A/N: So here's the final Chapter of Trust Arc. Next will be an interlude before we get into the second arc of How I Met Your Mother: Bonding Arc. Please read and review, and let me know what you thought of Trust Arc overall. Enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: How I Met Your Mother (And How I Met Your Father)
Trust Arc
Chapter Fifteen: I Trust You!
Present Day
"So…what happened after you exposed Shutaro as the bad guy, Daddy?"
"Let's see…I had just finished telling the sequence of events to your grandfather when…"
XXX
April 20, 2014
Shutaro shook with fury as Makoto continued to point at him, an obvious fury in his hardened eyes. Jin stared at his employee disapprovingly, keeping his professionalism even though one of his employees was an accomplice in the near murder of his daughter. Said Detective could merely sit there in shock, impressed by Makoto's hidden talent.
"Shutaro Fukuka…" Jin began. "If you have anything to say in your defense, now would be the time to do it."
His anger giving way to resigned defeat, Shutaro's shoulders slumped as he conceded "…I concede. Yeah, Jutaro Akafuku is my brother. I changed my last name to avoid suspicion, and I planted myself as a mole so I could be his eyes and ears while he escaped. I kept tabs on Makoto so that Jutaro could exact his revenge."
"Why?"
Everyone's eyes turned to Makoto, who had a confused and befuddled look in his eyes as he tried to reconcile the fact that one of his teachers, regardless of who their sibling was, would agree to become an accessory to murder.
Sighing, Shutaro confessed "Because I owed him. You see, when we were kids, I was always the runt of the pack, targeted by bullies day after day…Or at least I would have been…if it weren't for Jutaro. He kept them off my back, and when he graduated from high school and moved out, I promised him that I'd repay him for protecting me."
Nodding in comprehension, Jin mused "I see…and after he got arrested in that scuffle with Makoto in March, that's when he called you and asked you to make good on your promise, correct?"
Nodding, Shutaro confirmed "Yeah. He assured me that I wouldn't have to dirty my own hands, that all I had to do was keep tabs on Makoto and inform him of any new developments that could affect his revenge." Glancing at the Ultimate Lucky Student, Shutaro gave a small smile as he mused "I just didn't expect this completely average kid here to be so observant."
Fukuka-sensei…Makoto looked to the side, feeling sorry for him and starting to empathize with him, his thoughts wandering back to his own relationship with Komaru. If I were…to fall from grace…would Komaru follow me blindly just like Fukuka-sensei did? …No, that won't happen! No matter what, stooping to crime is unacceptable! "Fukuka-sensei…"
All of their eyes turned to Makoto, who was now focusing a righteous stare onto Shutaro, as though he were the accomplice's private instructor.
"I…I understand how you feel…believe me, I do…but…even if Jutaro was your sibling…even if you felt like you owed him…there's no excuse…nothing that can justify helping in a murder!"
Kyoko could feel Makoto's righteous anger, stunned by how passionate the boy had become, and by how there wasn't a hint of deceit in his voice.
Heh…he really is an open book…and a pure-hearted one at that…
"Well put, Makoto." Giving the Lucky Student a brief smile before steeling back into a disapproving frown, the Headmaster addressed his employee "Shutaro Fukuka, for violating your oath to protect the students of Hope's Peak Academy, and for being an accessory to attempted murder, you are now fired from your employment at this school. Juzo, would you please escort Shutaro to the police station?"
Nodding, Juzo wordlessly grabbed Shutaro's wrist, dragging him out of sight as the former teacher obediently followed the security guard.
Sighing, Jin pinched the bridge of his nose, resolving "Well, it would seem that I need to have a word with the Steering Committee about properly vetting our personnel. Shitsureishimasu…"
With that, Jin left the infirmary, leaving the two students alone once more.
"Ano…Kiri…"
"Kyoko."
"…Huh?"
Staring into his eyes, Kyoko confirmed "Kyoko. You've saved my life, you didn't abandon me, and if the circles under your eyes are any indicator, you stayed by my bedside when you didn't have to. You've more than earned the right to use my first name."
"Kyoko…" Makoto whispered in awe at the honor now bestowed upon him.
Showing a soft smile at last, Kyoko confessed "Makoto…I…I'm not good at being friends with people…nor am I good at trusting people…
Makoto couldn't help but ask "But why, Kyoko? Why don't you trust people?"
Taking a deep breath, Kyoko answered "…Very well. I'll show you myself. I'll tell you about the incident that gave me these scars…the incident that broke my trust in people…"
Seeing Makoto sit up straight in his chair, Kyoko took a deep breath and began to speak.
"I was thirteen years old when we met; a sixteen-year-old detective who by coincidence was working the same case as me. Her name was Yui Samidare. We solved that case together, and from that point on, we worked together to solve cases." Kyoko smiled nostalgically as she mused "She was the closest thing I had to an older sister."
