Chapter 7: Discord

Hajime can feel his heart thumping a mile a minute. His brain is screaming at him to get out of there as soon as possible, but his feet stay rooted to the ground.

Komaeda finally turns his head to look at the brunet. The luckster's eyes narrow before promptly twisting his head away.

Hajime feels his breath catch on his throat. Is he…Is he seriously giving me the silent treatment?!

Before Hajime can point out the ridiculousness of the situation, the large monitor comes to life and Nanami's face appears on the screen. She lets out a tired yawn as she greets the two teens. "Good morning Hinata-kun…Ah, and Komaeda-kun as well…Good morning. Very early morning…"

Komaeda's lips twitch up to a smile. "Good morning to you as well, Nanami-san."

So he won't talk to me, but he'll talk to Nanami, huh…So that's how it is.

If Nanami comes to the same conclusion as Hajime, she doesn't show it.

Soft squeaks echo down the hallway…Wait, squeaks?!

The doors burst open, and a frazzled Naegi enters the room…dressed in ducky pajamas and matching ducky slippers, the source of loud squeaking. Naegi is heaving for breath, hands on his knees.

While Hajime smiles amusedly at the sight, Komaeda's eyes widen in disbelief.

"Y-you're—"

Naegi straightens his posture and regards the two of them. He sends a warm smile at Komaeda's direction as he greets him "Good morning, Komaeda-kun. Alter Ego alerted me to your awakening, so I came to check on you as soon as possible."

A wide smile spreads across Komaeda's face as he regards the shorter boy. "For the Super High School Level Hope to go out of his way to see trash like me! I'm absolutely honored!"

Hajime notices Naegi stiffen a little at the praise, face growing uneasy. Naegi opened his mouth to say something when the door flung open. Kirigiri strode in, light purple slippers making soundless steps as she approached her former classmate. Once he fully took on the younger teen's appearance, it took all of Hajime's will power not to laugh.

Kirigiri was wearing ducky pajamas that matched Naegi's.

The detective regarded Naegi before pointing a glare in Komaeda. Even in ducky pajamas, Kirigiri still managed to look incredibly threatening.

Komaeda, however, appeared undeterred by the distaste directed towards him. In fact, he actually looked elated. "Ah, even the Super High School Level Detective has graced me with her presence! At this rate, I might actually die from all this amazing luck!"

"Naegi-kun, get behind me."

"Eh? B-but—"

"His stupidity. It might be contagious."

"Ah ha ha ha ha!" Komaeda's maniacal laugh echoed across the room, bringing with it unwanted memories of the first class trial in the Neo World Program.

That's right…At the time, I thought he was a normal guy like me…I thought…he was a friend…an ally…

Hajime clenched his eyes tight, trying to block out those unwanted memories. More footsteps resounded from the hallway and Togami came rushing in shortly after. It was odd, seeing the progeny, normally exuding an aura of pure confidence, now wearing a look filled with worry. Unlike Naegi and Kirigiri, however, Togami's pajamas were plain and black, probably made out of material that would cost more than Hajime could possibly ever hope to make in his lifetime.

"Nagito Komaeda."

"To have the Super High School Level heir acknowledged an insignificant life such as mine—"

"Yes, yes, you're very grateful, I know."

With one last glare, the progeny turned to face Kirigiri.

"We had a deal. Naegi can take care of himself."

"Even so, as his boss, I shoo—"

Naegi laid a hand on Kirigiri's shoulder. "I'll be fine, Kirigiri-san. Besides, I have Alter Ego and Nanami-san in here with me, so I won't be alone."

Kirigiri hesitated before solemnly nodding her head. "Very well. Then, at least take this. Fifty of these." She handed a suitcase to the shorter boy, likely full of her ever trusty syringes. Naegi gratefully accepted them before flashing an encouraging smile at his former classmates.

"If anything happens, I'll be sure to contact you both immediately."

The pair nodded, both wearing small smiles before turning away. Kirigiri grabbed Hajime's wrist as she made her exit.

