Everybody

When Komaeda's whole house burnt to the ground, it took all his clothes with it. So, naturally, I took him to get some new ones. It doesn't help that he treats 90% of the populace like a horse's crap.

When we got there, Komaeda stopped me and told me something.

"Naegi-kun. It's been like this for a while, but I'm nervous about something."

"What?"

"I really don't want to burden you and your Hope, but my luck is bound to get in the way at some point. Spending this much time with you…surely the world sees this as good luck."

"Well…Maybe we could counteract it somehow?"

"Counteract? Do you mean creating bad luck?"

"Exactly! We just have to do something bad and get caught. That way, you won't have to worry about your luck at all."

"I don't want to get you into trouble. No, in fact, I'm sure your Hope could never allow anything truly full of Despair to reach you!"

"We're in public, you know."

"Oh, sorry."

I tried to take a pair of shorts, but that completely backfired, ending up with good luck instead. So far, our plan had failed.

Then that guy pulled a gun on me. And then the cops showed up.

Yet we still made it out okay. I sincerely accept that I could have died, then and there, however, I'm glad I had Komaeda there. Even if all he did was that laugh, it inadvertently saved me. Now that I think about it, he must have done it on purpose. To draw attention away from me. Despite his outer shell, he's pretty smart. He must have had faith that his luck would save himself. It's almost as if he threw himself in front of the gun.

Wow.

That's…heartwarming…

Or not. This is Komaeda we're talking about.

The strangest thing was the security guy, Sakakura Juzo. That was his name, if I remember correctly. Why was he even there? I guess I'll find out sooner or later.

Komaeda and I decide to eat lunch at our usual spot, under that tree. It's a bit muddy, due to the light drizzle, but we don't care too much.

So when we begin to have "discussions" about Hope, we are not expecting a hyper-energetic girl to come running up to us.

"You're Makoto-chan, right?"

Ch…Chan? Makoto, too?!

My expression must be one of utter shock, because she puts her hand to her forehead and leans way in.

"Naegi Makoto, right?"

"Yeah. That's me."

"Oh! Hi Nagito-chan!"

N-N-Nagito? I don't even call him that! (Should I?)

"Ah, Mioda-san. Nice to see you."

"Oh yeah. Ibuki wanted to ask you something."

Ibuki? I look around. Is she acting on behalf of someone?

"What was it like having a gun to your head?"

What?

"Um…Huh?"

Another psycho?

What was I expecting?

"Was the adrenaline pumping?! Were you screaming for your life?!"

"Well, maybe the adrenaline…Why?"

"Ibuki's writing a new song! She's going to title it, 'Ahoge and his Boyfriend's Rampage Through the Mall'! Ibuki is fine with Girl Love, so BL gets an A-Ok, too!"

"Wa-wa-wa-wait a second! It's not like that! He's just…" a friend.

Why can't I say it. I mouth the words a couple times, but there's just nothing.

Komaeda doesn't take this too well. He does that thing where he stares at his hand and contemplates life.

"Someone as great as Naegi-kun would never have that kind of relationship with me. I'm lucky as it is for him to consider me as a friend."

He looks a bit too depressed saying that.

Maybe…No…I can't—

"Gross. Mioda-neesan, what the hell are you talking to?"

Another girl walks up the hill. She looks (and acts) like she's ten. But she's actually taller than me. That hurts my self-esteem.

"Ew, weren't you the ones to get almost shot by a gun? Should've pulled the trigger."

"I know!"

Komaeda! Don't agree with her!

More people start coming up the hill.

"Hey! Naegi! What's up!"

Oowada.

"Naegi-kun! I hope you are okay!"

Ishimaru.

"I-I-If you have a-any inj-injuries, you c-can ask me!"

Chihiro? No, that's Tsumiki.

Why are there so many people on this hill? Why are more people coming here? I don't even know half of these people. I feel like the whole school is here, asking us about the (almost) shooting.

I never signed up for this.

Well, at least it makes me happy that all these people care about us. That all these people wanted to see if we were okay, to see how we handled a situation like that. Komaeda just kinda laughs it off when they ask him. His classmates don't seem too fond of him, and neither do mine. Well, he doesn't have the best reputation…

I'll find someone else…Hopefully.

That security guy, Sakakura, sees the crowd, everyone standing around the tree, with Komaeda and I the only ones sitting.

"Hey! Get outta' here! I don't want to see any trouble!"

Everyone scoffs at him, then he punches Oowada in the gut. There's no effect.

"Eh? What was that?"

A flurry of punches and thrusts are thrown and everyone chants, "Fight! Fight!" about twice before Oowada gets his butt served on a platter. Everyone panics and runs away, leaving Komaeda and I, rather dumbfounded.

Well, Komaeda is smiling.

"I wonder what kind of Hope this stunning defeat will bring Oowada-kun!"

I pat my hand on his shoulder.

"Come on, Komaeda. We should probably go somewhere else."

Sakakura looks straight at us.

"You two don't have to leave."

"R…Really?"

He looks out towards the main building, then turns his whole body around. Did he just…blush?

"Stay out of trouble."

He walks off.

"What was that about?"

Komaeda leans forwards and rests his head in his palms.

"Even someone like Sakakura-kun has their own form of Hope. How they show it is what makes the difference."