y’all see @carnagekiid‘s dope ass new prop???? Her Kazuichi cosplay is so choice 👌 and I saw the backstory tiktok she made and had to run to my computer to write a humble offering T_T
Kazuichi winced and tightened a bolt on his arm. When he designed it, he wasn’t too bothered by things like pain management or health, so the current model was a bitch on his nerves. Anytime he twitched a finger it was like lightning bolts in his veins, and he was having to learn to ignore it because there was no time for him to perform maintenance on himself. He was too busy building generators, fixing kitchen appliances, working on computers, basically anything and everything the island needed up and running to become self-sufficient, and that was fine. He had crazy ADHD and if one thing could distract him from the pain it was hyperfocusing on a task that interested him. Problem was not every task was the same.
Like this one, for example: helping Hajime build Nagito’s new arm.
“Kaz, can you come look at this for me?” Hajime asked, distracting Kazuichi from fixing his own body and pulling his attention over to Nagito’s.
“Yeah, sure.” he set the wrench aside and walked over to examine the prosthetic.
It was everything his wasn't: smooth, clean, kind on the owner. His looked brutal and dangerous in comparison, though the truth of the matter was his was more efficient (at the cost of the person attached to it.)
“Sorry to be such a burden,” Nagito said in that cheerful voice that always made people feel like he was up to something, but also feel guilty for assuming something of such a cheerful guy.
“What’s the problem?” Kazuichi asked.
“The joints are sticking,” Hajime said. “I tried to fix it on my own but this talent stuff is kind of come and go for me. Honestly, I think Kamukura is just messing with me.”
“Lemme see.” He took Nagito’s hands in his, turning it this way and that. “Oh, dude, this is simple I got it.”
“Great,” Hajime said with relief. “We’re lucky you’re so good at this, that thing is a work of art.”
Kazuichi clenched his teeth as he reached for the necessary tool.
“Yeah, it’s amazing what your talent can do,” Nagito added with blatant worship.
Kazuichi tasted blood, and realized he’d bitten his tongue.
“It’s nothing,” he said, hoping they’d leave it at that.
“It’s not nothing!” Nagito insisted. “Your talent with machinery is beautiful!”
Yeah, it’s all I’m good for.
“Hate to agree with Nagito, but it really is some cool stuff,” Hajime said. “And it’s turning out to be pretty useful around here.”
“Yeah, Mr. Useful, that’s me,” Kazuichi gave a strained laugh. “Can we not talk about it anymore?”
“Why not?” Nagito pushed.
“Because I don’t want to?” Kazuichi said, maybe a bit louder then necessary and snapping a screwdriver in half in his stupid, terrifying, painful, metal hand. “Ah! Shit!” he swore, tossing it aside and pressing his palms to his forehead as he tried to steady his breathing. The contrast of metal and skin only made his heart pound faster.
“Hey…” Hajime approached him with his hands out, wearing that expression he got on his face anytime someone they woke up from the pods started to freak out, and that did not help Kazuichi feel any better.
“Nah, you hey!” Kazuichi said frantically. “I know I’m being ridiculous, alright? Freaking out over some compliments, but you know, I’m not exactly jazzed about my talent right now!” he turned his hand in front of their faces to show it off. “Just…” he took a deep breath and steadied himself against the table.
“... we’ve been working you pretty hard,” Hajime said, guilt clear in his voice. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not about that,” Kazuichi said. “I can work all day, that’s fine, it’s just kinda hard knowing that’s all I’m good for. Like, I’m not supposed to feel that way anymore. That was something I felt back then, something that made me do this.” he rapped his knuckles against the cold steel.
Nagito slipped down off the counter he’d been perched on, and Hajime tried to stop him considering the effect he was sure he’d have, but he slipped past him too.
“It’s not just your talent,” he said. “I mean, your talent is beautiful, it’s-” he caught Hajime glaring. “... but it’s not just that. I was very happy to see you when I woke up, I consider you a treasured friend.” he smiled serenely. “Not to mention, it was a nice change of pace after waking up to Hajime’s scary face.”
“Hey!”
Kazuichi still felt that twisted ball of emotion lodged in his chest. A few nice words weren’t just going to fix it all. Still… if Nagito of all people was interested in something besides his talent… that meant something. He could be lying, but what reason did he have to stroke his bruised ego?
“... can I just take a break from working on prosthetic stuff for now?” Kazuichi asked. “... can’t even handle my own.”
“Yeah, whatever you need,” Hajime assured him.
They cleared out to give him some space, which he didn’t even know if he wanted or not. He just kept thinking about it.
Nagito’s prosthetic was all about healing and moving on, fixing his past mistake, moving into the future and leaving his pain behind.
His was the pain from the past, it was holding him back, it was all he would ever be.
Tears stung at his eyes as he thought about how thrilled he’d been when he’d first “installed” this piece. Drooling with despair and so focused on how well it worked, how powerful it made him, how useful he’d become.
Alone in his workshop with just the tools of his trade around him, he felt even worse. Had he annoyed everyone away?
“God, this is pathetic,” he groaned, not sure if he was scolding himself or just frustrated with the situation. He lay his hand down on the table and got to work. No one was going to fix this but him, he had to make his days livable. He’d just break down this problem like the parts of an engine, and find a way to make it work.
He’d also just straight up fix his arm, because that shit was starting to hurt.
