Youtuber I like played this. My mind hasn't been able to sit still since.

If you want a somewhat upbeat story with some shipping, some character work and some vague attempts at humor, this story has you covered.

Something is wrong.

It was supposed to be over. Naegi was there, and the real Byakuya... there were enough of us to collapse the Neo World Simulation.

The world went black, as I'd assumed it would, but… it wasn't over. The feeling of dread I've been nursing ever since my arrival on Jabberwock island shot down my spine one more time.

Our future...?

Not yet.

I open my eyes to a bright blue sky, then close them again immediately from the sheer intensity of the light. I can hear waves beating against the shore…

"Are you okay?"

Those words… no way, this can't be happening.

"You seem pretty out of it… but then again, we all do, with the situation we're in…"

It's Nagito. It's Nagito from our first day of the school trip, still friendly and… well… sane. Not the Nagito that abused his almost unearthly luck to send a friend to die, just because he wanted to punish us all for something we didn't even recall doing at the time.

I don't even realize I've clocked him in the face until he hits the sand.

It's starting all over again. Either they've reset the simulation, or the Monokuma AI managed to find a loophole… I don't know what happened, but this entire ordeal is waiting for me, again.

And I've already messed it up by punching Nagito.

"Uhh…"

He gets up with a groan, rubbing his jaw. The startled expression I'd assume he'd have is completely absent, replaced with a smirk of mild amusement:

"That's not much of an introduction, Hajime…"

I take a step towards the tripod-mounted camera, ready to take it up if defense becomes a necessity, but Nagito seems to be content to just rub at his jaw, not really looking at me anymore.

His voice is back to its normal zealous tone when he speaks: "So tell me… did I win?"

"Really, that's what you're going to ask?"

He shrugs: "Well, I am curious, you know?" the accompanying smile is sickening.

"You…" I sigh, "you almost did it. You almost got everyone. If Chiaki hadn't…"

"Chiaki?" he raises an eyebrow, surprised, "so it was her?"

"Damn it, Nagito, I had to watch you both…"

"Yeah," he says, more quietly, "I know."

"Then why?"

"It didn't end," he began, sitting back down into the sand and gazing, almost longingly, at the water, "It was just one long wait, watching to see whether the ultimate victor would be hope or despair."

Realizing that I won't be breaking Monomi's… or rather, Usami's rules right from the start, I relax just a bit, still keeping the tripod between the two of us.

"So… I just kinda watched, you know? I thought about what I remembered doing from when we were Ultimate Despair, what I thought before the bear showed up, before Grape and Strawberry house…"

He seems to stop talking after that, and I realize he has no intention of doing anything until I make a move – I decide to sit down as well.

"There's about 12 hours before Monokuma shows up, reversing everything this simulation was supposed to do…" I begin, trailing off once I realize the sheer scale of the task I have ahead of me.

"Huh? So it wasn't just a prison?" he cut in, suddenly interested.

"No… it was supposed to be therapy," I reply.

"Therapy? You mean…"

"You figured it out too, didn't you? It's why you wanted only the traitor, the only innocent one, to survive."

Without replying, Nagito turned his head back to the sea, sulking.

"Don't you remember the first day, on the beach? That's how this whole thing is supposed to work; fostering happy memories in order to build up the strength we'd need to face the cruelty we ourselves committed in the real world."

"A chance for redemption, huh?" he concluded.

"Don't you think it's a perfect opportunity for us to give hope… real hope a chance?"

"Hope…" he mused, wistfully, "I did go on about that, didn't I?"

"Yeah," I smirked, "you did."

"And you'd trust me? Even after what you've seen me do?" he wondered, turning to me.

"If you remember as well, there's no other choice I could make. I can't save anyone by myself."

"Can you really undo that much despair? We were monsters, Hajime, masquerading as Ultimates. We literally set fire to civilization."

"But before that, we were the Ultimates, chosen to guide and nurture the hope of humanity."

Nagito was silent for a couple of seconds, as if he was looking for the right words to say:

"Beating him…her… back tonight isn't going to change a thing. We'll end up trying to kill one another regardless – it's who we are."

