Running To Paradise
Out of principle, Naegi was no longer talking to his Annoying Little Sister. It was a horrific punishment that might have been effective if Komaru actually noticed it was happening. But nope; fate wasn't having it. Instead, Komaru - he had no idea where she had gotten those sunglasses - thought he was kicking back and lounging in the shade just like her. No amount of scowling or mean looks in her direction fixed that because she assumed he was being a surly older sibling and smiled back. Plus, he couldn't correct her because that would defeat the point of not talking to her in the first place!
He sagged. She didn't understand. It wasn't her fault. Not really. Her Ultimate Despair was still out there, alive and kicking and. . . Was that the problem? Was Komaru still a baby Hope because Towa Monica was alive? It made sense in a way. If Enoshima had simply run away during the last trial, then Naegi wouldn't have truly defeated her. He wouldn't be the world's hope – at least not to the extent he was now. Hmm. He'd have to think more about this later.
Of his departed friends, Kirigiri was the first to come chugging back on her forklift. The forklift was carrying a wood pallet, upon which were random containers filled with water. A couple of buckets of salt rested on the seat next to her.
"I'm afraid some of it spilled among the way," Kirigiri said. She tucked her braid behind her ear as the sun caught the side of her face and turned it into gold. "Nevertheless, there's plenty of water. If you two are thirsty, help yourself."
Komaru scooped up her empty bottle. "I could use a refill."
Next, Kirigiri asked Kamukura, "How are these vehicles powered?"
"Not gasoline. I would not have allowed this if that were the case," Kamukura assured her. "Solar cells. There are charging stations scattered around the islands."
"I presume most of the facilities run on similar power." She let light fall upon her gloved palm. "Certainly, this is a good location for green energy."
They chatted about more science stuff. Naegi adjusted his posture and held his chin up proudly like he was showing off a tie. It would be his turn soon to speak soon, right?
The two finished speaking. They stared at each other. Then Kirigiri turned to him and said hello.
"Hi!" Naegi said back. He settled back on his haunches, content.
Togami and Genocider were the second to return. They hadn't used any pallets. Instead, their forklift cradled what appeared to be a feeding trough from a barn. As if in preparation for an animal's lunch, the troughs had been partially filled with plants.
"The island hasn't been wild long enough for the native vegetation to overrun the crops," Togami announced proudly, as if he personally had sowed the seeds. "Something will have to be done about the pests and weeds, however. Additionally, while most of the trees on First Island have been cut down, I did spy a collection of fruit trees on Center Island. There's a good chance that the other islands have more."
By this time, both Kirigiri and Komaru were picking through the trough. His silly sister went right ahead and took a big bite out a yellow fruit without checking for insects.
"This is good! What is it?" she asked.
"Papaya," Kirigiri said. "It's common for tropical islands to have an abundance of fruit. If Togami-kun is correct, there should be enough on this island to last for a long time."
"Ugh. No one said we were going to become vegetarians," Syo complained. "I need meat! And not just the kind you eat."
"That's not for you to decide," Togami said, making her swoon.
Hagakure was the third to return. Unlike the other two, he hadn't thought to use the forklift to his advantage. Instead, he had balled his jacket into a sac and thrown it over his shoulder. That meant he was steering with one hand. Of course, Hagakure could have compensated for that by driving slower, but this was Hagakure so. . .
"W-watch out!" Hagakure cried.
They didn't move. Hagakure drove right past them, and nearly tipped the forklift when he tried to turn sharply and break at the same time.
"I'm alive!" he called, although no one had asked. "Takes a lot more than that to put me down."
"Don't just stand there," Togami said. "Show us what you brought. I need to verify it's not poisonous."
Hagakure whimpered, "Don't you trust me at all?" (The answer was no, of course, but Naegi was much too nice to say that.)
Togami, Kirigiri and even Kamukura got into the task of sorting through the plants Hagakure had brought back. Of the three groups that had left, Hagakure seemed to have been the most affected by the heat. There was a slight flush to his cheeks, like the beginning of a sunburn. He grabbed one of the water containers and dumped it over his head. Naegi and Komaru silently judged him while Genocider swapped personalities in the background.
"We're having a big feast tonight, right?" Hagakure asked.
"Sure," Kamukura said.
"Is that wise?" Kirigiri questioned. "We don't have a full understanding of how much resources we have."
"It's not a bad idea," Kamukura said vaguely. ("Hah! You hear that?" Hagakure cried.)
Kirigiri merely shrugged before returning to her task. "If you think it's best."
On Kamukura's advice, they didn't wait for Asahina. They drove the forklifts back over to First Island instead, where she was still at the beach. Togami choked violently when he saw the pile of seafood stacked upon the sand.
