A.N: Hello again, everyone! Today is Day Three of Naegiri Week 2021 and here is my entry for the day! The prompt is "Storm" and this takes place within my timeline between Chapters 32 and 29 of The Hope Foundation. Enjoy!

Day Three: One Storm Apart

Rained poured and thunder struck as Makoto leaned against the window, hoping for the bad weather to go away soon.

He had always found storms to be depressing. After all, the skies were dark, but not the kind of dark they were during the night with pretty stars and a shining moon. Instead, they were that bland and sad gray color, making the dark clouds look all the more threatening.

Throw in the fact that all of this was happening during the Tragedy, and the Luckster had all the right reasons to sigh. During days like these, it wasn't exactly easy to keep hope.

And yet, his biggest worry wasn't even the weather itself. At the back of his mind, Makoto couldn't shake off the feeling that his best friend might be in danger, wherever she was.

"Kyoko…" he muttered to himself, watching as lightning struck again. "Wherever you are right now… Please be alright… I miss you…" I wonder what you're up to right now…

The Division Director had left her friends and subordinates to go on a special mission what now felt like an eternity ago, without telling anyone where she was going, and what exactly she needed to do.

And while Makoto believed in her with all his heart, he couldn't help but be worried. After all, they had been together through so many difficult trials… he couldn't even imagine what would happen if she never came back.

"Are you alright, Makoto? You've been staring through the window for a while now. Do you have something on your mind?"

The Luckster turned around and noticed his colleague, Special Agent Laura Lawn, looking at him with worry.

"I'm fine, Laura, don't worry about it…" he assured her, although his voice lacked any of its usual conviction. "It'll pass." Or at least, I hope it will…

The Ultimate Copywriter narrowed her eyes on her friend. "Are you sure? You can tell me about it, you know? I'm always here to lend an ear. After all, that's what you did for me."

Makoto looked at her in the eyes before relenting with a sigh. "Alright, alright…" He stood up and returned to his desk, where his paperwork was scattered around, waiting to be filled. "I'm just thinking about Kyoko," he admitted before adding, "I'm worried she might be in danger. And I feel bad that there's nothing I can do for her from here."

"O-Oh, I see… Well, I don't know Director Kirigiri as well as you do, obviously. Still, from what I've seen when I watched the Killing Game broadcast, she seemed way more than capable of defending herself, Makoto," Laura told him, moving her chair over to his desk. "She'll be fine."

I want to be as confident as you are, Laura, I really do… But I always have this nagging feeling… And knowing that I couldn't even try to help her if something happened is the worst part of it…

There was another lightning bolt outside, startling Makoto. He knew his detective friend was strong. She may have been the strongest girl he knew — when it came down to a mix of intellect and physical strength.

And yet, she — just like he — was only human. The six survivors of the Killing Game believed in hope, but they weren't immune to despair. In the same way, Kyoko may have been strong, but she wasn't invincible.

As much as he knew she would be alright and come back to them in one piece, worry still haunted him.

"And besides, being worried is nothing to be ashamed of, you know?" the Unremembered Ultimate added. "You care for her because you two are friends. You defeated Junko Enoshima together with your four other classmates. Worrying about a friend is natural, Makoto, especially when they might be in danger."

The Luckster sighed. He knew that he didn't have to feel shame, but he felt like it was betraying the belief he had in the Former Ultimate Detective. And as stupid as it may have been, Makoto felt bad.

Whoever she would face, the Special Agent knew they were bound to be dangerous people, who probably wouldn't have any pity. The thought of his best friend going through something similar to what Leon, Mondo, Celeste, and Alter Ego had gone through made him sick.

"I just want her to be safe. I've seen too many of my friends die already. The Tragedy took too many of the people I love, Laura. I don't want to lose anyone else, and especially not somebody I care for like Kyoko."

It struck again, this time twice in a row. The light from the bolts lit the office for brief moments before everything turned back to darkness again.

"You won't lose anyone again, Makoto. Your friends are there to stay, whether it's Director Kirigiri, Vice-Director Togami, Special Agents Asahina and Hagakure, or Ms. Fukawa." She placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him. "The bonds the six of you formed during the Killing Game gave hope back to people by the millions. I'm sure that, wherever she is right now, Director Kirigiri is thinking about you and that this bond will protect her."

Laura's right… We've gone too far… have done too much together for anyone to die now! And I must keep hope, because if I don't, then the battle is lost in advance!

A determined smile returned to the Luckster's lips as he stood up again from his seat.

"Thanks, Laura. I needed the motivational speech." He giggled and returned to the window, where he noticed a single ray of sunlight shine through the dark clouds. "And you're right… We survived at Hope's Peak. It can't get worse than that for any one of us now."

Of course, a ray of sunlight didn't do much to lighten the infinitely dark skies, but it was something to cling to.

Makoto knew there wasn't much hope surrounding him, and yet, he always, without fail, found something, anything, he could cling to in order to keep hope.

And as long as Kyoko was somewhere in his thoughts, Makoto knew it would be as if she was close to him, as far as she may be.

Whatever you're doing right now, I'm sure you'll succeed, Kyoko! You're the best!

Suddenly, the big bad storm didn't seem so intimidating anymore.

Kyoko sighed. She knew she was too old to be afraid of a storm, and deep down, she knew that the weather wasn't why she was scared. After all, considering what she had seen in her career as a detective, rain, and a couple of lightning bolts hardly qualified as 'intimidating' or remotely 'scary.'

