Unfriendly clouds poured heavy rain down on us. I saw the monument I had discovered earlier and walked towards it. Naturally, the class representative followed. The truth is that I already knew. There was a high possibility of danger, and I was leading Chiaki directly to it. I had confidence that nothing would happen, though. The rest of the class was searching in vain for a classmate I hadn't come across, Peko would take care of Mukuro, and I'd deal with the one behind the scenes; the mastermind controlling the violence and chaos occurring all around us. I just knew they had to be hidden in the secret passage of that suspicious statue. In that way, I would become hope for my precious classmates. And, Chiaki would bear witness to it all.

I might even become hope for the whole of Hope's Peak Academy! Even though I'm trash, I still manage to hope for more. Despite the fact that I know how worthless I am, I wish I could be better, more helpful, more valuable to everyone.

Ha! To think that my hopes were so small before my suspension… it's almost comical. Or, perhaps i've become conceited in hoping for more? Regardless, this is something I must do. I cannot allow the despair inflicted on those reserve students to have any effect on the Ultimates. Hope will surely emerge victorious.

Everything changed when the gun jammed. It was very unlucky, very unexpected to me.

Perhaps it is because my hope wasn't enough. Perhaps it is because my hope wasn't specific enough. I wanted a hope to overcome any despair. And yet… how could hope overcome despair if there is no despair at all? What would there be to overcome?

In my hesitation, I lost the chance to kill Junko; I was overwhelmed and almost killed instead. And now, as I struggle to stay conscious while Chiaki guides me back to safety, I have to wonder how she is able to be so strong. Yes, I was the one who was shot, and I was the one whose ultimate luck was only strong enough to save my own life. However, Chiaki is the one who bears most of the burden of moving me to a safer place. Chiaki is the one who, along with Miss Yukizome, granted me the opportunity to survive rather than being stuck in that dark room with that despair-obsessed maniac.

My focus is fading. I can barely take one step after the other without stumbling. I must use what little strength I have left in my legs to make it back. Chiaki may be strong mentally and emotionally, but her small body can't support my full weight. I need to help her. I can't black out now. We're so close… But the shock, both physically and mentally, of being shot is affecting me more than it reasonably should. Then again, I have no prior experience to go off of to base that thought.

"I… can't…"

Despite my desire to hold myself up and walk on my own; despite my desire to assist the Ultimate holding me against herself, I just can't.

I stumble forward, taking Chiaki down with me. As my consciousness fades, I can hear a muffled voice calling me as small hands tug at my arm.

"Nagito, please, we have to keep going!"

I can barely hear you.

"We have to let the others know we have to save Miss Yukizome!"

Why do you sound so far away?

"Nagi…"

~*~

I don't remember walking back. I do remember waking in the classroom. I remember saying things to test if my classmates would cave to despair. I remember the giddiness I felt when they rose up in hope of saving our teacher.

But somewhere along the way, I passed out again. When I came to, I was on Soda's back rather than Chiaki's. I saw everyone gathered in a room full of podiums and monitors. Everyone except for Chiaki. Immediately, my stomach twisted into knots and I spoke up, barely able to let words out rather than vomit, holding back my nauseous anxiety.

"It's a trap."

I closed my eyes and tried to stand on my own. I felt weak in my legs and collapsed. No one helped me up. I looked to the side and saw that Soda was entranced by whatever was transpiring on the monitor. I knew no good could come from watching as the others did. I refused to look at the screens that were showing what sounded like torture. I tried not to listen. The cackling laughs taunting the class representative and the hope-filled responses she uttered back made it difficult to ignore. I willed myself not to look. If I so much as glanced over, not only would it make it all the more hopeless, but I knew the trap my class had fallen into would drag me alongside them.

Just as I dragged Chiaki down earlier. I'm the worst; falling into an obvious trap, taking my classmates with me. I shouldn't have tried to rely on my luck as much as I have in the past. Surely, happily interacting with my classmates - with Chiaki - used up my good luck for now. How did I not realize that? I have only bad luck to greet me in the near future.

Still, I have to get out of here. I can't let the Ultimate Despair overcome my classmates! I can't let Chiaki die like this! She's the only one who seemed to notice me… She listened to me talk, cared enough to get mad at me, worried about me, smiled at me, accepted my attempt at redemption, and now, I need to help her! I need to help her and apologize for dragging her into this! I need to help her and tell her I want to be friends! I dare not expect her to return the sentiment, but I can hope with all my being!

The sounds coming from the monitors were becoming even more awful to hear. I tried to block them out, to stand up and find a way out to save her. My legs started to gain feeling again, and I commanded them to move; hoped them into movement. I held onto the podium in front of me to pull myself into a more stable stance. I finally stood up. Then, I heard it. It was the sigh of relief followed by a pained gasp, and the horrifying sound of blood spattering the room in deathly quantities.

And it was too late. I realized as soon as I gave in to look at Chiaki on the screen that there was no hope of saving her. "Game Over" was the only thing to partway cover the numerous spears piercing her mortally wounded body.

"It's too late." I mouthed the words to myself.

It's too late. It's too late. It's too late. It's too late. It's too late. It's too late. It's too late. It's too late. It's too late. It's too late. It's too late. It's too late. It's too late. It's too late!

That thought plagued my mind as I witnessed the death of the only person I ever thought I could be friends with. The only person I hoped to be friends with more than anything. As talented as she was, she did not look down on those who possessed no talent. As kind as she was, she did not show disgust towards trash like me. As trusting as she was, she never questioned the bond our class shared. Yet, here we all were, our eyes glued to the screens that all showed her untimely demise, none of us moving. I could not look away from the corpse shown on screen. My vision was blurry from the seemingly never ending tears escaping my eyes. I felt like screaming. I felt like cursing the world for taking her away.

But do I really feel that way? Isn't her death a perfect way to create a despair that must be overcome?

A voice that sounded like my own whispered in my mind. Suddenly, everything made sense. I felt at ease, comforted by the overwhelming despair that enveloped my very being.

This was meant to happen. Her suffering a torturous fate is all part of the path to hope. Truly, this is the ultimate despair needed to breed ultimate hope. This agonizing guilt I feel… I must embrace it. I must nurture it until I can't bear it anymore. And then, I must defeat it. I must create a hope within myself that can and will surpass the despair dwelling in my soul! For someone as worthless as me to have such an opportunity… Surely, this is the best my good luck has ever bestowed upon me.

"In death, you become the stepping stone to Hope."

I will join you as a stepping stone to hope. Even if it means becoming Despair for the world.