A/N: If it's not obvious, spoilers ahead. If you haven't finished the game yet, why the heck are you browsing fiction for it? Go play!

I was happy with the final survivor cast, and found myself wondering 'where do they go from here'? To answer that question, I made this short little story revolving around what happened next (assuming Tsumigi wasn't lying through her teeth). I've got ideas for a couple more chapters before I'm done with this, but if anyone has any prompts revolving around these three maybe I can make a little extra. So feel free to suggest! Hope you enjoy.

One combat knife. That's all she'd managed to escape the killing game with. Everything else had been trapped up in her research lab, lost in the academy's destruction. Now Maki stared down at this solitary blade laid out flat on the kitchen counter, her reflection gazing back from its steel.

This world might be peaceful, but there were still conflicts that could only be solved with bloodshed. Conflicts people would pay good money to have 'resolved'. And when you're living in a shoddy apartment with two friends, all of you thrust out into an unfamiliar world without a cent to your name, pay is very appealing. All it would take is just one job, and then they could afford rent and groceries for quite a while. Just one job.

Yes… it was that simple. Killing is what you do, she told herself, it's who you are. And yet, something nagged at the back of her mind, keeping her from going out and getting to work then and there. Why couldn't she get herself to move? She kept staring at the knife, as if the weapon would somehow answer her question. Maki was so lost in thought she almost didn't notice someone enter the kitchen behind her.

"Maki?" a male voice called out softly. The girl stiffened as she heard it, turning to face him and positioning herself between him and the blade to keep him from spotting it. "What are you doing up so late?" Shuichi continued, the floor creaking underfoot as he stepped closer.

"Just having a snack," she replied, not missing a beat. A little white lie to keep her motives hidden.

Shuichi's face fell, and she knew her fib had backfired. "We can't afford to be snacking with how little food we have," he said, stepping even nearer as Maki defensively leaned back over the table. He tried to step around her to see what she had, and she promptly blocked off view of it again. Now thoroughly suspicious, he darted to the other side, eyes widening as he caught sight of the knife. "Huh?"

"I was just thinking about all the weapons I lost," she lied again. Given all the falsities they'd all had to deal with back during the killing game, it made her sick to her stomach to keep it going.

But Shuichi's detective brain was too smart to be fooled. It didn't take long for him to put two and two together. "You're not thinking about…?" he murmured, eyes locked on hers.

"No."

He wasn't convinced. "Maki, you can't… hasn't there been enough bloodshed already?"

There was no use dodging around it. "You think I want another body?" she snapped, throwing her façade away as she narrowed her eyes his way. "I don't. But we need money and there's no other way I'm going to get it. I was raised an assassin, killing is all I know. I'm not going to serve fast food or mow lawns – there's only one thing I'm good at."

Shuichi went silent a moment, looking pained to see his friend speak of herself like that. "But Maki, that's not true…"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean your past was fabricated," he explained. "All your training, all your kills… in fact, you haven't killed a single person. Before the game, you were a normal person. We all were. You're not an assassin. You have a chance to put all that behind you. Your hands are clean."

She glanced down at her palms – both literally and metaphorically pure. He had a fair point… but it wasn't good enough. She clenched her hands tight, giving him another cold stare. "That might not be what I was, but it's what I am now. The old me no longer exists. I'm an Ultimate Assassin, and I need to do what I can to support us."

"No!" Shuichi flung an arm out, voice loud and slightly frightened. He winced immediately afterwards, remembering their magician friend was sound asleep not far away. "No," he repeated a bit quieter. "There are better ways. You can't just take the easy way out!"

Her lips twisted into a snarl. "Do you want to die?" A phrase that'd normally be a joke between friends, but was now a defensive reaction. "You think this is the easy way? I know what I am if I do this. I know I won't be able to go back. But we're barely scraping by with Himeko performing magic on the street… and with your brilliant mind being put to use as a grocery bagger."

The detective winced. That one stung. Yet, he stood firm. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I'm just saying… maybe there's other ways we can put your talent to use?"

She stared at him, fingers pressed against the table top by her side as she tossed his suggestion around in her mind. "I highly doubt there's many ways you can apply killing to everyday jobs."

"But there are ways. Think about it. You're a born combatant, trained in fighting and hand-to-hand, right?" It took a moment, but Maki nodded. "So what if you, I don't know… worked as a bodyguard? Or a self-defense instructor? Or worked security, or…"

She cut him off. "And you think I can do any of that? All the memories… all the fake history they put into me…" She held a hand to her head, eyes shut tight. "All I know is death… do you really think I can use it to defend? Or teach?"

"I think so."

"Wrong. We're public figures, Suichi. Everyone watched the killing game. Who's going to want to hire me knowing what I really am?"

"Plenty of people! They'll know you have the skills for the job, and…" He stopped and sighed, shaking his head. "Look… it's worth a shot at least, isn't it? One good, solid try at an honest wage. I don't want to see you resort to something drastic," he murmured, eyes drifting to the knife. "If you did… I couldn't live with myself, knowing our rent was paid with blood money. Knowing that a good friend of mine let their false past take over."

All was quiet a good few moments. Maki, usually so stoic and reserved, couldn't keep her fingers from curling inward to dig into her skin as his words resounded within her. He was right. Could they all live with themselves knowing where the money came from? What would Kaito think…?

She immediately shook her head, flinging that thought away. Finally, she spoke. "Fine. I'll give it a try. I'll try and find a proper job, keep my hands clean. But if things don't work out and we end up on the verge of getting kicked out…" Her voice grew icy cold, as did her eyes. "I'm doing what has to be done."

Reluctantly, Shuichi nodded. "Fine." He looked down and breathed a breath of relief, glad he'd postponed her plan for at least a little while. When he looked at her again, he had a small smile on his face. "Thanks, Maki. I'll do everything I can to help you find a job. And I know Himeko will, too."

She frowned. "But you two are already working so hard. I can't put any more stress on you…"

"Don't worry about it," he assured her, reaching out to rest a hand on her shoulder. "We'll do whatever it takes to keep a friend from making a mistake.

Despite herself, she couldn't keep her lips from curling upwards. "I'll do my best, too. Thanks, Shuichi."

He nodded and took his hand back. He glanced at the knife. "I think it's time we went back to bed. But first, I'd like to ask if I could hold onto your dagger. Just… to make sure you don't go ahead before we've given the job hunt a try."

Maki froze. To give the knife away would be to give away the last scrap of herself she'd saved from the academy… to trust that he wouldn't dispose of it. But… she trusted him. "Okay. But if time runs out… you'll return it. Agreed?" It wasn't a question… it was a demand.

With a sigh, Shuichi nodded again. "Agreed. But not a moment sooner." With the matter settled, he walked over and picked up the weapon, trying not to look at it as he headed for the exit. "Now let's get some shut-eye."

Before she followed, she glanced back at where the knife had been, earlier thoughts running through her head again. Did she have a chance? Could she put her fake past behind her and start anew? Could she…?

…I think I can, she thought. With great friends like I have, I know they'll help me every step of the way.

Her inner turmoil quieted and her new plan set, she yawned and headed after Shuichi. It was time for a much-needed rest. Tomorrow would be busy, making plans for her fresh start. And yet, she found herself looking forward to it.