Epilogue Part III: A New Beginning

On the first day of class at the new Hope's Peak Academy, four long years after I first came to Talent High School, I got dressed for work in our bedroom.

The dress code wasn't too strict, since suits were harder to afford than in the pre-Tragedy economy, but if I was going to be a composition teacher, I had to at least look the part, so I went with my usual charcoal gray skirt suit with a white button-down shirt. As a final touch, I tied my Miyanaga High School necktie around my neck. As a result of changing fashion trends in business attire, women were encouraged, but not required, to wear ties. Since I wore a tie to both my high schools and as part of my Future Foundation uniform, I was happy that I could do so again at Hope's Peak Academy.

After getting dressed, I took a look at a recent family photo, which sat on the desk of our bedroom. It was taken a couple months ago, and showed my parents, my sister, Sae and I all wearing suits and ties. My parents and sister, who'd been rescued along with our loved ones, had taken on office jobs, and we'd gone shopping for suits together. Another picture showed Sae and I with our former classmates wearing our Future Foundation uniforms outside of Talent High School. Yet another picture showed Sae, her father and her sister.

Sae joined me for breakfast. She wore a blue skirt suit with a matching necktie that reminded me of her old school uniform, or a police officer's uniform. Perhaps in another lifetime, she might have followed in her father's footsteps and joined the police, although she'd probably need a haircut first.

"So it's our first day of class today," Sae said. "You look nice, Kaori."

"Thanks," I said. "You too, Sensei."

Sae giggled, clearly amused by how I was once again calling her that. When we were strangers, it was an expression of admiration for my favorite author, but now, it was a gesture of professional respect for a colleague. I still felt a bit odd about having to call Sae "Edogawa-sensei" at school when we'd speak to or about each other in front of strangers, but at least we were equals now. People might judge us for our lapse in professionalism if we used first names at work, but at least they wouldn't accuse Sae of disrespecting her superior, or me of playing favorites with my subordinates.

"In any case," Sae said, "are you ready to teach the youth of a post-Tragedy Japan?"

"As much as I'll ever be," I said. "I've undergone a fair amount of training and have my lesson plans ready, but I feel a bit nervous actually teaching a high school class when I didn't even graduate. I have an equivalency degree, but still..."

"I know," Sae said, "but you're not the only one who feels less than prepared for her job. As a result of many qualified professionals dying and ever greater need for services, medical students sometimes work in emergency rooms, police academy trainees walk the beats, and a certain young author is working as a literature teacher- and I don't mean Fukawa-sensei."

As Sae let off a self-deprecating chuckle, I could see disappointment in her eyes. The good news was that Sae was able to continue writing Aiko Aizawa. The bad news was that the money she got from royalties wasn't quite enough for it to serve as her full-time job. This fact, combined with the greater than ever pressure for people to take on jobs and contribute to society, led her to take a part-time job as literature teacher for Hope's Peak to supplement my income, and write on her free time.

"Once again, Sae, I'm sorry about how things turned out for you," I said.

"It's fine, Kaori," Sae said. "I'm not the only one who doesn't get to do what she wants for a living, so I'm grateful I have a job."

Sae looked directly at me as she said that. I'd given up on my dream of becoming an author so long ago that I'd almost forgotten about it. Someday, I would write my memoirs about the killing game, as a way of ensuring that the dead would not be forgotten, but I knew that alone wouldn't make me an author.

"Me too," I said. "This isn't my dream job, either, but I'm glad we have a way to earn a living and help rebuild our society."

"So am I," Sae said.

While every day had been a struggle in the killing game, we realized that we'd been unable to make a difference as long as we were trapped inside Talent High School. Life hadn't always been easy, but it was nice to finally do something productive for a change.


After exiting the apartment and shutting and locking the door behind us, we walked side-by-side, hands at our sides. Even if one of us was male, showing a bit of restraint in public was common sense.

The new Hope's Peak, and the apartment complex where we lived, was in a part of town that had been mostly rebuilt by now, and was one of the "nicer" parts of the city. Looking at it, you could hardly tell that the Tragedy had occurred.

We passed a few pedestrians on their way to work, or getting breakfast at the fast food establishments on the side of the street. As two young adults in business attire, we blended in pretty well, but we couldn't help but feel self-conscious about all the eyes that fell upon us. There were a few students in uniform, but I didn't know if they recognized either of us as their teachers.

Our time in the Future Foundation, in which we'd had to keep things professional while on the clock, had been a bit of an adjustment, but it had been good practice for conducting ourselves well in front of others. We were aware that people were constantly watching and judging us, even if they didn't always openly share their opinions, and that it was important to be respectable even in seemingly trivial matters.

In spite of that, Sae and I briefly held hands when we were sure no one was looking.


Sae and I split up before reaching the main gate, with her lagging behind while I went on ahead. We'd decided that it would be best to enter the school separately, to avoid arousing suspicions by coming in together every day. Both of us were early, though, so it wouldn't be a problem for Sae to hang around outside for a minute or two.

I saw Inoue-kun and Tezuka-kun inside, and said hello to them. The former wore a nice blue suit, while the latter was dressed in a button-down shirt, a blazer and khakis. They'd managed to use their talents to get jobs as English and art teachers, which seemed like perfect fits for them.

"So the four of us found work at the same place," Inoue-kun said. "What are the odds?"

"Better than you think, Shinichi," Tezuka-kun said. "All four of us have to put food on the table, and the headmaster happens to be an acquaintance of ours. You, Edogawa and I all have subjects that we're good at- English, art and literature- so we could naturally teach them, which just leaves Miura. I guess the lucky part is that the new Hope's Peak didn't decide art was a waste of time and money."

"I think we can thank the Future Foundation for that," I said. "Since despair-themed artwork helped further the Tragedy, hope-themed artwork can help us recover from it. You have a role to play in teaching people how to appreciate and create works like that."

"If you say so," Tezuka-kun said. "It's all well and good that people are talking about supporting artists, but I can't make a living off my paintings, and the same goes for Edogawa's books."

I simply nodded, realizing he had a point there.

"You're not wrong, Yusuke," Inoue-kun said, "but I think Miura-san is right that you can play a role."

"I guess," Tezuka-kun said. "I'm not the kind of guy who can push my own beliefs on my students, though."

"Maybe you don't have to," Inoue-kun said. "There's all sorts of different ways to teach, which I saw in Japan and America, and I'm sure you'll find yours."

