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Part 3 of Hansel & Gretel , Part 16 of author's favorites (my favorite works I've done)
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2023-10-18
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2023-10-24
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a campaign of shock and awe

Summary:

Hana Ouma's mother often looked like she was mourning something.

It was something about her smile. She smiled like she was being hunted, that tired pallor of her skin. Sometimes sharp, sometimes bitter, sometimes tired—she smiled like she was losing a war.

It was not the smile of a winner. It was the smile of someone who had lost, over and over, and was wondering why they continued to fight. But sometimes, when it caught on Hana's youth-bitten innocence, it softened into something infinitely sadder.

She was—maybe not a perfect mother, but a loving one. And Hana loved her, to the depth of her soul, her sad smile she wore like a shield, like an armor, sharp on her face like a knife, a preemptive self defense, that smile that only softened around Hana herself. She loved her, but that love was not enough to save her.

Kokichi Tsumiki smiles the exact way she did.

Chapter 1: under the surface, I feel berserk as a tightrope walker in a three-ring circus

Chapter Text

Hana Ouma loves her siblings. 

They all came from tough circumstances; dead parents, or those who would abandon them, it did not matter—each of them had felt the pain of their absence. Bad foster care homes were a dime a dozen, and each of her siblings has felt the sting of either neglect or abuse at uncaring hands.

In a way, Hana is a lucky one. She, unlike most of her siblings, knows the love of a parent. Most of them have never met their birth parents, being too young to remember them when they left or died; the few that did, would have been better without knowing them at all given how they acted. But Hana was different—her mother had loved her.

Her mother gave her the name, Ouma. A gift she holds precious and close. They were abandoned by Hana's father, and Hana knows if she was more unlucky, that could have led to her mother resenting her—but it didn't. Her mother loved her, deeply and truly, and for years Hana lived a difficult but charmed life.

But Hana's mother was troubled, deeply; she held on for years, but when Hana turned ten, her mother had taken her own life.

"You're my one light," She would say, occasionally, with that oddly intense look she got sometimes. "My one hope. My everything."

It scared her, sometimes, in an odd way. A swooping sensation in her stomach, the feeling that she looked down only to realize she was balancing on a tightrope the whole time. Like she was cradling precious glass, afraid it would fall and shatter.

"I love you, too, mama," she would respond, rubbing her cheek against the hand that cradled her face.

There was always something in her mother's eyes when she said this. 

Hana Ouma's mother often looked like she was mourning something.

It was something about her smile. She smiled like she was being hunted, that tired pallor of her skin. Sometimes sharp, sometimes bitter, sometimes tired—she smiled like she was losing a war.

It was not the smile of a winner. It was the smile of someone who had lost, over and over, and was wondering why they continued to fight. But sometimes, when it caught on Hana's youth-bitten innocence, it softened into something infinitely sadder.

She was—maybe not a perfect mother, but a loving one. And Hana loved her, to the depth of her soul, her sad smile she wore like a shield, like an armor, sharp on her face like a knife, a preemptive self defense, that smile that only softened around Hana herself. She loved her, but that love was not enough to save her.

Kokichi Tsumiki smiles the exact way she did.

Hana's heart is in her throat, as he stands a step away from falling. In all honesty, it's not familiar in any tangible way—Hana never had to talk her mother down, as she killed herself when she was asleep, and the way she died was hanging herself, not jumping—but the swooping, fearful feeling in her stomach is unmistakable. 

Once more, Hana is walking a tightrope. She looks down and feels like she's the one about the fall, even though Kokichi is the one on the ledge.

"Come with me," she pleads, holding her shaking hand out to the boy that saved her from bullies.

She couldn't save her mother, but maybe she can save him.

Miraculously, Kokichi Tsumiki takes her hand with an equally trembling hand.

(Hana Ouma loves her siblings. Kokichi Ouma becomes her favorite brother.)

Chapter 2: do you still believe in love, I wonder?

Chapter Text

"Are you sure they won't notice?"

Kokichi tilts his head when he says this, whispering conspiringly into her ear. His eyes are wide and innocent, glimmering with the glee of a great prank, and she almost can't see the boy she found about to throw himself off of a bridge in him—almost. There's an anxiety, though, in the edges of his smile, the smallest of faltering at the corner of his lip.

"They won't," Hana assures. "They never pay attention to us. They only took us in for the money."

"Hmmm." 

