Chapter 19: Help

Izuru Kamukura

A deep sigh escaped his mouth. He had begun to forget how boring the world truly was. Perhaps he was spending too much time with Nanami-san. His short interactions with Mitarai and Matsuda were a reality check. Nonetheless, he continued. The neurology was simple to study.

Izuru already had prior knowledge. When Hinata had been fully erased, his talent began to build up. Eventually to a point where he could effectively understand what procedures he was undergoing. Thinking of his creation left him feeling emptier than usual.

The irony didn't escape him. His most hated person, and their talent. Without the Ultimate Analyst, he'd have had a chance of enjoying his existence. Nanami-san was able to surpass even that.

Something he'd never considered crossed his mind. The possibility that Enoshima couldn't analyze The Gamer. She'd explained her choice as needing Class 77 to fall into despair. Izuru had accepted that, as it was in line with her despair oriented objectives. In retrospect, there was likely more to it than that. If she truly couldn't analyze Nanami-san, she posed a threat to the whole operation. Perhaps there was an ulterior motive to Enoshima's actions after all.

Izuru shut the textbook he'd been reading from. His talent only applied if he had knowledge in an area. One simple read from front to back of Matsuda's work was enough to make him the most effective Neurologist in the world. A new plan formed in his head. A final test.

Though, right now he was needed. He left his operation room, where he'd retrieved the research. The next step was to get the program itself into a functioning state. Sakakura personally saw to the sealing of the underground. But only the two entrances he knew of. Izuru took one exiting to the incinerator, climbing up a long ladder.

He silently made his way to the Programmers room. The group behind the Neo World Program were boring. He'd managed to deduce every one of their secrets in a matter of seconds. Fujisaki used his lie to hide from society. Matsuda loved Enoshima, simply because she reminded him of his dead mother. Gekkogahara hid behind an avatar and helped others for a sense of self gratification. Kimura had a need to appease others. Mitarai changed since they last met, having grown a bloated sense of self confidence.

"I am here." He said, stepping into the Programmer's room. As expected, a multi-monitor setup was the most prominent feature. The room also held a telescope, camera, and many pictures of space. All of which came as no surprise. But then he noticed a pair of grippers. It couldn't have taken more than a moment to realise the reason stemmed from his desire to become strong.

"Aaah!" He wailed, spinning his chair to face him. "O-Oh, it's you… Uh, why… Why are you here?"

"I finished the neurology, as I was supposed to. Now I am here to advance the progress of your work." He glanced over his shoulder, reading the lines of code.

"Huh, but… It's only been a day…" Fujisaki looked between the screen and Izuru.

"It took me longer than I was required to, as I need there to be a minimal chance of failure." He finished examining the program. "This is unnecessarily complicated."

"Wait, but…" The Programmer mumbled. "Um, well, I haven't been able to focus. After everything that happened, I just… Can't… I'm sorry…"

"As I said, your participation is no longer necessary. I am able to handle this myself." Izuru grabbed a spare chair and sat in front of the monitor.

"W-Well, I still wanna help… Kuwata-kun… He needs help, right? And so I need to help him." He pumped his fist.

"You do not need to help him. I am capable of doing so alone. You only feel obligated because he is your peer." He began running his fingers across the keyboard, adding new functions as fast as physically possible.

"I know that, but, he still deserves better than…" He began tearing up. "Than that. And I'm able to help, so I will." Izuru didn't bother to reply, continuing to add to and remove from the program. "H-Hey, wait… I need that."

He paused. "Why?"

"That's Alter Ego… Uh, she's helping with the virtual world." He protested. "You can't delete her."

"You don't need to lie. I saw through your disguise when we first met." The long-haired man added the code back. "Why have you added blank intelligences here?"

Fujisaki seemed shaken by the revelation that Izuru knew his secret. "W-Well, uh… Right, y-you weren't there… We're going to use those to help. When they go in, it'll take the memories of everyone in their class. And then it'll upload them into the AIs."

He did some quick calculations in his head. "That is acceptable. Although this amount is too little. Sixteen won't be enough."

