And here the third chapter! I hope you all enjoy this one.

And remeber, Shuichi is never safe.

Shuichi didn't know why Kirumi was hugging him. But he hug her back as he felt her shake.

"Are you okay Kirumi? What wrong?" Shuichi ask gently.

"I-I just need to hold you for a bit. Please let me be selfish this one time." Kirumi said as she hug Shuichi closer to her.

"I understand. But if anything is bothering you. Please tell me. I don't want to see you hurt." Shuichi said as he tighten his hold on Kirumi.

"I-I know. I j-just need to remember your here." Kirumi said so softly that Shuichi almost miss it.

'What happen to you Kirumi? Did someone she knew was hurt? No, it involve me somehow. I'll get on that later, but for now, she need me.' Shuichi thought to himself as he rub her back and whisper comforting words to her.

He was thankful it was lunch they went to roof. He wouldn't want to see Kirumi in a panic in public, she needs space and a shoulder to cry on, not people staring and spreading rumors.

After a while, Shuichi manage to calm down Kirumi and had her take a nap on his lap.

"Wow. Whatever made her so depress actually made her willing to rest on me." Shuichi said quietly as he sooth Kirumi hair to give her comfort in her sleep.

He learn if you smooth someone hair or at least message the hair in a certain way, you can ease them in their sleep.

Shuichi sigh in worry.

'I hope I'll be able to help later once she calms down and let me in.' Shuichi thought to himself as he stare at the sky and the clouds.

"What a pretty day." Shuichi said to himself quietly as he stare at the clouds.

(Later)

Shuichi was glade that they didn't have class, but self study for their talents. So he simply carry Kirumi to her room and lay her down on the bed it had. Shuichi made sure to tuck her in safely and made sure she had her teddy bear he gave her as a thank you gift.

'There. She should be safe and comfortable for a while.' Shuichi thought to himself as he began to walk out of the room after he made a quick note for Kirumi.

As Shuichi walk through the halls, he bump into someone.

"A-ah sorry. I wasn't looking were I was going." Shuichi said quickly, but blink as he saw it was his underclassmen.

"It no problem sempai, I was also at fault." Celestia Lundenberg, the Ultimate Gambler, said smoothly. (1)

"I haven't seen you in a while. How have you been?" Shuichi ask calmly.

"I have been fine. How have settling in for you? I know starting late in the school year could have been hard on someone like you." Celestia ask with a concern frown.

'Ah yes. I forgot that other then my classmates, there are others who knew of my sickness then.' Shuichi thought to himself with amuse expression.

Shuichi had only been at Hope Peak for three months despite being an official student for one year prior. But he did came to Hope Peak to at least introduce himself to his future classmates and made his present know.

But he never show up to school as he got worst over the months in the hospital, so he couldn't go to school.

But strangely enough, three people keep coming over.

The first was Kaito, his best guy friend.

He came almost every day. He would bring a small snack and talk his ears off with stories.

Shuichi was thankful for that. It help through some of the pain with those stories.

The second person was his best friend. Someone who he can safely say he care for with his heart.

And that person was Kaede.

She was kind and supportive. She would always tell him of their classmates and go on and on about piano related things.

She also brought him a speaker with some soothing piano songs to ease him should he feel sad or lonely.

And the third one was a surprise.

He didn't Maki would visit him at all.

When he first saw her, she didn't look she care for him at all, but she came EVERYDAY without fail.

She made him soup, talk to him about trivial's things and even took him outside on a wheelchair if they wanted to walk around.

Even now she care for him and he could never get over how caring she is.

"Sempai, your spacing out again." Celestia voice cut through his musing.

"A-ah! Sorry. I was just going down memory lane." Shuichi said sheepishly.

"I know. Kirigiri would do the same as well. I guess it a detective thing after all." Celestia said with a giggle at her sempai embarrass expression.

"Oh haha, laugh at your sempai while you can." Shuichi said with a pout.

Shuichi didn't how it happen, but somehow, he made friends with 76, 78 and the others classes.

But he doesn't mind.

"Anyway, I love to stay and chat, but I have a case to get back to. Please stay safe okay." Shuichi said kindly.

"I will. But when your free, do come by my class. Everyone is looking forward to seeing you again. I know Kirigiri is excited to see you again." Celestia said with a giggle.

Shuichi gave a weak chuckle.

Ever since he met his underclassmen detective, everyone made jokes how they were like siblings and that Kirigiri is like an overprotective little sister and Shuichi is the shy older brother.

"I will make time tomorrow to visit you guys." Shuichi said, but his eyes widen in fear as he saw a red dot on Celestia neck.

"I'm glade to-ack!" Celestia started, but got tackle down to the ground by Shuichi as a gun shot rang out.

"Stay down Celestia! Someone try to kill you!" Shuichi said as he cover her body on the ground with his own body.

"I-i see." Celestia said in surprise at the sudden shift of Shuichi character.

Shuichi roll over, still staying on the ground, and started to crawl toward his room that was close by.

"Come on. My room is a few inches away. We can take cover there til help arrives." Shuichi said as he glance at the window with a narrow stare.

Celestia simply nodded and follow after Shuichi.

The two took a while to the door, but before they open the door, Shuichi threw his hat in the air.

The hat was shot out of the air.

"I figure they would follow us. As soon we get up, we will have a bullet in us." Shuichi said calmly, his brow sweating in worry.

"What should we do?" Celestia ask with a concern frown.

"I will stand first, open the door and you quickly get to the door and then close it." Shuichi said calmly.

"But if we go with that, YOU will be shot?!" Celestia said in surprise.

"I know, but they more likely try avoid killing me. An assassin wouldn't be so sloppy in killing non-target." Shuichi said as he move himself as to get ready to open the door, Celestia doing the same.

"Isn't there any other idea we could do?" Celestia ask, hoping that she can to avoid in getting either of them shot.

"No. Now get ready." Shuichi said as he took a deep breath to steady his beating heart.

'Here we go. It all or nothing!' Shuichi thought to himself.

"NOW!" Shuichi said as he shot up from the ground, he open the door, before a shot rang out and Shuichi felt pain going through his chest.

By some mircale, he manage to stay standing up and provide body cover for Celestia as she made her way inside before more shots rang throw the air as he Shuichi fell to the ground, coughing up blood.

The door was close as soon as Celestia was inside.

Shuichi was on the floor, in pain and a smile in his face.

'I did my part. Please, anyone, save Celestia.' Shuichi thought as he pass out.

(Hours later)

Thanks to the work of Maki, Ryoma and The ultimate soldier, Mukuro Ikusaba had manage to detain the sniper.

Rather plainfully in fact.

The medics had Shuichi on the stretchers, with Celestia and Kaede following close behind with worry expression as Shuichi had breathers on him.

"Come on Shuichi! You will pull through! Just hang on!" Kaede beg to Shuichi as his eyes were gray over.

"C-celestia." Shuichi started.

"Y-yes!" Celestia said with her eyes held sorrow.

"I'm sorry, but it look I won't make it tomorrow." Shuichi manage out.

"Hey now! We can wait. But you need to get better to see us." Celestia said desperately.

"I...can't...keep...that...promise..." Shuichi started as his life in his eyes were fading with each word.

"NO!" Kaede shouted as she shot up from her bed.

She look around, panting.

She shot up from the bed, grab her cloths, got ready and ran out of the house toward Shuichi home.

And that done!

I hope you enjoy this chapter and look forward to my next work.

(1) I decided to try something different with how it always been set up. I decided to make the first danganronpa cast freshmen and Shuichi classmates the second year. Why? Cause I can that why!

Anyway, have a good day/night.