Status
He presses a quick kiss to my cheek before hoping off me. "Ah, you feel so tense, Hajime, are you feeling alright?" He asks worriedly. I shiver.
It's not like I can just up and tell him I'm a little more scared of him now, let alone how terrified I am of how I'm going to be treated by everyone else now because of my status. Yet on the other hand, Sonia seems to be holding up alright. . .
"Yeah, I'm fine," I decide, "it's nothing." He frowns, skeptical, reaching out and taking my tag in his slender hand, naturally making me stiffen.
"Ah," He sighs, letting it dangle a moment before releasing it, allowing it to smack against my chest, "you know, Hajime, if you're afraid of being tormented, I can protect you," His eyes gleam, "or. . .maybe you're scared of me?"
"I-"
"I'm kidding of course. Although, you do look quite gorgeous in my tag~" He twits. I grit my teeth.
"How is this fair? I'll never be able to pay you," I complain, "I didn't even want to play."
"Is that so? Well, I didn't want you to get shot. Do not blame me if your memory is worse." He immediately retorts. I glare up at the slightly taller boy.
"You could've done something. You could've stopped them!"
"You don't know them like I do. There are far worse things that could have happened to you," He replies, eyes narrowing, "how about you show some gratitude and be grateful I haven't been doing anything to you, Pochi." He then smiled kindly. "Fear not, I can make things easier on you."
"I don't need you doing anything else!" I snap. He chuckles lightly.
"As you wish, Pochi. Now if you all would excuse me, I have to go meet with someone." He says, brushing past us, humming cheerfully as he proceeds to stroll down the hall.
"Hey Hajime? Are you alright?" Chiaki asks worriedly, touching my arm. I quickly shrug her off.
"Nothing," I mutter, "I guess I'm just more upset about this than I thought." The warning bell rings and I exhale softly. "I ought to get to class then."
"Do keep your head up, Hajime!" Sonia encourages cheerfully. I smile back wearily.
"Sure thing, Sonia."
-
'Pochi.' 'Trash.' 'Woof Woof.' 'Worthless.'
Those were just some of the words scattered across my vandalized desk and now burned into my brain. I stare straight down at my lap, muscles tensed as I try to block out all the whispering and snickering all around me.
This is awful. Damn you, Nagito.
-
Lunch time couldn't seem to come fast enough.
I place my books in my locker and shut it with a loud slam, turning away only to find myself faced with a small group of boys. A fiery-red-haired boy with piercing ice-colored eyes, a brunet with corn-shaped hair and greyish eyes, and a short brunet with bright green eyes.
"I-have we met?" I ask cautiously. The redhead in the center snorts.
"As if a loser like you would be worthy."
He reaches forward and shoves me harshly against my locker, nearly knocking the breath out of me. I tense, staring back at them warily. "I-I don't want any trouble." I try to say before I'm shoved again.
"Look at you, just a disgusting worthless Housepet, nothing like us skilled gamblers. Not even worthy to be looked at by us. You're a stupid, awful gambler that doesn't deserve to be in a school with us."
"Pochi!"
"Pochi Pochi Pochi! Woof woof!"
"Come on, guys, cut it out. . ." I plead.
"You don't deserve to even live. You deserve to suffer. You know what, we'll take care of that for you."
Huh? What do they mean by that? They aren't going to. . .Surely they wouldn't. . .
"Hey."
A familiar-sounding voice makes my head snap up. The body of the red-headed boy tenses against me as a pale hand reaches out and closes around my tie.
"K-Komaeda!" The corn-haired boy exclaims. The white-haired boy's gaze hardens as he tugs on my tie, forcing me to his side.
"And what were you doing with my Hajime?" He asks, voice so eerily calm it was scary. His fingers continue to curl around my tie, almost possessively. When they fail to respond he lets out a disappointed sigh. "This one is mine. If I catch you or anyone else for that matter laying even a finger on him you will pay dearly, am I understood?"
I glance at Komaeda. He looks positively terrifying. And he's a tall guy as well, reputation exceeding him. No wonder he scares people.
All three of them seem to be quaking in their dress-shoes, too shocked to even offer him an answer.
"You know," He drawls, "I always have a gun on me for a good game of Russ-"
They have already taken off down the hall before he can finish his sentence. Nagito chuckles to himself, releasing his hold on me. I shiver.
"I suppose I should thank you then?" I say sheepishly, rubbing my head. He waves me off.
"No need. I already promised to protect you, no?" He grins, "Then, shall we go to lunch? Everyone must be waiting for us."
I swallow. "You're probably right. Let's get going."
He hums in agreement. "Indeed, I'm quite peckish." He begins making his way down the hall and I hurry to catch up.
"So, have you acquired any more votes?" I ask casually. He grins, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"I played a little before I saw you this morning. I think I'm up to fourteen now." He answers. I smile slightly.
"Impressive," I tell him, "you're well on your way." He smiles.
"Undoubtedly."
"That's good."
"In fact," He continues dreamily, "I'm going to gamble with Ibuki Mioda."
"Mioda?!" I exclaim incredulously, "as in 'already has fifty votes' Mioda? As in Ibuki Mioda, secretary of the Student Council?! You can't!"
"Precisely that Mioda! That's what I was off arranging this morning after I checked on you. I'm meeting with her after school. Will you come with me?" He wonders. I furrow my brow.
"I. . .I don't know." I mumble. He grins.
"Don't make me force you, Pochi~ You are mine, after all." Nagito teases. My cheeks turn pink.
