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no_true_pair2023-09-12 01:57 am
caramarie) wrote in no_true_pair2023-09-12 01:57 am
Distraction in the Audience (Danganronpa, Komaeda/Hinata)
Title: Distraction in the Audience
Fandom: Danganronpa
Pairing/Characters: Komaeda Nagito/Hinata Hajime
Rating: G
Content Notes: n/a
Prompt: September 11, 1 & 2 - "you know what would make this better?"
Twice a year, the former Remnants of Despair held a talent show. It wasn’t as if there was much else to do on the island, so the contests added a bit of excitement to their lives. Last time, Koizumi had won with a slideshow of her best candid photos of them all – although Hinata suspected Souda of rigging the voting on that one, given a very particular photo of Sonia that had been included …
Koizumi hadn’t put in an entry of her own this time, but so far they had seen:
Now it was time for Saionji’s dance performance.
Hinata happened to be sitting beside Komaeda in the audience that evening. Komaeda had always declined to participate in the talent show, but he did always applaud loudly, and made a great effort to compliment the participants afterwards.
Sitting next to him, however, Hinata couldn’t help but notice that Komaeda’s interest wasn’t so absolute as all that. Traditional dance wasn’t the most riveting of performance arts, true, but Komaeda wasn’t even pretending to pay attention. In fact, he spent more of the performance watching Hinata in long, sidelong glances than he did eyes-forward.
As the performance stretched out, it began to make Hinata self-conscious.
‘Aren’t you even going to pretend to pay attention?’ he murmured under his breath.
‘Mm. I’ve seen this one before. Saionji-san’s repertoire is getting old.’
Hinata gave him a doubtful look.
‘Hadn’t you noticed, Hinata-kun? Maybe you’re the one who hasn’t been paying attention.’
Komaeda spoke quietly, the words so smooth that the insult could almost not have been there. But it was. Hinata didn’t know if Komaeda was less aggravating around the others, or if it was just that placid tone that let comments like that go unnoticed.
‘You know what would make this better?’ Komaeda went on. ‘If there were a murder during the show.’
Hinata had to bite back his reaction, because that would have been disruptive. It took him a moment before he could respond without raising his voice. ‘You could just say you’re bored.’
‘But Hinata-kun, why would I need to state the obvious? You already worked out that much.’
Hinata could feel his eye twitch. Komaeda was being like this on purpose, he thought. Trying to get a reaction.
‘Do you want to know what I’m actually thinking about? I guess not …’
‘Not murder.’
Komaeda laughed under his breath. ‘It’s definitely not murder.’
From behind them, Koizumi cleared her throat. Probably because she was paying attention. Hinata felt guilty, but not that guilty – Owari in the front row had blatantly fallen asleep, which seemed the worser crime.
He wondered what it was Komaeda was thinking about. That wasn’t murder. That kept making him look at Hinata like that.
If he was honest, Hinata would rather have had it out with Komaeda than kept watching the performance. Even if (or because) he suspected he knew what was on Komaeda’s mind.
It’s you, you idiot.
No, Komaeda wouldn’t say it like that. The ‘idiot’ would only be implied. There weren’t many people these days who could make Hinata feel like that.
Maybe he should have sat next to someone else. It was safer not to be too close to Komaeda. To want to argue with him, or talk back. It was too likely one of them might say something they wouldn’t be able to take back.
When Saionji’s performance reached its end, Komaeda applauded just as enthusiastically as Koizumi behind them. It was as great a performance on his part as Saionji’s had been in her own form. Komaeda must have noticed the dubious look that Hinata was giving him, because he said, ‘Well, it’s not like I could do any better. Hinata-kun, on the other hand …’
‘I’m not about to take up traditional dance.’
‘Shame. I might want to pay attention then.’
Hinata could feel himself blushing, and he slid his hand up to cover his face. Next to him, Komaeda smile beatifically and kept his eyes on the stage.
The next item was meant to be Souda’s Amazing Drone Delivery‐Self Service‐Pizza Oven. But Hinata didn’t think he would be able to pay it any mind at all.
