Danganronpa: Return of Despair

Chapter 7, Part 1

I woke up in a room. It looked like a hospital, but it was more of a testing room. There were a few people gathered around me, they looked like doctors. There were a few wires on my body. The doctors took the wires off. I sat up. My head hurt. One of the doctors handed me a bag.

"Get dressed, the others are waiting in the lobby," With that, the doctors left.

I opened the bag. My outfit was in it. I stood up slowly, I was dizzy. I made sure the door was locked and got myself dressed. Once I was dressed, I looked in the bag once more, there was a note in it.

Dear Mamoru,
You were a good friend to me, even if I wasn't real. I sent this with you for a reason. I don't want you to forget me, alright? I'll miss you. You were one of my best friends, even before the game, though you don't remember. I'll miss you!
~ Kunihiko Haneishi

I gripped the note and started crying. I put it in my pocket. I leaned against the door. I did miss her, and I wouldn't forget her. I knew everyone else was waiting, so I wiped my tears and went to go see them.

They were all there. Everyone.

Besides Kunihiko.

They were buzzing with conversation. A few noticed me and waved, I waved back. There were a few faces I missed. I almost started crying again.

"Mamoru! You're back!" Zenshiro ran up to me and hugged me.
I laughed a little, "It's more like you're back,"
He laughed as well, "Whatever it is, I missed you,"
"You did?" I asked.
He nodded and let go of me, "I think you're my best friend!" He smiled.
I hugged him and started crying, "I missed you too,"
He nervously patted my head, "I can tell, bud," He laughed.
I let go of him, "Y'know, it got kinda dull without you,"
He laughed again, "I bet," He nodded.
Kaz walked over, "There's my least favorite asshole," She kissed Zenshiro's cheek.
He smiled, "KAZ! MAMORU'S HERE!" He picked me up.
"Put him down," She backed up a bit.
"Yeah, put me down," I kicked my legs.
He let go of me, "Alright,"
"Anyway, I didn't expect you to leave, honestly," Kaz stated
"Huh? Why?" I asked.
"You don't seem like a changeable person, and you're boring sometimes," She shrugged.
"Wow, thanks," I said.
"I just said sometimes, not all the time," She rolled her eyes.
"Is that a compliment?" I asked.
"Take it as one," Zenshiro shrugged.
Seiko came up and hugged me from behind, "Hello short one I may or may not have forgotten the name of!"
I sighed and laughed a little, "It's Mamoru,"
"AH, right! Hello, Mamoru!" She smiled.
"Hi, Seiko," I smiled back.
She let go of me, "Well, it was nice seeing you again! Bye!" She ran off.
"Are you guys still mad at each other?" I asked Zenshiro.
"Oh, no, now that we know it was really pointless to be mad," He shrugged.
"As far as I'm aware, they have a bond like a healthy family, it's weird," Kaz added.
"That is kinda weird," I agreed, "It was nice to see you guys again," I smiled.
Zenshiro nodded, "Maybe we can hang out sometime, or at least keep in contact!"
"That would be nice," I smiled.
"Wait," He took out a piece of paper and started to write on it, he handed it to me, "It's my number, if you've got a phone, it's not the chat bot one," He laughed.
"Chat bot?" I was confused.
"Nevermind," He brushed it off.
"Alright, I'm gonna go see if I can find anyone else," I waved and walked away.

It was a big crowd again. Everyone seemed to be recovering quickly, mentally, as far as it seemed. Shichiro and Koki were talking, it was comforting to see them again. I walked over to them. They noticed me.

"Hey, Mamoru!" Shichiro smiled.
I smiled back, "Hello, Shichiro,"
"Mamoru, as I said before, I always keep my promises," Koki said, "And I promised something to Shichiro,"
"And he kept it!" Shichiro smiled.
"That's great! I'm glad you two are doing well," I smiled.
Koki nodded, "It's been a pleasant time with him, even if it has been short,"
Shichiro also nodded, "I missed you a lot, both of you,"
"Did you figure it out?" I asked, "Is that why you...killed yourself?"
Shichiro nodded again, "I did, but I couldn't tell you all, so I got out,"
"I understand that, it's what you had to do," I nodded.
"Yeah," He shrugged, "So anyway, have you talked to many people yet? I know you were the last one to wake up, so I don't expect you to have, but still,"
I shook my head, "I really only talked to Kaz, Zenshiro, and Seiko,"
"Predictable," Koki said.
"Right? I knew he was gonna flock to them first," Shichiro laughed.
I sighed, "So you guys are still good friends, huh," I laughed to myself.
"Anyway, I think Yokichi has been wanting to talk to you, I'm not sure where he went though," Koki stated.
"Ah, alright, I'll see you guys later," I waved and went to find Yokichi.

I stopped by the lady at the reception desk first.

"Oh, hello sir, you're a part of Class 62, correct?" She asked.
"Um, yeah, I think, but I have a question," I said.
"What is it, dear?" She smiled.
"If we are with this group are we allowed to leave the lobby area or can we only stay here?" I asked.
"You have full permission to go down to the cafeteria down the hall, but other than that you are not permitted to leave until the test officials have released the whole class from the lobby," She explained.
"Ah, I understand, thank you, ma'am!" I smiled and walked away.

If Yokichi wasn't around here, he was down in the cafeteria. I went down the hall with an arrow labeled "Cafeteria". I found Yokichi in there. He was sitting at a table. Besides him, the room was empty. I walked over and sat next to him.

"Was the lobby too crowded?" I asked.
He jumped a little then he turned to me, "Y-Yeah, it was," He nodded.
"I heard you wanted to see me for some reason, or that's what Koki told me," I said.
"Oh, y-yeah, I did...want to see y-you," He nodded, "I have, uh, s-something to give to you,"
"Really? What is it?" My face lit up.

He opened his sketchbook and gently ripped out a page so it didn't ruin the rest of the pages. It was a picture of the whole class. It was amazing.

"Woah, this is really good," I was amazed.
He smiled a little, "I-I'm glad you l-like it, I know you were f-friends with everyone, as far as I'm was, uh, aware,"
I nodded, "I did make quite a lot of friends,"
"Oh, g-good, I get anxious and I wouldn't b-be able to show them because o-of that," He sighed.
"I understand," I nodded, "I'm gonna head back now, thank you again," I stood up.
"Y-Yeah, you're welcome, b-bye Mamoru," He waved.
"See ya, Yokichi," I waved and exited the cafeteria.

I made my way back down to the lobby.