For the remaining few weeks to his summer holidays, Naegi regularly visited Mrs Hanamura. She was always cheerful despite her sickness and seemed to be constantly expecting Naegi. She would smile happily whenever Naegi arrived and listened to his every story intently. Teruteru was also there most of the time and appeared as grateful as his mother was of Naegi's visits.

One afternoon, on his last visit to the hospital before his return to Hope's Peak Academy, Naegi found Mrs Hanamura alone in her hospital ward. She was sitting on her bed, propped up by pillows, whilst looking out of the window. As usual, when Naegi entered the room, she turned and smiled at him.

'Mrs Hanamura, how are you feeling today?' Naegi asked. 'I brought you some cakes today. My mother baked them just yesterday. I thought you might want to have a try.'

'Thank you, Makoto,' Mrs Hanamura said gratefully. 'You've always been so kind.'

'Ah it's nothing,' Naegi said, blushing at the compliment. 'But this might be the last time I can come and visit you in a long while. You see, I'll be returning to Hope's Peak the day after tomorrow.'

'Yes,' Mrs Hanamura said, barely concealing her sadness. 'It'll be time for Teru to return to school as well.' She let out a deep sigh before bravely smiling, 'it can't be helped can't it? It's for your futures. You and Teru both.'

'Mrs Hanamura…'

'Makoto,' Mrs Hanamura said firmly, 'I have a favour to ask of you… Teru, he… he's not as strong as he thinks he is. Ever since a young age, he had always been very dependent on me. And as much as I hate admitting it… I don't think I have much time left…'

'Mrs Hanamura!' Naegi gasped, 'There's gotta be a way the doctors can heal you! Please don't say that…'

Mrs Hanamura shook her head weakly, dismissing Naegi's words. 'I'm well aware of my own limits… and when that time comes, I need you to support Teru… don't let him stray from his path… convince him that there's some hope left in this world. Even if I'm not there…'

Naegi felt his eyes start to water. He nodded silently, unsure of how to respond, but Mrs Hanamura seemed content with his reply and smiled.

…

The breeze began to feel colder on the skin when it was time for Naegi to return to Hope's Peak Academy. It was hard to leave his family behind, knowing that the uncertainty of ever being able to meet them again still lingered. As he walked with heavy feet on the familiar path leading towards the academy, a pair of hands abruptly hugged him from the back.

'Na-e-gi!'

He was startled by the sudden greeting but had difficulties turning his head back to see who it was due to the strength of the embrace. A tuft of pink hair resting on his shoulder, however, gave him a clear idea.

'E-Enoshima?' he gasped.

'Yo!' the cheerful Junko Enoshima greeted him, her face was right beside his and she was still clinging onto him tightly. 'Did you miss me?'

'Y-yeah,' Naegi said, 'but could you please let go of me?'

'No!' she replied cheekily. People were beginning to stop in their tracks to look at the famous model and her 'friend'. 'Why Naegi? A lot of people would die to be in your position.'

'People are watching…' Naegi whispered.

'Let them!' Enoshima said, chuckling as she finally released Naegi from her hug, only to wrap her arms around his and start walking towards the school, dragging him along.

'So…err… how was your holiday? Naegi asked her.

'It was great of course!' Enoshima replied, 'I mean it's a pity that I wasn't able to come to the class vacation, but overall it had been great! How was Jabberwock Island though?'

'Y-Yeah it was fun,' Naegi said. 'You should've came,' he added hastily although he was not sure if he would have liked Enoshima to be there.

'It can't be helped,' Enoshima said, shrugging her shoulders, 'I've got a contract with this magazine and they abruptly changed the date of the photoshoot. That's why I couldn't come. But it's okay! I'll make it up! Listen… I've been invited to this music festival that's coming up in a couple of weeks and I'm allowed to bring someone with me. Would you like to come?'

'A music festival!?' Naegi asked, surprised by the sudden invitation, 'with me!?'

Enoshima nodded enthusiastically. 'Yep! It'll be fun! There's gonna be food, music and lots and lots of famous people! I bet Maizono's gonna be there as well!'

'Wow… But wouldn't you like to go with your sister? Or someone…? Why me?' Naegi asked, perplexed.

'I like you,' Enoshima replied bluntly, causing Naegi's mouth to gape open as his cheeks blushed red. Enoshima ignored his reaction and instead took his silence as consent. 'Okay, that's settled then,' she said cheerfully, finally letting go of Naegi's arm as they reached the front hall. 'I'll let you know the details closer to the date. Get yourself a tux Naegi!' she gave him a peck on the cheek before striding off towards the dormitories, leaving Naegi dumbfounded, surrounded by whispering students who saw the events unfold before them.

…

When Naegi entered the classroom early the next day, he was greeted by howls of excitement and wolf-whistles. Kuwata immediately circled his arm around Naegi's neck, nearly choking him, as he pulled Naegi closer before saying, 'You should've told me you're dating Enoshima, bro! We could've gone on a double date over the holidays!'

'W-What!?' Naegi choked, 'wait! No that's not it!'

