It was never easy being a teacher.
Every student is different. You had to deal with all kinds of trouble you can and cannot expect.
Of course, the students in Class 3-3 of Yomi North and the 'Calamity' trouble are no different.
Kouichi knew the risks when he took up the job as Class 3-3's homeroom teacher at Yomi North. Mei also knew the risks. Their friends knew the risks.
But no one's just gonna stand by and watch another class massacre happening again.
It should be obvious. The answer's always there. It's been there all along.
He should've noticed it sooner, back when he was a student. If he did, a lot of lives could be saved.
A school plagued with the curse, but is still opening despite it for who knows how many years? An administration committee that never shows up anywhere in the school? Why is the calamity's happening every year despite every Extra one that showed up has been returned to death?
The truth's much simpler than anyone thought; there was, and always been, more than one Extra one.
And another Extra one is none other than the principal of Yomi North himself.
The mysterious principal who never showed up at the opening ceremony or anywhere else for that matter. His face, as Kouichi noticed when he put a bullet in his head, matched that of the ghostly boy in the 1972 Class 3-3 photo Mei showed to him from a long time ago. His name was supposed to be Yomiyama Misaki, but it appeared that it was a fake name he created.
As Kouichi thought, he was dead since 1972, but he refused to die. He returned as a ghost, as all Extra ones did, but instead of returning to dead at the end of the year like everyone, he secretly became the school principal via fake identity, and manipulating the school, class 3-3 in particular, into fooling 'Death' to think that it has successfully find and bring him to where he belonged.
What's a better way for the Dead to live on than having the Living die for them?
For so many years, it worked. Students, teachers, relatives, anyone that related to Class 3-3 were killed just so that he could live on longer. An even better insurance is that with him still living, the another 'Extra one' that appeared every year managed to make his job a lot more easier.
His past was mysterious, but Kouichi didn't care to find out. With Mei and her magic eye's little help, he finally got the bastard that killed his friends and so many others, that's all that matters.
All of these to ensure that his children, Izumi and Misaki, won't suffer the same tragic fates as his fallen friends.
The calamity was no more.
Izumi and Misaki have grown up so quickly in Mei's eyes. She couldn't bring herself to believe that it's been fifteen years already. As she predicted, Misaki's the splitting image of herself in her younger years, and Izumi is, well, just like the Izumi she remembered. They don't really get along, true, but they're still family, and no matter what happens, you don't turn your back on your family.
Today's the first day they both started their new school years in Yomi North, of course in Class 3-3, but it's also the twentieth anniversary of the day everything ended, the day of the Mansion Incident.
And today, she and Kouichi are going to pay a visit to their friends.
"Mom, how's aunt Yukari like?"
Misaki asked her mother while she's walking hand in hand on the way to the cemetery. They're going on ahead while Kouichi and Izumi are going to the hospital for a little check-up. Misaki, being observing as she is, asked her mother about her friends. It's a little tough for her to answer though, she never really has anyone to called friends back when she's in junior high, for reasons obvious to everyone, but she's going to try her best.
"She's a very kind woman, Misa-chan." Mei smiled at her daughter. "She always cared after her friends, and she also got along really well with your father. She's one of the best friends you could ask for."
"And what about Uncle Kazami?"
"Oh, he's uncle Naoya's best friend, and was also very close with aunt Yukari. He's a very serious person, and is always cool-headed. But don't make him angry. He could be a short-tempered man if the situation forced him. Me and your father learned that out the hard way."
"Oh! And what about aunt Izumi? You know, the person whose dad named sister after?"
This time, Mei stayed silent.
She doesn't know what to talk about Izumi, even though out of her deceased friends, she knew her the best.
Izumi Akazawa, both her best friend, and her worst enemy.
She was the first person she tried to bond with after she got into Class 3-3, and it went along just fine had it not for her being declared the Extra one of the class. Even then, she won't give up. After Kouichi came along, she gave it another try, and against all odds, it was working, up until the beach incident where it all gone downhill...
...up until that mansion, where everything went wrong and she couldn't do anything at all.
"...I think you might need to ask your father about her," Mei answered. "I don't really know her well."
"Oh, okay, mom." Misaki said, her face saddened a bit. She really wants to know about Izumi Akazawa, her older sister's namesake. Her father gave her that name for a reason, and she wants to know why. She and Izumi aren't nicknamed by their parents' friends 'the Yomi North Legacy' without reasons.
"Ouch!"
