Proving Something
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"How do you measure something like luck?" Set pre-game in a universe where their days were peaceful. Written in Naegi's POV. Contains spoilers.
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Some things in life were just more of whim than whimsical.
I've already gone past the point of curiosity and into the territory of apathy. It didn't take long for me to realize that there were just some things that weren't meant to be explained. Not everything that happens has happened for a reason. In fact, there may be no greater meaning in life. But that's just me getting ahead of myself.
I've already accepted it.
And even so, I still somehow ended up in this situation. I'm worse off than I've ever been before in a span of one day. This kind of thing was normal to me but today was just tragic. Deliberately trying to observe a phenomenon was our biggest mistake.
My classmates just didn't understand.
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I should have known better than to stay after class.
"Everyone, I am pleased to announce that we will now begin today's class meeting!"
The class representative, Ishimaru, declared delightedly. The attendance was perfect, everyone was still in their proper seats, and no one was late but this was only natural since it was just seconds after their last period. The order in their classroom was so pristine that it made Ishimaru deliriously happy. At least this time he was happy. I'd rather see him like this than when he was passionate last time.
He gave his opening remarks perfectly as if he memorized it by heart but since it was him, most of us were more used to it than amazed. "…And with that, I'd like to call on Naegi to come to the front."
That wasn't part of the usual script. "Huh? Me?" I pointed to myself just to clarify/
He nodded. "Yes, now kindly present yourself here."
I wasn't even listening! What kind of meeting was this anyways? I didn't have a choice in this so I did as I was told. He cheerily clapped my shoulder afterward. Believe me, I had no idea what was going on so it was the least bit reassuring.
"As you are all aware, we have successfully triumphed over our first year. I believe that our bonds have strengthened since we first met and I'm sure that you all agree as well."
I blinked. Wait a minute. My eyes scanned the class. Everyone was earnestly listening. I was at the back so I didn't notice it before. Was I the only one not listening? I suddenly felt ashamed. But something was off though. It felt as though I was out of the loop. It was as if everyone expected this meeting sooner or later. No, everyone but me expected this meeting to happen today.
"We will now proceed to the discussion of Naegi's talent."
Never had I been so scared in my life.
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Under what circumstances do you consider yourself lucky?
"I guess for me that's like walking into a store and then finding something you really want." Maizono was the first to answer. "And you're super lucky if it's something really rare too!"
Surprisingly, that was an ordinary example to start off with. At first, I expected them to ask something crazy from me right off the bat. I will be forever grateful to Maizono giving me a slow start. But then again, maybe if I had done something extreme from the start then they'd let me go. Either way, I'm stuck with this.
"Alright, I'll give that a shot."
So we set off and I arbitrarily chose this music shop I go to from time to time. I took my time in browsing every shelf. I walked out after ten minutes with a smug smile.
"I found a limited edition of Maizono's first album and it's in mint condition!" I flashed my newly purchased item at them. "It was up for only its original price, this is awesome!"
"Who knew you had it in ya?" Oowada patted my back.
The CD case slipped.
But I managed to catch it right before it hit the ground. "Close call." I sighed but then I noticed a scratch at the edge of the case. Suddenly, I became anxious. This would probably not end well for me. I opened the case and checked the CD.
It was cracked.
"I'll just have it returned, no worries." I laughed nervously. Then I turned around to get back into the shop.
It was at that moment that the store closed.
I felt as if the world was ganging up on me. My friends could only sympathize.
"Maybe it still works. We could try it out in Chihiro's laptop." Maizono tried to comfort me but even herself wasn't convinced.
We all knew that it was a hopeless case but you'll never know, right? Maybe my luck was just running late and this time it'll surely hit. I mean, that was a lot of allowance! The disc was inserted and the laptop made these weird sounds. After probably the longest seconds of my life, it loaded.
"Unreadable file."
I wish my face was unreadable too.
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What about other instances of being lucky?
"I know!" Asahina shouted eagerly. "There's this donut shop that always runs out of my favorite flavor. It's like my holy grail of donuts." Her mouth almost watered just thinking about it.
"I don't think I have it in me to go into another shop today." My shoulders slumped.
Never will I go into stores when prompted ever again.
