Therapy goes surprisingly well.
Kiyoshi is really nervous about it at first. Part of him even wants to back out. 'The school is getting a counselor next year,' he thinks sitting awkwardly in that big, empty waiting room. 'Maybe I can just talk to them about what happened. I don't need to do something this drastic, do I?'
But glancing over at Mom and Dad… all dressed up and here to support him he knows deep down this isn't just for his sake. It's to help them be brave as well. And if they're really here to support him then the very least he can do is show them he's willing to support himself too.
Dad found a nice therapist who's technically associated with the Ministry. Because of that, they'll not only get a discount on appointments but Mom won't get in any trouble if she talks about her shady past. From what Kiyoshi's heard she's mostly trained in helping people with combat PTSD, but she has a degree for a reason. She'll be able to help him too. There's nothing to be worried about.
Dad gives him an awkward thumbs up as he peeks into the therapist's office... a silent 'you've got this in the bag.'
Kiyoshi ends up venting about a lot of things. Obviously, he doesn't tell his therapist about the whole reincarnate of a psychopath thing, but he does tell her about his guilt complex. He tells her about his disjointed family and about the fact that he recently had a fight with his friends. He tells her about anxiety… about worrying he's not a good person sometimes, and about anger management. He feels like a test subject, almost, as she sits there scrawling notes… but time and time again she gives him a kind smile, and by the end of his first session, he feels like he's come out of there with some pretty decent advice.
...They've got a lot to work on. That much is obvious. But it doesn't need to feel perfect. Not yet. What matters is that it's a start.
(When he really thinks about it he hasn't gotten to talk about his mental health much since he was six or seven, has he? ...Back when he was first diagnosed with a GAD. Have they really just slapped a bandaid on it for this long?)
(...It feels good to finally be able to breathe.)
Dad seems proud of him as he comes out of the office… asks him how it went.
"Pretty good," Kiyoshi admits with a nervous smile. "Not perfect, but… good."
Their therapy ends up going well, too.
Obviously, he doesn't know exactly what they talk about in there… but each of them seems to come out in a relatively good mood. Dad's hands are shaking a little… and there's a tiredness behind Mom's eyes… but Kiyoshi thinks he spots catharsis, too.
(He wonders how long they've gone without breathing. Have they been holding their breath since before he was even born?)
It's a warm night in early March when he overhears them talking. He doesn't mean to eavesdrop… he's just heading up to bed himself when he spots their door left open a crack. He reaches out to close it and swears he can make out something that almost sounds like "I love you."
Mom lets out a quiet laugh.
"You know you don't have to keep saying that, right?" she asks. "I already know that for a fact."
"...D… do you now?" Dad asks, voice incredulous. "Well… either way, I believe I'll keep it up. It feels good to say."
Kiyoshi smiles and silently shuts the door, deciding not to listen in any further. He's already heard more than enough. He'll let them have their moment.
(He wonders if Dad learned that from therapy or from somewhere else entirely. Either way, he's pretty thankful.)
Ultimately they agree to do therapy once a month. They'll bump it up if needed, but for now, it seems like a pretty decent middle ground.
Mom's recovery continues to go well. She's in good spirits and she's doing a little better physically each day. She helps Kiyoshi take the dog for walks and chats with him all the while. While things still get disheartening sometimes (And who can blame her for being scared?) she laughs more than ever and she's having fun looking at prosthetics.
She's still particularly sold on the idea of one with a secret knife compartment, but needless to say, Dad isn't going to allow that to happen. That doesn't mean she won't badger him about it for the next two weeks, however… and watching her drape herself across him; begging him to show her that he 'really' loves her, Kiyoshi cracks what he thinks is a smile.
He still doesn't know if she knows what she's gonna do job-wise... she's been mostly quiet about that, but he reminds her it just has to be something she likes… not something deep. That, and that it doesn't have to be a permanent arrangement, either... just something to help her get back on her feet.
Er…- well… not…- fuck!
Mom laughs at his slip of the tongue. All the same… his words make her think. And he almost swears he sees a flash of inspiration behind those bright blue eyes.
(He can't wait to see what she'll try next.)
Things go relatively well friend-wise, too. Things are still a little weird with Fumiko and Makoto, but… he can tell they're making progress.
'Baby steps,' he reminds himself… trying to be gentle with Fumiko as they start to talk again. 'It's allowed to be awkward. Awkward isn't bad, necessarily. Awkward just means you're tackling it head-on.'
It's rare… but sometimes he makes her laugh like she used to before any of this went down. Kiyoshi treasures those moments. He hopes he can continue to make her smile in the future.
Both her and Makoto are happy to hear about Kiyoshi starting therapy. In fact... more than anything they just seem surprised he hadn't tried something like this sooner!
"No offense, but… like… you are sort of a nutcase," Makoto admits over the phone. "In the best way, but-"
"No. No. I get what you mean," Kiyoshi reassures. "...Nutcase is right. I think it's about damn time I did this, too."
He also makes sure to thank Makoto for asking Gakushuu to talk to him.
"That was you, right?"
"Mmm," Makoto says. "Though there's no need to thank me. It was the right thing to do. I was worried about you, you know." He pauses. "We've all got second blades. I wouldn't want you to dull yours. Did Asano-kun give some good advice?"
"...Yeah. Something like that," Kiyoshi admits, scratching at the back of his neck. "I'm still conflicted... but at this point I know I'm mostly just being paranoid. I'm not gonna… like… blow up the moon again, no matter what I do. I've got a fucking head on my shoulders this time around."
"Okay. Yeah. Seriously. What was that?" Makoto asks. "Rat on the moon!? Why did you put that there!? Did you know he was going to blow up? Or-?"
"Not at all!"
"Then why!?" Makoto continues. "Sheer impulse!? Desire to see a rat in zero gravity? Or did you just wanna give him a nice little vacation!?" He snickers. "'I know things have been really stressful for you lately, Mr. Rat! I'm gonna send you up there with shades and a tiny mimosa so you can either blow off some steam or blow up a celestial body. Have fun!'"
"Okay. So it's definitely not that one," Kiyoshi remarks. "Seeing as how that would have required me to have empathy for a single living creature other than myself.
"Touche," Makoto replies with a giggle.
They fall silent. Still… neither of them motion to hang up. Kiyoshi shifts slightly in his seat.
"...Listen. Can I ask you a kinda weird question?"
"Always."