Izumi's foot slipped on some rocks on the ground, and she fell over. It was near the river that was flowing through the town.
"That hurts!" She moaned, her hand grabbed the back of her head before shaking, her red twintails flew motioned back and forth.
"Need a little help, Izumi?"
Kouichi reached his hand out for her with a kind, assured smile on his face. Izumi grabbed her father's hand before getting up. They were just walking along the river after they got back from the hospital. It was evening, and the sun's starting to go down, the sunset overlooking the town is so beautiful. Kouichi never thought the town of Yomiyama would have something like this, considering everything else this town had.
"Thanks, dad." Izumi said, giving a smile back to her father.
Out of everyone in her life, she can say with no hesitation that she loved her father the most, well, at least until she could find a boyfriend. Her tense altitude with others doesn't really helped. There's only a few people in her life that she has a soft spot on, her sister Misaki, her father, and as much as she hated to admit it, her mother Mei is also on her list. For her, nothing's more important than her family.
"So this is where you first met her, huh?" She asked. "Your best friend? My namesake, Izumi?"
Kouichi looked at the scenery around them, only just realized that they've been standing in the very place, at the very same moment in a day, that he first met Izumi Akazawa.
His greatest failure is for him not to remember it, at the time she was asking if he could, at the worst moment possible.
He could not bring her happiness when she most needed it.
Even after all this time, he could not forgive himself for that one mistake.
"Yeah," Kouichi said, his eyes staring into distance. "This is where I met her...sweet memories..."
Izumi looked into her father's eyes. They're full of sadness. She decided not to ask anything further. She knew full well who the other Izumi are. Her parents always talked about her. For them, she's someone special to them, and that's all she has to know.
"Let's move on, daddy." Izumi grabbed her father's hand again. "Mom and sis are waiting for us at the cemetery."
The cemetery. Kouichi thought. I used to hate going to that place, but this time, it's so strange.
It's as if I'm looking forward to go there.
"Alright, let's go." He finally spoke.
And then, hand in hand, they walked along the riverside.
"Yo, Kouichi!" A familiar voice called up.
Naoya and Yuuya are standing there with their kids. All of them greeted Kouichi just down the hill below the cemetery itself.
"It's good to see you again, uncle Naoya and uncle Yuuya!" Izumi greeted.
"Never thought you guys will show up, too!" Kouichi exclaimed. So unexpected, but nevertheless, he's glad to see them both here.
"Wouldn't miss it for anything in the world, bro." Naoya grinned. "Besides, someone really wants to meet you!"
"Uncle Sakakibara!"
A young boy and a young girl spoke in unison, before running toward Kouichi and hug him tight.
"Whoa! Kazami! Yumi! Slow down!"
Heh, those two haven't changed at all.
"Hey! Have you got taller, Yumi-chan? How old are you this year?" Izumi asked while patting Yumi's head. She just smiled happily.
"She just turned nine last friday, Izumi-neechan!" Kazami smiled. "Mine's not until December."
"Time sure flies by, eh?" Naoya added.
"Where's little Yukari-chan and Aya-chan, Yuuya?" Kouichi asked.
"Oh, they're playing with Mei over there." Yuuya said, before pointing to the green field overlooking the town, where Mei sitting on the picnic mat, with two young girls sitting beside her.
"Uh huh, and Where's Naomi?"
"Nah, she can't bring herself to come here." Yuuya answered. "She's out on town with Haruka. They both send their regards, though. Don't worry."
Not really a surprise, though, considering what happened.
Against all odds, Naoya managed to overcome his guilt during his school years and managed to hook up with Haruka Etou, while Yuuya did the same with Naomi Fujimaki. They all have a couple of children just a short while after Mei gave birth to Izumi and Misaki, respectively.
And while it's not exactly a rule, they all made a promise that they'll all name their newborn children after their deceased friends, and will one day brought them here together, to be with their friends, to be together.
The first grave Kouichi visited is none other than his aunt's grave, Reiko Mikami.
"Hi, Reiko-san." Kouichi spoke. "It's been twenty years now, right?"
He carefully placed the flower banquet on her grave, fighting the urges to let his tears down. Naoya, Yuuya and their kids are visiting the other graves, so only Mei and their children are with him right now.
"You...don't worry about the class, okay? Everything's alright now. I've got it all under control." He spoke.
"Learned a few tricks while you were the homeroom teacher...really helped a lot, you know? Thanks, Reiko-san."