Sae rejoined us a moment later, acting as though she coincidentally happed to see her three remaining classmates, and we resumed from where we left off. All of us knew what we wanted to accomplish- impart knowledge onto our students and make them into good citizens- and the only question was how to do it. Perhaps that question didn't have an easy answers, but maybe there was more than one good answer.


I held my first homeroom class and was greeted by about two dozen students sitting in six orderly rows of four each. They all wore blazer-style uniforms that seemed to be cobbled together from other articles of clothing- navy blazers, white button-down shirts and Hope's Peak Academy neckties, with skirts for the girls and trousers for the boys. The students looked to be a year or two older than most high school first-years, probably because of how the Tragedy had disrupted students' education. I was young enough to be Nagato-sensei's daughter, and probably young enough to be some of my elementary school teachers' granddaughter, but this time, my students were old enough to be my younger brothers and sisters.

"Good morning, class," I said. "My name is Miura, and I am your homeroom teacher. You may call me 'Miura-sensei' or 'ma'am.'"

As I wrote the Kanji my name down on the blackboard, I realized that this was one of the first times I established a relationship with one or more people in which I acted as an authority figure. As such, it was important to make the terms of our relationship crystal clear from the get-go.

"I realize that some of you may not have been in a classroom in some time," I said, "but you have attended school before, so you should know the rules. You are responsible for your own learning, which means paying attention in class, keeping up with your studies, doing your own work and applying yourself. If you are having trouble with anything, please speak to me or the other faculty members for help, and we will do our best to help you through your problems."

From what I'd heard, these students had myriad problems. Some had fallen behind after spending so long out of school. Others couldn't afford the uniforms or school supplies. Still others had lost loved ones or had to work to support their families. Every one of their life stories was unique, but all of them had been impacted by the Tragedy in some way or another.

"All of us have been born into an exceptionally difficult time," I said, "but it is this school's belief that anyone can become a symbol of hope, not just those blessed with luck or talent. The world lost many of its best and brightest in the Tragedy, and rebuilding is everyone's responsibility. You have potential to contribute to that effort, and we will help you realize it."

The students listened politely, so I wasn't sure how well I'd captured the headmaster's address at the opening ceremony, but I hoped that they were willing to learn. It would probably be years before I had any inkling of whether I'd succeeded or failed, but I intended to get off to a good start today.


I had lunch in the faculty office, where I ate with Himeno-san. As tempting as it was to join Sae, we'd decided to take a break from having lunch together until we figured out how to interact with each other at work. Besides, it was a good chance to see our other friends.

Himeno-san was wearing her archery training clothes, since she doubled as a PE teacher and archery coach, and this was her general attire when she wasn't expected to wear a suit.

"Thank you for joining me, Himemiya-sensei," I said, "or is it Coach Himemiya?"

"Unless you're in my gym class or on the archery team, 'Himeno' is fine," Himeno-san said. "Even if you are part of one of those groups, I'm not too strict about you using my title as long as you're reasonably polite to me and do as I say."

"Sorry, Himeno-san," I said. "Everyone has different standards, so I wanted to make sure."

"I know," Himeno-san said. "Sayuri's the type who's surprisingly serious about professionalism, and would insist on being called 'Sasaki-sensei' at work. She seems like she'd be a good teacher, or at least a respectable one, so I almost wonder why she didn't apply for an art teacher job."

I knew the answer as well as Himeno-san did. The headmaster had approached Sayuri and asked if she was interested in being an art teacher, but she politely refused. Her first reason was that she found it awkward to have to work in the same building as her girlfriend, even in different departments. Her second reason was that unlike Tezuka-kun, who got the art teacher job, she specialized in manga art, and had fewer skills she teach to aspiring painters, much less sculptors or other artisans. Her third and most important reason was that she had something else she wanted to do- restarting her manga artist career.

"Out of curiosity, how's Kanae-san?" I said. "I hardly see her these days."

"Kanae's just fine," Himeno-san said. "Her custodian job's going well, and she seems to like cleaning buildings for a living, even if she'll probably quit after she gets married. Here's a picture of her at work."

Himeno-san got out her phone and showed me a picture of Kanae-san. Having cut her hair short and swapped her kimono for a button-down shirt and denim overalls, she looked barely recognizable, save for the "Tsukimura" name tag on her bib.

"Wow, I'm amazed at how different she looks," I said, "although I haven't seen her much lately."

"Neither have I," Himeno-san said, "not since she moved in with one of her coworkers. Their place is closer to her workplace, and cheaper, to boot. We talk on the phone, occasionally visit each other and send letters- amusingly, I have to address them to 'Kanae Tsukimura-sama.' Despite that, we don't see each other as much as when she worked for my family... back when I had one."

Himeno-san had suffered greatly in the Tragedy, which had claimed the lives of her entire family and resulted in the loss of their fortunes. As the de facto head of the family, she realized she was not suited to the job of returning her family to its greater glory, and so her first and last act as head was to declare the Tsukimura family's debt of honor fulfilled, freeing Kanae-san to live as she pleased. Himeno-san self-deprecatingly claimed her decision was selfish and a violation of filial piety, but I told her I'd have done the same thing in her situation if Sae was my maid and my family hadn't survived the Tragedy.

"Do you feel lonely without Kanae-san around?" I said.

"A little," Himeno-san said, "but it's for the best. Kanae deserves to live her own life, get married and have kids who will be free to choose their own paths. She could've gotten a custodian job here, but she'd probably be expected to call me 'Himemiya-sensei.'"

"I know what you mean," I said, "but Sae and are prepared I do that with each other around people we don't know, so it's not that bad."

Himeno-san nodded, but looked at me skeptically, perhaps realizing that I didn't exactly enjoy that sort of formality.

"You know, Kaori," Himeno-san said, "you don't have to keep your relationship with Sae secret. I'm sure Headmaster Naegi wouldn't mind, not when the entire school knows that he's in a relationship with Kirigiri-san."

I shook my head. While I'd heard the rumors about those two, I'd never heard them so much as use their first names (in fact, Kirigiri-san called the headmaster by his title or "sir"), much less engage in any public displays of affection that would be uncharacteristic of Kirigiri-san. Still, that was beside the point.

"He probably wouldn't mind," I said, "but even if I was male, or Sae was not my coworker, I'd refrain from being too affectionate outside of our home. Wouldn't you and Sayuri-san do the same?"

