Chapter 20: Neo

Chiaki Nanami

Her mind felt numb. She hadn't wanted him to go, yet told him to. Of course he wouldn't understand that. He wanted to help, and she didn't let him. She should go after him. After taking a few deep breaths, she forced herself up.

Almost immediately, her legs gave out under her. Every part of her felt weak. An ache tore through her with each breath. Looking for a reason, she came up short. She tried again to get to her feet, feebly toppling backwards. "Oh…"

She'd fallen right next to Kamukura-kun's bag. "That's right." She thought out loud, taking in the smell. It had been a while since she'd even eaten, at least a few days. He'd probably want her to have something before going after him. "Mmm… Okay…"

The carrier held exactly what he'd said, a dish of tempura and a pile of macarons. She could tell it was his cooking immediately, the scent sublime. Her stomach groaned as soon as she laid her eyes on it. Chiaki quickly began eating, rivalling Owari-san and The Imposter in her speed. She forwent the tentsuyu sauce he'd placed inside, too hungry to wait.

Some energy soon returned to her, the sugar from the macarons giving her a boost. She ate enough to be sated, before letting out a sigh. Her eyes were drawn to the other thing he'd brought. "A gift… Doesn't look like a trap…" She made out something tan through the opaque white bag. Kamukura-kun didn't seem like the sentimental type, and it was still more than four months until her birthday.

Chiaki slowly leaned forward to get a peak of what was inside. Her eyes lit up. The bag held a neatly folded pile of clothes. She beamed as she pulled out the brown jacket. It was all there. She began going through everything, looking it over. Her hoodie, shirt, skirt, socks, and shoes. Even her bow. He'd gotten her a new uniform.

She couldn't help herself from loving her uniform. It helped provide a sense of unity, even if half her class didn't wear it. Everything was as she remembered. The sweater being slightly oversized, a little tag in her pocket she liked to fiddle with when not playing a game. Even the same grease stain on the hem of her sleeve.

It struck her suddenly, causing her mind to halt. "This… Is my uniform…" She began to look over it again, noticing the almost invisible seams. On the arms of the jacket, hoodie, and shirt. Her shoe had been stitched back together, along with the rips in her thigh-highs. He'd even managed to clean off all the blood. It made sense he had it. After the maze, she woke up in a hospital gown, and he was the one who first tended to her. So he'd kept it this whole time.

Chiaki looked down at her onesie. She'd been wearing it for the better part of a week at this point. She wanted to get her new outfit on as soon as possible. Her mind flashed to Kamukura-kun. "Hmm… Right…" He probably wouldn't approve of her not taking care of herself.

Fueled by the food, she climbed to her feet and shambled over to the washroom. She tore off her costume and climbed into the shower. It took a moment to find the right temperature. Once she did, it was refreshing.

After too long a time, she stumbled out. She grabbed a towel and haphazardly dried herself off. As she was about to step out of the room, she stopped, staring into the mirror. Her breath grew heavy as she looked into her reflection. It was still her, through everything. Somehow, such an obvious fact, felt surreal.

It barely even looked like her anymore. Scars littered her face, as well as her arms. She brought her hand up to her hair. It had almost grown back to its former length, still a little damp. Even her expression was stiffer. She tried to force a smile, but couldn't find the willpower. Kamukura-kun wouldn't want her to force it anyways.

Even through all that, it was her. It was still her. It was Chiaki Nanami, the Ultimate Gamer. She was the Class Rep of Hope's Peak Academy's 77th class. And she was still alive. And that was what she wanted. She was alive, and so she could get better. It wasn't going to be easy, but it was what she needed to do.

Chiaki took a few deep breaths, pulling herself out of her own head. She climbed out of the washroom and took a seat on her bed. A few minutes passed of quiet introspection. Afterwards, she let out a sigh and discarded the towel. She pulled on each piece of her uniform, relishing every one.

Her breath slowed, taking a moment to enjoy it. They were still slightly warm, probably from being washed. She grabbed her backpack, sliding it on her shoulders. It all felt so normal. "Oh… Right." Chiaki fished around her drawer, pulling out her hair clip. She carefully attached it and let herself smile.

Unfortunately, she still had to walk with the cane. Which also meant no walking and gaming. She sighed and grabbed her GGA anyways. It felt good to hold a console in her hand, even if she wasn't playing it. After making sure she had everything she wanted, she stepped out into the hall.

