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Locked to diamondo

[Memories were a strange thing, Sayaka was beginning to find out.

"...That's right. You are, aren't you...? Makoto Naegi, was it?"
"Hey, you two! Your conversation is too long! Are you planning to spend--"
"--all day introducing ourselves? No, of course not! I was just--"
"What?! How did you know what I was going to say?!"
"Ah--didn't I just tell you I had good intuitions?"

Sayaka had frozen up there, definitely taken aback by the first thing that came out of her mouth--she didn't even get the chance to speak to Naegi again before he moved on to Leon, and that was...definitely something that gave her an unintentionally eerie vibe. She was honestly kind of thankful that things were swiftly forgotten once Monobear entered the scene. Everything else that came out of her mouth just felt right at that point--like things were what they were supposed to be.

That sense of normality lasted for a few days, until Monobear decided to get a little creative. There were DVDs--hers, her dearest friends, splayed on the floor with Monobear himself on the monitors. She'd screamed. She ran like her life depended on it, away from everyone who wanted her to say something to them. She couldn't handle it. She ran into the nearest classroom, sitting on a desk and just...stared into nothingness. She had to do something--she had to get out of there, she had to leave at all costs. She'd lose her career if she didn't, right? She had to do something--

"Sayaka, look at who you're talking to. I'm definitely not here to judge your actions. Sometimes life throws you into unfair situations and you do what you must to survive. Or attempt to survive. Though I'm sure you wouldn't have been as eager if you would have known, right?"

"Hey... What're you doing with all that again? Even if you hadn't, someone would've started it up. Blame yourself for... For what happened back home, and Mallick, and you, but not the rest of us. I'm not...saying you didn't screw up. I'll never do that. But like, it's not fair, you know?"

--Sayaka didn't recognize the voices at all, and by the time Naegi found her, she was staring at the ground in a daze. Between both voices calling her by first name, and wondering if they were both talking to her at once...well, her tears had stopped, and assuring Naegi was her number one priority. She did everything she could to assure him that she'd be fine--that what she saw had simply stressed her out. It took going into her room to think on it, and...had they known what she was plannin to do? Had she told them? Faces and names escaped her, but the voices...she didn't know why, but it made her feel disgusted by her own thoughts. She couldn't act, she just couldn't.

She wound up going to bed extremely early that night, assisting Naegi throughout the week, and generally trying to get the bitter taste out of her mouth.

It wasn't until Monobear passed out those secret that things took another interesting turn. He had been especially displeased with them, giving them so little time to make a move. Her own secret--about the amount of people Sayaka's thrown under the bus to get where she was--was terrifying, but the words of those two voices stuck in her head. Along with another...

"Mondo Oowada."
"W-wait, what?! How could he have--"
"He had not meant to..."

The memory was short this time, unfinished even, and the voice...she recognized it, but she couldn't believe it. The quietest person in the room, and arguably the most coolheaded among them...did she know her in advance?

It took a bit to wish Naegi good night, but Sayaka's night had only begun. She must have mentioned Mondo for a reason--something must have happened with him. She hadn't been one to be out at night before due to the rules in place, but...

Well, she had to do something. She knew that much. Following her intuitions, she went in the direction of the Changing Rooms--she didn't know why she lulled in that direction, honestly. Did she say something else about them? Either way, she catches sight of him--it looks like things were on the money, and she starts to run up.]

Oowada-kun, Oowada-kun! What are you doing out this late at night? It's dangerous!

[...just give her a second to catch her breath, jesus christ--]

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[If there were ever a time for another weird voice in her head, now would have been it as far as she was concerned. Maybe she was in the wrong place? Or maybe it was something else...

A cleared throat distracts Sayaka from her thinking, and she turns to face him while he takes his seat. She was certainly surprised--he'd made a quick getaway once his secret got revealed, and Ishimaru had seemed so forlorn before she sent the note. She half wondered if he was going to become a hikikomori at that point--she wouldn't have blamed him.

She doesn't even bother with the usual sweetness, just shaking her head.]

Mmm. [...] It was still kind of rude of me though, wasn't it? And I don't blame you for wanting to hide something like that.

[...It's something, at least, but Sayaka puts her arms on the table and puts her head down, turning to face him slightly. The obvious thought flies past her mind, but...]

...Did you need a place to relax too? After today, I mean. This is kind of a crummy place to.

I don't think there's any place in this school to relax.

[Mondo folds his arms behind his head and stares up at the ceiling. It's not really interesting, but it's somewhere to look that isn't directly at Sayaka.]

...I just wanted to let you know that you hadn't pissed me off or anything. It'd be pretty shitty of me to leave you worrying about that.