"You're right, we would," Himeno-san said. "I suppose the two of you seem a bit more distant in front of others, but I can say the same about the two of us. When we ran into one of Sayuri's coworkers, she introduced me as her 'friend and roommate,' but I didn't mind. Neither did her coworker, who understood that Sayuri doesn't make enough to afford her own apartment."

I referred to Sae as a friend in front of people who didn't know about us, but since I regarded her as my best friend as well as my girlfriend, it was at worst a half-truth.

"Well, her being your roommate is plausible excuse for two unmarried women sleeping under the same roof," I said, "so that's probably a good thing."

"It is," Himeno-san said. "If Sayuri's coworker moved in with us, she'd be able to tell that we're more than just friends, or even 'friends with benefits,' so to speak, but the way we act in public doesn't give her any such clues about our relationship."

It was more than a little ironic that Himeno-san and Sayuri-san were keeping their relationship a secret despite the fact that Sayuri was currently working on a yuri manga, but they had good reason to, so I kept that thought to myself.

"When I was little, I thought my parents didn't love each other," Himeno-san said, "since not only was their marriage arranged, but they didn't show affection in front of their children, and even slept in separate rooms. Now that I have a girlfriend, I realize that they were just being conscious of their public image and appropriately restrained. I wish I could ask them for advice, but not only would they not approve of Sayuri, but... you know..."

I nodded somberly.

"I think you and Sayuri-san can find your own answers," I said, "just like Sae and I do."

"That's right," Himeno-san said, before quickly changing the subject. "Anyway, both Sayuri and I agree that we'd rather not have to work in the same place. She's confident that even if she gets canceled, she can find a job outside of Hope's Peak, even in this economy. Considering the long hours manga artists work, a part of me hopes that she'll end up doing that if the job gets to be too much for her."

"And what about her?" I said.

"She told me she appreciates the thought," Himeno-san said, "but that she loves manga, is able to keep up with the schedule and has a fanbase that's awaiting her return. According to her, if she loses any of those things, she'll find something else to do for a living."

I was pleased that Himeno-san and Sayuri-san had been able to make compromises. Perhaps with their flexibility and regard for each other's feelings, it might not be impossible for them to both be effective colleagues and happily married at the same time.


My classes continued in the afternoon, and each one had a different group of students.

Most of the students seemed rather cooperative, at least on their first day of class. They were actually sitting up straight and paying attention, and when I called on them, they could at least make a good effort to answer the questions. Not all young people were interested in education, but maybe I'd gotten lucky this year, or maybe the students were grateful to once again be in a classroom. For now, I decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

At the end of the day, I held homeroom again, and saw the same group of students I did at the start of the day. Most of them seemed eager to be home, or at least go to their designated after-school activities, but I hoped they wouldn't be too tired to do their homework.

"The school day is almost over," I said, "but I have a few announcements to make first. For your safety's sake, please go straight home if you are not in an extracurricular activity, and do not have a part-time job registered with the school."

Some students had already established clubs at this point, and the administration, wanting to keep kids out of trouble, had greenlighted all the reasonable proposals. There were already a few sports teams, culture clubs and other mainstays of Japanese high schools, so we hoped that there would eventually be enough to cater to all types of students' interests.

With that out of the way, I turned to Ayaka Yuzuki, the person on duty today. From a glance, I could tell that she was a year or two older than most high school students, and was one of many people whose education had been disrupted by the Tragedy.

"That's all for today," I said. "Yuzuki-san, please do the honors."

"Yes, ma'am," Yuzuki-san said obediently. "Everyone, please stand... and bow."

"Thank you very much!" the class said, bowing in unison.

So far, we hadn't had any serious disciplinary problems- a few tardies, unexcused absences and other minor violations, but most students showed up and were cooperative. I didn't know how many students would continue to behave, but I hoped we could count on most of them to make the most of the opportunity they were given and take responsibility for their education.


Once afternoon classes let out, we held a staff meeting to discuss our first day. Most of our colleagues were cautiously optimistic, as I was.

Fukawa-sensei, whom I barely recognized with her hair cut to shoulder-length and dressed in a nice black skirt suit and tie, not to mention having regularly bathed(according to her, Komaru-chan made her do it) had a presentation to make. She had a proposal for an anti-bullying plan that she and Nagato-senpai had come up with together. It was simply titled "No Excuses For Bullying," and had an even simpler premise- that all students were responsible for their own actions.

Fukawa-sensei mentioned that in the past, people might have excused bullying by saying that the victims had invited it by virtue of fitting in, but Fukawa-sensei said that sort of thinking only led to tolerating bad behavior by students. Fukawa-sensei had just as little patience for those who claimed that they turned bad because they'd been bullied, saying that this sort of thinking perpetuated a vicious cycle. Instead, she urged everyone to take responsibility for their own behavior and actively stand against bullying.

From what I understood, Fukawa-sensei's time in Towa City had changed her for the better, as she'd become friends with Komaru-chan and started to see that not everyone was as terrible as the people who'd bullied her in the past. The two women shared an apartment, but Fukawa-sensei vigorously denied that they were a couple. Perhaps that was her way of saying it was none of our business, but I hoped those two continued to stand alongside and support each other through whatever life would throw their way.


After the meeting adjourned, Nagato-senpai and I walked out together.

"Being a teacher has certainly gotten a lot more challenging than before the Tragedy," Nagato-senpai said. "I'll have a lot to tell Mom about when I visit her again."

"I'm sure you will, Nagato-senpai," I said. "Or is it Nagato-sensei?"

Nagato-senpai giggled.

"Hmm, that's tricky," Nagato-senpai said. "I was your senpai at Talent High School, but we joined Hope's Peak at the same time. However, you aren't just a kohai or a colleague, but a friend who helped me during the killing game, so why don't we use first names, Kaori-san?"

"That works for me," I said. "I asked because I'm still trying to figure out how to interact with Sae and the rest of my friends at work."

"Good question," Chiyuri-san said. "Mom would probably say you should call her 'Edogawa-sensei,' but I think you could probably get away with calling her 'Sae-san.' As strict as Mom was, she only ever gave me a warning when I called her 'Mom' at school."

"I'll keep that in mind," I said.

Out of all my teachers, Nagato-sensei was one of the ones I most fondly remembered, due to how seriously she took her job and how good she was at it. Because of that, I knew there was nothing natural about how she'd changed on the eve of the Tragedy, and hoped she could return to normal.

"Anyway, Chiyuri-san," I said. "How's your mother doing these days?"