"Would you be… down for checking out that place with me sometime? The… lab, I mean. You don't have to if you don't want to… I know it must be really scary for you. But my therapist told me that revisiting painful memories can be a good way to overcome them. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do with my career, and I think seeing that place would…" he drifts off. "...Well, I think it could solidify in my mind just how messed up everything I did there was. I won't ever be able to make a decision until I wrap my mind around that."
"...Sure!"
"Wait. Seriously?"
"Yeah?" Makoto replies. "I mean, I thought I blew the place up, but if you rebuilt it or whatever... why not? If your therapist said it was a good idea then it probably is. And if you're unsure about what you wanna do with your future then I wanna be there to help you with that. It's what friends do, remember?"
"I…" Kiyoshi pauses. "...You're not burying your feelings again, are you Makoto? Yes, I rebuilt it back then, and yes I'd be interested in going theoretically, but if you're not one- hundred percent comfortable with that then I do not want to force you."
Makoto's quiet for a long moment, thinking that over. But finally, he replies "Nah. Seriously. I'll be fine. I'm working on taking my feelings seriously now, remember? This doesn't have anything to do with that. I genuinely think I can handle this. It's not like any of that stuff is still there, after all. And even if it was, it's not like I could ever be scared of you. "
For once his voice doesn't sound stilted. It's casual... cool. Kiyoshi lets out a deep sigh of relief.
"Thanks," he says. "I appreciate it, Makoto. I want to stand in those shoes again for a moment. I think it's really important to getting things figured out, but…" he pauses. "I'd be too scared to do it if you weren't by my side."
"Pfft? Scared of what?" Makoto asks. "Think you're gonna enter the premise and black out as the spirit of Rat Fucker possesses your body once more?"
"I- what!?" Kiyoshi hisses. "Of course not! I…-" He bites at his tongue and shakes his head in disbelief. "...Why are you like this?"
He can hear Makoto giggling over the line. "...You know you love me," he sneers. "...Don't worry. I'll keep you in check."
They agree to go that Tuesday. They ask Fumiko if she wants to come, too, but she decides against it.
"I'm just… really not comfortable with that sort of thing," she admits, scratching at her arm. "...You get why, right?"
"Yeah," Kiyoshi replies. "Of course I do. Don't worry about it." He pauses for a long moment. "...You're okay with me doing this, right? I wouldn't want to go if it'd make you feel unsafe."
"It's not like I can stop you," Fumiko says with a shrug. "...And it's not like anything's going to happen. All you're doing is reflecting on the past… I don't have a reason to not trust you there. I just know that going myself would…" she pauses. "...Would bring back some things I'd rather forget."
Kiyoshi frowns.
"You should go somewhere you treasure sometime," he decides on. "As opposed to a place like that. Your childhood home or your favorite ice cream place or whatever. It might bring back some good memories." He pauses. "...I'm going to contemplate… make sure I'm, like… ready to face that evil legacy or whatever. But you don't have an evil legacy. You should treat yourself."
Fumiko thinks that over.
"Maybe I will," she says with a shrug. "...Who knows? Thanks for being honest with me, by the way. I know you must have thought this could earn a bad reaction from me… but…" She shakes her head. "I much prefer it to the two of you scheming and making plans behind my back."
"Of course," Kiyoshi says. "Always. It's your decision as much as it is mine."
Fumiko smiles just slightly. "Stay safe, alright? And… don't let yourself get overwhelmed by those memories. I know how much it can be sometimes."
Kiyoshi nods.
"Don't worry," he says. "I won't."
They set out straight from school. Kiyoshi ends up leading the way. He doesn't need a GPS or anything. Makoto leans over his shoulder the whole time… desperately trying to deduce where on earth Kiyoshi is hiding his phone, but to no avail.
"There's no way you know where this is," he insists. "Where's the Google Maps?"
"Nowhere," Kiyoshi replies. "I told you: I remember the directions. It's just one of those things that's burned into my mind. Like why insulin costs as much as it does… and the quadratic formula."
"Blegh," Makoto says. "And here I am not even remembering one of the dumb out of print textbooks I memorized. I see how it is." He soon perks up, however. "Why does insulin cost as much as it does?"
"Pharmacists are fucking evil. Next question."
Enlightening, truly coming from an ex-pharmacist.
Makoto nods diligently. As for his next question…
"And you're really sure you're going the right way? We seem a little lost to me, dude."
Kiyoshi's pretty sure, but not wanting to come off as self-absorbed he whips out his phone anyways. It's not like he always knows everything… and there's not any harm in checking.
"Let me make sure," he says. "I'd hate to walk us in circles."
Makoto peers over his shoulder the whole time. As Kiyoshi scrolls awkwardly past street after street, however, he frowns.
"Where is it?"
"I… dunno," Kiyoshi says. "Maybe they changed the name? It's not like I've been involved in years." He tries to use the search bar but that's no use, either. Even 'pharmaceuticals' isn't gleaning any results.
"Google Maps could be bugged," Makoto suggests. "Once my GPS tried to direct me to a place that didn't exist anymore. You never know." He gives a shrug. "I guess you can probably just keep leading the way. Like you said: you know where you're going."
Kiyoshi's starting to doubt that, but something tells him Makoto doesn't particularly mind either way. He's just happy to be going on an adventure with his friend.
Sighing and pocketing his phone Kiyoshi continues onward. He's pretty sure he recognizes this street. It shouldn't be far from here.
"Thanks for coming with me, by the way," he says absentmindedly. "I know it's like… obvious or whatever, but this must be kinda scary for you."
"A little," Makoto admits. "Mostly just scared it'll bring up more bad memories, though. I'm not like… worried about anything happening. There's no way any of the stuff is still there, and you already told me yourself I'm safe with you. I don't got much to worry about."
"Mmmm," Kiyoshi replies. He's strangely relieved Makoto is able to put that much faith in him. At first he thinks 'I hope he won't end up regretting that,' but soon shakes the thought. 'No. Remember. You're trusting yourself, okay? No more behaving that way. The only reason you're going to this place in the first place is to prove to yourself that you won't.'
"Maybe there are still some notes there," Makoto muses. "Wouldn't that be cool? Then we could figure out like… whatever the hell it was you were thinking when you put that rat on the moon."
"I sincerely doubt there'll be anything leftover," Kiyoshi replies. "It's more likely it's been repurposed by another company. We're not going to find an abandoned laboratory."
