The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: How I Met Your Mother (And How I Met Your Father)

Trust Arc

Chapter One: The Intimidating Hope's Peak Academy

Present Day

True to her word, Kiki did not struggle the next day when it was time for her bath; she sat in the warm tub and let her parents wet and shampoo her hair without complaint. Once she was all clean and dried off, they dressed in their pajamas and got nestled into bed.

"Alright, now it's time to tell you how I actually met your father. It was several weeks later, during the start of our first year at Hope's Peak Academy. I had just arrived on the grounds…"

XXX

April 5, 2014

Kyoko stepped out of the car, donned in purple boots, a purple skirt and jacket, a light, lavender blouse, and an orange tie, her suitcase in hand.

"I have to get back to the agency to work on a case. I trust that you can handle yourself from here on out?"

Kyoko turned to face the wizened old man sitting in the driver's seat and nodded "Yes, grandfather."

Fuhito stared at his granddaughter seriously and warned "Remember, you're still a Detective, so don't neglect your casework during your school life."

Nodding, Kyoko replied "Yes, grandfather. Detective work comes first, I remember."

Detective work comes first. My family creed…but is that all there is to my life? Was I born solely to be a Detective?

She was shaken out of her musing as her grandfather continued "And be sure not to get too close to the Headmaster. He may be your father, but remember that he abandoned you. The time for a joyful reunion has long since passed."

"…Yes, grandfather. I have no intention of getting close to Headmaster Kirigiri." There's only one time while I'm here that I want to converse with that man, and it's not to reconnect.

Nodding, Fuhito finished "One last think, Kyoko. Stay away from any boys for the time being. They can only be a hindrance at this stage in your career, and I won't be around to chase them away for you while you're here."

Nodding, Kyoko agreed "Yes, grandfather."

Without another word, Fuhito rolled up the window and drove off, leaving Kyoko to stare ahead at the intimidating architecture that was Hope's Peak Academy.

Stay away from boys, huh? It's not like you needed to tell me that; I have no interest in socializing with anybody. Besides, I have no intention of developing any kind of crush on anybody. Even platonic love can be…

Kyoko flashed back to a memory; a burning building, cries of fear and terror ringing through her ears before she shook the thought away.

No, best to keep away from developing friendships altogether. I work best alone, and I'm best protected when I don't have to depend on anyone.

With that, Kyoko began to walk forward, into the halls of Hope's Peak Academy.

XXX

Present Day

"Wait, so you didn't even want to make one single friend, Mommy? Not even Daddy?"

Stroking her daughter's hair, she soothed "Kiki, you have to remember that I didn't expect to ever run into your father again, let alone fall in love with him."

"Plus, Kiki…" Makoto interjected, "Your mother's childhood was…complicated. She learned from a young age not to trust anyone, and unlearning what you've already learned isn't easy. It took me a long time to coax her full trust, but I promise you'll hear all about how your mother learned to trust in me as this story continues, okay?"

"…Okay, Daddy."

Clearing his throat, Makoto continued "Alright then; at this point I was on my way to Hope's Peak as well. I kept pestering Baa-chan and Jii-chan to get me there early, and surprisingly they agreed. I was more than a little nervous and frantic at the time…"

XXX

April 5, 2014

"Faster, Mom! I wanna get there early so I can make a good impression on my teachers and classmates!"

"I'm going as fast as I can, Makoto! If I go any faster, I'll get pulled over and get a ticket!"

"Your mother's right, son. Plus your sister looks a little worse for wear…"

Shingi gestured to Komaru, sitting next to the anxious Makoto, heaving into a paper bag from being carsick.

Smiling sheepishly, Makoto rubbed his sister's back, trying to ease her nausea as he apologized "Sorry, Komaru."

Too sick to say anything while in a moving car, Komaru merely nodded at her brother before heaving into the bag again. And so their ride continued, Makoto thankfully refraining from urging his parents to drive faster until the car came to a gradual stop.

"Oh look; we're here! Hope's Peak Academy at last."

