[Ugh. Ugh. It's exactly what he would be telling someone else. He wants to scream that it's different, because he's talented. Because he was able to save all his friends except the one who mattered to him most.
But he doesn't answer. He just keeps his face pressed against her shoulder and mutely shakes his head, biting back another sob.]
If I ever vanished like they did, I wouldn't want you to spend all your time looking for me. I'd be reeeeally angry if you did! It's okay to try to solve this mystery, but you are not alone. Don't act like you are, Number One.
[Reflexively, his grip tightens back on her hand at the mention of her disappearing. Right on the heels of losing Nanami, he can't bear to lose her, too.]
I know, [he mumbles against her shoulder, breath still coming hard through his nose as he works to swallow a fresh round of tears.] I... I know.
You're a very good friend and they're all very aware that you love them. But we all love you here too, and none of your friends would want to see you worry yourself sick.
[ her tone loses the edge it had, returning to its usual airiness. ]
[He still doesn't pull his face away from her shoulder, keeping himself pressed there as if somehow, he could make it all go away just by holding her. Irrationally, it almost seems possible. If he's with her, he can do anything.
[ missing them isn't an issue. it's healthy to actually acknowledge these kinds of feelings, she thinks. it's what you do after that could veer into unhealthy and that is what she's determined to keep hinata away from. ]
[He shakes his head. He doesn't know where to begin. Someone like Nanami... She's difficult to explain in just words.]
She... she deserved better than what happened. She was... she was the only person at Hope's Peak Academy who thought that I was worth something. Who didn't treat me like trash. She's... she's the one who brought the whole class together. Everyone relied on her, a-and when Enoshima killed her, it was her death that was used to drive them all into Despair.
Enoshima just used Nanami as... as a tool. A means to an end, to corrupt the 77th class. Because Nanami was... Nanami was someone you could really call "Hope."
She was my closest friend. And now I've lost her again.
[ hajime didn't really know her very well since they didn't have that much time to spend together, but she seemed sweet and nice to talk to. and hinata obviously loved her. ]
Maybe... temporarily misplaced. But we'll find her and everyone else.
[It's comforting, to think like that, but he just can't. How can they move toward a future when people like Nanami and Komaeda can show up from the past?]
You know... I was thinking for a while that maybe... it'd be best to think that everyone just... went home. The same way we got here, like something just picked us up with a giant claw machine and put us back. But now...?
[He buries his nose against her shoulder again, just hugging her tightly. It's hard not to think of everything that he should have been doing, all the time he's spent doing things other than investigating their missing friends. It doesn't matter how much he lectures Dirk and reminds him to do something besides work; it's different when it's about him.
But he has to try to remember that even for all his talents, he's still human. And he's definitely still fallible.
He exhales another sigh against her shoulder and murmurs something, too quiet to hear.]
she just rubs his back, not saying anything else until she hears the mumbling. hajime taps him lightly, not wanting to disturb him too much but also wanting his attention. ]
[Slips right off the base, clipping through the wall for extra speed. Farewell, Hajime.
No, okay, he just smiles and watches her skip off before returning to his own partition to dig out some pajamas. Hopefully he's dressed and back on Hajime's side before Komaeda comes back, because he doesn't want to deal with his classmate's judgement right now.
When Hajime comes back, Hinata will already be curled up in her bed again, under the sheet with the Countess purring contentedly at his feet. He might have fallen asleep already again? What a loser.]
[ hajime comes back a little later, after having successfully (maybe??? possibly?? she doesn't actually know if he saw her or not) dodging komaeda. when she spots him sleeping, she smiles and
immediately takes a picture on her communicator and posts it to instaclam. SORRY....
but after that's done and a cute filter is implied, hajime will climb into the bed while trying not to wake him. ]
[In spite of her best efforts, he does wake up with a sleepy, wordless murmur. He doesn't do much more than shift aside to make sure she has enough room to lay down, then immediately wrap his arms around her. Like some kind of octopus tbh.]
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[Ugh. Ugh. It's exactly what he would be telling someone else. He wants to scream that it's different, because he's talented. Because he was able to save all his friends except the one who mattered to him most.
But he doesn't answer. He just keeps his face pressed against her shoulder and mutely shakes his head, biting back another sob.]