"Do you realize we're going to need to eat next week, too?" Hagakure asked her awkwardly.
"I didn't grab everything out there," Asahina answered as she wrung out her ponytail. "No one told me how much to get."
"This is sufficient." Kirigiri examined the shoulder-high pile. "We can store the excess in the ship's fridge."
"Speaking of which, how much longer can we power that?" Togami asked Kamukura.
"I can rewire it to accept power from solar panels," Kamukura said. "Because neither the Imposter nor Owari can be expected to consume much, a fifth of this should do for tonight. Move the rest to the fridge."
Apparently, Naegi was the only one listening because when he grabbed some fish and looked back, no one else had moved!
"I am not letting that touch my clothes!" Togami said.
"Wear gloves," Kamukura deadpanned.
"Aren't you going to carry something?" Komaru asked Kamukura.
Kamukura said, "I am going to speak with Ultimate Despair."
"Uh, who's doing all the cooking?" Hagakure asked. "Cause that one guy. . . I don't think I want him anywhere near knives. Or the stuff I'm going to put in my mouth."
"You will be eating the same food as Ultimate Despair and Naegi-kun," Kamukura said. "Not even someone with your intellect would risk using poison in that situation."
". . . Thanks?" Hagakure said, confused. "That doesn't mean he can't stab us though!"
"The food will distract him," Kamukura said. "In the end, he is still an Ultimate Chef at heart. Regardless, they would have noticed by now that the engines stopped. They need to be released eventually."
"All at once?" Kirigiri asked warily.
He shook his head. "We will escort them to their cabins a few at a time. However, if we only allow some to move into the cabins today, the others will revolt. Naegi-kun, please proceed with moving the excess food into the fridge."
"By myself?" he whined.
"Your sister, Hagakure, and Fukawa can accompany you."
"He's going to give orders just like that?" Fukawa muttered. "Who does that egotistical loudmouth think he is –?"
"Stop polluting my air," Kamukura said with Togami's voice.
Fukawa squeaked. Bright-red, she covered her mouth and nodded, although that didn't stop Naegi from seeing a drop of drool.
As Naegi and the others headed toward the ship with their load, he heard Kirigiri say one last thing:
"There's no need to look like that, Togami-kun. You're the one who claims to love competition."
Naegi, of course, would shirk his duties and spy on them. That was fine. He had an assigned task, which meant he wouldn't be able to hang around the deck and wait for each member of Ultimate Despair to emerge. It was fine if Naegi observed from a distance; it meant he couldn't harass them or plant any seeds of defiance in them. Or in himself.
As the least likely of the remaining people to trigger a violent reaction, Kamukura was the one who headed to the cargo deck. On the ship's deck just outside the door, Pekoyama stood watch. A deep furrow marked her forehead. He understood her stress. When the time came, Pekoyama had refused to side with her comrades in Ultimate Despair. She was an outsider, neither melding with Class 78 or Ultimate Despair. Kuzuryu and her had not yet had a chance to reconcile this. For Pekoyama, who was used to having a clear-cut side to follow, this would be harrowing. With such pressure heaped upon her, it was no surprise that she reacted to his sudden appearance by jumping and attempting to draw an absent sword.
"It is time," he told her. Pekoyama nodded silently and then stepped aside.
It was quiet in the hold. The mood was not comfortable, but it had an atmosphere of people pretending to be happy. Someone had spread a blanket on the floor and Nevermind, Koizumi, Mioda and Saionji had each claimed a corner. They had raided the nearby crates, finding water bottles. Nevermind, hands neatly in her lap, had placed a bottle before her like it was a teacup. That was the largest group of Despairs. The rest had split off into ones and twos. They were leaning against the shelves in silence or talking quietly among themselves. All except Komaeda, who remained huddled in the corner of his cage, ignoring the open door that would allow him to leave.
With it so quiet, it was only natural Kamukura's arrival would be noticed. Kuzuryu was the first to approach; he would be the boldest, as he had not been part of the chaos that nearly killed Naegi. The Yakuza's heir stopped a safe distance before him, his gaze and steadiness so similar to the Swordswoman who waited up above.
"Hanamura-kun," Kamukura said, "if you are willing, I would like you to prepare today's dinner."
Hanamura blinked. "That's what you're here for?"
"He'll do it," Saionji declared. When the others looked at her, she said, "Do you really want to keep eating that vomit the other class makes?"
"It would be nice to eat real food again," Koizumi admitted. "Hanamura-kun, what do you think?"
"Um. . ." Just as so many of these people seemed primed to do, Hanamura suddenly snapped into a new state, one brimming with confidence. "Well, how can I say no when you're on yours knees begging for another taste? It's only fitting; once you've experienced the ecstasy of my world-class dishes, everything else is just unsatisfying. Kamukura Izuru, I accept your challenge!"