Even though she wanted to talk to Kamukura-kun, she headed to her classroom. He wanted her to accept how she felt about everyone, so he'd want her to talk to them. Following that train of thought, she made her way to the main entrance. She considered taking the elevator, but decided against it. It probably wasn't the best idea while wearing her outfit. She began to climb the stairs, making it to her floor. That quickly took a lot out of her, running on mostly sugar.

Chiaki steeled herself one last time and slid open the door. A wave of disappointment tore through her as she saw nobody waiting there. Had they really stopped going because of her? Guilt and hate began to bubble up. She cut them off with a deep breath. No.

"Nanami?" A voice behind her caused her to flinch, spinning on the spot.

"Huh…? Ah, hey Pekoyama-san." She waved.

"I see you've gotten your new uniform, I'm glad." She softened her expression. "How are you? You look in a much better mood."

"I do…?" Chiaki couldn't help but feel hopeful upon hearing it, and it showed in her voice. "Hm… Well, I was hoping to talk to everyone. But you're the only one here."

"I presume it's because you weren't enforcing attendance. Not that anyone would fault you for it." She hastily added. "Fairly, I am only here as I'm on my way to the dojo to train. Though, if it's of importance to you, I'll help find the others."

"Well, uh… It's…" She took another deep breath. "Yeah, it's kinda important. If you don't mind…"

"Of course. It is my pleasure." The Swordswoman gave a quick nod. "Where should we search first?"

"Hm, well… There's probably someone hanging around the dorms." She shrugged.

"That sounds like a good plan. Once we get some more members, we could split up. But for now, we are more efficient in a group." She strategized.

"Oh, oh! Like building a party in an RPG. And then a spin-off comes along, and a side character becomes the star." The Gamer grinned.

"Then shall we be off?" She asked.

"Mhm, let's go. Then you'll get to be the protagonist."

Together, they began back down the stairs. "I am more of a supporting cast type. Though I appreciate the notion."

"Well, I don't think so." She shook her head. "Hm… Like, uh, last week… I heard you came to try and save me. You had this whole sword against bat fight. That's total hero stuff, right?"

"Perhaps, but I still lost. In the end, we even failed to reach you." She crossed her arms. "Even then, such an act is not inherently heroic. It is simply a natural reaction when someone close to you… A friend is in peril."

"You think so…?" Chiaki sighed. "I guess that makes sense. Still, you're super cool for doing that…"

"Gh… You say such strange things." She dropped her guard for a moment, just as quickly returning to her usual calmness. "In all fairness, Mioda-san, Mitarai-kun, and Saionji-san were there. Alongside most of Class 78. And I can say with near certainty that the others would have been there if they had been awake."

"Well, that's kinda part of why I'm getting everyone together, I think." She sighed. "That's why it's important…"

"I see. Then I am at your service to gather them." Pekoyama-san nodded. "I trust your judgement."

Byakuya Togami

They sat in silence. Their teacher hadn't shown up in over a month, and class was optional. Yet they had all come, day after day. Kirigiri was shaken, but recovered quickly. It seemed Ishimaru was more broken up over her father's death than even she was. The day was progressing, as they usually had. Other than Fukawa's salivating, there was a void of sound. It gave Byakuya time to read, at the very least.

"Guys, guys! C'mon! Quickly!" A shout broke the tranquility, startling the more frightful of the class. The sound of a phone ringing burst out.

"Asahina-san! Please use your indoor voice when talking indoors!" The Moral Compass scolded. "And a cellphone is not suited for a school environment!"

"The hell d'you want?" Owada shrugged, clearly enjoying the silence.

"It's Sakura-chan! Guys! She's calling!" The Swimmer waved around the phone. "I haven't talked to her in, like, forever!"

"Huh? Oh, cool!" Naegi smiled. "You might wanna answer it before it goes to voicemail, though."

"Right!" She hit a button and the ringing stopped. "Hey! Sakura-chan! How are you!?"

"Asahina. Are the others with you?" The cracked voice came from the speakers.

"Yes, we are here." Kirigiri answered. "All but Kuwata-kun… And Maizono-san, but I assume you are aware why."

"I heard, yes. If only I'd been there. I could have protected you all." She sighed. "It is terrible what happened to them both."

"I-It's okay… You left to be with your family… There's nothing wrong with that…" Fujisaki continued to type away at her laptop as she talked.

"Thank you… Still, I wish I'd been there. To hear a close friend had been murdered. And another in despair. While I was unable to help-"

"Is unchangeable. It is what happened. Dwelling on it will only cloud your judgement." Byakuya interrupted.

"I see you haven't changed in my absence, Togami." A passive-aggressive tone carried her voice. "And, Kirigiri. I am sorry about your father. But… If what they're saying is true, I cannot forgive him."

