*** Important ***
Okay, so… I just realized that does not support strikethroughs in it's formatting. This is a huge problem. This story relies on strike-throughs pretty frequently when handling the development of Ultimate Despair members, and so you guys are missing parts of the characters development.
I don't really know what I can do to rectify this problem since both Mikan and Sonia's character development when converting to hope relies pretty heavily on strikethroughs… but it's important that I do find some solution.
If anyone knows how to get strikethroughs working on then I would really, really appreciate it! If not, then I'll have to reformat quite a few chapters in a way that my intentions can come across.
Once I do get strikethroughs working/use a different formatting (probably parenthesis) then I will let all of you know. I'll probably make a list of what sections in what chapters you should probably reread if you want the full experience. If not (or if you don't to wait) then you can check out the last chapter on Ao3 here: /works/11673180/chapters/26270574. Real quick for anybody willing to go on Ao3, chapter 14 (section 2), chapter 28 (section 3) have some strikethroughs. I don't have time to go through everything right now, though.
I don't know if it's absolutely necessary to reread things with strikethroughs... it's just that you'll be missing out on a part of the characters development. You can really choose to reread, but I suggest it. (Of course, I'll make the rereading easy when I come out with a list.)
DearestDissapointment - ALL HAIL THE MEMES!
Alewar Warinot - oHP. You might wanna read the important note when it comes to Mikan's development. I'm glad you liked it either way, though! Oh? Is Peko's not-fully-despairness actually canon? I, uh, kinda stole that from Lion's Den, hahha! Thank you so much! I'll see you in the next chapter... though I don't know if I'm introducing the heroine you've been looking for. :3
Ronin Warriors Fanatic - Yes. They're all close to falling off the edge, hehhee. I don't know if Fuyuhiko will be the first to turn, since he still has a lot of development left. I think either Ibuki or Tanaka will turn first. Since Tanaka's had a lot of development and Ibuki was the least despairful at the start of the story.
xXPinkMewXx - That's Makoto for yah. Good at making bad situations happen.
Reader(Guest) - I can't tell if that's a genuine complaint or not. Cliffhangers are how I remain sane. Also, awee! You're so nice! Thank you… I'm glad that you like my story so much! ;v;!
Byakuya checked his watch. He scrunched up his nose at the sight. It was just after two in the morning, and he had been far too long without his much-required beauty sleep. His head was pounding. They didn't have any painkillers, so he would have to sit through the brutish storm.
Sometimes he wondered if Naegi was even worth it. The pain that he caused. Byakuya had suffered through far too many headaches for the sake of his classmate. For what? A little speech every now and again?
Still, he stepped out of their van and into the cool night sky. The refreshing crisp air rested against his cheeks. Towa City was a thing of beauty. If he were given the choice than Byakuya would have moved here quite a while ago. It wasn't fit for the common people, but for him, it would do.
Fukawa followed behind him, disgustingly close. She believed that the two of them had 'bonded' over the past few weeks, but Byakuya was hesitant to say so. She was disgusting. Therefore, he would never touch her.
End of story.
The nutcase and the swimmer girl followed after. Then, it was Kirigiri. Being the second smartest person in their task force (after himself, of course), Kirigiri had earned his respect. She was one of the reasons why as many people survived the killing game as they did.
Even if he didn't personally like them (not much, at least) Togami was at least a man who valued the lives of others.
"Our informant said that two unnamed figured entered the Towa Hills building," Kirigiri announced, reading off her phone, "One of the two looking suspiciously like Naegi. The other…" she held up the device to Asahina, the witness.
The girl gaped, "That's him! Kamukura or whatever?!"
Byakuya perked. So they had identified the suspect, then.
Byakuya shuffled forward, peering at the screen. It was an immaculately dressed man, with long black hair. Hmp. He didn't look like much, even if his suit was made of satin.
Just another commoner riding on the coattails of Enoshima Junko.
"Towa Hills, then?' he asked.
Kirigiri nodded, "We're already close. It would be safer to work in groups. Yasuhiro, stay with the van in case we need a get away. Asahina and Fukawa, stay behind as lookouts, in case they run. Togami, which me."
Byakuya nodded. It seemed fair enough. Put the better people in the front and let the commoners stay behind, in their rightful places.
They moved out. The two girls picked spots on either side of the entrance, standing guard. Byakuya cleared the way forward, gripping the handle.
Beep! Beep!
He threw his hand off as if the handle had burned him.
Kirigiri sent him a concerned look and was about to open her mouth when a shot rang off. A gunshot.
Survival instincts flaring, Byakuya fled down the stairs and in the direction of the vehicle. Kigiri wasn't too far behind. From what he caught in the corner of his eye, she had pulled out her pistol. Heeding her silent warning, he did the same.
He was glad that Future Foundation finally decided to give them real weapons.
Well… they had ambushed Ultimate Despair's base in what was informally called a suicide mission.
Togami smirked. None of them had died yet, and they wouldn't ever. Not by murder, at least. They had all survived too much. Had too much to survive for.
The van's door slid shut. Everyone was inside now. Expect… expect Fukawa.
He almost felt like swearing. Almost. A Togami would be caught dead speaking profanities.
"We have to get her," Togami muttered, catching Asahina's gaze.
Her eyebrows knitted together before she surveyed the car, "Shit, Tokou!" she gasped.
They drove closer to Towa Hills. Togami noted how Kigiri was keeping a hand on the doors handle, ready to spring given a moment's noticed. He copied that, undoing his seatbelt and holding his gun steady in his free hand.
The glass doors exploded.
Where the hell-!
Where was that woman when he needed her?
Somebody came bolting out of Towa Hills. It was a man who Byakuya recognized. A short blonde wearing an expensive-looking suit. He was followed by another girl, waving around a katana. Other followed, this one holding a… syringe.