"Great," he deadpanned. "Will you need assistance?"
"Hmm. . . There's certainly an advantage to more hands onboard. Tanaka-kun, Togami-kun, shall we dance?"
Tanaka pointed at Hanamura, mimicked groping someone, and then mimicked being damned to a hundred-year torment in the fiery bowels of hell. It was impressive.
"Hard to get, hmm?" Hanamura chuckled and brushed back his fringe. "That's no problem. Every chef knows the value of patience."
The four of them departed. As they passed Pekoyama, Tanaka made a throaty, rumbling sound in his chest, like a wolf who couldn't quite decide whether to growl. Hanamura winked at her, but otherwise, she was ignored.
They crossed the gangplank. Kamukura sensed eyes on their backs – Naegi, no doubt – observing the next reunion of Class 78 and Despair. At least there were no personal grudges between these two groups. Barring the one Togami held against Tanaka. As Kamukura had easily predicted, Togami stood in the front of his group, a position of power and strength. He made no move to hide the bruises on his neck, instead showing them off in a primal display of unyielding grit. He was so focused on Tanaka that he hadn't noticed the skinnier likewise of him behind Tanaka. Tanaka, on the other hand, walked forward and ignored Class 78.
That was the best way to describe how they interacted: they ignored each other. That had been Ultimate Despair's goal at the least, and they walked after Kamukura without faltering. Class 78 watched them go, but made no effort to speak. Some might say this was a sign of terrible unity, but it was miles better than the violence they had immediately embraced last time.
Forklifts were exciting and sharp and would tempt Ultimate Despair, so after they grabbed some raw ingredients, Kamukura forced everyone to walk. With his dark, heavy clothing, Tanaka bore the worst of the heat. Although his hamsters valiantly fanned him with leaves, he was slick with sweat by the time they reached the gate to Hotel Mirai, and his undershirt was stuck to his chest. It truly was remarkable that Tanaka hadn't been intelligent enough to take his jacket off at any point.
"Nothing like some hot, sweaty activity to build up an appetite," Hanamura quipped. "Hotel Mirai. . . Hmm, it's modern but rather bland. Not the place I ever expected myself to end up."
They journeyed up to the second floor of the hotel, where the Imposter sniffed at the dirtiness. As Kamukura had guessed, the kitchen – having been equipped before the war – hadn't been completely stripped. How would one transport a walk-in fridge, for instance? Once they turned the fridge on, it would take a few hours to cool, but afterwards they wouldn't need to always walk to the ship to retrieve food. Likewise, there were still ovens, stoves and fryers, which fit into their slots so perfectly that it was obvious they were the same ones from the hotel's money-making days. Microwaves had vanished ("Good riddance!" Hanamura exclaimed when he heard that), as had larger appliances such as blenders. However, many utensils had been left behind.
"Well, we're going to need to scrub this place down," Hanamura said. "It's completely unsanitary. It's like working in a pig sty!"
"Feel free to get started. We may be able to assist later," Kamukura said.
The need to clean was a welcome boon. It would keep the Despairs busy and out of mischief. Indeed, the general state of this island - in disrepair, but still functional enough for them to survive – was a blessing. Boredom was the path to ruin, especially when half the inhabitants were convinced that violence was the best entertainment.
He took the girls on the blanket next. There was no reason why it had to be them. Kamukura didn't care about the order, so long as Kuzuryu was last so Pekoyama wouldn't be tempted to abandon her post. The four had more sensible clothing than Tanaka and displayed only signs of mild exertion when he showed them to their cabins.
"You are going to have to stay inside for now," Kamukura commanded.
Nevermind looked at him. "Or else?"
He nodded and lied, "Or else. I will let you know when you are free to step outside."
The next person he decided to bring out of the hold was Komaeda, just to get it over with. Unlike the previous two groups, Kamukura brought Komaeda up alone. It was too dangerous to do otherwise. Not because of Komaeda's luck, but because he was the focus of Naegi's world, which meant Naegi's luck was in play.
Thankfully, when they emerged on the ship's deck, they learned from his sister that Naegi's bad luck had indeed manifested – in the form of him tripping in a corridor on his way to the freezer and having to pick up everything again. It looked like poor Naegi would have the terrible luck of missing his favorite upper classmate. It was for the best. To Class 78, Komaeda was just as bad as Enoshima. If Naegi were here right now to suck up to Komaeda and put his worst traits on display, his friends surely would have lost control. Even now, they were barely containing themselves –
Oh, there went Komaru.
She moved quickly. He'd seen it coming, of course, but in the quick seconds it had taken for her to lunge at and shove Komaeda, he had concluded there was no real benefit to stopping her. Komaeda, having expected violence the moment he saw Naegi's class, had done the exact opposite of what he should have and stiffened up. So, when Komaru made contact, Komaeda lost his balance and toppled over.
