HEYY I CHANGED THE COVER OF THE BOOK!! shoutout to the hajime simps, y'all simp for a canon normie 

hope y'all enjoy this chapter <3 ^_^

~~

"Peko Pekoyama...what is it that you're hiding?"

It wasn't like the question left your mind during your free time with Peko, or even after it ended when the both of you mutually decided to leave, also making a promise (more like an agreement) to disclose your findings to each other.

Even now while you mindlessly stared at the pool in front of the hotel, you couldn't get your mind off the swordswoman.

It wasn't unlikely that she was the traitor, but, if she was, why was she so adamant about being close to, or protecting Fuyuhiko?

You cradled your chin in your palm and sighed.

"Peko..."

"...(Y/N)?!"

"Akane??"

You looked up to see the girl jogging your way, and it was only until she got closer that you realized how... rough she looked. Her clothes were slightly more disheveled than usual (considering there wasn't really much to dishevel..) and that there were even more bruises forming on her forearms and chest, as well as her legs. She stopped right in front of the chair you were in, her slight panting audible.

"(F/N)!! What'cha doin' here all alone?" She asked.

You merely smiled. "Nothing, I just came here to think. I did spend some time with Peko before this, so it's not like I've been alone for too long."

Akane mostly ignored the last bit of what you said. "Eh, but thinking's so tiring!... Do you wanna' help me train!?"

You looked at her incredulously, before letting out an amused chuckle. "Again with the training? Akane, I would love to, really, but my body isn't built for that." 

Akane pouted. "But you're nicely shaped! I'm telling you that if you put in the effort and train, then you'll be able to withstand me!"

"Akane." She piqued at your voice, "I've seen you train. You're 'training' would break me in half and no offense to you, because you are extremely strong, but I do not want my back to be broken after a 'training' session with you."

Akane visibly deflated. "Like a sad puppy" you thought, slightly snickering to yourself. "But, I can spend some time with you that isn't training. How about that?" You suggested, watching as Akane's expression lifted. If she had a tail, it would probably be wagging right now.

"Well, I can't deny that! C'mon! Let's go get some food!" She immediately dragged you out of the chair you were sitting in. With a (not so) alarming amount of speed, she led you to the hotel and, of course, the hotel restaurant. It looked like the food from morning was mostly gone, but it didn't stop Akane from scavenging from what was left (and taking you with her.) The only thing that you picked up was a closed sparkling water (how was it still lightly chilled...?)

"Hey, (F/N)," Akane's voice brought you out of your slight trance when she sat down at a table, three plates of leftover food in her arms, "I've noticed you don't eat too much; You gotta' build up your muscle if we wanna' train! I don't want to break you."

You snorted. "To be honest, even if I did eat, you'd break me in half within two minutes."

"Well that doesn't mean you shouldn't eat! Here!" Akane pushed one of her mostly full plates towards you. "Eat up!"

You warmly smiled. "Thanks, Akane." You got a hold of the nearest clean fork, and began picking at your new food. "So, how you holding up with all of this... killing game?"

Akane merely shrugged, which should've been an odd reaction if it were anyone else. "I mean, it sucks! Ya'know?" She told with a slightly full mouth. "We've basically all just met each other but that doesn't mean this isn't cool or anything. Byakuya was a cool dude!"

"I hope you don't mind me pointing this out, Akane, but...you looked surprisingly level headed during the body discovery and the trial." You told her.

"Well, I mean," She swallowed her food before taking another large portion, "all my life I had to see my younger siblings die." Your eyes widened.

"Akane..."

"My family was pretty poor and we didn't live in the best part of town, so my younger siblings usually died 'cause of starvation or dehydration." Your heart was slowly breaking for every word that came out of Akane's mouth. "I guess that's why I don't look too fazed by all of this!"

"Akane... I'm so sorry..." You told her, as she looked up from her plate with a full mouth, "I-I never meant to make you talk about that stuff, I didn't know you had to go through that... I'm so sorry..."

