The days rolled by and soon the cool autumn breeze was replaced by the chilly winter wind and subsequently, the fresh, aromatic spring zephyrs. It was graduation day for Class 76 and Hope's Peak Academy was bursting full of people. Families came in flocks to witness their children's graduation from the most prestigious school in the whole country and even the media have arrived to cover the graduation ceremony of the next batch of students who would eventually pave the way towards the future.

A speech had been given by the headmaster and the diplomas had been handed out. Next, came a speech by the valedictorian…

Nagito Komaeda stood at the podium. He was smartly dressed in Hope's Peak Academy's brown uniform with a black beanie on his head, covering his newly grown hair; his hair had been shaven off for his lymphoma surgery that Yasuke Matsuda performed on him about a month back. In his hands was a script that his homeroom teacher had prepared for him, knowing his tendency to stray in his speech. Nagito, however, calmly placed the paper on the podium facing down before he turned towards his fellow students.

'Good morning,' Nagito confidently addressed the crowd. 'I have to first apologise to my homeroom teacher as I am going to make up my own speech instead of using the one she gave me.' He gave a light smile towards the direction of the glaring teacher before continuing. 'First of all, for those who don't know, my title is the "Ultimate Luckster". That means that I managed to get into this school because of luck, unlike my friends who possess enormous talents in various fields. So this title of valedictorian really doesn't mean much. So what if I do well in exams? Those aren't true representations of talent as this school has always so clearly asserted.

'As such, I have always felt myself beneath my classmates. I do not believe myself worthy of this position amongst Hope's Peak's finest candidates. Society's future as some like to call it. The nation's hope… The school was the very epitome of hope. But something happened a few months back that made me question the very core of Hope's Peak Academy — an incident I was deeply involved in…

'Now I'm sure every one of you would at least be somewhat familiar with this incident. Thirty-two students, including the mastermind locked up in the old school building… being coaxed to killing one another by the supermodel Junko Enoshima, the Ultimate Fashionista… But Hope's Peak hushed down so many details within that incident that what you heard was not the whole truth.' By this time, the press who had grown bored over the course of the headmaster's speech and the handing out of diplomas perked up. Murmurs also begun sounding throughout the spacious gymnasium, especially amongst the teachers and school executives.

'Did you think that Junko Enoshima was a psychopath who did what she did because she felt like it?' Nagito continued. 'No… Far from that. Her ultimate aim was to cause despair… Not just within Hope's Peak Academy, but throughout the whole world. She recorded our every move via CCTV cameras within that old building and if she managed to turn the "nation's hope" against one another, she can use that recording to turn the whole world against one another. Such was her logic. She dubbed herself the "Ultimate Despair" and threatened — not just coaxed — us to kill one another, vowing to kill us off one by one if no one succumbed. She even abducted the school's ultimate creation, a prep school student who had been operated on to allow him to possess any kind of talent, and placed him right in the middle of the killing game. All in the name of destroying the "Ultimate Hope".'

Nagito paused for a moment. Looking around the now frenzied room. Reporters scribbled furiously; photographers clicked incessantly; students and teachers muttered to one another with deep-set frowns on their faces; and his eyes finally rested on his friends who had intense looks on their faces.

'I did not tell you all these just to create an uproar,' Nagito said, speaking louder to regain everybody's attention. After a few hushed whispers, the commotion died down to allow Nagito to continue. 'I wanted to set the record straight so that the school and its students can learn from this incident. And I wanted the nation to understand the importance of eradicating Junko Enoshima's ideals completely. She was not alone and even now, I believe that her supporters still walk amongst us. All of us tasted despair that day. But what enabled us to survive was hope… Hope given to us by the presence of people I can proudly call as friends now. Hope united us in trapping the mastermind; hope united us in our decision to stand up against the mastermind; hope united us against despair… So I want everyone to remember this incident… Remember that there's always hope in the bleakest of situations… That sometimes, in order to overcome a problem, all you need to do is to trust one another.'

