The Fighting Company President
Disclaimer:
Danganronpa is owned by Spike Chunsoft and Lerche
Danganronpa: Togami is owned by Yuya Sato and Seikaisha
Kamen Rider Zero-One is owned by Ishimori Productions
Many thanks to those who read and reviewed this fic. I really appreciated it and this gave me inspiration to work on the next chapter and here Naegi's BEGINNINGS continue as he gets to move on after meeting the Togami family, who is said to be his extended family, only find that he is being rejected…and find out someone who is willing to take him in…
Now Naegi's life begins anew and where his eventual fate lies in…
Well then, read on and enjoy!
In the years that passed, life goes on, and the young boy who was orphaned and learned that he is a distant relative of the Togami family only to be rejected by the patriarch of the Togami family and is more than willing to dispose of orphan, but is saved by another elderly Togami family member, and took the boy in and adopted him.
The boy is now living rather comfortably under the tutelage of Koran Togami, and the boy treated Koran as if he were his biological grandfather as the two got along well, as Koran shouldered the boy's tuition fees as the boy finished elementary school and eventually started middle school, where the boy diligently studied well and earned moderate grades and never did he gave Koran problems.
-x-
At the Togami manor, Elder Togami was kept abreast of what his younger sibling is doing, and his servant told Elder Togami what Koran is doing, and the Togami patriarch is aghast that Koran really adopted an outsider and he really wanted to lecture him on this, feeling that the orphaned boy has no right being in the Togami family, yet the servant told his master that nothing else matter for Elder Togami must focus on who will become the next heir, and Elder Togami nodded, as he believed that only one among his grandchildren will emerge the winner and become the next heir.
Moreover, once his next heir is named, he will train him to look after the Togami fortune and empire, as well as to rule Japan and the rest of the world.
"You should focus on that, master."
"Yes…you are right."
"The future of your family would depend on who will become the next heir."
"Yes…and will continue to bring glory to our powerful family."
"I am sure it will favor you tremendously, master."
"Indeed."
"Now then…"
"Yes."
Ch. 3: Sodatsu
A few more years have passed and things were relatively peaceful, and today is the day that Makoto Naegi is having a day off. He is due to turn 15 in a few months and have already graduated middle school, and for now he has yet to decide which high school he would enroll, but he is not in a hurry, as he is enjoying his time off.
As he left the manor, Koran watches his adopted grandson leave, glad that Makoto adjusted well after the tragedy that befell him yet he remained optimistic, and by then a limousine arrived just as Koran stepped out of the manor. The limousine door opened and someone came out. A teenage-looking girl appeared, yet she has mechanical bear-like ears in place of human ears, and she greeted Koran and informed him of today's meeting.
"Good day, President Togami."
"Yes, good morning."
"The limousine is waiting outside."
"Thank you."
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yes."
"Then let us depart, president."
"Thank you."
The teenage-looking girl who has metallic bear-like ears in place of real ears is identified only as CHIAKI (resembling Chiaki Nanami from Danganronpa 2), who is Koran's secretary, and there she laid out the list of today's activities and Koran nodded, as he is looking forward to today's work and is expecting things to be peaceful within his company.
CHIAKI is revealed to be a Kuma-Gear, an android that is imbued with advanced AI that lets her think independently and do things like other people do, and for now she is a secretary-type Kuma-Gear, who is programmed as the secretary of the company president, and right now she is serving Koran as he is the president of his company, Hidden Intelligence.
However, CHIAKI informed Koran that his elder brother, Elder Togami, has found an heir to the Togami conglomerate, and that he, along with the majority of the board of directors, approved in appointing the heir to the Togami conglomerate as the vice president of Hidden Intelligence, which Koran stared intently, as he realized that his elder brother is meddling again.
Koran realized that his elder brother is intent in having a family member to inherit the company in order to flaunt the Togami family name as well as to use it as a means to show how powerful the Togami family is, and he asked CHIAKI who is the new heir and she answered Koran's question.
"Tell me…who is this new heir?"
"Byakuya Togami."
"One of my grandsons."
"From what I found out…Byakuya is now the appointed heir…defeating his other relatives his age…and now the lost candidates have been exiled from the Togami family, cut off financially as well…"
"…"
"Yet their parents remained in elder Togami's graces…"
"I…see…"
"That is all, president."
Koran was quite silent upon hearing that his grandson, Byakuya Togami, was appointed as the heir, having heard that Byakuya has headed some companies owned by the Togami family and that at the age of 14 the young heir has amassed a lot of fortune.
As the limousine is nearing the corporate building, Koran sighed as he is sure that his elder brother will be there to introduce his grandson as the newly-appointed vice president, and now Koran has to brace himself as he expected a heated argument between them for not consulting him over this matter.
