A/N: This oneshot takes place after "Kiki's First Date!" Please read, review, and enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Acceptance?!
Kiki, Tsumugi, and Gonta sat on the floor in the living room, playing a party game on Kiki's Nintendo Switch. The three friends smiled as they enjoyed their time together. Despite the fact that Kiki had in essence rejected Gonta's affections for her, the teenage girl didn't permit things to be awkward for long. She had made crystal clear to the bug enthusiast that she still valued him as a friend, and he had vowed never to throw away her friendship. Tsumugi meanwhile was slightly disappointed as a spectator that a romantic relationship between her two best friends didn't work out, but was mostly happy that her social circle wasn't splitting up.
That didn't mean that the three of them weren't anxious at all however. The three of them were about to enter high school and they all decided to apply to the most prestigious high school in Japan, Hope's Peak Academy. Despite her family relations, Kiki took the standard entrance exam like any other student, and Makoto, in the interest of avoiding any appearance of favoritism, had left the decision of her acceptance in Byakuya's hands, whom he trusted to judge fairly.
With their acceptance letters due back any day, the trio decided to relieve their suspense by relaxing at Kiki's house and playing some video games. Her younger siblings meanwhile stayed in their rooms while Makoto and Kyoko were in the kitchen, just within earshot in case the teenagers needed them.
"YES!" Kiki cheered as the game ended, proclaiming her the winner.
"You always win at these games, Kiki." Tsumugi observed.
Kiki chuckled "Well, they are at my house, so it's not surprising that I'm good at them."
"Gonta doesn't care about losing, as long as Gonta can play with friends!"
"Glad to see you're being such a good sport, Gonta."
The three teenagers turned and stood up to see Makoto and Kyoko walking up to them, the patriarch holding a trio of envelopes in his hands.
"Oh, Mr. Naegi!" Tsumugi exclaimed. "Those envelopes..."
"...Is Gonta's in there too?"
Makoto smiled and nodded, explaining "That's right, I had all three delivered here since you three were coming over today. One for Gonta, one for Tsumugi, and one for Kiki!"
"Thanks, Dad!" Kiki cheered, causing her parents to smile.
"Well, don't keep us in suspense!" Kyoko urged them with a smile "Go ahead and open them."
The trio nodded and pinched the top of their envelopes before Kiki counted down "Alright, on three, we all open them together. Ichi...Ni...SAN!"
Several tearing sounds echoed in their ears as they opened the envelopes and began to read their contents.
"Dear Kiki Naegi,
We're pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hope's Peak Academy. Please attend your orientation where..."
The rest of the letter may as well have been gibberish to Kiki as tears of joy trickled down her cheeks.
"I...I got in!"
"Me too, Kiki!"
"Gonta got accepted too!" Gonta exclaimed.
"YES!" They all cheered "We're all going to high school together at Hope's Peak Academy!"
Makoto and Kyoko smiled proudly at their daughter and future students as they all high fived each other before Kiki ran over to her parents and hugged them tightly.
"We're so proud of you, Kiki." Makoto told his daughter lovingly.
"That's right." Kyoko agreed. "You got in all on your own merits."
"...I promise, I'll make you proud." Kiki murmured, making her parents beam.
"Haha! Hogo!" Kiki laughed as her dog ran in and leapt on her, tackling her to the floor and causing her to fall on her back as he leaned in and kissed her face.
"Hogo, off." Kyoko ordered, causing the dog to whine for a second before walking off Kiki. As her laughter subsided and Kiki stood up with letter in hand, Kyoko suggested "Well, why don't we all go outside and take a picture to commemorate the occasion?"
"YAY!" Kiki cheered.
"I'd love to, Mrs. Naegi." Tsumugi agreed.
"Gonta would be happy to take a photo! Then Gonta can show it to his family and make them proud!"
"Excellent. Well then, shall we go?"
"It's absolutely beautiful outside, isn't it?" Makoto observed as he stared up at the sunny, blue skies.
Kyoko nodded, agreeing "Indeed, the skies are clear, the sun is shining, it's almost as if the heavens themselves are congratulating Kiki on her accomplishment."
"That seems like a little much, don't you think?" Kiki replied, though deep down she admitted Though I wouldn't mind if Grandma and Grandpa Kirigiri were smiling down on me right now.
As she shook the thought away, Kyoko held up her phone and directed "Alright, you three, follow my directions, okay? Gonta, you stand over there. Tsumugi, you stand on his right. Kiki, you stand on his left."
The trio quickly got into position before Kyoko held up her phone. The attention caused Gonta to smile bashfully and hold his hand behind his head, blushing as Kiki held her right hand against his back and made a peace sign with the other. Tsumugi meanwhile folded her hands in front of her and smiled politely as Kyoko began to count down.
"Alright you three, say cheese!"
"CHEESE!"
Kyoko tapped the icon on her phone, causing the device to take a picture. As the trio relaxed, Kyoko opened her Photos app and tapped on the picture, smiling at the memory.
"It's perfect."
"Really? Let me see, Mom!"
"I hope I turned out okay!"
"Gonta want to see his picture too!"
Kyoko giggled as the trio immediately huddled behind her, peering over her shoulder to see the photo she had taken.
"I think I look rather pretty in this shot..." Tsumugi commented, smiling at her appearance.
"Gonta looks kind of silly..." Gonta lamented.
"I think you look kind of cute, Gonta." Kiki complimented as she smiled at her friend.
"Thanks, but Kiki looks even cuter...sorry, Gonta shouldn't have..."
"It's okay, I get what you meant, Gonta, and I appreciate the sweet compliment." Kiki giggled.
Gonta sighed in relief before Tsumugi turned to the Naegis and told them "Well, thank you for letting me come over, Mr. and Mrs. Naegi, but I should probably get home and show my parents the acceptance letter."
"Gonta should do that too!" Gonta grinned as he exclaimed gleefully "Gonta is thrilled to show his family his accomplishment!"
"Of course, by all means, go and celebrate with your families." Makoto nodded and bid them farewell "Tell your parents we said hello, okay?"
"Okay, see you later, Mr. Naegi!"
"Goodbye, Mr. Naegi!" Gonta called as he and Tsumugi left.
"Bye!" Kiki called as she waved back.
Once they disappeared from view, Makoto suggested "Well, Kiki, why don't we share the good news with your brothers and sister?"
Kiki blew out the candles on her congratulations cake. Makoto thankfully had the foresight to bake one that day, even before he knew whether his daughter would be accepted. When Kiki had asked after dinner when he brought out the cake how he knew she'd get accepted, he simply smiled at her and told her that he believed in her talents and his luck.
With the cake now cut, Kyoko began giving everyone their pieces and they all began eating. Kiki felt tears of joy well in her eyes as she sat surrounded by her parents, brothers, and sister, all of whom smiled proudly at her.
Mom, Dad, Moku, Koto, Kiri...I'm glad I got into Hope's Peak Academy...but not for the prestige. I'm just glad...I could make you all proud of me, as a daughter, and as a sister. I promise, I'll prove myself worthy of being part of Hope's Peak Academy's student body!