Return, Retry, Restart...Continue? (Danganronpa V3 X Reader)

"Gonta found manhole, thinks maybe leads to exit?" This was the present. Monokuma and the Monokubs had long left after explaining the killing game. And as routinely as before, everyone denied being able to partake in it. 

"Mention things like this from the start you degenerate male!" Tenko shouted. 

You sighed, you really didn't want to do the road of despair minigame. Or whatever it was called. You silently followed the group as they went towards where the manhole was. You weren't really talking to anyone in particular, in fact, you were basically isolated. Sure you could've joined Shuichi and Kaede's conversation, but they were talking to Rantaro and also in the way back. You weren't going to eavesdrop. Everyone else had already seemed to be talking to someone else. And Kokichi, the person you were hanging out with last time this happened, and well you weren't even going to try and talk to him. 

As you thought about him, your gaze did move towards Kokichi. He was excitedly talking to Gonta about who knows what. In a split second, he turned around and his eyes met yours. You barely concealed your flinch and quickly averted your eyes. He has eyes in the back of his head I swear, there was no way that was a coincidence.  

 For a split second, a flashback of Gonta choking you as Kokichi just watched hit you. You put your hand to your forehead, in an effort to decrease the vision. You had to forget, you had to move on. 

The group had finally reached the manhole, and Gonta picked it up with ease. The group crawled in, and soon enough there was a group consensus to try the exit. Well. You weren't having any of it. 

"Hey, honestly. I think I should stay here, and keep watch for Monokuma perhaps?" You spoke up. You heard a couple of voices say something that you couldn't quite catch, but you didn't care. Realistically it was a good reason. "When you guys make it out you can come back for me. I just think we should all do what we can to help, and for me, that's keeping watch." 

"(Y/N) I don't want to leave you behind though..." Kaede wistfully said. 

Ryoma spoke up, "(Y/N) does have a good point. I think it's okay." 

You nodded to Ryoma, signaling your thanks. "Yeah, I'll be fine I promise! You guys have to do your best too!" I mean... optimism at it's finest right. Except for Kokichi, no one hated Kaede for her optimism. 

Kaede finally agreed and the group left without you. You let out a sigh, you actually wanted this time to figure out what to do about Rantaro. He had been your greatest ally last time here, and in fact was probably your only friend near the time of your death. Losing him this early would be... horrible. But at the same time, it was your involvement in his trial that made you so unpopular and unliked in the first place. On top of that, if you let things continue the canon course, you might have better chances of surviving as long as you stayed out of the way. 

Or I'd have worse, because I don't know how my presence will effect that canon universe... in which should I go with the universe where Rantaro lives and Maki dies? I could predict that more maybe?  However, it was the issue of after chapter 4. You didn't know anything about Chapter 5 and onwards, what was Kokichi's plan this time? How would he make Kaito kill him? Maki wasn't there as leverage anymore. So realistically it might be safer to go with the canon events. But that meant losing Rantaro. You were about to scream from frustration when footsteps coming from the path interrupted your thoughts. 

"Ah... you're (Y/N) right? I don't believe we've formally introduced ourselves to each other, but I'm afraid there's no time." Kirumi's voice echoed. You looked down and saw that she was holding a very bruised and unconscious Himiko.