pokebox | LOCKED TO destage

LOCKED TO destage

[Winding up in a world full of animal people who wanted nothing more than to decorate their houses and make friends was kind of surreal at first. Okay, maybe "kind of" isn't really the best way to describe it. It was really surreal. Mondo hadn't handled it very well at first and he'd been stuck working for a raccoon named Tom Nook for more time than he really cares to recall. In fact, he should still be working for the raccoon, since he showed up in town without a single Bell to his name and Tom Nook not only gave him a (really cramped) house, he also taught Mondo how to work to earn Bells. This didn't answer any of Mondo's questions, like why Bells were currency or how he'd gotten here, but he'd settled in as best he could.

Mondo's not the sort of person to handle being in one place for too long, and after awhile the friendly villagers just started to piss him off. So he hopped on the last train of the night and didn't look back. He's spent some time chatting with a cat, but when the train pulls into the next station, Mondo gets off. He doesn't look any different than he did in Prayer's Pass, with his pompadour still perfectly maintained and long dark coat thrown over loose-fitting clothes. His hands are shoved in his pockets and when he steps out of the station and gets a look around, he balls his fists.]

Shit, it looks exactly the same...

[Well, to the town's credit it does have different fruit in the trees and the houses are in different places, but it looks almost identical to the town he just left. Part of him is tempted just to hop back on the train, but he spent the last of his Bells getting that ticket, so it looks like he's stuck here for now. With a groan, Mondo begins to walk, looking for the town hall or whatever (he never bothered learning what it was called), so that he can hopefully find a way to get out of here quickly.]

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[Sayaka jumps a bit when he yells, though she's quick to calm herself--she remembers how weird it got last time, so she wants to keep herself calm and smiling.]

I-It definitely is, yes. It's probably one of the best places we've ever been too, even for the lack of excitement...

[...She can't honestly look at him at this point, pointedly staring at the wall and blushing even deeper.]

But...um...I think there's...another reason why I'm so happy...

[That last bit is said softly, hoping he doesn't hear her.]

Yeah. It's not exactly my ideal place, but that's 'cause I've never been good at sitting still for long. I prefer a little action and excitement - but definitely nothing like the shit we've been through. I'd have to question someone's sanity if they actually liked that.

[He falls silent when Sayaka speaks up, but her words are a bit too quiet for him to make out.]

What was that?

[Judging from her posture and just how deeply she's blushing, she's probably embarrassed by something, but Mondo has no idea what it could be.]

[...Dear god, she doesn't even know how to respond at this point. There are a lot of things she could say, but what if she gave him the wrong impression? What if it just made him not want to talk to her anymore? That's honestly the last thing she wants.

But he's already noticed, so any sort of denial might just lead to more awkwardness that could've been avoided by being honest. She didn't want that to happen either; it was basically 'to tell, or not to tell'.

...She takes a breath in to steel herself.]

I-I said...there's another reason why I'm so happy. It's...

[Come on self, don't back down now...]

It's because you're here, too.

[Mondo's not sure why she's hesitating, and when Sayaka finally manages to speak, he's still not sure why she had so much trouble saying it in the first place.]

...I'm really glad you're here too, Maizono. This place'd be completely boring without you here and besides, you're really happy here! So of course I'm glad you're here!

[WAY TO MISS THE POINT, MONDO]

[...She's honestly not sure how to take that. Does this mean that he feels the same way? Or did he seriously miss the point here?

...She gives Mondo a lot more credit in the hint picking up and dropping category, so she's honestly assuming that it's the former here.]

...R-really? You mean that, Oowada-kun..?

[Her eyes practically light the hell up when she says that.]

[Huh, that's unexpected. Why would she think otherwise? Mondo doesn't get it, but Sayaka sure looks happy and that's a good thing, right?]

Yeah, 'course! Why would I lie to you?

Well, I was worried you didn't feel the same way! I...I just couldn't imagine...

[Jesus, why did she doubt him to begin with? It wasn't like he'd just lie to placate her at this point, right?! Right!]

