted back into unconsciousness almost as quickly as they had awoken.

———————————

ꜰɪꜰᴛʜ ᴛʀɪᴀʟ

———————————

They had ruined everything. Everything they had worked so hard for, like surviving, and the survival of the others. It was no longer their responsibility—they had sealed their own fate.

"Okay, we're getting off track. Iiiiiiit's punishment ti-!"

"Wait, no-"

The nerve Saihara had, interrupting the bear that had control of his friend's life. Then again, it was that friend's fault he spoke up. If it was to defend their life, in exchange for his, so be it.

"Shuichi, please. I need to do this."

They were going to argue to the ends of the earth, argue until they couldn't no more. They had to, if they were going to get their point across.

“No, I agree with Saihara, this needs to stop,”

If no one realized soon, realized that it would be okay, they would have to pretend. That’s what Oma did, didn’t he? Pretend?

“..you know what, you guys are right.”

Saying everyone was shocked would be a severe understatement. They had to keep going. “Uh..” But how? What could they possibly say, that could convince everyone they were being truthful—even if they weren’t.

It was getting increasingly difficult to talk, and to stand, for that matter. They had to make it quick. So, turning towards the bear’s throne, they huffed.

“First of all, screw you.”

They scowled, slouching slightly. “Secondly, I’m not go-I’m not gonna die how you want me to. Shoot me into the sun, for all I care—I’ll do this the way *I* want to.” They received no answer, which they were fine with. From the bear, at least. “Momota..” Keebo still remained unsure as Kaito walked towards him, their hands taking ahold of his shoulders.

“I got this.”

They assured, smiling weakly. “But- are you sure?” Death wasn’t something they should have to talk about in this way. “I’m sure.”

The robot, eyes unblinking, looked towards the group. There had been sixteen of them, in the beginning. But now, now there were six—soon to be five. “Bu-but are you *positive*?“ This earned an eye-roll from the astronaut. “If I wasn’t sure, I wouldn’t have said ‘anythin. Come on, let’s do this!”

Of course, much to Kaito’s annoyance, someone had to speak up. Maki began to protest, the corners of her mouth twitching. “Maki, for fucks sakes, please!” They snapped in a somewhat joking tone, raising both hands. At this point, they were accustomed to her frightening, outright violent nature, mostly by ignoring the fact that they were scared of her.

After what felt like forever, the talking finally stopped.

———————————

ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ.

———————————

“Oh, FUCK!”

Their screaming was immediately met with a, ‘what’s wrong?’, something they had expected. After all, they had shouted loudly—it would have been a miracle not to have received a reply. Their chest rose and declined with as much speed as humanly possible, eyes wide with both fear and anger.

Wait… weren’t they dead? Oh shit, why weren’t they dead? Did they somehow survive.. whatever their execution was?

No. it was all over, hopefully. That’s what they prayed.

“Uh.. it’s fake, right?”

It was so hard to draw the line in between what happened during the game, and what their life was now.

“Yes, it was fake. Are you alright?”

Although it was dark, they could still make out the other person’s features—their slightly curled white hair, their dimmed blue eyes, the small patches of metal merged and mangled into their skin. They had almost forgotten who it was, sitting across from them. Kaito nodded, letting their fingers intertwine with Keebo’s. He wouldn’t mind, they figured.

“I’m okay, yeah. Just- you know.”

The former astronaut could not recall when they had sat up, but apparently they had done so. Momota shrugged, laying back down. “I know.” He answered, rolling over to face them.

“It’s just so.. stupid. It didn’t even happen, and I’m having these- these dreams?” They huffed, eyes rolling subconsciously. “But, that is why I am here, correct? To help?”

They didn’t want to be alone, and with most people, that was how they felt; alone. That was most likely why they chose to ask Keebo, of all their classmates. They didn’t think he would actually accept, but of course, they were glad he did. “Yes, and I appreciate it a lot.” Eyes closing slightly, they let their teeth sink into their lip, continuing to hold his hand. “They’ll stop eventually, right?” Momota questioned, to no one in particular. “I believe so. You can do this.”

They couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks.”

———————————

ꜰɪꜰᴛʜ ᴛʀɪᴀʟ—sᴘᴀᴄᴇ??