"Well, the plan is… We don't know exactly when Tsumiki-senpai or Kuwata-kun were… Brainwashed. And since you're also going in, we don't know what happened to you, or when." He paused. "So, the plan's to set everyone back to their first day of school. They, and the AIs will be taken to Jabberwock Island. There, they'll spend fifty days, and then wake up. Those memories will overwrite the old ones and… It should be okay."

"There are an indeterminable amount of flaws in that plan. Hinata was in the Reserve Course, there is no reason for him to join the Main Course for a trip. The shock of being suddenly thrust onto a tropical island will cause the humans entering confusion. Yukizome is older than Tsumiki and Hinata, who are older than Kuwata." He stopped himself. "Need I continue?"

"No… Do you have… A better plan?" The Programmer mumbled.

"Yes. You not knowing the dates of the incidents is fine, as I know them. Therefore, separate simulations is the best option. Kuwata's AIs can be modeled after your class. Yukizome and Tsumiki's will both require Class 77. And Hinata's requires a single person." He'd thought this over many times. "Also, overwriting the memories will only lead to confusion and grief. It is more effective to allow the memories to co-exist. When they awake, they will maintain their memories from before."

"Hinata? Oh, right… You only need one person?" He tilted his head. "Wait, if they wake up with all their memories… Won't they still be brainwashed? And, even then, waking up with everything… It'll just make it worse, won't it?"

"A final test between Hope and Despair. A true way to find out. This time, on an equal ground. No cheating. No unwinnable scenario. Most importantly, though, a safe experiment." He divulged. "Don't bother objecting."

"I… So this is just an experiment to you…?"

"It is an experiment, but not just that. By going through with this, I will no longer exist. For it to be an experiment that I could never see the outcome of, would be boring. There is another reason."

"It's… Nanami-senpai, right? You knew her… Before you became you…" He mumbled. "Wait, could that one person be…"

"Precisely." Izuru turned his attention back to the computer. "It's her. It's for her."

Byakuya Togami

Byakuya finished drafting a letter to Maizono. Every one felt foolish, but soothing. Some had made it to several pages long, some only a few sentences. The day Enoshima and Ikusaba died, it had felt right. He contemplated writing ones to the other two, but decided not to waste his time. He wasn't torn up over their deaths. They had gotten what they deserved.

A knock to his door broke him from his musings. Last time it'd happened, he ended up filing a lawsuit. Even so, the Heir opened his door. "Kirigiri, and Naegi. I presume you need me for something? Otherwise you're wasting my time."

"Uh, yeah, hey Togami-kun. Listen, we sorta need your help." The Luckster frowned, still slightly pale from the poison. "It's about your family… And Kirigiri-san's."

He hadn't noticed it before, but she was wearing an even more serious expression than usual. "Why is it that you both end up crawling back to me? Although, I must say this intrigues me."

"Good. We're going to the headmaster's office. Now." She spoke in stunted sentences.

"I figured as much. Although I'd prefer to be filled in before we go." He tilted his head.

"Well, I don't really know anything either… Apparently we need to come to be 'witnesses'. In case he tries anything." Naegi shrugged. "She was gonna just take me, but I'm a nobody… If you come too, he can't do anything. You're basically famous."

"Hmph, so that's what you're saying. I'll join you then." He stepped out, walking ahead of them. "Don't slow me down."

The Detective quickly pushed in front, leaving the limping Naegi trailing behind. They piled into the elevator, taking it to the penultimate floor. Only the Headmaster's Office and the staff room were this high. The Luckster pulled open the door, letting them go first.

"Dad, we need to talk." She said, not sparing a beat.

"Ah, Kyoko… Can it wait, I'm doing something important right now." He gestured to the figure across from him.

"Tengan." Byakuya crossed his arms. "I suggest you be the one to leave."

"Is that any way to talk to an old geezer like me?" He wheezed.

"Actually, you should stay. This concerns you, too." She pulled the door shut, locking it.

"Kyoko, what do you think you're doing?" He stood from his desk. "I apologize for the interruption, Tengan-gakuenchou. I hope this won't change your mind."

"What did I say about calling me that? I'm no Headmaster anymore." He laughed.

"Togami-kun, Naegi-kun. If you were to draw the line at something. Something you'd never forgive. What would it be?" She glanced between the both of them.

"H-Huh? Well, uh, I guess it'd be… What Enoshima-san did… I could never forgive her for that." Naegi frowned.

