AN: Hello, I'm back officially as SHSL Trash *slam dunks self in the garbage*

It's been nearly 3 weeks since I updated. I have literally no excuse, considering that I still don't have school.

However, before you start throwing miniature Komaedas at me- I reached a writing block. Every time I tried opening up Word, I couldn't muster anything decent. I didn't want to post a backlogged chapter, because I had promised that this chapter would be a requested one. I always do my best to give people their requests, so those are always top priority.

Now, as a response to Annani: Gah, you're too kind! But I'm glad I got you into the multi-shipping boat with me. And I'll definitely get your request done- I'll push myself to get my writing juices flowing and get you your junkomaeda!

REQUESTED (by Crazedpooch on AO3)

Kiyotaka Ishimaru x Mahiru Koizumi

(Ishikoi, Ishizumi, Kiyohiru)

Unexpected

(School days/pre-Mutual Killing)

Kiyotaka Ishimaru was incredibly proud of himself on how flawlessly he had went through his first day of classes at Hope's Peak Academy. Despite how lenient the first day was, and how it was primarily focused as a time to get to know his new classmates, he believed that he did his absolute best to both leave a good impression and be a proper, diligent student.

Now, a classmate would typically give themselves a few weeks to acclimate themselves within a new environment and peers. However, Kiyotaka often went above and beyond, so that he could be the best student and peer possible.

So, after classes finally let out for the day, the Ultimate Prefect quickly made it his mission to greet and introduce himself to as many of his fellow alumni whilst making rounds across the campus. It was better for both himself and his peers if they knew who he was, and how he strove to uphold a good school environment through disciplinary actions.

After all, this was a school of geniuses. He had to make a name for himself quickly, and show the degree of how intolerant he was of their rule-breaking, lazy ways.

What he did not expect, whilst quickly striding across the beautiful campus, was…Well, running across someone who looked like they weren't an insufferable genius at all, but rather someone who was average.

Short, red hair. Normal female face and body structure. Freckles.

She wasn't the picture of average, like his classmate Makoto Naegi. Why, red hair was very uncommon for the majority of the Japanese populace, for one. However, an aura of serene normalcy seemed to surround the girl.

Why, if she wasn't wearing the Hope's Peak uniform, and carried an odd, small bag strapped to her side—he honestly would have thought that she was one of the preparatory course students.

He couldn't help but stare at her. And stare intently, at that.

He had considered himself lucky, in how his class wasn't simply full to the brim of insufferable geniuses, as he had imagined. He even felt a kinship to Naegi-kun, who was the most average of them all, and had much to prove.

But he honestly didn't expect to meet even more students who were average— people who gained a spot in the prestigious school through sheer hard work and determination, like himself. Because, really, how else would the girl have gotten in…?

He couldn't help staring at her, a sudden surge of kinship with the redhead enveloping him, despite the fact that he didn't even know the girl.

It's possible that she was the Lucky Student of her year, but he honestly felt like she would be more than that. There was an oddly bright fire in her eyes, one that told of determination and fighting hardships. She didn't have the grateful, hopeful, complacent look of a Lucky Student (—no offense to Naegi-kun, who was very polite and kind, but he was too star struck compared with those who were invited with a talent—)nor the lofty look of a genius.

Taka, however, was snapped out of his intense scrutiny and reverie by the very girl he was watching.

Mahiru had felt a very strong gaze upon her, and had looked around nervously, hoping it wasn't someone that would cause her trouble. Her gaze landed on a boy, who was staring at her.

She stiffened, quickly going on the offensive, before he could do anything to hurt her. She whirled to face him.

"Excuse me—Why are you staring at me?" Mahiru quickly asked the intense-looking boy, bristling, fists on her hips.

The boy simply blinked his red eyes, his large eyebrows furrowing slightly. She scoffed; he was obviously playing dumb.

"It's not polite for a boy to stare at a girl like that, you know! If you've got something to say to me—be a man and take responsibility, and say it to my face," she harped on, trying to hide how uncomfortable and embarrassed she felt by this guy unabashedly staring at her.

The tall boy suddenly snapped to attention, his back ramrod-straight. Out of all the possible things he could of done, he did something that she hadn't even considered a course of action he'd take.

