#dh plot

 Eisuke carefully tied the mask around his head, being careful not to get his hair in his face; some bobby pins did the trick for that. Once his mask was secure, he hesitated to leave his room; he shouldn’t be celebrating. He should be figuring out how to get out of here. He should still be resting. He knew Hanami would not be happy if he developed a fever again, but he wanted to see her. He wanted to dance with her. He didn’t want to see anyone else, just her.

Eisuke glanced over at the brown trench coat that was carefully hung in his closet next to his now clean hoodie. Walking over, he reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, slipping it into the jacket pocket before giving the pocket a pat.

“I’ll take care of them, aniki... I promise... I’ll protect them tonight and make sure they’re happy...”

He insisted before turning to the door and walking out.

Eisuke eventually tore himself from the trial room to go back upstairs to Floor A. He stood at the front doors and stared at them for a moment before reaching forward and opening one of them, slipping himself outside into the cold.

“It’s just a bit of cold... Doesn’t bother me anyway...”

Eisuke remained silent as he accepted his sweater back from Monomi.

“I’m sowwy he took it from you... Just... Twy and be positive, Watawi-kun... I know it’s hawd... But if anyone can do, it’s you...”

Monomi insisted as she pat Eisuke’s hand comfortingly before excusing herself and hurrying off elsewhere.

After finally pulling his sweater half-assed back on to his arms, Eisuke wandered off to find a quiet place to sit and think; he considered the pantry, but remembered that it was where he’d first met Eri and suddenly that idea made him feel ill. Instead, he opted to go down the Floor A and sulk on the floor in front of one of the doors that led outside to the ski lift.

“I can’t even keep those I care about safe... You’d be so ashamed of me...”

Eisuke felt his chest tighten with a mix of emotions as he sees who was laying in the room, knife buried deep in her stomach. His breath quickened his hands shaking; no. He couldn’t protect her. He’d promised himself he’d protect everyone. He’d tried so hard to help Eri.

“E-Eri...”

Eisuke whispered, his body moving on autopilot as he stepped toward her, his brain still reeling over the fact that she was dead. His irrational side insisted he could still help her!! Get to her!! Move!!

Eisuke stood frozen as he stared at the photo of his father and listened to Monobear drone on about how much he looked like him... He felt a feeling building inside that he didn’t ever like letting out, so he swallowed it down hard. Hard and deep where no one would see until he could let it out when he was alone. He ripped the glasses off his face and shoved them securely in his back pocket.

“Come on Ruka, let’s go...”