"W-wait, what?! What's going on?!"

Kirigiri kept her eyes forward as she responded. "I'll tell you once we gather the rest of your classmates."

"But what about Naegi?!"

"Naegi…can take care of himself. I trust him."


"…"

"To be in the same room as the Super High School Level Hope, I think I could just about die happy right now!"

"…Please don't. That would be…troublesome."

Nagito's smile turned mischievous. "Troublesome, huh? Not sad? As I thought, do you perhaps possess a lingering grudge against me? For my sins as a member of Despair? For toying with your little sister? Or maybe you're just disgusted by my very presence and—"

"Please stop! Please…Stop talking about yourself like that!"

Naegi's fists were clenched tightly, brows furrowed together and…were those…tears? At the sight of Naegi's genuine compassion, his genuine kindness…Nagito felt his grin go even wider. The hero that had triumphed over Junko Enoshima, over despair…

"Ha…Ha ha ha ha ha! Amazing! Absolutely amazing! Even after all that I've done, you're still willing to show me such kindness! Your hope is so pure and bright, you've exceeded my expectations!"

Naegi remained silent, fists still clenched tight. He continued to wait quietly until Nagito's laughing fit died to down to soft chuckles. He finally calmed down, slowly closing his eyes.

"I'm sure your sister must have told you about me, right?"

"Yes, she has."

"And I'm sure she had nothing positive to say about me."

"…Well…no, she had at least one positive thing to say about you."

Nagito blinked his eyes back open, interest piqued.

"Oh, really? And what might that be, if I may be so bold to ask."

"Um, well…she said that your hair reminded her of marshmallows."

After a brief moment of silent, Nagito let out a dissatisfied smile. "As expected…That's a decidedly normal observation from a decidedly normal high school girl. She's nothing like her older brother, and I suppose that's her most disappointing feature."

Naegi smiled, expression growing fond. "You're right. She's nothing like me. Komaru is Komaru, and I'm me."

Nagito let out a light chuckle. "I recall your sister saying the same thing. Those words held so much determination but…not enough hope."

"Komaeda-kun, how would you define hope?"

"Hope is light. That tiny speck of light that grows stronger and stronger as it absorbs darkness. Then, it becomes a bright light that can triumph over all! A light so bright, that not a speck of darkness can be found within it! Just like you, Naegi-kun! After overcoming trial after trial during the School Life of Mutual Killing, you became a light so bright that no amount of darkness can taint it!"

"Komaeda-kun…you speak as if you only admire hope…But you don't speak as if you actually believe in it."

Nagito grew silent at that. Believe? Did he actually believe in hope? No, of course he did. He loved the idea of hope more than anyone…And that's when he realized…

Naegi-kun is right…I've never once believed in hope.

"Ha."

I've always just admired the idea of hope.

"Ha ha."

I've always been chasing after it, but I've never tried to reach my hand out and grasp it.

"Ha ha ha."

"K-Komaeda-kun?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Naegi's face grew panicked as he fumbled for the suitcase Kirigiri had given him.

"Alter Ego, Nanami-san, please contact Kirigiri-san and Togami-kun immediately!"


Hajime and his former classmates all gathered together in the cafeteria, still clad in their pajamas. They all waited patiently for Kirigiri and Togami to tell them why they'd all been woken up so early in the morning. Finally, once she confirmed that everyone was accounted for, Kirigiri stepped forward to address them all.

"I'm sure you're all wondering why we brought you all together so early in the morning. That is because one of your former classmates has awakened far earlier than anticipated."

Sonia leaned forward slightly, voice filled with hope. "By any chance, was it Tanaka-san?"

Kirigiri shook her head sadly. "Unfortunately, no. The one who has awakened this time…He's far more troublesome."

Souda straightened his posture, "Wait, more troublesome. No, don't tell me…was it Komaeda?"

Kirigiri solemnly nodded. "Yes, it is."

