( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

I had a PD day today, which meant more time to write. Now I'm ahead of schedule! ^-^

Though my grammar processor wasn't working quite right today, so I'm not too sure how nicely-edited this chapter is...

xXPinkMewXx - Ugh, more reason to forward to look forward to Friday, right? Thanks! Glad you liked the chapter~!

Makoto sat back on his bed, sighing slightly at the comforting way the pillow swallowed up his head. He contently sighed as the mattress swallowed up the weight of his body.

"Getting lazy now, aren't you?"

Makoto huffed but didn't even bother opening his eyes to locate Junko. He was already used to her frequent pop-ups.

There was a small annoyed sigh from Junko as she plopped herself on the side of the bed. Makoto noted there was no dip from her weight, but that, too, was more or less usual.

"Are we actually going to do something today, or am I just going to watch you take a nap?"

Makoto grumbled but didn't say anything as he hopped off the bed and unwrinkled his shirt. The strawberry blonde sat at attention, waiting for Makoto's decision.

"Can you find Kamukura?"

Junko brought a finger up to her pursed lips, her eyes looking up to the left. "It's not like I can sense where everyone is, y'know. I'll actually have to go out and find him."

"Well then can you help me go out and find him?" Makoto deadpanned.

Enoshima sent him a glower, but slip off the bed nonetheless. "Why do you even want to find him, specifically?" it was a question, but there was something more behind it.

Makoto sent Enoshima a suspicious look. It almost felt like she was hiding something from him.

She grinned mischievously as if she could his thoughts. Scratch that, she actually could. That reaction definitely meant she was hiding something from him… Either that, or she knew something he didn't.

"What?" he asked with a squint. "Am I not allowed to try to reform him, too?"

In actuality, he was just going with his gut. Something deeply buried in his pile of unused instinct was screaming at him to get in the company of the raven-haired man.

Junko kept grinning, "Go on, fearless leader. Go find your white knight."

Makoto rolled his eyes, mumbling that Kamukura definitely wasn't his white knight, and for more reasons than just his colour scheme. Those reasons being: if Kamukura was his knight, then he would have helped him escape a long time ago.

With no escape in the midst, it could be confirmed that he wasn't.

Enoshima rolled her eyes, phasing through the door as if Makoto hadn't just closed it in her face. "Calm down, Makoto. It was just a joke."

The boy blushed slightly at the realization that indeed it was, and indeed he had taken his defence a step too far.

"Try a couple steps," Junko laughed.

Makoto pouted but didn't say much else. He contented himself with strolling down the hallway, looking for Kamukura.

What would be the best place for him to look? Probably his bedroom.

Where was that again? It was in the southern half of the building… Right?

Makoto groaned. He couldn't remember all too well where the elusive black door sat. He had really only seen it that one time when Kamukura told him he would be attending the party.

Destination set but direction not, Makoto roamed the hallway. The two of them had fallen into a pregnant silence. It was odd, having someone as boisterous as Junko walking silently beside him. It almost unnerved him.

"Makoto," the boy looked up, meeting the strawberry blonde's icy blue eyes. She jabbed her thumb towards the hallway opposite of Makoto, "This way. It's getting boring watching you walk in circles, so I'll just show you where is room is."

Grateful for her assistance, Makoto trailed after her. Soon enough, they reached the plain black door that Makoto remembered Kamukura sliding behind just a few days ago.

He brought his hand up to knock.

The door swung open with a slight creak. Makoto nearly fell over when his knuckles rapped against thin air instead of wood.

"I predicted you would visit today."

Makoto blinked, looking up at the taller male. The raven-haired man had a blank look on his face as his red eyes bore into the hazel ones of Makoto. Enoshima was giggling and phased through Kamukura as if he weren't standing in the doorway. Makoto could barely see a hint of her over the man's shoulder.

"You… Predicted I would show up?" Makoto asked, suddenly feeling a weight on the back of his neck.

