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Getting out of the killing game seems to be the only desire of everyone in the Academy of Gifted Juveniles.
In order to do that, killing someone is the only way.
Kaito didn’t like the idea of killing someone for selfish reasons. He believed that everyone here is a good person— that they will not kill anyone just for the sake to escape.
Well, there may be a few shady people, perchance. But that doesn’t stop Kaito’s belief in his fellow classmates.
After the announcement of the First Blood Perk, a chill went up his spine. Whoever managed to start killing will be very sorry.
And get sent into orbit, a million miles away.
Kaito seemed very stressed about the situation as he sat on the grass, gazing up at the stars twinkling down at him. A lot of thoughts are racing through his mind.
Like— what are Kaede and Shuichi even talking about back at the corridor? Whenever the astronaut would see them alone, they keep on muttering about a mastermind. Kaito was too carefree to care, and he thinks Kaede out of everyone, won’t be commiting shady stuff.
Kokichi Oma, the Ultimate Supreme Leader? He’s full of lies and deceit. Kaito wasn’t even sure if he was against Monokuma’s motive, or if he just acted so for the thrill.
Ryoma Hoshi, contemplating about being the first victim whenever he’s alone. Angie Yonaga, who seemed to be chanting a prayer about being able to survive. Rantaro Amami, who seemed to be isolating himself lately…
With that final thought lingering in his mind, Kaito’s eyebrows furrowed.
Rantaro is mysterious like his talent indeed. He does look a bit shady. And the times that he reminded the group, mentioned specific random stuff… very shady indeed.
“Ends in two days…” Kaito sighed. “I may never go to space…”
“Lost hope already?”
“GAH-!”
Kaito nearly screamed, sitting up as though he’s been electrified by the grass.
The speaker -who happened to be Rantaro- only tilted his head in confusion, before chuckling.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you like that,”
“I thought that was a fucking ghost or something!” Kaito gasped. “Where did you come from?”
“Investigating,” Rantaro said calmly.
“In this hour?”
“I could ask you the same,”
Kaito sighed, sitting back on the grass.
“What are you investigating for, huh?” He asked. “Isn’t that Shuichi’s job? He’s the Ultimate Detective, after all,”
“I can’t tell you,” Rantaro said matter-of-factly. “Personal reasons,”
Kaito’s eyes narrowed. “Is that about the motive?”
“Like I said, I can’t tell you,”
Sheesh, he’s so secretive. Kaito thought, before deciding to brush that thought off. “Anyways, what brings you here?”
“I was about to investigate here when I saw you,” Rantaro stared into a distance, holding two Monopads close to him— two?
“I see then!” Kaito laughed, his tense mood earlier fading. “So that means you need to take a break from whatever you are doing and hang out with me!”
“Not too loud,” Rantaro grumbled.
But he had no choice but to join him anyway.
“You have two Monopads?” Kaito glanced at the Monopads Rantaro set on his side.
“Yeah,” Rantaro shifted the Monopads closer to him, as though he was afraid that someone would nick them.
“Ah, I see…” Kaito noticed how tense the other looked, so he placed an arm around him, much to his surprise. “No need to worry, I won’t interrogate you further, haha!”
Rantaro chuckled weakly, composure still a bit stiff. “That’s… good,”
“Lighten up, man!” Kaito rubbed circles on the latter’s shoulder, hugging him close. “Sometimes, it’s all right to loosen up!”
“!!!” Rantaro was a bit taken aback from the act.
“Ah!” Kaito let go of him at once. “I didn’t- you’re not used to physical affection?”
“Save that for the ladies,” Rantaro mumbled, his face bright red from embarassment. “You don’t just do that to others…”
“Eh…” Kaito scratched his nape at Rantaro’s retreatment, who kept a safe distance from him. “Isn’t it all right for bros to hug bros?”
Rantaro remained quiet, gazing at a distance.
“…It’s funny isn’t it?” He asked after a few minutes of silence. “Everyone here being stressed out, while there are some people like you keeping their cool in a situation like this,”
Kaito chuckled softly. “Well sometimes you still have to look at the good side despite being trapped in a place like this!” He said cheerfully.
“What’s even the good side in a killing game, huh?” Rantaro breathed.