"Neither can I…" She hung onto the word for longer than she needed to.

"Yeah… And to think I used to love this school." Naegi sighed. "I thought it was all about hope, but… It's super fake."

"Those fuckers seriously fucked up that dude's brain. I say he's better off dead." Owada crossed his arms.

"How could you say that, bro!? To sentence someone without fair trial is unjust!" Ishimaru quickly objected.

"I am not hesitant to trust the Ultimate Detective's deductions." Ogami spoke up. "If that is the decision Kirigiri has come to, then I am inclined to believe it."

"Y-Yeah… Master said i-it's true, so it's gotta b-be." Fukawa mumbled. "Plus there w-was that paper…"

"Yes, it is… True. Though on behalf of the Togami Corporation, I confirm we had no involvement." He pushed his glasses up.

"Are we just s'posed to take your word for it? Aren't your folks, like, funders or something?" The Biker shrugged.

"Yes, you are." He clenched his fist. "Them being shareholders implicates them, yes. But as I said, they had no involvement. This discussion is over."

"W-Well… I think it more than just implicates them." Fujisaki mumbled. "Um, I mean… Pretty much all the shareholders knew about-"

"Shut up. You have been stopped." Byakuya interrupted. "They are not. As I said, this discussion is over. Unless you are saying you are privy to knowledge of which I am not. And, as I said, it is not possible."

"Guys, we're getting distracted, this is supposed to be about Sakura-chan!" Asahina shouted.

"It is alright. I understand why you are upset. I should be going anyway. Please, let Kuwata know I wish him the best." She rustled around.

"Oh, uh, well… It was nice catching up with you." The Swimmer pouted.

"Wait! Ogami-san. Please, stay for a little longer." Kirigiri said, louder than usual.

"If you wish." She paused for a moment. "Is something wrong?"

"There is. Naegi, have you noticed it?" The Detective looked over at the Lucky Student.

"H-Huh? What do you mean? I don't… See anything?" He looked around worriedly.

"Hm… You're talking about what she said, correct? Perhaps you're just paranoid." Byakuya sat down.

"Wait, I think I get it… Ogami-san, um, I'm not accusing you of anything… But, how do you know about Kuwata-kun?" Naegi tilted his head. "I didn't think anybody else knew about him. And the news hasn't heard, either."

"Gh…" A dissatisfied grunt came through the phone.

"Th-that Idiot Swimmer Girl probably told her." The Writer mumbled.

"Huh? Idiot Swimmer Girl!?" She shouted back. "I, uh, I mean… I hadn't told her. I haven't even talked to her since, uh… Maizo…" She trailed off.

"I didn't want you to find out about it… At least, not like this." She sighed through the receiver.

"The fuck? What does that mean?" Owada asked.

"I should… I should start from the beginning, at least." The Martial Artist shuffled about, taking a few steps away from where she had been standing. "It was a few days after I had left. Ikusaba had showed up on my front door. Instantly, I fought her. Unarmed, I had the upper hand, but she soon pulled a weapon and turned the tides."

A few gasps escaped from those around the room.

"Eventually, she overpowered me, forcing my surrender." Ogami sighed. "She began to use my home as lodging. When she captured Kuwata, he was taken here. And… I am sorry, Hina… But whenever you talked to me, she was listening in. I didn't want you to find out this way."

"Why!?" Asahina shouted. "Why did she… Why'd she choose you?"

"I asked the same thing… Hagakure has apparently fled the country with his mother. A hunting party of Yakuza is after him. As for Celeste, she has apparently moved to Europe. Along with Yamada, who followed her. Therefore, she had no choice but to come to me." She explained.

"And I assume you were also behind the leak. Ikusaba forced you to inform the public, causing discord and unrest." Byakuya grinned. "It would explain how the news got out."

"It is true. I am sorry, I was weak." She said with a flat voice. "Goodbye."

"Huh? Wait, don't-" Asahina's voice was cut off by the phone's beeping. "Guys, look what you've done! You all suck!"

"For stating the truth? Misplaced trust like yours is dangerous. If Ikusaba had forced her to attack us, we'd have stood no chance." Byakuya sneered. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I will be on my way."

"Wait, but it's still school hours. You mustn't ditch." Ishimaru objected.

"You should check that wristwatch of yours. Not that I hold any obligation to remain in the first place." He stepped out before anyone else could delay him.

Chiaki Nanami

By the time she'd finally gathered everyone, class had ended. Chiaki hobbled along with the Lucky Student, being the last person she'd found. They'd decided to meet in the classroom, so that's where everyone was to be waiting. "I'm sorry you had trouble finding me."