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[ she gives his hand another squeeze. ]
If I ever vanished like they did, I wouldn't want you to spend all your time looking for me. I'd be reeeeally angry if you did! It's okay to try to solve this mystery, but you are not alone. Don't act like you are, Number One.
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I know, [he mumbles against her shoulder, breath still coming hard through his nose as he works to swallow a fresh round of tears.] I... I know.
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[ her tone loses the edge it had, returning to its usual airiness. ]
We'll look into this together, okay?
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[He still doesn't pull his face away from her shoulder, keeping himself pressed there as if somehow, he could make it all go away just by holding her. Irrationally, it almost seems possible. If he's with her, he can do anything.
Finally, he just murmurs,]
I miss them, Hajime.
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[ missing them isn't an issue. it's healthy to actually acknowledge these kinds of feelings, she thinks. it's what you do after that could veer into unhealthy and that is what she's determined to keep hinata away from. ]
Tell me what you think about her.
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She... she deserved better than what happened. She was... she was the only person at Hope's Peak Academy who thought that I was worth something. Who didn't treat me like trash. She's... she's the one who brought the whole class together. Everyone relied on her, a-and when Enoshima killed her, it was her death that was used to drive them all into Despair.
Enoshima just used Nanami as... as a tool. A means to an end, to corrupt the 77th class. Because Nanami was... Nanami was someone you could really call "Hope."
She was my closest friend. And now I've lost her again.
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[ hajime didn't really know her very well since they didn't have that much time to spend together, but she seemed sweet and nice to talk to. and hinata obviously loved her. ]
Maybe... temporarily misplaced. But we'll find her and everyone else.
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[It's comforting, to think like that, but he just can't. How can they move toward a future when people like Nanami and Komaeda can show up from the past?]
You know... I was thinking for a while that maybe... it'd be best to think that everyone just... went home. The same way we got here, like something just picked us up with a giant claw machine and put us back. But now...?
If she goes back home, alone, she'll die.
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[ it's best to not assume that everyone would be happier where they came from, she thinks. ]
If we figure out how we got here then it might make finding out where everyone goes easier.
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[He buries his nose against her shoulder again, just hugging her tightly. It's hard not to think of everything that he should have been doing, all the time he's spent doing things other than investigating their missing friends. It doesn't matter how much he lectures Dirk and reminds him to do something besides work; it's different when it's about him.
But he has to try to remember that even for all his talents, he's still human. And he's definitely still fallible.
He exhales another sigh against her shoulder and murmurs something, too quiet to hear.]
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she just rubs his back, not saying anything else until she hears the mumbling. hajime taps him lightly, not wanting to disturb him too much but also wanting his attention. ]
What did you say just now?
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Can I... stay here with you, tonight?
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[ she does not sound like she, personally, minds though. hajime adds on, ] You can stay.
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[Honestly... honestly... he's tired of constantly tiptoeing around his classmate. It's exhausting, and now he can't ask Nanami to help deal with him.
He pulls back enough to give her a tired, grateful smile.]
Thanks, Number Two. I won't do anything weird, promise.
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[ especially not now, considering the circumstances. but she didn't think he would even if the situation at hand was lighter. ]
Where is he, by the way?
[ hajime assumes he would be upset too by nanami's disappearance. ]
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At the question about Komaeda, he frowns and sits back, checking his wrist communicator. He does have the other boy tracked, so...]
The library. I had to pick him up from Floater Island not too long ago, then... I needed some time to myself.
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Okay. [ hajime pats the bed. ]
You want to go back to sleep, Number One?
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[He reaches out and takes her hand, tilting his head to meet her eyes.]
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[ a pause. ]
I should shower first though.
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[He lets go of her hand and sits up. He should probably also change into pajamas if he's going to sleep in earnest, too.]
I'll, um... wait here...?
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Gatcha! [ hajime salutes and skips off. ]
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No, okay, he just smiles and watches her skip off before returning to his own partition to dig out some pajamas. Hopefully he's dressed and back on Hajime's side before Komaeda comes back, because he doesn't want to deal with his classmate's judgement right now.
When Hajime comes back, Hinata will already be curled up in her bed again, under the sheet with the Countess purring contentedly at his feet. He might have fallen asleep already again? What a loser.]
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immediately takes a picture on her communicator and posts it to instaclam. SORRY....
but after that's done and a cute filter is implied, hajime will climb into the bed while trying not to wake him. ]
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This okay...?
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