A.N: Hello again, everyone! Here's Chapter Twenty-Five of this story, taking place the day after Chapter Twenty-Four. We've got a change of POVs in this one! I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Five: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

"W-Where… W-Where am I…?"

The bright lights quickly blinded Laura's once shining blue eyes. She closed them again by reflex, and when she opened them for good, the young woman realized something.

"I'm not… dead…?"

She looked around and noticed that her long black hair was completely disheveled and that her ears were hurting like hell. Machines emitted an unbearable beeping sound. The frequency of said sound, which she realized was her heartbeat, made her conclude that this wasn't the Afterlife but something else entirely.

And in this case, it was a hospital room.

Her eyes, instead of closing this time, widened in despair as she remembered why she was there in the first place. She had had visions during this weird sleep she'd been in, but she thought it was just the Tragedy getting to her.

"TONY!"

She shivered as she heard her own voice echo in her mind. It was such a joyful shout, but it had ended tragically. Laura looked under the blanket and noticed a bandage on her midsection. She assumed she was on painkillers, but upon seeing it, it hurt all the same.

Actually, it hurt her even more. Her parents had died at the hands of some of Junko Enoshima's worshippers. She, on the other hand, had almost died at her brother's hands.

"T-Tony tried… he tried to kill me…" she told herself, the tears appearing under her eyes. "M-My brother's fallen to despair… Just how much does this Tragedy plan to take away from me…?"

Laura could recall vague elements of what had happened after she was stabbed, and in particular, the gunshots. She knew Tony didn't have a firearm with him, so it left very little to the imagination.

My brother's dead. He had to be killed because he had fallen to despair. Her mind was empty, and the tears actually disappeared. Whether it was a self-defense mechanism or something else, Laura didn't know, but she couldn't cry. Maybe her brain knew that she wouldn't be able to shed enough tears, anyway. She drew her conclusions, though.

I don't want to live anymore. If I die, I'll at least have a chance to reunite with Mom, Dad, and Tony.

When she blinked, a person flashed before her. Just one sick, despair-inducing grin and two blond pigtails, but they were enough to make Laura enrage.

"Grr… JUNKO ENOSHIMA…! JUNKO… ENOSHIMA…! Do you think you've won?!" she screamed, looking up to the ceiling as if the Ultimate Fashionista could see her from Above. "Well, do you, Junko Enoshima?!"

She screamed at the top of her lungs before taking deep breaths. Rationally, shouting at the ceiling wouldn't lead her anywhere, and she knew that. But that growing hate… it wouldn't go away. Laura didn't want it to.

Ever since her family had immigrated from America to Japan, she had suffered from remarks and mockeries. Being a foreigner had not always been easy for her and her family. However, she had forgiven those who had mocked her. All in all, Laura considered herself to be a forgiving person.

But for the leader of the Ultimate Despair, there would be no forgiveness from her.

"M-Ms. Lawn! Y-You've woken up!"

The girl looked up and noticed a team of doctors and nurses rushing inside the room, immediately checking on the different machines and getting around the bed. They looked panicked, which made Laura realize that she must have been close to not waking up.

She didn't say anything. She neither had the words nor the desire to talk.

One of the doctors gave orders to her colleagues, and the noise was bothering Laura quite a bit. She had just woken up from a - she assumed - long sleep, and she would have loved some peace and quiet. Eventually, though, it stopped, and only the leader of the doctors remained inside.

"Your state has improved quite a lot these past few days, Ms. Lawn. It's good to see you awake," she told her, giving her a reassuring smile. "You'll be just fine now. You need a few more days of bed rest, and then we'll be able to discharge you."

Laura only nodded.

"Is there anything we can do for you, Ms. Lawn? Are you perhaps hungry or thirsty?" the doctor asked. "Or maybe you need to see someone? We have already called the Ultimate Therapist from the Future Foundation so she could help you."

"You can call her and tell her that it's not needed," Laura immediately said. "I don't need to see anyone right now. Or maybe ever."