“Well… you get to make friends and moments together! I mean— I do want to escape too, but at least this gives me an opportunity to interact with others-“
“Even with a time limit?” Rantaro raised an eyebrow.
“Eh…” Kaito blinked, shifting a bit. “Why? What are you planning to- oh right, it’s a secret-“
“I’m planning to end the killing game itself,” Rantaro said simply.
“Really?” Kaito raised both of his eyebrows in shock. “You’re… going to end this killing game?”
“Yes,” Rantaro said carefully, tinkering with the other Monopad. He glanced at him.
“I can trust you, right?”
“What are you talking about?” Kaito asked confusingly.
“You’re asking why I’m investigating at this hour. And I told you that I can’t tell you. But I’m planning to tell you, since…” Rantaro looked anixous, which is far from his usual composure.
“Look, if you are really uncomfortable with sharing it…” Kaito asked anxiously. “Whatever that secret of yours is… you don’t have to-“
“It’s okay,” Rantaro chuckled weakly. “It’s sort of… growing a weight on me recently. I just want to let it out,”
“It’s fine bro,” Kaito grinned at him. “I’m all ears,”
“Right…” Rantaro’s face looks serious again. “So… I came to the conclusion that there might be a mastermind lurking around this school, since this extra Monopad I’m holding is actually a perk,” Rantaro opened said device in front of him.
Kaito shifted closer, their shoulders touching. A weird feeling raced in Rantaro’s chest. The same could be said to Kaito otherwise.
The words Survivor’s Perk has shown on the screen.
“Survivor’s…?” Kaito stared at him.
“I’ve played one of these games before,” Rantaro said quietly. “At least-“ he went swipe tap swipe on the Monopad. “-that’s what this anonymous message said,”
“A mastermind, huh?” Kaito’s eyes furrowed. “And you have played one of these games before…?”
“Yes. But my memory’s prettty fuzzy at the moment. I just can’t remember,”
“I see,” Kaito sighed. “So… what are you planning to do?”
“I was planning to investigate this hidden door in the library,” Rantaro pointed out to a section in the map. “The mastermind might be lurking right there. If I eliminate them, this chaos will end,”
“But won’t you get punished for killing someone?” Kaito looked anxious.
Rantaro smiled coyly. “What makes you think a class trial would happen without the mastermind’s presence?” He said, chuckling softly. “I’ll ensure you- I won’t,”
For some reason, Kaito looked worried.
“Don’t,” Kaito muttered. “I… have a bad feeling of how this will turn out. If the mastermind catches you-“
“Don’t worry, Kaito. I have a plan figured out,”
Kaito sighed, staring at the stars.
Rantaro watched him earnestly. “Let’s try doing something else,” he said. “Like you suggested, let’s try destressing ourselves tonight,”
“Destressing… that’s right,” Kaito still looked uncertain. “So, how do we destress?”
“You’re the one who suggested it in the first place,” Rantaro deadpanned. “I should’ve continued on what am I doing earlier, but you invited me to stay with you,”
“My bad,” Kaito chuckled awkwardly. “All right, let’s go stargazing,”
“Okay?”
Pretty soon after, the two guys laid on the soft patch of grass, gazing at the night sky.
“You’ve never been to space yet?” Rantaro breathed, breaking the silence.
“Never,” Kaito sighed. “I had a lot of training as a trainee back then, but I never actually gone to space yet,”
“I see…” Rantaro knitted his eyebrows, frowning.
“You know, once we get out of here, I’m taking you to space with me,” Kaito grinned, glancing at him. “We’ll venture throughout the stars!”
“That’s like asking someone out for a date,” Rantaro glanced back at him.
“So what if it’s a date?” Kaito questioned in a straightforward manner.
Rantaro fell quiet, a blush tinted on his cheeks.
Awkwardly, Kaito chuckled, fingering through his locks. “By the way, you have a pretty face, for a man,” he said.
“You too,”
Rantaro is avoiding eye contact with the astronaut. One look and he’ll explode.
“Haha! Of course- I’m Kaito Momota, Luminary of the Stars! I’m known to have the prettiest face amongst my fellow astronauts!”
“Look at this guy, he’s so full of himself,” Rantaro rolled his eyes playfully. Kaito only laughed in return.
Afterwards, they spent the rest of the night looking at the stars.