"Unlike him, I don't have one. If there is enough justification, anything can be acceptable." He smirked.

"Kirigiri-san, what are you saying?" The former headmaster dropped his gentle facade for a moment. Byakuya noticed, so the Detective must have.

"I draw the line at human experimentation. I've learned that now." She said through grit teeth.

Everyone froze, an indiscernible amount of time passing before anyone spoke. "Kirigiri, that's a harsh accusation. I don't suppose you have proof." The Heir smirked.

Both the Kirigiri went to answer, talking over each other. He only caught the tail end of the Headmaster's words. "-tried to stop it!"

"You admit it so easily. I never imagined a topic so interesting would end with such an anticlimax." Byakuya shook his head. "Was I wrong to assume this was interesting?"

"It appears you asking me to investigate it was your undoing, dad." She winced. "Hope's Peak will finally have it's true colours revealed, is this what you wanted? Or were you too obsessed with talent to even consider it?"

The Lucky Student hadn't said a word. "H-Hope's Peak… It's all… A lie… What did you do?"

"This talk is too much for a coot like me to understand. Would you mind giving some proof?" Tengan croaked.

"Gladly." She pulled out a paper. "The Izuru Kamukura project."

"Kamukura? Isn't that the guy who was working with Enoshima-san?" Naegi asked.

"Coincidentally the same as the founder. Are you that obsessed with yourself that you can't even come up with something original?" Byakuya crossed his arms.

"The victim of your horrendous acts was Hajime Hinata, of the reserve course." She continued. "In place of tuition, he'd participate in your experiment. Although on this pamphlet, it happens to only mention adding one talent. What aspiring Hope's Peak alum would deny?"

"That's… Years old… Where'd you…" He mumbled. "Kyoko… If you release this it'll be the end of Hope's Peak. I-I tried to stop it, I did… It's not like you think."

"If it means you can't… Do this ever again, then yeah… Let's end Hope's Peak." Naegi said, despondently.

"I have evidence proving that you, Tengan, The Steering Committee, Yasuka Matsuda, and the investors were involved. Investors such as the Togami Corporation" She grinned. "You could have a chance of disappearing me. But three students going missing in short succession, one being the heir to the Togami Corporation. You'd not get away with it."

"Hmmm, perhaps." The old man got to his feet, leaning on his cane. "But if I'd never dealt with a full investigation, I wouldn't have made it where I am today." He laughed. "I'm a pacifist, as much as that'll take me.

"What are you saying?" She responded, clenching her fist.

He cracked his back with a stretch. "This school is a symbol of Hope for those around the world. If it were to fail, Despair would win. I hate having to resort to violence, but-"

"No!" A deep guttural scream pierced the room before a hail of gunshots rang out.

A few moments passed before the smoke cleared. The former Headmaster wore a wrist strapped submachine gun, pointed to where the Detective had been standing. She had fallen to the ground.

Kirigiri was riddled with bullet holes. He stood, shielding his daughter. The Headmaster sputtered a few noises before collapsing next to her. Everyone was stunned still. After a moment, Naegi grabbed the old man, pinning him down.

A photograph lay on the ground, it's frame shattered. Blood began to seep into it's paper.

Ryota Mitarai

Kazuo Tengan was arrested for the murder of the Headmaster, a schoolwide investigation kicking off. The days after flew by, Ryota helped as much as he could with the program. He finished eating and clutched his hands to his forehead. The Imposter seemed to be the only one to notice, giving him a pat on the back, before grabbing some more food.

"Wahhhh! I can't believe he's actually suing me!" Saionji-san wailed, rubbing her eyes. "First he doesn't give me any candy, and then he says I destroyed his property and attacked him. It's no fair."

"Did Hiyoko-chan really just ask for candy?" The Musician asked.

"I mean… Yeah, totally…" She looked around. "Okay, okay, fine… I maybe sorta egged his dorm, but how's that worth suing!? I egged that pigshit's room all the time and she never sued me!"

"Hm… Pretty sure that's illegal. Ibuki's not good at this kinda stuff though. She might be wrong." She rubbed the back of her head. "Hey Chiaki-chan, whaddaya think?"