"They say she's making progress," Chiyuri-san said. "Once she's ready, she'll be released, but she'll probably be under strict supervision for the rest of her life, not unlike some ex-convicts."

This was hardly surprising. Nagato-sensei had been convicted of aiding and abetting Ultimate Despair. Ordinarily, this would result in her being sentenced to death, but the court acknowledged that she had been brainwashed, a fact that saved her from the hangman's noose. Despite that, it wouldn't be prudent to simply leave her to her own devices.

"Still, I'm grateful for how her case turned out," Chiyuri-san said. "This way, Mom gets to live, to see me from time to time and one day go free. Not everyone in our class has forgiven her, but my friends and I have, so I hope she'll forgive herself, too."

"I hope so, too," I said. "It looks like things turned out as well as we could expect."

Chiyuri-san shook her head.

"There's just one thing I wish had happened differently," Chiyuri-san said. "I wish the Remnants of Despair got the same treatment Mom did. After all, Enoshima brainwashed them, too. "

"It can't be helped," I said somberly, "not after that broadcast. Besides, we shouldn't talk about that in public."

"I'm sorry," Chiyuri-san said.

In the aftermath of the Final Killing Game, I spoke with Headmaster Naegi, since I realized that the Remnants of Despair had been lying about their involvement. He said that while the Remnants of Despair could be eligible for leniency based on the fact that they'd been brainwashed, their publicly claiming responsibility for the deaths of the Future Foundation's leadership after being rid of the brainwashing would not be so easily excused, so the only way to avoid execution was to go into exile on Jabberwock Isle. He wasn't fully happy with this outcome, but knew that this was the Remnants of Despair's way of atoning for their crimes. Perhaps they'd never be forgiven, but they owed it to their victims to right their wrongs. Besides, they still had a second chance at life, unlike Nanami-san, the casualties of the Hope's Peak and Talent High School killing games, everyone who died in the Final Killing Game, and countless others.

"Let's just say I understand how you feel," I said. "Let me know if you want to have a private conversation."

"I will," Chiyuri-san said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Kaori-san."

As I said goodbye to Chiyuri-san, I realized that our lives didn't just snap back to normal after everything that had happened. We bore our scars, the pain of loss, regrets over our mistakes and the wish that things had gone differently. Everyone caught up in the killing game shared these feelings, so there was no point in feeling sorry for oneself.


I met up with Sae outside the gate, and we headed home together. Campus was practically deserted by now, since only a handful of extracurriculars had gotten started at this point. We'd met up during the faculty meeting, but only acknowledged each other's presence with a smile and a wave before getting down to business.

"So what do you think of the new Hope's Peak so far, Kaori?" Sae said.

"It's off to a promising start," I said. "A lot of students are nostalgic to just get back to a normal high school, but we're trying to make a school that will avoid the mistakes of its namesake."

Sae nodded.

"A lot of my students were well-behaved," Sae said. "Not all of them are good students, nor did all of them enjoy school, but I think most of them are grateful to be able to resume their education. Unfortunately, there will probably be those who don't fit in, or who slip through the cracks."

"As far as bullying goes, that's what 'No Excuses For Bullying' is for," I said. "Apart from that, it's our job as teachers to lend a helping hand."

"I agree," Sae said. "Educators are rethinking some conventional wisdom about teaching, but in the end, teachers are still important parts of their students' lives."

We eventually reached an intersection near the apartment.

"I'm going to pick a few things up at the store," I said. "I'll probably be home within half an hour."

"All right," Sae said. "I'll see you back at the apartment.

I waved goodbye, and crossed the street while Sae waited for the other crosswalk's light to change.


Sae headed on home, while I stopped by the convenience store to do a little shopping. I handled some of the chores so that Sae could have a bit more time to write, but she insisted on doing her part, and I respected that.

I got to the convenience store in time to see Sayuri-san clock out. Since most stores didn't have much of a budget for uniforms these days, she wore a white button-down shirt and slacks under her apron and with a nametag that said "Sasaki."

"Oh, perfect timing, Kaori-san," Sayuri-san said. "I was just about to go home."

"Me too, Sayuri-san," I said. "I was on the way home myself, and wanted to pick up a few things."

"Good," Sayuri-san said. "Do you have a few minutes?"

I said yes, and we sat down on a bench near the convenience store. I told her a bit about the first day of class, and she responded approvingly.

"My editor seems to like my new series," Sayuri-san said, "and feels that it's sure to get the green light at the next serialization meeting. After that, you'll be able to start reading it in a few weeks"

"That's great," I said. "We're talking about From Scratch, right?"

Sayuri-san nodded. She'd published a one-shot called "Discount Love" early on in her career, about a working-class lesbian couple, that served as the inspiration for "From Scratch." "From Scratch" was about a formerly rich girl who ended up having to work at a convenience store for a living. She started out as rather sheltered and barely avoided getting fired from her job, which didn't exactly endear her to the slightly older working-class girl who was her senpai. Despite that, she gradually grew up, and fell for the girl she initially disliked.

"That's the one," Sayuri-san said. "The one-shot was well-received, and readers wanted more. The higher-ups liked Breakneck Canyon, but not only were there issues with the rights to it, but they also wanted a new series that was more family-friendly. Above all else, it was popular among young people, especially people like us, who ended up in the workforce at a young age."

"True," I said. "Some readers thought the protagonist was spoiled, but I thought it was natural for her to be out of her element, since I still find it a bit hard to believe I'm a teacher now."

"I agree," Sayuri-san said, "since my first few days at this job were rough, even though I'd thought it was easy. Some of the manga is loosely based off my own experience, especially since I know I could end up working an ordinary job if my series gets axed."

I hadn't worked in a convenience store, but the manga seemed more realistic. Some commenters had observed that Sayuri-san's greater maturity and life experience were reflected in From Scratch, making it superior to Breakneck Canyon.

"But Sanae-san, my aunt, told me that adulthood's supposed to be difficult," Sayuri-san said. "My dad was your age when he had me, and my mom and Sanae-san were two years younger, so my parents weren't really ready for parenthood. Sanae-san likes Himeno, but says we should probably wait a couple years before getting married, even if we could do so now."

"Sae and I haven't thought that far ahead," I said. "It'd be nice if we could have a legally recognized marriage, but I guess we'll think about that if the laws change. We're not ready yet, either."

A number of social reforms had been proposed after the Tragedy, but while people had asked for same-sex marriage to be legalized, the Diet hadn't yet introduced any legislation to legalize it. At least supporters of gay marriage were better off than opponents of the death penalty- the latter was frequently accused of sympathizing with Ultimate Despair and other criminals.

