Chapter Text
It was over as quickly as it had begun. Once Shuichi had lifted himself up from the rubble of the Academy for Gifted Juveniles, everything went black. His body pulsated and twitched as if he wasn’t in control… but no matter what he could not move. Shuichi’s senses came back to him slowly one by one. His eyes, despite being open, could only stare into the dark pitch black void. He was laying down in some kind of chamber. A numbing coldness filled the place, even running through his veins. Shuichi begged his arms to move… but they just felt too heavy. Tears escaped his eyes… was this death? Shuichi opened his mouth to cry out for help… but alas… he made no sound.
Finally after what seemed like an eternity, Shuichi heard a sound. A whisper amongst the blackness around him… what was making that sound? He had to find out. Shuichi moved slightly, exhausted and trying to go towards the voice. The voice was familiar… it was getting closer. He heard his name being called. The voice was desperate and upset, scratching at something to get to Shuichi. Something opened with a ffssshhhh sound and two large hands grabbed onto Shuichi. He squirmed helplessly, terrified. But it wasn’t until the mask covering his eyes was taken off that Shuichi knew who it was. It was his uncle… he recognized that face anywhere. Shuichi tried desperately to speak, but he could only mouth the words.
“Shh… Shuichi I’m here… it’s okay. Just stay calm… save your strength. We’re doing our best to help you.” He murmured slowly.
Connected to Shuichi’s back was a thick tube with wires connecting him to this virtual reality. His uncle Shibuya glared at the wires, trying to decide if it was okay to pull them out. Finally, he ordered some paramedics over and pulled out the wires… they ran deep within Shuichi’s body… Shuichi cried and squirmed, unable to scream. Paramedics immediately leapt in to stop the bleeding once the wires were out. Shuichi’s body felt like it was on fire. He panted and sobbed uncontrollably, leaning into his uncle’s warmer body.
“Get him out of here and rescue the rest!” Shibuya announced to the officers and paramedics.
Shuichi’s eyelids felt unusually heavy as he began to black out. He couldn’t sleep… not now… he couldn’t possibly. But… the warmth of his uncle’s body was enough to make him doze off. He felt like a child… sleeping in bed with his parents and hugging them. He wished this was all a dream… that he was still in bed at his uncle’s house… but… it wasn’t. It wasn’t a dream at all.
Shuichi’s eyelids fluttered open as he gazed around the much brighter room. A hospital room… the walls were an eggshell white. The blinds on the windows were drawn, only letting in a small amount of light. There was a wardrobe in the corner containing what he assumed was extra clothes or hospital gowns. On the bedside table was a lamp and his phone. His IV bag was filled to the brim with fresh blood and his heart rate showed steady on the monitor nearby. Shuichi gazed down at his body… he was almost completely covered in bandages. From what he remembered, he was very injured from the rubble. Perhaps this is what that was? Shuichi looked over at another door which was ajar. It led to a bathroom. He strained as he tried to move. He was still weak…
A nurse entered the room with a tray of medicine, “oh. Good morning, Saihara.”
“… m-morning…?” He managed to utter, pausing to take a breath.
“Yes, morning.” She held up a spoonful of medicine, and Shuichi hesitantly took it. It tasted bitter and awful…
More medicine and less explanation came from the woman. She soon left and all Shuichi could do was whimper and watch her leave. He shut his eyes, wishing the pain would stop. Someone walked into his room, prompting him to open his eyes again. His uncle Shibuya! He came back!
“Shuichi…” Shibuya sat down in a nearby chair and gently held him. “I missed you so much… I swear I will never yell at you like that ever again…” he sounded remorseful… like he was about to cry. But to be honest, Shuichi didn’t remember much right before the game.
“Where…” he muttered, his voice raspy from little use.
“Where? Ah… you’re in Tokyo… I know, it's a long way away from our home in Kyoto…”
“…” he whimpered. “Hurt…”
“I know, Shuichi. But it’ll be okay… I’m right here. You’re going to be in the hospital for a while.”
“Maki… Himiko…” he forced the words out, gasping for air.
“Shh… shh… save your strength. They’re safe… don’t worry.” Shibuya moved some hair out of his son’s face. “I’m glad that I have you back again… I won’t let them take you away from me ever again…” he started to cry.
“…” Shuichi leaned in closer in an attempt to comfort his birth father.
Shibuya smiled, quietly comforting Shuichi. It felt like hours but neither of them cared… it was just nice to be together again. In the past, Shibuya and Shuichi had fought over Shuichi’s privileges and where he could go. Shibuya was overprotective because of his dangerous job as a detective. And Shuichi, 15 at the time, was at the point in his life where he was rebellious and needed time to himself. In a fit of anger, Shuichi stormed out of the house, where Team Danganronpa pounced and took him away. Shibuya was devastated to find his only son missing. And just 2 years after just getting him back from his brother and Shuichi’s mother. It quite literally broke him… he didn’t want to lose Shuichi ever again.