Just Lucky

The die turns over and over as it rolls its way across the table. All three of us lean forward, expectant, impatient for the result. A second or two later, it shakes to a stop, revealing a Three.

". . .Nagito wins." I declare in a neutral tone. The fluffy-haired boy leans back in his chair grinning, all smug and self assured.

"Mmm. Shame," He comments dryly, "we should have gambled with votes. After all, I heard you already have quite a bit, eh Mioda?" Ibuki nods.

"Um-hmm! Ibuki has lots and lots! But it's fine; Ibuki can easily part with ten million for you. Ibuki will make contact with you tomorrow to give you your winnings." She tells him, earning a nod.

"I appreciate it, Ibuki. Even just the fact that one of the amazing, talented members of the Student Council was willing to gamble with a nothing like me is more than I deserve by itself so please take your time!" He chirps back, drawing a frown out of me.

"What the hell are you talking about, Nagito?!" I demand, "You beat her so why are you talking like that?!" I demand. He shrugs back at me.

"Don't worry sweetheart, no matter whatever the outcome of this quick little game was going to be, Ibuki Mioda is still and always will be far above you and me both," He is quick to explain, like Ibuki isn't still sitting here, "The despair that comes from losing to lowly being such as myself will only allow her to bounce back even stronger! It is her hope! That's all we can be."

"Sweetheart?! Are you two a couple?!" Ibuki eagerly gushes.

Really? That was the only thing she picked up from that little speech?!

"Yes, we are!" Komaeda answers cheerfully to my surprise.

"We are not. He's joking." I intervene swiftly, earning a sheepish shrug from Nagito. "Actually, would you mind giving Nagito and I a bit of privacy?" Ibuki nods.

"Sure, Ibuki doesn't mind at all! Then, bye bye!"

She stands, tucking her chair in before practically skipping out of the classroom. I turn to glare at Komaeda.

"Why would you say that?!" I demand. He blinks.

"I was just kidding about us being together, sweetheart, I didn't realize it would offend you so much though. I apologize." He replies softly. I roll my eyes.

"No, not that. Although I would like to revisit that at a later point. I was talking about your little self-deprecating speech." I explain, prompting a dismissive wave.

"Oh that? Don't worry about it, it was nothing. I was just. . .thinking out loud I guess. . ?" He answers, chuckling nervously. My gaze narrows.

"You shouldn't think like that," I scold, "besides, the whole point of you gathering votes is to eradicate the current hierarchy, so you should already be thinking like that."

He flashes me a crooked smile. "I suppose you have a point there, Hajime," Nagito decides, "very well, I'll try."

Deciding to give up on this issue for now I stand up, extending a hand to Komaeda. "Come," I command, "let's go find you a gamble with actual votes now."

He grins, accepting.

"Sure thing."

-

The next week is quite uneventful. Komaeda gathers more votes easily, although I'm not really around to see it. My parents were both working extra late that week and my brother was Atua knows where, leaving me to complete all the afternoon and evening chores.

Komaeda was up to about forty-five votes now, it being the eleventh day, putting him in the top ten (although as number ten) on the first Weekly Election Checkpoint. Celestia Ludenberg was first of course, with one-hundred and thirteen votes, as expected of our school's president.

“Hajime!~” Someone sings, snapping me out of my thoughts. I automatically turn towards the sound, seeing Nagito jogging towards me looking overly-excited. Maybe I’m feeling that way too, which could explain the twinge in my chest upon seeing him. Anyways, we haven’t really had to have a genuine conversation in the last week with both of us being rather busy at different times.

I wave to him as he gets within feet of me, skittering to a stop before he could crash into me. Once he’s steadied himself he pulls me into a quick hug. Ah, I’ve forgotten how affectionate he is-not that I’m complaining about it of course.

“Chiaki asked me to remind you that you’re going dress-shopping with her after school.” He says dutifully. I groan.

“So I’ve heard,” I reply, “man, this is going to suck. It’s just going to be me sitting outside of the dressing room for hours while Chiaki tries on dress after dress before deciding she hates all of them and forces me into a suit, you know? And then she’ll use it as an excuse to force me to go to the dance.”

He frowns. “You don’t want to go to the dance?”

I shrug. “I don’t really see the point. Besides, I’d just end up as a third wheel to Chiaki and Sonia.” I elaborate.

“Hmm. . .Perhaps it would be more enjoyable if you went with a date?” Nagito suggests cheerfully. I scratch my neck awkwardly.

“Yeah? Who would I even go with?”

Nagito opens his mouth to answer me but before he can Chiaki and Sonia appear from seemingly out of nowhere, and begin to speak.

"Are you two talking about dress shopping?" Sonia asks, "we actually were thinking we could all go. Shuichi too, of course."

"I thought you two didn't want to go together so you wouldn't see each others dresses before the Dance?" I point out, frowning.

"Oh, that. Well, we figured it'd be alright as long as we didn't see the ones we decide on. Besides, it's a good way for our new little group to hang out after school." Chiaki explains.

I open my mouth to protest but before I can Nagito cuts me off by saying;

"That sounds like a great idea! I'll tell Shuichi!" He chirps. Sonia claps her hands excitedly.