"Then again, Sanae-san said adulthood has privileges along with responsibilities," Sayuri-san said. "We went to a bar together, and she's started using '-san' on me as a sign of respect. I figured I'd do the same for you, if that's okay."

"Fine by me," I said. "I mainly use '-san' on you because you're older, but I don't see why it wouldn't it be okay."

I knew that friendships could change over time. My mom had a close friend from elementary school, Yoshiko Amane, and recalled that they used to call each other "Yoshi-chan" and "Mei-chan." Eventually, they decided that they were too old for nicknames, and switched to calling each other "Yoshiko-san" and "Mei-san." They were still friends to this day, but their relationship as middle-aged women with husbands and children was different from how they were when they were little girls.

"Well, Himeno prefers that I just call her by name," Sayuri-san said, "and Miharu-chan instead asked if she could call me 'Sayuri'- I gladly said yes."

"Good for her," I said. "Some said she grew up too fast, but she always seemed mature for her age."

"That's right," Sayuri-san said. "She's working alongside a few other lawyers who are rather young, so she doesn't feel as much pressure to act older than she is. She speaks more informally now, and calls her folks 'Mom and Dad' rather than 'Mother and Father.'"

Sadly, Mihama-senpai would solely be referring to her father in the past tense from now on, since he'd died in a prison riot in the early days of the Tragedy Whatever mistakes he might have made, he'd been determined to serve his sentence.

I quickly looked at my watch, and realized I'd lost track of the time.

"I've got to get going," I said. "I have some shopping to do and I can't keep Sae waiting."

"Then I won't keep you," Sayuri-san said, "but say hi to Sae-san for me."

Sayuri-san said goodbye to me, and let me get on with my shopping. She'd likely be very busy from here on out, so I hoped to make the most of every opportunity I had to speak with her.


I finished my shopping and returned home to our apartment.

"I'm home," I said, as I closed the front door behind me and took off my shoes.

"Welcome home, Kaori," Sae said as we greeted each other with a kiss. She'd changed out of her suit, no longer bound by the school dress code, and wore a denim dress with suspender straps over her button-down shirt.

I then put away my purchases before rejoining Sae in the bedroom, where she was using the laptop, working on her novel. I hung up my jacket in the closet and put my necktie away before putting on a pair of overalls. Overalls were a bit of a guilty pleasure for me when it came to my wardrobe, since they were inappropriate for work or eating out, but I enjoyed wearing them around the apartment, and had Iwasawa-san to thank for introducing me to them.

"I ran into Sayuri-san at the store," I said. "She sends her regards, and says that her manga should get serialized soon; if it does, it'll start being published in a few weeks."

"Great," Sae said. "My next volume should be coming out not long after that, and the series should end in a few years, even considering that I don't have as much time to write. I'm doing my best to stick the landing."

Sae had a bittersweet smile on her face. She'd often told me that she wasn't entirely sure what she wanted to do after finishing Aiko Aizawa- start a new series or focus on working as a teacher- but said she'd be happy if she wrote a good ending to the story she'd wanted to make since she was a little girl. There was more to her than being an author, and I was glad I'd realized that.

"Still, I can't help but worry about Sayuri-san," Sae said. "I've heard that manga artists don't make much money these days, especially after they pay for their assistants' wages and their studio's rent. As talented as Sayuri-san is, her series could easily be cut if her editors or the public get sick of her."

"I think she knows that," I said, "and she's anticipated the possibility of having to take on an ordinary job, just like you do. To her, that's a part of adulthood, and your facing it is why you're 'Sae-san' to her now."

"Spoken like a true adult," Sae said. "Maybe I should call you 'Kaori-san' from now on."

"Like you do around my parents?" I said nonchalantly. "Go right ahead, Sae-san."

Sae giggled, but looked a bit disappointed, probably having expected more of a reaction from me.

"I was just kidding," Sae said.

"I know," I said, "but I don't mind, since it doesn't feel like you're treating me any differently from usual. It's just an extra syllable after my name."

"That's one way to put it," Sae said. "Let's try using '-san' on each other and see who gets bored with it first."

I nodded, accepting her challenge. Maybe it was because I was using her first name, or because no one was forcing to do this, but I felt that this game might end up being rather fun.


I started working on dinner, while Sae continued writing. While I was in the middle of prep work, the phone rang, and I saw that the call came from my sister's phone.

"Hello, this is Kaori," I said.

"Hi, Kaori, it's me," my sister said. "Got a minute?"

"I do, sis," I said.

My sister and I began to catch up. It was mostly idle chatter about life and work, but I'd missed this a lot. I'd had to adjust to not seeing my sister as often after I went to Talent High School and she went to college, but it was much better than not hearing from her at all.

"Anyway, that's not why I called," my sister said. "Mom and Dad wanted to see if you and Sae-san are available to come over for dinner at their apartment at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening. They'd like to meet Akihiko-san."

I paused a moment as I wracked my brain for anyone with that my name on my list of acquaintances. The name wasn't familiar, but maybe the person it belonged to was.

"Your boyfriend?" I said. "As in your senpai from work?"

"Who else?" my sister said. "We just got around to using each other's first names."

I replied with "Ah," only mildly surprised that she'd reached this milestone with her boyfriend. My sister had told me about her starting a relationship before telling our parents, which made me feel a bit guilty about keeping Sae secret from her for so long.

"Anyway, are you and Sae-san free Saturday evening?" my sister said. "You don't have to come, but Mom and Dad would like the two of you there, since it's a family dinner and Sae-san's family. Akihiko-san's fine with same-sex couples- I wouldn't date him if he wasn't- so you don't have to worry about what he'll think about you."

"I'll have to check," I said. "One moment, please."

I then walked toward the bedroom, and got Sae's attention as I approached.

"Sae-san, it's my sister," I said. "She wants to know if you're free for dinner with her, her boyfriend and my parents at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening."

"Certainly, Kaori-san," Sae said reflexively. "I can come."

I stepped back into the kitchen to continue the conversation.

"She says she can make it, sis," I said,

"Great, Kaori," my sister said. "I'll tell our parents your wife will be coming to dinner."

I couldn't help but blush.

"Thanks," I said, "but she's not my wife yet."

"She might as well be by this point," my sister said, "since you clearly love each other and have lived with each other for years. It'll be nice when the government decides to allow you to get married, and you two decide you're ready to tie the knot, but you don't need their permission to be a couple."