"Darn," Makoto says. "And here I was hoping I could really finally try some of that 'urban explorer' stuff."
...At this point Kiyoshi is starting to wonder if they'll even find a laboratory at all.
Still, he continues walking. He passes landmarks and remembers what it looked like to drive past them almost seventeen years ago. His nose wrinkles with disgust.
No... he's sure. This is most certainly the way.
Eventually he leads them to a parking lot. Pace quickening, his heart races as they draw closer and closer. He can feel it somewhere in the back of his mind… that they're coming up on it. And he can hardly tell if he feels excited or nervous. Is he ready to face what he considered his greatest accomplishment back then? His pride and joy? Will he be able to face it without collapsing in on himself?
He's hardly sure. Either way he reaches out to take Makoto's hand for reassurance. And as he clutches it tight they finally come upon it… the landmark from their nightmares:
...Nothing.
At first he thinks maybe he'd taken a wrong turn. But as he looks around he's certain he recognizes this street. No. It's not that he's made a mistake. It's… it's…
It's gone.
Now bulldozed for a set of office buildings, what he'd once considered a monument to his greatness has vanished entirely.
He's not sure whether to laugh or to cry. Letting out a deep, rattly breath... all tension seems to relieve from his body. He can't even put into words how relieved he is to not have to face that hellhole. But all the same, some part of him instinctively locks up… crying 'No! Where is it!? My baby!?"
'Oh my god,' he thinks. 'Dude… you have problems and issues.'
Gently he knocks on his own forehead.
Makoto squints… before turning to face him.
"Uh… this isn't the right place, is it?" he asks. "Maybe I'm just being dumb or you rebuilt it real different after I blew it up, but I don't seem to remember…-"
"It's gone," Kiyoshi says simply.
"It's… gone?" Makoto repeats, uncertain.
"On second thought I dunno why I thought it wouldn't be. I'm sure after the truth came out Yukimura Pharmaceuticals wanted nothing to do with this place. I can hardly blame them for that."
"But… what do you mean it's gone? This is just a bunch of-"
"Office buildings," Kiyoshi finishes. "They must have demolished it… sold the lot."
"Oh," Makoto says awkwardly. "I'm sorry." He shifts slightly. "If you're… bummed, I mean. He pauses. "...Are you?"
"I… don't know," Kiyoshi says, his mouth strangely dry. He just keeps looking at it. It's like… it's like… he can hardly believe his eyes. "I know I shouldn't be but I think I am… just a little. I don't know why. It's not like I'd have managed to inherit this place in the first place… and only bad things ever happened here anyways. I should be… like… jumping for joy that any evidence of my crimes has been erased. Why does it… why does it feel so…-?" He drifts off.
(How are you supposed to leave those sort of memories behind when the rest of the world has already moved past them years ago? He came to this place looking to have his questions answered… finally slough off that part of him. He was supposed to resent this location. That's the reassurance he was looking for! But instead... he... he...-)
(He simply stands there and wonders 'How are you supposed to deal with being forgotten, even when you know you deserve it?')
Makoto must notice the ashamed expression on his face, because he steps slightly closer.
"Hey," he says. "...Don't feel bad. Even if this was a really bad place I'm sure you were proud of it back then. That's bound to carry over… even a little." He shakes his head. "I'm still attached to all sorts of bad stuff from back then too. Have you even seen me around boobies?"
He nudges Kiyoshi with a grin on his face. Kiyoshi rolls his eyes but snorts despite himself. Still… there's a certain heaviness in his chest as he turns back to face the office buildings.
"Yeah," he says. "I have. You're a menace. I'll… try not to get caught up in it too much." He pauses. "How are you feeling?" he asks. "About it being gone, I mean. Feel safer or anything?"
He thinks that could be a pretty good condolence. As much as… that part of him is attached to what he's lost, he thinks more than anything he just treasures Makoto doing alright.
Makoto gives a shrug.
"Eh. I don't care much either way," he admits. "I told you myself: I'm not scared of this place... just like I'm not scared of you. Nothing's going to happen to me." He cocks his head, but must notice the ashamed expression on Kiyoshi's face because he says "Sit down, why don't you? You look stressed." He starts to dig through his bag. "I brought sandwiches!"
Kiyoshi cocks an eyebrow but slides down to the ground. He hopes no-one will get on them for loitering. He's not doing anything nefarious, he swears! He's just… staring intensely at a random office building while eating fucking sandwiches.
"Seriously?" he asks as Makoto plops down next to him. "You brought lunch?"
"I wasn't kidding when I said I thought we were going urban exploring. I thought we could use something to fill our stomachs." He slides a baggie Kiyoshi's way. "Don't worry," he says. "I bought these for real this time. I didn't steal em' from the 7/11."
Kiyoshi nods, giving an awkward thanks as he takes it. 'Egg and ham' he notes. 'Just how I like it.'
"I figure after we're done we can go and… like… throw rocks through the windows or whatever. For catharsis!"
"We are not doing that," Kiyoshi retorts. "I'm sure these poor people aren't in any way connected to… that guy. I doubt they even have any idea their office is built on top of a graveyard."
At first he thinks 'graveyard' might be a bit of an exaggeration, but then he remembers all the people that died when Korosensei was making an escape. Nope. Not just a metaphorical graveyard! A ton of real actual people died here because he was a narcissist who insisted on keeping a serial murderer locked in his basement. Delightful!
He decides that if he ever does become rich and famous he'll send their families anonymous compensation. Y'know… all 'If you or a loved one has ever been harmed by Kotaro Yanagisawa you may be entitled to financial compensation.' It won't fix much but it's better than doing nothing.
...It's not like Aguri and Korosensei were the only people he hurt.
"Mmm," Makoto admits. "I guess you're right. I just thought it would be funny." He pauses. "Well now I'm sorta wishing the lab was still there just so we could!"
"Wouldn't that be nice?" Kiyoshi replies, taking a bite of his sandwich. He likes to think he's more mature than that, but he's pretty sure he'd end up throwing rocks through the window anyways if only to spite the piece of himself that just addressed the lab as his baby.
For the most part, they eat in silence. Makoto's got one of those diabetes-inducing sandwiches that hardly even qualifies as a sandwich in the first place. Kiyoshi keeps sending it a side glance. Whipped cream and fresh fruit. Seriously? That's a fucking dessert!
Nevertheless, he doesn't comment... simply lets Makoto know he's 'got a little something there' when he smears his lunch all over his cheek.
