Fear.

How else would you describe this feeling? This unpleasant tightness in my chest I got whenever I remembered that their very being was always observing and analyzing my behavior. Watching my every move, almost as though they were waiting for an excuse to inflict despair upon both me and themselves.

In this moment, that feeling returned to me.

Fear.

Fear as they loomed above me.

Fear as they raised their hand and readied it to swing.

Fear as I anticipated the familiar rush of despair that would soon strike.

Smack!

"What the hell were you thinking?!" the mastermind snarled, watching me with angered eyes as I lowered my head to avoid their gaze. They were dissatisfied with my silence, grabbing my hair and forcing my gaze on them. "Answer me!"

"I... I don't know."

The mastermind clicked their tongue and yanked on my hair. "Dumbass. Did you forget about the plan? Why did you go and do that during the trial?!"

"I-I don't know..."

"You don't know?! Ugh, of course you don't. You're so stupid," the mastermind's persona suddenly switched, pouting their lips and furrowing their eyebrows in a cutesy way. They spoke in a higher pitch, giggling a bit as they harshly pinched my cheek. "You were so wovey-dovey with your little wittle precious (Y/n) in front of the whole class, holding her as though she was some sort of damsel in distress... That goes against one of the agreements we had, Monokuma-wuma! You've been messing with the plan ever since the beginning of the killing game! Are you unable to control yourself? That's sooooo uncute!!"

The mastermind let go of my face, their cutesy façade still intact. Despite their innocent expression, the gaze they set down upon me made me tremble with fear. I took a step away from them, my back hitting the wall behind me, further allowing the mastermind to trap me there in that room.

Just as quickly as before, the mastermind swapped out their persona again, returning back to the cruel way they seemed to only act towards me. They reached their arm out, extending a finger and pressing the sharp, acrylic nail against my cheek.

"You agreed to this plan, so stop fucking around with it. We all agreed to this plan." The mastermind smirked as they trailed their nail across my cheek, piercing through the skin and creating a gash. Their nail was filed to be sharpened like a blade, something I was too aware of. Everytime they filed their nails, they were preparing their weapon like a warrior preparing for war.

They retracted their hand, giving me only a moment of slight peace before they dug their nails into my shoulders. They pulled me closer as they brought their knee up into my stomach, dropping me to the ground soon after. The blow stole the breath from me and was almost excruciating enough to make me vomit. I coughed and clutched my abdomen, as though that would help ease the lingering pain. I didn't even want to see the mastermind's expression right now. I shut my eyes tightly, unable to fight the tears that rolled down my pale face.

It took a few moments before they delivered another blow. They swung their leg and kicked me right in the shoulder, causing more cries of agony to rip from my throat. I could feel their gaze burning into me as they watched in amusement, their maniacal laugh powering over my almost soundless whimpers. I could only imagine how much they enjoyed the despair of this situation.

The mastermind finally grew bored of watching me tremble in pain, turning around and purposely ignoring my cries. The mastermind sashayed back to their chair and turned their attention back to the cameras. I took this as my chance to escape the room. Once the mastermind became engrossed in the cameras, they could care less about what I do unless it interfered with...the plan.

I slowly rose to my feet, leaning against the wall to avoid falling back down to the floor. I gripped the knob and turned it slowly, wincing as the door creaked for a moment before I left. I stumbled down the hall with one hand leaned against the wall to support me. I wiped the tears from my eyes as I rushed down the hall to escape the mastermind. I felt trapped whenever I was in their presence. It was as though I was shackled down with chains of immense despair, unable to lift my head to glance up to even try to find a shining ray of hope that managed to seep through the cracks of my prison.

Wasn't I supposed to enjoy this despair?

If so, why was I so scared of it?

I was supposed to be Monokuma: another Ultimate Despair. Yet why was a part of me yearning for some form of hope in these grim scenarios?

I took in a sharp breath as I began to travel down the stairs to the floor below. I didn't care how much pain I was in, I would make it to see that person that lit up my dim world with rays of sunlight.

Careful yet hurried steps were taken down the stairs. I was in pain. In my stomach and in my shoulders, the throbbing pain wouldn't let up. Despite that, I was determined to keep going. No matter how severe the pain I endure may be, I would still travel to the ends of the Earth just to get to my princess.

If I had to, I would even end the world again for her.

(Y/n)'s P.O.V.

It was late; I knew that for sure. There was something keeping me up, but I hadn't a clue what it was. I lay within the plush comfort of my dorm bed, hidden underneath the fluffy comforter that was spread atop the surface. Despite the comforting embrace of warmth, I could not sleep. Everytime my lids dropped, they would snap right open in an instant, leaving me to stare at the blank ceiling.

Thump.

I bolted upwards, eyes snapping over to my door. Something had just slumped onto my door. What the hell was that?