Kamukura gave a small nod, his face not betraying his usual deadpan in the slightest, "I have to ask you a question."

That must have been some kind of invitation or something because Kamukura promptly turned on his heel and walked into the door. Makoto followed, closing the door as he entered.

Kamukura's room was… Plain. His bed was a simple black-and-white colour scheme, with a simple white blanket and black pillows. The walls, all a stale white, were barren of any kind of decorations. He had a desk, but it was completely barren, probably due to the older man completing his work as promptly as possible and having no need to let it clitter his desk.

"Can you still see Junko?" the former Ultimate Hope asked, eyes hard as they locked onto Makoto.

"Yeah?" he answered, not entirely sure what to make of the question. What did he mean, could he still see Junko..? It's not like she would suddenly disappear, right?

Makoto… Didn't like that thought, he decided. Not, uh, because he liked having Junko around… Just that she could be helpful. When she wanted to be.

Plus, he would feel unsatisfied if the mystery he had been prevented with just suddenly up and vanished without answers.

Seeing the content look on Kamukura's face, Makoto assumed he felt the same.

"Is she in the room with us?" Kamukura asked, yet his eyes didn't even bother looking look for her.

Makot snorted, "Yeah. She's sitting on your desk." he giddily pointed at the girl, who sent both him and Kumakura a peace sign in response. It almost felt like he was some kind of medium helping Kamukura speak with a deceased loved one.

Actually, that was almost exactly what he was doing… Well, maybe the 'loved one' title for Junko was going too far… But judging on Kamukura's status as a member of Ultimate Despair, he must've liked Junko at least somewhat, right?

Kamukura's eyes betrayed his stoic facial expression when they flickered to the desk. There was no hint of recognition in those crimson orbs, so Makoto assumed that he couldn't see her.

The older man turned back to Makoto, this time eyeing him, "What are your reasons for coming here? There hasn't been any change with Junko so unless something else has happened you wouldn't have a reason for coming here."

Makoto blinked. Had he to have a reason for coming to Kamukura's room? Well damn, considering how he basically came here out of outright boredom. Could that be considered a reason? Makoto felt like saying that would more or less offend the man, and decided that it wasn't.

Instead, he raised an eyebrow and tried to look far coyer than he actually was, "Did you predict that I would here today?"

Kamukura… Snorted? No, that couldn't be right. Kamukura didn't snort, "I figured a sufficient amount of time had passed to see if Junko was merely a side effect of the despair video. Since she is still here I would assume otherwise. Now, your reason?"

Makoto pouted, not liking the way Kamukura peered down his nose at him. He shuffled slightly, nudging his foot into the hardwood floor, "I don't really have a reason…"

The raven-haired man didn't respond to that. Makoto didn't look up. Instead, he found his shoes to be rather interesting and choose to look at those instead.

"Do I need a reason to come see you?" he mumbled, but didn't entirely expect Kamukura to even hear.

Junko cackled at the phrase. Makoto didn't look at her but instead choose to raise his head to glance at Kamukura.

He was…

He was giving him a look.

It reminded Makoto of the first time he met eyes with the man. An undisguisable emotion flitted across his face, and something (possibly dangerous) sparking in the depths of his eyes.

"I suppose not," Kamukura said, turning away from his junior.

Makoto watched as he moved towards the bed and elegantly sat down. His legs were regally crossed and his hands folded over top.

"Well then, why don't we take this chance to make your visit useful?"

Makoto must've taken too long to respond since Kamukura gave him a deadpanned expression. "Let's talk." he simply stated.

Well, that made him feel stupid… Hopefully, Kamukura wouldn't notice, "Oh, that's what you meant." never mind, he definitely looked as stupid as he felt.

The brunette waddled over to the bed and sat down next to Kamukura, wary of the distance between them. Not that the older man seemed to mind since he sat as still as a stone.

