As Chiaki walked to her bed she relized how much she missed eating. She never had to eat but it made her feel human. The devas immediately scurried into their cage as Chiaki slipped off her shoes and face planted into her pillow. She slowly pulled the covers over and checked her tie when she realized it was gone.
Chiaki immediately jumped out of the bed and searched for the tie. The devas joined in but came back emptied paw until San-d picked up a scent. Chiaki followed along with all the other devas. Outside San-d raced towards the gate until an all too familiar voice ringed in.
"Looking for this"
Chiaki turned to the old buildings entrance where she locked eyes with him. She froze as he continued to talk.
"To believe the ultimate beacon of hope was here all along"
The devas jumped in to protect Chiaki as they bared there teeth.
"Relax I'm on your side, Chiaki all I want is for you to shine"
Things went quiet until Junko opened the gate. "Ah I see you've found Komaeda" Junko spoke "would you believe he washed up on shore". That's when it hit Chiaki that she was trapped with the most despair and hope obsessed people ever. With a calm breathe Chiaki walked up to Komaeda and took back her tie, surprisingly Komaeda was unresistant. With tie in hand Chiaki walked to the restaurant doors. "I need some time alone" Chiaki said before closing the door behind her.
Junko turned to Komaeda" So how are you" Junko smiled. "I'm feeling pretty lucky" Komaeda smiled back" I came back to life and now I can serve the ultimate hope". "No wonder you were my least favorite remnant of despair" Junko joked as she entered the restaurant "by the way don't even think of following me this building is for girls only". Komaeda shrugged and walked to his cottage.
Junko walked upstairs to find Chiaki playing a fighting game. "What's the matter sis" Junko asked. Chiaki stayed silent until Junko snatched her console. "Talk to me" Junko demanded. Chiaki puffed her cheeks before she decided to talk. "I just want a break from this so please leave me alone" Junko frowned but decided to do as she said.
Back at Komaedas cottage, he was busy making plans to serve his ultimate hope. Just as he was writing up an idea he heard a knock at his door. Komaeda opened than immediately closed the door, but Junko stopped him just in time. "I just want to talk." Junko pleaded" it's about Chiaki".
The two sat across one another for awhile in silence. "We need to make Chiaki happy" Junko stated. "What's in it for you?" Komaeda coldly asked. Junko played with her hair before answering " If we have to live here for who knows how long we need to get along". Komaeda didn't really buy it but he understood what needed to be done. "Fine what is your plan" Komaeda asked. "First I'll need you to gather some things" Junko started.
It was night time when Junko came upstairs. Chiaki was peacefully asleep in her bed. "Hey Chiaki wake up" Junko said as she poked Chiakis cheek. "Uh…Hajime..why..did you move away" Chiaki mumbled in her sleep. Junko finally woke Chiaki up just as she was mumbling about a rotten tanuki. "Ah I'm up" Chiaki said as she got up. As Chiaki wiped her eyes she noticed Junko was wearing a red dress. "What's the dress for?" Chiaki asked before Junko tossed her a long white dress. "Put it on, I have another surprise for you" Junko smiled.
Chiaki got changed before junko led her to the old building. Inside Komaeda was waiting in a nice suite. The room was nice and spacious thanks to the giant hole in the wall. In one corner Komaeda hooked up his tv monitor and plugged in a wii. On the other side was low and behold food. "Where did you get this?" Chiaki asked a bit taken back by everything. "Funny story I was looking for food when a cow chased me" Komaeda started" but while I was running I tripped and fell into the supermarket". Chiaki felt more at ease. "Hey hey hey let's keep the party going" junko shouted as she lifted a CD player. The next 10 minutes were spent dancing, lucky for Chiaki she dabbled in dance games. Junko was pretty good but Komaeda played it safe as he tapped his foot.
Suddenly the music faded and a slow song came on. Chiaki felt very awkward since she never danced to a slow song before. Just as Chiaki was about to skip the song Komaeda offered his hand to Chiaki. Chiaki slowly accepted it as Komaeda pulled her in. "Just follow me and you should be fine" Komaeda said keeping his distance while still holding her hands. "Komaeda what are you going to do" Chiaki asked worriedly. "I've been thinking about that and I think I want to serve you" Komaeda smiled "you've been through so much because of me so I want the make amends" Chiaki felt nervous. "I want to trust you but I still have my doubts" Chiaki started "you hurt me, our classmates, and you betrayed-. "Hajime" Komaeda finished" I'll admit I did some horrible things but I did it for you the ultimate hope". Chiaki went silent. "Why do you attach yourself to people who are bellow you" Komaeda said as darkness started to form in his eyes" Hajime is worthless not only that he's responsible for spreading so much despair". Chiakis eyes drifted to to the floor. "There you go again" Chiaki started" talking about hope and despair like it's life or death. Can't you understand there's more to it". Komaeda looked worried. "It doesn't mater what talent you have" Chiaki said "what matters is who you are on the inside". The darkness faded from Komaedas eyes. "I care for them because I know they have potential to shape there own lives" Chiaki stated "even though Hajime didn't have a talent he was still a very nice person". Chiaki slowly let go of Komaedas hands.
"I'm sorry" Komaeda apologized" I don't deserve to be forgiven for all I've done but I'll still try to make you happy". Chiaki slowly walked away. "I need a minute outside" Chiaki said as she opened the door. When the door closed junko stared at Komaeda. "I'll go talk to her" Junko said "stay put and think about what you've done". Junko went through the door leaving Komaeda all alone as the CD player stopped.
