The bell rang and everyone present in Class 77-B was seated. The teacher of that class, Chisa Yukizome, took everyone's attendance. One by one, she called the name of each student in her class.

Then she called out the last student.

"Izuru Kamukura?"

There was no response. Chisa looked up from the paper and over at Izuru's seat.

It was empty.

The rest of Class 77-B already knew that this was going to be a long morning so long as Chisa was determined to get Izuru to attend her class. They knew from first-hand experience that the Ultimate Housekeeper would hunt Izuru down one way or another, even if it meant putting the lesson on hold.

—

Earlier that morning Izuru Kamukura woke up and looked at the time. He could've gone to class and sat through the boring lecture while sitting in front of that creepy pale man again…

Or he could just fall back asleep and skip class. I mean, what's the worst that could happen right?

So he did just that. Izuru closed his eyes and fell back into the world of dreams.

One hour passed by… then two… then three…

Izuru continued to sleep in peace.

—

"I'm glad you agreed to join us," Jin Kirigiri said, smirking at Izuru.

Izuru stayed silent, choosing to simply stare at Jin until he got to the point.

"In any case, you two are now excused," Jin said to both Chisa and the man in the fedora. They both nodded, stood up, and left the room.

"Now that they're gone," The headmaster began. "Are you willing to talk?"

"I suppose…"

"I see. There are special rules and conditions that you'll need to follow during time as a student at the academy," Jin stated. "The first and most important rule is to not disclose what exactly your talent is"

"So I can tell them that I am the Ultimate Hope but I cannot tell them what exactly I can do?"

"Precisely. This is so that nobody finds out the truth about you or what we did. This project is very secretive and we don't want it leaking out. Who knows how the students will react" Kirigiri explained.

"I understand" Said Izuru. All he had to do was keep his abilities a secret. That shouldn't be too hard, right?

—

Izuru woke up to some knocking at the door. Groaning, he got out of bed, put on some shoes, and walked over to the door. He opened the door and was greeted with the sight of the creepy pale man he had talked to in class the day before.

"Ah, Izuru, you look like you just woke up!" Nagito said, smiling at Izuru.

"What do you want?"

"Well, Yukizome was originally going to come after you to drag you into class. But I managed to convince her to let me do all the work. I thought that maybe with my luck, I could get you to come to class" Nagito explained.

"Just tell her I'm not going," Izuru said, beginning to close the door.

"Izuru wait-" Nagito put his hand in front of the door, keeping it open as he peered through the small crack. "You don't understand what you're getting yourself into with this! It isn't something someone such as yourself should go through"

"You're making it sound like I'm sort of god"

"Look, she will not stop until she's got you back into her class. You may as well go and save her the trouble"

"She won't stop huh? And what is she going to do, lecture me to death?" Izuru asked.

"C'mon Izuru, why don't you even want to go to class?"

"It's boring"

"But Chisa chasing after you won't be fun either y'know"

Izuru scoffed. "You're afraid of her chasing after me? I'd be able to avoid going to class easily. Hell, I'd be able to avoid going to class even if she sent the whole class after me"

"Really? You're that good? Well, of course, you are the Ultimate Hope after all!"

Izuru rolled his eyes and shut the door on Nagito, locking it. He stood there for a few moments as he heard a pair of footsteps fade away. Sighing in relief, he walked back to his bed, laid down, and fell back asleep.

—

"So then he said 'Hell, I'd be able to avoid going to class even if she sent the whole class after me'" Nagito explained to Chisa in front of the class. "I apologize for failing you, I guess it was a stupid idea to have someone as worthless as I try to reason with him, huh?"

"No, no, it's fine," Chisa said, sighing. "If Izuru is so confident that he can do that, then I guess you all know what that means…"

"Ugh, really? Who cares about that edgy idiot?" Said a petite girl with long, blonde hair curled into two pigtails. She was dressed in an orange kimono and was busy pulling the hair of a purple-haired girl.