-x-
Inside the corporate building of Hidden Intelligence, the scene shifts at the meeting room where various financial backers, the board of directors, Elder Togami, Mr. Togami and his son Byakuya are in attendance, and soon Koran entered the room where everyone greeted him, and while Koran nodded, he was not quite in a mood and immediately went straight to the point, asking his elder brother what is he thinking and why appoint a vice president without consulting him.
Elder Togami reasoned that it is necessary as there is no telling what would happen if Koran were to suddenly pass away, and that Hidden Intelligence should be placed in CAPABLE HANDS when the time comes, but Koran asked why is he not consulted on this and why the sudden appointment, in which Elder togami said that the board of directors anonymously voted without question.
CHIAKI watches on as Koran questioned the sudden inclusion of Byakuya and what is the motive behind this, pointing out that normally he would be at least consulted about this, but Elder Togami stated that aside from Byakuya being well-suited, he also said that his grandson is the only choice to become vice president, and that there is no other viable candidate other than Byakuya.
However, Koran verbally answered back, telling him that Byakuya is THE ONLY VIABLE appointee is due to the rest of Byakuya's siblings and relatives his age were exiled after losing the coveted prize of becoming the heir to the Togami family fortune. He even stated in front of everyone that he does not want a vice president who is connected to the Togami family because Elder togami wanted someone to show superiority of the Togami family and nothing else.
Koran then said that ONLY HE has the final say on who will become his successor, as the qualities he is looking for is someone who is passionate, empathic, and cares of everyone and not as selfish as the rest of the Togami family members, Elder Togami included.
This did not sit well with Elder Togami and told Koran that the board of directors' decision is final and that Byakuya will become the successor to the Hidden Intelligence, and there is no one else qualified other than Byakuya, and this triggered a heated argument between the elderly siblings.
"You have no right meddling in my affairs, brother. What you're doing is unreasonable."
"I have every right, Koran. The Togami family played a role in keeping this company alive and put it on top of the world. You are not getting any younger, and until recently you haven't named a successor, so I placed one here."
"I prefer someone not connected to the family, brother. The fact that you made it without my involvement shows that you only want to flaunt the family influence within this company."
"Do not be stubborn, Koran. This is for the sake of the company we fought so hard to maintain…"
"No, my brother. You did this so that you can showcase the family name and not for the company."
"Like it or not, Koran. The decision is final. Everyone else agreed to it and voted. Our grandson is now the vice president and cannot be revoked."
"…"
"Now then, let us get down to business…"
CHIAKI saw the rather irritated look on Koran, seeing that Elder Togami and Mr. Togami smirking as they used their influence to have Byakuya appointed as vice president of the Hidden Intelligence, and yet she remained neutral and await orders as the meeting is underway.
-x-
Meanwhile, the scene shifts to Makoto Naegi, lamenting how today was not a lucky day for him. Makoto's life has been nothing but normal up till that point - normal school, normal friends, and a normal family of sorts, as he only has an adopted grandfather supporting him. Despite the recent tragedies in his life, he remained optimistic and not letting it damper his spirits.
He's pretty much the textbook example of a normal teenager as he is in the midst of finding a high school that he intend to enroll at. However, something went wrong on that particular day.
It all started on a clear day after school. Makoto was in a cheery mood thanks to the weather, and he had a feeling that something good might just happen to him. One thought occurred to him - maybe he should take the long way home. He thought about doing something different than usual.
And that was the beginning of his misfortune. Makoto passed by a park, and saw a group of his friends trying to decide who to send to the convenience store in a game of rock-paper-scissors. They invited Makoto to join the game, and although Makoto would've usually refused it (he didn't know more than half of the people anyways), he felt that he might as well do something different in this case as well. Plus - there were about 10 people in the group. He didn't think losing was a big possibility.
Yet he lost on the first round. Everyone except for him put out rock, while he played scissors. His friends were astonished at just how unlucky Makoto was, but sent him off to the convenience store to buy them snacks and drinks regardless.
Ten minutes later, Makoto was struggling with the two heavy bags filled with the stuff he got from the convenience store. He tried to distract himself by thinking of the music show that'll be on TV tonight - featuring a certain former classmate of his. Yet as his mood began to improve, misfortune struck again. Both of the plastic bags tore open at the same time, spilling their contents all across the pavement.
A few minutes passed and Makoto finished collecting all the cans and bags, but wondered for a moment, as he felt like the stuff he managed to gather was less than what he had started out with. He looked around and spotted an old man sitting on the bench. The old man slowly bent down and picked up a can of coffee that rolled to a stop at his feet, opened it up and drank it.
