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I...

[ His red eyes are watery. He's so close to Komaeda, but he can't help but be upset. He's angry and upset and it shows as the shadows expand from his feet, shaky. Cracks line the floor, and it's clear that frustration sets in his expression but it soon calms down as daisies cover the cracks. ]

I'm scared, Nagito. You don't understand. She brainwashed your teacher. I saw it all happen. Ikusaba even lobotomized her brain and even showed a brainwashed Reserve Course student kill themselves with a- [ Shit. He wants to throw up just reimagining it; it's disgusting. ] Nngh... I don't want something like that to happen to her.

Yukizome-sensei was...

[He pulls Hinata close and the first thought is to tell him to have hope but, he squashes it. The tragedies of the past are...not what needs to be focused on.]

Hajime, she has us. The rest of the class and all the people we've all made friends with. Our class had only been united by Nanami and Yukizome-sensei. Individually, we all had our problems and none of them had been handled or dealt with. It's different here!

Remember, I remember Towa city and a lot of what happened there. I was here when she drove Peromei insane. I know what she is capable of. Even the shadow of her. We can teach Chiaki how to protect herself. I do understand. [His fingers card through Hinata's hair as he sighs quietly.]

I'm scared too.

I know.

[ He has to catch himself, sucking in a breath. He's still shaky; just by pulling him in close, Komaeda can already feel him shuddering, fingers latching onto his arms, digging his nails. ]

I know. I... I heard her. She wanted to brainwash Nanami. [ Not Chiaki. ] But then she changed her plan to brainwash the class, instead.

...We can get past it. Look what we've already achieved. I think Chiaki needs to know about this. We did promise to have no secrets from each other! [He drops his chin on top of Hinata as he whispers just loud enough for him to hear.]

Have a little faith in where we are now. It's okay to be scared, it feels so close. But it happened years ago and Naegi gave us a second chance. Small as it is, that tiny spark of hope can be fed. ...I'll be right here with you and so will she.

We can do this.

[ Hinata's ahoge bounces slightly, feeling rather comfortable where he is at the moment. He's content, as he finds himself calming slightly, blinking away any residual tears. But when he speaks up, his voice is empty once again. ]

I know that it was years ago. But I can't... help but think about it. I still don't remember what happened to her. [ And he worries about it. If their teacher underwent brainwashing, then what will happen to the rest of them? ] And I...

[ He stops himself, claming up. Although he can probably hear the sound of his voice in his head, telling himself: She was one of my only friends while I was in the Reserve Course. There's a darkness to his internal voice as his eyes lower ever so slightly. ]

Yeah. We'll be fine. Just... let me be close to you. Don't let go of me.

I didn't plan to let go. [Komaeda slowly slides from the desk and reaches under Hinata's knees. He lifts him up, wincing on a little at the strain.] Just like the first day we got together...but reversed.

[He's trying to lighten the air. He balances carefully as he walks the distance to the couch. His breath escapes in a rush as he sinks down onto it.]

...I'm here all night, so if you need to be like that for that long...I'm here.

Yeah. Let me... stay like this for a while.

I would suggest you drink a tea to help you sleep. But I assume you want to stay awake for a while.

I don't know if I'll even be able to sleep at this rate...

You could but it would require my help and herbs. [He has a fair understanding of sleeping draught and herbal teas for sleep. His own insomnia a symptom of his illnesses had required it. He hadn't had the options on the island that he uses here.] Or Raijin but the later would knock you out immediately.

But you wouldn't dream. [Sleeping artes were a last resort in his mind.]

. . . I'd like to have dreams, thank you very much.

Then we won't use him. So, I'll ask you directly. Do you want to sleep for a little while?

... You'll sleep with me, right?

[He knows how to read under the words. Hinata needs him to stay. With a small smile he bends down, reaching under the table. A hidden drawer pops open, revealing a few mugs and jars of herbal teas.]

I'm going to use Dunamis to help speed it along. We'll sleep for a few hours. [He grabs the smallest of the jars and two pale grey mugs from the drawer. He shuts it with a snap. The easy part is using magic to fill the mugs and set them to brewing. The hard part is the chant. It's a specific series of words. He talks quietly of storms and the calm that cones after they're gone.

The phrasing is always different, but the story has to be preserved. His chanting rises and falls like the sea until the tea turns to a draught, as clear as pure water. He stares at the mugs for a moment.

Sleep has never been safe for him. Sometimes it can be. Other times he wakes Chiaki and Hajime up with twisting and turning and cursing the past. Maybe this time would be different. He passes one mug to Hinata and cradles his own.]

Ah, I'll warn you. This is a lot like falling. Don't be afraid, just let go and it will all be fine.

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cw: suicide, body horror

cw: suicide, body horror

cw: suicide, body horror and dr3 spoilers

cw: suicide, body horror and dr3 spoilers

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