"Then could you two please meet us at the mall? Chiaki can drive Hajime and I unless you need a ride in such a case we'll need your addresses." She sighs happily.

"We can meet you there, no worries. I'd hate to trouble you further." Nagito replies.

"Great! Then we'll see you then!"

-

“Hey you, calm down you impatient little shit, they’ll be here any second now.” I grumble as Chiaki grunts, shifting from foot to foot.

“But I want to get going already!” She protests.

I suppose it’s true what they say; people really are different outside of school. Chiaki doesn’t particularly strike me as a girl that likes big fancy dresses, but to each their own I guess.

For an afternoon of lounging around waiting for Chiaki to be satisfied, I decided on some comfortable clothing: a plain T-shirt and jeans. Chiaki had picked a grey hoodie and jeans, and Sonia, a sunflower-print romper. I’m curious to see what Shuichi and Nagito will be wearing.

“Sorry we’re late!” Shuichi calls as they approach us from behind. Shuichi is wearing a long-sleeved black shirt and jeans, and Nagito is wearing a green jacket over a white shirt and dark jeans. . . .Is he a little toned under there?

The white-haired boy jogs to my side. “Hey Hajime, you look nice!” He greets me. I nod back at him.

“. . .Thanks, you too.” I respond.

“Alright, yes, but we all saw each other just an hour ago! Let’s go!” Chiaki snaps, clapping her hands with each word. I roll my eyes.

“So where’s this store you keep talking about?”

-

"I like it." I tell Chiaki. She rolls her eyes at me.

"Yes, you're absolutely stunning, Nanami," Nagito agrees, "in fact, you've looked good in everything so far."

Chiaki had claimed Nagito and I as her judges while Sonia had dragged off Shuichi, claiming he had impeccable fashion sense or something.

Chiaki frowns. "Hmm. Well, this next one will definitely be better. You'll see."

And with those words she dashes back into her stall. I let out a sigh.

"See, I was right, this is boring." I comment. Nagito shrugs.

"It's not as bad with company though, is it?" He asks.

"It's better I guess. The problem is neither of us know nothing about fashion anyhow, right? So there's really no point in us being here in the first place." I reply.

"Aww, but anytime spent with you is a blessing, sweetheart." Nagito teases. I roll my eyes.

"Yeah right, darling."

"Darling. . ," He repeats thoughtfully before smiling, "I love that, Hajime! I've never been given a nickname or pet name or anything, not even by my own mother!"

"I. . .was just making a joke." I mumble, ashamed. He blinks.

"Ah. Well, no matter. Perhaps one day you'll call me 'darling' and mean it as an affectionate pet name. Like the kind couples have!"

"That will never happen."

He flashes me a sinister smile. "Is that so? If you're so certain, are you willing to bet on it then? That we'll never be together and call each other things like that?" He suggests slyly. I frown.

"I already have an impossible debt to you, I don't need to add to that!" I complain. Something dark flashes in his eyes.

"But if you're so certain it'll never happen, it should be just fine then, right?~" He points out, "what do you say? One-million?"

I grunt. "Fine. But only because it'll never happen."

"What'll never happen?" Chiaki asks, having emerged wearing a pale-pink mermaid cut dress. I roll my eyes again.

"That me and him will ever be together romantically." I inform her. She grins.

"Oh it's definitely going to happen."

"CHIAKI-"

"We've only known Komaeda and Shuichi for a little while and yet you and Komaeda click so well! Sometimes you two already act like a couple. Sonia and I totally ship it." She explains.

Komaeda's eyes light up while I groan. "You need to stop with that." I complain.

"Well, I'm not going to give up. I want in on that bet. Two-million." She decides. Nagito beams.

"Sure thing!"

I slink down in my seat. "You all suck."

-

In the end, I don't even remember what dress Chiaki decided on, let alone Sonia. I return home completely exhausted and fall asleep the second my head hits my pillow.

It only feels like my eyes were shut for a few moments before it's the next day. I drag my sluggish body out of bed and begin going through the motions of my morning routine, unable to shake the conversations from last night.

Nagito and me? Together? Yeah right. Why would I ever willingly be with someone as insane as him? Man, Chiaki and him are going to make me rich when this is all over.

-

The second I get inside the school, I hear the semi-familiar sounds of snickering and taunts regarding my Housepet status. Ugh, I nearly forgot all about this.

Someone abruptly grabs my arm, prompting an involuntary yelp from myself. I spin around and find myself face-to-face with a concerned-looking Nagito.

"Hey, you alright? I didn't mean to scare you." He murmurs. I brush him off.

"It's nothing. Um, why are you here?"

He smiles. "I'm here to protect you! I don't want another unpleasant attack raining down on you."

"How kind of you."

"Then, let's go to your locker first!" He declares, grabbing onto me once again and dragging me down the hall. Of course we don't get far before ah-Mukuro steps in front of us, blocking our path.

Komaeda is quick to push me behind him, lips pressing together in a firm line. "Hello, Mukuro." He greets her stiffly.

"Nagito Komaeda," She responds evenly, "I will cut straight to the chase then. I need a favor, so, I have a proposition for you."

Huh? What the hell could Mukuro want from him?! Unless this is some sort of a trap. . .

"I see. What do you need, Mukuro?"