"Whaaaaaat?!" Souda screeched as the tension in the room rose. "Wait, wait, that can't be right! Isn't he supposed to be, like, the final boss?! He's comin' in way too early! I don't care how lucky he is, bending the rules like that just ins't fair!"

"W-wait a sec!" Hanamura exclaimed, looking around the room frantically, "Where's Naegi-kun?!"

Togami finally spoke up, voice firm; "He's with Komaeda."

"What?!" Kuzuryuu practically growled. "You guys know how much of a psycho that guy is! And you left the literal embodiment of hope alone with that— that—hope obsessed freak?!"

Pekoyama went into a battle stance, managing to look menacing despite being unarmed. "Fuyuhiko, should I take action?"

Owari cracked her knuckles together. "That Naegi kid looks about as fragile as a stick. He's gonna need some back-up, yeah?"

"Calm down, everyone!"

The room instantly quieted. Hajime found himself wondering who had managed to calm down his easily excitable friends so quickly…And then all of their eyes turned to him.

Oh…it was me…I said that…okay then…

Hajime exhaled before facing the group gathered together. "We should all put our trust in Naegi. After all, he's the one who—"

Both Kirigiri and Togami's phones suddenly rang loudly, prompting the pair to frantically take their phones out. Hajime could hear Nanami and Alter Ego's panicked voices coming from the devices.

"Naegi-kun needs help!"

Hajime lifted his head up, feeling somewhat defeated. "He's the one who proved me wrong in less than a second…"


Nagito remembers it like it was yesterday.

It was his second year of high school, a sunny Friday, and Nagito was in high spirits after his first week of the new school year ended without any particularly outstanding misfortunes. He hummed quietly to himself as he made his way down the stairs.

"Now all that's left is to introduce myself to the new Super High School Level Good Luck!"

He stopped a few inches away from the classroom of the 78th class. There were still several students exiting the room, and Nagito didn't want to bother them with his insignificant presence. He waited patiently until he finally caught sight of a sharp, distinct cowlick.

Nagito moved closer to the classroom, calling out to the younger boy.

"Um, excuse me!'

The boy stopped and turned his attention to the older teen. The brunet's friends stopped in their tracks as well, regarding the newcomer with calculating looks.

"Sorry to bother you! Um…"

Nagito found himself at a loss for words once he recognized the pair that was accompanying the shorter luckster.

"Byakuya Togami and Kyoko Kirigiri! Ah, i-it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance!"

Togami scoffed, pointing a look of disgust at Nagito's direction. "What gives you the right to address me so casually, plebeian?"

"Togami-kun", Naegi began, voice sounding reprimanding, "He's an upperclassman. You should be more respectful."

Togami sighed before turning his head away. "Whatever. Naegi, I'm going on ahead."

"A-ah, alright. I'll see you tomorrow."

Togami nodded, sent one more suspicious glare in Nagito's direction, then left.

"Um…sorry, did I interrupt something?" Nagito asked, internally beating himself up for trying to speak so casually to someone like Togami.

"A-ah, no. It's alright';" Naegi replied, waving his hands nervously. "We were just on our way home."

"I see…So I impeded you on your trek home together. I'm truly sorry. As I thought, I truly am worthless tras—"

"Naegi-kun, are you acquainted with this man?" Kirigiri asked, halting Nagito's self-depreciating rant.

"Um, no. This is the first time we've ever talked."

Kirigiri shot a suspicious glance at Nagito, her calculating gaze making him feel as though his secrets had all suddenly become visible. Nagito let out a nervous chuckle, ignoring the nervous sweat that started to trickle down his head. Kirigiri finally broke her unwavering gaze and directed a kinder one towards her classmate.

"Naegi-kun, I'll be going ahead as well. If anything happens, you have my number."

"Oh, alright." Naegi replied, slightly startled. Then his face broke into a bright smile, "I'll see you tomorrow!'

Kirigiri gave him a small smile in return. "Yes. I'll see you tomorrow."

She bowed slightly in Nagito's direction before turning to leave.

"Incredible…So that's the Super High School Level Detective…"

"Um, excuse me?"