That can of coffee belonged to Makoto - yet the old man said he felt that it was natural to drink it since it ended up right in front of him. Makoto is flabbergasted at this incredulous excuse, and revealed to the old man that he seemed to be having a very unlucky day, complaining that he didn't do anything bad enough to deserve this streak of misfortune.
The old man laughed and told Makoto that he didn't believe in karma at all. He'd seen plenty of evil people be blessed with fortune, and plenty of kind people suffer all sorts of misfortune. In the end, he says, luck isn't something that a man can control, no matter how much talent one has or how hard one works. He suggests for Makoto to just accept things the way they are.
After finishing their conversation, the old man returned the half empty can of coffee back to Makoto and left, yet Makoto noticed that the old man had left his phone on the bench. He called out to the old man, who was already a distance away, but the old man seemed deaf to his calls. Makoto was conflicted - should he just ignore the phone and bring the snacks to the park, or should he leave those snacks and chase after the old man? He eventually decided on the latter, and rushed after the old man.
His calls were once again drowned out - this time by the sound of a bus coming to a stop ahead. The old man immediately took off towards the bus station - Makoto panicked slightly and upped his own pace as well, and managed to hop into the bus after the old man in the nick of time. Makoto found the old man sitting in the back, and just as he was about to head there, his legs wobbled from the intense running and he lost his balance. Just before he crashed to the ground, he instinctively grabbed onto something. He heard the sound of something tearing, and fell to the ground regardless.
Makoto's sole consolation was that he managed to soften his fall somewhat by grabbing onto the mysterious object, but even that turned out to be simply a continuation of his misfortune.
He happened to tear open a bag, from which spilled dozens of precious jewelry. The owner of the bag, someone looking like your average salaryman, immediately took out a knife and demanded everyone to freeze.
That man was named Jutarou Akafuku. He was a man whose life had been blessed with fortune for as long as he was alive. He found himself in several dangerous situations in the past, but he survived all of them thanks to a series of unlikely coincidences and lucky accidents. He believed that luck was his strength - yet he did not want to admit that. In fact, he sought to eliminate all traces of uncertainty and luck-dependent factors in his job - that of a robber.
He works alone, and only takes on jobs that he knows he can fulfill with absolute certainty. And thanks to his careful planning, he had been extremely successful thus far. He was just done robbing a small jewelry shop, and was on his way home, dressed as a salaryman that nobody will think of looking at twice.
It all went smoothly, until he was involved in somebody's misfortune. It was a misfortune powerful enough that he could not overcome even with his unnatural luck.
In the meanwhile, Makoto was experiencing a minor breakdown thanks to the series of incredibly unlucky events. And to think it all started from him taking the long way home - he couldn't even wrap his head around everything. Correctly identifying Makoto as the cause of his recent misfortune, Jutarou decided to take him hostage, and got the driver out of his seat by threatening to slit Makoto's throat if he didn't comply.
Jutarou sat Makoto down in the driver's seat and used him as a hostage. In the meanwhile, he ordered the passengers in the bus to gather the scattered pieces of jewelry for him, promising their safety if they cooperated. However, just as someone finished gathering all the pieces, the old man, who had been faking sleep up till that point, sprang up and tackled Jutarou, pinning him on the ground. The old man was a kendo master.
At that precise instant, one thought ran through Makoto's mind particularly strongly - he must save the old man.
We get a slight hint of Makoto's optimism and willingness to fight, but that was all for naught as the bus suddenly accelerated - Makoto had accidentally shifted the gears and stepped on the gas pedal. The bus lurched forward, throwing both Makoto and the old man off balance. The old man yelled at Makoto to step on the brakes, which Makoto did immediately, putting the bus to an abrupt stop that knocked him off balance once again. As he was regaining his balance, his hand accidentally brushed over a button.
It was a button to open the bus's door. Jutarou saw this as an opportunity and immediately hightailed it out of the bus. The old man was writhing on the ground in pain, and shouted at Makoto to chase after the robber. Makoto couldn't believe that he'd ask someone of his stature to chase after a grown man - and capture him, no less. But for some reason, the entire bus seemed to be in agreement. Makoto sought out the bus driver for assistance - surely he would point out how ridiculous this situation was - but found the bus driver passed out. How unlucky.
Left with no choice, Makoto jumped out of the bus, only to crash into a postman who took note of the bus's erratic movements and came over to check. Both of them fell over - Makoto lamenting his bad luck again before noticing Jutarou riding the motorcycle that once belonged to the postman. Jutarou was frustrated with the series of irregular happenings that disrupted his careful planning - something like this had never happened before -, and threatened Makoto by saying that he'd hate Makoto for the rest of his life if he ended up being arrested.