Clearly, in the thoughtfulness of his hum, Kokichi thinks something of that. Whatever it is, though, he does not share, accepting her words with a nod.

"So, the cover story is that I'm your brother? Kokichi Ouma does have a nice ring…"

"Yeah, but I doubt we'll need it," Hana shakes her head, "They won't notice. But… Well, I thought, you might want a different last name regardless."

Her eyes linger on the bruises around his throat, and Kokichi looked away, his fingers going to trail where her eyes wandered.

Whatever he was thinking, he once again didn't share, only frowning thoughtfully.

"Kokichi Ouma…" He repeats. "Brother to Hana Ouma. Could that be me?"

"It can," she promised, "I… I know I don't know you that well yet, but… I would be honored to be your sister."

Kokichi's eyes widened. 

"Hah, you only say that now," he recovered quickly, "What if you change your mind later?"

"I won't," she told him.

"Silly Hana," he grinned, "Don't you know that family is the biggest lie there is?"

"And what's wrong with lies?" Hana demands, "If it's a lie, then I'll gladly tell it."

Kokichi looks dumbstruck. After a moment where Hana questions herself, wondering if she was too bold, he breaks out into a wide, wide grin.

"Hey, hey, you really mean that? You don't mind lies? You don't mind liars?"

"Eh? Ah… Kokichi, we were just discussing a scheme to lie to my fosters, remember? Why would I hate lying? It's a necessary skill to survive."

"I see, I see, I see! Right, right?! Lies make the world go round, isn't that true?!" Kokichi giggled giddily, and Hana blinked at how excited he sounded. It was almost like he was sparkling, complete with stars in his eyes. "You don't hate liars, right, Big Sis?!"

"N-No?" Hana says, uncertainly, before more firmly, "No, I don't hate liars."

"Big Sis is so nice! Careful!" He warns cheerfully, "I'll take advantage!"

She doubted it, though. Not with the bruises littering his neck, or the cigarette burns she got a peak of when his sleeve rolled up on his arms. He can lie, but those bruises didn't. It would take longer than this for him to trust her.

"Then take advantage," she says, "I won't mind."

Doubt flickered on his face, before it was overtaken by a wide grin.

"Big Sis says such bold things with such an earnest expression!"

"And I mean them," Hana assures, "I mean them, Kokichi Ouma."

At the sound of his new name, Kokichi's grin softened into something softer. Almost to himself, he murmured, "A family, huh? Okay, I'll believe you for now, Hana-nee. Don't lie, okay? It better not be a lie. I hate liars."

Hana smiled back, wobbling barely there at the edges, "I wouldn't lie to you, Kokichi."

Chapter 3: please love yourself—you’re super precious, my friends!

Notes:

Beginning of this chapter is definitely inspired by the beginning of Encanto, btw. Also, I thought I should mention that Hana herself is inspired by Goro Akechi (P5R), Hana Shimura (BNHA) & Ayano Tateyama (Kagepro). She resembles all of them in different ways, but yeah, those were the main inspirations behind her!

Heads up, 7 is the estimated chapter count, but I'm starting to think it might have to go up? I'll have to see how it works out when I write more.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Hana sighed, from where she sat upon her bed. She talked, gently, to open air, although to anyone else they would wonder who she was talking to, in the room that appeared empty.

"Everyone is looking for you, you know. Why are you hiding?"

Silence greeted her. 

"Brother," she started, savoring the taste in her mouth, "We care about you. You don't have to hide."

Slowly, shuffling could be heard from under the bed she sat on. Kokichi's head peaked out from the edge.

"'M not hiding," he denied, a low mumble, "Why would I be hiding?"

"Okay," Hana agreed easily, "But if you were hiding, I'm sure you'd have a good reason to. Do you want to tell me what that reason would be?"

"...They keep staring at my neck."

"Ah," Hana says, understanding at once. Though the bruises have faded, they aren't yet gone. Maybe because Kokichi is the youngest, but all her siblings have since become very protective of him. The bruises all over his neck would be hard ignore in their concern. "Well… How about this?"

She stood up from the bed, going to her cardboard box of clothes. She muttered to herself as she looked through them, "I know it's here somewhere…"

Curious, Kokichi finished exiting from under the bed. "What are you looking for, Big Sis?" He questioned. As an eleven year old (practically a baby , compared to Hana!), he was naturally inquisitive; despite how sometimes grown up he seemed, the way his eyes shined with wonder sometimes really did make him seem young. 