Smiling, Makoto commented "Sounds like you two were close."
"…Yeah, we were." Kyoko's smile turned into a frown as she continued "However, it all came to an end during our final case together. Yui brought me to a room and told me to wait there for her so that the two of us wouldn't attract attention. I trusted her, and obeyed. But…at some point, the whole building burst into flames. I followed Yui's request and stayed, believing she would come for me. But by the time she came for me…the flames had surrounded me. I…I still remember crying out in pain as they burned and scarred my hands. I was still crying out in pain as she hauled me over her shoulder and got me out of there."
"Kyoko…" Makoto murmured, feeling sorry that the girl in front of him had to suffer so much pain in her line of work.
"Once I was in the hospital…I let my pain control my emotions. Instead of accepting that it was my fault for not taking the initiative, I felt betrayed by Yui. I lashed out, blaming her for what happened and telling her I never wanted to see her again. It was at that point…my grandfather advised me never to get too close to another person ever again, giving me my original gloves to remind me of my mistake. I also developed a fear of fire; it's why I couldn't get out of the hideout by myself."
"Kyoko…"
Kyoko then looked up at him, confessing "But you…you've challenged my and my grandfather's entire world view in the span of two weeks. Despite the fact that I've pushed you aside on multiple occasions, you kept coming back and offering me a hand of friendship. You agreed to be my assistant on this case when you had no reason to accept. And when I was in danger, you came back and saved me; you refused to abandon me when you could have walked away, at great risk to your own life. And most importantly…you solved a mystery that I could not…just by being yourself…your foolishly open, trusting self."
Foolishly open…?
"There's something else…" Kyoko admitted, lowering her gaze just slightly. "I didn't come to Hope's Peak to graduate from a good high school…I have no interest in fame or prestige. I came…to cut ties with my father."
Makoto's eyes widened as he realized just how well-founded Jin's fears were.
So Kyoko…really does…hate her father?
"I overheard the conversation you two had…" Seeing Makoto's shocked expression, she explained "I can't say I was awake, but I was teetering on the edge of consciousness after the Headmaster came rushing in. Anyway, I know that you know the slightest bit of my past, so I don't have to explain why I wish to cut ties with him. But…after overhearing your conversation, as I fell back to sleep…I started having second thoughts."
Makoto started to smile, only for Kyoko to catch it and interrupt his misconception.
"Don't misunderstand. I have no intention of trying to reconnect with him. Just…maybe…hating him is too cruel. So…I won't cut ties with him…but I won't try to bond with him either."
…Well, it's a start. And maybe…she'll change her mind with a little more time…
Taking a deep breath, Kyoko looked him straight in the eye and reluctantly confessed "Makoto…It's been several years since I allowed myself to trust. I had convinced myself that anyone I dared to place my trust in would betray me. But you…you were relentless. I was tempted to trust you after that first week of school. And contrary to my beliefs, you proved that you would never betray me. I told myself that you could have been trying to deceive me, but you're too foolishly open for that to be possible."
Again with the foolishly open? Makoto thought, unable to help feeling slightly miffed despite the fact that he knew it was being used in a complimentary context this time.
"I'm not good at being friends with people…nor am I good at letting my walls down in front of other people…" Kyoko took a deep breath before finishing "But since you've proven my worldview to be erroneous…I'm going to try. I'll try to be your friend…and for now at least…I trust you, Makoto Naegi."
Overcome with a sense of humility, Makoto bowed his head, feeling happy tears sting his eyes as he vowed "I promise…you won't regret this, Kyoko! I'll treasure the honor…the privilege…of your friendship…"
Rolling her eyes, Kyoko couldn't help but give a genuine smile, letting herself be the teenage girl that she had long repressed.
And it's all thanks to you, Makoto Naegi…
XXX
Present Day
"And that's the story of how your father won my trust."
"And then you realized he was the one, decided to get married, and live happily ever after?"
Chuckling, said father ruffled Kiki's hair before answering "Not yet, cupcake. There's still a ways to go before we thought of each other romantically."
Nodding, Kyoko commented "Indeed. First I had to spend some time bonding with him and my other friends. That particular story will have to wait until tomorrow; it's time for bed."
Not complaining since story time didn't end on a cliffhanger this time, Kiki nestled into her pillow, yawning as her parents tucked her in, drawing the blanket to her chin and kissing her cheeks.
"Good night, Kiki. We love you."
*yawn* "Love you…too…"
With one more yawn, Kiki fell asleep. Smiling, the two parents crept out of the room, closing the door behind them as they retreated back to their room, falling asleep to dreams of bonding with their classmates.