"You know what the weirdest part of all this is?" Kiyoshi finally muses, glancing back towards the office building.
"What?"
"I thought I was such a smart guy, but this is the last thing I would have expected." He shifts slightly, propping up one knee. "There was a time when…" he pauses. "...Well, when I thought things like places… accomplishments… that they'd become my legacy. That that's all I had to worry about leaving behind."
"I think that's part of the reason why it was so easy for me to treat people like that. I mean… as long as I changed the world what did it matter? Those people would be dead in a hundred years. But if I left my mark on history then I wouldn't. Not really. Instead I'd be worshipped! Revered!"
"As a guy who had sort of a God complex I wanted that more than anything. But now looking back on it none of that has survived. I don't even have a Wikipedia page. It's the people I thought I was so much better than and the ways I hurt them that are still around… that are still defining me in so many ways." He pauses. "...Is there really a time when I thought that none of that would last?"
"Well… yeah, obviously," Makoto says. "You were kind of a shithead. But it must feel nice," he says. "To be able to look back on it and know you feel differently now." He smiles. "I know I felt that way a lot as Korosensei. And I feel it even more now."
"I mean… I know it's a little different," he continues. "People obviously talk about me. We had a whole unit on me, for Pete's sake! But that feels… disconnected, impersonal, I guess. It's the people who really loved me… who tell stories about me and let the advice I gave them give them guidance that really make me feel like I'm living on." He cocks his head. "I know that's pretty dumb to say as a guy who's alive. But you… like… get what I'm saying, yeah?"
"Of course," Kiyoshi says. And… he does. It's confusing, but he gets it.
"Thanks for being my friend," he tacks on. "I know I already say that a lot, but… in realizing that our legacy is how we treat people a lot more than it is the things we accomplish, it feels good to be by your side."
'Human connection is more important than glory,' he thinks. 'No. Human connection is glory.' What a notion... and one that would piss Yanagisawa off, at that. He thinks he likes it. 'Take that you know-it-all asswipe! You were wrong!'
'And… you've come around, whether you'd have liked it or not.'
In hindsight… he thinks he's actually a little relieved the building is gone. Don't get him wrong… it hurts, but it's humbling, too. It makes him feel small. And… he thinks feeling small is what let him learn in the first place. This can be a learning experience, too.
"Of course," Makoto says. "I've already told you: there's no need to thank me. I'm lucky to be your friend, too." He pauses for a long moment. "How are you feeling? About science, I mean. Did this awaken anything in you?"
Kiyoshi glances towards the office buildings… then back towards Makoto.
"How are you feeling?" He asks.
"Eh?"
"About the idea of me wielding that sort of power again? I know I don't have to ask you for permission… this is my decision, but I'd feel bad if I didn't. You're my friend. I ought to consult you. Especially seeing as how you were the person I hurt the most with all that."
Makoto cocks his head. "I wouldn't have bothered coming here with you if I weren't okay with it. And I wouldn't have talked to Asano-kun, either. I want you to do whatever it is you're passionate about." He pauses. "You are passionate about this, right?"
Slowly… Kiyoshi nods.
"I think so," he says, voice quaking slightly. "I mean… not…- not hurting people or anything. And certainly not messing around with Antimatter, but… science. Orchestrating chemical combinations… discovering things! I've been passionate about it since I was a kid. And… I want to still be passionate about it now, even if I know it might not come from the most righteous place."
(He tries to remind himself of Gakushuu's words. It's not… where his experiences are born from that matter. It's what he does with those experiences.)
"Then… do it," Makoto says. "It's that simple, isn't it?"
"I mean… I wish," Kiyoshi says. "But…" he drifts off.
"Yeah. No. I get it. It's hard." Makoto takes another bite of his sandwich before lounging back slightly. "But… I'm sure it'll make sense eventually." He pauses. "Can I ask you a question, actually?"
"Mmm?"
"Do you think assassination is evil?"
Kiyoshi does a double-take.
"Don't tell me you're planning on becoming an assassin again-!"
"No!" Makoto quickly interjects, holding his hands up. "Of course not! Just answer the question!"
Kiyoshi's shoulders lower as he thinks it over. Picking at the seam of his sleeve he admits "...Probably. I hope that doesn't come off as too offensive, but hurting people… it's always bad, isn't it?"
"You'd think so," Makoto says. "But… what if someone's hurting people to protect other people? Or if they really don't know any better? Then are they evil?"
"Well…" Kiyoshi drifts off. "I don't know, actually. That's hard."
"And that's not even getting started on the way Nagisa utilizes assassination," Makoto continues.
"But that's… not really assassination, is it?" Kiyoshi asks. "I mean… at least not anymore."
"It… depends," Makoto says. "But you still gotta agree it's at least rooted in it."
"Mmm," Kiyoshi agrees. "I suppose. I'm just not sure what you're getting at."
"What I'm getting at is I'm sure we can both agree that killing people is just about the most evil skill on the planet. I nurtured something truly dangerous in Nagisa and the rest of the E-Class. But… they've found a way to use it for good. 'Cause life's not black and white and 'cause they're good people. We've all got something like that. Like assassination." He pauses, looking Kiyoshi's way. "...Remember how I mentioned second blades?"
"Yeah," Kiyoshi says. "What you're personally good at, right? Whatever… whatever you thrive at accomplishing."
"Yeah," Makoto says. "Everyone's got one, even if it's not immediately apparent. Kayano's is acting… Nagisa's is assassination… Karma's is his big ol' brain. But I've been thinking a lot about second blades recently, and I'm starting to think that… they're all double-edged."
"Double-edged?" Kiyoshi asks. "You mean like… dangerous to wield?"
"Yeah. Something like that," Makoto says. "Kayano's acting abilities allowed her to isolate herself and refuse help for an entire year. Karma's big brain made him think he was better than a lot of people, and sometimes even made him hurt people who didn't deserve it. Then assassination… assassination has to be the most double-edged blade of them all. There's only a little teensy- weensy bit of good you can do with assassination, as opposed to a lot of potential harm."
"But just because… something can hurt you or the people around you doesn't mean you should stop nurturing those skills. Then we'd lose what makes us unique. It just means… we have to be careful with those things. Anything in us can be utilized for good or evil. It's up to us to decide which."