"Hm… Then how about this? Whoever catches Izuru first gets to have anything they want," Chisa said with a smirk. Everyone but Chiaki and Nagito perked up and Chisa's smile turned into a smirk.

They just caught the bait.

—

Thirty minutes later there was something being set up outside of Izuru's dorm. Specifically, two large speakers featuring two ladies. The petite girl with long, blonde hair curled into two pigtails and a pale girl with pink eyes along with multi-colored black, pink, blue, and white hair.

"You ready Hiyoko? I'm finally gonna be ready to debut my new song!" Said the pink-eyed girl.

"Ugh, who cares? Just get on with it already you idiot!" Grumbled Hiyoko.

Ibuki plugged the guitar cable into the speaker, then she walked up to the mic. "Alright! Let's get to it!"

Meanwhile, Izuru was still sound asleep in his dorm. That was until somebody blasted rock through their speakers. He jolted awake, sitting up as the loud guitar strums mixed with ear-piercing singing blasted throughout the area.

The irritated Izuru got out of bed and put some shoes on, then he looked out of the window and spotted two large speakers, a woman playing the guitar while singing, and someone else who looked like a child dancing with a scowl on her face.

He recognized the two women, they were both in his class. Didn't Chisa not allow people to skip her class? If that were really the case, then why were they out here at this part of Hope's Peak?

Then he heard loud knocking. Well, knocking is being generous, whoever was at the door was practically banging on it.

Between the loud guitar playing and the banging at his door, Izuru was more than annoyed. He was pissed. So the Ultimate Hope walked over to his front door and opened it.

Izuru was greeted with a tall, muscular man with black hair, wearing a white tank top under a black gakuran as well as blue tracksuit pants and sandals.

"Izuru, you're coming with me to class whether you like it or not!" The man yelled.

"Why are you yelling? Who even are you?"

"My name is Nekomaru Nidai! I'm the Ultimate Team Manager!"

"Could you stop yelling?"

The music blasted even louder. Why were they blasting that music?

"Izuru, you can either come to class or I'll force you to myself!" Nekomaru said.

"I'd like to see you try," Izuru said.

Nekomaru rushed at Izuru to tackle him. The Ultimate Hope sidestepped Nekomaru at an unnatural speed and the Ultimate Team Manager ran into the window, falling through it and onto the ground below with a loud thud.

"What the hell!? You almost fell on me, weirdo!"

"I sincerely apologize!"

Sighing, Izuru left his dorm to get away from the three.

—

Chiaki was sitting at the park playing a video game on her console.

"Chiaki!" A voice called out.

The girl looked up from her screen and to the direction of where her name was called. She saw her fellow classmate, Nagito Komaeda.

"Mind if I take a seat, class president?" He asked.

Chiaki shook her head and the pale man sat next to her.

"So you aren't going to go after him with the others?"

"Why should I?" The girl asks, looking back down at her video game as she began to play it again.

"Good question," Nagito said, looking off at the distance. There was a long silence between the two, only broken by the sounds of nature around them and the game that Chiaki was playing. It was a beautiful day outside. Birds were singing, flowers were blooming... on days like these, it was nice to just sit out there and bask in the sights and sounds of nature. Well, at least to Nagito. He made a mental note to do this more often.

"So you know him, don't you?" Nagito asked.

Chiaki froze up for a moment but quickly resumed playing her game.

"No, no I don't. I thought I knew him but… he just looked similar to someone I knew… I guess…" Chiaki answered.

"That definitely doesn't sound hopeful. Tell you what, how about you get to know this new student? I think he's a great guy! I mean, he is the Ultimate Hope after all!" Nagito said, a smile plastered on his face.

"What does that even mean?"

"What?"

"What does it mean to be the Ultimate Hope? What can someone with the talent do?" Chiaki asked.

"Y'know, I've been thinking the same thing," Nagito mused. "Maybe I'll just have to find out for myself"

"Oh?"

