Chapter 1: Goodbye, High-School Life

[hopefullyyours]

Who: Nagito Komaeda and anybody else
Broadcast: Fleetwide video
Action: On the Marsiva
When: 1/30

[Komaeda shows the stars before himself, arranging his bad arm one last time to make certain nothing is showing. It's a wasted effort- his hand is already tightly bundled up under multiple layers of bandage and clothing. He switches the view so he's fully visible.]

Hello, hello! What an interesting setting we're in now. I don't suppose Monokuma has given us any announcements to explain why it looks like we're in space?

[He smiles, eyebrows quirking up. It's an expression that seems to beg forgiveness, though there's a shadow of another expression, a colder one, behind his eyes. The combination of those two layered expressions reads as contempt, but is it just that?] And, goodness my, but it's quiet here. Have I been locked up again? In punishment? I promise you all, I did what I did in order to further you-

... To further hope.

Comments

[everydayhero]

If he did, he never got me back for it.

[That grin says everything; Hiro was never an easy brother.]

Besides, I'm sure you could hide it, or find a way to lock it. Make private broadcasts to yourself or something. Video logs.

[hopefullyyours]

I think keeping a journal is a pretty dangerous practice, depending on the circumstances. [He's looking at you, Nanami.] Somebody will eventually figure it out.

It's probably best to just keep it all up here, right? [He taps his temple.]

[everydayhero]

I mean, sure, if that's your thing. I think trying to keep it all in your head is a good way to forget important details.

[hopefullyyours]

Hmmm. I wonder. If you store your memories in a physical object, and rely on it, doesn't that just make them even easier to take away?

[everydayhero]

Of course not. You only rely on it to look back and remember how you felt when you wrote it down. Plus, it's scientifically proven that you remember things better if you write them down.

Besides, if you're gonna forget things anyway, wouldn't you rather have it written down somewhere?

[hopefullyyours]

[Komaeda's brow furrows at the idea of journalling for feelings rather than facts. He had been thinking of events, of happenings, of interactions and pieces of information. Keeping a journal to remember how you felt?]

[His expression smooths after a moment.] I think I'd rather just take the risk, considering. If you've forgotten in the first place, don't you think there's a reason you don't remember?

[everydayhero]

Yeah, because memory deteriorates over time, it's basic biology. Some scientists think that every time you remember something, you're actually remembering the last time you remembered it. That's why facts about the things you think you remember get warped.

[hopefullyyours]

Hm, so memory is like a photograph of a photograph. Interesting. But... [He wiggles a finger in a scolding fashion. It really can't be taken too seriously, since Komaeda is smiling faintly.]

You never answered my question. Do you think it's better to forget what you normally would forget, or remember- potentially for painful things as well as positive ones?

[everydayhero]

... Well, I think it's important to remember. How will you learn anything from your mistakes if you don't?

[hopefullyyours]

I suppose that's true. Even if it's something that's really truly terrible?

[everydayhero]

Well, if you really messed up... you shouldn't forget that. You should remember what you did, and use it to get better. Pretending it didn't happen doesn't work, and letting it get the better of you just... ruins things.

[hopefullyyours]

....

[....]

... You're a fairly sage young man, you know! I think you're on to something there.

[everydayhero]

[He shrugs, smiling a little sheepishly.]

Well, experience knows no age, does it? So, you think you'll try keeping a journal?

[hopefullyyours]

[ Ugh he just wants to ruffle his little head. Instead of doing that, Komaeda offers a stiff shrug.]

Maybe? Probably not. I'd hate to have somebody else come across it, to be honest....

[everydayhero]

... hm. I guess that's a decent worry.

[He bets he could fix it though.]

[hopefullyyours]

They would definitely find out and disseminate what color my underwear was for the day, I'm sure of it!

[Making an intense face, he clenches his fist. He's totally joking, of course, but his delivery screams out "I AM SO SERIOUS ABOUT THIS! I SPEND HOURS EVERY DAY WORRYING ON THE MATTER!"]