I. Hinata - Goodbye?

Hope's Peak Academy… It is said that graduating from this school guarantees one success in the future. And here I am, giving up the opportunity of a lifetime, giving up my biggest shot at a bright future, as an average nobody.

Hope. They promised I would embody it. They told me that I was going to serve as the vessel for their hope, the school's hope, the world's hope. How selfish of me is it then, to forsake the interest of humanity?

But, it was not all for nothing, I thought as I walked out of the room, away from the sneers of the Steering Committee. There's something I need to do before I go.

I rushed down the stairs, toward our meeting place. School had been over for a while; I prayed she was still waiting for me. I rounded the corner, my head filled with pleas to every divine being I knew, any would suffice. Lost in my thoughts, I barely had enough time to avoid colliding with another student, twisting my body so that I would instead fall pathetically at her feet.

The girl was wearing a plain white blazer and a short gray skirt which was not performing its duties very well. What was a Reserve Course student doing at school still?

"I'd never thought you'd be one to cut class." Her arrogant tone, commanding stance, and icy stare… I would recognize her anywhere. Natsumi Kuzuryu, this otherwise cute girl was more often than not, troublesome, and a nuisance.

I sighed. White was somehow a fitting color for her, and I may have held my gaze there longer than necessary. Regardless, her expression didn't change— she either didn't notice or didn't care. I slowly got back on my feet and faced her.

"What do you want, Kuzuryu?" I asked, trying not to let my exasperation with her show on my face.

"Hmph, you're awfully gloomy, today." Her eyes bore into mine. "I was just curious. I thought, maybe you gave up, that you were okay with being a loser like the rest of our pitiful classmates."

Her stare was piercing. I couldn't break eye contact, and I couldn't hide anything from her. She was the yakuza's daughter, after all.

"… I'm leaving Hope's Peak. I cannot pay the tuition."

She frowned. Was it just me or did she look disappointed, even slightly? I was her only friend — if we could call it that — after all.

"Heh." She burst out in obnoxious laughter. "That was expected. At least you know your place. I can't say the same for everyone else."

She raised her hand to touch her face, and that's when I noticed it: striking gashes across her cheek and dried blood on her knuckles.

"What happened?" I asked, horrified. I already knew the answer before Kuzuryu opened her mouth.

She smirked. "I pummeled Sato, beat the shit out of that bitch," she declared proudly.

"You did what?"

Kuzuryu continued on despite my interjection, "Took you long enough to notice. I wonder where you were looking." She tugged at the edges of her skirt.

Blood rushed to my cheeks. I simply stared back her, without responding.

"Anyway, you can't fault me. She was asking for it. She attacked me first."

I was speechless. Once again, I was powerless to stop them, even though I knew Sato and Kuzuryu despised each other. "Was it about your former classmate?" I finally managed to ask, though I already knew the answer.

"Sato attacked me after I told her she was clinging to Koizumi like a piece of toilet paper to a shoe. She clawed at my face with her sharp-ass nails for telling the truth. She's a parasite but can't come to terms with it. Seriously pisses me off. What a fucking shithead!"

I didn't know what to say, and Kuzuryu took it as an invitation to continue insulting Sato. I looked away from her, frustrated at my inaction and my uselessness.

"You know," Kuzuryu almost whispered to me. It took me a second to process that she was no longer screaming vulgarities. "I might get expelled for this…"

I had to comfort her but I didn't know; as much as she was the perpetrator, she was also the victim. She was misunderstood — she was so much like me. Her talents were no match for her ambitions, and she was unable to accept that.

"I just wanted to get into the Main Course; I wanted to be able stand with my brother, the Super High School Level Yakuza. How can I, if I'm not even —"Kuzuryu broke into tears; it was the first time I saw her in this state. Seeing her this demoralized, so different from her usual proud self, hurt me. I barely knew her and yet, my heart was breaking.

How can I show her I understand what she's feeling? That I felt the same emotions that she did. That she wasn't alone. That talent wasn't everything…

I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into an embrace. It was embarrassing but that didn't matter now. "Let me go," she said softly, but I ignored her and pulled her even closer. She didn't protest.

"I understand, Kuzuryu, I understand so much it hurts. Talent —" my voice broke off and I clenched my teeth to suppress the tears.

"Talent isn't everything. Your brother, he will definitely let you stand with him, simply because you're his sister. How can talent be more important than familial bonds?"

Kuzuryu shoved me away. I managed to glance at her face as I fell; she wasn't angry as I expected her to be, but rather she looked distant.

"Bye," she said curtly. No "see you later" or "take care" or any longwinded parting words. It was a fitting final exchange between two individuals who knew little about each other and who were barely, if even, friends. Kuzuryu walked away briskly then broke into a run.

"Goodbye, Kuzuryu," I replied, though there was no way she heard me.

I walked toward the fountain, downcast. The sky, lit red by the setting sun contributed to my gloomy mood. Expecting nothing, I strolled pass the fountain and glanced at the all-too-familiar bench.

"Nanami?" There she was, lying on the bench, playing Gala Omega as usual. I was unreasonably glad; it was not too late to say goodbye.

I sat down next to her. If she noticed me, she made no indication, but I didn't mind. I was content with watching her play…

"Was that your girlfriend?" Chiaki Nanami, the Super High School Level Gamer asked, finally putting the console down. Evidently, she lost.

My face felt hot. "No, it's nothing like that! She was just a classmate, that's all."

Nanami puffed her cheeks. "Well, I knew that much from your conversation. I was just teasing." She handed me a console, which I took out of habit.

"So this is the last time I'll see you at Hope's Peak Academy,"Nanami said, in the midst of the calming beeps and boops of the fighting game we were playing.

"Yea," I agreed sadly, "And the last time we'll spend gaming together."

"Huh?" Nanami looked at me, visibly confused and distraught. I took this opportunity to take out the remaining health bar of her character.

"It's nice to finally win!" I exclaimed, though any joy I felt was severely curtailed by the cloud of despair weighing on my heart. If there was anything I would miss from Hope's Peak Academy, it would be gaming with Nanami.

When I looked at Nanami, I instantly regretted gloating.

"What are you saying? Do you not want to be with me anymore?" Nanami asked, upset. She couldn't meet my eyes.

"No, that's not it. It was fun hanging out with you. You… you were my best friend, but I'm moving to another school…"

Nanami wiped away her tear, and smiled. "What, is that it?" she asked, giggling.

Nanami reached into her bag, and before I could react, grabbed my left hand and placed it on her lap. Surprised and thoroughly embarrassed, I turned away to hide my burning face.

"What are you doing, Nanami?!" I exclaimed when I felt something soft touching my palm.

She didn't respond and instead, cheerfully hummed a tune from what I presume to be a game.

After a few godly minutes, I felt her grip loosen around my wrist. "Ahh, finished!" Nanami announced, leaping to her feet.

"Goodbye Hinata, see you tomorrow!"

What was she talking about? "Ehhhh, see you around, Nanami…" I responded, unsure of what to say.

I looked at my palm. It was her phone number. She wrote her phone number and drew a large heart as well as a bunch of her favorite characters around it.

Anyone else would consider her actions to be a symbol of love, but I knew her better. She treasured our friendship above everything else. And yet, I couldn't help but blankly stare out into the distance and wistfully ask myself, "What does this mean?"

It was nighttime before I arrived home, and I couldn't bring myself to text her.