Of course Kiyotaka Ishimaru would answer to such a claim, even though Mahiru wouldn't have known. Taka was all about being proper, courteous, responsible— and most importantly, being an honorable man who was bluntly honest.

"I apologize, miss!" Kiyotaka quickly said, his voice loud, before giving a very curt and proper bow. "It was rude of me to do so, as well as the fact that I didn't introduce myself!"

Mahiru blinked owlishly, her mouth slightly agape, as the boy then did just that.

"I am Kiyotaka Ishimaru; some refer to me as Taka! I am the Ultimate Prefect! It is a pleasure to meet you, miss!" the boy belted out with passion, before giving a deep, respectful bow towards her.

She was flustered; Ishimaru's sudden, polite actions were unexpected and caught her off guard. It didn't help any that his voice was naturally loud, it seemed; either that, or he was simply passionate of his duties.

She noted belatedly that his actions at least matched up with his talent, at the very least. Giving a small nod to herself, Mahiru prepared to ask something before introducing herself.

"So, you were staring at me before, because…?" she asked curiously, trailing off.

"I-I was simply wondering who you were, and your respective talent, miss…" Ishimaru answered, flustered.

He didn't know what to do in such a social situation as this; he had already apologized, and fixed his rude mistake. However, the redheaded girl still questioned his actions and motives.

It was all very jarring. It did not help that she was a girl, and very sharp.

Before Kiyotaka could worry himself into a frenzy, the girl answered.

"Koizumi," she stated. Ishimaru blinked quickly, staring oddly at her, and she huffed a small puff of air.

"Mahiru Koizumi; that's my name," Mahiru clarified, feeling her cheeks heat up slightly. "I'm the Ultimate Photographer. I'm in the class right above you."

Ah, well that explained the bag strapped to her hip. It was a bag for a camera, no doubt. He did not know much about photography, but Taka reasoned that even those that seem average could theoretically become great photographers.

Her title explained her normalcy somewhat. It was also spot-on to his thoughts of her being more than simply the Lucky Student of her class.

"I apologize for not knowing you, Koizumi-kun! It is just that I only conducted research of my current class, and not of any sempai…" Kiyotaka told her tentatively.

He didn't want to seem overtly rude for not knowing of her. More so, considering how she told him her surname, and he simply stared dumbly at her; she seemed a bit more irate after that transgression, and her cheeks gained a pink tint to them.

She was his upperclassman, so he still wanted to make a good impression on her. Even more, considering how she seemed down-to-earth, and someone who would often get to the heart of the matter at hand.

Mahiru started, surprised at how…considerate he was, and his genuine apology for never having heard of her. Honestly, he was one of the few males in her peer group that hadn't said something to her to make her dislike him, and had acted up to the standards she held for men.

"It's fine. I think that's what each new class generally does: just research their upcoming classmates," she told him soothingly. "It's what I did last year, too."

"I…I see. That is a relief. I did not want to offend you, sempai," Kiyotaka told her, his stiffness slowly ebbing from his body in relief.

"Besides, I'm not surprised you haven't heard of me. My talent isn't as unique as some of my classmate's; mine's more mundane," she grinned awkwardly, hands behind her back.

"Nonsense, Koizumi-kun!" Kiyotaka interjected, personally affronted that she held herself and her work in such low esteem. She must have worked hard for her accomplishments—and she managed to get into Hope's Peak, so she must be much better than she believes!

Mahiru startled out of her small bout of self-deprecation, staring wide-eyed at the Prefect, who went on to give a passionate, uplifting speech.

"I believe that that is the very thing that makes you unique! Being proficient in an activity that may get overlooked, and showing that with hard work and determination, you can take such a thing to unrivaled heights! No matter how mundane you may be, or how far you seem you are from being a genius, you have become the Ultimate of what you do!"

"That, in itself, is commendable—at least in my personal opinion! It is rare to meet a genius—yet rarer still to meet someone considered average who has talent and is up to par with a genius. It is why I noticed you so quickly!"

When Taka was finished, he was glaring to keep tears from falling down his face, his fists were clenched, and he felt winded from giving such a soulful speech. Heat seemed to travel across his body at how the redhead was gaping unabashedly at him in shock, and with something akin to respect or… admiration.