I smiled and said, "Glad to hear you think of it that way, sis." I knew that she and our parents approved of Sae, but it was sweet that she thought this.

"I won't keep you for too much longer," my sister said. "Just one more thing- tell Sae-san that I'm grateful for her for meeting our parents first. It gave me some idea of what to expect when I introduce my boyfriend to her."

"Will do, sis," I said. "I'll talk to you later."

My sister said goodbye and hung up, at which point I wrote down, "Dinner at parents' place, 6 p.m." on Saturday on the calendar.


Sae and I ate dinner together.

"So we have a dinner date on Saturday with your parents, your sister and her boyfriend?" Sae said.

"That's right, Sae-san," I said. "My sister wanted to thank you for being a guinea pig, of sorts, by meeting our parents. It gave her some idea of what to expect. She didn't quite say it like that, but you know what she means."

"I do," Sae said. "And I'll tell Misaki-san that she's welcome when I see her."

Introducing Sae to my parents hadn't gone nearly as badly as I'd feared. Mom had met her at Talent High School's final Parents' Day, and she warmly welcomed her daughter-in-law. Dad was a bit more skeptical, saying that some people might not approve of us, but was quick to point out that he wouldn't be one of those people- after all, he didn't want to treat Sae the same way his mother had treated Mom. My sister hit it off quite well with Sae, and said that, in hindsight, she wasn't surprised that I was a lesbian. It probably helped that Sae dressed up and was on her best behavior.

"I'm curious about something, Kaori-san," Sae said. "How serious do you think your sister and her boyfriend are?"

"Pretty serious," I said. "She's already calling him by his first name, and there aren't many people she does that with besides me, her little sister. Assuming everything goes well, I'd bet that they'll get engaged within two, maybe three, years from now."

"That sounds about normal," Sae said. "My sister's boyfriend, who'd been going out with her since my first year of high school, waited about a couple months after she got rescued, when everything settled down, to pop the question."

I nodded, remembering the wedding they'd held last month. The wedding was Western-style and took place in a small church. It was also pretty casual, since both Sae and I wore our suits and ties to the wedding. The groom wore a nice suit, while the bride, my future sister-in-law, wore a pretty pink dress, since they didn't see the point in renting a tuxedo or a wedding dress. Because many people's budgets were tight, the guests were asked not to bring monetary gifts. The occasion was a lot humbler than most occasions, but the newlyweds had a good time, and thanked everyone for showing up for their special day. Even Sae's father gave his blessing to the union and happily attended, despite being a bit leery of his son-in-law, so I hoped he'd show the same courtesy to his daughter-in-law when her turn came.

The Tragedy had an interesting effect on marriage, one that I'd read about in a recent magazine article. On the one hand, people were getting married later in their lives, as a result of existing social trends and the Tragedy forcing people to delay their weddings, at least in the case of the couples who were lucky enough to stay alive and together. On the other hand, people were also getting married sooner after starting a relationship, due to lingering uncertainty about what might happen next, and some feeling pressured to get married while they were young enough. Sae and I had both recently turned twenty, and had been in a relationship for almost four years, so I didn't feel any pressure to get married soon, although I was a bit disappointed that we didn't have the option.

"By the way, are you sure I should come?" Sae said. "I'm not saying I don't appreciate your family's dinner invitations, but is there any reason for me to be at an event for your family to meet your sister's boyfriend?"

"There's every reason, Sae-san," I said, "since they think of you as part of the family, too. My sister even said you 'might as well be' my wife."

"When she puts it that way, I can't refuse," Sae said. "I'm glad I have Misaki-san as a sister-in-law."

I nodded, but then let out a long sigh.

"Still, I can't help but be a little jealous," I said. "I wish your father approved of me this much."

"You're doing fairly well, Kaori-san," Sae said, "because if he didn't think we should be together, he'd demand that you stay away from me. In the end, he recognizes that I make my own decisions, like when I set out to write mystery novels, so I'm sure he'll come around in the end."

"I see," I said. "If nothing else, I'm grateful that he's giving me a chance."

When I thought about it, things could always be worse. My parents might have been the kind who wanted grandchildren; that type of parents was part of the forces behind couples getting married soon after starting a relationship. My employers might have been the type who discriminated against the women on their payroll, even though there were much more women in the workforce than before the Tragedy. My friends might have been the type to judge us for our lifestyle. Just being able to stay in the same apartment together and not have to worry about searching for a boyfriend or girlfriend was a dream come true, and I had my family, "in-laws," friends, colleagues, employers, and, of course, Sae, to thank for that.


A few hours passed. We relaxed for a while, reviewed our lesson plans for tomorrow, took our baths, changed into our nightgowns and got into bed. 10 p.m. was our usual bedtime, just like it was in the killing game.

"Time for bed, Sae-san," I said.

"Coming, Kaori," Sae said. "I just need to save my document."

As Sae shut down her computer, she blushed.

"Looks like I lose," Sae said. "I was hoping to make it all the way to when we arrived at school tomorrow."

"It's fine, Sae," I said, "since this was just a friendly bet. But why stop there?"

"You mean continuing at school?" Sae said.

Sae had happened to guess the answer I'd had in mind, but for all I cared, she could have said "for the rest of our lives."

"I do," I said, "If we call each other 'Sae-san' and 'Kaori-san' at work, the worst I can imagine happening is us getting a lecture on professionalism, since at least we're using honorifics. If it comes to that, I'm sure we can just apologize and go back to using 'sensei' on each other."

"You're right," Sae said. "It says a lot about the current state of our lives if that's one of the things we're most worried about."

I agreed, since I realized how lucky we were. We weren't rich, but our finances were stable enough that we weren't in danger of starving. The crime rate was higher than before the Tragedy, but we didn't have to worry about our friends murdering each other. I'd never forget the killing game or all we lost to it, but I could keep heart knowing that we had survived.

"I still have nightmares about the killing game," Sae said, "and I still think about all of our classmates who died- my friends, my Student Council colleagues, those I barely spoke with and even the ones I didn't like."

"Me too," I said. "There are times when I wish things had gone differently, even if that's hoping for the impossible."

I didn't quite know who to blame. Obviously, Enoshima was the one who set the entire Tragedy into motion, and had brainwashed Nagato-sensei, but Kagami-kun had only needed a small bit of "encouragement" and some resources to start the killing game. Kagami-kun was the mastermind behind our killing game, but he didn't personally kill anyone. The killers had been responsible for their actions, but the circumstances had forced their hands. There were some people I couldn't forgive- Enoshima and Kagami-kun came to mind- but I didn't see any point in hating anyone.

