A.N: Hello again, everyone! Today is Day Four of Naegiri Week 2021 and the prompt of the day is "Healing"! In my timeline, this story takes place during Chapter 54 of The Hope Foundation, although it fits in any Future Foundation timeline.

I think this is my best entry of the week, so I hope you enjoy it!


Day Four: Healing

Makoto had looked rather unwell all throughout lunch, although every time Kyoko had asked him about it, he had shown her a smile and had told her everything was fine.

Not that the Division Director believed that one bit, of course, but she didn't wish to bother him. After all, these past few weeks had been rough for the Luckster. A tragic incident had shaken his life once more, and while he was on the path to recovery, he still had a ways to go.

Kyoko took one last mouthful of her food. The mere fact that she had finished her plate before Makoto proved that he wasn't nearly as enthusiastic as usual.

This should give me some energy back until dinner-

*sniffle*

"Hm?" Looking across from her, the Former Ultimate Detective noticed her friend cover his face with his hands, dropping his fork and knife on the table. "M-Makoto…? Are you alright?"

She frowned as she heard the Special Agent begin to cry in his hands, the sound of his tears breaking the young woman's heart. Quickly, she stood from her chair and put a knee down close to him.

"I'm here, Makoto…" she whispered in his ear soothingly. One of her gloved hands went behind his back, softly stroking it. "I'm here…"

On instinct, the Luckster wrapped his arms around the purple-eyed girl's body, taking her by surprise. After a second, though, she did the same, holding her former classmate close to her.

"You're alright, Makoto… Whatever is wrong, you're not alone…" she reassured him, her hand moving up and petting his hair. In a couple of weeks, the Kirigiri Detective had learned how to comfort him. "You can let it all out, Makoto. I'm here to listen to you, you know that, right?"

He weakly nodded in her embrace, sobbing against her shoulder. He tried to speak up, but his voice was too muffled for Kyoko to understand anything.

"Take it slow… Take all the time you need…" It hurts so much to see you like this, Makoto… Kyoko thought, her countenance turning downcast. "Do you think you can tell me what's weighing on you like this, Makoto? I will do my best to help you."

"T-Thank… T-Thank you, Kyoko…" he uttered between two sniffles. "I… I-I'm thinking about S-Sayaka, Leon, and all the o-others…"

So that's what it is… Poor Makoto… You chose to keep them close to your heart even if it hurts you… A tear of her own appeared under her violet eyes, although she made sure not to cry. She thought of speaking up at this point but decided against it. If he needed to vent, she would let him.

"I-I just wish they were here with us…!" the young man cried, his pain-filled voice breaking Kyoko's heart. "W-Why did they have to die, Kyoko; why?! W-What did they do to deserve this…?!"

Makoto… My poor Makoto… She brought him even closer to her, choosing to convey her help mostly physically. This was also because she did not know what to tell him.

Of course, it was cruel, and he had all the reasons in the world to be sad. He was hopeful, but he was still only human. He had many strengths Kyoko admired him for, but just like everyone, he also had his weaknesses; the ones that made him so compassionate.

Not only that, but he knew what despair was, and this gave him a wonderful ability to bring hope back to people. However, there were some moments when he needed to be given some hope back, and Kyoko vowed to do her best for him whenever that would happen.

After all, she understood what he felt. They had lived the same experiences, witnessed the same despair, suffered the same losses. And while they didn't cope with it in the same way, the emotions they felt were similar.

"They did nothing wrong, Makoto… And you're right… We should all be together right now…" She pulled away slightly and placed her hands on his shoulders. "And this is why we fight, remember? We fight so that their deaths won't be meaningless. So that no one has to go through that again."

He weakly nodded, although his crying hardly subsided. She tried to show him an encouraging smile, but unfortunately, it didn't do much. For that reason, she hugged him again.

"It's okay for you to cry, Makoto… It's okay for you to be sad…" Kyoko whispered. "I'm always here to help you, Makoto. I'm here if you need to vent or cry or be sad."