This took the doctor by surprise. "A-Are you sure, Ms. Lawn…? This therapist is known to make miracles happen-"

"Yes, I'm quite sure, thank you very much," the young woman insisted, raising her voice to show her annoyance. "After what happened, I just need some time alone."

"I understand," the older woman said. "You can always press the button by your bedside if you need a nurse for anything."

"Alright, thanks."

The doctor headed for the exit and opened the door.

Wait, actually, maybe not… "Wait a second, ma'am!"

"Yes, what is it, Ms. Lawn?"

"A-Actually…" Laura paused, thinking it through again. Is this a good idea…? So soon after what happened, can I really…? "There's actually someone I'd like to talk to."

Ugh, I'm so bored! Makoto thought, stretching and looking over at the pile of paperwork he still had to fill. Being on the field is so much better than doing this… I might just give it to my agents and see if there's anything I can do outside…

"You done with work, man? Thought we could go have a drink at the cafeteria together," Hiro suggested from the other desk. "And you're old enough to drink now, right?"

"No, I'm not, and I'd rather not touch alcohol, anyway, thanks," the Luckster replied. "I'm bored, but not that much…" Hiro always has the worst plans!

"Aww, that's a shame, for serious!"

Makoto rolled his eyes. "I'm not really a workaholic, but you really need to focus more on your work, Hiro. Kyoko's gonna be mad if you don't complete the work she gives you in time."

"Nah, you worry too much, Makoto man! I prefer to work slowly but efficiently rather than to rush things and be ineffective!" the fortune-teller explained proudly.

The Former Ultimate Lucky Student laughed. "Yeah, sure." Except that knowing you, it's slow *and* ineffective… I bet Kyoko won't be too pleased…

Hiro began to pout as he understood that his friend didn't really believe him. Makoto giggled.

The door to their joint office suddenly burst open, revealing Byakuya, who invited himself in, a professional expression on his face.

"I was hoping not to interrupt anything important, and I'm comforted to know that you two commoners still aren't working…" he said and sighed. "Anyway, the local hospital has just called. Makoto, you're required there."

"The hospital, you say…?" Makoto echoed, turning towards the Former Ultimate Affluent Progeny with a curious look. "Did they say why?"

"They didn't, but I think you should be able to figure it out on your own, Makoto," Byakuya assured him. "I don't think it's something you forgot, as clueless as you can be."

The Luckster thought for a second before a lightbulb appeared over his head. "I-I got it!"

"Good. I told the hospital you'd be on your way as soon as possible. A helicopter's waiting for you in front of the building."

"Okay, thanks, Byakuya. I appreciate it," the hazel-eyed young man said with a grateful smile. If it is what I think it is, it could either be great or terrible news…! Let's hope for the former!

"Hm, maybe you'll say that I'm stupid or something, but…" Hiro cut them, looking genuinely puzzled. "Isn't the boss supposed to tell us this, Byakuya man? This sounds like something she'd be doing, for serious."

"My, you said something intelligent for once, congratulations," Byakuya deadpanned. "Director Kirigiri told me she was meeting with Munakata and Tengan to bring them her attacker. They've attacked the wrong person, it would seem."

"Ah, I see…" That's not so surprising… And Byakuya's right: attacking someone else would have been wiser for them… He rolled his eyes in amusement. "So you're in charge for now?"

"Indeed. And since you will be gone for a while and that I am temporarily your boss, I better see you working harder than that, you idiot!" the Togami heir ordered Hiro, pointing at him disapprovingly. "You're lucky she won't be gone forever, or I would have fired you!"

Makoto sweatdropped, knowing it was better to leave before the argument escalated. He discretely left the office, leaving the two Former Ultimates to argue on their own.

Better get going quickly, so I don't make the pilot wait for too long. The Luckster thought, closing the door behind me so that the agents wouldn't be disturbed by Byakuya's orders. It seems everybody's working hard, as always… It's relieving to see this… It makes me believe that we'll put an end to the Tragedy soon!