"Huh? Oh… It's fine…" The spare time had let her prepare some things to say in advance.

"It's troubled me, to hear you want to talk to us all. I might just be paranoid, but I'm a little worried." He laughed. "Though, perhaps it could also be hopeful news. Which one will it be?"

"Uh, well… It's just something I want- No, I need to get off my chest." Chiaki dodged around the question. She wasn't even sure herself it was good news.

"You've never been one to be vague… Well, that's only my unsubstantial residue of an opinion." He continued to smile, something in his eyes scaring her. "I am glad to see your uniform once again. It is, how do I say… Endearing."

"Thanks…" She had instinctively reached out to door, not even realising they had arrived. Taking a breath, she slid it open.

A chorus of surprised voices sounded, a majority of which Pekoyama-san had brought in. They hadn't seen her yet. "Ah! Nanami-san, you're… I'm surprised the school was able to get you a new one, with the, y'know… Issues." Koizumi smiled, snapping a picture.

"It is truly an outfit befitting that of a demon of such level." Tanaka-kun smirked.

"I thought I was only level one though?" She mumbled, taking a seat at her desk.

"Fuhaha, the darkness within you grows with each passing day. At your rate, you're likely to surpass even the darkest souls within the year." He boomed. Chiaki pulled her GGA out, beginning to fumble about with a game.

"Hey, don't tell me you got us all, just to have a class with no teacher!" Soda-kun groaned.

"Oh, no, I didn't… I just have… A lot to say. I think I'm a little nervous." She mumbled.

"Take as much time as you need! Do some stretches to clear your mind!" Nidai-kun shouted over everyone.

"That seems awkward, I'm probably not doing that." She kept her focus on the game, increasingly aware of how everyone's eyes were digging into her. "I think we should… We need to talk about everything."

"What's that mean?" Owari-san asked, tilting her head.

"Guys, we… We can't just pretend it's all over. I-I mean, we're not gonna get better… Not until we try." She finally forced her eyes up. "If we do it, we'll be alright."

"Nanami-san. You… Are you okay?" The Imposter asked hesitantly. "You are acting abnormal. If you need to talk, we are here."

"Yeah, if you wanna say something, go ahead. No judgement here." The Photographer smiled.

"Hmm… Okay… I just…" She caught herself on the word. This was it. There was no going back after this. They would all know, and worry, and she'd just be causing them problems. She opened her mouth to call it off. Kamukura-kun. He wouldn't want this. "I'm not over it… You all seem so ready to move on, but… I can't. And I feel like I'm letting you down."

"I mean, that makes sense." Kuzuryu-kun pulled his feet off his desk, putting on a more serious face. "I don't even wanna think about what happened to you… No shit you're even worse off." He sighed. "Shit, that sounded wrong. Like, I mean… There's nothing wrong with being fucked up after… All that." He choked on his words.

"He is correct. It is to be expected… After everything that's happened. You have gone through more trauma than most people do in their lifetime. You don't need to feel bad that you are hurt." Pekoyama-san said in a concise manner. "In fact, we have moved on too fast. Which in turn, made you feel like you weren't progressing."

"B-But you guys getting better is a good thing. So don't, like, just get worse for my sake… Or something." She mumbled.

"I get it, though. We have barely gone through anything, compared to you." Sonia-san pouted. "It is less a matter of us progressing faster. We simply have less to recover from."

"That makes sense, but… I mean, Mioda-san got better faster than me. She was barely even doing anything a week ago." She didn't mean to call her out, only realizing after she said it. "I mean, she was also super hurt for a while…"

"Well, Ibuki lost someone very close to her, so it's probably sorta different." She scratched at the scar on her face. Chiaki decided not to mention Hinata-kun, as that was a separate issue on it's own. "What Ibuki's saying is, she's not really better, but she's going to move on. But, like, no pressure on Chiaki-chan."

"Maybe we should just… Change the subject." She suggested.

"It's up to you. If you wish." The Imposter nodded.

"Okay… Okay… I just… Why…" The Gamer contorted her face to hide the wealth of emotion, focussing on the handheld. "Why'd it have to be me?" She forced the question out of her mouth, blinking quickly, trying to hold her composure. "Like, I'm not saying… I would never want any of you… Anyone at all to go through that, but… But why'd it have to be me?"

"That's a… Loaded question…" Soda-kun mumbled to himself, desperate to interact in any way. "I dunno, maybe cuz you're our class rep 'n all."