No, what worried her was the fact that she was all alone with an alcoholic colleague she preferred not to rely on too much, in the middle of nowhere. And while having someone with her was better than being all alone on a perilous mission, it wasn't who she wanted to have close to her.

Right now, the Former Ultimate Detective craved the presence of her friends. It was a new feeling for the young woman, who had been raised with the belief that friendship only got in the way. But she cherished the bonds she had formed with her fellow survivors way too much not to think of them at all times.

Being alone inside that helicopter, knowing that her life could end at any moment, reminded her of that.

"Makoto… I hope I can see you again soon…" she whispered to herself, absentmindedly writing her report notes on her organizer. "I miss you… And… I pray that you'll be alright."

"Hey, the guy's tough, isn't he? He'll be just fine."

The Kirigiri Detective turned around and glared. She didn't like when people eavesdropped on her, especially not when she was thinking aloud about her friends.

"May I know what you think you're doing, Kizakura?" she asked, annoyance and a bit of anger seeping into her voice. "I hate being listened to."

The Former Talent Scout raised in hand in surrender. "My bad. I was just hearing you mumbling from outside the room and couldn't help but be curious."

This idiot… She sighed. "Forget it. We're in too much danger for me to punch you, even if I really want to."

"Damn…" He winced. "You really aren't doing that well, are you?"

She rolled her eyes. "We're on a mission that may very well kill us, and I have absolutely no idea of how my best friends are doing. Isn't that reason enough?"

"I, uh… I guess you make a good point."

"Glad to hear we're in agreement," she added, although she was far from glad. "You may leave now."

Thunder struck right at that moment, taking them both by surprise. They were fortunate to have a pilot who knew what they were doing because this storm was stronger than any they had seen in a while.

"Hey, my point stands, though," Koichi argued, taking out a bottle from inside his jacket. "You worry about the guy, and I can't blame you. But while I don't know him as well as you do, I know he's resilient. He'll be fine, trust me."

I wish I could be as certain as you are, Kizakura… Kyoko thought depressingly. I know it is stupid for me to worry because of a storm, but it really makes me realize how far he is from me right now… She sighed. "I just don't like the feeling of not knowing what may happen to him."

"Well, you're a Kirigiri, ain't ya? You were raised to investigate every little thing and be aware of everything at all times." The blonde shrugged. "However, there are times in life when you can't control everything. This is when your trust is being tested the most, y'know? Say, you trust Makoto, don't you?"

"Of course!" the young woman replied with passion, not missing a beat. "There are times I trust him more than I trust myself, actually. How could I not? He saved us from Junko Enoshima, after all. I would probably still be trapped inside Hope's Peak Academy if it wasn't for Makoto's hope."

Kizakura smiled. "Then there you have it. Trust that he will be alright, and he will. Simple as that, really."

The Former Ultimate Detective looked doubtful. She didn't question how genuine her father's friend was, but it seemed a bit too optimistic. Still, there weren't any better options on the table, so she opted to believe in his words.

"You really can say some foolish things, Kizakura," Kyoko stated with an eye roll. "I understand why you and my father were friends… However, you're right, to some extent." She stood up from her desk chair, put her organizer back inside her pocket before walking over to the window and staring at the skies. "Makoto's strong, and moreover that, he's smart. I'm sure he'll be able to deal with any potential danger… although I still wish I could be there with him."

The man chuckled. "Can't blame ya! We all want to be close to our loved ones, Kyoko!"

His chuckles turned to laughter as the lavender-haired detective's cheeks turned as red as a tomato in a second.

"B-Be quiet, Kizakura!" she ordered, crossing her arms embarrassedly. "It's not because I want to be close to Makoto that I'm in love with him! What do you know, anyway, hm?"

"Oh ho… I actually know plenty of things, Kyoko Kirigiri!" he told her with a teasing smile, although he didn't elaborate about it further. "But more seriously, Kyoko… Try not to worry about it too much. I'm sure the guy is worried about you enough for you to add onto it."

"You're… probably right about that…" That would be Makoto's type… She thought. The Former Ultimate Lucky Student was the kindest boy she had ever met, and by a landslide. And he had shown during the Killing Game that he was the type to worry about his friends, sometimes even too much. "I wish he wouldn't, but it would be very hypocritical of me."

Kizakura shrugged, taking a sip of his bottle. "Nothing wrong with worrying about a friend. You just must not let it make you lose focus, or you really won't see him again."

Kyoko sighed. Unfortunately, that is very true… I could die at any moment now if I don't pay close attention to every possible threat… But that doesn't mean I'm not thinking about you, Makoto, alright? You're always somewhere in my mind…

The Former Talent Scout patted her on the shoulder. "You'll see him again soon. For now, let's finish our job quickly and get back safe, 'kay?"

"Right." She gave a firm nod. Through the window, she noticed a ray of sunlight pierce through the dark clouds.

It wasn't much, but it made her smile. It wouldn't be enough to stop a storm, of course, but just like hope in the midst of all this despair, it was a source of motivation to continue the struggle.

And knowing that dying now would prevent her from seeing Makoto again gave Kyoko the confidence that she could defeat anyone who got in her way.

I'll be back soon, Makoto. Let's believe in each other, and we'll be reunited soon enough.

With a confident smirk, the Former Ultimate Detective got ready to weather any storm that would bring her closer to her best friend.

The End.

A.N: For those who don't read my series/haven't read it yet, Laura Lawn is an important OC who appears in my current main story. Anyway, I hope you liked this third entry. Please leave a review, and I'll see you all tomorrow for Day Four :)