"There," Junko exclaimed with satisfaction in her voice, "that should hold it nicely."

Stepping away, Junko happily admired her handiwork, and smirked as Mukuro slammed a foot into the steel plate now covering the window, before letting out a low grunt that meant she deemed the covering passable.

"I have to admit I would have never expected to see you doing hard manual labour Junko, there's just something attractive about the world's greatest model, working in the muck like the rest of us." Makoto grinned playfully as said model turned to face him, the smirk still on her face.

"Well if we're all going to be stuck in this school until whatever is going on out there blows over, I figured I might as well be helpful."

"Fair enough, I can't fault that logic, forgive me your Highness." Makoto bowed mockingly to the young woman.

Despite the joking tone in Makotos voice Junko felt the smile slipping from her face, things had been incredibly tense between them in the past months, and now to top it off they were going to be locked in the same building together for the foreseeable future; and as much as she told herself that it didn't bother her she knew she was lying to herself.

"I guess I'll go let the headmaster that this room is finished, and once the others finish up their rooms the school should be completely secure." With a parting glance at her sister, Junko sighed and quickly exited the room, Mukuro waited until her sisters footsteps had faded before turning towards Makoto.

"One of these days one of you two is going to have to cave and actually talk about things."

Makoto glowered for a moment before shaking his head.

"I don't believe either of us have anything to talk about, everything is over and done with, no need to dredge it all back up."

Mukuro glared fiercely, uncharacteristically strong emotion written on her face.

"You're still miserable without her, I'm not stupid you know, I can occasionally piece together what people are feeling."

"My feelings on the matter are irrelevant, she's made it quite clear she has no desire to interact with me beyond what's polite, and I have no desire to be subject to hostility anymore."

"So you'll do nothing, tell yourself you're alright and come slinking out of a different girls room each night in attempt to show yourself that everything is better now."

"Seems like it, been working so far." Makoto replied, a sad smile gracing his face.

"Did it ever occur to you that Junko isn't speaking to you because she feels confused, you didn't pursue her, you didn't even try to keep her, you just let her leave, for somebody who was supposed to love her you sure did give up quick, perhaps she's hurt."

"She's hurt?!" Makoto suddenly exploded, "how could she possibly be hurt, she's the one who left me, she's the one who found somebody else, she's the one who seems so happy now that I left."

Mukuro watched as Makoto, despite his smaller stature, approached her his rage evident on his face.

"She doesn't have to avoid our mutual friends because they all took her side, she doesn't feel her heart plummet into her stomach anytime somebody mentions my name, she doesn't have to smile and laugh and pretend everything is okay, so she has no right to hate me, to feel hurt, that's completely illogical."

Mukuro smiled gently at the young man and slowly brought her arms up and hugged him gently to her chest.

"Sometimes the heart isn't logical my dearest friend."

Makoto slowly brought his arms back to her as well and began to sob.

"I just want to stop hurting, I don't want to think about her anymore, I don't want to succeed at something and yet the only one I want to share it with hates me, I just wish I could forget her, but she broke me."

"I've always admired your ability to feel hope and stay optimistic in the worst of circumstances, and even now I admire it, when it's hurting you."

"You love Junko so fiercely that even when you believe she hates you, you hope she'll return, a week from now, a month, a year, that no matter how angry you get at each other your bond is stronger than that, and your head hates you because it wants you to let go of that hope, to save yourself from that pain and so you fight yourself, your head and heart and it makes things all that much tougher."

"You have to forgive yourself, it's not a crime to love somebody."

Makoto pulled away from the Soldier, attempting to wipe his tears away at the same time.

"Thanks for the advice Mukuro,but I think I should be alone for a while."

Mukuro nodded slightly and with a quick pivot she exited the room, leaving Makoto to his thoughts, as she walked one final thought crossed her mind.

"My dearest friend, my love, I hope you find your happiness."


Two days later Makoto found himself sitting back on his special place on the roof, despite the headmasters insistence that it was unsafe, Makoto felt he had to come here one last time before the door was sealed, and the inside of Hope's Peak became his only reality. As he sat on the edge he briefly thought to himself, as he often did, how easy it would be to simply pitch himself over the side and fall, he didn't think the thoughts were serious, yet he couldn't say that he entirely ignored them either.

"I had a feeling I would find you up here, you're nothing if not predictable Luck Boy."

Makoto knew who it was without turning around and he sighed heavily.

"And how may I help you tonight Enoshima?"

The woman in question sighed and sat herself on the edge next to Makoto, slightly closer than might be considered appropriate.

"We had some really good times up here didn't we?"

"Indeed we did, thank you though, I'd almost forgot the reason for my crippling depression."

The two young students sat in silence for a moment before Junko spoke again.

"I don't hate you, I just… it's hard."

"Yeah, I guess I get it," Makoto replied unhelpfully, "I've had my share of that as well."

Junko scooted herself closer, so that they were practically touching, and Makoto tensed up slightly.

"I really did have feelings for you; it wasn't some sort of act." Junko stared plaintively at the Makoto, whom was determinedly looking straight ahead.

"I have a difficult time believing that, no disrespect intended."

"No you're right, I did something really shitty, and I handled it poorly, I'm sorry."

Makoto sighed heavily, but finally glanced towards her.

"It's ok, things happen, I survived, thank though, I appreciate it, I honestly do."

Junko smiled at this small concession, and with a nod stood up.

"I'll take that for now, works for me." She began to walk back towards the door.

"Junko, I never stopped loving you, even when I was mad at you, you'll always be my best friend, and I guess I just wanted to say that."

Junko smiled to herself, "I'm glad we don't hate each other anymore Makoto." And with that the young woman disappeared back into the school.

"Yeah me too," Makoto muttered to himself, "and things can only go up from here."


Junko stalked back into her room, and smiled at her sister.

"The plan is all set to go, once the roof is sealed tomorrow, we can begin."

"Are you sure you wish to continue with your plan sister, once we start we won't be able to stop?" Mukuro looked pensively for a moment, "And you just made things better with Makoto, are you truly going to let your despair win when you finally regained your hope?"

"Of course silly'" Junko giggled, "He's our ace in the hole, no matter what happens he'll always be on our side, even if they gain all their memories, even if the worst case happens and they figure everything out, he'll never betray his dearest Junko."

Mukuro stared impassively at her sister, before shaking her head and approaching her.

"That is an incredibly cruel way to treat somebody who loves you."

"Don't worry dear sister, he'll survive, both of us will ensure it, and then it'll just be us here in this place forever, because I love him too, which reminds me." With a happy bounce Junko turned around, before swinging her hand in a blurring open hand slap that staggered Mukuro. "Don't you dare ever kiss him again, he's my lover, not yours, if I didn't need you for this plan I would show my displeasure in a much more severe way."

"My mistake, it won't happen again." Muttered Mukuro, shocked that even she hadn't anticipated Junko's speed and the depths of her madness. "I will go get the bears ready."

After Mukuro had left, Junko lay down on her bed and let out a mad giggle.

"It all comes to fruition tomorrow, all my work; nothing can possibly ruin my plan." And as she faded into sleep Junko felt Despair consume her utterly.


A/N: And there you go, the final chapter, sorry it took so long, the reasons for it are a long story full of excitement treachery and heartbreak, and by that I mean a small not very interesting story that only has heartbreak, but hey as always you can read it in my personal blog, you can find the link in my profile, otherwise thank you guys so much for reading I wouldn't be able to do this without you guys.