"Shut up, dumbass!" Saionji-san quickly slapped him. "It's because she was some psycho crazy bitch who got off on that kinda shit."

"Y-Yeah, that makes sense… It's a good thing you killed her." The Mechanic sighed, rubbing his cheek.

"Jesus, you fucking idiot. Don't say that." Kuzuryu-kun objected.

He threw his arms up. "What? You don't want her dead!?"

"Of course I do, but… Nanami didn't kill… Fuck, nevermind." He groaned. "Just, stop saying stupid shit."

Chiaki was about to step in to stop the fight, when someone grabbed her shoulder. "Hey, knock it off or I'll punch you!" Owari-san shouted, silencing them. "I'm not the best at this kinda stuff, but… I don't really think there's nothing wrong with what you're saying."

"It's true. You have been subjected to a fight for your life multiple times throughout the past month. It is understandable that you are hurt and scared. As your manager, I am here to support you!" Nidai-kun shouted.

"I… I'm…" Chiaki felt her body go rigid, the game slipping out of her hands. The sound of it falling flat against the floor snapped her. She clutched her head, collapsing over the desk. "I don't… I don't want to die… Just, why… Gh…" Her face was buried, so they couldn't see the mess that she was. Though she was shaking so intensely, it probably didn't matter.

The classroom fell silent, other than her muffled whimpers. No one dared to say something, lest they make it worse. It began to feel like the conversation would end here. "Nanami-san. You aren't going to die. Not now. Not anytime soon."

Chiaki glanced up, locking eyes with the Imposter. She quickly pulled back in, not wanting any of them to see her like she was. The only response she gave was an inaudible mumble.

"You are safe. We aren't going to hurt, nor harm you. Right now, you are terrified. The Nanami-san I knew wouldn't hesitate to help those around her. So I shall treat you the same." They paused, the scraping of a chair stood out around the room. "You're still you, right? You are able to live your own life. That is already enough. All you have to do is be yourself."

"It's…" She forced her head up, her eyes puffy from the tears. "I tried… I tried to be me… I tried to be a good person… But… That just…"

"Nanami-san. I could never imagine, nor act as someone who has gone through what you have. But what I do know is, you-"

"I know… How can I just… I want to be good, but… Why…?" She interrupted, rubbing her eyes. "Shouldn't I get some… I dunno, good karma or something? Shouldn't that have kicked in now? Everything just keeps getting worse… And I can't…"

"Karma, huh? Is that what you call it?" Komaeda-kun smiled from his seat, still off in the corner, as no one had moved it since his return. "I don't know much, but… It will balance out eventually. No matter how bad it gets… No matter how much despair there is… Hope will always win out in the end!"

"Hey, weirdo, are you even talking about the same thing?" Koizumi-san scolded. "But, uh… I guess the principle is the same… It'll come soon, I'm sure."

"When…? I don't… I just want this to all be over… I don't want to hurt anymore… I just want it to end… I need it to…" She sniffled.

"It will end." Mitarai-kun spoke up. He seemed to contemplate his words before saying them. "I, uh, have something to tell you all… I think it'll help."

"Go ahead, if you think so." The Imposter smiled.

"Well, um, I've been working on something… Basically, it's a program to help those who are sick with Despair."

"Oh, sweet! Like, a hundred push ups and they're better?" Owari-san pumped her fist.

"I-It's more, uh, virtual…" He murmured. "They'll go under and when they get up, they'll be normal. It's going to start tomorrow."

"So Mikan-chan and Leon-chan are gonna be back tomorrow!? Chisa-chan too? Wahoo!" Mioda-san cheered. "Plus, she'll totally be able to help Chiaki-chan!"

"It's, uh… It's sorta a fifty day thing… But after that, yeah." He scratched the back of his head.

For some reason, anxiety bubbled up inside her as he spoke. It was only stifled at the mention of the timeframe. Chiaki wanted them better, but she couldn't help but feel dread at the actual outcome. She bit her lip.

"That is great news!" Sonia-san grinned. "I am delighted to hear it! What about you, Nanami-san?"

"I… Yeah…" She spoke in a quiet voice. "That's a good thing… It'll help… Yukizome-sensei always knew-" Her voice was cut off but a sniffle. "She always knew what to say…"

"Nanami-san. That's not true." Pekoyama-san said, a sense of forcefulness in her voice. "I understand… That day, those two… If it makes you uncomfortable, you might not want to be there when they first recover."

"I just… I want them better… And I know that wasn't them… But, still…" Chiaki forced out. "I'm s-scared. I don't… Want to die…" She repeated. "I still… There's still people… I need to help…"

"Jesus, are you okay?" The Yakuza walked up to her. "Don't you go screwing yourself for others… Don't need any more of those types in my life."

