A/N: Alright, here's Chapter Two of Despair Arc: Execution Failed, commissioned by Stealth Photographer. Please read and review, and enjoy!

Despair Arc: Execution Failed?

Chapter Two: Makoto's Hypothesis!

"What on earth were you thinking?!" Jin hissed as he lectured his daughter in the corner of the nurse's office.

Makoto stood awkwardly next to his friend while Kyoko returned her father's glare with one of her own.

"Kyoko Kirigiri, I expressly forbade you from continuing to investigate. And what do I get? A call from Sakakura telling me that he found you and Naegi outside on the school grounds! Do you not understand that I took you off this case to protect you…"

"And who asked you to do that?" Kyoko interjected as she narrowed her eyes. "You of all people have no right to do anything to protect me."

"K…Kyoko…" Jin uttered, unable to refute her claims.

Makoto decided to intervene before the argument got out of hand and interjected "Headmaster, I was concerned about Kyoko too; that's why I volunteered to go with her."

Jin nodded and replied "And I thank you for backing her up, Naegi-kun."

"Besides, if we didn't go and investigate, then we wouldn't have found that girl and she would have died!"

The three of them glanced at the victim's comatose body, IVs and blood packets plugged into her veins as a ventilator and heart rate monitor were hooked up to her to sustain her life.

Jin sighed and admitted "I know, and that was very brave of both of you. Alright, we can discuss this violation later once things have settled down."

Kyoko's eyes softened as she silently nodded while Makoto smiled at the suspension of their heated argument.

I know she and her dad have issues, but we've got bigger fish to fry! Starting with her… "Ano…who is she, anyway?"

Jin turned his attention to Makoto before he answered "She's the Class Representative of Class 77, Chiaki Nanami."

Kyoko nodded before she pondered "I wonder why she was down there in the first place…"

Jin nodded and replied "I'm curious about that as well. I got a call from their teacher, Chisa Yukizome, not long before you arrived with Nanami. She said that her class was all accounted for."

"It seems like a rather egregious oversight to leave out your Class Representative." Kyoko observed.

Jin agreed "Yes, especially considering how devoted Yukizome is to her students. I find it hard to believe that she'd forget about any one of them, let alone the heart of her class."

Kyoko nodded and agreed "Indeed, it would be like if we forgot about Naegi."

Kyoko and Jin turned to face Makoto with soft smiles as the Luckster blushed and scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

"Y…you're exaggerating…I'm just a normal kid. You guys would get on just fine without me…"

No, we wouldn't, Makoto, but that's neither here nor there… "Anyway…we still need to determine why Yukizome-sensei neglected to keep track of her Class Representative. Or the rest of her class, for that matter. It would be very strange for such a close-knit class to abandon their Representative."

…Wait…I got it! Makoto turned to the two Kirigiris and asked "Do you think it's possible that something might have happened to them mentally? Something that would make them not act like themselves?"

Kyoko pondered Makoto's train of thought and wondered "Are you referring to some kind of hypnosis, Naegi-kun?"

"I…I don't know…maybe? It's just a hunch."

"Still…perhaps it's a hunch worth testing." She turned to her father and asked "Headmaster, isn't there an Ultimate Nurse in that class?"

Jin looked at his daughter in confusion before he confirmed "Yes, her name's Mikan Tsumiki. Kyoko, what are you thinking?"

Kyoko smirked as she turned towards Chiaki and explained "Nanami's wounds are still grievous, and the Ultimate Nurse would be of considerable assistance in ensuring her swift recovery. And also…it's a perfect opportunity for us to test Makoto's hypothesis."

XXX

"Okay, I've just called the Headmaster and let him know that we're all fine so nobody suspects that we were all on campus grounds." Chisa sighed before she looked at her now despairful students and announced "Now, let's begin our final…"

*Ding Dong Bing Bong*

The familiar chime rang through the classroom as Class 77 and their teacher turned with curiosity towards the P.A. before the Headmaster's voice echoed in their ears.

"Mikan Tsumiki, please report to the Nurse's Office."

As the voice cut, Mikan fretted "Huh? W…why would they want me at the Nu…Nurse's Office?"

"Uh, hello? You're the Ultimate Nurse; they probably want you go to treat some poor sap, you trashy skank."

"Sk…Skank?!" Mikan exclaimed at Hiyoko's insult.

"Now Hiyoko, be nice." Hiyoko pouted as Chisa smiled at Mikan and urged "Go ahead and see what the Headmaster wants, okay? We can hold off on our final class together until then."

"O…okay…" Mikan timidly agreed before she turned around and stumbled out into the halls.

XXX

"Umm…you called for me, Headmaster?"

Jin, Kyoko, and Makoto turned to face Mikan before the Headmaster smiled and nodded before he explained "Yes, thank you for coming, Tsumiki. You see, my daughter and Naegi found someone gravely injured. Faculty have stabilized them for now, but we were hoping you could lend us your assistance in speeding up their recovery."

Kyoko nodded and interjected "Specifically, their wounds need to be redressed; the gauze is old and soiled with blood. I'll leave any other decisions regarding medical care up to you."

"O…okay…so…where are they…?"

"Follow me, Tsumiki-senpai." Kyoko gently ordered before she, her father, and Makoto walked further into the Nurse's Office.

Mikan nervously followed them as she wondered Who did they find? Was it a Reserve Course Student? One of the other Main Course Students? No, only us and Class 78th have survived. But then who…

Kyoko's eyes narrowed as Mikan's eyes widened at the sight of Chiaki's chest rising and falling with each shallow breath, her body wrapped with bandages to contain the blood leisurely circulating within her veins and keeping her alive.

No…it…it can't be…Chiaki! You're…alive…?