The room fell silent. A number of students could be seen wiping away a tear or two. And even the school executives were dumbfounded. Nagito gave a bow before leaving the stage.

Whispers begun sounding again and they quickly evolved into a full-fledged commotion. The students, their families and the press alike wanted answers. How could a school as prestigious as Hope's Peak Academy have kept anything so important a secret? What Junko Enoshima did was an act of crime and reports of that incident alone had kept the public gossiping for weeks. And now a survivor had actually revealed important details of that incident which made Enoshima's crime all the more severe.

As soon as Nagito stepped off the stage, the school executives were hounded by dozens and dozens of curious and enraged citizens. Nagito quietly slipped off through the backstage door before anyone could stop him. And upon realising that they too run the risk of being badgered for answers, the other survivors of the killing game hurriedly escaped the gymnasium.

It was a while before all them could gather in peace at a secluded spot in the school grounds after the commotion that Nagito had caused.

'That was an awesome speech, man!' Leon said, grinning widely.

'I'm surprised that you decided to tell everyone, including the press, the truth regarding the incident,' the Impostor said, 'I guess, we all were…'

'It's gonna cause a few problems, wouldn't it?' Nagito asked nonchalantly.

'I suppose it will,' Yasuke replied, shrugging. 'But if it can help prevent any more cases like this, then I don't see how it's a bad thing.'

'But what about Hajime?' Chihiro asked in a concerned tone, 'Will he be in trouble?'

At this point, Hajime Hinata, who had more or less reverted to his original self from before the experiment, spoke up, 'I don't mind. I suppose I saw this coming… I shouldn't have agreed to that stupid experiment in the first place. I'm just grateful that I'm back to who I used to be with all of you to support me… I'll handle any questions they throw at me. Or even if they expel me, it's still going to be worth it.'

'C'mon!' Ibuki roared impatiently, 'Let's leave the worrying for later, shall we!? It's our graduation!'

Everybody burst out laughing.

'Yeah, I suppose you're right,' Fuyuhiko said, smiling.

'Speaking of graduation,' Sayaka began, 'What plans do you guys have?'

'Unfortunately, most of us will be continuing our miserable lives in hellish institutions,' Gundam said.

'By which he meant, universities,' Sonia said calmly, she was obviously used to having to clarify Gundam's way of speaking.

'Not for me,' Nagito said. 'I'll be deferring, at least until the treatment for my FTD is complete. So you'll still see lots of me in Hope's Peak Academy since Yasuke will be monitoring my progress.'

'Well I have to stay behind for at least another year too,' Hajime said sheepishly. 'I missed a good chunk of school and they'll decide if they'll allow me to graduate once they've seen my grades over the next school year.'

'But hey, they did allow you to join the main course, didn't they?' Makoto asked him.

'Yeah,' Hajime replied. 'I think they might want to "make it up" for me or use it as some kind of bribe so that I'll keep my mouth shut about the experiment. I'll be the "Ultimate Luckster" of Class 77; at least that's the cover they are going with.'

They sat there for a long time, talking about their future plans. Tears were shed at the thought of leaving, but laughters also rang pleasantly amidst the blooming cherry blossoms as they joked, teased and promised regular meet-ups. It was not until the commotion had died down and the crowd dispersed late that afternoon that they warily stepped out of the school gate.

'What about your parents and relatives?' Makoto asked, turning to the graduating class.

'Oh, we texted them earlier,' Fuyuhiko replied casually, 'told them to go ahead and leave first since we'd still like to spend some time with our friends.'

'So… this is your first step towards adulthood,' Kiyotaka said, watching the serene path ahead of the school gate. The setting sun cast a warm, orange glow on the stony path and the trees by both its sides; and further down, the path split into multiple branches, leading to different directions. 'Once you walk down that path and head back towards your homes, your graduation ceremony will officially end. You'll no longer be students of this school.'