'Surely he's got to keep some secrets from you, Leon!' Maizono chimed in. 'Dating a supermodel's not something that can be announced just like that. Imagine the paparazzi!'

'Is that why you're keeping your relationship under wraps, Maizono?' Asahina teased mischievously.

'Poor Leon… he's like a rich guy's mistress!' Owada sneered to which roars of laughter erupted from the rest of his classmates.

Naegi took the chance when everybody's attention was directed towards Maizono and Kuwata to scan through the class. Not everybody was there yet. There was Maizono, Kuwata, Owada, Ishimaru, Asahina, Ogami, Fujisaki, Celes, Kirigiri and Ikusaba. His attention turned towards Kirigiri who was calmly reading a book, internally shutting out the commotion.

He broke free of Kuwata's grip with much difficulty and approached Kirigiri. 'Kyoko…' he started.

'I'm surprised that you didn't tell me you're dating Enoshima,' Kirigiri said coldly, not lifting her eyes off the book.

'That's not it!' he said, slamming his fists on her table, forcing her to turn away from the pages. Whilst it may have gotten Kirigiri's attention, it unfortunately brought the others' attention back to him.

'C'mon man,' Kuwata said, dragging him back, 'come back here. We haven't heard the whole story.'

'There's no story,' Naegi said, pulling his arm away from Kuwata's grip. 'it was a misunderstanding. That's it.'

'Are you going to deny my sister, Naegi?' Ikusaba asked coldly, the glare of her eyes flicking between sadness and anger. The whole class, who had never heard Ikusaba spoke up so sternly before, immediately fell quiet.

'I… Mukuro…' Naegi stammered, unsure of how to respond.

But Ikusaba was not waiting for an answer. Instead she turned away and busied herself with her school books.

'Erm… does anyone know what Mr Mori has in plan for us this semester?' Fujisaki finally said, breaking the awkward silence and diverting the topic at the same time. Discussion soon started amongst the class and Naegi used that opportunity to slip into a seat at the back of the class. It was not a good way to start a new semester and before classes even began he already had tons of explaining to do.

…

'Kyoko!' Naegi called out to her after school has ended for the day. He had made sure that none of their classmates were present in order to prevent the same disruption from occurring again and had followed her all the way to the central plaza to do so.

Kirigiri stopped and turned around, her expression unfathomable as she stood there in silence, waiting for Naegi to speak up.

'Look, the thing with Enoshima…' Naegi began.

'I know,' Kirigiri cut him, 'it's a misunderstanding. That's what you wanted to say, right?' Naegi gaped at her. 'I was being an idiot earlier,' she added, 'I'm sorry.'

'W-What?' Naegi asked perplexedly.

Under the afternoon sun, Naegi could see her cheeks turn pink. 'I mean… there's no way you would be dating Enoshima willingly. There must be some sort of misunderstanding or reason behind it. But seeing the whole class act so childish about it just… boils me… somehow.'

Naegi broke into a smile seeing Kirigiri so flustered. He finally undestood Kirgiri's agitation and it brought him relief. Perhaps, she was not as icy cold and detached as everyone, including herself, would like to believe.

His reaction, however, made Kirigiri flush even more furiously. 'What are you laughing about?' she asked pointedly.

'Nothing,' Naegi replied cheerily, 'let's go grab dinner.'

…

Mukuro Ikusaba caught sight of Kirigiri's distinctive lavender hair from a window in the corridors. But she only stopped in her tracks when she saw a second person join her, a figure she knew all too well. Kirigiri had appeared cold towards Naegi in class that morning, but after a while it was apparent that the two had made up as they left the plaza together.

Unfortunately for her, her twin sister, with whom she had been walking together, noticed what caught her eye.

'My dear Mukuro…' Junko Enoshima said in a mocking tone, 'you can't really be thinking that he'd fall in love with you?' Ikusaba remained quiet, she knew only too well the futility of talking back against Enoshima. Enoshima, however, did not take her silence too kindly. She grabbed Ikusaba's chin and turned her face towards her. 'Mukuro… how many times must I tell you? You are ugly… uninteresting… and socially awkward. How can you thinking of competing against me or Kirigiri for his affections?'

'But you already have Matsuda!' Ikusaba blurted out. She immediately regretted it for Enoshima's face turned even more dangerous than before, almost psychopathic even.

'You think I'm doing this for love?' she asked. Ikusaba averted her gaze from her sister, but Enoshima continued mercilessly. 'No my dear Mukuro… you're severely mistaken. I'm doing this for you. I want you to feel despair… Deep, beautiful, crushing despair… Remember our promise? We promised to bring despair to the world. But if we don't feel despair, how can we make others feel the same? That's why Mukuro… I'm gonna make your heart shatter to pieces… To the point that no one will be able to fix it…'

Ikusaba looked at Enoshima with horrified eyes. Her frightened glare, however, seemed to have satisfied Enoshima and she let Ikusaba go. Enoshima then gave one last blood-curdling smile before walking away.

Deep in her heart, Ikusaba wondered, what have I gotten Naegi into…?