"You . . . You!" Komaru simmered.
Would she or wouldn't she punch? That was the question.
"Naegi-san, stop! We don't need a repeat of yesterday." Kirigiri briskly made her way over. She grabbed Komaeda's arm and pulled him up an inch, then accidentally dropped him when she realized who she was touching.
"He deserved it!" Komaru said.
Komaeda picked himself up. That didn't go completely unnoticed: Komaru suddenly went quiet. Like a scolded child, she stared at the ground and shuffled her feet. Kamukura thought about it and decided he couldn't be bothered to stop her as she suddenly threw a punch. Kirigiri did catch Komaeda before he fell again, leaving Komaeda to hold his hand to his leaking nose –
A blur slammed into Komaru's side and goddamn–!
Kamukura pressed two fingers against his forehead as he shook off. . . whatever that had been. And now the two Naegis were wrestling by his feet.
"Don't touch him!" Naegi Makoto screeched.
Kamukura reached down and ripped Naegi off his sister. Komaru scrambled to her feet and stumbled back toward the safety of the others. They were all staring at the wildcat Kamukura had by the scruff. Ah, yes. Apart from that pitiful attempt to attack Owari yesterday, this would be the first time they had seen Naegi get violent. Except for Kirigiri.
"That's enough," Kamukura told the boy.
"She started it!" Naegi squealed. "She hit him!"
Komaeda's voice was a little stuffy when he spoke. "Naegi-kun, it's fine. . ."
"She hit you! She hit you!"
Kamukura went over the options. Anything Komaeda or Komaru said would make things worse. Kirigiri was likely to trigger him as well. If he wanted this dealt with quickly, he needed to take care of it himself.
"Naegi Komaru, you're grounded for three days," Kamukura said.
"What? You can't -!"
"Keep talking and it will be four."
Komaru shut her mouth.
Naegi smirked smugly. Komaeda shifted, checking if his nose was still bleeding, and his number one fan immediately locked onto the movement.
"Hi, Komaeda-kun!" Naegi said breathlessly. In his sparkling eyes, there was a flurry of questions: Did you miss me? Did you see what I did? Are you proud of me?
Komaeda looked away. "Hey."
Just enough acknowledgement to make him crave more. At least this time, Komaeda wasn't messing with Naegi's head on purpose.
"Naegi-kun, have you finished transporting the food?" Kamukura asked.
"No, but I can do that later. There's plenty of time!"
"It isn't fair that Hagakure and Fukawa are working while you aren't."
"But -!"
"Naegi-kun, do as he says," Komaeda ordered.
Naegi pouted but in his world, Komaeda's will was law. He shuffled back down the gangplank while trying to shoot Komaeda puppy eyes over his shoulder.
". . . That was enlightening," Togami said. Meanwhile, Kamukura could see Kirigiri reevaluating a dozen theories in her head.
The rest of Ultimate Despair was escorted without much trouble. Tsumiki, who had the potential to be a problem, seemed content with exchanging long-distance eye contact and waving at Naegi. As Kamukura had decreed, Kuzuryu was the last to leave. Silently, Pekoyama peeled off from her guard duty to join them.
"So, you're here," Kuzuryu said to Pekoyama. He kept his gaze fixed ahead. "Heard some things from the others about you."
Pekoyama said nothing, awaiting his opinion on how she had handled the Ultimate Despair – Class 78 conflict.
Kuzuryu didn't press it however, and that was for the best. Instead, he grunted, "You got tanned."
It was true, but the tan was so slight that only someone who paid Pekoyama an abnormal amount of attention would have noticed that.
"The weather has been very pleasant," she said. "I imagine it will be to your liking."
Kamukura knew that Kuzuryu wanted to speak about much more. However, in the presence of himself, he would never display that vulnerability. Still, things went smoothly. And then they reached the cabins. Kamukura cleared his throat as Kuzuryu and Pekoyama tried to enter the same one.
"What?" Kuzuryu asked, nonplussed.
"There's only one bed," Kamukura said. "A single."
"Tight fit, then." Kuzuryu remarked.
"You and Pekoyama intend to sleep together?" Kamukura said.
"Don't say it like that! We're just sleeping in the same bed," Kuzuryu snapped, cheeks turning red. "We're not. . . We shared a crib before!"
"Kuzuryu, the intent was that you could both have your own rooms," Kamukura said.
"Oh. Yeah, sure. Right. Uh, go check out your cabin, Peko."
Thoroughly humiliated, Kuzuryu bolted inside his cabin and shut the door tight.
"Was that necessary?" Pekoyama said with a glare.
Kamukura shrugged. "I was bored."