Akane just shrugged. "I don't really get the big deal of talking about it, you don't gotta' apologize! It's just something that happened to me, no use in hiding it."

You looked at her, slightly apprehensive. "Seriously! Don't worry about it." Akane told you without an ounce dishonesty in her voice. Her pure, toothy smile was proof of it.

You let out a soft "Okay" before the two of you fell back into a more casual and upbeat conversation.

"You know, Akane," You started as you both started walking out of the hotel restaurant, "You should really treat your wounds. I know it's mostly bruises n' stuff but... still." You chuckled.

"Nah, I'll be fine!" She said, but you shook her hand and grabbed her wrist.

"Nope, we're going to my cabin and I'm going to treat your wounds." You told her, not looking back as you began walking her to your cabin.

"Agh! Fine!" She cooperated as you two hurried to your cabin. As soon as you two made it, she hurried inside and immediately flopped down on your chair.

"I'm going to go get a med kit, I think there's one in my bathroom. You mind waiting for me Akane?" You asked, but Akane was mostly entranced by all the equipment on your desk.

"Yeah yeah go ahead!!" She told you, still ogling at your desk. You breathily chuckled before leaving her to find the medical kit in your bathroom.

Checking multiple nooks and crannies to find it, you found it under the sink. "Akane you're not touching any of my equipment right?" You yelled out, only to hear the small clattering of metal seconds later. You slightly cringed and sighed, before emerging again from the bathroom to see a slightly embarrassed Akane.

"Sorry (F/N)...!" She chuckled. "I can clean em' up-!" "No, Akane, we're here to treat your bruises, I'll clean them up later." You smiled at her sincerely.

Akane shrugged before getting up and beginning to take off her clothes.

Wait...what?

"WAIT WAIT AKANE-" You exclaimed, reaching out to stop her as she was lifting her shirt off, "Y-You don't need to t-take off your clothes!" 

"Eh? But isn't that why you offered to clean my wounds? To see me naked?" She questioned, and you guffawed in disbelief.

"O-Of course not! I just wanted to treat your wounds, really!" You told her, as she let go of the ends of her shirt.

"Well... O-Okay then..." Akane mumbled as she sat down in the chair again, you pulling out ointment to clean her messier bruises.

"Hey, Akane, if you don't mind me asking," You started, Akane hummed in response, "where'd you get all of your fighting spirit? You're always ready to fight somebody, or in your words 'training' with Nekomaru whenever you get the chance. What's that about?"

"Honestly, I've always been running from things in my home place, I didn't live in the best area, y'know? Lot's of creeps and deteriorating buildings." You hummed in understanding. "I'm not really that interested in gymnastics, or whatever. But I do like fighting!" She jerked, and you had to hold her still.

"Seeing a big dude like Nekomaru got me really excited! He's got all that muscle and seeing all of it made me wonder if I could fight him! That's the type of stuff that makes me excited!"

"From a viewpoint of a strong girl like you, I can see how that stuff get's you excited." You told her, wiping off one of the last bruises on her calf.

"Which is why I wanted to train with you!" She exclaimed, making you look at her sparkling face (with the exception of a small bandage), "you'd be someone I'd really like to train with! But you keep saying I'm too strong..."

"You are really strong, Akane." You chuckled. "That's why you're better off training with someone like Nekomaru rather than me."

She pouted and put her hands up in mock defeat, before slyly adding how she wasn't going to give up you training with her. You laughed back, saying how much you'd be looking forward to it.

—

Sundown came and went when Akane left your cabin; a long session of playful banter and Akane questioning you about your line of work left with it.

You took a small breath of relaxation after your cabin door clicked shut. Spending time with Akane was enjoyable, no doubt, but damn! If she didn't talk a lot!

Seeing as there wasn't much else to do when Akane had left, you just decided to stay in your cabin until nighttime was announced.

Soon enough,

*Ding dong, bing bong*

Low and behold.