"I think…" Makoto pauses. "I think even you could do a whole lot of good with science. Think about it! You could be the first guy to invent a jetpack! Go out there and patent a rocket launcher! Oh! Oh! Or what about robot wolves!?"
Makoto's rambling on incessantly, now, but Kiyoshi's deep in thought. Makoto's right. He could do a lot of good things with his skillset… Gakushuu told him that much. If he's smart enough he could even help his mother! But is he really, really ready to trust himself with that?
Makoto must notice the troubled expression on his face, because he dials it back a bit.
"But… ultimately it's up to you. I'm okay with it. I think you can do a whole lot of cool stuff. But… if you've got my permission that means the only thing standing in your way now is you. Do you want to do this?" He frowns. "...Did this trip help you decide anything?
Kiyoshi's gaze drifts back towards the office buildings. He remembers the sheer panic that had gripped his heart when he'd first seen them. But now… he thinks he feels a serene sort of peace. He knows what they mean, and that means finally leaving that legacy behind. If he's able to face… feel Yanagisawa's grief like that and remain true to his ideals even then… say 'good riddance,' then maybe…
Maybe he finally can make this passion all his own.
And… maybe now he can focus using those skills on leaving the right sort of legacy behind. A legacy that's kind… and focused on people… and... and...-
His lip twitches slightly.
"I… I…" his mouth feels dry. "...I think I want to. And… I want to do it right this time. For real. "
He hopes that conviction in and of itself is proof that he can handle this… even if it's not exactly the sort of proof he set out looking for when he first began this expedition.
Makoto lunges over to hug him… squeezing him so tight it may as well strip the air from his damn lungs.
"Congrats, dude!" he says. "I'm happy for you!"
"Of- of course no promises!" Kiyoshi yelps. "I may always go back on this decision, so don't! Put! Too much stake in it! But… if I do it'll be because it's not what I wanna do, not because I'm scared I'm predestined for evil fate."
"Oh. Of course," Makoto says, finally releasing his iron-grip on Kiyoshi. "Don't worry about it. I wouldn't want you to feel locked into anything. I know how shitty that feels. I just didn't want you to feel locked out of anything either, y'know?"
Kiyoshi nods. "I know. And… I appreciate it. You're surprisingly wise once in a while, dude."
Makoto smiles. "Awww. You really think so?"
"Of course."
With that… Kiyoshi falls silent. He glances back towards the buildings. He figures they should probably get going soon… this place has all sorts of 'bad vibes,' but he may as well finish his sandwich before he does.
He's halfway through a bite when he hears a voice from behind him.
"Well… I don't know about wise."
Both Makoto and Kiyoshi seem to whip around at once.
"Fumiko!?" Makoto exclaims.
"I thought you weren't coming!"
"I wasn't," Fumiko says with a shrug. "But… I changed my mind. Got room for one more?"
"We're in an empty parking lot," Kiyoshi says dryly. "So… yeah. Pretty much."
Fumiko rolls her eyes, taking a seat beside Makoto.
"How did you even find us?" he asks. "It's not on Google Maps anymore. I mean… it's gone! Did you just have this place memorized?"
"No," Fumiko says blankly. "I have the two of you microchipped." She scoffs. "Yes, I have it memorized. Turns out that's what happens when you only have two jobs over the course of your entire life." Her nose wrinkles as she speaks. She's got this perturbed expression on her face. "...Screwed up, honestly."
"Yeah," Kiyoshi agrees. "Just a little." He's quiet for a long moment, before scooting in closer. "Why'd you decide to come with? I know this place might not exactly bring back the best memories for you. I hope you didn't feel pressured to come along."
"No," Fumiko says. "Not really. I guess I just kept thinking about it…" she fiddles slightly with her scarf, a certain carefulness to her motion. "...The two of you sitting here alone. I really appreciate that the two of you told me you were going here even though you knew it might upset me. I wanted to support you because of that. And… I got worried."
"Well," Makoto says. "Don't be. There's no need for that. We got everything mostly figured out."
"Uh… yeah," Kiyoshi says. "We were just gonna finish up our lunches and go."
Makoto jolts slightly- exclaiming "Oh crap!" as he starts to dig through his backpack. "I didn't bring you one! I'm sorry! I didn't know you were gonna come along!"
"It's fine," Fumiko says. "I sort of brought that on myself."
Nevertheless, Makoto tears his own sandwich in half, sliding it Fumiko's way.
"At least get something in your stomach," he insists.
Fumiko gives his 'sandwich' a skeptical glance. She must decide arguing with Makoto isn't worth the effort, however, because she reaches out to accept the sugary treat.
"Thank you," she says, taking a cautious bite. "While it's not exactly my taste, it's leagues better than nothing."
Makoto nods eagerly, giving her a content smile.
"So," she says curiously. "What did you discuss in my absence? Other than your 'baby' having vanished, that is."
Kiyoshi feels his cheeks flush bright red. 'God damn it!' he thinks, covering his face with his hands. 'Don't tell me you seriously called it that in front of other people! There really was something wrong with you in the head!'
"Job stuff, mostly," he admits, determined not to let his embarrassment show.
"Really?" Fumiko replies.
"Mmm!" Kiyoshi says. "I've… uh… been thinking a lot lately. Er… been forced to think, really, about what I want to do. And… uh… some people close to me have been reminding me that I shouldn't cross any possibilities off the list yet. At least not for dumb reasons."
Fumiko cocks an eyebrow… glancing towards the office buildings, then back towards Kiyoshi.
"Scientist, huh?" She asks.
"Well… it's not set in stone!" Kiyoshi yelps. "And! Not an evil one! None of that human experimentation crap! I just want to help people-"
"And build robot wolves!" Makoto ever-so-helpfully reminds him, taking a bite of his sandwich.
"Yeah. And… build robot wolves." Kiyoshi gives an awkward laugh. "His idea, not mine."
Fumiko scoffs slightly, but doesn't speak. Her gaze is fixed on the horizon. Suddenly Kiyoshi feels terribly awkward.
"You… don't think that's weird, do you?" he asks. "Me… utilizing those kinds of skills again? I know it's a ludicrous notion, but… I… I really think I can use them for good! And Makoto thinks so, too-"
There's that sense of shame again. He already asked Makoto for permission, but perhaps he should ask Fumiko, too. He's barely opened his mouth to speak, however, when she replies.