"Still, you don't think it's too early or even too risky to face a Student Council member?" I point out. He giggles.
"Maybe, who knows? Guess we'll have to find out. And of course you'll come, right Pochi?"
I groan at his words. "I will if you quit calling me that."
He hums thoughtfully. "No problem, sweetheart." He responds. My ears go pink.
"That. . .might be even worse." I grunt through gritted teeth. He smiles.
"Too bad. I like it." He tells me, ruffling my hair once again.
-
"I don't think I've ever been in this part of the school before." I comment dryly as Komaeda leads me down an unfamiliar hall.
"Down here is where the Music Room is. This is where we're meeting Ibuki." He explains. I roll my eyes.
"I can't imagine what kind of gamble a Student Council member is going to come up with." I mutter. Nagito's face lights up.
"Right?!" He agrees, a little over-enthusiastically.
"I'm serious, Komaeda. If you're not careful you can lose everything." I warn. He laughs.
"How many times must I tell you to have some faith in me, sweetheart?"
"I'm just concerned!" I defend immediately.
"Aw, Hajime is worried about me? You don't want your beloved to lose votes?"
The tips of my ears turn pink. "Stoooppp!" I whine. He chuckles.
"Never. I believe teasing you is actually my new favorite hobby."
We soon arrive in front of the designated classroom. Nagito grins easily, applying three sharp raps to the door.
"Ibuki says come in!~" A cheerful voice rings out from within.
"Here we gooo~" Nagito says, twisting the doorknob and pushing the door open. Sitting at a table in the very back of the classroom is a pretty-looking girl with spiky streaked hair and light pink eyes.
"Hii!" She calls out happily, "Ibuki Mioda here! Let's play a game!"
I shudder. "She's kind of disturbing." I admit quietly.
"And I'm not?" Komaeda giggles in reply. He touches my wrist and guides me over to the table. He then sits across from the girl, not looking the least bit intimated. Not really knowing what else to do, I pull up a chair right next to him.
Ibuki locks eyes with me and gasps. "Oh no no no, Ibuki doesn't care to gamble in front of Housepets! Ibuki was told that if Ibuki is good then Ibuki should not gamble in front of those not worthy!" She says.
I lean back, offended. "It's just a debt you don't need to be mean! I-" I start to spit but Komaeda cuts me off by gently laying his hand on my thigh.
"That's ridiculous. Don't believe everything you hear, Mioda," Komaeda smirks, "gullible people won't do as well at gambling after all."
She nods thoughtfully. "Oh, Ibuki understands. Ibuki will try." She decides. I grunt, annoyed.
It's been one day and this tag is already driving me crazy. Hopefully we get Nagito in office and this can all go away soon. . .
"What is the game, Ibuki?" Nagito asks with a slight yawn. She beams.
"Glad you asked! The game is called Even or Odd. We'll play five rounds, each time betting whether the outcome of the die Ibuki rolls will be an even number or an odd number. We can decide to bet the same amount each time or a different each time and take turns choosing to guess first." She explains.
"Sounds fun," Nagito agrees, "but might I suggest Hajime here throws the dice so that neither of us can pull some sort of trick?"
"And maybe you should examine the dice for any that can already be set?" I suggest. Ibuki shrugs.
"That's A-O-K!! Here ya go!" She responds happily, surrendering the die. Nagito reaches for the die, turning it over between his fingers. After a moment he smiles.
"Looks good to me." He decides, handing it over to me. I swallow.
"Right."
"Now, for the matter of the wager. . .perhaps we can start with one million and increase from there?" The white-haired boy suggests. Ibuki bobs her head up and down.
"Super! Now Ibuki will pick even first. Ibuki thinks it will be even!" She sings. Nagito shrugs.
"Then that means I'm odd." He says, leaning back in his seat. I furrow my brow.
". . .I'm going to throw it now," I announce, "remember, one three and five are odd, and two four and six are even as this is just an ordinary die."
"Throw it." Nagito responds. I shake it up in my fist before twisting my wrist, releasing it. It comes up a Two, prompting a giggle from Nagito. "Bad luck for me! I'm alright out one million yen," He laughs, "well, what do you say, Ibuki? I think it'll be Even again, so, double or nothing?"
"Sounds good! Throw it, Pochi!"
". . .Just 'Hajime' is good." I mutter, rattling and tossing it again. It comes up a three and Nagito grins.
"Wrong again! Such despair!" He comments.
"Ibuki picks now! Ibuki picks Even this time! Throw, Pochi!" She demands, I sigh but dutifully throw the die. It comes up a three.
"I only owe one-million now." Nagito says.
The fourth round Nagito picks Odd, coming up on top.
It's a tie.
"Ibuki, let's stake ten million on the final hand." Nagito suggests eagerly. Ibuki's eyes light up.
"Sounds super fantastic! Ibuki is all for it!" She cheers back. I roll my eyes. Is he going to do this every time?! Seriously?!
I groan. "Ibuki, Even or Odd?" I ask.
"Hmmm." She hums, stroking her chin thoughtfully before suddenly shooting up like a rocket.
"Even!" She exclaims, "Even, Even, Even!" My eyebrows lift.
". . .Alright. I'm going to throw it now." I say. Nagito smiles at me. I take a deep breath, rattling it in my fist, shaking it up real good.
"Don't leave us in suspense, throw it!" Komaeda demands impatiently.
I roll my eyes and release the die.