"I'm not… Screwing myself… You wouldn't get it…" She defended.

"Hey, I'm not that soulless. I know how it feels to try your best to help people. Even when it feels like you're not making progress." He leaned in, quieting his voice to a whisper. "You're… My very first friend. Even now… I'm still worried about whether I deserve to lead the clan… But I feel like that might change once I get out of here. If you're unsure, then live and live on... Search persistently and keep looking for it. And then, you should… You should be able to do it."

"Kuzuryu-kun…" She mumbled thoughtfully.

He backed up, speaking normally. "You're not the type to die easy, so I trust you're gonna be fine."

"Jeez, what'd you say?" Soda-kun groaned.

"I whispered for a reason, bastard." He rolled his eyes.

"Fine, then. I didn't want to know anyways!"

The crying had begun to make her drowsy. Along with the lack of sleep, she could feel herself growing tired. Her blinking slowed. "I think I'm just… Going to lie down for a bit. Thank you…" She pushed herself up, moving unsteadily towards the door.

"Oh, Nanami-san. You wouldn't want to forget this." Komaeda-kun shuffled up behind her. "Here you go." He handed over her handheld.

"Oh, thanks…" She grabbed it, holding the console as hard as her weary grip could muster.

"Get some good sleep. Tomorrow's a hopeful day!" He grinned, giving her the parting words.

Juzo Sakakura

Juzo had set an alarm so he'd be awake early. In the end, it didn't matter, as she was still up before him. "Heya Juzo-chan~! You've got your serious face on today! Something's up, I just know it! Oh, oh! Are you getting your new job? Can I come!?" She smirked.

"New job? What?" He checked his phone.

"Oh, y'know! Since you let the Headmaster die, doesn't that make you the highest up?"

"I'm not getting a new job." He shrugged. "Yeah, I guess I'm in charge, but I'm not the Headmaster. Somebody else'll get the job."

"That's pretty presumptuous of you… Rumor has it the school's shutting down at the end of the school year. You wouldn't happen to have a hand in that, would you?"

"How'd you-?!" He cut himself off. "Yeah, okay… It was my idea."

Yukizome faked a gasp. "Juzo-chan, how could you!? Do our memories here mean nothing to you?" She began to cry, although obviously false. "Or maybe were you so hurt by my betrayal and Munakata's death that you couldn't go on. And everytime you look at the school you can't stand your own failure. It's an ever present reminder of your incompetence!"

"Fuck off." He groaned, watching a message come in.

"Ouch, nail on the head, huh?" She cackled.

"Alright, it's time." Juzo got to his feet.

"Huh? Ain't it a little early for you to go to- Huh!?" She squirmed when he grabbed her arm. "I get you're used to being rough, but no need… Okay, what the hell are you doing?"

He clipped the handcuffs around her wrists. "Today's the day…"

"What? You don't wanna scare me, right? Cuz you're starting to scare me…" She pulled away.

"This is only to make sure you can't hurt anyone." He grabbed her shoulder, dragging her towards the door. "We're going out."

"Oh, oh, are we going on a date? I dunno, my schedule is pretty tight. Plus I haven't done my hair, yet." She pulled back in a thinly veiled protest.

Juzo pulled open his door, tugging her out. "Listen, you don't have a choice in this. It's for your own good."

"Wait… Wait, I know what you're doing! Let go! I'm not doing this!" She struggled.

"What? You afraid it'll work?" He retorted.

"Nuh-uh! Not true! Not at all!" She puffed her cheeks. "But I'm still not going!"

"We're already running late. Come here, up you go." He grabbed her, throwing her over his shoulder.

"Hey! Put me down!" She pounded against his back.

Without having to haul her on foot, he stormed out of the staff building. The message he'd gotten from Mitarai said they were ready on the fifth floor. In the Bio Lab. Juzo began to ascend, ignoring her objections.

He quickly reached the top. The last time he'd been here, the stench of blood had been thick in the air. It must've been cleaned, as it now smelled as fresh as the rest of the building. A few people were waiting for him.

"Okay, I think we're ready. All four pods are prepared. As well as the participants. The drug has been administered to Kuwata and Tsumiki, but still needs to be given to Yukizome-sensei." Mitarai spoke, talking to himself. He looked as if he'd barely slept.

"Ah, hey, Sakakura-senpai…" He turned his attention to the Pharmacist. "If you don't mind, I can take her. She needs to be set up with everything. And I still need to run some tests to find out her dose." She reached her hand out, looking as tired as the others.