"I…I-I am sorry for that, Koizumi-kun, I…Did not know what overcame me," Kiyotaka said stiffly, his mouth feeling as if it was stuffed with cotton. His eyes roamed to any sight but the red-haired girl.

There was no doubt that his spiel came off as 'too strong'. She would want nothing to do with him now, just like his peers from junior high. She would think he'd be too emotionally invested in something that most considered trivial. She'd call him a freak, weird, a creep—and avoid him as much as possible, which he supposes would be no problem for her, as she was a year above him…

Oh, and just when he considered her a possible equal—a fellow mundane who managed to make themself a space in the society of money, prodigies, geniuses, and talent…

At least he still had Naegi-kun to try and befriend and join together with. A small hope in the pit of dread…

"Um…Thanks," a quiet voice uttered, piercing through Kiyotaka's self-inflicted haze of despair.

Kiyotaka, of course, wasn't prepared to answer to such a response. He gave an intelligent "Wha…?", eyes the size of plates, in a spluttering voice that some would consider too dramatic.

"I said: thanks. For what you said. About me," Mahiru choked out, forcing the words past the lump in her throat.

She'd had to do something—say something, despite her pride, surprise, and embarrassment making it almost impossible to answer. At the very least, she wanted to make the stiff boy stop looking like he was going to bawl at any moment...

"It was…Well, it wasn't something I was expecting—but I, um, appreciate it, nonetheless," she told him, an arm folded behind her back to grasp her other arm tentatively. Her face was heating up, no doubt housing a blush.

"That is—That is good," Kiyotaka said awkwardly. "It would not do if a fellow sensible student doubted themselves—we need to stick together, and work doubly hard to earn our names."

At this point, Kiyotaka Ishimaru had absolutely no clue what to do. He'd never been in such a predicament, and had no experience to go with to keep this conversation successful.

He had even less knowledge when it came to speaking with the opposite sex. The meaning of Koizumi-kun's fidgeting and coloration of her face, as well as her thanking him, still eluded him. At his point, he was becoming emotionally and socially tired.

It seems like once again, he said something correct, thankfully. She grinned brightly at him, in answer to his statement.

"Yeah, I guess we do, don't we?" Mahiru said, her pointer finger pointed up in realization. "And, well—I honestly didn't expect to meet someone like you. I wish you were in my class, so you could be another sensible head—Sato-chan and I have our work cut out for us!"

Kiyotaka blinked in surprise. He was…flattered that his sempai wanted him to be in her class, and thought so highly of him.

He laughed, and gave her one of his patented 'nice' smiles. (He'd learned in junior high that smiling was a social cue that helped bring a sense of understanding and camaraderie with those you spoke with.)

"Well, I would not be against it! However, I will still monitor the halls, so I will just have to be a traveling sensible head!" he told her cheerfully.

"Alright, I'll remember that," Mahiru nodded, giving him a small smile. She then gave a sigh, hands on her hips, as she thought how much better high school would be if guys could be more intelligent, forward, honorable, and polite as Ishimaru.

"Honestly, why can't more guys be like you? So many boys are just really immature—they don't act like men at all!" the freckled girl exclaimed in minor exasperation. "You're up to par on my expectations on how men should act, Ishimaru-kun, so I know my ideal is possible."

The intense boy looked taken aback, before composing himself, a fist under his chin and a thoughtful look on his face.

"I suppose I can understand what you are saying, Koizumi-kun, from my brief experience with some of my male classmates," Taka noted, thinking pointedly of Kuwata-kun, Owada-kun, and Hagakure-kun. He then held out his fist in front of him, as he had an epiphany.

"Then I suppose I shall work on changing that!" Ishimaru-kun said, with a burning aura surrounding him. "I shall make your ideal a reality, Koizumi-kun! Then perhaps it will help bring the student body together as a whole, and drive all males to perform even more spectacularly as students of Hope's Peak!"

Mahiru flushed, feeling flattered that he took her comments and bemoaning to heart, and wanted to change things. For her.

Before she could stop herself, she giggled. "You're not what I expected, Ishimaru-kun," she said, voicing the niggling thought that had been floating in her mind, ever since the straight-laced boy opened his mouth.