"Of course I don't think it's weird, Kiyoshi. I'm planning to become a teacher." She shifts slightly. "Admittedly that… earned a bit of a kneejerk reaction from me, and I'm not sure I expected that from you, but… I do see why you'd want to do that. Sometimes there are just things you didn't get enough of… or… or didn't get to do the right way. I couldn't blame you for wanting to set that right."
"Even if… even if our situations are really different?" Kiyoshi asks. "I dunno. I'd just hate to violate your tru-"
"Kiyoshi," Fumiko says. "I don't care." She pauses for a long moment. "Or… well… I do care, but not about that." She shakes her head. "...Honestly out of context it sort of leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and I'm not sure I trust you to wield that power correctly, but… I trust you to help me trust you. I don't know." She shakes her head. "Does that make any sense? Or is that just nonsense?"
"I… think that makes sense," Kiyoshi says. "Weird sense, but… sense."
"See, dude?" Makoto says. "No-one's gonna get on your case. We just want you to do whatever you're best at." He gives an awkward laugh. "I just hope no-one gets on my case for being the odd one out here. I almost feel like a big fat weirdo not wanting to do the same thing!"
He frames it like a joke, but both Kiyoshi and Fumiko know better enough by now than to let that fly.
"Shiota-sensei told you himself," Fumiko says. "You don't have to do the same thing you did before. We're only doing this because we want to." She pauses. "Or… sort of want to. I'm still not entirely sure about Kiyoshi's gameplan."
"I know," Makoto says, shoulders slumping. "I think I'd feel better about it if I at least knew what I wanted to do instead, but right now I'm just caught up on all the stuff I don't want to try. That's not weird, is it?"
"Nah," Kiyoshi says. "That's not weird. You're good at a lot of shit, Makoto. I'm sure you'll get it figured out eventually. In the meantime… we're here for you."
Makoto gives him a tiny smile. "Yeah," he says. "I know."
Quietly they finish up their lunches. Makoto asks the other two if they wanna get heading to Nagisa's place.
"The day's still young," he says. "It's not too late to do something a lot less bleak if you guys are down." He gives a shrug. "That… or we could always just throw rocks through the office windows like I suggested earlier. Whatever works best for you.."
"For the last time-" Kiyoshi exclaims. "We are not throwing rocks through the poor office building's windows!"
"I know… I know," Makoto says with a giggle. "I just like pulling on your leg."
"You're right, though," Kiyoshi says, standing and stretching. "We should get going. I think we've dwelled on the past long enough."
"Seconded," Fumiko says, hurrying to her feet. "Let's get the hell out here."
With that they head out. They toss their trash into the garbage and begin to make their way back towards Nagisa's place… a location that Kiyoshi can proudly say he's much, much happier to have memorized. A slight skip to their step, even despite the heaviness, the three of them leave that memory behind… one with the same blade as before in hand, another having turned his over, and the final hoping to uncover something new entirely.
For once in his life, Nagisa is overworked in a good way.
As the class reunion swiftly approaches he does his best to prepare. He tidies up the school building and lets the kids know they'll be off on the 13th. He hates for them to miss a day, but he's going to be exhausted following the sleepover, and in his humble opinion March 13th should be considered a national holiday, anyways.
The kids don't particularly seem to mind. In fact… they cheer, ecstatic to have a day off. And Makoto even pulls Nagisa aside, a delighted expression on his face.
"Way to celebrate a guy's birthday, huh?"
"I guess so, yeah," Nagisa admits, slightly embarrassed.
"So you do this every year?" Makoto continues. "Meet up, I mean?"
"Yeah!" Nagisa says. "The whole E-Class comes. It's awesome. We party… reminisce and..." He pauses. "...Do… completely well adjusted and school-appropriate things."
Yeah. He decides not to mention the copious amounts of alcohol for now.
"Sounds fun!" Makoto says. "You should invite me sometime."
"Well…" Nagisa frowns. "I'd love to, but it still feels so weird to explain to the rest of the class. I wouldn't even know where to begin. I hope you don't mind too much-"
"No. No," Makoto says. "It's fine. I get it. That's a lot for you to have to explain on your own." He frowns. "I'm pretty confusing. And it's not like I always resemble Korosensei."
"Well… I'm not sure it's about that," Nagisa reassures. He doesn't know how to explain to Makoto he's just afraid of being ostracized by his peers. He knows Makoto is Korosensei, but the last thing he'd want to do is make his classmates think he's making light of that legacy. "It's just… complicated."
He shifts slightly. "Listen. Hear me out: they're all gonna be in town for the next week following the reunion. Everyone tends to stay around to celebrate Kiyoshi's birthday. Why don't I introduce you to everyone you haven't gotten to see yet during that time? Even if… they won't understand the full scope of things , I bet it'd at least be nice to see them."
Makoto gives a small smile.
"That would be nice," he admits. "I wanna see how they're doing!" His mood quickly improves. He bounces from foot to foot. "I still remember when Okano interrupted class to invite her whole crew inside. Oh! Oh! And the time we got to play catch with Sugino. More stuff like that would be awesome." He pauses. "...It's really nice to see them happy."
"Yeah," Nagisa agrees. "...It is." He ruffles Makoto's hair. "Don't worry," he says. "I'll keep you updated on if anything super interesting happens at the reunion. And… I'll keep trying to find a way to tell everyone the truth eventually."
(Keep trying to strengthen his own psyche)
"Thanks, Nagisa," Makoto says. "I appreciate it. Have fun at the reunion, 'kay?"
"Yeah," Nagisa says. "I will."
He and the spouses discuss it, too. They talk about how excited they are to see everyone again, and more importantly, talk about whether or not they're going to make a certain announcement in regards to their family.
"Come on, guys!" Kayano says with a flustered expression. "Don't you think that would be jumping the gun a little? I'm not even pregnant yet!"
"I know… I know," Nagisa admits, a certain flusteredness to his own expression. "I guess I'm just excited! They're bound to be happy for us, aren't they?"
"Indeed," Gakushuu comments, glancing up from his book. "But 'we're trying for a baby' is ultimately just a socially acceptable way of saying 'we're having lots of unprotected sex,' and I'm not sure that's information you wish to share with your Junior High classmates."
"You kidding?" Karma pipes up. "Now that's just a flex if you ask me."
Ultimately they decide to say something lowkey. Gakushuu's right: they definitely don't want to make it about their sex life, but… something tells Nagisa this is news the E-Class will be excited about.
"Who knows?" Karma says. "Maybe they'll even help us come up with a baby name."