Okay, now I'm speaking nonsense. Kouichi thought. He just doesn't know what to say to her. Everything that's happened to her. It's just...damn it all.
And this is just the first grave of many he's going to go through this day.
Mei stood behind him, along with his children. They both hugged him tight, trying to give him comfort.
"Say hello to mom for me, and take care of yourself, okay? I'll see you again."
He finally said his parting words, before giving another small smile at the grave, before turning away.
"Hi sister."
Mei spoke. She finally arrived at the grave of Misaki Fujioka, her deceased twin sister.
"How've you been doing these days, sis?" She asked, then laughed bitterly when she realized that she won't be getting an answer.
It's funny, talking with the dead. You know they can't talk back, but you still wanted to talk to them. It's like one way of remembering them, to know that we used to know, to talk, to laugh, to cry, to do something meaningful with them at least once in our lives.
"Is that your sister, mom?" Young Misaki asked her mother while kneeling down in front of the grave. "She must be a lot like you, yes?"
"Yes, Misaki." Mei answered, her eyes still on the grave. "Yes, she was."
"I'm just...I just wished that you could be here with us, Fujioka-san...Misaki..." Mei whispered, tears started dropping out of her eye.
Suddenly, the time stopped, and something unbelievable happened.
"I'm always here with you, Mei, wherever you are."
Mei stopped crying, lifting her face up, before seeing something that made her heart skipped quite a few beats.
In front of her, where it should be her younger daughter Misaki, stood Misaki, her sister.
"Good to see you again, sister." Misaki spoke, smiling brightly at Mei.
"M-Misaki!?" Mei exclaimed. She couldn't believe what she is seeing right now.
"So now I'm the younger one, huh?" She giggled "I'll have to admit, I never really enjoyed being the younger one, but this 'sister' of mine, Izumi, she's...interesting. Would love going to know her better."
Mei doesn't say anything, but just lunged toward Misaki, and hugged her tight.
"I missed you so much, Misaki! I missed you so much! Don't ever leave me again!"
"I have told you, right? I'm always with you, Mei. We won't be separated ever again."
Misaki patted her back, comforting her.
If it were to be from anyone else's point of view, it's a mother embracing her daughter in front of someone's grave, but for Mei, it's a tearful reunion between her and her dear sister after a long time of separation.
"Please take a good care of me, Mei. I love you."
"I love you, too, Misaki...I love you..."
"Long time no see, you idiot."
A familiar energetic voice spoke, as Kouichi backed away a few feet after seeing the woman in front of him stood in the place where his older daughter were seconds before.
"I...Izumi?"
"Of course it's me! Who do you expect!?"
She pouted. Her red eyes staring at him in disappointment.
"B-but, but you are..." Kouichi staggered. He just had no idea of what to speak.
"Heh, speechless, eh? After all those years and you haven't realize that I was here with you all along?"
"I knew it was you all along, Izumi." Kouichi finally spoke, his eyes still stared at her in amazement, but at least he has something to speak now. "That's why I gave you that name."
"So you haven't forgot about me, after all." Izumi continued, her face became saddened. "After...after that mansion...after what you spoke to me that day...I thought you..."
Before she finished, she was cut off by Kouichi who suddenly hugged her tight.
"Goddamnit Izumi...I'm...I'm sorry...I'm sorry for everything..."
That's it, his tears are bursting out right now.
"I'm sorry for being the ignorant jackass like I did...I'm sorry that I was too weak to...to save you..."
Kouichi's body trembled, his knees' starting to give away. The guilt all come crashing down on him one by one.
"I'm sorry...that I let you die..."
Izumi slowly wrapped her arms around Kouichi's back, embracing him also.
"It's not your fault, Kouichi. Stop blaming yourself already."
Kouichi lifted his face up, looking straight into Izumi's eyes.
"I tried to kill you and Mei. It was me who lost it at that moment. Every death at that mansion happened because I couldn't stop Takako from broadcasting that blasted announcement."
"But you were forced to do it!" Kouichi argued. "You just lost all your best friends! If it were me, I would've lost my mind, too!"
"Ever wondered how things would've turned out for different had there not been a calamity happened, Kouichi?"
Izumi asked a question that Kouichi doesn't understand.
"I..."
"Ever wondered how we could be friends if there wasn't a calamity happening?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Now, would we still be friends when there is a calamity? That's the difference, Kouichi. You stood up for your friends while me, Takako and all the others didn't. You stood up for Mei, even if nobody else did."
