resolve

Saihara gets into an accident.

this fic was also written for saiouma AUgust weekend! the prompts were fem/celebrity, and i chose celebrity. this is inspired by an rp i did with artemis several years ago. we had an au based on a comic where pregame saihara and ouma were roommates and they had to move back in together following the killing game. enjoy!

Ouma doesn't get out much these days. Since they were all released from Danganronpa's supervision, he sequestered away in the apartment he and Saihara had shared before the killing game and only comes out in the dead of night for the occasional snack run. Saihara takes care of just about everything outside the house.

That doesn't mean Ouma is oblivious to the outside world's perception of him. Rather, it's that knowledge that makes him stay in. He doesn't want to be seen; not anymore. He never thought he'd say it, but he doesn't want the attention. His role in Danganronpa was polarizing at best. Online, it seems people either love or hate him.

He's not sure which he prefers.

He scrolls through the New Danganronpa V3 tag on Tumblr, searching for the latest discourse. People argue that Kaimaki came out of nowhere (Ouma disagrees). People fight over whether Ouma should be with Saihara or Momota. Ouma sneers. He doesn't like his relationships speculated on like this.

He's hardly spoken to Momota since he left the hospital. Saihara keeps in touch with him - most of the cast, really - and he's been over a few times, but Ouma rarely exchanges more than a few words with him. He gets the feeling Momota would like to talk to him more, but Ouma shrinks away.

"Ouma-kun?" Saihara's muffled voice comes through the door just before he knocks.

"It's open." Ouma doesn't want to stop what he's doing. He reads a character analysis of Chabashira, wondering what the audience would think if they could see him now. He feels like he's always being watched.

Saihara opens the door and Ouma can practically hear the frown in his voice. "Are you looking up Danganronpa again?"

"No." Fanart of Amami and Akamatsu comes up on his screen.

"I don't know how you can do that." Saihara doesn't argue he shouldn't anymore; he knows it's futile. "It makes me cringe."

"Me too." Ouma sighs and leans back. He spins his chair around. "So what did you want?"

"I was going to pick up dinner and wondered if you wanted anything."

"Get me some gyoza from wherever you're going."

"Is that all?" There's that frown again. Ouma just looks at him. "Got it."

---

Saihara doesn't come back.

At first, Ouma assumes there's a long line. When an hour creeps past and Saihara is still gone, though, he starts to wonder. He fires off a quick text.

No answer.

He checks social media. Nothing yet.

Another hour goes by. He checks social media again. There's frantic posts, blurry photos. "OMG what happened to shuuichi>??" "Former Danganronpa Star Trampled by Crowds" "I hope Saihara-kun will be OK!!!"

Before he can hesitate, Ouma is out of the apartment. He can't run as well as he used to - though his death was virtual, it still took a physical toll - but he's going as fast as he can to the nearest hospital. He sends another text to Saihara asking what room he's in, though he doesn't expect an answer.

Thankfully, he goes mostly unnoticed on his way there. He earns a few stares, though he's not sure if it's because of his identity or his frantic pace. There's a small crowd around the hospital that he manages to squeeze through. A few people cry out his name, clamor to get his autograph, but he ignores them all.

When he reaches Saihara's room, the former detective is surprisingly relaxed. Maybe it's the medication he's on, or maybe it's because he feels safer in here than he does out in the open.

"Ouma-kun?" Despite the state he's in, his tone is tinged with worry. For Ouma. The guy who's totally fine save for the anxiety that gnaws at his nerves being in a hospital again. "What are you doing here?"

"I was just passing by and thought I'd pay you a visit!" Ouma takes a seat next to the bed.

"You… you never come out anymore."

"Whaaat? I'm always out! I'm practically never home!"

Saihara smiles. It looks a little goofy, a sharp contrast to the scrapes and bruises on his face. "Well, either way, I'm glad you're here."

"Don't get used to it." Ouma smirks, twirling a lock of hair. "Any idea when you're getting out?"

"I think… they said they want to keep me overnight for observation?" Saihara scratches his cheek. "It's a little hazy…"

"You do look super drugged up right now."

Saihara chuckles. Ouma joins him a split second later.

"Are you going to stay here…?" Saihara looks hopeful.

"Let me check my schedule!" Ouma pulls out his phone and pretends to check his calendar. "Hmm… I guess I can pencil you in for an overnight visit."

The look Saihara gives him is so warm, so loving, that Ouma has to look away. What a sap. Maybe Ouma is one too, though; he reaches out and gently takes Saihara's hand. While Ouma probably won't sleep tonight, Saihara is already drifting off.

He sighs. He's not any more convinced that letting people see them is a good thing, but he realizes one thing: Saihara's been bearing the burden of facing the public for both of them. Maybe this wouldn't have happened if Ouma had gone with him. Maybe if Ouma got out more often, things wouldn't sit so heavily on Saihara's mind.

He looks at the sleeping Saihara and steels his resolve.