Not that Hana was really one to talk. She was only one (and a half!) years older than him. But still! It was her job as big sister to look out for him, right?

"One sec, I'm looking… Aha! Here it is!" Hana said triumphantly, holding out her prize with pride. "Look! Ta-da!"

"It's… a scrape of fabric?" Kokichi tilted his head.

"It's a scarf!" Hana corrected. "You can use it to cover your bruises!"

Kokichi's eyes lit up. "Wow, you're so smart, neechan!"

"Do you think it'll help?"

Kokichi's smile softened. "Yeah," he murmured quietly, "I think it will."

He snatched it up, grin widening once again, and put it on theatrically, "Ta-da!" He mimicked her sing-song voice, then did a heroic looking pose, "Isn't it cool? Aren't I the coolest?!"

Hana laughed. "Very cool, Kokichi!" She agreed with a smile. "Are you ready to go back out and see the others, now?"

Kokichi's smile dimmed. "But… even if I hide it, they already saw, didn't they?" He murmured quietly. "They won't fall for this lie."

"But it makes you more comfortable to tell it, anyways, right?" Hana tilted her head. "If you think you'll stand out to much, I can wear a scarf too. We'll say we're just more fashionable than they are, and that's why we're doing it!"

Kokichi giggles. "They won't buy that, neechan!"

"I dare them to diagree! We are more fashionable than them!"

"No you're not!" Kokichi stuck his tongue out, and Hana giggled as she pulled another scarf from her box of clothes and ties it around her neck.

"Look, don't I just look cool?" She did a pose herself, albeit a different one from him, holding up a peace sign.

"You look great, neechan!"

"So?" She smiled, walking towards the door. "You coming?"

"Okay, neechan!" His eyes sparkled.

Relieved, she gave him a fond look, as they went to rejoin the others.

Notes:

Note: Kokichi is playing a very different role in this family than his past one. He's leaning a lot more into his "childish innocence" persona, versus any of his malicious personas. There's probably a ton of internal reasons for this (being afraid of tainting this family like he "tainted" the last one, not wanting to be thrown away, and possibly just because they give him room to be a kid, a safe place to do so), but because this is Hana's POV, we don't really get a sense of that as of yet.

Also, I've started making a playlist about Hana that you can listen to here.

Chapter 4: you're not a monster, just a human, and you made a few mistakes

Notes:

I've written & you can read a guide to DICE here. Unfortunately, I don't know how to add pictures on AO3 yet, but once I do I'll probably post the guide as a separate work in the series.

Warning for self harm in this chapter, but it gets stopped quickly & not extensive.

Chapter Text

Hana was awoken by a choked sound of pain.

She blinked, her sleepy mind trying to process the noise. Something cold and icy slid down her spine as she realized Kokichi wasn't by her in their bed anymore, and she shot awake with a panicked gasp.

It was dark, but she could vaguely make out a figure on the foot of their bed, Kokichi's upturned hair a silhouette in the moonlight. She squinted, trying to make out his form clearer.

He was choking himself.

Panic shot through her system, and she surged forward, hands grabbing his hands and tearing them from his neck. She could feel him startle under her with the action, and he blinked big, wide eyes lined with tears at her. "Hana-nee…?" He croaked, and he sounded miserable. 

"Kokichi," she panted, as the adrenaline faded. Her hands were tight on his wrists, and her thoughts raced. Could it be that all this time, the bruises around his throat were self-inflicted? And if they were, "Why?"

Kokichi's face crumbled. Tears fell as he choked in her arms, hitching, messy sobs that he tried desperately to stifle. "They- they were fading , Hana-nee," she barely makes out through the stutters in his breath.

"Wouldn't that be a good thing?" She asks, and Kokichi shakes his head.

"They're all I have of her," he chokes. "They're all I have of Mikan-chan."

Hana feels helpless, as Kokichi sobs in her arms for the person who hurt him. She looks at his crumpled face, that he tries to hide with his bangs, head tilted down as he heaves. She doesn't know what to do. She can only hold him, enveloping him in a hug, rubbing his back as his sobs start to die down.

"Didn't she hurt you?" She whispers.

Kokichi is still shaking, his breathing uneven, but he is no longer sobbing openly now. "That's what you do to villains," he says.

But Hana doesn't think of him like a villain. Instead, to her, he is her cute little brother. With a mischievous streak, sure, but nothing ever harmful , nothing ever villainous .