Kamukura glanced at him from the side but didn't say anything. Makoto gulped at the awkward atmosphere that suddenly flash-flooded the room.

What was he supposed to say? Kamukura didn't look like he was going to prompt him again…

He looked at the man, meeting his eyes. An uncomfortable feeling pressed at the back of his neck, and he shifted slightly, waving his feet through the air childishly, "What are we supposed to talk about?" he asked.

Kamukura raised an eyebrow quizzingly, "That's for you to decide."

It almost like felt Kamukura was a parent expecting him to admit a wrongdoing.

Wait… What if Kamukura knew? What if he actually was expecting him to fess up to downloading Alter Ego, and breaking into the security room, and erased that footage! Was he in trouble?

Makoto winced, his mind flashing back to when Sonia had taken him outside. That was the first and last time he had ever even been outside under Ultimate Despair care… And he didn't know if he wanted to go out there again.

Junko scoffed. Makoto whipped his head around to look at her. She was still sitting on the desk, her arms crossed and a bored look on her face.

"You're helpless, you know that? He just wants to have a fucking conversation with you."

The boy perked at this, feeling a heat pool on his cheeks. Embarrassment or flattery, he really didn't know what caused it.

"Uh," he shifted, wringing his hands together, "Can you tell me anything about the Future Foundation… Like, isn't an attack supposed to happen or something…?"

A sound rang out in the background, faintly sounding like Junko's hand meeting her forehead.

Makoto ignored her. "When do you think that's going to happen? What are we going to do?"

Well, Makoto knew that the 'attack' was really just word getting out about his possible rescue… But he didn't think that was a threat now that he had refused to talk to Kirigiri…

Holy shit.

He had refused to talk to Kirigiri.

"I believe it was called off," Kamukura spoke in a monotone voice, and Makoto, for some strange reason, latched onto that.

It was his fault the mission was called off.

He betrayed Kirigiri. He betrayed Togami, Hina, Toko, Hiro… All of them.

"Are you… Okay?"

Suddenly, There was a light touch of his shoulder. It was Kamukura's hand, gently touching him as if he would break under the pressure.

Makoto jolted so fast he nearly fell off the bed. "Yeah… I'm just… I've had a lot of processes lately, and now that things are finally slowing down I can just… Think a lot more."

"I see." Kamukura said, as if he understood every concept in the universe, "You've started to get bored, correct? Now you are filling that void with other thoughts."

Whoa. That was exactly what was happening… Wasn't it?

"How do you know stuff like this?" he asked, blinking owlishly.

Kamukura's hand left his shoulder, "There are many talents that I can access… The Ultimate Analysis Talent is only one of them."

"Isn't that Junko's talent?"

Kamukura stilled. His brow furrowed just the tiniest bit, "Since when have you address her as Junko? I had assumed you didn't like her?"

Makoto made eye contact with Junko. Her brow was furrowed. Makoto felt like doing the same.

When had he started calling her by her first name? Come to think of it, Kamukura also called her by her first name… Maybe the two of them had been close, and so now he was offended by his rudeness?

Maybe it had just thrown him off? Certainly, now the question was throwing both Makoto and Junko for a loop.

"I dunno," he answered honestly, "A while after she… Appeared. I guess. Sometimes she helps me out, so I don't see a reason not to."

Not to forget that I choose her over Alter Ego…

Not that he could blatantly say that to Kamukura. That would be admitting to tampering with the phone.

Kamukura, surprisingly enough, looked confused. "What do you mean she helps you?"

The brunette brightened at this, smiling happily, "She helps look for things sometimes. The other day she found the imposter for me, and she also helped bring me here."

There was a pregnant pause in the conversation. Enoshima hopped off the desk and strolled over to the two of them, but froze mid-step when she saw Kamukura's face.

"Holy shit. I think you broke him."

"Broke him?!" Makoto mentally shot back, panicle looking between the two.