"Ahem... Hope's Peak Academy's School Trip Executive Committee has an announcement to make..." Said the unpleasantly familiar announcement through the small television in your cabin. Expecting it to be the same nighttime announcement as always, you shrugged off your jacket and began unbuttoning your skirt to get ready to try and sleep.

"Emergency, emergency!" You heard, which made you look at the monitor both confused and intrigued.

"Students, head over to Jabberwock Park as fast as you can!" Monokuma demanded. "C'mon, hurry up! Whoever gets there first, I'll treat you to my special-made curry rice tomorrow night! Come on, hurry the eff up!"

At that, the monitor turned off.

"Oh fuck me." You groaned inwardly as you reached for your discarded clothes to put them back on.

"Curry rice..." You muttered under your breath, thoughtfully, "honestly, the thought of eating some sounds appealing, just...not Monokuma's."

As you were about to open the door, a small whooshing noise along with multiple fast footsteps were heard and seen from outside. Someone ran past your door, really fast, apparently. Someone really wants Monokuma's curry rice.

"Is the curry rice even real?" You questioned before opening the cabin door and walking to Jabberwock Park.

"(F/N)!" You heard, turning around to see Mahiru calling out to you. She hurried up to where you were, and you smiled. "Do you want to walk together to Jabberwock Park...?" She asked, albeit a bit nervously. You smiled brightly and nodded, her exterior lightening up and smiling back before you two made a light walk to Jabberwock Park.

"So, what do you think Monokuma wants to talk to us about?" She asked you, and you scratched the side of your head before responding.

"Honestly... I think it might be another motive." You told, and you heard the redhead lightly groan at your response.

"God, I really hope it's not." She muttered. "Teruteru and Byakuya only just..." She trailed off, as you both made eye contact, mutually knowing what she was going to say, neither of you really wishing to talk about it. 

"Oh, look, we're here." Mahiru stated, seeing a few of the others piling in as well.

"...ahoo! I'm the first one here! The curry's all mine!" The two of you heard Akane's excited voice sing through the air. "I bet the person who ran past my cabin was Akane trying to get the rice curry, if there even is any."

"Indeed, I wonder what kind of curry it is!" Sonia wondered aloud, a sparkling look in her eyes. You lightly chuckled.

"What's the scientific terms for when you get hungry after you hear the word, 'curry'!?" Ibuki asked, with a pondering expression.

"You guys are fucking stupid... Don't get worked up over something so idiotic..." Fuyuhiko's naturally annoyed voice rang.

"Yeah... Where's Monokuma? What does he want from us now?" You asked aloud, slightly yawning before covering it up with you mouth.

"Well, don't you look radiant." Fuyuhiko scoffed sarcastically, making you force a single chuckle.

"Yeah thanks for noticing, doll. I'm ti-" you interrupted yourself with a yawn, "tired. I'm tired. I haven't slept since we got here and now Monokuma's forcing us to come here so thank you so much for caring. I appreciate it so much." You spat. Fuyuhiko only groaned back at you.

"Jeez-louise! Have you two not gotten your relationship development yet? ...Oh wait that's not for a few more chapters-" Monokuma's voice was heard, as he rushed his last sentence. "Okie-dokie, thanks for waiting! Thanks for the miracle of waiting!"

"Hey Monokuma! I was the first one here! That means I got dibs on the curry!" Akane exclaimed.

"No need to rush, no need to rush." Monokuma sang innocently. "I'll properly treat you to my special-made Monokuma Curry tomorrow night. He then went on to explain the ingredients in his curry, which consisted of an unknown meat, wilted vegetables, and a mysterious brand of rice. All in all, it granted a less than positive reaction. Luckily, Gundham brought the conversation back on track when he asked Monokuma why he called everyone...

Until he went on a small tangent about how little time he had to spare, but to you it was endearing.

Monokuma piqued. "Huh? Huh? You haven't noticed yet?" He asked. "The reason why I summoned you guys... If you look closely at this park, you should be able to notice."