I smirked, then readied myself to shout:

"No, that's wrong!"

He blinked, tilting his head to the side a bit, then broke out in the widest grin:

"Really? You're going there? Brutal, Hajime, simply brutal…"

I shrugged, feeling myself smiling.

"And pray tell, how exactly do you think we can undo the damage? And that's a lot of damage."

I stood up, walking over to Nagito and offering my hand:

"Together."

He took it, dusting himself off with a wink and a smile:

"Alright then, let's get ourselves introduced."

I was laying down in the sand, enjoying the sun, when Usami popped in to summon us from our beach activities. Showtime.

Everything hinged on our ability to keep the Monokuma avatar away from Usami's magical stick; whatever that thing is, it'd be enough to nuke the virus AI, supposedly.

We marched to the park, goading people like Nekomaru and Fuyuhiko into a state of readiness, watching with a mix of pride and concern as we manipulated our friends into something akin to a combat frenzy.

Some we had to work harder for, naturally. Sonia wouldn't jump at anyone, and Gundham was too composed to be so easily provoked. Yet, as more and more people got agitated at our 'accidental' musings, so did the less motivated ones among us fall in line with the mob's mentality.

It was unnerving, and yet exhilarating. Even Mikan, terrified of everyone and everything, seemed ready to jump into action, just from the overwhelming aura Nagito and I were whipping up. I began hearing war drums in my mind.

Chiaki kept shooting me strange looks, of course, but she seemed unwilling, or rather, unable, to interfere. Our designated teacher, for all her devotion to love and peace, never saw any of it coming.

Usami was halfway through her panicking when Nagito gave the signal, tackling the headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy:

"WEAPON!"

We collapsed on the black bear like a tide of flesh. It couldn't actually hurt us, and, had we cared, we would've taken sadistic glee in the fact that the tool designed to reintroduce us to despair would be feeling that exact sensation.

Between physical threats like Nekomaru and Akane, technical combatants like Gundham and Peko, and the sheer frame of whoever Byakuya really was, the stuffed bear was kept at bay long enough.

Usami's aimed blast eradicated the Monokuma avatar, and neither Nagito nor I had any doubt that the system was actively partitioning itself to isolate what little control it had over the simulation.

"You… you stopped him…" the 'magical girl' spoke, clearly surprised, "how did you?"

"It looked strange… I'm just glad everyone backed Nagito up," I grinned, trying to hide the unease I was feeling.

"What the hell was that!?" Kazuichi all but screamed, panting in the aftermath of the frenzied lynching of Monokuma.

"An intruder, that's what!" Usami huffed, holding her staff like a banner, "and I hope this is him being gone for good!"

"Are we done with these bullshit surprises now?" Fuyuhiko spoke up, annoyed as usual, "isn't it enough that you dragged us here?"

"Oh c'mon, it's not that bad!" Akane cheered, not even winded, "besides, wailing on that thing was fun!"

"Violence is NOT fun!" Usami shrieked.

"Alright, I guess that's that, then…"

Before anyone could reply, Nagito plucked the staff from our teacher's hand, holding it aimed straight at her:

"Alright, now I have a few questions to ask."

"Nagito!" Mahiru cried out, trying to reach for his new prize, only to be stopped by Byakuya.

"Let's not waste this opportunity."

"Revolt! How could you do something like this to your beloved teacher?" the magical girl cried, rather pathetically.

To be honest, Usami or Monomi, whoever she was, was overall a pathetic figure the first time this simulation was run. It's not that she wasn't trying, but…

Well, if it wasn't for Nagito and Chiaki, odds are we wouldn't have survived. The twisted plan I myself made to reincarnate the Ultimate Despair, Enoshima Junko, would've succeeded, though at the cost of 11 of our classmates' minds – a cost, mind you, that I was more than willing to pay.

But I'm not that person anymore… this is who I want to be, and Hajime Hinata is someone who can save all his friends, rather than doom them to a life of despair.

Each and every person that sacrificed themselves… Gundham and Nekomaru, Chiaki… even Nagito, as crazed as he was…

What Nagito is doing worries me, though. He wouldn't be that crazy again… would he?

