☆ ☆ Utapri Week - Day 7 ☆ ☆

Crossover/AU with: Danganronpa

Title: Our Dream

Word Count: 2.5k words
Rating: M
Triggers: Knives, Drowning, Suicide mention, Character death(s)

This is the story of four boys who wanted to reach their dreams.

“AHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Hearing screams of his classmate declared to be guilty, Reiji gripped the wooden handle of his stand tightly. His gaze fell over to his best friend Aine, who stared down at the ground, unable to look at the occurring scene.

The vile monochrome bear, Monokuma, dragged the boy across the floor to the execution room.

They too, were ushered into the Viewing Room, whether they liked it or not, to watch the guilty face his punishment.

The brunet watched in horror when their Headmaster pulled out a variety of sharp knives, all in different sizes and colors. The boy shrieked in terror, as he was pinned to the wall like as if he was a bullseye. Picking one up, Monokuma gave out a little giggle and threw the knife, missing the boy’s head intentionally. His classmate turned pale immediately and struggled to shake off his pins, to no avail as he continued screaming– breaking into tears and prayers as Monobear continued to miss on purpose.

Reiji remembered the other day in a passing conversation at the Home Economics room, his classmate stated he couldn’t cook because he hated knives. That mere fact made Reiji wanted to throw up. The bear was using their own fears against them, to make them feel the greatest despair.

He felt someone grip his hand tightly, and found it was Aine. He continued to look down at the ground, refusing to watch the horrifying show that was being put on.

“It’s my fault… just like all the others…” Reiji heard him whisper quietly. Aine had been the one to compile the evidence to point out the culprit to the latest murder– as he had done for the previous murders.

“Aine…”

Reiji had helped him look for evidence, but it was Aine’s genius that always found the guilty. In a way, he was like the class’s detective. But it also meant one more thing.

Suddenly, Aine raised his head to look at the culprit, who stared back at him with an indescribable rage in his eyes.

‘This is all your fault.’

Their other friends Kei and Hibiki, stood in front of Aine to shield him, and Kei put a reassuring hand to his shoulder.

“Don’t worry… You were doing justice by pointing out the murderer.”

Reiji could only grip his best friend’s hand tighter and smiled at him.

“The four of us will survive together, Aine.”

They squeezed their eyes shut when a piercing scream echoed the room. The first knife had made its target.

And within many more knives… the guilty was dead.

Solemn-faced, the class was allowed to leave.

Aine paused, catching a glimpse of their Headmaster talking to a couple of students.

---

It had been 3 days since the latest execution of a classmate. It was nighttime, as so the clock said, and Reiji gazed painfully at the photo of himself, his sister, and his mother. When would the happy times return?

Would he even survive and escape? While he reassured Aine that the four of them would escape a few days ago, the number of classmates had already dwindled down to 7. He and his friends had been incredibly lucky so far, but sooner or later, he felt that their luck would run out.

His anxious thoughts were interrupted, when someone knocked on his door. He hopped off his bed to unlock it, revealing his best friend. The blue-haired boy looked haggard, as if he contemplated very hard over something as well, and it seemed he didn’t sleep.

“Aine? What’s wrong? It’s so late right now-” His best friend immediately grabbed his shoulders and shoved him back inside, closing the door behind them.

“We need to end this mutual killing game now, Reiji.” Aine whispered harshly. He stared back at his best friend, bewildered. “What are you talking about, Aine…? That’s impossible! Monobear… He wants to see us all dead!”

His voice cracked as he yelled that out. He immediately covered his mouth but gazed down painfully. Everyone had called him the most optimistic and happy one, and he had wanted to stay like this so he could emotionally support his friends.

But now… even his optimism was shattering. All he wanted was to go home– to return to his loving family. He didn’t want to be killed… but he didn’t want to kill either.

“Monobear doesn’t want to see us all dead.”

“What?”

“He said so in the beginning. There was a way to escape.”

“What are you saying, Aine…” The other boy released his grip from him and moved to sit on Reiji’s bed.

“We don’t have time, Reiji. Our other classmates are plotting to kill us.” He raised a hand to stop Reiji from yelling out again. “I saw Monobear talking to a few students after the execution. I followed them later and overheard their plans to kill Kei and Hibiki. They want to pin it on me or you. The chances are very high, even if we try and prove ourselves… we won’t be able to escape the guilty verdict.”