Fandom: Danganronpa
Pairing/Characters: Komaeda Nagito/Hinata Hajime
Rating: G
Content Notes: n/a
Prompt: September 11, 1 & 2 - "you know what would make this better?"
Distraction in the Audience
Twice a year, the former Remnants of Despair held a talent show. It wasn’t as if there was much else to do on the island, so the contests added a bit of excitement to their lives. Last time, Koizumi had won with a slideshow of her best candid photos of them all – although Hinata suspected Souda of rigging the voting on that one, given a very particular photo of Sonia that had been included …
Koizumi hadn’t put in an entry of her own this time, but so far they had seen:
- what was supposedly a choreographed stage fight between Owari and Nidai (actually just a real fight)
- a recitation by Sonia from one of Novaselic’s greatest epic poems (Souda cried)
- Tanaka’s latest trained-animal performance, in which the local birds flocked together to form the shape of a great demon that swooped down upon them all.
Now it was time for Saionji’s dance performance.
Hinata happened to be sitting beside Komaeda in the audience that evening. Komaeda had always declined to participate in the talent show, but he did always applaud loudly, and made a great effort to compliment the participants afterwards.
Sitting next to him, however, Hinata couldn’t help but notice that Komaeda’s interest wasn’t so absolute as all that. Traditional dance wasn’t the most riveting of performance arts, true, but Komaeda wasn’t even pretending to pay attention. In fact, he spent more of the performance watching Hinata in long, sidelong glances than he did eyes-forward.
As the performance stretched out, it began to make Hinata self-conscious.
‘Aren’t you even going to pretend to pay attention?’ he murmured under his breath.
‘Mm. I’ve seen this one before. Saionji-san’s repertoire is getting old.’
Hinata gave him a doubtful look.
‘Hadn’t you noticed, Hinata-kun? Maybe you’re the one who hasn’t been paying attention.’
Komaeda spoke quietly, the words so smooth that the insult could almost not have been there. But it was. Hinata didn’t know if Komaeda was less aggravating around the others, or if it was just that placid tone that let comments like that go unnoticed.
‘You know what would make this better?’ Komaeda went on. ‘If there were a murder during the show.’
Hinata had to bite back his reaction, because that would have been disruptive. It took him a moment before he could respond without raising his voice. ‘You could just say you’re bored.’
‘But Hinata-kun, why would I need to state the obvious? You already worked out that much.’
Hinata could feel his eye twitch. Komaeda was being like this on purpose, he thought. Trying to get a reaction.
‘Do you want to know what I’m actually thinking about? I guess not …’
‘Not murder.’
Komaeda laughed under his breath. ‘It’s definitely not murder.’
From behind them, Koizumi cleared her throat. Probably because she was paying attention. Hinata felt guilty, but not that guilty – Owari in the front row had blatantly fallen asleep, which seemed the worser crime.
He wondered what it was Komaeda was thinking about. That wasn’t murder. That kept making him look at Hinata like that.
If he was honest, Hinata would rather have had it out with Komaeda than kept watching the performance. Even if (or because) he suspected he knew what was on Komaeda’s mind.
It’s you, you idiot.
No, Komaeda wouldn’t say it like that. The ‘idiot’ would only be implied. There weren’t many people these days who could make Hinata feel like that.
Maybe he should have sat next to someone else. It was safer not to be too close to Komaeda. To want to argue with him, or talk back. It was too likely one of them might say something they wouldn’t be able to take back.
When Saionji’s performance reached its end, Komaeda applauded just as enthusiastically as Koizumi behind them. It was as great a performance on his part as Saionji’s had been in her own form. Komaeda must have noticed the dubious look that Hinata was giving him, because he said, ‘Well, it’s not like I could do any better. Hinata-kun, on the other hand …’
‘I’m not about to take up traditional dance.’
‘Shame. I might want to pay attention then.’
Hinata could feel himself blushing, and he slid his hand up to cover his face. Next to him, Komaeda smile beatifically and kept his eyes on the stage.
The next item was meant to be Souda’s Amazing Drone Delivery‐Self Service‐Pizza Oven. But Hinata didn’t think he would be able to pay it any mind at all.