Even wish your drowsy vision, you were able to make out a large, rectangular shape in the corner of the park. You yawned and pointed, "Is it that...?" You said. "It looks like an arcade machine..."

As soon as the words 'arcade machine' left your mouth, Chiaki immediately ran up to the machine and put her hands on the controls. Pretty adorable.

"Puhuhuhu~ That's correct! It is an arcade machine!" Monokuma giggled. "Sooooo I would like the long-awaited Recreation Time to begin!" He announced.

"Don't tell me...you're going to tell us to play this game..." Hajime uttered, both annoyed and nervous.

"Hey, what's the game? What games are on this?" Chiaki spewed questions, the "Ultimate Gamer" side of her showing. You smiled fondly.

"I've only prepared one game but...it's truly a gem." Monokuma told. "After all, it's a game that I personally created!"

"Huh? You did?" Hajime questioned.

"Then...it is not something I could possibly look forward to playing." Sonia stated, bluntly.

"No no, don't compare it to those amateur fan service games..." Monokuma growled, "You know that famous game that everyone's been waiting for a sequel to? Well I made a brand new game instead!"

"F-Famous game?" Hajime stuttered.

"Now then, I shall now present it!" Monokuma exclaimed.

He disappeared and reappeared into a red-and-white checkered podium, where he turned on a giant screen TV. On the TV were the words in a yellow font, "Twilight Syndrome Murder Case". The background was a school building, with a gloomy sky.

"Tadaaa! The name of the game is Twilight Syndrome Murder Case!" Monokuma announced, as if it couldn't be clearly seen.

"What the heck!? That's pretty lame!" Hiyoko complained. "I wanna play games about riddle-solving professors or collecting cute monsters."

"Stupid...! Don't say such silly things! What if we get weighed down by all the quarters!?" Monokuma growled.

"Twilight Syndrome is an adventure game series... The first one was released in 1996..." Chiaki spoke, "It's about a group of high-school girls who go exploring in order to verify numerous urban legends. The player controls the character like a side-scroller."

"Maybe Hiyoko could get her wish of riddle-solving..." You mumbled.

"I have no interest in weak things like video games!" Nekomaru stated clearly. "And...I don't even know what generation a game that old is!"

"With your face...I find that hard to believe." Mahiru sweatdropped.

"But adventure games are boring and tedious to play, right?" Hiyoko asked.

"Well, Twilight Syndrome involves urban riddles. If you put your mind to it, you could probably figure them out before the characters in the game do." You responded.

"But don't diss adventure games... Besides, there's a lot of reasons to make one..." Monokuma pouted, "You know...like budgetary reasons!"

"Man, and I was such a big fan of the series. I don't know why, but I feel like you've totally trained the series." Chiaki huffed.

"Chouldn't you be tainting your face with tears of gratitude? I've cast a spotlight on a neglected title!" Monokuma growled.

"And what's the point of this game?" Hajime asked

"Hm?"

"I mean... it's not like you're telling us to play it just to enjoy it, right?" Hajime told.

Monokuma giggled, "Puhuhuhu~...you certainly noticed the good part."

"That's right, this game is gonna' be your next motive! The motive you need to kill people!" Monokuma announced, his tone only filled with glee and anticipation. Groans and gasps of shock and annoyance were heard from the 15 in the park.

From next to you, Mahiru let out a choked cry, whilst you next to her let out a broken chuckle. You tsk-ed, "Told ya'..." you whispered to her, and she only sighed.

"I should've known..." She chuckled, without a single ounce of humor.

"After all, I'm gonna' get bored if the next blackened doesn't show up soon!" Monokuma added

"This game is the...motive...?" Chiaki wondered aloud.

"In trust, this game's theme is a missing link." Monokuma responded. "You know, it's a recurring theme for mysteries, right? It's kinda like a hidden connection."

"Wh-What...does that mean?" Mikan stuttered, on the verge of tears.

"If you're interested...then try playing it!" Monokuma explained, making Mikan agree out of fear.