Nagito snapped back to attention, silently berating himself for getting carried away in admiring other people's talents…again.

"Oh, right, right! I'm sorry about that, Naegi-kun!"

"It's alright, but…How do you know my name?"

"Ah, that's right! I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? My name is Nagito Komaeda. I guess you could say I'm your predecessor."

"Predecessor? Oh! You're Super High School Level Good Luck as well?"

Nagito smiled brightly. "Yup, that's right! So I guess that makes me your senpai!"

"Ah, you're right! It's nice to meet you, Komaeda-senpai!"

So— So earnest! What a cute kouhai*!

Nagito affectionately pat Naegi on the head, an act he'd often seen older siblings do to their younger siblings.

"It's nice to meet you too, Naegi-kun."

Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooope

Nagito was on his way back to the dorms when he caught sight of Naegi. He was about to call out to him when a shorter girl came into view. Before long, the pair began to talk excitedly. Not wanting to interrupt the younger underclassmen's conversation, Nagito decided to speak to Naegi another time.

"Jealous?"

Nagito tensed up slightly at the sudden voice. He hadn't heard anyone sneak up behind him. He turned around to address the voice when his eyes widened slightly.

"Junko Enoshima. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Junko smiled, "The pleasure's all mine. So? Are you jealous or not?"

Nagito pondered for a bit. "Hmmm…I guess I am. I don't get along with my classmates as well as Naegi-kun does, and as his senior, I guess that makes me feel somewhat inferior to him."

Enoshima let out a low whistle. "Wow. You don't beat around the bush. By the way, I'm sure you've figured it out by now since you're such a huge Hope's Peak fanboy, but I'm one of your cute little kouhai's classmates."

"Yes, I'm aware. I'm sure the two of you get along well."

Enoshima hummed for a moment, pointing her index finger to her chin. "I guess we kinda do. I mean, he's the type of guy that's easy to talk to. Fun to mess around with, ya know? But, I dunno…He can be a little too bright sometimes…But that just might be me. My sister's seems to like him just fine. In fact, she seems to be downright enamored with him. Guess she's into the cutesy shota type. Huh. Never pegged her to be into that. Welp, to each their own."

Nagito hung on to every word that came out of the younger teen's lips. There was just something about her. The way she exuded confidence, her charismatic tone, her all-important aura. When the model finished speaking, she let out an amused sigh. Turning her head up to address the luckster, she asked;

"So? Is he too bright for you?"

"Too…bright? Maybe…" Nagito had enjoyed the time he spent with his underclassman, and the younger boy's words of encouragement always warmed his heart. But Nagito knew that despite having the same talent, they were worlds apart. Naegi got along easily with anyone. Anyone. Even the prickly Togami.

"Oh-hoh~ You know, you're a pretty honest guy."

Nagito smiles sadly. "I wouldn't say that. But for some reason, I don't feel the need to lie to you."

"Woah, woah, hold the phone. Is that a love confession? 'Cos you're not really my type. Plus, I'm taken."

"Ah, no, no. It's not so much love as it is…admiration? Yes, I suppose that's it."

"Hmmm…Well, if you're going keep hanging around Naegi-kun, I'm sure we'll cross paths again. Well, then, I'll see you around~"

And with that, Enoshima left without another word. Nagito watched her retreating back in fascination. He wasn't quite sure why, but the idea of seeing Enoshima again made a new feeling well up inside him. It wasn't love, and it didn't feel like admiration either…He wasn't quite sure what the feeling was at the time, but mere months later he would know. It was the beginning of despair.

It was through meeting hope…That Nagito met despair.


"Naegi-kun!" "Naegi!"

Kirigiri and Togami slammed the door open as they rushed into the room. Naegi looked up, drenched in sweat but otherwise fine. The shorter boy was panting, holding an empty syringe in one hand. Hajime followed the boy's panicked gaze towards Komaeda's still body. His eyes widened upon realizing that the white haired teen's bonds were loose. His clothing was in disarray and Hajime could make out a number of scars from the skin that peeked beneath his clothing.