"We are not allowing your delinquent classmates to name our flesh and blood. Mark my word, Akabane-"
"I know… I know," Karma says. "But we haven't come up with anything good, have we?"
"Eh. We have time," Kayano says. "We don't even know if we're gonna have a boy or a girl yet. There's not some rush to figure it out."
Nevertheless… they discuss baby names at pretty much every moment… piping up "Jiro is cute," or "What about Natsuki?" over their shoulders.
"I like Mizuki."
"Himari could be cute."
"How fucking funny would it be if we picked a name that started with 'Gaku?'" Karma asks. "Gakushi. Gakuto. The lineage continues."
Gakushuu punches his shoulder.
"Absolutely fucking not," he says. "That's inane. Besides…" he brushes a hair from his face. "I want this child to have a legacy all their own."
"Agreed," Karma says, suddenly deadly serious. "I think you're right about that much, actually."
Turns out they all have things they definitely don't want to do.
"Let's not take the kanji from our names."
"And nothing based on our own weird niche interests."
"We shouldn't even get too invested in something as meaningless as a name in the first place," Nagisa pipes up. "After all… if they ever want to change it, then… well, we should let them."
"Of course," Kayano agrees.
"Of course."
"Of course."
Kayano admits if it weren't for everything she'd consider naming a girl Aguri. It'd be a nice way to honor her memory! But considering that Fumiko's… like… around, she's pretty sure that would just be weird.
"No. That would be great," Karma insists. "I bet Fumiko'd eat it up. 'All look at me! I'm immortalized!'"
Nevertheless, they decide to scratch that one off the list. And they are not doing 'Fumiko 2: The Evil One,' either.
Nagisa's thinking about names, actually, when he gets the text. It's March 11th and he's doing some last-minute tidying of the classroom when abruptly his phone starts to buzz.
[3/11/2031 4:11 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] hey. are you available? theres something i need to talk about.
Nagisa cocks an eyebrow, but nevertheless texts her back.
[3/11/2031 4:11 PM:] [Nagisa] I'm free. Just sprucing the classroom a little bit. What is it?
His first thought is that she's contacting him in regards to her attendance, but Karasuma already let him know a week ago neither of them will be coming to the reunion. Not only is Irina still in recovery, but they both decided it's for the best they spend the evening with Kiyoshi. The E-Class is important to them and all, but it's about time they finally give their one and only son some well-deserved attention.
'Is she going back on that?' he wonders. 'No,' he decides. 'She wouldn't. That's much more of a Karasuma move. And besides… if she even tried I'd whoop her ass.'
Not a very appropriate way to think about your recently-disabled teacher, but Nagisa is nothing if not dedicated to his students.
[3/11/2031 4:12 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] so i remember hearing through the grapevine a few months back you were looking into expanding your school or something, right? after you passed out or whatever.
[3/11/2031 4:14 PM:] [Nagisa] Uh… yeah! It had technically already been a concern before my incident (I was looking for a councilor), but that's what made the whole ordeal 'official.' I realized I was working myself to the brink and that if I ever wanted to give these kids the quality care they deserved I'd need some help.
[3/11/2031 4:15 PM:] [Nagisa] Why?
[3/11/2031 4:15 PM:] [Nagisa] If you're concerned about Kiyoshi adjusting there's no need to worry. I have full intent to keep him in my own class.
[3/11/2031 4:15 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] this… isn't about kiyoshi, actually.
[3/11/2031 4:16 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] i was wondering if i could make you a preposition.
Nagisa's brow furrows. A… preposition now, huh? That's some awfully vague wording. It almost makes her sound nervous! In fact… she's talking more professionally than her usual self in general. Still… Nagisa will hear her out.
[3/11/2031 4:16 PM:] [Nagisa] What is it?
[3/11/2031 4:17 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] i'm not sure if you're aware, but recently i was… relinquished from my job at the ministry of defense... accident and all.
[3/11/2031 4:17 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] which sort of leaves me out of a job. that's fine in theory (i'd make an excellent pillow princess slash-trophy wife 😘) but i'm pretty sure i'm gonna lose my goddamn mind if i have to stay in this bed a second longer than i need to.
[3/11/2031 4:18 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] and so… hearing that you're in need of an associate… it… sort of… struck me… as…
[3/11/2031 4:18 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] opportunistic?
[3/11/2031 4:19 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] iiiiii...
[3/11/2031 4:19 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] need a job
[3/11/2031 4:19 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] you...
[3/11/2031 4:19 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] are handing out jobs
[3/11/2031 4:20 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] now i don't know if it'd be a permanent affair. i'm still trying to get things from here on out figured out. but as someone who… has experience in the field…
[3/11/2031 4:20 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] i'd be willing to babysit your brats for you for a few years if you'd have me.
There's a certain detached snideness to her tone. All the same… it's clear this is her way of asking for help. As someone who considers herself very above these sort of things this must feel like a huge vulnerability for her. Of course she'd deflect!
And admittedly… Nagisa is ecstatic about the idea! In fact… he nearly sends back ' I'D LOVE THAT' just about the minute he first reads her text! He stops himself, however, starting down at his phone screen.
He's glad she came to him on her own terms. And… he's glad she's considering this! His biggest issue with hiring more teachers was not knowing whether or not he could trust them! And he'd trust Irina with his life! But… he doesn't want to make any rash decisions. Not only does he not want her to have this job just for the sake of having a job, but if she gets it he doesn't want her to feel like some pitied handout to her. He knows she's more than capable, but is this really something she wants to do?
[3/11/2031 4:23 PM:] [Nagisa] I think… that could be wonderful-
[3/11/2031 4:23 PM:] [Nagisa] After all, I'm more than confident in your abilities, Jelavic-sensei.
[3/11/2031 4:24 PM:] [Nagisa] But I do have to remind you that this is not just some job.
[3/11/2031 4:24 PM:] [Nagisa] This is not some hobby, and this is not some way to blow time. Even if it would be a temporary arrangement, I would expect full dedication during the time that you were here. These students are depending on us, and I would never hire someone if I didn't think they were capable of providing them the support they need.
[3/11/2031 4:25 PM:] [Nagisa] I'd be happy to have you if you'd be happy to do that. But first I need to make sure. Would you put your enthusiasm into this, Jelavic-sensei? Would you like it? Or is this a replacement of sorts to you? I simply can't have you if that is the case.