Makoto smiled as he reached the elevator and pushed the button to open it. He heard someone walking up behind him.

"O-Oh, it's you…"

The young man turned around and noticed Toko standing next to him, still in her casual clothes, though her usual braids were gone and her purple hair was let loose. She was carrying a file under her arm.

"Oh, hey, Toko! How are you doing?" Makoto asked with a friendly smile. He had not seen the Former Ultimate Writing Prodigy around much with how much work he had to do. "Is work going well for you?"

"I-I'm sure y-you don't r-really care…" she said as they got inside the elevator. "M-Master Togami is p-putting so much p-pressure on me to w-work hard… b-but I'll do it! A-And then… t-then he'll acknowledge me!"

Well, she's got one goal in mind, so I guess that's good…? Makoto wondered, taken aback by the novelist's determination. "I wish you luck, Toko. Byakuya's currently in my shared office with Hiro, bossing him around, in case you need to look for him later."

"M-My Master's with t-that idiot a-again…?" she sighed and looked down to the floor of the elevator. "H-He's going to ruin M-Master's golden brain with h-his idiocy! I-I can't believe he's a S-Special Agent and not me!"

"Well…" Makoto scratched his head, unsure of what to say to that. Hiro might not be my brightest friend, but he doesn't have a split personality with a serial killer, at least… He made sure not to say that out loud. "Maybe you'll get a promotion soon, who knows?"

"Y-Yes, y-you're right! And f-for that, I-I need to impress M-Master!" she suddenly looked at the Luckster with angry eyes. "A-And I need to not waste my t-time with p-plebians like you!"

With that, the Former Ultimate Writing Prodigy rushed out of the elevator, leaving Makoto confused. He sighed, knowing that trying to understand Toko was a lost cause.

If she's even using Byakuya's insults now…

The door opened slowly, startling Laura. She'd been staring at the ceiling for far too long, thinking about nothing, or, at least, trying to. The longer she could hold the thoughts of what had happened away, the better she would be doing.

"The doctors told me this was the room…" she heard a man mutter, closing the door behind him. "It'd be embarrassing if I got the wrong one…"

Laura smiled in amusement, knowing that, other than the voice, there was one person she knew who could possibly tell themselves that.

"Ah, you're finally here… Good morning, Mr. Naegi, sir," she greeted, trying to stand as upright as she could with the cables surrounding her. "I was about to say 'long time no see,' but that would be pretty uncalled for, wouldn't it…?"

"Ms. Lawn! So it is you!" Makoto exclaimed, walking to the woman's bedside. "It's good to see you awake!"

"Thank you, Mr. Naegi…" Laura humbly said. "Well… I'm not sure I really wanted to wake up, you know…?"

The Luckster frowned. "O-Oh, hm…" he bowed his head in apology. "I'm sorry if this came off the wrong way. I didn't mean any harm. You have my sincerest condolences, Ms. Lawn."

"I-It's okay, Mr. Naegi, sir… I know you didn't mean it in a bad way," Laura assured him, her voice stuck on that sad and depressed tone. "And besides, I guess dying would have been choosing the easy way out…"

Makoto's eyes lost a bit of their hopeful gleam as he looked uncomfortably around the room. He finally sighed and sat down on the chair next to the hospital bed.

"I don't mean to compare what we went through, Ms. Lawn, but during the Killing Game, every time one of my friends died, a part of me asked itself this question," he admitted, crossing his arms. "But every time, I convinced myself that life was always worth living. And I still stand by that belief, even today."

"Yeah… I guess you're right… It's just difficult, you know…?" Laura sobbed a bit before wiping away the tears. "I'm feeling so much hate right now. I'm sad, too, of course, but it's mostly hate… against her, especially."

"I can't say I know exactly how you feel, Ms. Lawn, but I do understand how hard this must be for you," Makoto assured her, leaning forward on his chair. "What happened to you is just horrible, and it's one more crime that can be added to the list of the atrocities Junko is responsible for. But still…"

He paused for a second, biting his lip. Laura looked at him with surprise.