"First question, he began, "When are we going to get off this island?"

"When you've gathered enough fragments of hope, of course!"

"No, like, seriously?"

"…"

"What, bear got your tongue?" Nagito smirked.

"That pun was un-bear-able!" a melodic voice spoke up.

"Not helping, Ibuki," Mahiru cut her off.

"Seventy-one days…" the magical bunny sniffled, defeated.

"A nice, long vacation," he concluded, "any way to push that deadline closer?"

"No. Not even I have the power to change that!"

"How do I know you're not lying?"

"Other than the fact that you have a gun to her head?" Fuyuhiko offered, apparently entertained by the whole situation.

"Yeah, other than that," he deadpanned.

"I'm your teacher! A role model shouldn't lie because lying is wrong!" she prattled on, oblivious to anyone other than the man with the stick.

"Nagito, I think we should -"

"I've got this, Hajime. Trust me, ok?"

To think that monsters like ourselves are now doing this, trying to ensure that everything happens as it was intended to… it's hope.

Not the hope we had by triumphing over whatever despair Junko and Monokuma would throw at us, but rather a hope for a future where we can move on from what we used to be, fix what mistakes we can fix, and actively work to restore the world our own talents torn asunder.

I have to believe in him, just like he's decided to believe in me. If we all pull together, there's no way this can fail.

"Question three. Can you open the rest of the islands? As great as this beach is, I can't help but think there's more to this place."

"Of course! I planned it as a special surprise after our super-special dinner party!"

"Now that you mention being hungry…"

"Shush, you!"

"The name's Akane, pipsqueak."

Ignoring both the dancer and the gymnast, Nagito carried on, turning his head to the rest of us:

"Any of you have any questions?"

"How did you know that the bear would try and attack us?"

It was Chiaki. That couldn't be good.

However, Nagito merely shrugged: "Did you see those claws? Nothing good could come from that, nope."

He shrugged it off so easily…

"How about… WHY ARE WE HERE?" Fuyuhiko cut in, no longer amused by the whole situation.

"It's a school trip, meant to foster friendship and hope…"

By now, she was cowering at the ground, hands holding her bunny ears. Truly, a pathetic state for someone who claimed to be a role model.

"Cut the bullshit! There's no way they'd organize something that weird!"

"But is it that big a deal?" Ibuki jumped in, "This place is pretty rad."

"That's not the point!"

"C'mon, lighten up, mini-thug."

"What'd you say to me!?"

"She called you a mini-thug," Nekomaru spoke up, standing between the gymnast and the yakuza, "I'd agree."

"You don't scare me, Team Manager," the yakuza spat, his voice making the truthfulness of his words clear, "so just fuck off!"

"Enough, both of you!" Gundham decided to jump in, "Stop this insolent noise before I'm forced to cast you both into the freezing depths of Avernus!"

"Anywhere but there!" Sonia cried.

"Shut up, you! How dare you upset miss Sonia?" Kazuichi protested.

"What is this!? What terrible power do you wield?"

Now Gundham was backing away from Sonia, looking legitimately intimidated for a second, before calming down:

"I see… so you are the Dark Queen… Very well, I shall withdraw this time, and this time alone!"

"We are surrounded by idiots and weirdoes..."

Regardless, Gundham's inspired interruption was enough to distract Fuyuhiko and Nekomaru, allowing for the interrogation to continue.

"Anyone else?"

"What is the direst physical punishment I can unleash upon the cook without breaking any rules?"

A couple of people were caught off-guard by Peko's oddball question, but the shrinking frame of Teruteru helped everyone understand her meaning – the boy's a pervert, and it's only a matter of time until he goes too far.

"Violence is strictly prohibited on the island!" Usami cried, "In fact, I will personally appear and stop anyone who thinks of doing something so horrible!"

"How?" Nagito asked, mockingly waggling the magical stick.

"Give it baaaack!" she whined.

"Uhm… maybe you should return it to her…"

"Huh?" He looked up at Mikan, who spoke up, only for her to dodge behind me, hiding from his apparently terrifying gaze.

"Haven't you tortured her enough? Give her the damn stick back!" Mahiru protested, stomping her foot.