“What… how did it turn out like this?” Trying to process Aine’s words, Reiji sat down next to him, in lifeless shock. They were done for. How could they manage this situation? “They’re going to kill us… What did we do wrong? The four of us….”

“The four of us have dreams!”

“In this school… everyone has a dream they want to reach, Reiji. I can understand their intentions… just like everyone else who’s died.”

“Aine…”

“That’s why this mutual killing game must end.”

“But how…?”

“Follow me, Reiji.”

His best friend stood up from the bed and walked to the door, motioning him to follow. Leaving the safety of Reiji’s room, they quietly walked down the dark corridors.

He gazed at the back of his best friend, wondering how the other could be so mentally strong. Out all his classmates here in this school, he believed Aine had the best chances to achieving his dream. The other boy was incredible, a rare talent that only appeared every few generations.

But the most important quality of Aine, was his hard-working nature. If he hadn’t worked so hard to investigate and correctly deduce cases, none of them would have been alive right now.

His best friend was almost a perfect symbol of hope. Reiji couldn’t help but feel he didn’t compare to the other.

“We’re here.” They stopped and Reiji found that they were in front of a set of double doors, with the sign labeled ‘POOL’. The two of them entered in the area and the beautiful, calm water awaited them.

“Why are we at the pool, Aine?”

Reiji turned to Aine, confused to why they had arrived to the pool of all places. The boy said nothing, only to walk to the supply closet. He gasped when the other returned with rope and weights in his arms.

“Aine? What- what are you doing?!” His best friend began to tie himself up, attaching the weight to one end. He paused, putting one free hand in his pocket and pulled a note out. He unfolded it, and began to read out loud.

“I can’t do this anymore– I don’t want to find out any more culprits. Every time I find out who’s the next murderer and they get executed, I feel like I’m killing them. They’re not really guilty– no one is because we all have dreams. We were supposed to reach our dreams in this school. But in this mutual killing game, all of our dreams are being killed alongside our morals. That’s why I’m going to kill myself. I want my sacrifice to stop everyone from killing.”

“Aine no- You can’t-!”

“I want you to kill me, Reiji.” The quiet, soft words stopped Reiji immediately and Aine stared straight at him with clear, unwavering eyes.

“The suicide note is supposed to be fake. If you kill me, and people find this, then it’ll look like a suicide. And then you’ll be able to escape while everyone else dies.”

“But Aine!” His voice was cracking as sorrow and despair overcame him. For him to kill Aine, his best friend– the center of their group… it was impossible.

“I can’t do this… I can’t kill you…! What about Kei and Hibiki? What about the promise for the four of us to escape together?”

“IT’S IMPOSSIBLE FOR US REIJI!” He stopped immediately, watching Aine begin to break down into tears.

“Kei and Hibiki are going to die anyways even if we don’t do this… I don’t want… I don’t want this to go on any further.” The blue haired boy choked out harshly between his tears. “That’s why… I chose you, Reiji. I want you to carry the dreams of the four of us.”

“But… but Aine…!” Reiji rushed over to hug him, also breaking down into tears. He sobbed against Aine’s chest, holding him. “I want the four of us to stay together… Even if we all have to die…”

“I don’t want that, Reiji.” His best friend sniffed, wiping his face with his indigo handkerchief. “The four of us… we worked so hard for our dreams. To let them die like this… in this cruel game… is the worst despair.”

“But…”

“And… you want to see your family, don’t you Reiji?” He numbly nodded at the other, who smiled gently and pulled out a second green handkerchief to wipe his tears. “That’s why I want you to escape, Reiji.”

“What about Kei and Hibiki…?” Aine placed the handkerchief in his palm and closed his eyes.

“I know it’s going to hurt them. And this will permanently damage our bond in the end. But I still want you to do this. Because if anyone is going to survive, I want it to be you. Please, Reiji.”

“Ai-Aine…” Tears overflowed from his eyes again as he hugged his best friend again, almost tempted to never let go. But he understood why his best friend wanted it. It pained the other just as much as he was feeling, but perhaps even more. And yet, Aine was still willing to go to his death.

“…I’ll do it.” The other’s face lit up and he blinked tears, smiling.