"I think it's about time I stopped sitting around. I want to get front row seats and watch the Ultimate Hope in action," Nagito began as he stood up. "Whoever that guy is, he must be good enough to be enrolled in the middle of the school year"

"Yeah, right," Chiaki idly said, continuing to play her game.

"Wanna come with? Maybe you could get to know him better."

Chiaki continued to play her video game. She was silent for a few moments. Nagito couldn't tell what she was thinking. Was she just concentrating on the game? Maybe she was just considering her option. Nagito was about to ask her the question until…

"No, I'll just stay here"

Though Nagito was disappointed he wasn't exactly surprised either. After all, a cat and mouse chase involving the newest student in their class most likely wouldn't sound all that appealing to Chiaki of all people. Plus, she appeared satisfied with what she had, so the incentive that Chisa gave didn't phase her.

"I understand," Nagito said as he gave Chiaki a soft smile then walked off.

It was time to watch the Ultimate Hope in action.

—

Izuru walked past the gates and into Hope's Peak Academy. He had a feeling that Nekomaru wasn't going to be the only person who'd go after him today, so he needed to make ground.

But where would the Ultimate Hope hide? His long hair and glowing red eyes made him stick out like a sore thumb. He decided that he needed to hide where they thought he wouldn't be at. Perhaps the rooftop could work as a hiding place?

Izuru walked up the stairs, he knew he had a long way to go so he needed to be quick. He went up one floor, then another, and another.

"Izuru!"

The Ultimate Hope had recognized the voice. He looked back down the stairs and saw Chisa Yukizome.

Then he immediately began to sprint up the stairs. Due to Chisa being hot on his tail going up to the roof wasn't a viable option. Instead, he sprinted onto the floor he was now on and into a classroom, closing the door behind himself.

Izuru looked around the room he was in. It appeared he was in the nurse's office. Then someone walked from behind a curtain. They were a woman with long, choppy, dark purple hair that was cut unevenly. She had greyish purple eyes and was wearing a nurse uniform which was a pale pink, collared short-sleeved shirt with puffed sleeves. Though there was a white apron over this which was tied behind her neck with a ribbon.

Izuru recognized her from his class.

"Hello?" The girl asked meekly. She recognized Izuru almost immediately. "Oh, you're the new student. Aren't the others trying to find you? Not that I would! I'm just here doing my job!" She stuttered.

"Quiet down, I'd rather not have one of them hear you," he said, walking past her. "May I hide here?"

"Y-Yes, you can. I was just about to go and… Uhm… get some supplies!" She said. "I'm Mikan Tsumiki, the Ultimate Nurse. I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry!"

After apologizing, she ran out of the nurse's office, leaving Izuru alone to his thoughts.

That was until he felt a hand on his shoulder. Izuru looked behind himself and saw… him.

"Ah, Izuru, it's a great pleasure to see you again!" The pale man said.

The Ultimate Hope stayed silent, grabbing Nagito's wrist and moving his hand off of his shoulder.

"It looks like you're in quite the predicament. I dunno why, but Chisa decided to send the entire class after you"

"What do you want?" Izuru asked.

"How about we strike a deal? Admittedly, I am fascinated by the thought of what the Ultimate Hope is capable of," Nagito began. "Maybe we could… become friends?"

"No."

"Aww c'mon Izuru, it'd be such an honor to become friends with the Ultimate Hope!"

"My answer has not changed in the slightest"

"If we become friends, then I may be able to get Chisa off your back"

"I will not become friends with you. Why are you even in here?"

"Oh, in the academy? Well…"

"No, no, why are you in the nurse's office?"

"Oh, that's simple! You see, I slipped on a banana peel and hit my head against something which knocked me out. Then I woke up in a bed behind this curtain and saw you standing here all by yourself"

Izuru shrugged, looking over at the door.

"So will you be my friend now?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"For the last time-"

Before Izuru could finish his sentence a tall, large woman barged through the door. She had tanned skin, dark grey eyes, and shoulder-length hair. She was wearing a short-sleeved white shirt with the top few buttons undone, exposing a large amount of her cleavage. The woman was also wearing a red miniskirt.