Fujisaki was hammering away at a keyboard and Gekkogahara was rolling around, running various tasks. He sighed, setting her down. "Here, take her. She's a little upset, though, so be careful."

"Yeah, I got it." Kimura grabbed her and began to pull with a surprising amount of strength.

Juzo looked around the floor. It was hectic, so much being done at once. He tried to spot an opening to step in and help, but found none. If it meant Yukizome-san would get better sooner, he'd have to stay away. With one last sigh, he turned and descended the stairs. As he did, someone stormed past him. He continued down, as whoever was there, probably knew what they were doing.

Chiaki Nanami

"Mitarai-kun… Where is he?" She panted, having climbed five flights of stairs.

"Huh? Nanami-san? Why are you here?" He seemed surprised, leaning against a half-wall.

"Komaeda-kun woke me up. He told me… Kamukura-kun was… Was going in too…" She coughed, supporting herself with her cane.

"I… I mean, yeah… Yeah he is… So that's a good thing. It's voluntary too, so I think it'll work out."

"It's not a good thing…! Or, w-well… I just… I need to talk to him. We need to talk… At least one more time." She huffed. "Where is he…?"

"Okay… He's waiting in the Bio Lab… I don't know why, he just is…" He rubbed his eye.

Chiaki nodded and began to walk over. She paused for a moment, looking back. "Th-Thank you Mitarai-kun… For doing this… For everything…" Not daring to wait any longer, she made her way to the door, pulling it open.

The room had been transformed. The first thing she noticed was that it wasn't freezing, instead a normal room temperature. Curtains hung around four of the fridges, which had been pulled out, retrofitted with several wires and devices she didn't recognise. Two of their lights were on.

He was stood in the centre, though something was different. "H-Hinata-kun…?"

"No." The man stated, turning around. If not for the eyes, they'd be identical.

"Oh… You cut your hair?" She mumbled. "I didn't think you… Could."

"Of course I can. I possess the Ultimate Hairdresser." He shook his head. "That isn't what you meant, though. Correct?"

"I just thought… It was important or something… Like, for your talent." She shrugged. "Wait, no, I'm here to stop you…"

"Nanami-san. I am going to bring him back. There is no need to stop me. I've guaranteed it's safety." He spoke, an unusual intonation in his voice.

"Why? You… Why can't you just stay…?" She reached out, clutching his blazer. "Y-You can't just go… You're killing yourself…"

"This body wasn't mine to take. This life is boring." He closed his eyes.

"Well… You saved my life, so I'm going to save yours…" She tried to pull him.

"Your life was, and is, more important." Kamukura-kun stood sturdy.

"I'm… I'm not going to let you leave… Not again…" She futilely tugged harder. "You're just like him… You weren't even going to say bye…"

"Nanami-san. If you found out, you'd have stopped me before it was too late." He grabbed her hand, pulling it off him.

"It's not too late! You can come with me…" She clamped down around his hand, holding it tightly. "We could play a game… You liked Gala Omega, right?"

He seemed to wince. "It is too late. I have already administered the drug to myself. I must enter the Program. Even then, I would have gone through with this in all scenarios."

"N-No… Why…" She pleaded. "I can't let you… I'm not letting you do this for me!"

"I see. That's your misunderstanding." He wrenched his hand away. "Nanami-san. I am not doing this because of you. My reasons are different."

"Huh?" She gave him a puzzled look. "Wait, but…"

"If you'd paid attention to what I've said, you'd understand." He looked down at her. "I found a way to escape this boredom. Therefore I am taking it…"

"Hey… Kamukura-kun… You don't… You don't mean that." She shook her head. "That's not true. Because you had me for that, right? So it can't be true."

"Nanami-san." He paused, looking at her. "The truth will only upset you. I am giving you the option to accept this."

"No. I don't. I'm not letting you… Not without the truth…" She braced herself, slightly afraid to hear it.

"I see." He took a long breath, stalling. "Hinata. He was a young kid. His life was stolen. I can return it. He doesn't deserve to not exist."

"Really…? You're doing it for Hinata-kun?" She took a moment to think about it. "Why would that… Upset me, though?"

"It is only half. The other reason is one you brought up yourself." He seemed to look past her. "If it is possible for me to find someone else as interesting, I could end up performing acts that could hurt you. Your comparison was with Enoshima, which although different, is fair. As I am now, this is the quickest and most efficient way for me to ensure your safety."

