After what he just went through, he shouldn't be waking at all, but he's gotten used to that by now. Sort of. It will never truly be comfortable, but the sudden surge of adrenaline and anger (fear) slowly wears off and he finds himself staring at the ceiling of an unfamiliar room.
...Yeah, that's more or less what he expected.
This isn't the first time Mondo's found himself doing this, after all. The first time he woke up after dying was the worst - he'd found himself in a strange city, one that was almost close enough to familiar, but with more than a few things off to make it unnerving, but as time went by it started to become something of a home. He had a place here, a shitty apartment but it's his, and he got a job to work on saving up for a bike eventually, and things were going... about as well as they could be, given that he shouldn't have woken up at all after Monobear's execution, much less somewhere else entirely.
And then he met Sayaka Maizono.
To say that meeting had changed everything would be an understatement. It confirmed his (hopes? fears?) that this was some sort of afterlife, and if she was here, perhaps that meant the others were here too. So he started searching, exploring more of this strange, eerily unfamiliar city all while making sure to keep an eye on Maizono.
It wasn't because he was afraid of her, or anything. Not even after what she tried to do. It'd take a hell of a lot to take down a guy like him, and Maizono didn't exactly seem all that interested in murder when a shitty bear wasn't trying to force her hand. So he settled and she settled, and somehow they struck up a routine. They'd meet - usually in public, usually for lunch or coffee or something - and confirm that they hadn't found anyone else, that it was still just them in this city, and they'd go about their way.
At some point that... changed. It wasn't just checking in on Maizono anymore, it became something else. Maybe it's because it's the two of them, and there isn't anyone else here he really knows, but... hell, he doesn't know. He likes her alright. She's seemed even more fucked up by all of this than he has, and he's pretty damn fucked up about it.
He hasn't spoken with her about returning to Hope's Peak.
The first time it happened, he'd simply woken up back there, in the same damn classroom, with no one remembering a single fucking thing about what was going to happen. He probably freaked the Maizono of that timeline(?) out by asking her what the hell was going on, but she made it clear she had no idea what he was talking about. Things went exactly as expected, up until the second case. He'd met with Fujisaki, managed to control his anger now that he knew what was coming, and gone back to his room.
Fujisaki had ended up dead the next day anyway. The memories of that timeline are already fading, but he's pretty damn sure he went out trying to kill Fujisaki's murderer.
He's been back to Hope's Peak twice since then. The first time ended poorly when he tried to stop Enoshima's execution. The second time when he tried to stop Maizono's death, and instead walked in on Kuwata moving the body. He'd had to defend himself and he didn't hold back enough; he was executed for Kuwata's murder.
And now he's here, back in their own comfy little slice of hell.
Mondo gets up with a groan, absently reaching to check his pockets for his phone. Nope, same as last time, then. At least purgatory felt the need to leave him his keys so he could actually get into his apartment, he supposes.
The return trip is easy enough, and his apartment's exactly the same as he left it. Mondo finds his phone and immediately pulls up the only number that really matters - Maizono's.
Looks like he missed their last meeting while he was out. Time passes here, after all, and so he's stood her up again. Damn good thing it wasn't an actual date or anything, then he'd have to feel bad.]
hey sorry i vanished for awhile stuff came up do you wanna meet up again sometime soon
[He could use the distraction, but honestly... maybe he should just tell her at this point. If he's going to keep ending up there in his damn sleep, he might as well break it to her before it happens to her.]
[This purgatory is absolutely strange. Sayaka knows this for a fact; ever since she's woken up here, after dying to her own stupid hubris, because she couldn't stand the idea of fading into obscurity. It's strange, really, and something Sayaka doesn't like thinking about for too long. Thinking for too long always results in bad things happening and while this city is strange, there's no Monokuma, there's no death, and there's...well, no sense of purpose that Sayaka has, which. Is a problem, but one she's content not to acknowledge.
Besides, it's strangely grounding to have Mondo there with her.
All be told, when Sayaka first saw Mondo here as the only one she recognized, she was horrified. It was something she should've felt worse about not being able to keep under wraps--if her managers could see her, what would they think? But over time, she's come to enjoy his company while they look for traces of any of the others they know. Between Sayaka's retail job and Mondo's own work, they have to try and make time, but it at least means that they can share information.
