A/N: This twoshot is the result of an ask sent by a reader on AO3 and Tumblr, and takes place after "New Transfer Student?!" Please read and review, and enjoy!

The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Hajime's Anger!

Chapter One: Hajime Blows Up!

"Alright, Akki, that concludes our session." Komaru announced as the police officer approached her from behind.

Hajime nodded as their patient was handcuffed and directed "Officer, please escort Tamonozan out of our office."

Akki glared one last time at her therapists before she stood up and was directed out of the door.

As the officer closed the door behind them, Komaru turned to her husband and asked "Hajime, are you doing alright?"

"Hm?" Startled, Hajime turned to his wife and asked "What do you mean, Komaru?"

Komaru's brow furrowed as she admitted "Well…you've just been a little…on edge whenever Akki's come in for our sessions."

Hajime averted his gaze, as he couldn't deny that he had felt much more tense whenever he was in the same room as his niece's former classmate. Once she left, he was able to relax and return to his practical, yet cheery self, but now that Komaru had brought up the elephant in the room, he couldn't help but dwell on the subject.

Not wanting to upset his wife though, Hajime faked a smile and assured her "Komaru, I'm fine, really." He leaned over to kiss her on the cheek before he suggested "Come on, let's go put Akki's file away before we go and pick up Soka from your mother's.

"…If you say so…" Komaru muttered as her brow furrowed suspiciously before she helped to gather up the paperwork.

Once it was deposited into the proper file in the drawer, Hajime walked over to the door and held it open for his wife. With a nod, Komaru walked through the door, leaving Hajime to close it behind him before they walked through the halls of Hope's Peak Academy.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Soka cheered as he waddled over to his parents.

Komaru grinned and scooped him into her arms, ruffling his spiky brown-green hair and ahoge and making him laugh as she greeted "There's my little boy!"

Hajime smiled at his wife and son before he looked at his smiling mother-in-law and asked "How was he, Mom? I hope he wasn't too much trouble."

Hana rolled her eyes and assured him "Nothing I haven't dealt with as a parent before, dear. He's actually much better behaved than his mother was at his age."

"Mom!" Komaru pouted, making her husband and son laugh at her expense. "Oh, I just remembered something." Hina exclaimed as her eyes widened, making her mother, husband, and son look curiously at her. "Hajime, you wanna take Soka to the car and buckle him in? I'll join you as soon as I'm finished with Mom."

Hajime's brow furrowed in curiosity, but he simply shrugged and agreed "Alright, I'll see you in a bit. Come on, Soka, let's leave your mother and baa-chan alone for a minute."

As Hajime took his son and walked away, Soka waved at his mother until his father closed the door behind them.

Komaru sighed and turned to her curious mother before she asked "Mom, do you remember when I told you that Hajime and I were going to be giving therapy to that girl who tried to take over Kiki's middle school?"

"Yes, Akki was her name, right?" As Komaru nodded, Hana continued "I'll admit, when you told me that, I was more than a little concerned. I certainly wouldn't have permitted you to be in the same room as someone who tried to kill you or your brother when you two were kids."

"I know, and I don't love it either. But Hajime…ever since we started giving Akki therapy, he's gotten progressively more on edge."

"Well, giving her therapy does mean that he has to be in the same room with the person who tried to kill his wife for long durations of time." Hana pointed out. "That can't be easy to do."

"Yeah, and I get that, really." Komaru explained "But I tried to talk to him about it today, and he insisted he was fine."

"Well, maybe he just didn't want to worry you and cause problems at home. You remember how your brother used to hide all the bullying incidents he went through at school so you'd still think he was strong, right?"

"Alright, so how do I get him to talk about it?" Komaru asked. "It can't be healthy holding that in all the time. Makoto used to have nightmares for crying out loud!"

"That's a difficult question, Komaru, and I'm not sure there's a right answer here. Give him some time to cool off, subtly remind him that you're there to help him if he needs it, and try bringing it up on a day when you don't have to give Akki therapy."

Komaru smiled softly and nodded before she stood up, exclaiming "You're right! Thanks, Mom, you're the best!"

Hana smiled and replied "My pleasure, dear. Now, don't keep your husband and son waiting, okay?"

"Don't worry, I won't! Thanks, Mom, I love you!" Komaru told her mother before she turned around and rushed toward the door.

Hana giggled as the door closed behind Komaru, leaving the grandmother alone in her house.