He feels bad for coming off harsh… but for both the students' sake and hers he needs to make sure this'll be something she LOVES.
[3/11/2031 4:26 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] harsh, much, lol?
[3/11/2031 4:26 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] listen… i know i wasn't exactly the best teacher to you kids back in the day. in various ways i… well…-
[3/11/2031 4:26 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] there was a reason you gave me the nickname 'bitch.'
[3/11/2031 4:27 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] but it's been a long time since then. and yes, i do think that i'd enjoy it
[3/11/2031 4:27 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] there's a reason i came to u instead of the local burger joint.
[3/11/2031 4:27 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] i have fond memories of teaching you brats. you're the reason i have the life i have today. it made me a better person.
[3/11/2031 4:28 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] this will never replace my job at the ministry. nothing could. but looking all over over all my options… at least within the scope of the next few years, i do think think this is my favorite, and i do think i'd like it.
[3/11/2031 4:28 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] in fact, i think i'd like it a lot.
[3/11/2031 4:28 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] you don't have to worry about me slacking off. like i told you: i'm all sorts of pent up. and if you need any idea of how spotless my track record is just ask karasuma
[3/11/2031 4:28 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] i've been told we're both 'sort of workaholics'
Nagisa laughs despite himself. If he doesn't feel that…
[3/11/2031 4:29 PM:] [Nagisa] Yeah, yeah. I know.
[3/11/2031 4:29 PM:] [Nagisa] You… make some very convincing points. But I do have one more big concern to bring up before you pursue a job like this. Again: I'd be honored to have you, but…
[3/11/2031 4:30 PM:] [Nagisa] No sex stuff, Jelavic-sensei. And I mean it.
[3/11/2031 4:30 PM:] [Nagisa] Some of these kids have serious trauma. Even a joke is overstepping a boundary. I don't want any kissing and I don't want any sexual English lessons. You can swear. You can scream. You can be as unprofessional as you want. But I do not want to see you sexualize these kids. Do you understand?
He feels bad even having to say this. Irina has a kid of her own. He's sure she knows full-well by now that that sort of behavior is inexcusable. But all the same he cannot risk it. He'd never believe for a second that Irina is a predator… she's a traumatized woman who at one point had no boundaries due to having none in her own youth. Even so, he cannot, and will not tolerate that sort of behavior in his classroom.
[3/11/2031 4:31 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] of… course.
[3/11/2031 4:32 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] dont worry about it. i would never.
[3/11/2031 4:32 PM:] [Nagisa] Good.
[3/11/2031 4:32 PM:] [Nagisa] I'm sorry if I came off as overly harsh but you know I can't take any risks.
[3/11/2031 4:33 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] ofc.
[3/11/2031 4:33 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] dw. i get by now that the shit i did to you kids back then wasn't normal. id be wary too.
[3/11/2031 4:33 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] but i can promise nothing like that will happen ever again. im a married woman with a son. i understand now that not everyone grows up the way i did.
Nagisa lets out a sigh of relief.
[3/11/2031 4:34 PM:] [Nagisa] Good. Good.
Again… he hates to point any fingers, but… it still feels good to make sure. In any other situation, he'd be hesitant just to take her word for it, but he knows Irina. And she's right when she says it was just… the environment she grew up in.
('After all,' he thinks. 'Who knows what people were doing to HER at fourteen.')
His stomach turns. It's sick to think just what can be normalized. Still… he's glad she knows better… and he decides it's for the best to shift the topic now. He's sure this isn't exactly something she wants to be thinking about, either.
[3/11/2031 4:35 PM:] [Nagisa] In that case I suppose all you have to worry about is getting the credentials.
[3/11/2031 4:35 PM:] [Nagisa] I know you. But I still… do… like… run an institution. First things first comes a degree.
[3/11/2031 4:35 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] ur really trying to work me down to the bone, aren't you?
[3/11/2031 4:36 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] jk. jk. i know. thats about the answer i expected. but im not too worried.
[3/11/2031 4:36 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] ive got lots of time to blow. im sure there's an online college or ten willing to offer their services to a beautiful wounded young lady, especially when the government still owes her financial compensation.
[3/11/2031 4:36 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] which isn't even getting started on her glowing resume. who knows? previous experience might even speed up the process!
Nagisa laughs. He's not exactly sure how that works… after all, there's not much of a precedent for 'taught a single year due to a killer octopus on the loose,' but he hopes she's right. The sooner he can get her in here the better.
Of course… that doesn't mean she'll be the only teacher he's hiring, but… he thinks he'll sleep a lot easier at night knowing there's at least one person in his institution he can trust.
[3/11/2031 4:37 PM:] [Nagisa] Maybe! Gotta admit I'm not too well-versed in the topic.
[3/11/2031 4:37 PM:] [Nagisa] Either way… I'd be glad to have you. If this is a plan you end up sticking with, Jelavic-sensei, I think it could be really good for both you and the kids.
[3/11/2031 4:38 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] u really think so?
[3/11/2031 4:38 PM:] [Nagisa] Yeah! I mean… you're definitely a different breed of teacher than I am, but that might just be a good thing.
[3/11/2031 4:38 PM:] [Nagisa] I've been told I can be 'too meek...' or even seem inauthentic. Maybe some students will get along better with a teacher who's a little more headstrong.
[3/11/2031 4:39 PM:] [Nagisa] I'm glad you could come to me with this. 😊
[3/11/2031 4:39 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] ofc.
[3/11/2031 4:39 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] admittedly i still feel a bit ridiculous, but i knew you'd stay levelheaded
[3/11/2031 4:39 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] i gotta go now but i'll keep u updated, alright?
[3/11/2031 4:40 PM:] [Nagisa] Sounds good! Good luck, Irina.
[3/11/2031 4:40 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] 👍
[3/11/2031 4:40 PM:] [Bitch-sensei] bitch-sensei back in business and SIGNING OUT!
Nagisa smiles slightly as he pockets his phone. It's nice to see her back in a good mood… and it's nice to see her thinking about the future. It makes him think about the future of the school, too. And that's always a good thing.
He hopes Karasuma and her enjoy their night with Kiyoshi. Admittedly he'll miss them at the reunion, but… he thinks this will be for the best. After all, their family's still got a lot of healing to do.
But… he thinks they're on the right track. And he thinks the school might just be, too.
With that, Nagisa returns to tidying the classroom. And as the reunion continues to approach March marches forward.