Everything he did, to her, was very unexpected.

And everything she did, as well, was quite unexpected to him.

Taka blinked, tilting his head slightly to the side, as if he was a curious puppy. Whilst he still puzzled over what she said, she spoke again.

"You don't have make a revolution when it comes to the guys here—some people just don't change, no matter how much you try," Mahiru told him, internally rolling her eyes when she thought of her classmates.

"B-But Koizumi-kun…!" the boy gasped, looking shocked and affronted.

"It's enough that you want to do it. You could just…push them in the right direction," the girl supplied, trying to soothe him before he went on a fiery tangent. "As long as you undertaking this doesn't make you fight with anyone. I'd feel guilty if my ideas got you hurt, or pitted you against your classmates; and it'd be irresponsible."

Kiyotaka thought it over in his mind. Koizumi-kun did, in fact, make a very level-headed argument.

After tossing it over in his mind, he supposed that following her advice would be for the best. She was his sempai, was already privy to being classmates with talented peers, and seemed incredibly adept at socialization.

And even if he did, in fact, want to personally make such a drastic just for her—so as to show her that her faith in him was, indeed, well-placed and appreciated…As well as to show that he was a man, and truly fit her ideal of one—he had to admit that he couldn't bear going three more years with classmates that despised him.

"Then…I suppose I shall just 'push them in the right direction', as you have put it! First and foremost, my responsibility is to maintain order, and to make sure that my classmates are the best students they can possibly be! I must achieve that first, before I try such a large undertaking!" Kiyotaka reasoned aloud, nodding his head resolutely in confirmation of his plans.

Mahiru, meanwhile, gave a sigh in relief.

She certainly didn't know what she'd do if Ishimaru-kun went running around, reprimanding almost the entire male population on how to be the 'ideal' man. Worst, if he cited her name, and specifically detailed her ideal image of how the male species should be.

"I must thank you, Koizumi-kun! You are indeed very wise—I should not expect any less from a sempai such as you!" the boy said in his usual loud boast, beaming brightly at the redhead.

Mahiru, once more, felt flattered. "Oh, it's nothing, really. Glad I could help my kouhai out!" she responded brightly. "If you need any more advice, I'll gladly give it."

Personally, she felt like he'd need it, so that he wouldn't rush into anything. Boys can be dumb and reckless, after all.

But, she also felt like he had definitely earned her respect. It was rare for any male to get that from her; most didn't deserve or earn it from her, but Ishimaru-kun quickly managed to do just that.

She didn't mind him at all.

"If I need any advice, then I shall gladly go to you, then!" Kiyotaka responded, elated that he had such a confidant in the girl. He never had such a thing in his previous time as a student—this spoke volumes of how similar they truly were, if they already had such a helpful relationship in one another.

"Also, you may confide in me of any rule-breaking or bad behavior you encounter!" Kiyotaka added. "Also…Of any problems you are experiencing! I cannot simply take your time and advice in good conscious without giving something in return."

Mahiru's grin widened. He was going above and beyond her expectations; he was fine with taking her advice, and was even offering his own solutions to any problems she had.

Maybe if her father was more like him, then she'd have had an easier life, and less worries.

"Of course, Ishimaru-kun!" she piped up. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you," she noted, giving a quick laugh.

"Then it is official. We are now sensible confidants!" Kiyotaka said boisterously, barely believing his good fortune, as he stuck out his hand for a handshake to finalize the momentous occasion. He brightened even more as Koizumi-kun took his hand and gave it a firm shake, a fire in her eyes. The same fire that had first cemented her in his mind of being a fellow hard worker.

When she pulled her hand away, Kiyotaka noted that it had felt oddly good, to have had her hand in his. It was either that, or the look in her eyes that caused the reaction. He tucked the small event away for further analyses at a later time.

"Sensible confidants," Mahiru repeated. "I think we need to commemorate this rare occasion—," she suddenly added, as she quickly unzipped her camera pouch with nimble fingers, taking the device out and presenting it with a flourish, "With a picture!"

Ishimaru-san gave his odd-sounding laugh, his hands help up. "What a wonderful idea, Koizumi-kun!"

"Great!" Mahiru piped peppily, before moving next to Ishimaru-kun, who looked a bit taken-aback from how quickly she was by his side.

