Night Two

[hopefragment]

[Unlike last night, where Hinata had literally been stumbled upon by a blind man, tonight our favorite ahoge-protag is looking for Matt specifically. He just has some questions in light of the last trial, and checking up on our favorite lawyer can't be a bad thing, right?]

Hey... Matt.

[As soon as he spots him (or his cane, more like), Hinata's moving in closer, lowering his voice once he's close enough to do so safely.] It's Hinata.

Comments

[ghettobatman]

[He'll find Matt close to a tree, his knuckles bruised and a little bloody as if he'd been punching the foliage to let off some steam or something.]

[Huh.]

[He turns towards Hinata's voice when he hears it, a little short of breath, but attentive.]

Hello, Hinata. How are you feeling?

[hopefragment]

I should be asking you that. Did you get in a fight?

[??? Perpetually Concerned Protag here, what on earth happened... please don't tell him you were punching trees, he'll be totally concerned for an entirely different reason.]

[ghettobatman]

Just with the jungle. [Hinata, please, everything is Fine...... Just Fine] It's nothing, just a little rashness and stupidity on my part.

[A beat.]

I don't know how you managed through that school trip of yours. You're very strong.

[hopefragment]

...Be careful. It's a jungle, you know? Even without the General running around, there's probably some dangerous wild animals, too.

[Hinata please. He pauses, taken aback by what Matt says next, though, audible surprise in his voice.]

I... I don't know what you mean.

[ghettobatman]

Yes.. it's quite dangerous. I'm aware. [he does sound a little contrite]

It's been two days, and I already feel like I'm going crazy. [Rubs at his forehead]

[In other words, Hinata, you're a trooper] It's frustrating.

[hopefragment]

[Okay good, listen to the younger protag. He occasionally does know what he's talking about.]

Ah... [Ah. Yeah. Not that Matt can see it, but Hinata runs a hand through his hair and offers a quiet, humorless laugh, not entirely sure how to respond at first.] Yeah, I get the feeling. It's... worse here, I think. On the island... even Monokuma had rules he had to adhere to. And while he could give us motives all he wanted, there was none of this...

You didn't have to go to bed knowing that you were going to wake up missing someone. This... is a lot more hopeless of a situation.

[Hopeless... one could almost say despair-inducing.]

[ghettobatman]

[A wise ahoge indeed]

[He can sort of hear it, at least. The whole thing is a little humbling, for him. Hinata may not be a child, but he's a lot younger than Matt is, and he's keeping his shit far better, at least that Matt can see] Still. You're very strong. I admire your spirit.

So... for the bear, it was more of a competition? A show, even?

[hopefragment]

[Dangan Trauma 2k?? is strong.]

I... thanks, I guess.

[He definitely, definitely doesn't want this kind of talent.]

It wasn't a competition at all. Like I said last night, it was all about filling us with despair. He said he didn't care if the killer got away and we all died, or if we caught the killer. That didn't matter to him, and I still don't know why. I guess it was a show for whoever was controlling him.

I have a lot of questions about that island, and... I don't know if I want to ever get the answers to it. If I can get back home, that's... that's enough for me.

[ghettobatman]

The Rulebook claims the General wants to give us a sporting chance... but I have to wonder if it isn't the same as your school trip.

[Matt grows deadly serious for a minute, hands squeezing his cane]

[he's got a lot of feelings]

I swear, Hinata, I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you get out of here safely. I don't want you to end up anywhere like here - or there - ever again. [it may not be very reassuring considering the murdergame circumstances but he does sound sincere]

[hopefragment]

Who knows.

[Who even has a black and white bear as a mascot?? Do they even need a real reason??

Hinata does notice the way the other man is squeezing his cane though, both his hands coming up in an attempt at a placating gesture before remembering that duh, Matt can't see it.]

I-it's fine, I mean... it's not fine, but I'll...

[And he ducks his head.]

I... can trust you, right, Matt?

[ghettobatman]

It's not fine. Not at all.

[Foremost. He knows what Hinata meant, but some things can't be forgiven. He shouldn't have to adjust to this, to any of it]

Of course you can. [A beat. Again, this may not be reassuring, considering murdergame circumstances, and he doesn't want to try to push Hinata to trust him if he doesn't feel comfortable with it, but Matt sounds sincere, at the least] I don't have a special role. Even if I did and it was dangerous, I wouldn't play along with it and butcher innocent people.

[Even if they blackmailed him. Probably.]

[hopefragment]

[Hinata's quiet for a long moment after Matt answers his question. It's true, it's not fine, but... it's a big leap of faith for him to trust anyone on this island.]

Yeah, I don't either. I'm... kind of glad for that, you know? I wouldn't be able to- to protect anybody. All I can do is try to reason out what I can, and hope it's good enough.

It hasn't been, yet. But... if anything happens, I'd... like it if you could trust me. I might not be able to remember my talent, but I want to make sure I'm able to do everything I can. So we can all go home.

[ghettobatman]

Give yourself some credit, Hinata. There are a lot of ways to protect people. Right now, we just have to focus on what we can do - keeping calm, investigating, reasoning, like you said. I doubt your talents are just limited to one.

I do trust you, and I hope you can feel the same way. [and you better not be mafia you little shit.]