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Were there evidences of my luck?
"The fact that you were born." Fukawa hesitantly answered. "It's a miracle that you exist and even share the same classroom with d-dear Togami!"
"Uh, thanks. I guess?" Of course, Fukawa would answer with something like that.
Somehow, I felt like she was accusing me.
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If there was a test of courage, was there a test of luck?
"The ultimate test of luck is a perilous path. Cross only if you dare, Master Makoto Naegi." Yamada spoke in an ominous voice.
"I'm sure it's not that life threatening." I joked because he had to be joking too, right?
He adjusted his glasses just to create a gleam effect. "You underestimate the trial. Are you really that eager to meet your demise?"
"Not really but I'll be taking the test anyways."
"I shall forever remember your name should you not survive today!" He saluted me then whispered my task.
My face flushed.
"I can't do that!" I covered my ear. What I heard was something of taboo. Even if I were lucky, I won't be able to live a normal life if I had gone through with it. "Besides, how is that related to luck?"
"The last part!" He huffed.
"I refuse!" I raised my voice.
There's no way I'd peep on the girls changing and not get caught while at it.
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What were the times that you considered yourself lucky?
"I am but a simple person." Oogami humbly said. "Just dodging or merely surviving supposedly finishing blows from my opponents is a sign of luck on my part."
"Let's not try that on me." I unconsciously backed away.
Even I knew that my luck was no match to her strength.
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Were there aspects of luck?
"I guess luck works differently in the model business." Enoshima commented offhandedly. "You're quite the lucky one if you get into a good contract right from the start."
"But how does that apply to me?" I naively asked.
"It doesn't."
I already knew this before but I never was going into the starlight.
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How do you measure something like luck?
"I think it's about randomness and probabilities." A timid voice suggested. "It's the closest thing we can measure, right?"
Well, if you put it that way then that was one interpretation. You're lucky if you get the result with the lowest probability. It was a simple enough concept and everyone at that time agreed to it as well.
"I have a program that plays with probabilities. It's just a one-command process. It produces a random code then depending on the code produced, something happens." As expected of our programmer, Chihiro, to volunteer this method.
"By random code… how random are the results?" Yamada asked with concern.
"Oh, don't worry. I've programmed it to only produce mediocre to positive events. The most unlikely being getting today's numbers in the lottery." The laptop was already out with the program opened.
"Such sorcery! Let us put this to good use then!" He yelled with enthusiasm.
"Like I said, it's random though. So it depends on Naegi's performance. I sure hope that we'd hit the jackpot!" Chihiro giggled.
Performance? Gee, thanks for the no pressure. I sighed. I wished they didn't place too much hope in my… talent, if you could call it that. I just wanted to get this over with.
"So I just press enter, right?" And I did.
Nothing happened.
Well that was anti-climactic. And then all of a sudden, a string of intelligible letters and digits filled the screen. If this was just one code then it was a long one.
"Umm, Chihiro?"
But before he could tell everyone what had just happened, he immediately snatched the laptop and opened a few other programs. I wasn't exactly sure what he was doing but I was too afraid to disturb him when he wore such a concentrated look. When he finally finished, he rebooted the laptop and sighed.
"Naegi's luck is… remarkable." He finally said. "The code it generated was a hack into a foreign agency. Had I acted any slower, we would have been traced and I'm still unsure as to what kind of agency it was hacking into."
While some hid theirs, it was obvious that everyone fell into a state of shock.
"Wait, but I thought you said this thing only produced good codes."
"That's what it was programmed to do. And yet, it created something near the impossible. A bad code."
"Congratulations." Yamada patted me on the back.
I didn't know how to take that.
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Was there even such a thing called luck?
"My big bro once told me that only the weak rely on luck." Oowada told me. "Men get things done through hard work not dumb luck."
"That's true." I couldn't agree more.
But I felt like I was inadvertently insulted.
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Was luck influenced by the environment?
"To some extent, yes." Ikusaba thought out loud. "I know for a fact that depending on the surroundings, it could affect the number and kind of injuries probable. Not to mention the body count as well."
"Thanks for the answer." I quickly cut off the conversation.
It was too dangerous if it went on and I had to actually test it.
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Can we compare luck?
