A/N: Here's Chapter Two of "Makoto Loses His Way". Please read and review, and enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Makoto Loses His Way?
Chapter Two: New School Regulations?!
Kyoko's eyes widened in shock as she read the new e-mail that had been sent to all the staff from the Headmaster's Office.
What the hell? All first instances of student misconduct will result in a mandatory visit to the Vice-Headmistress's office? All second instances of student misconduct will result in an out-of-school suspension? All third instances of student misconduct will result in expulsion? All students and faculty who wish to speak with the Headmaster must make an approved appointment in advance?
Kyoko couldn't believe that the warm Headmaster who had always opened his door to students in need would enact such comparatively barbaric school regulations. But what stung at Kyoko's heart the most, was the fact that he didn't even consult her.
Why? Makoto's always asked me for my input before, on everything! So why would he enact these new school regulations without even asking me for my input? We're supposed to run this school together, so why…
Kyoko was interrupted by a knock at the door, which broke her train of worried thoughts.
Who could that be? I don't have any meetings this early planned.
Curious, she got up from her seat and walked to the door before she opened it. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw a small crowd of nervous students standing around her door.
What are all these kids doing he…oh no, please don't tell me…it is, isn't it? Makoto Naegi… Kyoko sighed and asked "Alright, one at a time, why did you get sent up here?"
"I was two minutes late to class."
"I forgot to do my homework."
"I ran in the halls so I wouldn't be late for class."
"I passed a note to my girlfriend."
…That's it? This is what Makoto now classifies as student misconduct worthy of sanction? They're just teenagers; I don't think even Taka would take this stuff so seriously. If this keeps up, we won't have a student body to teach!
Kyoko sighed and looked at the various students who were sweating with fear.
"Everyone, relax. I will talk with the Headmaster about this. In the meantime, go back to class. I won't mark your…misconduct down as a strike against you, alright."
The students sighed in relief before they wordlessly hurried back to class, their pace controlled so as not to earn another pointless trip back to her office.
"Alright, this is getting out of hand. It's time to take a trip to see my boss."
Kyoko narrowed her eyes and walked to the side door in her office, steeling herself for possibly the tensest conversation she would ever have with her husband.
XXX
"We have a new appointment policy." Makoto pointed out as the door swung open and Kyoko stormed inside with the most furious scowl he had ever seen on her face.
"Don't care. We need to talk, Headmaster, and we need to talk now."
The two engaged in a staring contest until Makoto sighed and relented "…Given that this is the first day that the new policy is in effect, I will make an exception this once. Now, what was so important that you needed to burst into my office?"
"It's these new regulations, Makoto! A three-strikes policy? Sanctions against minor teenage behavior like running in the halls and barely being tardy to class? Mandatory appointments in order to see you? Do you have any idea how many students I've already had sent to my office for things that even Taka wouldn't have taken so seriously?"
Makoto shrugged and defended "Minor behavioral problems can snowball into criminal activity if not addressed accordingly. Besides, what's wrong with being a little more cautious?"
Kyoko nodded as she admitted "I can agree that caution is important in maintaining a school with a good reputation…but this isn't you, Makoto. Maintaining order is my job; you're the one who welcomes everyone with open arms and helps to talk through their problems, not shut them out! You're turning Hope's Peak, and our home, into a miserable fortress! What happened to you, Makoto?"
Makoto narrowed his eyes as he stated "What happened is that one of my students turned out to be a serial killer, and we didn't even bother to vet him properly."
I see, so that's what it is… Kyoko sighed as she tried to reason "Makoto, just because Korekiyo turned out to be a wanted criminal, it doesn't mean that all those good kids need to be watched like hawks! And it certainly doesn't mean that our daughter's every move needs to be watched."
"This is my decision as Headmaster, and as Kiki's father, Kyoko. I will not make the same mistake that Jin made."
"You're actually bringing my father into this?!" Kyoko exclaimed, shocked at the low blow Makoto just used.
"Yes, I am. He allowed the Ultimate Despair to enter Hope's Peak Academy, and they killed millions of people during the Tragedy. I will not make his mistake, not again." He then spun in his chair until his back faced her before he finished "Now, this conversation is over, Vice-Headmistress. Next time, make an appointment before you come in."
Kyoko grit her teeth as she held back the angry tears in her eyes while she stormed out of his office and slammed the door behind her. Makoto sighed and turned back around before he picked up a family picture on his desk of his wife and daughter smiling.
"This is for everyone's own good. I'm doing this to protect all of you, and once we've all adjusted, you'll thank me for it."
XXX
"No, they will not thank you for it!" Taka exclaimed as he stood up from his seat in the Afterlife Theatre. "I'm disappointed, Professor Makoto! Such misery and heavy-handed enforcement is unacceptable in a school environment!"
Jin nodded as he crossed his arms disapprovingly over his chest and concurred "I agree, Taka. I know for a fact that I made many mistakes as Headmaster, and I'll never be able to truly forgive myself for letting Junko into the school…but I always did my best to be fair to the students. I just can't fathom why Makoto has taken such a one eighty."
"It's because he's being an overprotective parent."
"Oh, Dad, were you listening in?" Jin asked as Fuhito made his way over to them and sat down next to his son.
Fuhito nodded and confirmed "I happened to walk in during Makoto and Kyoko's argument." Fuhito frowned before he sighed and lamented "Makoto's recent turn of behavior reminds me of how I raised Kyoko after our argument, Jin. I…I put so many restrictions on Kyoko's life, more than I should have. I didn't even protect her in the end, if any of the scars on her hands are any indicator, and I considered personal relationships a weakness and did my best to forbid her from having friends."
"Dad…" Jin uttered, awestruck by his father's remorse.