Quiet chewing noises echoed in the dining room as the Naegis, Momotas, and Hinatas ate their dinner. Makoto and Kyoko had invited Komaru, Hajime, and Soka over for a friendly weekend dinner, though Makoto and Kyoko noticed the tension between Komaru and Hajime once they walked in. As a result, the fun family dinner Makoto and Kyoko had planned was anything but. Even the youngest of the children sitting at the table could feel the negative atmosphere, causing them to stay silent out of fear of rocking the proverbial boat.

It was Makoto who awkwardly broke the silence, coughing into his fist before he asked "So, Hajime, how have the therapy sessions been going? I haven't been overloading you two with work, have I?"

Startled, Hajime stammered "Oh, uh, n…no, I'm fine…"

Maki narrowed her eyes after she turned away from her daughter and inquired "Are you certain? I could feel the repressed anger radiating from you ever since you walked in."

Hajime's eyes widened for a split second before he forced his face to emulate a more neutral expression.

"I'm telling you, I'm fi…"

"That's it! I'm tired of tiptoeing around this, Hajime!"

"Ko…Komaru…" Hajime breathed as his wife turned to glare at him, their son watching curiously from his chair.

"There's something you're not telling me, Hajime, and you're not fooling anybody!" She pointed the her nieces and nephews as she exclaimed "Even the kids know something's up. I've never seen them so quiet at the dinner table in my life, and I helped babysit them for years!"

"Komaru, I told you, I'm fine, so just leave it alone…" Hajime muttered, clenching his fists as he struggled to prevent his stress and anger from bubbling to the surface.

"No, I won't leave it alone!" Komaru rejected. "Ever since we started giving Akki therapy sessions, you've been so on edge! I know something about seeing her makes you upset, but you won't talk to me about it! Please, Hajime, just tell me what's wrong…"

"I SAID I'M FINE!" Hajime roared as he stood up and slammed his hands on the table, causing everyone's plates to rumble as they felt the shockwaves of his hands.

Hajime glanced around, hyperventilating furiously as everyone stared in shock at his unusually furious outburst. It was Mokubo who broke the silence, hanging his head as he began to sniffle, tears welling in his eyes before they trickled down his cheeks. Once Mokubo began to cry, Soka erupted into tears, wailing as Makoto and Komaru each rushed to tend to their saddened children.

"Moku, don't cry, it's okay, it's okay…"

"Soka, it's okay, Mommy's here, Mommy's here…"

Hajime gradually calmed down, the sight of his longtime patient and toddling son shedding tears at his behavior shocking him back to his senses.

What the…what have I done…?

Kyoko cleared her throat and stood up, glaring at Hajime as she firmly suggested "Hajime, I think you should leave. I will not tolerate any potentially violent outbursts in my house, especially in front of my children."

After a tense minute of silence during which Mokubo and Soka finally calmed down, Hajime took a deep breath and relented "Alright, Komaru, Soka, let's…"

"Komaru and Soka will be staying here for tonight." Makoto declared firmly, narrowing his eyes at his brother-in-law before he continued "I have concerns as Komaru's brother and Soka's nephew about them spending the night alone with you after such a ferocious outburst."

"You…you actually think I'd…" Hajime breathed in shock, a single tear trickling down his cheek.

"Hajime…" Everyone turned to Komaru, who averted her gaze from her husband as she reasoned "I…think a night of space might do some good."

"Komaru…"

As tears streamed down the hurt Hajime's face, Makoto nodded and advised his brother-in-law "Go home, Hajime. Take the night to cool off and reflect, then you and Komaru can talk about this tomorrow morning."

"…I'm…I'm sorry…" Hajime apologized, still crying as he turned around and stormed out of the dining room, his cries echoing in their ears.

Once he was out of earshot, Makoto sighed and announced "Alright, I think it's safe to say dinner's over. Why don't we all take our baths and go to bed early?"

"…Mom…?"

"Hm?" Kyoko asked as she tucked her son into bed.

"…What's…wrong with Uncle…Hajime?"

Kyoko sighed as she gave Mokubo his stuffed teddy bear and told him "Well, Moku…sometimes people get really angry. And sometimes when people are angry, they do or say things that hurt people when they don't mean to…"

Kyoko flashed back to the Killing School Life, recalling Chihiro's crucified corpse and Mondo's remorseful admission that he had accidentally killed the Ultimate Programmer in an accidental fit of rage.

"…Are Aunt Komaru and Uncle Hajime…not going to love each other anymore?"

Kyoko bit her lip in hesitation. The ex-detective was never good at sugarcoating things for the sake of comforting others who could be hurt by the truth. Making people feel better was Makoto's skill, not hers, but she knew she had to tell her son something, especially considering how much he grew to love and idolize his aunt and uncle.