"It can't be helped. Perhaps I shall provide you with the aid you require." Celes graced me with her support. "While I may not be the SHSL Luckster, I am the SHSL Gambler. It would only be fitting if we put our luck to the test."
Now that she mentioned it, she had a point. Gambling had strategy in it but it was more of luck that ruled the game. Celes was the best at this. She has never lost a gamble before. To be honest, just her presence was intimidating enough.
"I'll warn you though. I never play for free." She smirked. "I expect compensation of some sort for the winner."
"How about I help you for a whole week? That is if I lose."
"I could use a servant at school." She smiled. "Be sure to dress accordingly. I expect nothing less than European."
"I hope I won't disappoint." Wow, we haven't even started yet and I felt as if I already lost.
"Very well. Shall we begin?"
She took out a deck of cards she conveniently carried with her for instances such as these. The game was poker since that was the only card game which I knew the rules somewhat. I won't even make this sound longer than it should but basically, I lost.
I lost for ten consecutive rounds.
It wasn't just any lost either. I had the worst possible hand each time.
"I must admit that you are quite… interesting for the lack of a better word." Celes didn't even bother to hide her amusement.
"I give." I know when I'm defeated. "So when does my week start?"
She giggled. "But Naegi, we agreed that if I won, you'd serve me for a week. And I believe that for the record, I have won ten times."
"You've got to be kidding me!" My jaw dropped.
"Also, I'd appreciate it if you wore different attires each week." She smiled sweetly.
Gambling underage was never the brightest idea.
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Were there any rules in regards to luck?
"Surely there are no regulations because if there are then I should have been informed." As expected from Ishimaru. He always did uphold the order. "Just a minute. If there are no rules then maybe such a thing like luck is not allowed!"
"You're just overthinking things." I broke into a sweat. The last thing I needed was him on my back all the time.
Wrong question and wrong person to answer.
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Was there a simple definition to luck?
"There's always a simple explanation to everything." Kuwata wagged his eyebrows. "You're lucky when you get lucky- if you know what I mean."
Ugh, not another round of this!
"C'mon, man! It's all about scoring the ladies!" He swung an arm around my shoulders. "Ya ain't lucky if ya can't get girls."
"Might I remind you that we're with our female friends as well." And I'm this close to getting caught in the crossfire.
I may not be that innocent but I'm not yet willing to cross the line of perversion.
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Can luck be understood scientifically?
"I'm telling ya, luck ain't something that technology can handle." Hagakure pointed out. "Luck's all about the natural science. And what better way to check on it than with my crystal ball."
To Hagakure, everything could be explained by his readings… 30% of the time. These were his words not mine. He admitted that while it seemed low, it was in fact a large number and we should all be grateful. I guess there's nothing left for me to do than to be happy for him.
"Sometimes I wonder if they made a mistake with your application." Asahina commented while everyone else silently agreed in their hearts.
"Ya think so too?" He scratched his head embarrassedly. "I thought SHSL Fortune Teller was too boxing. I mean I got a lot out for me than just one talent." He laughed merrily.
"No, I wasn't complimenting you."
"You got something else other than fortune telling?" Kuwata asked.
"Of course! Let's see, aside from fortune telling using my crystal ball, there's fortune telling using incense, fortune telling using the stars, fortune telling using totems, and others as well."
"Isn't that all just the same thing?!"
"Ya stupid?" Hagakure burst out in anger.
"Right back at ya." Asahina murmured.
"Can't ya all see that they're different techniques? I mean wasn't it obvious that they all use different stuff?"
At this point, I don't think there was any use in arguing with him.
"Anyways, Hagakure, would you mind reading my fortune then?" If this keeps up, I'm scared that I may actually get convinced with what he was saying.
"No problem, Naegi!" He pulled out his crystal ball and lit a few incense sticks.
Regardless, every time Hagakure did a reading it was always accurate at least when he did it with us. So I have to admit that this made me anxious. After having his eyes closed for a minute, he finally opened them.
"Weird. S'kinda vague this time." He scratched his chin. "Just says that something will fall on you. Must be good luck!"
"By something falling on me, is this in the metaphorical-" Before I could even finish my question, it already happened.