Though some of it stays under wraps. Like Sayaka's re-experiencings of Hope's Peak. She's already died too much, but even now, after getting readjusted after getting killed by Celes of all people, she doesn't try to think too much of Mondo all but standing her up at their last meeting. It's not like they're dating, at least.
But when she gets a text message on her phone from him after she clocks out of her shift for the day, she can't help but smile a bit.]
oowada-kun, hi!!! it's okay, it was just a little saddening, but i totally get it. work's been kind of taking up a lot of my time too, but i'd be happy to! when do you wanna? i just got off shift right now if you're free
[Despite everything, he can't help but grin at Maizono's text. It's not like he really expected her to be all that angry about being stood up, but it's a relief to know that she's still eager to chat with him.]
yeah i'm free now you wanna meet at the usual place? i can be there in 20
sure thing! i'll be right out front :) see you there!
[Ah, a sense of normalcy in an otherwise weird and abnormal world. Sayaka can truly appreciate it, in a way; it's nice, even if she doesn't know how to live a normal life...
But Sayaka will be waiting in front of the establishment with a smile; when she sees him coming, Sayaka will flag him down with a wave and a grin.]
[He's on his way there as soon as he's sent the text, so Mondo's not even late by the time he gets there! He holds up a hand in greeting as well, grinning.]
Hey, Maizono. Told ya it wouldn't take that long.
[C'mon, let's go grab a table and get something to eat, we can talk over dinner.]
[Sayaka smiles; it's strange, really, just how...easy, this feels. If she were back home, back under her manager's thumb, she'd have all of the anxiety in the world. Wondering who could see, what everyone would say, and how to write herself out of a thousand loopholes that the media could exploit...
...It's nice, when it's less of a mess to navigate.]
Work's been treating me well! The customers haven't been bad today, at least; had a few rowdy kids, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle!
What about you? You must've been up to something pretty important, I take it...?
[Oh, somehow he didn't expect to get into it so soon, but... well, he came here with the goal of telling Sayaka, and putting it off isn't going to do any good. Mondo runs a hand back through the back of his hair and after a telling pause, he sort of nods.]
Yeah, I... Listen, Maizono, I've got somethin' important to tell you. But it's not pleasant, alright?
[He glances around them to make sure that they won't be easily overheard - thankfully, they've been seated away from everyone else, so even if Mondo gets a little too loud, they should be fine.]
It's... [He exhales slowly.] I was dragged back to that damn school. I dunno how or why, but I had to go through it again. This ain't the first time, either. So I... wanted to warn you. In case it happens.
[It's not easy to talk about. Hell, they've barely talked about Hope's Peak at all, of course it wouldn't be easy to discuss. But it's important that she knows, just in case. Maybe it won't hit her because she didn't actually kill anyone, and Mondo hopes to whatever god may or may not be listening that that's the case.]
Of all of the things Sayaka expected to hear, that. That's not--]
Wait, you too?
[It's blurted out before Sayaka can stop it, and her eyes go wide as she realizes what she's just managed to say. She chides herself, inwardly, but--you know. She hates to say it, but in a way it's almost relieving to know he's experiencing this too.
Kind of horrifying. But at least she's not alone.]
...Sorry. I. I probably shouldn't have said that. [...] But uh. That does explain a lot, at least. I...appreciate that you're willing to trust me with that much; it means a lot.
[Her words are. Awkward, but sincere.]
And I'm sorry you had to go through it again, too. That's...that's not a fate I'd wish on anyone. Are you...you know...?
[Okay? Want to talk about it? There's a multitude of directions this could go, really.]
[Mondo's eyes widen at that, but he thankfully manages to keep his mouth shut until Sayaka continues. He wants to throw something or yell or do something because that's not fair. Why the hell is Sayaka forced to endure this again as well? She didn't actually kill anyone! Though maybe that doesn't come into play at all, in whatever this cursed version of hell is.
Slowly the tension leaves him as he works through his thoughts on it. It's truly unfortunate that Sayaka's experiencing it too, but... at least he's not the only one. That thought sickens him and Mondo shakes his head.
...Then he realizes that looks like it was in response to her question and immediately backtracks.]
It's— Yeah, I'm... I'm fine.