[It's pretty shitty of him to leave Ishimaru worrying too. Ishimaru's probably asleep by now, but maybe he'll drop by later. If he's feeling up to it.]

Point taken.

[That gets a laugh out of her, but it's drier than anyone would probably anticipate. She moves her head so her chin is resting on her arms, staring into the board like it'll give her some kind of answers.

The second bit gets a pause out of Sayaka, at least for a bit.]

...Please tell me you're not just saying that because you feel like you have to. [It...doesn't sound nearly as annoyed as what it probably should be, but Sayaka's never been that good at keeping an edge to her tone.] Thank you for letting me know, though. I was really worried, after we talked last night.

[...]

You really could have gotten hurt, you know.

[Mondo shrugs half-heartedly at Sayaka's words.]

If I was really only doing it because I felt I had to, it could've waited for morning. I did it 'cause I wasn't sure if you were gonna be upset about it all night.

[He doesn't like the idea of upsetting her. He's always had a soft spot for cute girls and Sayaka's as adorable as they come. Well. Appearance-wise she is. She's willing to do some pretty underhanded things to get ahead in her industry, but it's not like he really has any room to judge. He's never had a job at all and he can't imagine what being an idol would be like.

He falls quiet for a moment, but her other statement gets him to look at her.]

...They'd be pretty stupid to pick a fight with me.

[The words are careful though, because he's not stupid enough to ignore the alternative. Even if someone had attacked him, would he really stop himself from killing them? He can't say for sure. He also can't be positive that everything would have been fine. It's possible more time would have passed and he would have decided that the only thing to do was to kill someone.

He hates thinking about it, so he shakes his head to dismiss it.]

Well, uh... Thanks, I guess. For helping. You didn't need to.

[But she went out of her way to look out for him (and probably the others who were still up?) so the least he can do is thank her for it.]

Ah--

[Well. That actually wasn't what Sayaka was expecting to hear at all--she would've expected absolutely nothing to be said, or some sort of non-answer response before that...

...It actually gets her to look at him with a smile that isn't trained.]

...Thank you. That's...really thoughtful, Oowada-kun.

[Sayaka still listens, though, and...well, she thinks about what he says for a moment, and what that voice--Kirigiri's voice, had told her. That there was something he did, but he didn't mean it...did she mean the case, or did she mean the murder of his brother? An inward part of her mind wonders.]

Well...of course they would. But that could be just what Monobear banks on--trying to see if someone will provoke you, to make something happen. Would you put it past him?

[She'll shake her head at the last bit.]

I...I felt like there was something I had to do. But...I also wanted to. I know you're a Super High School Level Rule Breaker sometimes, but... [No, he'll think she's insane, switch--] I rely on my intuitions a lot, you know? What they tell me, I do.

I'm sure that fucking bastard was counting on me... doing something, so I bet he's pretty pissed right now.

[Monobear was counting on him to murder someone. Mondo's pretty damn sure of that.]

...Naegi's mentioned that before. That your intuitions are usually spot-on. Is that what made you chase after me yesterday?

[It starts out as a throwaway comment but by the end it's a genuine question. He doesn't believe in stuff like that, but if Hagakure is here then clearly someone does. Sayaka's not Super High School Level Intuition, but maybe that sort of skill isn't what she's best at. Whatever the reason, it's not something he really wants to completely dismiss.]

When isn't he angry with us, now...

[Really, she's kind of surprised that Monobear hasn't just taken the matter of murder into his own hands or something. That'd be too easy though, wouldn't it? Way too easy. Considering the fact that he only gave them a day to accomplish this motive...

She's not sure why that feels so short. Her expression...quirks, for a few second,s before she focuses on what Mondo has to say. And it...takes her a few seconds to think before she nods.]

Yeah. My intuitions told me that...if I didn't do something--if I didn't make sure that everyone was in their rooms that night, something really bad was going to happen. And...it was probably going to be someone getting killed.

[There's definitely something she isn't saying, if the pauses are anything to go by, but she's quick to move on.]

...Was there a reason you went out last night? And so late, too...

I really was just going to train. Fujisaki said she— Uh. He. He said he might drop by. But I didn't really think she- he would.

[This is kind of hard, but he's trying...]

I just like working out until I'm tired. It's a bit better than trying to fall asleep when the room's so quiet.

[...Was that what Kirigiri was talking about, then? What Mondo had done. She...can't really imagine him wanting to hurt Chihiro at all, even if he knew his secret. Chihiro was...]

...I think I un--I think that's what my intuitions were telling me. [I think I understand what would have taken place is the first thing she wants to say, but she switches gears immediately--and hopefully gracefully.] I think...that if something hadn't happened, that someone would have tried to hurt you and Fujisaki-sa--kun.