“Thank you, Reiji. I’m sorry for being selfish.” They continued to tie him up until the knots were tied enough for him to prevent his escape. Additionally, the knots looked as if Aine had tied it all by himself.

As the two of them stood by the deep end of the pool, Reiji noticed the blue-haired boy was visibly shaking as he stared down at the water.

“Are you okay, Aine…?” The other boy turned to him, his back facing the water.

“Haha… I’m actually really scared we’re going to do this. I’m actually scared of dying, Reiji. I won’t be able to sing anymore… And I won’t be with you, Kei, and Hibiki anymore.”

Reiji bit his lip and awkwardly kept his gaze at Aine’s school badge. He cursed himself for being so useless to find the words to comfort his best friend before he went to his death.

“But… I’ll do it because I believe in you, Reiji. You’ve been by my side all this time and helped me. To me… You’re my hope.”

His heart broke when Aine gave him one last smile at him, one that was no longer burdened by the weight of despair.

“Sayonara, Reiji.”

“Sayonara… Aine.” Immediately, Reiji shoved him on cue and as the blue-haired boy landed into the water with a splash, the brunet closed his eyes and ran out of the pool.

“Aine… Aine… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

As soon as he sunk to the bottom of the pool, he would open his mouth to let the water suffocate him to pray-quick death. He gazed up at the serene surface of the water, illuminated by the lights.

It was a pretty scenery for him to look at before he was going to die.

All he could do now was to pray for Reiji’s safety.

He finally opened his mouth. Gasping as the serene water before began to strangle him and fill up his lungs, it felt painful as he was choking to his death– violent masses of bubbles arising as he flailed around underwater.

But this pain wouldn’t be able to compare to how Reiji would feel. Not only would Reiji carry the weight of their dreams… but he would also carry the weight of this tragedy forever.

But Aine would continue praying, for his best friend to find the way to their future.

He slowly began to black out from lack of oxygen. In his final moments as he closed his eyes, he could see the four of them together, playing by the river without a single care in the world.

A few moments later, only a single bubble rose up into water.

---

“Upupupu… Unfortunately, class… You were wrong!” The remaining survivors of the class all gasped when an X sign popped up on the screen. Monokuma giggled from his chair, taking in the despair of the situation.

“Aine Kisaragi… did not commit suicide! Someone in this room murdered him!”

Reiji closed eyes, clutching Aine’s suicide note tightly as everyone else panicked. He heard Kei and Hibiki call out to him– He looked up to see the shocked and upset faces of his two remaining friends. Knowing Aine almost just as well, it appeared they were also piecing the puzzle together.

It was then when they had realized it, Monokuma slammed a button with his hammer. An individual trapdoor opened under each person, except for him and he watched in horror as they fell to their deaths. The moment before he saw his friends fall down, he saw the looks of rage, betrayal, and hurt on their faces. And in one single moment, they disappeared.

Reiji slumped weakly against his stand, and Monokuma giggled again, hopping off his seat to approach the brunet.

“Well, congratulations, Reiji Kotobuki! You have successfully survived the trial as Aine’s murderer and have gained the right to leave!”

“Don’t screw with me! I didn’t… I didn’t kill Aine!” He screamed out, clutching his head as he cowered over to block out the bear’s taunts.

“Upupupupu… It may have been a collaboration between the two of you, but you were the one who still left him to die.”

“I- I didn’t want to!”

“That’s what they all say, buddy. But now it’s time for you to go! See ya in the future, if we can!” Monokuma pushed another button, and another trap door opened underneath Reiji. He screamed as he fell down into a slide– presumably this would lead to his exit.

As Monokuma watched his last student exit out gracefully, he walked over to pick up Aine’s suicide note that Reiji had dropped before leaving. Reading it, he laughed out loud and shredded the note into pieces.

“Upupupupu… The desperation of reaching dreams… can also reach towards despair.”

“Oyasumi, my students.”

Tagged as: #utapriweek2016 #kisaragi aine #kotobuki reiji #utapri #uta no prince sama #aine kisaragi #reiji kotobuki #i want you to know this au has been on my mind for the longest time}} #pls throw me in the trash}} #I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD BE WRITTEN A LOT BETTER BUT AT LEAST IM SATISFIED WITH THE ANGST???}} #how do you write char death: a novel by rai}} #okay im gonna stop rambling but pls read it}} #outofdreams #drabble