[He's not sure he is, really. He hasn't processed it. Hell, of course he hasn't - he hasn't even come to terms with what happened to Fujisaki, let alone what happened recently. Though in some sick, twisted way, it's almost better that he killed Kuwata in self-defense. At least then he didn't black out and kill that poor kid just for being stronger than him—
No. If he starts thinking like that, he's going to lose himself again. Mondo takes a deep breath and shakes his head again as if to clear it.]
Sorry, it's just... a lot to take in, I guess. I'm really sorry you've been back there too, Maizono. Did you—
[He stops himself immediately after that's out there, wincing.]
Shit, sorry. I doubt you wanna talk about it any more than I do.
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no subject
After what he just went through, he shouldn't be waking at all, but he's gotten used to that by now. Sort of. It will never truly be comfortable, but the sudden surge of adrenaline and anger (fear) slowly wears off and he finds himself staring at the ceiling of an unfamiliar room.
...Yeah, that's more or less what he expected.
This isn't the first time Mondo's found himself doing this, after all. The first time he woke up after dying was the worst - he'd found himself in a strange city, one that was almost close enough to familiar, but with more than a few things off to make it unnerving, but as time went by it started to become something of a home. He had a place here, a shitty apartment but it's his, and he got a job to work on saving up for a bike eventually, and things were going... about as well as they could be, given that he shouldn't have woken up at all after Monobear's execution, much less somewhere else entirely.
And then he met Sayaka Maizono.
To say that meeting had changed everything would be an understatement. It confirmed his (hopes? fears?) that this was some sort of afterlife, and if she was here, perhaps that meant the others were here too. So he started searching, exploring more of this strange, eerily unfamiliar city all while making sure to keep an eye on Maizono.
It wasn't because he was afraid of her, or anything. Not even after what she tried to do. It'd take a hell of a lot to take down a guy like him, and Maizono didn't exactly seem all that interested in murder when a shitty bear wasn't trying to force her hand. So he settled and she settled, and somehow they struck up a routine. They'd meet - usually in public, usually for lunch or coffee or something - and confirm that they hadn't found anyone else, that it was still just them in this city, and they'd go about their way.
At some point that... changed. It wasn't just checking in on Maizono anymore, it became something else. Maybe it's because it's the two of them, and there isn't anyone else here he really knows, but... hell, he doesn't know. He likes her alright. She's seemed even more fucked up by all of this than he has, and he's pretty damn fucked up about it.
He hasn't spoken with her about returning to Hope's Peak.
The first time it happened, he'd simply woken up back there, in the same damn classroom, with no one remembering a single fucking thing about what was going to happen. He probably freaked the Maizono of that timeline(?) out by asking her what the hell was going on, but she made it clear she had no idea what he was talking about. Things went exactly as expected, up until the second case. He'd met with Fujisaki, managed to control his anger now that he knew what was coming, and gone back to his room.
Fujisaki had ended up dead the next day anyway. The memories of that timeline are already fading, but he's pretty damn sure he went out trying to kill Fujisaki's murderer.
He's been back to Hope's Peak twice since then. The first time ended poorly when he tried to stop Enoshima's execution. The second time when he tried to stop Maizono's death, and instead walked in on Kuwata moving the body. He'd had to defend himself and he didn't hold back enough; he was executed for Kuwata's murder.
And now he's here, back in their own comfy little slice of hell.
Mondo gets up with a groan, absently reaching to check his pockets for his phone. Nope, same as last time, then. At least purgatory felt the need to leave him his keys so he could actually get into his apartment, he supposes.
The return trip is easy enough, and his apartment's exactly the same as he left it. Mondo finds his phone and immediately pulls up the only number that really matters - Maizono's.
Looks like he missed their last meeting while he was out. Time passes here, after all, and so he's stood her up again. Damn good thing it wasn't an actual date or anything, then he'd have to feel bad.]
hey sorry i vanished for awhile
stuff came up
do you wanna meet up again sometime soon
[He could use the distraction, but honestly... maybe he should just tell her at this point. If he's going to keep ending up there in his damn sleep, he might as well break it to her before it happens to her.]
no subject
Besides, it's strangely grounding to have Mondo there with her.