The Gamer looked over, bags under her eyes, still dressed in her costume. She seemed like she wanted to say something, but slowly pushed herself up. Her feet dragged as she stepped out of the Dining Hall. Her plate looked untouched.

"Guess not." Mioda-san pouted. "Well, anyway, probably not great. But it might be, too."

"Huh?" Ryota mumbled. "Is she okay? That didn't look good."

"Eh? She's fine. Prolly a late night gaming session or something." Owari-san shrugged.

He furrowed his brow. "You sure? She's not even changed… That's three days now, isn't it?"

"That's relatively tame. We once saw her go a month without changing. Apparently a new game came out, as I remember." The Swordswoman suppressed a smile.

"Ew, grody." The Dancer gagged.

"Didn't you not shower for, like, our entire first year?" Kuzuryu-kun rolled his eyes.

"Hey, that's different!" She pouted. "Do you want me to crush you like Mr. Ant?"

"Are you calling me fucking short!? Just cause you had your goddamn growth spurt doesn't mean you're able to say that!" He shouted back.

"Well, I mean, without Hanamura-kun, you're now in last place!" She mocked.

"Keep testing me, I fucking dare you!" He slammed his hand down onto the table.

Ryota decided he'd seen enough. He got up and left, crossing his arms. Part of him wanted to go after Nanami-san, worry bubbling over. She could wait, he needed to work on the program. Once it was done, Yukizome-sensei would be back, and she'd know what to do. He lost his chance to choose as his thoughts were interrupted.

"Mitarai." A figure seemed to appear before him.

"Huh? Oh, uh… Hi…" He mumbled.

Kamukura stood, a plastic bag in one hand and a food carrier in the other. It was strangely normal for someone so absurd. "I am here to discuss the Neo World Program."

"Huh? Well, we usually meet on Saturdays. That's when we were going to talk, wasn't it?" Ryota shook his head, paranoid that anyone could stumble upon them.

"You are boring." He sighed. "It is on track to be finished by Friday. Waiting until Saturday would be a waste of time."

"Huh? Wait, that's tomorrow? Fujisaki-san said it'll take months…" He scratched the back of his head.

"That was when-" Kamukura stopped abruptly, seemingly caught on a word. He recovered soon enough. "That was when she was alone. With the help of me and Alter Ego, progress has increased substantially."

"Who? Wait, nevermind… As long as it's getting done. That's what matters."

"Correct." He moved to leave, looking back at Ryota for a moment. "You want to say something. You have a request. What is it?"

"Oh, uh, it's probably nothing." He bit his lip. "Well, uh, just… I'm worried about Nanami-san. She looked pretty out of it, I guess. It's actually been like that since the party… Everyone said that it's normal for her, though… It's probably just me being paranoid, I guess. They know her better, anyway…"

"Your concern is valid." He clenched his hand around the bag, beginning to walk to the dorms.

"What does that… Hey, wait, are you going to see her?" Ryota shouted as he continued moving away. "That's probably not a good idea… I mean, last time she saw you, you were trying to kill her… That can't be a good idea."

"How boring. It is where I was headed after you, anyway." He replied, his voice barely audible. "Don't follow."

Izuru Kamukura

Izuru quickly made his way out of the open area, into the dorm hall. He turned the knob to the Gamer's room, pulling the door open. A breeze struck him, a window in her room open. He quietly made his way in, his eyes snapping to her bed.

She was curled up on top of her covers, rigid. Still wearing the costume from her Halloween party. Izuru glanced around the room for anything else important. Only after surveying, he dared approach her. The foreign feelings of worry, anxiety, and guilt caused him to hesitate.

Her eyes were wide open, yet she barely acknowledged his presence. Her pupils dilated only slightly when he entered her view. "Are you hurt?" He asked, examining her quickly. "Nanami-san. Talk to me."

She only returned a muffled whimper. Some motion also returned to her body, her hands quivering.

"Mitarai is worried for you." He set down the food and bag, kneeling. "Your consoles have not moved since I was last here. That indicates you haven't touched them. Therefore, I can only conclude that you have relapsed."