"Wait, isn't anyone going to address the clearly unconcealed threat against my well-being!?" Teruteru panicked.

"No," was Byakuya's reply.

This went on for a bit longer. Eventually, however, Nagito agreed to turn over the stick to Usami, provided that she ensures that Monokuma is gone for good, and that the gates to the next island are opened by the end of the first week.

Too tired by the day's activities on the beach, and further exhausted by the business with the sudden appearance of the black bear, most of the students scattered, going back in groups of two or three.

Of course, it was no surprise that there were only three of us remaining in the park.

He had to admit, the stars looked amazing.

He hadn't ever noticed them during the killing trip… with everything that was going on, the beautiful design of the island was lost on them, the ever-present fear of Monokuma or another killing keeping their wanderlust at bay.

Actually… he did, but the view was tainted by the fact that the killing game had begun. But there wasn't going to be a killing game this time. The Ultimate Despair was destined to wither away and die…

There was nothing to fear anymore, right?

"That's right!" Usami popped up, complete with stick, "that monster was isolated for good. He'll never scare anyone ever again!"

"That's great…" he sighed, deciding to lay down on the grass in hopes of a better view.

"You showed extraordinary initiative," the gamer observed, sitting down next to him, "it was almost as if it was a premonition."

"Nah, we just got lucky," the last present person added, plopping down on the opposite side of the now prone Hajime, "the real fun is just beginning."

"Real fun?" she paused, getting both of the boys to smirk, "I don't understand."

"We're going to have our hands full, huh?"

"The worst part is over, though. We won, Hajime. She's gone for good."

"She? Whatever do you mean?" Usami cut in.

"Don't play stupid," Nagito frowned, "we know damn well that we were the Ultimate Despair, and that it was their leader that created that black monstrosity."

"W-W-What? You k-knew all this time?"

"It was painful, realizing what we've done… but overcoming the despair, overcoming that darkness that we've been in for so long... it sparked a hope unlike I've ever known."

"Yeah, you never told me what happened to you when Naegi showed up…"

"The second hardest battle of my life."

"What was the first?" Chiaki wondered, betraying an expression of amusement.

"Rebuttal showdown with Nagito, of course," Hajime laughed.

The Ultimate Lucky student rolled his eyes, lying down on the ground as well. Not wanting to feel left out, the girl joined them as well. Usami was nowhere to be seen.

"How do you undo that much fucked-up, though?"

"It's possible. It worked for the five of us that made it, and it can work for everyone else, I'm sure of it."

"I guess I don't have to pretend around the two of you…"

"We got Chiaki."

"Yeah."

"That's one."

"Three," Hajime corrected.

"Two," Chiaki corrected once more.

"Oh yeah… this place is the world for you, huh?"

"It's a lovely world," she stated, pausing, "I'd hate to see what Monokuma would've done with it."

"That sucks…"

"It's not that bad."

"No, not about her," Nagito corrected himself, "I just realized something."

"…"

"Well, would you share it? You're with friends."

He seemed to consider that word, unsure whether to accept it so easily after the betrayals they've exchanged. Ultimately, however, now isn't then, and that's all there is to it.

"How could I ever be friends with people like the Ultimate talents? I'm just some a guy with really strong luck."

"Don't you remember? We would've been fried four times over if it wasn't for you during those class trials."

Another pause for consideration, this time followed up with a small smile.

"Yeah, you were pretty hopeless."

"Hope's all we had, Nagito, I tried to make due."

As quickly as it came, the smile vanished.

"Yeah… I guess you'll do better this time, what with the two of us helping you, right?"

"What exactly are we doing? I'm not following…" Chiaki muttered, almost soundlessly.

"We're going to reintroduce the Ultimate Despair to Hope, one at a time if we have to."

"It'll be easier for those of us that survived longer last time… we had more time to understand one another. We're in the dark about Byakuya or Mahiru, for example."

Nagito leapt to his feet, an impressive showing of dexterity, before offering a hand each to his fellow students.

"C'mon, let's do it."

Students re-introduced to Hope:

-Hajime Hinata

-Chiaki Nanami