All be told, when Sayaka first saw Mondo here as the only one she recognized, she was horrified. It was something she should've felt worse about not being able to keep under wraps--if her managers could see her, what would they think? But over time, she's come to enjoy his company while they look for traces of any of the others they know. Between Sayaka's retail job and Mondo's own work, they have to try and make time, but it at least means that they can share information.
Though some of it stays under wraps. Like Sayaka's re-experiencings of Hope's Peak. She's already died too much, but even now, after getting readjusted after getting killed by Celes of all people, she doesn't try to think too much of Mondo all but standing her up at their last meeting. It's not like they're dating, at least.
But when she gets a text message on her phone from him after she clocks out of her shift for the day, she can't help but smile a bit.]
oowada-kun, hi!!!
it's okay, it was just a little saddening, but i totally get it. work's been kind of taking up a lot of my time too, but i'd be happy to!
when do you wanna?
i just got off shift right now if you're free
no subject
yeah i'm free now
you wanna meet at the usual place? i can be there in 20
no subject
i'll be right out front :)
see you there!
[Ah, a sense of normalcy in an otherwise weird and abnormal world. Sayaka can truly appreciate it, in a way; it's nice, even if she doesn't know how to live a normal life...
But Sayaka will be waiting in front of the establishment with a smile; when she sees him coming, Sayaka will flag him down with a wave and a grin.]
Oowada-kun, hey! You made it!
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Hey, Maizono. Told ya it wouldn't take that long.
[C'mon, let's go grab a table and get something to eat, we can talk over dinner.]
How've you been? Work still treatin' you alright?
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...It's nice, when it's less of a mess to navigate.]
Work's been treating me well! The customers haven't been bad today, at least; had a few rowdy kids, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle!
What about you? You must've been up to something pretty important, I take it...?
no subject
Yeah, I... Listen, Maizono, I've got somethin' important to tell you. But it's not pleasant, alright?
[He glances around them to make sure that they won't be easily overheard - thankfully, they've been seated away from everyone else, so even if Mondo gets a little too loud, they should be fine.]
It's... [He exhales slowly.] I was dragged back to that damn school. I dunno how or why, but I had to go through it again. This ain't the first time, either. So I... wanted to warn you. In case it happens.
[It's not easy to talk about. Hell, they've barely talked about Hope's Peak at all, of course it wouldn't be easy to discuss. But it's important that she knows, just in case. Maybe it won't hit her because she didn't actually kill anyone, and Mondo hopes to whatever god may or may not be listening that that's the case.]
no subject
Of all of the things Sayaka expected to hear, that. That's not--]
Wait, you too?
[It's blurted out before Sayaka can stop it, and her eyes go wide as she realizes what she's just managed to say. She chides herself, inwardly, but--you know. She hates to say it, but in a way it's almost relieving to know he's experiencing this too.
Kind of horrifying. But at least she's not alone.]
...Sorry. I. I probably shouldn't have said that. [...] But uh. That does explain a lot, at least. I...appreciate that you're willing to trust me with that much; it means a lot.
[Her words are. Awkward, but sincere.]
And I'm sorry you had to go through it again, too. That's...that's not a fate I'd wish on anyone. Are you...you know...?
[Okay? Want to talk about it? There's a multitude of directions this could go, really.]
no subject
Slowly the tension leaves him as he works through his thoughts on it. It's truly unfortunate that Sayaka's experiencing it too, but... at least he's not the only one. That thought sickens him and Mondo shakes his head.
...Then he realizes that looks like it was in response to her question and immediately backtracks.]
It's— Yeah, I'm... I'm fine.
[He's not sure he is, really. He hasn't processed it. Hell, of course he hasn't - he hasn't even come to terms with what happened to Fujisaki, let alone what happened recently. Though in some sick, twisted way, it's almost better that he killed Kuwata in self-defense. At least then he didn't black out and kill that poor kid just for being stronger than him—
No. If he starts thinking like that, he's going to lose himself again. Mondo takes a deep breath and shakes his head again as if to clear it.]
Sorry, it's just... a lot to take in, I guess. I'm really sorry you've been back there too, Maizono. Did you—
[He stops himself immediately after that's out there, wincing.]
Shit, sorry. I doubt you wanna talk about it any more than I do.