No reaction. Only a few blinks. He sat still for a moment, hesitant on how to continue. It is bad practice to initiate physical interaction with a patient in such a state. He repeated this in his head multiple times. Despite himself, he approached, crouching down in front of her. He raised his hand slowly. At an equal speed, he brought it back down, giving her enough time to object. Until his hand made contact with her shoulder.

Her breath hitched, causing him to flinch and pull away. It was a reaction akin to if he'd snuck up on her. His hand hovered in the air for a brief moment before he brought it back down. It once again met her shoulder. There was no sharp reaction this time, so he let it rest. "Nanami-san, I am not here to hurt you. You require help and I will help you." He could feel her rapid heartbeat.

The Gamer took several soft breaths as she stared at him. Eventually, she spoke. "I… I don't…" She took another deep breath before continuing. "I don't need help… I need to… Help them… They don't get it…" Her sentences were barely cohesive.

"You do need help. Right now, you are in need of help. You are acting self-destructive." Izuru continued to stare into her eyes, slowly beginning to caress her shoulder.

"Stop, please… I'm fine… Stop trying to help me…" Her eyes betrayed her words.

"I am not going to do that." He pushed some hair out of her face with his free hand. "You are not well. You are not fine."

"They don't get it… I need to help them… They don't need to help me. I am fine." Some warmth began to return to her voice. "I need to help them. They need my help."

"You are deluding yourself. Until you accept my help, I cannot leave." He took her hand in his.

"N… No, stop." She gave a half-hearted attempt to pull away. "I don't… I don't deserve your help… I don't deserve you…"

"You do. Now, please explain to me what happened. I wasn't able to observe your party, so tell me." He needed a basis to advance on.

"Nothing… It was fine… Nothing happened… I'm fine." She mumbled.

"Nanami-san. You need to tell me, or I won't be able to help." He restated.

"I don't need help… I'm okay… I don't." Her shaky voice broke for a moment. "I'm alright. I need to help. I don't need help, I need to help."

Izuru still wasn't getting anywhere. He had to approach from another angle. Using what he gathered so far and a slight truth, he clutched her hand tighter. "You are not well. Seeing you like this is causing me distress. If you want to help me, let me help you. Do you understand?"

"You…? Nobody… Nobody gets it… I don't need help… I'm okay…" She lowered her guard, shifting into a sitting position on her bed. He stood awkwardly for a few moments before taking a seat next to her.

"As much as you deny it, it still remains true. You are denying yourself something you need. It is not healthy. Listen to me when I say this, you are not in a good state. You need help and I am here for you." Izuru stated calmly.

"I…" She bit her lip, stopping herself.

"Please. Stop preventing yourself from recovering." He placed his hand back on her shoulder. She flinched at the touch, but didn't move away.

"Yeah, I got it. I'll just go and apologize. That's what's worrying everyone." She grabbed her cane, giving a forced smile.

He pushed down, stopping her from getting up. "You can't leave."

"Huh…? Let go…" She struggled. Izuru quickly released her, realising it could be hurting her. "Why can't I just… Help them. I just… Want them to be okay."

"Even on the edge of depression and despair, you care about others more than yourself. Hope is as self-destructive as despair, it seems." He noted.

"I don't… Care about hope… It's just made things worse…" She mumbled. "Plus I thought you were giving up on that… Stuff."

"We are getting sidetracked. You need to talk to me. If I understand what is going on, I can help you." He frowned.

She looked like she was about to deny it again, but let out a long sigh. "Stop… I don't want to be a problem… So don't make it one…"

Something clicked in his mind. He quickly wondered why he hadn't realised before. "Nanami-san. You can't keep hiding. You weren't just hurt physically from your encounter. Mental scars shouldn't be ignored."

"I'm not ignoring them. Gekkogahara-san helped me with it…" She shook her head.

"You said it yourself. She was not effective. As you put it, you were 'like her Dating Sim.'" He paused, catching up to his thoughts. "It has evaded me until now. But, you've been masking yourself. Your true emotions. Am I wrong?"

"As long as I'm happy, it keeps me from becoming their problem. They just… They'd get really worried if I wasn't happy. So I need to be happy or they won't be…" Her voice was quiet and weak.

"How long? This is extremely unhealthy behavior. It leads to imposter syndrome, depression, anxiety, and thoughts of self harm." He held her hand.

