Night Six

[hopefragment]

[Yeah, Hinata's not going anywhere tonight. He's just curled up in a particular spot of the jungle, not too far in. A careful observer might be able to see (or a cane might feel) something almost like ruts in the ground. It's probable that there was a wheelchair in this particular spot at some point.

But right now, there's just Hinata, sitting against a tree with his knees drawn into his chest, staring blankly straight ahead. He's got Rei's phone in one hand and is just-- staring. Good thing Matt can't see how creepy he probably looks right now.

have some bgm]

Comments

[ghettobatman]

[stop being creepy, son, that's his job.]

[Matt is frustrated and angry and Done, SO VERY DONE, but right now, he has to keep it together. For Hinata. For Clarine. For Rena. For all of them.]

[He does indeed feel the wheelchair ruts, but he's not stopping there. He's approaching Hinata, slowly, steadily, keeping as calm as he possibly can. One day he's going to explode. But not tonight.]

Hinata.

[hopefragment]

...

[If anything, for all that blank staring, it doesn't seem like Hinata had actually seen the other approach. For a moment, he considers staying quiet and hoping that Matt assumes he's not actually here and leaves.

Then he exhales a shaky sigh and pulls his knees in closer to him.]

Hi, Matt.

[ghettobatman]

[Please, Hinata, he'd know. There's no escaping the dadding.]

[Matt settles himself next to Hinata, keeping a bit of difference, because he can tell the teenager is still on edge and not coping all that well. There's no point in asking Hinata how he is, so Matt doesn't bother with that, just sits.]

I'm sorry.

[hopefragment]

[Matt too good at dad.

At his apology, though, Hinata just ducks his head, pressing his eyes against his crossed arms atop his knees. If Matt goes for a headpat at any point, he'll find that weird ahoge isn't nearly as sharp and combative as it usually is.]

...Thanks. For not... for not voting for her.

[His voice is a quiet, hoarse mumble, but at least Matt can take comfort in that much? It makes Hinata feel like he at least made a little bit of a difference, even though in the end, it doesn't even matter.mp3]

And for... earlier.

[Does saving Hinata from being thrown into a table make them even for Hinata having stopped him punching Gi-ne? Probably not.]

[ghettobatman]

[No headpats yet. Maybe later. Or a hug.]

[For the moment, he stays where he is - close, but not too close. His chest feels tight when Hinata speaks up - both because he feels helpless to do anything to help this poor kid, and because he's aware of the role he played in Rei's execution. Even if he didn't vote for her, her blood is on his hands.]

You don’t have anything to thank me for, Hinata.

[Well, maybe the table thing.... Hinata can't take a beating like Matt can.] You were right about Rei, even if she deceived us.

[hopefragment]

...

[He just keeps his head hidden as Matt speaks, though at the mention of Rei having deceived them, he starts shaking again. A deep, shuddering breath, and he rubs at his eyes with the back of his hand, trying to keep it together. Trying to sound angry instead of hurt or upset, though it's without much success.]

Yeah. She deceived all of us. Did you know...? Why I trusted her so much, why we... we seemed as close as we did...?

She was in a game like this before. Not just a-- a mobile game, but a real one. Like how I went through what I did on Jabberwock Island, but instead of with Monokuma... it was a "mafia" game.

...She left me a message, on her phone.

[His voice sounds like it's starting to break again, but he just squeezes his eyes tightly shut and nudges Matt's arm with the phone.]

If you just... press the center button... you'll be able to hear it.