Izumi moved her hands to Kouichi's face, holding him close.
"You chose to never just focus on keeping on living, but also in living with a meaning, that's why you survived. That's why you lived, Kouichi."
And with that, Izumi gave him another smile, a bright, radiant smile, almost made Kouichi thought that she is still living.
"Look over there, there's she coming, and her sister."
She pointed across the field and Kouichi looked along. Mei is walking toward them, beside her is Misaki, but it's not his younger daughter.
She looked just like Mei, but with brown hair and two red eyes, as opposed to Mei's black hair and a single red eye.
"So, you did a great job protecting her, huh?"
"Yeah." Kouichi replied.
"You are Mei's husband, and my new 'father', right? Thank you for taking care of my sister, Kouichi-san" Misaki spoke
Kouichi found it weird that technically, he's talking with his younger daughter, but he decided not to over thinking it and replies to her.
"She has a great effect on my life, Misaki-san. You sure are lucky to have her as your sister." He told Misaki, who just smiled happily in response.
As Mei and Izumi stood opposite each other, Izumi gave her a dreaded look just like she did when they were in junior high.
"So, I guess I have to call you 'mother' now, right, you bitch?"
Mei didn't say anything.
"Heh. Always the same emotionless doll, you will never change."
"Stop calling my sister like that!" Misaki spoke, her eyes tensed up, but Mei used her arms to hold her back.
Izumi ignored her, her eyes never taking off the woman in front of her.
"You'll never make a good friend to anyone, Mei." She began.
"But you do make a nice mother."
Suddenly, Izumi pulled Mei toward her, and they embraced each other.
"I'm sorry for everything I have done to you, Mei." Izumi said as she's starting to cry. "I'm sorry that I let my anger got the best of me."
"It...it was never your fault, Izumi." Mei tried to speak while controlling herself not to cry again. "It was never anyone's fault."
Izumi smiled despite in tears, before saying the words that almost made Kouichi's heart melt since Mei accepted his marriage proposal.
"You are, and always will be, my friend, Mei Misaki. Take care of yourself, okay?"
Mei just nodded. She's just too much emotional to say anything.
Izumi turned her head toward Kouichi while still embracing Mei, and giving him a wink.
"You'd better take a good care of all of us, Kouichi!" She spoke and gave him a mischievous grin. "Or I'll haunt you for the rest of your miserable life!"
For the first time in a big while, Kouichi laughed happily.
He knew it all along ever since they were born, this just confirmed it, and made his world a lot more better.
They are together, they really are together.
No one gets left behind, no one.
"Heh, you already did, Izumi"
And with that, Misaki walked beside Izumi, and they both gave Kouichi and Mei another happy smiles.
"I love you."
They spoke in unison, before collapsing on the ground.
Mei and Kouichi hurriedly walking toward them. Izumi and Misaki's eyes closed eyes slowly opened.
"...Mom? Dad? What happened? Why are you both having a funny look on your faces?" Misaki asked.
Mei sighed with relief, while Kouichi smiled at them.
"We just ran into some old friends, Misaki-chan. Don't worry," Mei spoke kindly while patting Misaki's head.
"Oi! Kouichi! Mei!" Naoya called out from behind them. "It's getting dark now! Let's go find something to eat. Don't let my wife wait too long! She'll have my head!"
"Right! We're coming!" Kouichi shouted.
And with that, the Sakakibara family started walking down the hill.
"Oh, Misa-chan?" Mei spoke. "You asked earlier that you wanted to know more about aunt Izumi, right?"
"Yeah! I really wanted to know more about her, mom!"
Mei glanced at Izumi, who's walking alongside her father, smiling happily as they shared jokes and the like as they're walking along.
"Alright, I'll tell you about her, Misaki." Mei finally smiled, wiping away the leftover tears from earlier, then grabbed her daughter's hand.
This is going to be an interesting life that awaited them all.
Editor's note: So, er, looks like I failed to keep this fic as a oneshot, huh?
Dunno, just have the urge to write this second chapter after I read a Dangan Ronpa Epilogue fanfic written by my fanfic writer friend, TheRoseShadow21, which have similar premises as what I wrote here. Other than that, I just wrote it out of sheer devotion to give the Another characters a proper happy ending they deserved LOL.
There WILL be a third chapter, since three is my favorite number, so stay tuned!
Read and review! Thank you all readers!