"I know it is," Sae said, "but there are better things to hope for. These days, I'm actually looking forward to what tomorrow may bring."

"So am I," I said. "Well, we've got a busy day tomorrow, so we should probably get some sleep."

"True," Sae said. "Good night, Kaori- I love you."

"Good night, Sae," I said. "I love you too."

Our past had been difficult, and our future wasn't set in stone. Despite that, I eagerly looked forward to what tomorrow would bring.


Author's Notes

This concludes the Where Talent Goes series. Thank you for reading it.

I took some liberties with the timeline, particularly how long passed between the end of the Final Killing Game and the reopening of Hope's Peak.

A lot of what I covered here- the cast's future and the long-standing social implications of the Tragedy- had originally been planned to be stand-alone stories. Some of the ideas include:

The survivors of the killing game meeting all the dead students' parents. Ultimately, this would have required introducing at least two dozen new characters, so this wasn't practical.

An alternative ending in which Yukari is executed, the members of Class 32 of Talent High School and 77-B of Hope's Peak don't come back, and Kirigiri, Togami and Asahina all die in the Final Killing Game.

A three-part series about Chiyuri eventually getting married and having children. I decided not to do this, since it would be a bit too much effort to create a love interest for her, but rest assured that she does eventually manage to settle down.

Kaori and Sae meeting each other's parents. Ultimately, I decided that there wouldn't be enough potential for drama there. The Miuras would be rather accepting of their daughter-in-law, since they didn't like how Kaori's paternal grandmother treated Kaori's mother. Sae's father would be harder to please, but would grudgingly accept his daughter's decision.

Kaori eventually publishing her book about the killing game would have been the original final scene. She still plans to do so someday, as a way of memorializing the victims.

Sasaki coming up with the idea for her manga from her part-time job.

Komaru writing a manga based on her and Fukawa's experiences in Towa City.

Slightly more appearances by canon characters.

From what I've heard, Japanese married couples are remarkably chaste, so I had to toe a fine line between making Kaori and Sae's behavior culturally appropriate while also showing that they are in love.

The post-epilogue will show Yukari reintegrating into society. The post-post epilogue will show Kaori and Sae getting married.


Post-Epilogue

Chiyuri's POV

Two years after the reopening of Hope's Peak, at the start of the second term, I arrived at the front gate to see a familiar face- that of my mother. Mom was wearing a light gray waistcoat and matching skirt with a short-sleeved dress shirt and a black eyepatch over her missing eye. She'd accepted a job as a third-year math teacher at Hope's Peak Academy, after a vacancy caused by a teacher quitting to get married.

"Good morning, Mom," I said. "Oh, wait, sorry, I mean Nagato-sensei."

"It's fine, Nagato-sensei," Nagato-sensei said. "I suppose it's been a while since you've had me as a teacher, although things are different now."

"That's right," I said. "For starters, I'm not your student anymore."

Getting used to having Mom as a teacher wasn't as hard as I thought, since I'd always thought of her as an authority figure. It might have been a bit more difficult if Akira or my boyfriend had become my boss, but I was sure we could have managed to work things out.

"Anyway," I said, "just as you laid down the ground rules before I got into Talent High School, I should do the same now that we're working together. I'm happy to hear you acknowledge me as a fellow teacher, but you don't have to call me Nagato-sensei. My friends just use first names, after all."

"I'll keep that in mind," Mom said.

"I'm glad," I said. "I might have chosen the same career path as you, but that doesn't mean I'm can do everything the same way you did."

"I should hope not," Mom said. "I don't want your life to turn out the same way mine did."

I glanced over and saw a security guard observing Mom from a distance, just one of many restrictions on Mom. She lived in a halfway house-like apartment complex near the school with strict regulations, such as a nightly curfew and weekly counseling sessions. It was almost like jail, but since Mom and I had spent time behind bars, we both knew better.

While Mom was still the person I loved and respected most, the rest of the class didn't necessarily feel the same way. Tatsuki-san was the most understanding, since she knew what it felt like to regret what you had done and atone for your sins, and the other three who'd survived until the last trial also sympathized with Mom, but they still had been shocked to learn of her betrayal. Akira also hoped that Mom would be spared and rehabilitated, but mainly because her friendship with me helped her to understand my feelings. Still others, however, like Kirishima-san, Yamazaki-san and Asakura, refused to forgive Mom and wanted to see her executed. They weren't wrong to feel the way they did, but it came off as more than a little hypocritical considering what they'd done.

"I think we've said enough, though," Mom said. "Let's get to work."

"Yes, let's," I said.

We headed inside and went our separate ways. Once inside the building, Tatsuki-san said hello to me, and pulled me aside for a private conversation. She wore a pink skirt and a short-sleeved white collarless blouse. Since I couldn't see her birthmark, I could tell which sister it was.

"So your mom's back at work," Tatsuki-san said. "How's she holding up?"

"Fairly well," I said. "She's grateful to have this second chance, but she still feels guilt over what she did while brainwashed. She may never fully forgive herself."

"I understand how she feels," Tatsuki-san said. "As long as there are people who resent you for your transgressions, it can be difficult to believe that you deserve to be forgiven."

I couldn't help but agree. The government had executed Ultimate Despair collaborators for less, so some people believed that Mom deserved to hang for what she'd done.

"But sometimes, it's not a question of what you think you deserve," Tatsuki-san said. "Taiga stood by me even after what I did, and sympathizes with you because she knows she'd have done the same if Nagato-sensei was our mother. So would I, of course."

"I know," I said, "and I'm grateful for that. Taiga-san makes me wish I had a sister like her sometimes."

Tatsuki-san grinned.

"Well, Taiga's taken," Tatsuki-san said, "but in my case, I strive to be worthy of what I have- a chance to start over again with my sins forgiven, and the joy of having Taiga as my twin sister."

"Good for you," I said. "It's a shame that you weren't able to start your music career up again."

"Maybe," Tatsuki-san said, "but I can still put my skills to good use as advisor for the band club, and as the new Hope's Peak's exclusive musician. You're not the only one who's following her mother's footsteps and becoming a teacher."

I giggled, even as I regretted not talking to Tatsuki-san more at Talent High School. If I had, I'd perhaps have realized that we had this in common earlier.