"That… You…" Chiaki tapped her fingers against her cane. "I don't… Agree with this. But I also trust you… So… I-If this is your… Choice, then…" She forced out her words. "Then, okay… You can go…"

"Thank you." He flexed his hand, opening and closing it. "Nanami-san. When fifty days pass, and Hinata awakes… Know that I am still in there. And however suppressed I am, I am… Looking out for you."

"I-" She barely got a word out when the doors burst open.

"Huh… That's a shame…" Someone spoke from behind her, a sense of malice filling the room.

Chiaki jumped, turning on the spot. Her startled eyes met his, swirling unnaturally. "H-Huh? K-Komaeda-kun? What's wrong?"

"I was hoping my disgrace of a talent would be able to help me out this one time." He laughed. "It's a shame it's now in my scummy hands."

"Wh-What? I don't understand…" She backed up, bumping into Kamukura-kun.

"You are also here to stop me." He said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You will fail to succeed."

"I guess that's expected of trash, but it's still worth a shot." He gave a maniacal grin. "To destroy such perfection…"

She stood awkwardly, slowly moving behind him. Her understanding of the situation was limited. He held out his arm protectively. "Talent is not everything, yet everything I am is talent. That is not perfection."

"But you are the Ultimate Hope! And Hope is everything! I can't allow that to be replaced by worthless talentless debris." He continued to laugh, barely even breathing.

"No… Hinata-kun isn't worthless… Or debris… He's a good guy!" She protested.

"Komaeda. You cannot stop me. This is a waste of time." He stated.

"I figured as much." The Lucky Student sighed. "But I can get you to stop yourself."

"How do you plan to do that." Kamukura-kun tightened his grip on her.

"It is simple. Fifty days is a long time." His laughter grew and grew, growing hoarse before fizzling out. He took a few breaths before continuing. "While you're unable to do anything, and you can't stop me… I will kill Nanami-san."

Her chest froze, she didn't even breathe. "Eh…?"

"If you go under, you won't be able to stop me." He reached into his pocket, pulling out an all too familiar gun. "Look what I found… How lucky."

He quickly shoved her behind him, protecting her with his body. She was too stunned to say anything. "Is this what you consider hope? Threatening to murder close friends." Kamukura-kun sounded different, his voice turning sharp.

"Of course not. This is despair. But despair is only temporary, and hope will always come back up to match it. Just like my luck, isn't it?" He paused. "Or that karma you were talking about, Nanami-san."

"W-Why…?" She forced out, petrified.

"Don't worry, such hope will always make the right choice. There's nothing-" He was cut off by the door opening again. Chiaki peaked out from behind the suited man.

The team behind the program were assembled, looking over the scene. As well as someone else. "Oh, oh! What a locale! A bad-haired creep, a gun-wielding weirdo, and the most adorablest class rep there is!"

"H-Huh, what's going on…? Where'd he get a gun!?" Fujisaki-san wailed.

"He is threatening to murder Nanami-san if I go into the program." Kamukura-kun stated clearly.

"What? Wait, what do you mean!?" Mitarai-kun shuddered, looking between them both.

"Hmm." Yukizome-sensei stared into her eyes. "Oh, I've got a solution." She jumped forward, latching onto Komaeda-kun's arm.

It took her a moment to register the snap and crack, followed by a wail. The sound of the gun clattering to the floor snapped her back to reality. She let out her own scream, pulling herself back in behind Kamukura-kun.

Her teacher strolled up, stopping only short of him. "Hey, knock knock! Chiaki-chan? You home?" She hesitated a glance back out, crossing eyes. "Alrighty, now we're even, right? I tried to murder you once, and now I saved you!"

She could only muster a nod.

"Okay, now that that's over with, which one of these is mine?" She looked between the boxes. "I'm kinda exhausted, so I wanna get in as soon as possible."

She tuned out the rest of the noise, looking over at her classmate, crumpled into a ball. A girl she recognised from a year ago crouched over him, pouring something into his mouth.

Chiaki tugged on Kamukura-kun's sleeve, pulling him to the side of the room. "I… I just wanted to say… Thank you… For everything… And I'll never forget you…"

"Nanami-san…" He pondered on his words, softening his expression. "Thank you, too. I l… I trust you won't." He sighed, closing his eyes. "You should get out of here before they hook us up to the program."

She pouted, nodding. "You're a good person… Even if you don't think so… You are…"

He knelt down, growing eye level with her. "Nanami-san. Goodbye. I'll be watching over you."

"And I will too… Goodbye, I think…" She rubbed her palm into her eye, quickly stumbling out of the room. She managed to reach her dorm room before bawling.