...But I understand what you mean on not being able to sleep well. [Sayaka turns to him again and cups one of her hands over her mouth to whisper.] Don't tell anyone, but when I can't sleep, I sometimes go to the music room and play with the tambourine a bit.

[He laughs at that, the sound a bit too loud for the quiet room. It's not fake though; that genuinely is amusing.]

Sounds like a good way to pass the time until you're tired, at least!

[It's much easier to focus on this than what Sayaka was just saying. Who the hell would try to target him and Fujisaki? They'd have to be stupid to pick a fight with him, but Fujisaki is different. At least they're all still alive, right?]

I'm glad I'm not the only one having problems with sleeping here. Everyone else seems fine, so I never want to mention it, you know?

More like the most reliable way, short of geting curious and sounding like a dying bear on another instrument! [...That was entirely intentional and wishful thinking.] If Monobear wasn't so stingy about the kitchen hours, I'd rather be spending it cooking. A nice midnight snack certainly wouldn't hurt matters any, and I always get the urge to at the worst times...

[She can dream, at least. The second bit catches Sayaka's attention, though.]

I understand completely. Everyone has their own worries, so it just feels kind of rude to push silly things on someone else. Has it been insomnia, or maybe nightmares?

[He laughs at that; he absolutely agrees with what Sayaka's saying. It would be nice to have access to the kitchen at night...

But there's something a little more pressing to talk about.]

Bit of both. I've had nightmares for awhile now, so that's not anything new.

[It used to be about Daiya's death, but being in here has added a few others he cycles through occasionally.]

The insomnia's the worst though. The rooms're soundproofed so I can't hear shit and that's kind of fucking me up? Some nights it's good for things to be quiet, but I'm used to hearing like... cars and shit. Just the sounds of the city. You know, shit that makes it feel like I'm not so goddamn alone in the world.

[It's honestly sort of terrifying being in that room alone at night.]

I see...over what happened, I'm guessing?

[She doesn't need the confirmation either way, but she moves on quickly enough to not force him to dwell on it. He doesn't need that right now.]

...You know, at any other time, those rooms would be perfect. Everyone could go about their silly business at night without anyone being disturbed...but here, it's so eerie because of what Monobear's doing to us...

[Sayaka shivers a bit.]

...You must be pretty used to those sounds, huh? Were they very loud, where you lived? [All things considering, she's surprised he can actually hear that stuff. He does ride a motorcycle a lot, after all.]

[He doesn't reply to the first part. She probably wasn't expecting a reply.]

Yeah. I've always loved the city. Shit was tough when I was growing up, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I mean, I really like the open road too - and when I'm out there it's fine to feel like I'm alone in the world, but it's... different here. I think you're probably right. This situation's so fucked up it makes the whole thing really damn creepy. Someone could get fucking murdered in the room next to you and you wouldn't know.

[...]

Ah, shit, that was pretty morbid, sorry.

I think I get it. They're things that you've grown accustomed to, and you find comforting--it makes complete sense. And now that we're here, it's...

["Someone could get fucking murdered in the room next to you and you wouldn't know."

For some reason, her words die off when he says that, and she's looking at him like he has a horn growing out of his head. Even seems mildly offended, but...confused, at the same time? The words that come out of her mouth seem just as confused, too.]

Don't say that kind of stuff. Monobear could easily get ideas, and it's a really bad idea to let people into your room to begin with. If something happens...

[Why? She doesn't know why she's saying this, but it...feels weird. This is so, so weird.]

Those rooms are probably the safest places to be, by yourself at least. Just...be very, very sure to be careful.

[Mondo isn't sure what to do with that look she's giving him. He didn't really think before he opened his mouth and he knows what he said was fucked up but... that sure is a look, um.]

Yeah, I know. I'm not gonna do anything stupid. There's nothing that bear can offer that'd tempt me.

[The last one was the only thing he would have possibly moved on and even then he didn't want to kill anyone.]

You don't have to be so worried about me. I'm alright. Well, as alright as I can be, anyway. But I don't think I'm much worse off than any of the others.

["--she killed Ishimaru-kun, and Ya--"

--Huh? Sayaka's expression flickers for a moment.

"--hy?! That's...that's horrible, what could she possibly--"
"The motive Monobear offered that week was y--"

...It takes her a couple of seconds, but that look fades and she looks back to Mondo.]

N--no, I understand that. I think you know to be careful now. I have faith that you won't do something silly. I'm still going to worry, but...hey, can you answer a question for me? About Ishimaru-kun. It's nothing really personal, but...work with me for a second, okay?