"You can't! You gotta say no! It's a trap!" Mahiru exclaimed to Mikan.

"Hey, if that's the motive, won't it be okay if we just don't play it?" Kazuichi pointed out, playing with the hem of his beanie.

"Well, that'd be the most practical solution..." You mumbled, "but would everyone just submit to not playing it...?" You trailed off.

"Kazuichi is absolutely right! You're quite the genius!" Nekomaru complemented, making Kazuichi flush.

"I see...that never occurred to me." Monokuma muttered. "...But, are you sure you wanna' do that? Learning the motive means you're gonna' be prepared, you know."

"If nobody plays your video game, there's nothing to be prepared for." You rebuttled, crossing your arms.

"I'm just saying... Humans who are prepared versus the humans who aren't." Monokuma said. "It's clear to tell which are strong and which are weak."

"You little... Wh-What do you mean?" Mahiru narrowed her eyes.

"For example...if someone secretly played out, that person might come and kill you." Monokuma giggled, before it turned to a full cackle. "In the context of a preemptive strike... that's truly fatal!"

"Wh-What do you mean!?" Kazuichi exclaimed, panicked.

"You guys are all enemies, you know? Is it really all right for your enemy to have an advantage?" Monokuma teased.

"We aren't each other's enemies. We all have a common goal, which is to get out of here, not murdering each other." You stated, a bit angrily while battling your need to sleep. "As of right now, you are our enemy. Your little game motive is trying to turn us against each other, but we're not going to let that happen."

"Those are some big words with a big meaning behind it, you know." Monokuma teased. "Fine, say and do whatever you want, even if you're fully aware of the situation. Bye byeeee!" Monokuma departed, hiding a big cheeky grin.

"Wh-What...the heck...!" Hajime stuttered.

"H-Hey...what should we do?" Kazuichi asked.

"E-Even if you ask me... There's no way I'll know..." Mahiru sulked, holding her hand to her heart.

"Honestly..." You spoke out, grabbing the attention of the others in the park, "I think we should try Kazuichi's idea..." you told, drowsily.

"M-My idea..." Kazuichi stuttered." My idea!! Y-You liked my idea Miss (F/N)!?" He stuttered, heating up within seconds.

"It's the one that has the best outcome..." You told, "nobody plays the video game, nobody has a vengeance to kill from it...nobody dies..." You concluded, with a yawn.

"Have you noticed yourself? You yawn every fucking time you talk." Fuyuhiko scoffed at you, and you would've made a snarky remark back if you weren't so tired to acknowledge him.

"Because you're tired." Hajime said to you, immediately stepping forward and placing his hand on your shoulder. "You haven't slept since we got here, c'mon... I'll take you back to your cabin..." He pulled you slightly, and you easily went along with him.

"What?! You can't just take Big Sis (F/N) like that while she's drowsy and vulnerable you lousy pervert!" Hiyoko exclaimed, draining the color from Hajime's face, but making you silently giggle as a reflex.

"Wait..." Mahiru thought out, before growling at the brown haired boy, "She's right! You're going to take advantage of her, aren't you!?"

"What!? O-Of course I wouldn't! I'm not like that!!" Hajime defended.

"Hajime, if you're going to do something bad when you leave, I demand you step away from (F/N)!" Sonia demanded, putting her hand out in a stopping motion.

"Stop it, you guys..." You giggled slightly, "Hajime won't do anything, I swear on it." You leaned against his side. "I may be tired but that doesn't mean I won't do everything to stop him if he does try something." You teased.

"I-I'm innocent! I swear!!" Hajime pleaded. "C'mon, you need sleep." He tugged at you, and you easily complied, sending a lazy wave goodbye to everyone else in the park.

"Hmph, should that Heathen try anything to harm my beloved Fallen Angel, I would cast a fire that burns like a thousand of the suns upon his weak, mortal skin..." Gundham grumbled lowly, as soon as you and Hajime were out of sight.