Hajime continued to gape at the spectacle as Kirigiri and Togami rushed to their comrade's side.

"Are you alright?" Kirigiri asked, panicked.

"I-I'm fine…He was just…a lot stronger than I expected."

Kuzuryuu stepped forward, angered by the comment. "He attacked you?!"

Naegi held his hands up in a placating manner. "N-No! Not…exactly. I mean, he was strong physically. I had to use more than one syringe to put him to sleep, but as you can see…" The rest of the group followed Naegi's gaze towards the broken syringes that lay on the floor. "He put up quite a fight…But, he was also strong mentally…Trying to reason with him was incredibly difficult."

Togami approached Komaeda's still body, examining the broken bonds. "…We'll have to find a new way to contain him before he wakes up again."

Kirigiri laid her hands atop Naegi's shoulders. "Naegi-kun, for now, you should probably stay away from Komaeda-kun…He's too dangerous."

The rest of the group agreed, voicing concerns for their friend's safety. Hajime was inclined to agree…until he saw the expression on Naegi's face. He knew that look. Hajime felt as though he must have been caught wearing that expression a number of times in the virtual world as well. Naegi wanted to understand Komaeda.

"Hey guys?" Hajime spoke up, "I'll stay here. With Naegi."

"What?!" Koizumi exclaimed. "Hinata-kun, what are you saying?! I thought you were supposed to be the most sensible one here! You know Komaeda-kun better than any of us and—"

"That's exactly why." The large computer screen in the room crackled to like and Nanami's face occupied the screen. "It's because Hinata-kun knows Komaeda-kun better than anyone else…He knows how to handle him best. We should trust in him. We should trust in him, in Naegi-kun, and in Komaeda-kun."

"Trust Komaeda?!" Souda piped up, clutching at his hair in frustration. "Do you know how many times that guy tried to get us killed?! Heck, he's the reason Shinji died!"

Shinji nodded his head solemnly in agreement.

"Yeah, that's right!" Terteru yelled. "There's no way I'm taking any chances with him again!"

"But Naegi-kun, Kirigiri-san, and Togami-kun took a chance with all of you." Nanami continued, conviction unwavering. "Despite all the crimes you committed as Remnants of Despair, they all looked past them because they thought that you were all worth saving. Why can't you give that same chance to Komaeda-kun?"

The room went silent. Hajime's former classmates all began to turn their attention elsewhere. The floor, the ceiling, the walls. Then, finally, Sonia spoke up.

"I agree…with Nanami-san. We should give Komaeda-san the same chance that Naegi-san and his friends gave us."

Souda quickly nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, Sonia-san's right! You all should be ashamed of yourselves for thinking so selfishly!"

Koizumi elbowed him in the gut. Hard.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

He was met with deadpan stares from everyone in the room.

"Wh-what?!"

Owari cut in, looking somewhat impatient. "So basically, we just leave Naegi and HInata here to deal with Komaeda, yeah?"

Hajime blinked, then nodded. "That's the plan."

"Okay good! Then can we have breakfast already? I'm starving!"

Owari's comment relieved the tension in the room and the former students all let out a helaugh.

"What?! Why are you all laughing?! I'm serious!"


Nagito's head is throbbing when he wakes up. There's the feeling of cold metal on his skin and a heavy weight on his back. He tries to move his arms when he realizes that both have been tied behind his back. The cold metal against his skin turns out to be handcuffs, possibly a precaution that Kiririgiri implemented. Nagito almost smiles to himself, once again feeling in awe at the foresight of someone as talented as the SHSL Detective. The luckster finally opens his eyes to the worried faces of Naegi and…someone he'd much rather forget.

Naegi smiles brightly at him, no longer clad in ducky pajamas. "Ah, good morning again Komaeda-kun."

Nagito is about to greet his former kouhai back when a realization hits him. "You…stopped calling me senpai."