'It's not like we'll never see each other again,' Mahiru said, but tears had already begun swelling in her warm brown eyes. 'I… I think I'm speaking for everyone when I say this… But, I'm glad we're all friends. Our lives could have been drastically different had we not met each other… And we could have been walking down that path of despair.' She paused for a moment before turning to greet Makoto's eyes. 'Thank you, Makoto. On behalf of all of us who have been saved from despair… Thank you…'

Makoto's eyes widened in surprise. He did not expect such a heartfelt speech dedicated to him. He turned from Mahiru to the rest of his friends and was even more astonished when all of them — be it Class 78 or Class 76, and even Hajime and Yasuke — nodded at him in agreement.

'I… I don't know what to say…' he stammered after a long pause.

'Look, you don't have to say anything man,' Mondo said, 'Without you, we'd all be either dead or caught up in this despair thing. We know how hard it was for you, having to work undercover and all that shit…'

'Well in the end, I'm saving my own skin too,' Makoto said humbly. He felt that his friends were overdoing it by making him some sort of hero.

'But you weren't afraid to die,' Mukuro said, 'Not for our sake. You said it back then… That you'd risk anything to stop Junko.'

Makoto took in a deep breath before saying, 'Look, I couldn't have done it without you guys. If anyone of you — anyone — played into Junko's hands, then everything would've been for naught. I couldn't have stopped you killing one another. I couldn't have made you trust and work with one another. I couldn't even figure out a way out of that mess the whole time I was Junko's captive. You have Kyoko and Nagito to thank for that. My point is… I'm not the hero you made me out to be.'

'Yeah, yeah, we get it,' Yasuke said impatiently. 'You can think what you like but fact is, your hope gave us hope and thus led us to act the way we did. So you're welcome to think of yourself as worthless but that's not going to change the way we think about you.'

'Just give it up, man,' Leon said before Makoto could open his mouth. 'Humour us, will ya?'

Makoto sighed. 'All right, fine,' he said.

They all stood in silence once more, deeply breathing in the fresh scent of spring's flowers and the warmth of the afternoon sun, all while feeling grateful, deep inside, that they survived.

'I guess it's time to go, huh?' Sonia whispered softly.

'It's not like this is goodbye,' Nidai said, laughing heartily.

One by one, the students dispersed, all while saying their goodbyes and containing their tears. And even though the students of Class 78 would still see each other, the thought of their upperclassmen leaving saddened them, especially after the past few months of fun and laughter. The unfortunate incident had bonded them far beyond any school activities could have done.

After a while, it was only Makoto and Kyoko left, standing in front of the iron gates. The sky had turned a deep shade of purple and the last streak of orange sunlight was quickly disappearing behind the horizon.

'Is this the ending you expected, Makoto?' Kyoko asked, breaking the silence.

'I… to be honest, I don't know what I expected,' Makoto replied abashedly. 'Maybe you'd reprimand me for this… but I never really had a plan to face Junko.'

'You just believed you would,' Kyoko said with a hint of amusement. 'Optimistic as ever. And no I'm not going to reprimand you for it. That's your strength… Keep it.'

'Diving headfirst into problems without a plan? That's my strength?' Makoto replied jokingly.

'Don't you dare deny it,' Kyoko said, smiling.

'Well… there's this teeny tiny thing I had wished for, actually,' Makoto said, dropping his voice. 'Not exactly expect… but deep down, I had wished that Junko could've been saved…'

Kyoko looked at him with gentle eyes. 'You may have saved us all, but you're only human,' she said. 'You can't save everyone.'

'I know… It was just a wish,' Makoto replied.

'Rather than dwell on the past, I suggest you start thinking about what you want to do in the future,' Kyoko said. 'In case you forgot, we now have a future ahead of us.'

Makoto looked up to greet Kyoko's eyes and smiled warmly. Without another word, he picked up one of Kyoko's gloved hands in his and together they walked down the path towards their hope-filled future…

…..

So… We've reached the end of this story. I'd like to thank everyone who've shown support for this story so far. I hope you enjoyed it. Sorry to keep you waiting so long and I'd also like to apologise for the lack of Chiaki in this story. I intended her to appear at one point but the flow of the story changed along the way and that's why her character did not appear.

Thank you again for all the support! :)