"Looks like she was telling the truth after all!" The woman said, smirking at Izuru. "So you're that Izuru guy right? Well, you're coming with me!"

"Get out of the way," Izuru said.

"No way! I'm gonna bring you to Chisa and get that meat!"

"What?"

"I can explain later," Nagito said. Izuru promptly rolled his eyes. "Out of curiosity Akane, how did you know that Izuru was here?"

"Easy, Mikan told me!"

The Ultimate Hope made a mental note to deal with the nurse later.

"Alright, I'm done waiting. You coming with me or am I gonna have to force you to?" Akane asked.

"I'm definitely not coming with you"

"Then I'm taking you in by force!" Akane said, showing off her sharp nails as she grinned. Nagito sat down on the bed next to Izuru and The Ultimate Hope stood in place, waiting for Akane to make the first move.

The Ultimate Gymnast ran at him, swinging her sharp nails at him. He took multiple steps backwards in order to not get slashed. Due to the nurse's office being a small room, Izuru didn't have much space to maneuver, and considering that Akane clearly wasn't holding back…

Izuru knew that he shouldn't hold back either.

Eventually, his back hit the wall. Akane bawled up her right fist and swung directly at his face. The Ultimate Hope ducked and Akane punched the wall behind him, creating a large crack.

In one swift motion, Izuru used this opportunity to run underneath Akane and go behind her. The Ultimate Hope looked over at the door, then at Akane.

Should he stay or should he go?

Izuru decided to take Akane out of the picture now and grabbed the back of Akane's head, slamming her face into the wall. The Ultimate Gymnast fell to the ground, clutching her forehead.

Nagito was watching Izuru intensely from the bed, enjoying the show that was being put on for him. He stayed silent throughout the entire fight, wanting to see what the Ultimate Hope would do next.

Then Izuru walked out of the room, leaving a defeated Akane and a disappointed Nagito alone.

—

A man wearing a black cap was in the library. He was at one of the bookshelves putting a book back in its place. The man sighed to himself, wondering what he would do next.

His name was Shuichi Saihra and he was the Ultimate Detective. Well, he shared the title Ultimate Detective with someone else who he had yet to meet.

He heard a loud thump outside of the library which in turn interrupted his thoughts.

Curious about what that noise was, Shuichi walked out of the library and into the hallway. He was met with a long-haired man standing over a woman with long, silver hair. The woman was on the ground next to her sheath. Though before she could pick it up, the man grabbed it and tossed it across the room, then looked back at the woman on the ground.

"How boring…"

The man turned around and locked eyes with Shuichi. His glowing red eyes burned into Shuichi's soul as the man's intense expression did not fade. The stare sent shivers through Shuichi's spine as he was paralyzed from fear.

That stare…

"I suggest you leave and act like this never happened"

Shuichi was broken out of his trance. He covered his eyes with his cap and ran off without a word. A bunch of questions plaguing his mind.

Who was that man? How did he defeat the Ultimate Swordswoman?

Why did his presence give Shuichi so much fear?

—

It had been a little bit over an hour since Izuru's confrontation with Akane. Nagito was looking at Akane who was still laying on the ground, groaning.

"To think that the Ultimate Gymnast was single-handedly taken down by some random guy. He's definitely stronger than he looks" He muttered.

Nagito looked around the room, pondering to himself. There was more to the Ultimate Hope than meets the eye but… it just seemed like he was… out of place. There was this vibe Nagito got from Izuru, this vibe that Izuru was not normal.

Then again, you could argue that nobody in this academy was normal. But between Izuru being secretive about what his talent entailed and his unnatural skillfulness in close quarters combat of all things….

Nagito couldn't help but be curious.

So he walked past Akane's unconscious body and out of the nurse's office. Nagito was now on a quest. A quest to figure out what the hell Izuru was.

And Nagito wouldn't stop until he was satisfied.