"Speaking of my mother, she's doing well despite losing her husband- my father- during the Tragedy," Tatsuki-san said, "and went back to work as a teacher in my hometown. We still keep in touch, and she's the only one outside of the class I've told about what I did to Kojima-kun. She simply listened without judging me, then gave me a hug and told me she understood why I'd done what I had. Because of that, I understand why parents and children can unconditionally forgive one another."

"I'm glad," I said. "As for me, some people might wish that Mom had been punished, or believe that her life was a mistake, but not me."

All of us had regrets of various sorts from the killing game, and some of us wondered whether we deserved the second chance, but the latter wasn't for us to decide. All we could do was become worthy of what we'd been given, by living as good of a life as possible.


Post-Post-Epilogue

Miura's POV

In early April, five years after starting work at Hope's Peak Academy, and shortly after we turned 25, Sae-san and I headed to the ward office with a marriage registration certificate. We'd planned on doing this ever since the government passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage, but wanted to wait until after the initial rush of same-sex couples wanting to get their marriages registered ended. Other couples that we knew of, like Kurogane-senpai and his boyfriend, weren't ready just yet, but we felt we'd waited long enough.

We wore suits and ties to the office, partly because we'd just finished a pre-school year faculty meeting. It was a significant occasion, but not as special as an actual wedding, so we decided that this was good enough. Western-style weddings with white bridal dresses were gradually coming back into fashion, and our respective parents offered to help pay for renting our dresses.

The only difficult part was deciding which of us would change her name, but Sae-san agreed to become a Miura, since my family had been more welcoming of her than her father had been of me. Despite that, my in-laws were still fairly accommodating. My father-in-law reluctantly gave us his blessing, and my sister-in-law said she'd ask her two-year-old daughter to call both of us "Auntie," not just Sae-san. My sister and her husband weren't ready to have kids yet, but they made a similar deal with us.

The only reason Sae-san might have hesitated to change her last name was because she published the Aiko Aizawa books under "Sae Edogawa." Despite that, she'd finished the books with the ending she originally envisioned- Aiko graduates from high school and joins the police in the epilogue- so it was a moot point. Perhaps some of her fans might turn on her, but she joked that a bit of notoriety would help her stay relevant. Sayuri-san, who'd already married Himeno-san(the latter had become Himeno Sasaki), had caught a bit of flak for coming out, but she kept most of her fans and even got some new ones. Some of the more reasonable fans said they didn't care what Sayuri-san's sexuality was or who she married as long as From Scratch was still good, and pointed out how stupid it was to get upset when a woman who draws a yuri manga turns out to be a lesbian.

We handed in the form to the teller, who accepted it and, after confirming everything was in order, congratulated us on our marriage. With everything finished, we began our walk back home. As grateful as I was that this day had come, it still felt a bit anticlimactic, probably because it was only a precursor to the actual wedding, even if submitting the documents made us legally married.

"So we're finally married, Sae-san," I said, "but is it just me, or does it feel like barely anything changed just from turning in that piece of paper?"

"Apart from my family name?" Sae-san said. "No, not exactly, Kaori-san, although I'm glad that the government finally legally recognized our union."

"So am I," I said, "but most of the people who matter to us- our families, our friends and our employer- already accepted us. We don't need their permission to live together or love each other, but I'm glad we have it."

"Yes, I'm glad, too" Sae-san said. "The headmaster and his wife are rather understanding, since they accept our relationship as long as it doesn't interfere with our jobs. They're even fine with us calling each other 'Kaori-san' and 'Sae-san' at work."

I was pleasantly surprised by how willing our colleagues were to let us continue our "game" of calling each other "Kaori-san" and "Sae-san at work. It was a good way of keeping us in a professional frame of mind at school while remaining reasonably familiar, even if those who were strict about manners would insist that we call each other "Miura-sensei" and "Edogawa-sensei."

"I know," I said. "It's probably because they've known us since we worked for the Future Foundation, or because they're also married. I don't know how long they've been in love, though.'

"Probably since their killing game," Sae-san said, "but it didn't happen overnight. I'm sure they had to work at their relationship, just like we did."

"I imagine," I said. "They've certainly been through a lot together, and they make a good team."

I'd heard people say that the headmaster's wife was the true brains behind the new Hope's Peak, but while she was an effective administrator, that didn't do him enough justice. It was his vision that had laid the groundwork for the project, and his charisma and compassion that brought everyone together.

"I think we make a pretty good team, too," Sae-san said, "because we've learned to make compromises and sacrifices over the years. Marriage isn't just about love, but also about being mature and responsible enough to make the relationship work."

"Spoken like a true adult," I said. "Maybe I should call you 'Sae-san' from now on."

"Like you do all the time?" Sae-san said. "Go right ahead, Kaori-san."

I smiled amusedly, knowing this was a silly question. At first, we'd just called each other "Kaori-san" and "Sae-san" at work, or when meeting the other's family. Before long, we started doing it in public, after we saw some of our students working part-time at establishments we frequented. Soon, we extended the practice to our respective families; Sae-san joked that using "-san" on me around her father would "keep things fair." Over time, using "-san" felt more natural than omitting honorifics, so we permanently switched over to the former by unspoken agreement.

"In all seriousness," I said, "I remember how happy Mom looked when she heard me call you 'Sae-san.' She said, half-jokingly, that it was a family tradition for Miura women- those born into the family and those who married into it- to use '-san' on their spouses, like she does with Dad and my sister does with her husband. Calling you 'Sae-san' makes me feel like I'm your wife, so I was glad when you responded in kind."

"Of course I would," Sae-san said, "since taking part in the 'family tradition' makes me feel like part of your family as much as having 'Miura' as my surname does."

"Good to hear that," I said, "but it almost makes you wonder why we bothered with submitting our marriage registration, doesn't it?"

We shared a laugh about that. As odd as it was that we were addressing each other slightly more formally than before, it didn't feel strange at all, since we could still joke around, flirt and treat each other as equals. Besides, everything that we shared- love, trust, mutual respect and everything else that made up a healthy relationship- was still there, and just as it had gotten us through the killing game, it would get us through whatever life threw our way.

"In any case," I said, "I know that getting married is just the beginning. We've got a lot of work to do, starting with planning our wedding, so let's go home and get to it."

"Quite true, Kaori-san," Sae-san said, "but I, for one, am looking forward to it."

"Me too, Sae-san," I said.

We walked home together as a newlywed couple, eagerly awaiting what tomorrow would bring.


The end... and a new beginning.