The Ultimate Biologist (Danganronpa 2 x OC)

Chapter 2 (IV): What to Say...?

The next day, after the morning announcement, Hajime headed outside, bumping into Fuyuhiko. He was holding a manila envelope of some sort but quickly left after Hajime had asked about it.

Hajime quickly dismissed his actions and headed over to the restaurant. After a minute or two, everybody was gathered.

Well, almost everybody.

Excluding Fuyuhiko and Nagito for obvious reasons, Katsumi wasn't there either.

I thought she said that she would be joining us at breakfast from now on...?

"Um... it seems Hirata-san isn't here..." Mikan had noticed too.

"Maybe we should wait for a few minutes," Sonia suggested.

Around 15 minutes had passed and everybody had finished their breakfasts. Almost everybody had left at this point. Still no sign.

"Hey, Hinata," Mahiru said. "Can you go check on her?"

"Huh? Um..." He quickly remembered how the same conversation went out yesterday. "Yeah, okay."

Is checking on Hirata my permanent job now?

"And while you're at it, bring them some food," Mahiru said.

She handed Hajime two trays and he headed over to the old building.

Upon entering, he realized something. He hadn't seen Nagito this entire time. Yesterday, Katsumi had just happened to be in the hallway.

She looked like she was about to enter the dining hall, so she probably spends most of her time there... I hope she'll still be in the hallway, though...

But she wasn't. The hallway was deathly quiet as he looked around.

He approached the dining hall door and gave a knock. No answer. He felt uneasy. Did he really have to open the door and step inside?

Wait a second... what if she's not answering because...?

He quickly shook his head.

No... there's no way!

He quickly got it over with and opened the door...

Katsumi had her head and arms down on a table, her back slowly rising and falling. She was just sleeping.

Thank God...

But that relief was quickly snuffed out as he saw him.

"Hinata-kun?"

Nagito was lying on the ground, his hands cuffed and linked to a chain tied to one of the tables. His ankles were tied with rope, attached to another table.

They really did go all out...

Well... that's to be expected.

"Ah, could it be?" Nagito said, sounding happy. "You decided to take some time out of your day to see me? I'm so happy!"

His smile contradicted the heaviness of his words, each one seemingly dripping with a black poison.

"What's wrong?" Nagito asked. "Your face looks kind of scary."

"I wasn't here because of you," Hajime said bluntly. "I was just checking on Hirata since she didn't join us at breakfast."

"Ah, I'm sorry then... how presumptuous of me..."

When Nagito noticed the two food trays he was holding, he spoke up again.

"Are those food trays?" he asked. "Ah... I can't believe how compassionate you are! Even bringing food to someone like me!"