"Mokubo…I wish I could give you an answer, but that really depends on whether Komaru wants to work things out after this. We just have to hold out hope that things will be okay."

"…Hope…that's Kiki's thing…" Mokubo muttered skeptically as he hugged his teddy bear tighter.

…You really are my son… Kyoko thought with an amused smile as she leaned down to kiss her son's forehead. "I know it's hard to hope sometimes, but if there's one thing I learned from your father, it's to never doubt in the power of hope. So let's just hope that your aunt and uncle can work things out, and deal with what comes."

"…If you say so…" Mokubo yawned as he turned on his side and closed his eyes, drifting off into sleep.

"…Sweet dreams, Mokubo…" Kyoko cooed before she kissed his cheek, causing a soft smile to gently tug at Mokubo's lips before she stood up and tiptoed out of his room.

She took one last look back before she closed the door behind her and walked towards her room to wait for Makoto.

"…Thanks for letting us stay here tonight, Onii-chan…" Komaru muttered as the now sleeping Soka snuggled closer to her breast.

Makoto smiled, sitting on the edge of the bed as he told her "Hey, it's my job as your big brother to look after you when you need me."

Komaru smiled at Makoto, never more appreciative just how lucky she was to have him as her brother than she was right now. Her thoughts drifted to her husband, causing her to frown.

"Hey, what's wrong, sis?"

Komaru sighed and openly wondered "I don't get it, Makoto. All I wanted was to be there for him, to let him know he could talk to me about what was bothering him…and he just blew up in my face. What did I do wrong?"

"Oh, Komaru, you didn't do anything wrong!" Makoto assured her as he stroked her hair. "Sometimes, these things just happen with relationships. People fight, even when they're married. And sometimes those fights can get really bad, but it doesn't mean people don't love each other."

Komaru snorted and muttered "Bet you and Kyoko never had any fights this bad…"

Makoto smiled wryly and rolled his eyes as he commented "Oh, I can think of a couple…"

"…Like what…?" Komaru asked curiously, wondering what fights could have been so bad as to tear her brother and sister-in-law apart.

Makoto sighed heavily and explained "Well, we weren't engaged at the time, but there was one fight that was really bad. It was a couple days before you and Mom and Dad called us and Headmaster Kirigiri during our final video call."

Komaru nodded, recalling how scared she had been when she overheard her parents' hushed talks about calling in favors from Jin in case the three of them didn't live through the Tragedy.

"You see, Kyoko's father had told her not to investigate the Tragedy any longer, out of concern for her safety. She…didn't take it very well, and she came to me to vent. I tried to act as a mediator of sorts, you know, tried to put her father's perspective in a way she could understand. It…only frustrated her, and in her anger, she said that she oculd have solved the mystery if we hadn't been dating."

Komaru's eyes widened as she processed the revelation that her sister-in-law had said something so horrible to the man she loved with all her heart.

"She wasn't trying to break up with me, and she tried to do damage control as soon as those words left her lips, but I…misinterpreted and…ran out. I shut myself in my room for the next couple of days. I was too heartbroken to risk seeing her, and she was too embarrassed by her outburst to try and patch things up. It took some…outside interference, but in the end, we did manage to patch things up and we got back together." No way am I gonna give JUNKO any credit!

"I…I had no idea…" Komaru muttered, shocked that mere words had nearly torn such a model couple apart.

"We've had a couple of other bad fights in the years since, but we've learned to keep our cool and make sure they never get out of hand. The last thing we want is for the kids to come home to a house where their parents are yelling at each other half the time."

Komaru nodded and lamented "I…I don't want things to end between me and Hajime. I love him, and I don't want Soka to grow up without his father. But I can't have him bottling everything up, then yelling at us when he explodes."

Makoto smiled and advised Komaru "Then tell him that. Once he's calmed down, organize a time when you two can meet and talk things out. Kyoko and I can be there to make sure nothing's out of hand, and we'll ask Mom and Dad to babysit Soka, Mokubo, Koto, and Kiri. Kiki's fifteen, so she can stay over at Tsumugi or Gonta's house."

Komaru nodded, deciding "…I'll call him tomorrow, after breakfast."

Makoto smiled and kissed Komaru and Soka on the foreheads before he told he "Alright, get some sleep, imoto. I love you."

"Love you too, Onii-chan." Komaru whispered as she closed her eyes while Makoto stood up.

Makoto walked over to the open door, grabbing the doorknob before he looked over his shoulder to steal a glance at his slumbering sister and nephew. Makoto smiled lovingly before he quietly closed the door behind him and walked to his room, looking forward to snuggling with his own spouse.