"I've never seen him display this much emotion before. Well, not after Nanami, that is…" the pink-haired girl pursed her lips.

"He used to be a lot more stoic, but now he's… Wait, who's Nanami?" he asked.

Just then, Kamukura lifted his head. "Naegi, do you mean that Junko can register things that you are unaware of?"

Makoto nodded, raising a brow at the question. What was so important about that?

"Do you know what this means?" Kamukura asked as he suddenly stood from the bed. Makoto shook his head, causing the older man to lightly sigh, "If she was a figment of your imagination, then how is she able to utilize the information you don't have?"

"She can't..." Makoto answered, feeling more and more confused with every word in the conversation, "But what else can she be?"

Kamukura shook his head, the long tendrils of hair flowing with the movement, "I have a hypothesis, but I need more evidence before I can say anything… Before anything, I want to do an experiment. I'll need your cooperation."

Makoto nodded, stepping off the bed and facing Kamukura. He had swiftly and silently strode towards the desk, opening a drawer and getting out a pack of cards.

"Makoto, I need you to get into the closet and close the door. Then I want Junko to tell you what card I'm holding up. You will then recite what she tells you." Kamukura said, pointing to the small black door on the other side of the room.

Hesitantly Makoto opened the door, revealing a walk-in closet (though it was smaller than the one in his room) absolutely filled to the brim with pressed black suits.

"Are suits the only thing you wear?" he asked with a hint of mirth, sending a grin over his shoulder.

"Get in the closest," Kamukura deadpanned.

"You don't have to be a grump about it," the boy mumbled, "Besides, you would look good in other clothes…"

The older didn't respond, and Makoto assumed he either didn't care or hadn't heard him. Not that the brunettes goal was to be heard, anyways. He closed the closet door, flinching slightly at the sudden darkness that invaded his vision.

"Junko…" there was a pause and Makoto wondered if Kamukura felt stupid talking to himself… But the realized that Kamukura probably never thought himself as stupid, "State what card this is."

Junko laughed. Makoto couldn't see her, but as usual, her voice was loud and clear. "King of hearts."

Kamukura waited a few seconds, "Naegi, can you tell me what it is?"

"Uh… King of hearts…?"

Another pause. Makoto clenched at the sleeve of a nearby shirt and squeezed his eyes shut. He really hated this. Why did Kamukura have to do this experiment…? Couldn't he just trust him?

"Wrong."

Well, maybe that was his answer.

There was a cackle that reminded Makoto all too much of the monokuma that had ruled over Hope's Peak. He squeezed on the sleeve further, not caring about any wrinkles. Why did those thoughts have to come now of all times…?

"I'm just messing with yah!" the girl sounded giddier than ever, "It's the seven of clubs. Makoto, tell him that his despair is appreciated!"

He hated how much she was reminding him of monokuma today.

"Ugh, Junko was messing with us. It's the seven of clubs. Also, she said she appreciates your despair." he really, really didn't want to pass the message on, but if he didn't he feared that Junko would no longer play along… This entire experiment was hinged on her participation.

"That's correct… And awfully like her. One more."

He heard Junko sigh, gurgling in boredom, "Another one? Fine, this one is the Jack of Diamonds."

"Jack of diamonds," Makoto said, this time more assured that she wouldn't joke around. From the sound of it, she wanted this to be over as fast as he did.

"Correct. Now I'm going to write something down. Junko, read it out."

The girl huffed but seemed to wait patiently for him to finish. After a few seconds, she spoke, "It says Tuesday morning. Wait, is it Tuesday today? How despairful."

Once more, Makoto recited, "It says Tuesday morning. Wait, what's despairful about Tuesdays?"

"They suck."

Well then. That was… A suitable answer, he supposed.

"Can I come out now?" he asked, feeling antsy in the enclosed space.