———————————

After what felt like forever, the talking finally stopped. What started, however, would be even more painful than words.

Dizzy.

Spinning spinning spinning spinning spinning spinning-

A light gasp brought them back to their senses, quick enough to show them a mixture of colours; blues, purples, blacks, whites.

red.

The blood expelled from their throat.

Even more dizzy.

So much, they could no longer see. Their head hit the cockpit, and then..

beep. beep. beep.

———————————

???

———————————

beep. beep. beep. beep. beep beep beep beepbeepbeepbeep-

“Welcome back,”

What the- who even was that?

“I’m just going to.. get this off your head.. there you go!”

They were now able to open their eyes—they doing a white room, an extremely light room. They threw an arm over their face, sighing. Too bright.

“Hey,”

They wanted to tell this person, whoever it was, to go away. They were dead, and they should at least be able to rest.

“Come on, I know you can hear me! Get up!”

So, they were forcefully pulled up, by someone they couldn’t even see. Perfect. “Who- are you?”

“Me? I’m part of Team Danganronpa—now, I’m sure you’ve heard of that, right?” They shook their head in response. “No? Really? That’s surprising.. oh well, come on!”

“Wait.. are yo- are you sure I should be standing after-“ Kaito was interrupted. “After what? Nothing happened to you, silly! It was all fake! You’re fine!”

What?

“Now, let’s go!” The girl took their hand, helping him stand. “What do you mean, ‘it was all fake,’ because it felt pretty fuckin’ real to me!” Momota was pat on the shoulder. “No need to be hostile! I’ll explain.. so, your conscience was basically put into this world.. you could feel everything, and it resembled real, and so on.. you get my point, right?”

“..I guess? But, if that’s the case, am I not-?” They raised an eyebrow. “You’re just as alive as I am! And, if you’re asking about your talent, you can consider that gone!“

“Now, hold on-“ Nails dug into their shoulder, causing them to flinch. “They were only there to make everything more interesting, yeah? In the real world, you don’t need them! Now, do you want to watch it or not?” She was so confusing! “Watch what?”

“The game, obviously! We wouldn’t have done this, if no one was going to see it! Come on, come on!”

They were sat down in front of a screen while the white-wearing girl turned it on.

The screen glitched for a moment, before showing a clear image; their dead body. Their eyes widened visibly, face paling somewhat.

What the hell had they gotten themselves into?

———————————

ꜰɪꜰᴛʜ ᴛʀɪᴀʟ

———————————

Nothing.

No one telling him what to do, or what to say. Their antenna was gone, at it left them with nothing but pure.. silence. Silence, and the lifeless form of their classmate.

It would have been expected if someone like Saihara or Harukawa took hold of the body, but no one would have expected it to be him.

Keebo, almost immediately, rushed over to the corpse, hands shaking rapidly. He didn’t think they’d actually.. die.

“No, no, no, no-“

He spoke in barely a whisper. If he was human, he would have cried. He would have done so until they could no longer continue.

His body fell forwards, fingers twisted in the astronaut’s shirt. A hand reached for his shoulder, but he did not move.

“Keebo,”

A soft voice, most likely Shuichi’s, could be heard—the robot did not listen, because nothing truly mattered anymore.

Nothing.

———————————

ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ.

———————————

They let their arms hang around his shoulders, chin resting on the top of his head. “Hey, Keebs?” If they hadn’t spoken up, they assumed they would have looked asleep. But, since the other did not reply, it appeared Keebo was the one who had fallen asleep. That was okay—what they were going to ask him wasn’t that important, anyways. It could always wait.

They hadn’t bothered to question why it was him, of all their classmates, who had actually broke down in front of their ‘deceased’ body. At the same time, they sort of knew why.

But, it couldn’t be. It was definitely, undeniably improbable that Keebo would even *consider* liking them in that way.

Right?

Looking at the faint shape of the sleeping boy, they couldn’t help but doubt themselves.

Maybe they were wrong. Did, ‘just friends’ do.. whatever they were doing, like them and Keebo? Like so many things, they had no answer—which was probably for the best.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *. .* :☆ﾟ. ───

proof for art in comments.

(plus extra art later)