Carrying Burdens (a private Danganronpa RP)

[LittleBug]

Celestia never thought her life would end up like this. She never thought she would be stuck in some school and forced to participate in a game of kill or be killed. She never thought she would end up going through with a plan to kill someone (and get another killed at that), only for said plan to fall apart once she was found out. And she most certainly didn't think it would all be for nothing, finding out the game was merely a fake, a simulation even.

But here she was. Despite being burned at the stake and ran over by a firetruck, Celestia was alive and awake. Whether that was to her dismay or not, she couldn't quite tell. The occasional phantom pains and hot flashes were a bitch to deal with, and with bringing two other people to their demise with little care, her classmates weren't exactly keen on wanting to be around her. Not like it mattered much anyways, she was always a bit of an outcast compared to everyone else, this was nothing new for her.

Except... There was one other person who stuck around.

Chihiro Fujisaki. Small, light, a nervous wreak most of the time, but impressively smart when it came to programming and technology. Celestia had her eyes on her ever since they first met, and while they haven't talked much, something about the programmer made her curious. Chihiro strived to keep the peace between people when times were tense, even when she unfortunately succumbed to her injuries after being brutally attacked. After making it out of the simulation, Chihiro wanted nothing to do with anyone else, going as far as isolating herself out of fear that someone might be after her.

Despite so, she... Trusted Celestia, even after learning about what all she did. Chihiro wanted to understand her better and help her grow as a person. Celestia was apprehensive at first, but realizing this was probably her only time at receiving a second chance, she took it. Not like she had much to lose anyways... With time, the two stuck with each other, slowly but surely getting closer as they stayed in the facility with everyone else. An odd duo, perhaps, but they've helped each other find comfort in their identities and being around others, so that's all that mattered.

Today would be no different for a gambler. After breakfast and her morning therapy, she headed for the common room, glancing around to see if Chihiro was around. They often liked to hang out during the downtimes in activity, since less people were around then.

[PastelWolf]

Surely enough the ultimate programmer sat there tapping away at her laptop and talking to the AI she had programmed. The AI in question was known as Alter Ego and for Chihiro at least was made to simulate others, in an attempt for her to learn to better communicate with them, and observing over her shoulders revealed she was simulating talking to Celestia herself!

Chihiro’s body was tense, as she took a deep breath in and began to speak, “Um s-so Celestia I was well…I was in therapy and, my therapist well she, she um I…Ah! I can’t do it Alter Ego! I can’t!” She said quitting mid way through as she held her head in her hands. The face on the screen turned back to Chihiro's own face and began to speak up. “It’s ok creator, it’s embarrassing to ask, I understand…but you and Ms.Ludenberg have gotten rather close and I’m sure she’d listen!” The cheerful AI said, trying to comfort its creator.

“You don’t understand Alter Ego! She’s just…so mature and pretty, asking her to help me…r…regress…is just, It makes my chest hurt” She sighed as the AI version of her smirked. Alter Ego knew Celeste was in the room, and figured this would be the best way to get her creator to actually say what she wanted. Alter Ego played an animation of a hand beckoning, to encourage the Ultimate Gambler to move closer. When Chihiro noticed she quickly turned around, and her face went red as Celestia’s tie. She hid mumbled and bumbled over her words, as she tried to speak up, to let out some sort of peep.

Eventually words finally left her lips as she was able to get out a “Hi Celestia” in a very weak voice. She couldn’t meet her eyes, as they shifted around the room, “um h how long have you been here?...how much did you hear?” Chihiro asked worriedly, twiddling her thumbs in anxiety as she awaited her answer. She had to hope and pray she didn’t hear her, or see her trying to practice with the AI.

[LittleBug]

Peeking around the corner, Celestia found Chihiro by one of the tables working away at her laptop. Stepping behind her a bit closer, she noticed what was on the screen... A working icon of herself? Since when did Chihiro create that? She was away of her little alter ego character in the program she worked on, but she never thought they could shift into images of other people.

Standing by, she watched Chihiro struggle to say something to the digital version of the gambler before melting into a flustered mess. It was a little cute to see her all blushy sometimes, but it only made her curiosity about what she wanted to say grow more. It was soon made somewhat apparent as Chihiro stated what she wanted.

She wanted Celestia to help her regress? That word sounded a little familiar... She heard it come from some of the therapists passing by, something about a coping mechanism for those to use? She hasn't really looked into it herself, but if it was something Chihiro was looking into, maybe she could offer an explanation...

She peeked over to the computer screen once more, and noticing that alter ego had saw her and gestured for her to come closer, she did just that. Carefully, she walked closer to Chihiro, standing almost right behind her to see if the programmer would eventually see her. Chihiro eventually turned around once she realized what was happening, and naturally, she turned into more of a flustered mess.

'Goodness, I don't remember the last time she has ever acted like this before...' Celestia thought. Despite the few nerves in her stomach, she remained calm, giving Chihiro a simple, sweet smile once she managed to calm down and get a somewhat coherent sentence out.