"Don't you remember how we met?" Hana says, desperately. "How can you call yourself a villain?"

"When we met, I was trying to throw myself off of a bridge," Kokichi scoffs softly.

"No, before that," she denies, "Remember? I told you, you saved me from bullies."

"I don't even really remember doing that," Kokichi says, and a thread of uncertainty entered his voice.

"Well, I remember," Hana says, "I remember two goons targeting me because I turned one of them down, cornering me at lunch, and then you busting into the room and telling them to leave me alone. I thought you were so heroic. They turned on you, beat you black and blue, and I ran to get a teacher, remember? The teacher stopped them, and sent all of you to the principals, and I was so scared and unsure, but then I caught your eye and you grinned at me, even with your nose bleeding, flashing a peace sign, and suddenly I wasn't scared anymore. Suddenly, I was saved."

Kokichi sniffs. "...It sounds amazing when you say it," he mutters. "But I… I did stuff like that all the time. I didn't even remember you that well. I thought you looked vaguely familiar, but that was it…"

"But don't you see? You were amazing, Kokichi. You saved me. We saved each other. I don’t think of you like a villain; I think of you as my brother. And I will never, ever regret having you as a brother."

"But it's a lie , isn't it?" He insisted, "I'm not really your brother."

"A lie can become the truth if we believe in it," Hana shakes her head, "That's what I believe."

"...Can something so amazing really happen…?"

"It can," Hana tightened her hold on him. "It can. You're not a villain to me, Kokichi. You're my hero."

"Hero…? It's- it's all a lie, though, Hana! I'm not- I'm not actually like this. I've been lying this whole time, and I… I just wanted you all to want me! I didn't want to taint you! So I pretended I was innocent, that I was good…! But it's not true!"

"It's true to me," Hana whispers into his hair, "Even if you think it's a lie, I'll believe in it. I'll believe in you ."

Kokichi crumpled into her hold, his arms going to encase her as he burrowed into her. "Hana-nee," he whispered, the name wobbling into his mouth. "Hana-nee."

"I'm here, Kokichi," she rubbed soothing circles on his back, "I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. So please… don't hurt yourself again."

Kokichi shudders in her arms. "Okay," he whispers to her. "I'll try. For you, Hana-nee."

Chapter 5: I'm not scared of the dark

Chapter Text

"You can't do this!" Hana Ouma was yelling. "You can't just- send some of us back just because—because we're slightly more expensive than you were expecting!"

Kokichi was frozen as his sister went on a tirade against their foster parents. Alice Akemi, one of their foster siblings, was glancing at them all nervously. With a decisive nod, he carefully grabbed Kokichi by the shoulders and started to lead him away.

"N o ," Kokichi tugged against him, as they both entered the other room, "Let me go ! I want to stay and hear!"

"This isn't something you should be hearing," Alice said nervously. "Trust me. It's not fun to listen to people arguing."

"To you , maybe," Kokichi continued to tug, sticking his tongue out, "But I'm not leaving Hana! And I want to know what's happen ing !" It turned into a whine at the end, and he petulant stopped his foot in the way he knew Alice was weak to.

"That's… Even so, it's not really something someone as young as you should hear…"

"But I wanna !"

Even in the face of such tactics, Alice wasn't wavering. Kokichi pouted, jutting out his lip as he glowered at him and decided to switch tactics.

"Nii-san, please?" His lip warbled, his eyes going round and teary. "I want to make sure Neechan is okay!"

Alice folds. "Fine, but… Only listen from this room. If it gets dangerous, I'm going to take you and run no matter what ."

Kokichi's face brightened, "Thanks, Nii-san!"

Alice sighed, the distinct feeling that he got played dawning on him. Kokichi was like the spoiled prince of their group; he got anything he wanted with the pout of his lips, and it seemed like he knew it.

Opening the door a crack, Kokichi and Alice peaked back into the other room.

"It's not our fault!" Hana's voice was fierce, indignant. "You just—you just don't know how much kids really take! We're taking up as little room as we can, as little resources, and yet you want to kick some of us out, pass us along?! It's not fair! Just because we're taking up just a bit more resources…! We've practically raised ourselves, always cooking our own food, tending to our own wounds, and yet you still think we're too much trouble?! We've been together for a year and a half, and yet you're just going to- to split us up ?!"