"I wouldn't… I'm not any of that…" She slumped over, cradling her head. "See, this is… What I mean. You're worried now… I don't want that…"

"You are only going to degrade your mental state continuing like you are. If you are honest with yourself and others, you will begin to recover. It may feel like you aren't making progress, but you will. Nanami-san."

"Why can't you just… Leave. You're not… Helping…"

"Recontextualized, it is beginning to make sense. When your class decided to go search for the Ultimate Imposter, I assumed it was blatant disregard of your emotions." He paused. "Instead, there is another explanation. Your mask fooled them until then. They never suffered the consequences of your attempted execution, only you did. When you faked your emotional recovery, they bought into it. Therefore, they assumed you were in a positive condition. That is why they left." He stopped, having said the most he had in his existence.

"I… I don't know… What you mean." She clutched her head.

"When you forgot Nevermind's birthday, your mask slipped. Only for a moment. After that, you kept it secure. Not able to be seen through." He concluded.

"I'm not… I've just been myself… I'm just me…" She denied without a spark of life in her voice. "I'd never lie to my friends…"

"I didn't say you were." He shook his head. "It is a mostly unconscious act. You had little control over it."

"What… Do you want? Why are you doing this?" She lifted her head, only enough to meet his eyes.

"You need to recover. A healthy mental state is important." Izuru reached out, taking her hand. "Would you like it if we started simpler?" He paused, eliciting a barely observable nod. "Choose one of your classmates. Say their name."

"Ah… Mitarai-kun, I guess." She mumbled, likely the first name that came to her.

"Tell me your true thoughts about him. As much as you would like to disclose." He crossed his arms.

"Huh? O-Okay… Uh…" She paused for a moment. "He saved my life, which is important, probably… I wish he'd been with us since the beginning though. Hm… He seems close with Imposter-san, I think."

"I asked for your true thoughts. Those aren't." He clutched her hand. "If you don't want to share them, then don't. We can choose someone else."

"But… They are… That's how I… Really feel." She blinked some tears out of her eyes, almost before he could notice. "I'm not hiding anything."

"You aren't hiding anything, but you know that isn't true." He leaned his head forward. "We have almost broken through. It will come easier after the first."

"First…?" She wrestled her hand away. "It is true, though… I… I'm not…" Her expression tightened. "I don't… I don't… I'm not… I don't get it…"

"Nanami-san. You need to explain it to yourself so you can begin to accept it." He knew that forcing too much would only make it worse. There wasn't time to wait and come back. It needed to happen now. "You need to accept it. Or you won't recover."

"Mmm… I… I can't…" She shut her eyes, taking several deep breaths. "I… I mean… He saved my life… How am I supposed to…"

"You're almost there. You are close." He assured her.

"How can I… Make up for that…? I-I don't get it… Why can't I just… Why do I always feel guilty, y'know? How does anyone repay that? He put himself in danger for me and… And everyone… And all I've done is make him feel worse… And Sakakura-san too… And Munakata-san…" Her back began to shake as tears poured from her eyes. She quickly rubbed them out.

"You can't. As much as you want to, there is no way to adequately repay them for your own life." He shook his head. "What I can tell you is they don't expect anything from you in return. You have nothing equal to trade, but they don't want anything from you. It is simple."

"Yeah, I know… I get it but… They've done so much for me and I've just… Made everything worse for them." Her lips trembled. "Maybe… It'd have just been easier-"

"Don't finish that thought." He interrupted. "We should move onto someone else."

She pursed her lips and nodded. "Uh, well… Sonia-san is really nice… She's helped me with translating some western games, which is cool. She's also really pretty, probably. Her being a princess is cool."

"You need to dig deeper. It won't get better until you accept and recognize your true emotions." He crossed his arms.

She didn't bother denying it. "I, uh… She's kinda… Out of touch, I think. She's always been nice, like really really nice, but sometimes I just… Feel like I can't relate to her. And, during the party… When she was talking about getting kidnapped and stuff it just… I get what she was trying to say, but… I don't think it worked. It just made me more worried… And… She's constantly had to worry about getting killed just for being born… Agent 47 style, y'know…" She paused to catch her breath. "Like, who am I to be upset about it when I was the idiot…"

"Your problems are not nullified simply because somebody else has gone through similar experiences." He sighed. "Next. Try not to start with the positives."