I'm so glad you like me too, Oowada-kun! I-I mean, I held back a lot becauseIdidn'tthinkyou'dlikemebacklikethatsoIwashoping--

[...She is going into literal motor mouth, dear god. Sorry, Mondo. There is no more coherency here.]

[Whoa, whoa, slow down there, Sayaka! You lost Mondo somewhere in the first sentence, give him a moment.]

Wait, how did you not realize? I thought we were friends back in the pass? I mean yeah, things were really fucking weird, but I just sorta figured...

[This is a bit awkward, isn't it?]

[...you know, it...takes a moment for her to slow down, and even he could probably see the gears turning in her head. She'd at least assumed he was...actually talking about a crush on her, right? That's why he got so embarrassed, right? It...couldn't have been...

...Oh dear god. Sayaka's face has gone both red from embarrassment and white from horror. Oh god she just let that slip up didn't she.]

O-oh god, but--that means you don't--y-you don't actually--

[...She looks like she's about ready to turn tail and run for the hills. ...Out of her own house, which...shut up, she's never had a full set of marbles to begin with.

If Mondo wants to get anything close to an answer, he'd better act fast--she's eying that door, and she's probably going to escape in t-minus ten.]

Wh-What are you talking about, Maizono?

[He's missing something here and it's obvious, but Mondo has no idea what it could be. The obvious answer goes sailing over his head both due to inexperience and stupidity. He looks sort of horrified as well, but only because Sayaka's looking so scared. What on earth happened??]

[Ten, nine, eight--]

I...I...

[Dear god, if she shakes any harder the whole house is gonna come down. Five, four...]

I...I l-love you! There, I said it--I thought that--augh, I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I-I have to--

[...Threetwoone, ZOOM. She is going out that door unless he can grab onto her or something. ...Mondo, she will probably apologize for this later, just. She is timid natured, okay.]

[Well, that was probably the last thing he was expecting. Sayaka manages to get out the door before Mondo can react and he's left standing in her house, staring at the door like he's seen a ghost.]

She--? No way...

[No one's ever confessed their love to him before. Hell, he's asked girls out numerous times before and they've all turned him down. To think that Sayaka - Sayaka Maizono - could possibly be harboring some sort of feelings for him is shocking to say the least.

Finally Mondo realizes he should probably leave her house, but there is one thing he has to do first. He fishes into his pocket and finds a piece of paper and a pen. The message he scrawls is simple, but hopefully it will do. He leaves it on the closest flat surface that isn't a fish tank and hopes she'll see it. With that accomplished, Mondo leaves, though he's not entirely sure what to do with himself.]

YOU CAN COME TALK TO ME WHENEVER YOU WANT
THANKS FOR TELLING ME

[He isn't sure what he'll say to her if she decides to come find him, but he won't leave her alone forever if she doesn't seek him out. He'll have to come up with something to say either way, but first he needs to get over the shock that's come with this revelation.]

[It honestly would take a bit before she sought him out again; first came hiding somewhere around town and promptly bawling for a good hour, genuinely feeling crushed that she'd done something stupid to one of the only friends she had. She was worried he'd leave her again--this time for good, without any way of seeing him again unless she decided to follow him around the globe or something.

By the time she got back, the first thing she did was flop into her bed and sleep--it wasn't until the next evening that she actually found the note, though she had a lot of doubts; what was the point, firstly? He didn't like her the same way, so that was that, right? It'd just make things awkward if they spoke again, wouldn't it? It'd just sour their friendship, because she'd want something she could never have. Something that she wasn't allowed to have, if they ever went back home for whatever reason.

...Still, he thanked her, though--maybe he was just thankful for her honesty in regards to the situation? He said that she could talk to him again, but what if it just wound up even worse because of that?

She stayed cooped up in her house for a few extra days, unsure how to react--it was due to a little worry that the animals would try to get involved and try to solve it (She had to try and reassure Kitty that it was just some 'personal human problems' to get her to stop worrying--she could've only imagined what she'd try to suggest.) But eventually, Sayaka decides to pick up what's left of her pride and go over to see him. He was usually off by the evening, so...

Knock, knock. Looks like you have a visitor.]