The sound rang out loud in the quiet room. Kokichi blanched, surging forward only for Alice to hold him back. " Hana ! Let me go! Let me go!" Kokichi yelled, as Hana held her stinging cheek with tears in her eyes.

"Shh, shh," Alice said softly, "Arguing makes it worse. You should know that already."

Kokichi stares at him helplessly. "B-But if I just take the blame," he starts, and Alice sharply shakes his head.

"Don't," he says softly, "Hana wouldn't want you to. None of us would."

He looked so lost, like the words were foreign, spoken in a different language entirely. 

"Yes, sir," Hana was whispering, "Yes, ma'am. No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken out."

Alice sighed. "Foster homes are all the same," he shook his head as he spoke softly, "But at least it's better than the orphanages, I guess. I reckon that's where they're thinking of sending us… But don't worry, we won’t let anything happen to you."

"Why?" Kokichi whispered.

Alice smiled, a little sheepish, "Why? You're the prince, Kokichi. Our little monarch, always so spoiled and clingy. Why wouldn't we protect you?"

He glanced down quickly, a complicated expression on his face.

"Oh," is all he says.

Alice sighs. "I already lost a sister to the foster system," he reveals. "My birth sister, actually. She was my twin. Did you know that, Kokichi? She was bratty and spoiled, just like you. We never knew our mom or dad. I don't know if our dad even knew we existed, and if he did, he wanted nothing to do with us. Our mom died in childbirth. I tried to protect little Haru, and I would often get into fights protecting her… one of our fosters, a shitty one, they knew how I felt about her, that I wanted to protect her, and they used that to keep me in line. The more I protested, the more she got hurt. But I didn't learn, I didn't keep my head down, and one day they went too far—they broke her rib straight through her lungs. Do you understand that? We don't want that to happen to you."

"I…"

"I know that look in your eyes," Alice reveals. "We know you , Kokichi. You were blaming yourself, weren't you? But don't you know it's a siblings pride and joy to protect each other? That includes protecting you . If you draw attention to yourself, you might be found out. If you were found out, you'd be sent back. And if you went back to the house you escaped from… Can you honestly say you won't end up like my sister?"

Fear flashed quick on Kokichi's face, confirming Alice's suspicions.

"You can't," he concludes, "I know you can't. So please… won't you let us protect you?"

Kokichi silent. Then, "But if you all protect me, who will protect you?" He shakes his head, something determined lining his eyes. "No. No, no. We protect each other. You don't just protect me, and I don't just protect you. We protect each other."

Alice blinked, at the serious look on his face.

"Alice-niisan," Kokichi starts, and then he grins, "Let's all run away together!"

Chapter 6: they had lights inside their eyes

Chapter Text

On the edge of town, there is an abandoned building that has been that way for many months. Despite that, it is in okay condition, and miraculously, no one else has claimed it as of yet.

Until now, that is.

"Daisy, did you get the money?"

Daisy Emi shuffled, nodding her head slowly before pulling out the money to show them.

"I-I did," she said, "It should last us a while, too…"

"Great work, Daisy-chan!" Kokichi clapped excitedly. "You know, with this whole building to ourselves, it's almost like we're a secret organization or something…"

Hana blinked, then smiled. "Yeah!" She enthused, "A misfit group of ragtag orphans… isn't it just like a cartoon?"

"I wouldn't know," Daisy denied, "I, uhm, haven't seen many cartoons…"

"We should get uniforms, or something!" Mei suggested, "I want a scarf like you and Kokichi, Hana! We can be fashionable too!"

"Hmm, uniforms would be nice..." Akira hummed, and Yuki nodded thoughtfully to agree.

"Well, if we're an organization, I vote Kokichi as our leader!" Alice threw out there.

"Huh? Me? I'm the youngest out of all of you, though! Shouldn't it be, like, the oldest?"

"Nah," Ace says cheerfully, "You're the one who had the idea to run away, boss! You even came up with the whole plan! Aha, you're quite scary when you get serious, you know! Perfect boss material!"

"I wouldn't want to be boss, anyways…" Jack mutters.

"Yeah, I think you'd make a great boss, Kokichi!" Hana cheered. "Though, if we're an organization, what would be our name?"

"Hmm, I don't want to pick at all…" Aiko complained, yawning sleepily. "I'm too tired for this…"

"Leader should pick!" Mei smiled at Kokichi. "What should our name be, boss?"