Naegi flinched a little, as if Nagito's words had physically harmed him. "Oh, um…I'm sorry…I didn't realize you remembered…"

Nagito smiled gently. "It's alright. To be honest, I only just remembered myself. My memories from the past…Particularly my memories from my school life…They're sketchy, at best."

He had the gall to turn and speak to Naegi, as if he had completely forgotten about his past crimes.

"Naegi, you and Komaeda knew each other?"

"Yeah…I've met all of you before…Well, before the Tragedy. But Komaeda-senpai was the first person in your class to reach out to me."

"Naegi-kun", Nagito spoke out, trying his best to keep the venom out of his voice, "I think you're mistaken."

"Mistaken?"

"That's right. That man you're speaking too…He wasn't in my class. He was a reserve course student. Talentless, a fake symbol of hope. In fact, he has no right to—"

"That's enough!"

Nagito had never heard Naegi raise his voice before, and judging by the expression on his face, neither did he.

"Komaeda-senpai, I cannot allow you to continue speaking to Hinata-kun like that. He may not have a Super High School Level talent, but he has far better qualities. He's kind, he's selfless, he's smart, he's determined, he has hope."

Laughter bubbles up Nagito's throat again, sick and twisted. "Ahahahahahaha! Hope?! Hope?! That fake Super High School Level Hope?! Naegi-kun, I thought you of all people would be the most appalled at his very existence!"

Naegi closes his eyes, the picture of calmness. He lets out a breath.

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." Naegi opened his eyes again, voice kind and gentle. "Ephesians 4:4."

Nagito blinks. "Naegi-kun…You're a Christian?"

The younger boy chuckled sheepishly. "I'm…not sure yet. My family was never very religious. But then…"

Naegi placed his hand inside his suit pocket, taking out a pocket sized Bible. "This was given to me. A gift from a Pastor. Some of Enoshima-san's followers were making a ruckus at his church, so my branch was sent to help him out. He gave us all these Bibles as thanks."

Naegi closed his eyes again, as if remembering a fond memory. "I'm not sure why I decided to start reading it. Maybe I was seeking comfort in this world overwrought with despair…Maybe I was looking for a little bit of hope myself."

He turned to him, eyes bright and genuine. "When I was reading this particular chapter last night, I thought of you all. I thought about how you all used to walk in darkness. How some of you are still struggling against darkness." Naegi turned to face Nagito now; "But the light will never perish. It will always be there. It's up to you to decide whether or not you want to be in it."

Naegi turned then, tucking his Bible back in his suit pocket.

"Well then, I've said my piece. Hinata-kun, is there anything else you want to add?"

He nodded, expression determined. "Yeah. Yeah I do."

Nagito smiled up at him and asked in a mocking tone; "And what do you have to say to me?"

His expression didn't waver. If anything, he appeared even more resolute.

"First off, my name isn't you, it's Hinata."

"Hmph. Is that all you—"

"Hinata."

"—have to say?"

"No. I also think you're a major pain in the a—"

"Donkey's butt!" Naegi yelled, disrupting the flow of the conversation. The younger boy shrunk back when the other two boys turned their attention to him.

"S-sorry…But Hinata-kun, please, watch your language!"

"R-right…Sorry about that. Anyway, I think you're a major pain in…a donkey's butt…You never once tried to get along with the others. All you ever did was admire them like they were some kind of spectacle! You kept distancing yourself from them like you didn't deserve it! Like you were some kind of inferior being compared to them!"

"Of course I felt like that!" Nagito was surprised at the way his voice rose, but ignored it as he kept going on; "All I have going for me is luck! They all had such amazing talents so why should I—"

"And that's another thing! Stop talking yourself down so much! You have so many other great qualities besides luck!"

Nagito scoffed. "Really? How? Would you care to elaborate."

Without missing a beat, he nodded in agreement. "Of course! You're smart. Even if you tended to have underlings motives for it, you were always a big help during class trials. You're brave. You risked everything on your luck when you entered the Final Dead Room and came out victorious. No coward would have been capable of doing that, no matter how lucky they are. And…you're a great at cleaning. You'd probably even give Yukizome-sensei a run for her money."