"While I'll never forgive her, I have to move on from my hate for Junko," the Luckster stated, looking at his shoes. "What she did to my friends… I hope there's someone to punish her for that up above, you know? But if I spend my days thinking of her, I'll never be able to move forward."

H-How can he say that…? H-How can he not hate her…? Laura wondered. "B-But I can't move forward anymore, Mr. Naegi! I-I'm all alone now!"

"That's not true, Ms. Lawn. The Future Foundation is here. I'm here."

Her blue eyes widened as Makoto's words reached her.

"I had never planned to become a student of Hope's Peak Academy and to be forced into this Killing Game. Being called the Ultimate Hope… there isn't a day I wake up not thinking that it's absolutely ridiculous. But then," a determined look entered his eyes, and he spoke with conviction. "I don't care about titles, but I know I care more about hope than many. Because I've experienced despair, I've realized how valuable hope is. Maybe I'll die the second I leave this hospital, but if I do, I'll at least know that I never gave in. I'll help people as much as it's needed, and you'll be one of them."

"M-Mr. Naegi…" H-He's so strong… H-He's my inspiration… Laura began to cry, finally letting it all out. "T-Thank you…"

"You're welcome, Ms. Lawn."

He smiled at her, trying to ease her worries. She cried uncontrollably, and he didn't stop her. Laura didn't even know why it was happening now and not before, but she didn't have time to think about it. Makoto handed her a tissue which she took with a grateful nod.

After a few minutes, her crying subsided, and she stared right into the wall.

People like Mr. Naegi… they're the people I need around me if I want to find a new meaning in my life. I have to accept that I can't change the past, but… if he could see hope again… then maybe I can, too…?

"When you are discharged from the hospital, ask for my number at Division Fourteen of the Future Foundation, okay? I'll ask Director Kirigiri if I can place you under my protection for the time being, alright?"

"Y-You… You'd do that for me, Mr. Naegi…?"

Makoto nodded. "Of course, Ms. Lawn. I'm not sure how good my protection would be, but my agents are pros, so they'll be able to keep you safe once you're discharged. You'll be alright, Ms. Lawn; believe in me."

His voice was so reassuring, so kind… Laura felt more at peace after every word he said to her. The young woman didn't know how to describe it, but what Makoto was making her feel right now was already making her feel safer. Like she didn't have to worry so much anymore.

"I… I believe in you, Mr. Naegi." I need to believe in him…

The Former Ultimate Lucky Student smiled warmly at Laura. He stood up from his chair and dusted off his suit.

"I'll let you get some well-needed rest, Ms. Lawn," he told her, extending his hand in her direction. "I wish you a speedy recovery."

She shook his hand with some hesitation, but the peaceful expression on his face made her relax. Everything seemed easier around him as if his hope was contagious. She vaguely recalled him saying something of the kind during his Killing Game. His words were a way of life, a source of inspiration.

"T-Thank you, M-Mr. Naegi…"

"Don't worry about it. Well, take care, Ms. Lawn."

With one last smile, Makoto took his leave, closing the door and leaving Laura alone. However, contrary to before, she didn't feel alone anymore. She could feel the warmth of Makoto's presence still close to her, and his reassuring voice echoed in her mind.

I know what I want to do now… what I need to do to make sure I don't fall into despair like Tony did…

Laura closed her eyes and fell asleep, but instead of her previous nightmares, the young woman headed off towards some sweet dreams, making her come to the subconscious realization that all hope wasn't lost yet.

To be continued…

A.N: There's an Ace Attorney reference in this chapter, yet again. And since I want to make things interesting, I'll write a short oneshot for whoever finds it and tells me what it is either in a PM or in a review. It's really well-hidden, but I think it can be found by paying close attention. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter! Please leave a review, and I hope you all have a nice day! :)