Jutarou started the engine and accelerated, believing that he could escape successfully with this motorcycle. He'd have to abandon it eventually since post-delivery motorcycles tend to stand out - but that'll be a while ahead. The postman shouted at him, and Makoto simply stood there unmoving. He was tired of the streak of misfortune that seemed to follow him at every step, and decided to give up and do nothing. He just wanted to go back to his normal daily life as a ordinary high school student.
At that moment, the motorcycle that Jutarou was riding tipped over and threw the man across the street. The motorcycle spun wildly and hit a streetlamp before exploding in a shower of sparks and smoke, burning up the bag of letters that the postman had put on it.
Makoto walked towards the accident site, unable to believe his eyes. What he found was a bent and broken can of juice - the cause for the motorcycle overturning, and one of that cans that Makoto accidentally spilled all over the streets just a while ago, and one that he wasn't able to locate when he searched for missing cans.
It was a series of impossible coincidences caused by Makoto's bad luck. And this situation was merely a result of Makoto's overwhelmingly bad luck managing to defeat Jutarou's careful planning and luck. It rendered all sorts of talent and hard work futile.
Yet this was not the end of the worst day in the life of Makoto Naegi - but he himself would not realize this until much later.
In the end, Jutarou was arrested and Makoto was questioned by the police, but thanks to the witnesses he was left off the hook and he went home. He wondered how he would tell Koran of what he went through and what his reaction would be like if he were to find out what his adopted grandson got himself embroiled into.
-x-
In the days that passed, Koran was rather amused after learning what his adopted grandson went through, yet he said that at least he is safe and unharmed, and he should look forward to what life has to offer. Naegi nodded as he is still optimistic that something good would come in his way and not let misfortune get in his way.
By then a mailman came and Koran's servant answered it, and there he told Koran that a letter came and is addressed to Naegi. As the teen boy checked it, he blinked his eyes upon seeing the letter's content, which says that Naegi is chosen as one of many privileged students to attend at Hope's Peak Academy, which Naegi is baffled at first, but Koran was quite surprised, in a positive way, and he explained to his adopted grandson about Hope's Peak and its reputation.
After hearing this, Naegi was at loss of words as he could not believe that he was chosen, and given the title of Super High School-level Luckster. Koran said that in spite of the BAD LUCK that Naegi experienced, GOOD LUCK came knocking in and now Naegi has found a high school he can attend, and that it is tuition-free as well.
"Looks like patience has paid off."
"…huh…?"
"You now have a high school to attend."
"Um…"
"What's more…you were given privilege…free of tuition charge…and you can live at a dorm near Hope's Peak Academy…and they will shoulder the living expenses."
"Really?"
"Yes. You see…you are fortunate…and you optimism kept you steady, and now you have a good future."
"I…I don't know what to say, grandfather…"
Naegi stared at the window and at the sky, feeling that Koran is right, that something good did happen. Though he lost his parents and abandoned by his biological relatives, he has found a family in the form of Koran Togami, and having him as his guardian and surrogate parent, he has found what it feels to have a family.
However, Naegi did not noticed that Koran is looking quite worried, as he had a feeling that a storm is about to arrive, and sensed that he has very little time left and went to his room where he contacted his office and spoke to CHIAKI, telling and giving her instructions on what to do.
To Be Continued...
Hope you liked this chapter, as Naegi experienced first-hand what kind of LUCK he has…be it bad or good, yet in the end he has found a luck's blessing in spite of the trouble he went through.
Chiaki Nanami debuts here, though she is portrayed as an android with an AI, which is a nod to her AI version in Danganronpa 2, and acts as the company secretary to the company president. Though her role was minimal here, she will play a major role in the upcoming chapters.
It seems that things are foreshadowing on what would happen in the next chapters, as Byakuya Togami is appointed as vice president of Hidden Intelligence without the involvement of Koran, mainly due to elder Togami using his influence to have the secret appointment take place so that when Koran passes away Byakuya will inherit the corporation and thus having the reason to flaunt the togami family name and influence.
Naegi has his own share of bad day after the situations he got embroiled, but in the end something good happened as he ended up getting a recommendation to study at Hope's Peak Academy. However, little did he know that something more challenging would come to his way.
Preview:
The next chapter fast-tracks the story as Naegi starts his high school life at Hope's Peak Academy, where Byakuya happens to be there as well. This would build the animosity as the Togami family learns that Naegi is there as well and they would not take it well.
Meanwhile Koran is making some adjustments within Hidden Intelligence, and is preparing for some MEASURES that would affect the company's future.
Moreover, there will be some foreshadowing on what awaits Naegi and how this would affect his future…
See you in November…
Reviews are welcomed, but needed…