"Same here man... But I'd just beat the hell out of him..." Kazuichi uttered in reply.

"Speaking of (F/N), I think we should try to go along with what she said. Ignoring the video game would be best for all of us. It is clearly dangerous." Peko stated.

"Y-You are right... It might be better if we wait and see how this plays out." Sonia said.

"But wouldn't it be bad if someone secretly played the game while we're waiting?" Hiyoko spoke out, touching the pads of her fingers together. "I don't want to doubt Big Sis (F/N), she's really great! But someone's curiosity is going to get the best of them."

"Whoever gets the motive would become the hunter, and the rest of us would be the prey." She explained.

"That's pretty messed up to think about..." Akane uttered, uncharacteristically quiet.

"...But it's true." Fuyuhiko responded. "Everything the brat said was right, except about (F/N), I don't give two shits about her." He clicked his tongue. "It's your loss if you end up dying. All we need to do is kill if we want to win."

Mahiru sighed. "God! It's like that's the only thing you say!" She exclaimed at the yakuza.

"I'm saying what's right. I don't want to end up like Byakuya or Teruteru." He said, and at that, he left the others in Jabberwock Park.

—

"So...you know I wouldn't actually hurt you, right?" Hajime reassured, making you laugh again.

"Duh, I know you wouldn't do something like that." You said, as he visibly relaxed, "You wouldn't stand a chance against me." You teased, making a chuckle fall from his mouth.

"Wow, so scared."

"You should be scared, Hinata."

You both had a small moment of soft laughter, before it fell into a silence.

"So...what do you think about the new motive...?" Hajime asked, and regretted asking almost immediately as he heard your breath pique.

"...Monokuma's trying really hard to cause another murder... Curiosity killed the cat, is what they all say." was what fell from your mouth, making Hajime purse his lips in regret.

"But... If we all trust one another, then...another murder shouldn't happen..." You said after, sending Hajime a weak smile with your words, "Nobody plays the game, nobody wants vengeance for anything in the game...we're all safe..."

"Yeah, you're right." Hajime smiled in response. You both walked a few more steps until you had reached the mailbox of your cabin. 

"Get some sleep tonight," Hajime told you, positioning your body so that the two of you were face to face, "seriously. You haven't slept in days and we need you to be on your game if we want to leave. I know I do..." He said, slightly embarrassed.

You smiled warmly at him before leaning against him, your chin tucked on his shoulder, like a hug but with no arms. Hajime stiffened at first, but relaxed quickly. 

"I'll sleep, I promise," You said to him, barely above a whisper, "otherwise, you'd really force me to." Hajime chuckled as you both separated, making sweet eye contact before you broke it within seconds, walking up to enter your cabin door. You both bid your goodnights, and he turned away to leave to his own cabin.

Until.

"Hajime."

He heard your voice again, turning to see the upper half of your body leaning against the door frame. He hummed at you, confusedly.

"...I lied."

"What?"

"I lied, Hajime. I lied." You said to him, your voice on the verge of breaking with every word you confessed. "I lied to you a-and I lied to everyone else."

"Woah woah, hey, what are you saying...?" Hajime asked you, slightly in disbelief, anxiety and fear for you.

"Someone's going to play that video game." You told him, with less hesitation he'd ever heard you say something before. "Someone's curiosity is going to get the best of them and they're going to play that video game. Someone will play that video game and then...."

He anxiously awaited the next words that came out of your mouth.

"Someone is going to die."

The way your eyes looked as you said it was something Hajime didn't think he would forget. Immediately, he snapped out of his slump and walked up to where you were at your door. He grabbed your hands and looked you straight into the eyes.

"(F/N), you can't think like that right now..." He told you in a low voice, "It-It may be true that you can't control what the other people do about that...stupid video game, but I know, and you know this too, that we won't play that video game. A-And even if someone does play it, no murder will happen."

"Liar," You thought, looking back into Hajime's eyes, "He's lying to me to convince me, but he's also lying to himself to convince himself... I'm not going to believe him, I can't..." You thought to yourself.