I threw the comforter off of my body to investigate, but before I could even get out of bed, my door was unlocked and swung open. Much to my surprise (and somewhat relief), Monokuma stumbled into my dorm, slamming the door behind him.

I let out a breathy, "oh my god," letting out a sigh and placing a hand over my thumping heart. My eyes were closed as I regained a steady breathing pattern. "Monokuma, you scared the shit out of me."

Monokuma chuckled a bit in amusement, though I noticed he didn't sound as lively as he normally did. I turned my attention to him, eyebrows furrowing upon noticing his behavior. He was leaned against the wall, his head leaned back as he winced and clutched his stomach. I stood and rushed over to him, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Monokuma? What's wrong?"

Monokuma yelped when I had touched his shoulder. I retracted my hand, looking down at the spot that caused him pain. "Monokuma... What happened?"

Monokuma remained silent, staring down at the boots he wore on his feet. I noticed how his lip quivered as he nibbled on it, almost as though he was ashamed. I sucked in a deep breath and rested my hand on his lower back, rubbing my hand in circles, a simple action I knew would comfort him.

It pained me to see him in pain like this. It pained me even more to know who did this to him.

"Monokuma, can I see?" I asked, grasping the end of his shirt to pull it up and inspect his injured stomach. He denied and shook his head, swatting my hand away before I could expose the skin beneath his button-up shirt.

"I just want to make sure you're ok-"

"No," Monokuma grabbed my wrist, preventing my hand from extending further. "Just...don't." Monokuma's prideful ego refused to let me see him so vulnerable. I respected his wishes and retracted my hand, moving it to his lower back.

"Then let's go lay down Monokuma."

Monokuma didn't resist that offer. I led him over to the bed, both of us plopping down and nestling under the covers together. Monokuma wrapped his arms around my waist, his face nuzzled into my neck and one leg intertwined around my own. One of my hands reached up to play with Monokuma's hair while the other was tucked under my pillow.

"(Y/n), I love you," Monokuma murmured, moving his face away from my neck and resting it right beside my own. His nose practically grazed mine, but neither of us minded the close proximity.

I smiled, responding, "and I love you, Monokuma."

"Do you want to run away with me one day?"

I chuckled a bit at that suggestion. "Run away? Would that even be possible?"

"Maybe; you never know. We could run far, far away from everyone... We wouldn't have to worry about anyone anymore. We wouldn't have to worry about sticking to a plan or pleasing anyone... Just you and me, living on our own, happy as can be. Wouldn't that be nice?"

"...It would be nice, wouldn't it?" A small smile made its way to my lips. "Where would we run away to?"

"Maybe a castle. Then we could rule over our own kingdom, no one to tell us what to do!" Monokuma let out a hearty laugh. "Princess (Y/n) and her loyal knight, Monokuma!"

I giggled, gladdened by Monokuma's cheerful mood change. "Is a princess allowed to fall for her knight?"

"Why not? I will slay any ugly beast who tries to come between us!!"

"Is that so? Why thank you, my loyal knight."

"No problemo, princess!~"

After that conversation, it was silent for a few moments. The silence was never awkward or uncomfortable, but rather peaceful. For once, it felt like just Monokuma and I, no one else to interrupt.

But alas, the mastermind was always watching.

I couldn't help but stare at Monokuma, grinning upon seeing him so comfortably nestled beside me. His eyes were closed, almost looking as though he was asleep. However, he seemed to feel my gaze on him, snapping his eyes open and looking back at me.

Monokuma smiled, staring at me with those gorgeous eyes of his. His round, upturned eyes always emitted such strong emotion; I couldn't help but find myself lost in his gaze a times. They always glinted with mischief dashed with a bit of confidence, occasionally accompanied with a strong vibrancy of bloodlust. Two different eye colours represented two different sides of him battling for dominance. I wondered if sometimes my eyes shone in the same way?

"Do you think we'll ever be able to live a happily ever after?" Monokuma suddenly asked me, his smile dropping along with his gaze.

I pondered for a moment as I ran my hand through his monochrome hair again. Would we? Would it be possible? "I suppose...it depends on what happens once every secret is revealed and when the killing game comes to an end." If it ever does.

Monokuma stayed silent for a few seconds before letting out an exaggerated yawn. "Well, Ima get some shut-eye now! You should get some too, (Y/n)∼ Good night, sleep tight." Monokuma shut his eyes, snaking his arms further around me like a python wrapping around its prey.

I shut my eyes as well, pressing a kiss to his nose before allowing myself to grow drowsier. "Good night Monokuma... Sleep well."

Then again, when really was the last time we slept well? When was the last time we slept without having to ignore the dread creeping below our skin, trying to rip us apart from the inside? When was the last time we dreamt without someone surveying us from afar?

It has been...too long to remember.