[If Sayaka hasn't tried to contact him by the end of the week, Mondo's going to visit her. That's what he promised himself after leaving the note, but he's finding that each day is more arduous than the last. It's difficult to go about his life here without talking to her. She always had a way of making his day brighter and now... Well, it's amazing he hasn't punched any animals out, let's put it that way. Tom Nook has at least calmed down on sending Mondo on errands, probably because Mondo yelled at him yesterday.

He's in his house when someone knocks on the door, and Mondo gets up from feeding his Red Snapper with a groan.]

Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. What do you want?

[He then pulls the door open and sees who it is and goes red instantly.]

Ah, shit, Maizono, I-- I wasn't expecting you, uh... Do you wanna come in?

[How awkward.]

[...She honestly considered turning tail and running again when she heard that, at first--maybe he'd finally gotten sick of it, maybe he didn't want to tal--

But when he opens the door, she finds herself glued there, mentally. She can't meet his gaze even slightly, but at the very least, a tiny smile is on her face. A very, very strained tiny one, but one none the less.]

...I-If...that's alright.

[She doesn't actually make any steps inside until she's prompted, but when she does get in, she's just...probably going to look around him more than at him. She really doesn't know what to do or say.]

Yeah, 'course it is.

[Mondo opens the door to allow her inside. His house is tiny - there is a second floor, but that literally only has his bed, so this is pretty much it. The floor is a dark red carpet and the walls are a darker wood, but what's more interesting are the array of banners Mondo has hung up on the walls. They don't look like they were purchased, since the writing is kind of awkwardly done. There's also a small table shoved in the back with more cloth and thread and sewing supplies. Aside from that there are two plush chairs that don't match and the aforementioned Red Snapper chilling in a tank near the door.]

So uh... make yourself at home. I mean there's not much here for that...

[She actually does manage a little more of a genuine smile at the little snapper--it's certainly cute, she has to say. She mostly distracts herself by admiring the handiwork--those don't look like anything Nook sells, at least. Did he make those himself..?]

--h-huh? Oh! Sorry, I...

[...Give her a second to get back into reality; she looks around a little bit, frantically, before settling on one of the mismatched plush chairs to sit at.

...This was gonna be a hot mess, wasn't it. Either way, she sits down gently, and manages to look at him to signal he sit too. This...was likely gonna take a while.]

[Yeah, this probably isn't going to be pretty. Mondo takes the other seat, folding his hands after resting his elbows on his knees. He doesn't look at Sayaka, instead staring at the floor intensely.]

...So uh... thanks for telling me that the other day. I really do appreciate it since I'm... kinda dense about these things. In case that wasn't obvious.

[Alright, that seems to be a good start. Now what?]

I... shit, I'm really honored that you'd be interested in a guy like me. I mean, you're incredible. You're friendly, smart, caring... and you're really dedicated.

[He can't forget what happened in Hope's Peak, after all. It still sends chills down his spine, but Hope's Peak and Prayer's Pass were different place and very different situations. Sayaka wouldn't do something like that here. He's sure of it.]

So it's... it's amazing that you'd even be interested in me in the first place. I'm not exactly someone the girls are lining up to date, y'know?

[He laughs, though the sound is hollow.]

Shit, sorry. I don't really know what to say. I thought I had a whole speech planned out but... I guess I've forgotten it.

[It takes her a little bit to speak up, but she is listening--she's staring pointedly at the ground rather than him, but she definitely listens. She doesn't really react to the gushing praises--though she does look up at him once he seems to lose track, giving him a tired smile.]

...Oowada-kun, please let me be clear about something; I'm not nearly as perfect as you might think I am. I...I'm human, too.

[After that, it's back down to the ground again.]

That's why I like you...because you're not afraid to be who you are, even if others might not approve. I really...really admire that.

[It's a luxury that she never had. Her voice starts to break as she goes on.]

You...you treated me like I was a person worth caring for. You honestly seemed to care about me, more than...more than anyone ever did. [Her father, the producers, her fellow idols.] You treated me like I was human and not some statue that w-was meant to be stared at from afar and...a-and...

[Dammit, why is she tearing up--why can't she stop it. Why are all of these memories deciding to rear their ugly heads now?]