Hajime saw a small smile blossom on your face.

"Yeah..." You whispered, "Yeah, you're right, Hajime." You told him. "Sorry for saying that stuff, you're right." You backed away from him. "Goodnight now, Hajime."

"Goodnight, (F/N)." He said back, leaving once heard  heard the soft click of your cabin.

—

Fuyuhiko was about to enter his cabin after leaving from Jabberwock Park. His words were very true, but he knew in reality what he meant when he said them. He was about to twist open his door knob until he heard two people conversing.

"...I lied."

"What?"

"I lied, Hajime, I lied."

Immediately, upon hearing the name Hajime, he knew who he was listening to.

He looked over to see (F/N) and Hajime talking.

"She lied...?"  Fuyuhiko thought to himself, hearing them talk, "Lied about what?"

"Someone's going to play that video game." He heard you say. "Someone's curiosity is going to get the best of them and they're going to play that video game. Someone will play that video game and then... Someone is going to die."

Fuyuhiko's eyes widened at your words. You were lying to everyone at the park.

You were weak... and you were letting it show. Wow...

How sad.

He watched as Hajime walked up to you and took your hands in his. At this point, he couldn't really hear anything the two of your were saying. 

What he could see, however, was the extremely fake smile you planted on your face. It didn't matter how many feet away from you he was, anyone should've been able to tell how fake it was.

He was stuck in his trance until your door closed for the last time that night and Hajime began walking towards his cabin that he made eye contact with him.

Fuyuhiko stayed still, but watched as Hajime walked up to where he was standing.

"...Hey." Hajime said.

Fuyuhiko scoffed. "Seriously? I hear your whole conversation with that bitch and that's the first thing you say?"

Hajime sighed, "Okay, well-" "She lied to everyone, hm? Isn't that what happened?" Fuyuhiko argued.

"Well, yeah, but-" "She let her true weakness show. That's who she really is. Someone weaker than the rest of you."

"...Maybe you're the weak one, Fuyuhiko." Hajime stated, making Fuyuhiko freeze.

"The fuck did you just say?"

"Maybe you're the weak one, Fuyuhiko." Hajime restated. "You go around making all these threats that you're going to kill somebody but you have yet to do it. I'm saying that maybe you're the weak one."

"You've got a lot of nerve to speak like that..." Fuyuhiko growled.

"You can tell me that, but in the back of my mind and yours... you're the weak one." Hajime said.

"You fucker..." Fuyuhiko growled, staring at Hajime for a good few seconds, with Hajime staring back.

"Next time, don't say things like that about her when you know that you're worse in every way. At least she admitted to me that she lied... You're going to keep your lies until they hurt you in the end." Hajime said, brushing past Fuyuhiko.

Fuyuhiko looked back and glared in the moonlight...

An unknowing rivalry has been made.

~~

I FUCKING DID IT I UPDATED IM SO COOL GUYS

this is literally my shortest chapter wtf???

also funny story lmfao, one of my best friends found out i was the writer of this book and she was already reading it, and here's how our conversation went

"you need to make fuyuhiko time" (her) "i know, i know, i'm waiting to mend their relationship before i do that" (me) "I WANT FUYUHIKO TIME" (her) "I WILL GIVE YOU FUYUHIKO TIME" (me) "I WANT FUYUHIKO SMUT" (her) "N NOW HOLD ON-" (me) and then we have my other best friend quietly laughing in the background because they've known this was my book from the beginning

if yall are reading this hey<3 i love yall <3

anyways, i do hope you all enjoy this shorter and (slightly rushed </3) chapter! i have a big habit of making chapters a lot longer than they need to be, and that ends up with long spaces between the chapter uploads :( i promise i am working on that! i hate making you guys wait because you are all so supportive <3

if you enjoy, please consider voting or even giving me a follow, i love interacting with my readers! have fun and stay tuned for next time, bye-bye~!! <3