Fuhito smiled sadly and continued "If it wasn't for Makoto's stubborn willingness to bond with her, I'm not sure she'd be alive. I owe Makoto for helping her to make the friendships that strengthened her, and to see him act like I did…I agree Taka, I'm disappointed in my grandson-in-law."
I never thought that my dad and I would actually be on the same page about this stuff when we were alive… Jin thought in wonder as he marveled at how far his father had come since he died.
"So…" Taka interrupted hesitantly "What do we do, Headmaster and Detective Kirigiri?"
Jin sighed and admitted "The best we can do is just watch, and hope that somehow Makoto comes to his senses. Though based on their argument, I have my doubts that even Kyoko will get through to him."
Fuhito nodded "Indeed, I think that she realizes that too. Take a look; she seems to have gathered Kiki and some of her friends in private."
With raised eyebrows, Jin and Taka leaned forward curiously in their seats as they watched the screen, hoping that this secret meeting Kyoko was hosting would be able to come up with a solution to Makoto's changed personality.
XXX
"Alright, everyone." Kyoko announced the large gathering in her backyard. "This meeting can't last too long, or Makoto will start to get suspicious. I can only walk Hogo with Kiki for so long before the excuse loses credibility, so let's get straight to the point. And Miu…" Kyoko narrowed her eyes at the perverted inventor who shivered as she nursed her toddling daughter before the elder mom warned "Watch your language around my daughter."
Miu whimpered "H…hey, quit it, won't you? I'm only here because your husband's gone totally off the deep end! He's having me report teenagers for saying or doing things that I did all the time! It makes me look like a hypocrite!"
"That's right!" Kazuichi exclaimed "Miu's ben so stressed out, she hasn't been able to work on any of her inventions!"
"That's not all!" Hina complained as she held Yuta in her arms "Makoto expects me to report when students get so much as a bruise during class so he can punish whoever causes it, even if it's an accident! Hello, it's P.E.! This stuff happens all the time!"
Byakuya glared at Kyoko as he bounced Shinobu in his arms and agreed "Hina's right, Kyoko. Did you know that Makoto asked me to check the financial background of every student in the school? I did not sign up to be a private investigator."
Komaru placed her hands on her hips as she interjected "That's not all! Makoto's asked us to report anyone who so much as utters a word that's considered reprehensible in the modern context during out lectures."
Toko pointed at Kyoko and elaborated "Yeah! Doesn't he know that this is the class to talk about them? We have to teach the context and explain why it was okay to use those words back then and why it's unacceptable today!"
Hiro nodded as he held Kawako in his arms and agreed angrily "Plus he's given us a list of a bunch of plays we're no longer allowed to perform for corruptive content. What the heck?! That's censorship."
"You're telling me!" A heavily expectant Ibuki interjected as she demanded "How am I supposed to develop my students' musical talents if I have to cut out inappropriate music?!"
Porkfeet nodded and agreed "I must say, I didn't expect the Headmaster to exercise such censorship. He had been an open and tolerant administrator up until recently. I wonder what could have caused him to, as Miu put it, go off the deep end."
"Everyone, settle down!" Kyoko commanded before everyone quieted down. "I know how you feel; believe me, things aren't any better at home either."
"Yeah!" Kiki interjected "I can't get any privacy in my room, I can't bring any new friends home, and Miss Maki has to follow me everywhere!"
Maki shuffled uncomfortably as she nodded and concurred "Believe me, I don't like this arrangement either. I've had to cancel my other clients because of this; I'm losing valuable business. No offense, Kyoko."
"None taken." Kyoko smiled before she frowned again and continued "Unfortunately, my husband won't even listen to me. I tried to dissuade him from these new regulations, but he just went ahead anyway."
"Well if you can't talk some sense into him, then nobody can!" Toko fretted as the others frowned in worry at their current predicament.
"Well…there might be one person who can…" Maki spoke hesitantly before everyone stared straight into her eyes. "Stop looking at me like that; it's not helping my composure." Maki requested as she fiddled with one of her ponytails.
"Apologies, Maki. Please, continue." Kyoko encouraged before Maki took a deep breath.
"The problem is that Makoto's being a big idiot about these new rules and won't listen to reason. So, maybe we need a bigger idiot who can smack some sense into him."
"Well, my hu…husband fits the bigger idiot category, but he's not exactly good for roughing people up."
"Hey, don't be mean, Tokie!" Hiro retorted.
"Enough, both of you." Kyoko's demand silenced the bickering couple before she turned back to Maki and asked "Would you continue, please, Maki?"
Maki nodded and explained "Anyway, I know someone who can be just as stubborn as Makoto is, and is just as good at inspiring people in his own way. But he's also someone who's not afraid to get angry and smack sense when the situation demands it. We can't afford to be delicate."
Kyoko nodded and turned to her daughter, who was petting Hogo as the adults continued to talk before she asked "Well, Kiki? What do you think about all this?"
Kiki sighed and admitted "…I just want my dad back the way he was before Shinguji tried to kill me. That's why he's changed so much; he doesn't want any of us to get hurt again."
Kyoko and Komaru's eyes drooped at the reminder of the incident. Kyoko had of course blamed herself for not stopping Kiyo before the home invasion, and Komaru had kicked herself for not catching on to Kiyo's crimes during the three years that he was in her class.
"But I don't want Dad to change; I want him back to the way he was. And if this is how to do it…then I'm in."
Kyoko smiled and nodded before she commented "I agree; I want my husband back, and the students deserve better than these barbaric regulations. If Maki knows someone who can bring him back to his senses, I'm all in." She then turned to the others and asked "Well, are we all in agreement?"
Everyone mumbled and nodded in agreement, which caused Kyoko and Kiki to smile before Maki spoke.
"Alright, here's the plan…"