"Hello, Chihiro dear." She replied. "I do hope I am not interrupting anything important, I was looking around for you, is all. I wouldn't say I was hear for long, but ah... Is there something you want to tell me? I could not help but overhear a few things, such as something about... Regressing, is that right?" Celestia asked, getting to the point of it.

[PastelWolf]

Chihiro couldn’t stop herself from squeaking in embarrassment as her cheeks became redder. “I knew I should’ve practiced in my room…” she said, muffled from her hands hiding her face. “I Um…I was talking with my therapist, because well you know…b-being killed isn’t easy to just…wake up from and she suggested I try…regressing with someone I trust” Chihiro explained. It wasn’t an explanation of what it was but rather an explanation of why she was doing this. She took a few deep breaths before continuing her explanation, looking at her friend again.

Chihiro turned to her computer and began to tiptap away at her search bar, images of nurseries, diapers, and childish outfits all appeared on her screen. Toys littered the screen too as Chihiro turned back to Celestia. “Um basically what it is…is, someone sort of relaxes and uh…tries to go back to more innocent times” She said sighing as she fumbled with her words

Once more Alter Ego chimed up, “What my creator means is that it’s a type of therapy where someone enters a headspace similar to when they were a child and return to that innocent time!” It explained happily forcing the red to return to the programmer’s cheeks. She sighed again as she tried to reiterate again what her AI said.

“Um…so I’d be…in a special room they offered me…wearing more…youthful outfits and-” “Diapers!”she was cut off by Alter Ego again, “-a and those…yes…” she stumbled. “B But what my therapist said would really help me is, is having someone I really trust act as a sort of…caretaker for me” the flustered girl explained as she clicked off of the images, not wanting to stare at them anymore. She was trembling again, specifically her hand t which was seemingly reaching for her mouth.

Chihiro sighed as she closed her laptop, leaving just her and Celestia now. “I I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have asked it’s ridiculous and weird and just dumb I’m sorry” she said again trying to force the tears welling in her eyes as she tried to choke them down.

The girl kept panicky waiting, fidgeting with her skirt as she waited, grabbing her laptop and standing up to leave. She was just going to head to her room, and try and relax before the embarrassment could get to her.

[LittleBug]

Celestia kept quiet through Chihiro's (and Alter Ego's) explanation, occasionally nodding and humming in an understanding tone. Her expression showed no judgment or disgust, but remained content, almost curious even as she scanned the infantile pictures on the computer. It gave her a better insight as to just what this regression stuff was, and how it could benefit someone.

It made sense in her eyes. Chihiro struggled a lot when the game ended, and even still did now after time had past, and Celestia noticed a good bit of it. Her flinching at loud sounds and voices, apologizing so much over so little, freezing anytime Mondo was around... She so badly wanted to soothe Chihiro of her worries, to scoop her up and protect from the world's evils. Perhaps she couldn't quite do that, but if she was asking Celestia to help woth this coping mechanism of hers, maybe it was a start.

Before Celestia could think about it further, she saw Chihiro start to tear up, apologizing in a panic as she grabbed her laptop to take away. Quickly yet carefully, Celestia took her hand and attempted to calm the programmer down, or at least try to get her to stay.

"It is alright, darling, please do not apologize." She spoke calmly, reaching into her pocket to pull out a tissue just in case. "I know this must have been a lot to get off of your chest, but I assure you that I'm not upset... To think that you trust me enough to want me assisting you is a high honor to me, in fact." Celestia admitted. "Has this been something on your mind for some time, Chihiro?"

[PastelWolf]

Chihiro gasped as her hand was grabbed, with her weakened state she was easy to pull back even with the most gentle touch. She sniffled a bit as her eyes were wiped, looking up at the taller girl through teary eyes, “I-It’s an honor? I-I didn’t think you’d…well you’d want to even hear it” Chihiro admitted with her heart beating in her ears. As she heard Celestia’s question she had crimson cheeks more.

Chihiro’s mind had jumped back to a few weeks ago, sitting there in the stark white office of her therapist as she explained her issues. “I just…I trusted Mondo…I trusted everyone…a-and then they all…they all betrayed each other!” She barely managed to get the words out of her mouth. She didn’t want to call them traitors, it was a terrifying situation to be in, but it still left her quaking in fear. “It’s scary Ms.Fujisaki, I understand…but if I may ask, is there anyone you do trust?” The therapist questioned as she sat and thought. Before her death, she had truly met Celestia in the simulation, and even now she remained a source of consistency in her life. “If there is…I’d like to suggest you try something” and that’s what had lead her to seeking this form of therapy.

“A-a few weeks ago…that’s when we first talked about it, a-and that’s when I had wanted to talk to you” admitted the programmer, wiping a few more tears from her eyes. “I…I thought of asking Mondo but…” just mentioning him set the girl’s heart into a frenzy. She wanted to fix her bonds with him, but right now was far too soon.