Is Ishimaru-kun particularly close to any girls here?

[That was strange. Mondo opens his mouth to ask about it, but Sayaka poses that question and Mondo tips his head a bit as he thinks.]

...I'm pretty sure kyoudai's just as bad with girls as I am.

[he says, despite talking to a girl in a perfectly acceptable tone of voice]

I don't think he's close to anyone else here. Maybe Naegi? They've spent some time together. But he's uh... Well, he's kind of off-putting if you haven't gotten to know him too well.

[Which is the politest way he could have possibly worded that.]

Why?

[Look at him go, for once in his life.

Either way, though, Sayaka speaks up.]

...I think my intuitions are onto something again. I don't know Ishimaru-kun well enough to judge, but...I don't know. I've just got a bad feeling that someone's gonna try something this week.

[Sayaka just adjusts her head again to look at the board, shaking her head.]

Do you think you'd be up for keeping a lookout for him? If not, I'll ask Naegi-kun.

He's my brother.

[That should be answer enough as far as he's concerned, but given what his secret was he should probably elaborate.]

...I'm not gonna let anything happen to him. If someone wants to fuck with Ishimaru, they'll be going through me first.

[Mondo's hands have tightened into fists as he speaks and he slowly forces his hands open once he's noticed it.

He's already lost one brother. He's not going to lose another.]

I don't know shit about intuition or whatever, but I'll trust you on this, okay? So leave Ishimaru to me.

[Sayaka nods her head at that--it's a rough answer, but she honestly doesn't blame him for it. She could've phrased it better, but after passing by Ishimaru on one of his knocking trips...

Well. Never hurts to ask. Her look goes to a very serious one.]

Good. I'm honestly glad for that--I know Ishimaru-kun will be safe with you. Just...be wary of any girls that try to talk to him. And...let me know who does, so I can try to talk to them.

[...]

And...thank you, for trusting me. I...I know I'm not the best person--everyone does, now, but I meant what I said when my secret was revealed. I'm not going to hurt anyone here--I don't know if my intuitions are always gonna be like this, but...

Any step I can take in preventing this is a good one...I'm sure of it. Nothing's going to happen as long as I'm here.

I believe you.

[The answer is simple and comes quickly.]

I can't see anything you'd gain from doing all of this. If you wanted to get someone to trust you and then stab them in the back, someone else would make a better target for it. Naegi'd be best, probably.

[...]

Shit, sorry, I shouldn't have said that. What I mean is that there isn't any point in being nice to me if you really were just trying to use people here. So I think you mean it. You're not gonna hurt us and you're not gonna play into this whole fucking game. You're being nice because you want to help, regardless of what you've done in the past.

I can't really judge you on that, by the way. I don't know what that shit's like. So what you did back then doesn't matter to me. What matters is what you're doing now. And now you're trying your best to help.

[Mondo shrugs a little and kicks his legs off the desk so he can rest his elbows on it.]

If you need anything else, let me know. I'm really outta my element here, so I don't know how to help people. But even though I can't fucking stand some of them, that doesn't mean I want anyone to die.

...I forgive you, but please...promise you won't say anything like that again.

[Even still, if her look was even cross (it was more of a weird melancholy expression--but why? She doesn't even know.), it definitely doesn't stay long while she listens to him. It's honestly nice to hear, after some of the derisive comments made during the day--and after Naegi's distance. Her face eventually settles on a smile.]

Maybe...I'll tell you all about it, one day. If you'd like to hear it. But...thank you, Oowada-kun. It really does mean a lot to me, and I promise I won't let it go to waste.

[...In any case, Sayaka actually starts rubbing at her eyes with a little bit of a laugh--she's probably not going to be sleeping very well tonight, but...]

We should probably start heading back. It'll give us enough time to get some sleep in case Monobear decides to do anything...better safe than sorry, right?

[She won't be surprised if it happens tomorrow. He's annoyed as hell with them as is...]

...Yeah. The last thing we need is for you to fall asleep out here.

[He's pretty damn sure the bear will take it as an excuse to kill someone. Breaking the rules is a terrible idea.]

And... sorry. About that. I don't usually think too much before I open my mouth. Sorry.

...I know you didn't mean anything by it--or anything mean, really. I just...don't like that stuff being made light of. Can you promise to try to stop yourself, if nothing else...?

[Yaaaaawn. Dang, she is sleepy. She'll at least start to get up--taking care to push the chair in before she leaves, before going to the door. ...And if she gets there first, she'll hold it for him with a tired grin.]

Hey...if I get the chance to tell some stories to you, will you tell me some of your stories too?

Locked to diamondo

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