Outside Chiaki sat alone on the steps. She started to miss her sister her real sister. If junko survived certainly Usami had to of survived. Suddenly Junko opened the door. "What are you doing out here?" Junko asked very concerned. Chiaki stood silent as Junko seated herself next to her. "I know what happend between you and Komaeda was horrible" Junko started"but you have to let it go". Chiaki sighed "I can forgive that he tricked me, but I can't easily forgive the fact that he hurt all my friends and most of all he hurt Hajime"Chiaki said. "There you go again at Hajime like he's some hero" junko joked" I didn't know AIs could fall so hard for humans".chiaki looked up at the stars"that's just it" Chiaki smiled"out of everyone he made me feel the most human". Junko frowned a bit "here I'll let you in on a little secret" Junko said "before I became the mastermind youo see today I had a boyfriend". Chiaki tilted her head. "I killed him though" junko said "because he was the world to me and I needed to feel despair". Chiaki looked concerned. There was silence for a while. "Ah that felt good to get off my chest" Junko joked "now let's go back in and play some Mario kart", Chiakis eyes lightened up and she followed Junko inside. The party finished an hour later. "I'll see you tomorrow" Komaeda waved as he headed to his cottage. Chiaki fell onto her bed still in her gown and went straight to dreamland. Junko smiled at the cuteness and pulled the covers over Chiaki.
The next morning Chiaki woke up to the smell of something sweet. Chiaki changed back into her regular clothes and walked downstairs. To her surprise the lobby had been cleaned. Chiaki stepped out and followed the scent to the old building. Inside Komaeda and Junko were eating pancakes. "Good morning Chiaki" the two said in unison. Chiaki looked at the two before grabbing a plate and eating a pancake in silence. "Is there anything I can get for you Chiaki" Komaeda offered. Chiaki remained silent. "We fixed another cottage today" Junko started "you should check it out". Chiaki thought about it than left to go see the cottage.
Sure enough they fixed hajimes cottage. Chiaki stood at the door for awhile before entering. Similar to Komaedas cottage everything that wasn't deleted was in place. Chiaki eventually found herself lying on Hajimes bed. She slowly pulled over the covers and nuzzled the pillow till she fell asleep. Chiaki had a nice dream that she was in a fire emblem game. Just as she and her partner were about to defeat a dragon she was woken up. "If your done dreaming about Hajime you have to see something" Junko said.
Chiaki followed Junko to the front of the restaurant where a strange text box was floating. Komaeda observed from the side. Chiaki looked at the box as it typed something. Is anyone there? Chiakis eyes lit up at the thought that someone on the outside had found them. "Why don't you respond Chiaki" Komaeda suggested. Chiaki pressed the box and a keyboard appeared. Chiaki typed "who is this?". "It's me Hajime Hinata" the box responded.
Chiaki felt something strange like her heart skipping a beat as she read the name. Who am I talking to the box continued. Without hesitation Chiaki typed her name. It took a while for Hajime to respond, but Chiaki imagined Hajime was getting the others. Finally after a while a message appeared: where are you? Chiaki typed a description of her environment. Another message: Is anyone else there with you?
Chiaki hesitated. She wasn't alone but she didn't know how Hajime would respond if she told him who was with her. Finally she decided she had no choice and typed in that she was alone. Junko and Komaeda were surprised but stayed silent. "Don't worry we're working on a way to rebuild the program and get you out "Hajime typed.
Chiaki felt a sense of relief but she also felt a little worried. What would they do if they discovered Komaeda and junko. Hajime typed: the connections getting weak so I have to go. Chiaki typed very fast: okay and also I…
Chiakis fingers froze before she could type. She decided to just say thank you for now and save her confession for when she saw his face. The box glitched out as Chiaki let out a sigh. "Why did you lie" Komaeda asked. "I'll tell him the truth later..I think" Chiaki said "I think I'm going to go back to sleep" Chiaki walked to hajimes cottage leaving junko and Komaeda alone two glared coldly at each other before going there separate ways.
Komaeda returned to his cottage a bit angry. He couldn't believe someone as talented and unique as Chiaki would protect two pieces of trash. He couldn't stand the idea that the ultimate hope was protecting the ultimate despair. Than a thought occurred to him. What if Chiakis plan was to rehabilitate Junko. If that was the case he was happy that he was here.
At the restaurant Junko was making another outfit for Chiaki so she wouldn't have to wear the same thing all the time. As she sewed she couldn't help but look at Chiakis side of the room. She never really had the chance to investigate Chiakis side until now. Junko slowly tiptoed over to Chiakis side when she spotted the notebook. Without hesitation Junko picked it up and started to read through it. The writing and pictures were so childish but in a way they reminded Junko of her old diary. Slowly junko read about chiakis free time with Hajime and it made her giggle a little. "Oh Chiaki you've got it bad" junko thought to herself. Junko than turned to a page that looked much nicer than the others. It had a picture of Komaeda and Junko dancing. The note read: today junko and Komaeda threw me a party. I don't know if I can trust them but they seem to be trying to change. Junko felt touched as she read and decided to put the notebook back. After she did she looked at Chiakis pillow but Jum-p made a threatening sound as if to say don't even try. Junko decided to let it go and went back to sewing. The last few days had been fun but she still had to crush the ultimate hope.