Half a word died out from Kamukura as a quick succession of knocks on the door to the room. Makoto sucked in a breath. Who would visit Kamukura? Makoto hadn't thought he was very active in the social circle of Ultimate Despair…

Makoto's hand went to the handle, and he was just about to open it-!

"Stay there." a hushed whisper came from just outside the close door. The door immediately removed his palm from the handle as if it had burned him.

The sound of the door opening was a little too quiet for Makoto to be comfortable with, and so, he pressed his ear against the door.

"Kamukura," it was Kuzuryuu's voice, a grim and dark tone just underneath the surface of his typical yakuza accent, "Have you seen the brat? We need him."

Makoto's heart nearly stopped in his chest He shuffled away from the door slightly. It took all of his concentration not to make even the slightest peep.

What could Kuzuryuu want with him? There was an ominous feeling being given from those words.

Kamukura must've also picked up on this because, after a few moments, there came a short answer. "No."

The yakuza groaned, "Well can you help us look for him?! Sonia showed me some bad fucking shit, and she's been blaming it on Naegi. So, now everyone's gotta to meet at the cafeteria, so if you find him drag his ass down there so we clear things up and move on with our lives."

"Do you not think he did anything?" Kamukura surprisingly asked.

There was a growl from Kuzuryuu, "Of course not! The kid isn't capable of sneaking into the security room and erasing our fucking security footage! Obviously, it couldn't have been the brat, he's too fucking stupid. We have more important shit to deal with than three seconds of missing security footage, anyway…"

"I'll bring him down if I find him," Kamukura responded, not commenting on anything the yakuza had said.

"Good."

With that, the door clicked shut. Makoto fidgeted before deciding to delicately open the closet door and creep out.

Only to run into Kamukura's chest.

He hurriedly backed up, "Sorry! Sorry!"

He felt like he was going to puke. The world tipped sightly when his back banged against the wall. His knees buckled and he blinked, finding himself sunken to the ground.

When had he…?

Kamukura was kneeling in front of him, a blank look on his face.

Oh god.

They knew. They knew. They knew - knew - w.

He was dead. It was official.

Ultimate Despair was going t m.

His breath came out in quick puffs. He squeezed his eyes shut, not like the way the world span and tilted. Panic coursed through his veins as a pressure dropped on his shoulder.

He squirmed and kicked out, flushing his back against the blank walls until there wasn't even an atoms worth of space between the two.

Whap!

A sting erupted across his cheeks. His neck suffered from whiplash as it tossed to the side.

"Calm down," Kamukura said, placing his free hand on Makoto's other shoulder, effectively boxing the boy in place. "I know what Junko helped you break into the security room."

Makoto was going to look at the girl for support, but couldn't see anything past Kamukura.

"You… You knew?"

The man nodded, before pushing himself to stand and offering an extended hand to Makoto. "Now let's go. You'll need my help to convince the others that you didn't do it."

"You're going to help me? Why?"

Kamukura sighed.

"I don't know why."

Despite the total uncertainty in the man's words… Makoto found himself smiling. That was the most human thing he had ever even heard Kamukura say… And it was directed solely towards him.

He reached forward and grabbed the offered hand.

"I hope you can figure it out." he said.

"Me too."

(Anybody notice the Kagerou Project reference? No? Okay, I'll crawl back into my hole.)

Ooh, it snowed today. Yay for Canadian weather…? Not sure how much I want snow this early in the year… But it is cosy to write while it's snowing, so that's a plus.

Anyways, this chapter is a bit slow (actually most of my chapters are slow) but I think it's a nice cool-down from the drama of the last couple of chapters.

This is just the calm before the storm.

(Get ready for Monday's chapter. I don't think it will disappoint.)

Also, "Well then, why don't we take this chance to make your visit useful?". (Kamukura tries his best to be smooth af. It's super effective.)

P.s them sitting on that bed together is the closest yall are going to get to a sex scene. Aside from kisses, probably.

Next time:

Sonia strikes and nobody is happy about what she has to say.