"Hmmm…" Kokichi Ouma grinned, "We need something fun, something unpredictable! You never know what you're going to get with us, that sort of vibe…" He put his finger to his lip as if to indicate a secret, giggling all the while as he announced, "How about DICE?"

The newly formed DICE all clapped in wonder and agreement.

(On the edge of town, there is a small organization of ten members, run by a short, young boss with flippy, purple hair who viewed all the members as family. On the edge of town, there is love.)

Chapter 7: smile for the camera, Evelyn!

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

It's the biggest prank DICE ever pulls, and it goes like this:

Hiroto Fuji was a rising star in the ranks of the company he worked for. For many years, he had worked tirelessly, ceaselessly, and devotedly. He had forsaken relationships, his family, and his very ethics for his career, and recently, it had finally paid off.

He was a winner. He knew he was. He smiled like he knew it, too, a confident look filled with expectation. Looking at his life, he hadn't experienced any big hardships. Coming from a wealthy upper middle class family, his biggest concern was that he was slightly less rich than the other kids at his school. Still, even that small indignity impacted him; within him grew a complex, the desire to prove everyone who one upped him wrong. He wasn't bullied, not exactly, but it was clear to him from even a young age: if you don't have the best, you might as well be trash.

He wanted bigger. He wanted better. He was a winner, and he was going to prove it.

And the women? Well, people are attracted to confidence, and Hiroto was someone who had it in spades. Not to mention, even if his level of wealth wasn't superstar level, he still made a good living. His dedication to making even more, too, was something irresistible to the girls who sought him.

It was quite lonely at the top. Winners are naturally alone on their podiums, and sex became an easy way to manufacture intimacy. He liked the woman he fucked, for a short time, at least. Until they started yapping on and on about marriage , and kids , and supporting them. After that, he quickly lost interest, his pretty promises of giving them a better life turning to dust.

The kids he left behind, too, were unfortunate, of course. He never intended to leave a trail of broken hearts in his wake, nor babies he lost interest in even sooner than the mothers. But what was he supposed to do? He was always raised with the idea that aborting was a sin, immoral and soul staining. At first, he supported the mothers and their children, of course! He was a moral, upstanding citizen, after all, who everyone agreed was a rising star—but, well, his goal was to accumulate money, not spend it, and after a while the price just didn't seem worth it, not with how many there were. And why should he have to? They were the mothers kids, they were the mom, weren't they? Taking care of kids—was that not the woman's job? Or are they so lazy they can't work like he does, they feel they need to freeload off of him? He was working so hard, so couldn't they, too? It wasn't that hard to make money, after all.

(If you had money to begin with, that is. Not that he would acknowledge that reality.)

They were the ones who got pregnant, so wasn't it their responsibility? If they didn't want such a fate, they shouldn't have whored themselves out, should they have?

It was fair, that they take care of the kids they birthed.

And after a while, well, who could blame him for losing track of the kids?

Hiroto was a winner. He had no room for anyone else at the top.

And now, finally, it was all going to be worth it. All his hard work will pay off.

Because now, they are considering promoting him to CEO.

….

So what the hell is this?

Spray painted, all over his office building's sleek, glass windows:

HIROTO FUJI IS A CHILD ABANDONER.

And worse, worse than that, his boss's voice, pitying and sad, just like those kids at school, looking down on him, looking down on him, looking down on him when he's a winner—

"I'm sorry, but you're giving us too much bad press. So many newspapers have already ran papers on you, and this paint just won't wash off! Women everywhere are being interviewed and coming out against you. If you were really serious about this job, why couldn't you just keep it in your pants? Seriously… You're creating so many problems for us."

A sigh, a pinch of the nose, and then his boss's unforgiving voice as he speaks:

"Hiroto Fuji, you're fired."

(In the following week, DICE gets a letter with the Hope's Peak Academy seal on it.)

Notes:

Get fucked, Hana's bio dad! /(*^v^*)/🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 8: you feel the glass start to crack

Chapter Text

"So, Hope's Peak, huh?"

Ace smiled over the chess board, and Kokichi huffed good naturedly. 

"Honestly, I don't know why I'm the one who's getting into the school," he said, wryly, "The prank was all Hana's idea. It's her shitty dad, after all."

"Yeah, but you're our fearless leader!" Mei speaks up from where she plays video games on the other side of the room. 

"Meimei's right," Ace chuckles, moving another chess piece, "You came up with the plan. Give yourself some credit, yeah?"