"Okay, okay… Komaeda-kun is a little weird, I guess. Like, sometimes I kinda want him to shut up. But everyone else is kinda mean to him, so I gotta be nice." She stopped, shaking her head. "This just feels like you're making me say bad things about my friends…"

"It is to help you recognise and break through your subconscious. If you feel you have, we can move on."

"Can't we just do this tomorrow… Or next week?" She sighed.

"No."

"Huh? Well… Gekkogahara-san let me stop if I didn't wanna talk about something. She's a total pro, too." She pleaded.

"Time is limited. It isn't a matter of me not letting you. We physically can't do it next week, and I am preoccupied tomorrow." He stopped as he considered telling her about the Neo World Program's development. Ultimately, he decided against it.

"Why not…?" She looked at him. The silence lasted long enough that she must've realized he had no intention of telling her. "You're just making me more worried…"

"You need to continue. Once you break through your mental block, you will begin to recover." Izuru brought his knee up. "You don't need to continue with Komaeda. You can choose someone else." He considered telling her about the Lucky Student's talk on the roof, but also decided not to.

"Hm… Well…" She paused, scratching at the scar under her eye. "Okay, I choose you, Kamukura-kun."

"I am not one of your classmates." He closed his eyes. "If you wish, continue."

She took in a deep breath. "You've always tried to help me, right? So whenever I think about it… I mean… I want Hinata-kun back… But that also means you'll hafta go, too… And it sucks so much, because you're both my friends, I think." She mumbled. "I want you to stay, but I also want him back…"

"You wish to help us both. It is unfortunate." He looked into her eyes. Something was there, buried so deep, he could barely notice. "There's something else. You are hiding it. Nanami-san. Tell me."

"Eh…? I… I…" Something snapped, causing her to recoil. Her eyes widened, into an expression he'd seldom seen before. Fear. "I'm… It's… Y-You were…"

Izuru pulled his hand away. "It is alright. I have no intent to harm you." He stood up, moving to the other end of the room.

"I know… I know you're not… You'd never do that, but still… You were friends with Enoshima and she… You ditched her… Y-You killed her… What's to stop you f-from… You could find someone else and then…" She didn't bother finishing that thought. "I know you wouldn't, but… I mean, you said you were gonna give up on despair… And hope… But you didn't, I think."

"Calling Enoshima and I friends is a blatant misunderstanding of our relationship." He crossed his arms. "If you were terrified, why did you continue to tolerate me?"

"W-Well… You needed help… And you made it clear that I was the only one who could. So I needed to… To help you." She snivelled.

"Harming you wouldn't be boring, but in an undesirable way. Additionally, in a way that would only last until your memory faded. Therefore it is more interesting to keep you without harm." Hope truly is self-destructive. He didn't add.

"You've… Considered it!?" She shuffled backwards, alarmed.

"I consider every possible outcome at once, accurately. That was until I met you. My accuracy fell." He shook his head. "Consideration doesn't mean I have intention."

"Can I just… I need some time alone. It's my room, so you should leave." She crossed her arms.

After a few long moments, he nodded, retreating to the door. "There is tempura, along with macarons in the carrier, and a…" He contemplated the wording. "Gift in the bag."

Not giving her a chance to object, he left, making his way out of the building. Once back underground, he looked down at the ground. After an indiscernible amount of time, he made his way back to the surface, although exiting outside the Hope's Peak grounds. He made his way to a remotely familiar fountain.

Izuru had a wealth of regret surging through him. He had pushed too hard, only managing to hurt her. It could work in his favour, though. If he had gone into the Neo World Program, it would have pained her. He pulled out Komaeda's pistol.

Illogically in every way, he found himself displeased at the sight of it. Perhaps it was the fact that this was the start of it, the fact that Komaeda was unpredictable in all the wrong ways, or that it was the weapon used to end Enoshima. In any case, he didn't like it being with him. With a toss, it landed in a trash can.

A familiar jingle played across his head. An auditory hallucination, he surmised. With a quick observation of the nearby area, he confirmed there was no other reason for it. He wished he could have played the game that sparked a drive in him one more time with her, but there wasn't time.