"Now, I don't exactly have my camera stand with me, and there's no good place to use as a platform so I can use the timer…" she explained. "So this'll be unprofessional, but taking a selfie with you is the only option I have right now. I hope you don't mind."

Taka had no clue what a 'selfie' was, but he supposed he could not complain. She was, after all, the photographer.

And it also felt nice to have her be so close to him, if he allowed himself to admit.

"Not at all!" he voiced. "You are the Ultimate Photographer—I am sure it will come out well!"

"Thanks," she grinned, pink dusting her cheeks. She then held her camera—her expensive, professional camera—backwards, familiar with the etiquette of taking shitty phone-camera pictures of herself. At the very least, she knew how to handle her high-quality camera so she would get a good picture.

She then pressed herself close to the Prefect, not noticing the pink on his own cheeks, as she readied the camera.

"3…2…1…Smile!" She exclaimed, before pressing down the button her finger was poised over. There was a quick flash, a small beep, and Mahiru quickly withdrew the device to look at the photo on the small screen.

Ishimaru-kun had his incredibly wide smile on his face, all teeth. Instead of stiffly standing next to her, like she had expected, he actually did something with one of his arms—he had brought the one she wasn't squished onto into a militaristic salute.

She, meanwhile, was incredibly close to him. Her arms weren't long, he was taller than her, and taking pictures like that was always a bit difficult, so it was necessary. She noted that she looked really similar to some of the other pictures she'd taken with someone, with her camera backwards; small peace sign by her face, grinning widely, leaning slightly to the side, and very close towards her friend.

The picture was a surpassingly good one, she noted. Her amazing camera, coupled with her talent, she surmised with a grin. Even clichéd pictures she took turned out pretty good.

"Amazing!" Ishimaru-kun noted, awe in his voice. Mahiru belatedly realized that he'd be able to look down over her shoulder to the display screen and see the picture as well.

"A tight fit, but it came out well," she responded happily, shooting a look towards the boy.

"I would like a copy of it—" Kiyotaka blurted, without thinking. He bashfully added, "If you do not mind, of course! It is just that it looks very nice, and I did not own many pictures…"

His family pooled all their money to pay off their grandfather's debt. That did not leave much money to be spent on getting any professional family photos taken, or buying any photo packages from school. Why, they rarely took pictures in general—only for the most important of occasions, making a disposable camera or a roll of film last for at least two years, or more.

This photo would be added to precious, small collection that he brought with him to Hope's Peak.

Mahiru, meanwhile, didn't expect such an admittance. Ishimaru-kun seemed like the type to have parents who would buy lots of school photos, or take pictures of him whenever he accomplished something.

"I don't mind! I was thinking of giving you a copy anyway—you're in the picture too, after all!" Mahiru told him, trying to inject some cheer into his nervous demeanor.

It seemed to work. He brightened considerably, his confidence back, as he gave his hearty laugh.

"Then I shall look forwards to it! You may contact me any time I am in the halls, or even at my dorm room through the buzzer system," Kiyotaka informed her, before stepping away from Koizumi-kun and her camera, the screen still showing the wonderful photograph.

He noted that he felt colder without her next to him, in close quarters. A slow tug in his abdomen also spoke of discomfort for leaving her side. He brushed it off as him simply not wanting to part from his first successful bond with a peer his age.

"Alright—I'll definitely do that," Mahiru said, nodding. "I'll leave you to go and monitor the halls, okay? I'm going to go around to take some photos; I just got some inspiration for some new camera angles!"

A brand new school year seemed ripe with new experiences and inspiration, but just taking that one picture with Ishimaru-kun fueled a fire within her to try some new things.

Maybe she'll meet with some of the other freshmen, or maybe she'll get an unexpectedly good shot from a different angle. Something new and fresh.

"Will do! Goodbye, Koizumi-kun!" Taka answered happily, turning on his boot-clad heel to go and monitor the halls, as originally intended.

As he strode away from the red-haired girl, he wondered if he'd have as much success with the other sempai as he did with her meeting.

His interactions with her had been, after all, very unexpected. Yet, very pleasant.

They certainly wouldn't mind interacting and confiding in one another more, in the future.