Then, the doors exploded again. Not with bullets or fire, but with people.
Security personnel.
"Ultimate Despair has infiltrated Towa City," Kirigiri hissed, "Yasuhiro, drive!"
Byakuya felt his heart stop. They were still missing somebody!
Asahina failed in her seat, "But Tokou! We can't just leave her!"
His sentiments exactly.
Kirigiri sent them a saddened look, "Jack will protect her," then, she threw Byakuya her phone, "Call Tokou and tell her to meet us at the coffee shop we set base in."
Byakuya looked down at the phone as he felt the van kick up and start moving once more. It swerved in an unsightly manner. Yasuhiro was a horrendous driver, unlike Kirigiri. He scoffed.
Byakuya threw the phone to Asahina, "You call her," he said.
The swimmer scrunched up her nose, "What? Why? Is it because the important rich boy can't touch a plebian phone?" she huffed, crossing her arms.
"No," Togami answered cooly, pressing his fingers to the door handle, "Because I'm leaving."
Asahina blinked. Yasuhiro sputtered, having heard him from the front seat. "What? Wh-what do you mean you're leaving."
"Exactly that," Byakuya muttered, not liking the increasing distance to Towa Hill, "either stop the van to let me out or I'll jump while it's moving."
Kirigiri looked seethed.
Yasuhiro cried out, "You're crazy!" but stopped short, nonetheless.
The detective shouted at him to keep driving. He pressed on the gas again. It was too late, all he needed was those few precious seconds. Byakuya's door had already slid open, and the heir was already stepping a foot outside.
He hated her. Except... he didn't really. He just said that, because he was a Togami. Togami didn't fraternize with the common folk.
In reality, he was one of them.
One of his friends.
But his honour couldn't allow him to leave her behind.
He dashed forward, swooping low as the sound of bullets rang through the air. There was the sound of a child laughter. A jaw filled with plastic teeth landed on the ground next to him. Byakuya sneered, putting his fingers on the trigger of his gun. Just what the hell was this, a child's party?
He was ready. He had been through much in his short life, but for the first time, he felt truly ready. Free, maybe.
He was a Togami. Togami didn't leave the select few they considered friends behind.
That included Naegi.
That…
That also included Fukawa.
He spotted her, cowering away in a dirty corner like the vermin she was. He leapt forward, letting a bullet fly from his gun towards one of the approaching security guards. It didn't hit, but it wasn't intended to. The guard saw the threat and back away.
Byakuya smirked, "What, are you just going to sit there and be useless?"
Fukawa's head immediately snapped upwards, "M-master?" she asked, fidgeting with the end of her patchy-looking-skirt.
"Yes. Now move. We can't afford to stand here talking."
Fukawa did as told and lept to her feet. The two of them ran down the alleyway, away from where Ultimate Despair was still in a battle against the security of Towa City. From where he stood, Byakuya couldn't especially tell what was happening, nor who was winning.
He hoped it would be Towa. For they were not enemies. For they had not kidnapped his classmate.
"Wh-what do we do, Master? Where do we go?" Fukawa asked, her breaths coming out in noisy pants.
Byakuya revolted slightly in disgust, but kept running, "Kirigiri wants us to return to home base. However, I believe there's somebody we should pick up first. To help us search for Naegi."
The girl's eyes widened, "You don't mean… his sister?"
Togami smirked.
"I believe her building is just a few blocks away."
There was somebody knocking at her door.
She paused.
There was somebody knocking on her door.
Komaru hadn't felt this excited in years. With a jittery I'm-walking-on-sunshine run, she leapt towards the door. Then, her fist pounded down. Her eyes ting as unwanted yet welcomed tears began to stream down her face.
"I'm here! I-I'm here!" she shouted.
Two years.
She had waited two years for this moment.
"My name is Naegi Komaru! I… I've been trapped in here! Let me out! Please!" she begged.
There was a thump from outside. Komaru quickly scuttled backwards, and away from the door. That didn't sound good. Not at all. Maybe she was too soon in assuming that her saviour had arrived…?
"Look out below!" a female voice screeched.
There were more thuds. It was somebody running. Komaru backed away from the door, heeding the shouted warning.
Bang!
Her jaw went slack. The door rustled, then jumped. Then, it was crashing to the floor. A girl rode on top of the falling wooden panel as if it were a surfboard.
She landed with a practised, yet energetic, grace. Her colourful hair was an assortment of black, blue, and pink. Her clothes were… strange to say the least. Her school uniform was a mockery of Komaru's, being all ripped up and colourful.
There was somebody behind her. A man with a dark aura. He was tucking half of his face behind a long, knitted purple scarf. The only thing she could see was his gleaming crimson eyes.
Komaru looked back to the girl. She was grinning, locking her pair of magenta eyes on Komaru's trembling form.
"You're Makoto's sister, right?" the girl asked, hands on her hips.
Uh. What?
What connection did these people have to her brother?
"Uh… Yes?"
"Great!" she cheered, marching forward. Her hands gripped Komaru's shoulders, "We're Ultimate Despair, and were recruiting you!"
I know this chapter is like, really, really short… but honestly I was considering pushing back this chapter to Wednesday because of the length. I've honestly been so swamped for time lately. That's probably evident by how little and slow I'm replying to your comments
(Sorry About that. If I miss your comment it's probably because I saw it, but didn't have time to write a response.)
Tricked ya, didn't I?
Oh, you thought that Komaru would get rescued by future Foundation and have a happy ending, huh? Well, you thought wrong. Despair for her.
Oh yeah, she's in this story now. Sorry to the people I said she probably wouldn't show up to.
(Just remember, anything I say in comments could change.)
Next time:
Komaru gets in on the action. Towa City becomes akin to a battle field.