Makoto practically rocketed out of the car, excitedly running around to the trunk, popping it open and dragging out his suitcase with both hands.

"Would you like us to accompany you on your first day and help you get settled?"

Makoto blushed, mortified at his mother's suggestion; he turned to his family that had now stepped out of the car and, remembering to keep his volume down since they were on a public street, moaned "MOM! I'm not a little kid anymore; I'm seventeen! I think I can get myself settled, thank you very much!"

Choosing to spare his son from further mortification from Hana, Shingi wrapped his son in a hug, expressing "We're very proud of you, Makoto."

"Da…Daddy…"

Seeing his family smile at him once his father had released him from his grip, Makoto smiled too, the blush fading from his cheeks. It was then that Komaru, now recovered from her nausea, looked at him teasingly, making the older brother sweat.

"Just be sure to bring home an Ultimate Girlfriend, okay big brother?"

Turning red again, Makoto exclaimed "Komaru! This is a prestigious academy, not a dating website! I'm going to study and get a good job, not find a girlfriend! Besides…" Makoto's voice quieted as he looked down at the ground admitting "I'm a tame housecat in a pride full of lions here. I got in by luck; what Ultimate girl would ever want to go out with someone as plain and ordinary as me?"

Realizing her daughter's teasing had gone too far, Hana scolded "Komaru, stop teasing your brother." Kneeling down so that he would be taller than her, she framed his cheeks and encouraged him "Makoto, someday you'll find somebody who loves you for you. I don't know if it'll be one of these Ultimates here, but I know you'll find somebody who will treasure you as much as you treasure her. In the meantime, just focus on your studies and making friends, okay?"

Smiling, Makoto cheered up, nodding as she let go and stood up, replying "Okay, Mommy."

Leaning down to kiss his forehead, Hana praised "That's my boy. Now, you call us every week to let us know how things are going, okay Makoto?"

Nodding, Makoto obeyed "Okay, Mom."

As Hana and Shingi started to get into the car, Komaru gave her brother one last hug, making the boy chuckle as he returned the hug, squeezing her back in a gesture of acceptance of her unspoken apology.

"Do your best, okay Makoto?"

Smiling, he assured her "Will do, sis. Now you go with Mom and Dad, or I'll never make it in time for Orientation!"

Releasing her brother from his grasp, she walked back into the car, buckling up as her parents called out "Bye, Makoto!"

"Bye Mom, bye Dad!"

As the family sped off into the distance, Makoto turned, looking at the intimidating building in front of him as he pulled out his acceptance letter, rereading its contents one last time.

I still can't believe I'm attending this school! I mean, little average Makoto Naegi, going to the most prestigious high school in all of Japan? Well, I'm already here, so no use just standing around. Closing his eyes, Makoto cheered on "I've got this!" before taking his first steps towards the main hall, eager to start school and meet his new classmates.

XXX

Present Day

"Daddy, how could you think back then that you wouldn't find love? You're the Ultimate Hope, right? Isn't that why everyone says you're so optimistic?"

Sighing, Makoto turned to his daughter and explained "You have to understand, Kiki, that even after your mother and I got married, I had a lot of self-esteem issues I needed to work out." Smiling at his wife who returned it with an equally warm smile, Makoto continued "Your mother helped me get through them; she helped me discover my self-confidence."

Kyoko gave a blushing smile before addressing her daughter "That's right, Kiki. At this point, seventeen-year-old Daddy had a lot of growing up to do. So do you, by the way; it's your bedtime and you need to get a good night's sleep if you want to grow big and strong."

Pouting, Kiki complained "But we haven't even gotten to the point where Daddy met you yet!"

Ruffling his daughter's hair, Makoto promised "Tomorrow, Kiki. Tomorrow, we'll get to that part, okay?"

"…Okay, Daddy."

As Kiki nestled into the pillows, Makoto and Kyoko leaned down to kiss her goodnight and tuck her in before closing the door behind them as they left to slumber in their own room.