Y-you helped me really, really realize that there's something more out there than what I had fought so long and hard for, that...that there was something better out there. That I could actually be myself and that I could still feel like I was worth something, and--

[...Welp, the floodgate are breaking now. You're gonna have to give her a bit.]

Yeah, I know.

[He could continue about that, but Sayaka continues. He doesn't interrupt as she speaks, even when her voice wavers and she stutters. It's only when she cuts herself off that Mondo can finally speak, but he's got something else on his mind.]

Shit, I don't have any tissues, um... Do you want me to go get some or something? Fuck, sorry, I didn't think...

[He had been hoping that this conversation wouldn't end in tears, whoops.]

No!

[The answer is sharp and immediate--it takes a few seconds before she's able to clarify.]

N-no, please...please, don't leave...

[She's at least going to try and wipe up her tears with her sleeves, just...trying to compose herself. He won't leave if she does, right?]

...I...I don't understand...

[...]

...Why did you bother with me? If...if you knew...

[She's never been able to get those comments from their first day in Prayer's Pass; she's never been able to accept it, really, that they might have known all along.

She only wishes she could convince them now, after all of that, she'd never dream of doing it. She could never live with the guilt.]

...you must know how...stupid, hideous, ugly I really am, so...why...? Why...?! Why do you bother?!

[...She might actually be matching Mondo's usual tone here, good lord.]

[Wow, he didn't realize she was capable of getting that loud! Mondo waits until she's done before finally looking directly at her. When he answers, his tone is remarkably even.]

You said it yourself - you're human. You're just like everyone else in that respect. I think every single one of us in Hope's Peak considered - even if it was just for a moment - killing someone to escape. I mean, maybe someone like Fujisaki or Ishimaru didn't consider it, but everyone else... yeah. I think everyone thought about it at least. What happened there was different though - it was an extreme situation. It was the sort of shit most people never go through.

[He pauses for a moment, once again directing his gaze downwards.]

...Besides, you're not the only one who's done something like that. I'm even worse than you are, Maizono.

...No, I...I don't think I have a right to consider myself human anymore...

[She says that softly, but when he speaks up again, that...causes her to snap up. Wait, did he just say what she thought he did what?]

I-I beg your pardon? [There's definite disbelief in her tone--she's not honestly sure if he's trying to say that to make her feel better (...if he was, that'd be kinda fucked up), or...what, even.

She's definitely got her attention totally on him now, though.]

[He's not sure what to say in response to that first remark, so he lets it go for now. There's something more important to talk about.]

A while before I was selected to go to Hope's Peak I was the second-in-command for the Crazy Diamonds. My brother, Daiya, ran and created the gang. He was going to leave the gang to me, but a lot of the guys didn't think I could handle it. So I challenged Daiya to a race.

[Mondo's voice has been even and soft the entire time, but it becomes almost monotone as he keeps going, still staring at the floor.]

So we raced. Daiya always told me to be careful, but I had to win to get everyone's approval, so I was reckless. I ended up killing him that night. He died before the paramedics showed up. I watched it happen.

[Mondo shakes himself as if coming out of a trance. He still doesn't look at Sayaka but at least he seems a bit less dead.]

...So, yeah. You're not the only one who's done some awful things. I... dunno if that means we're not human anymore or whatever, but you're not alone.

[...Well, if...Sayaka was expecting anything out of this, this was the absolute last thing she thought she'd ever hear coming out of Mondo's mouth. She honestly finds herself slack-jawed while she listens to him--she doesn't know how to react about what she's hearing. For a while...all she can really do is stare.

...But then she gets up and goes toward him slowly, and, if he'll allow it, she'll hug him. She doesn't know if she can say anything--she can't say it'll be fine, because clearly it won't. She can't say she understands, because she never had a sibling to lose in the first place. She couldn't tell him it wasn't his fault, because he did say he challenged him to a race.

And she couldn't get mad and storm off because she was about to do something very, very similar. Not that she would have wanted to, anyway; she was more than willing to look beyond that. So at the very least, she figured she could give him some sort of assurance physically.]

LOCKED TO destage

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