Mei pouts, "The nickname is spreading…"

Kokichi laughs, placing a piece to counter Ace, "You know you love it, Meimei!"

"Stop infecting the other members with your antics!" She huffed. "Crap, I just died…"

"That's what you get for getting distracted," Ace says, cheerily. "Anyways, do you want to go, Kokichi? You know we'll support you the whole way."

"Hmm, maybe, but I don't really like that it's just me... We all contributed to the prank, after all. A leader is only as good at his subordinates and all that, right?"

"Well, yeah, but you came up with the whole plan!" Ace dismisses. "Plus, it'll be a bit overkill to invite all of us... You know?"

Kokichi hummed theatrically. "But will you guys really be okay if I go?"

"Of course, boss! You've taught us well; no way we'd get caught! Even Daisy-chan has come into her own after we stole all that mood stabilizer, aha!"

"Yeah, Daisy-chan has really blossomed," Kokichi joked, before he frowned thoughtfully. "I haven't really been around a lot of people outside of DICE, have I? I'll probably make a fool of myself, you know."

"You could never, boss!" Ace gasped dramatically. "Besides, meeting people your age would be good for you, I think."

"Hmmm." Kokichi still looked conflicted. "There is someone at Hope's Peak I want to meet."

"Oh?" Ace's eyes gleam, "Someone who's caught the boss's eye?"

"Well, multiple people, if I'm honest…" Kokichi admits.

"Boss being honest? What a rare treat!" Mei cackles over her game. 

"Shut it, Meimei!" Kokichi retorts quickly. "Anyway, yeah. There's a lot of potential recruits in Hope's Peak... There's the Ultimate Detective in the class above us, and the Ultimate Neurologist two years above us, plus, the Ultimate Nurse... Wouldn't a medical professional be perfect for our gang?"

"That does sound useful. You really looking to expand, boss?" Ace tilted their head. 

"Maybe," Kokichi hummed mysteriously. "Maybe."

"Ahh—! I died again ?!" Mei cried.

"Someone's not the Ultimate Gamer!" Ace chuckles. "Seriously, the more you lose focus, the more you'll lose your game, Meimei."

"Are you sure you should be talking about losing, Ace?" Kokichi said slyly. "Checkmate."

"Ah, dammit, I lost again!"

"You were against the boss," Mei chuckles, "Of course you lost."

Chapter 9: I wonder, have I become a big sister by now?

Notes:

Content warnings in the end note. I'm putting it there because I'd consider the warning a spoiler for the chapter.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Hana Ouma lived for her siblings.

She also died for them, too.

"Why?" That's what she asked at the end. Kokichi was crying in his bonds, hyperventilating at the scene in front of him, but Hana only felt numb.

"Because he loves you," Mikan Tsumiki answers. Her face is cold and disdainful, a hateful look that leaves Hana reeling. "And I won't let you replace me any longer."

Such a simple, cold response. Mikan smiles, a slow bloom.

"But don't worry, Hana-chan," she cooes, "In your place, I'll take great care of poor Kokichi-kun."

"Mikan-chan, please !" Kokichi's voice was raw, the worst Hana's ever heard him. Any breakdowns in the past couldn't hold a candle to the desperation in this one, the way he struggled in the ropes tying him back. "It's me you're upset with, isn't it?! Hurt me, instead!"

"I'm not upset at you," Mikan denied. " She's the one who separated us. Besides… Kokichi, didn't you say you forgave me? Why would I be mad at you?"

"Then why ?!" Kokichi demands through heaving, panicked sobs, "Why, Mikan-nee?!"

"Because," Mikan says, "I want you to forgive me no matter what. I want you to choose me over your Hana-nee. I want you to depend on me completely. And… I want you to despair , Kokichi Tsumiki."

" Mikan-chan, please… !"

Kokichi cried like her mother, too. Trying to hide it, yet shattering under the weight of it. Trying to fix it, yet it slipping from grasp. He cries like nothing will ever be okay again.

"Won't you forgive me, for killing this replacement?" Mikan smiles. "And won't you despair that you do?"

Kokichi Ouma looked terrified. 

"You truly are an awful sister," Hana Ouma tells her, looking steadily into her eyes that flash with anger, with despair.

It is the last thing she ever says, before Mikan stabs her.

Notes:

CWs: Character Death/Murder.

It is a lovely day on AO3, and I am a horrible author. >:3c