Something fell on my head.
I've come this far so there's no turning back. I grabbed whatever fell on my head and looked at it only to find out that it was a… "Salmon roll."
"It's not even salmon roe just cheap salmon roll." Celes remarked.
"Whoever heard of sushi falling from the sky?!" I yelled.
"Settle down, plebeian. At least it wasn't the usual bird excretion." Togami chided.
Then something fell on my head again.
My face immediately paled. With my other hand, I took hold of the second object to fall on my head and it was not bird poop rather it was… "A dead bird."
"Ha! Told ya my readings were accurate!"
To my credit, I didn't punch anyone in frustration afterward.
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What if luck-
"Shut up." Togami spoke. "I've had it with these meaningless discussions. Lucky or not, it doesn't change the fact that you already got into this class, now does it?"
"I guess not." I mentally flinched.
"Unfortunately so." He turned around. "Let's not prolong this anymore and accept the fact that Naegi possesses some form of luck because obviously he has no talent whatsoever."
His words were precise and sharp. But it was only so because every last one held truth.
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Being lucky never automatically translated to good luck.
"Today was a busy day." Kirigiri gave me a can of soda from the nearby vending machine.
After Togami's outburst, we finally disbanded. Since everyone already had their theories tested and all, there was really nothing left to go on. Thankfully, they let me off the hook. I thought I should have headed straight home to get some deserved rest but I ended up on this bench in the park. Watching the sun go down had this calming effect on me. I felt like I just lived, no, survived a hard day.
Kirigiri opted to join me though. I don't know why she did but it was comforting.
"Thanks." I said then I drank down the whole can. That felt good.
"Was it fun to have everyone's attention?" She was teasing me but it hardly showed on her face.
"Yeah. It was fun but really exhausting!" I shouted. "But in spite of everything that happened today, I think I understand a bit better."
"About what?"
I was incredibly unlucky. Today's events were evidences supporting just that. But today wouldn't happen unless I got accepted into Hope's Peak Academy in the first place. And the reason for my acceptance was not because I had any special talent or anything. It was by some force that I got accepted and it was called luck.
And I guess I was extremely lucky. I think that all of my good luck was used into that one shot to get me into this school. Do I hate it? Not at all.
Being able to meet everyone and getting to know them beyond the talents that the world knows them for was something that I cherished a lot. They were my friends. And I could live with having extra bad luck for the rest of my life for this. If I didn't use up all my good luck into getting here…
I wouldn't have had Kirigiri here beside me.
"I take that back. I really don't understand anything at all."
Whether by luck or not, I'd treasure my friendships the same.
Some things in life were just more of whimsical than whim.
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Shinra-ex-SOLDIER
Omake: MIXING UP NAMES
Yamada: Master Kyoko Naegi!
Kirigiri: …!
Naegi: …!
Kirigiri: Hifumi Yamada, I thought we already discussed this. Whenever calling for both me and Naegi, please address us both individually and correctly.
Yamada: But you're always together. This way is more convenient.
Naegi: Then could you at least call us both either by our first names or by our surnames instead of… that.
Yamada: I refuse! Besides, it's only a matter of time before this headcanon of mine becomes canon!
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NOTES:
This updated later than I wanted it to mainly because I had trouble writing it down. I only write happy fics when I'm depressed so while I was postponing this, I jotted down a few not-so-happy fics. Forgive me, I'll do better next time. Honestly, I'll make a comeback.
REPLIES TO REVIEWERS:
Nanoko-chan - Is it wrong for me to be happy that it makes you cry?
blue-espeon - Thank you! FEELS is something I'm particularly proud of.
Anonymous568 - Here ya go, one light-hearted chapter.
Shizuka Ayasato - It's been a while! I'm glad to contribute to you productive procrastination!
anonymous184 - Here's your happy chapter. :D
GabyS.99 - I'll be sure to writem more too.
koryandrs - Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.
Tarkana262 - Exactly! I too am disappointed by the lack of naegiri on this site so I just had to do this.
electricangel12 - I honestly don't know how to react to that.
Thank you to the new favs and follows from Alucards-Woman.
Once again, tell me what you think since it's easier to get ideas after. Hope you enjoyed this. Upupupu!