Nagito was speechless. And then he remembered. All those times during the game, when he— when Hinata would continue to talk to him. To try to understand him. Even despite all he had done, even when all of his classmates distance themselves away from him…Hintata stayed. Nagito opened his mouth but then— Pain. Excruciating pain.

You don't deserve to be understood. What gives trash like you the right to make friends. He's a fake Hope but you still want to be friends with him?! Lonely, you?! You've always been alone! Nothing's changed! Your're just trash! Trash trash trash!

Nagito screamed and screamed. Naegi and Hinata were saying something but he couldn't hear. His head hurt. His arms hurt. His handcuffed hands hurt. Evertyhing hurt.

"Komeada-kun!"

A familiar voice. Light pink hair. Gentle eyes.

Ah, I remember now….Our class rep…Nanami-san…I'm sorry…

Hajime slumped to the floor feeling defeated. He felt a hand rest on his shoulder and looked up to find Naegi smiling gently at him.

"Give him time. We'll get there, I'm sure of it."

Hajime smiled back. "Yeah…thanks Naegi…For everything."

"Don't talk like that!"

Hajime jumped slightly and turned to face the computer monitor.

"Nanami, you scared me!"

"Oops…sorry. But, you really shouldn't say things like that, Hinata-kun. You'll set up your death flags if you keep talking like that."

Hajime let out a soft chuckle. "Heh. You're right. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks."

Nanami beamed. "good. You're very important to me, so I'd be sad if anything bad happened to you."

Hajime felt himself redden. "Oh! Um, well—"

Naegi coughed into his hand. "Um…Should I leave?"

Alter Ego popped up behind Nanami, fidgeting with his hands awkwardly. "Should I leave as well?"

"N-no!" Hajime yelled, blush going redder. "Um, actually, Naegi…Why don't we head back to the others for now?"

The shorter boy nodded back. "Yeah. We'll check up on Komaeda-senpai again later. Everything will be fine. I'm sure of it."


Omake

"Hello, Komaru?"

"Ah, onii-chan! So, how did the talk with that psycho marshmallow go?"

"It went a lot better than I expected, especially with Hinata-kun backing me up."

Komaru let out a breath of relief. "That's good to hear."

"What about you, Komaru? How are things on your end?"

Komaru hummed happily in response. "Pretty good, actually! I heard back from Mrs. Hagakure, and it sounds like Towa City is starting to look better. Progress is still pretty slow, but hey, progress is progress! Oh, and the Warriors of Hope contacted me recently! They said that they managed to find the last brain-washing helmet!"

"That's great! I'm sorry I wasn't much help in getting things back together". Makoto smiled fondly. "I'm really proud of you Komaru. You've really grown up."

"Wh-what are you saying?! Like you're one to talk, Mr. Hero!"

Makoto blushed bright red and was thankful that his younger sister couldn't see him. "Th-that's just a title they gave me! It doesn't really mean anything!"

"Uh-huh~ Sure, Super High School Level Hope~"

"Uuuuuu…"

Komaru giggled on the other end. "Well, keep up the good work! And be sure to stop by again, soon! I'm sure those kids will want to play with you again!"

Makoto couldn't help the grin that found its way to his face. "Yeah. And maybe…When everything dies down, we can all get together again. I promised Hinata-kun that I'd introduce him to you."

"E-eh?! Onii-chan, you're not trying to set me up, are you?"

"Huh?! Oh, no! Of course not! Hinata-kun's already in a relationship with an AI."

"Oh, oka— Wait. what."


*Kouhai - underclassman

It'll take a little longer than the others, but Naegi and Hinata are slowly making progress.

Also, just curious, but for future DR stories, would you all (my dear readers) prefer I use the game's localization terms (using first names, Ultimate instead of SHSL, etc), or stick to what I've been using now?

Oh, and if any of you want to discuss theories or just scream about your fave dying in the new DR3 anime, message me at .com. I need more people to yell over this series with.