Her words, added to the comforting strokes of her hands on his back, made his tears reduce slightly. It wasn't much, but it was at least something.

"I-I just… I-I feel like I shouldn't cry… I-I'm supposed to be the Ultimate Hope… I-I'm supposed to be stronger than this!"

"Oh, Makoto…" Give yourself some rest, Makoto… You put too much pressure on your shoulders… "The reason you're the Ultimate Hope to me and to the world is that you can weather all of this. But it doesn't mean you can't cry every once in a while. What makes you the Ultimate Hope is how kind and considerate you are. It isn't a matter of crying or not crying… If you feel sad, you should cry as much as you need to."

She understood what he meant. His reasoning was that if he cried, it would appear to be a form of weakness against despair, and it wouldn't inspire other people to fight against the Tragedy.

However, Kyoko disagreed with that. What made Makoto so special in her eyes was that he could cry in grief one minute, and be so inspirational the other. With this, the people drowning in despair could see that it was possible to stand strong after facing such adversity.

After all, if Makoto could bounce back so well and defeat the Ultimate Despair herself after losing so many of his friends, despair didn't seem so insurmountable anymore.

It was not exactly that simple, but in a nutshell, that's how it worked.

"B-But… I-I don't want to be a bother to you and everyone else by crying all the time…!" he told her, his voice still strained. "I-I don't want to be useless…!"

"Don't say that, Makoto… You're absolutely not useless, and you know that." She ruffled his hair before pulling back from the hug and showing him a tearful yet genuine smile. "Every single day, you bring hope to this Division. Everyone here has you as their inspiration, Makoto. You are my inspiration; the person I strive to be more alike."

The Luckster gasped in surprise.

"If it wasn't for you, we would never have defeated Junko and escaped Hope's Peak. You're the one who dared to face her head-on and confronted her despair," she reminded him, also getting emotional. "And ever since that day, you've been the best agent the Future Foundation could have asked for. You've already helped so many people, even when it put you in danger. So don't call yourself useless, okay? You may be clueless, you may be a little carefree, but you're not useless. Not to me, and not to anyone here."

"O-Okay…" He gave an unconvinced nod, which wasn't much, but it was a start. "I… I just feel like I failed because I wasn't able to help the others at Hope's Peak…"

"I understand, Makoto, but this isn't your fault," the Former Ultimate Detective assured him, wiping the tears at the corner of his eyes with her thumbs, dampening her gloves. "It took time for everyone to be united because the game was unfair. No one could have one better than you have, Makoto."

She looked up, her teary eyes reflecting in the light of the room.

"I know that, wherever they are right now, our friends know that you did your best to save them. If it's any comfort to you…" She looked at him right in the eyes. "I know you did."

"T-Thank… T-Thank you, Kyoko… f-for believing in me…"

He sniffled one last time, accepting a handkerchief Kyoko gave to him from her pocket. He wiped the last remaining tears from his hazel eyes before showing her a small smile.

It was only a smile, but it warmed Kyoko's heart in a way that only a few things could.

"You're welcome, Makoto. As your friend, I must be here for you, just like you were for me when I thought there was no hope left."

"I… I appreciate that a lot, Kyoko…" he said with a small blush. "I'm really happy you're here with me right now. I don't know what I'd be without you."

M-Makoto… The Division Director blushed in turn before coughing in her fist, her tone suddenly more factual. "Well, you'd be Makoto Naegi; I don't see why this would change. I can't say whether you'd be better off or not, but you would probably be better off than you think, at least."

He chuckled under his breath. Only Kyoko could be so factual a second after sharing his emotion. This was a trait he found really endearing in her. She was really cute, he thought, although he made sure to keep that to himself.

"You really need to believe in yourself more, Makoto," she told him with insistence. "You have this ability to give hope back to people. And you are the person you are thanks to yourself, and yourself only. Neither me, nor Byakuya, nor Hina, nor anyone has anything to do with the way you are." She crossed her arms and shook her head amusingly. "We're only there for the ride, trying to give a hand whenever we can."

Makoto rolled his eyes, clearly about to rebut her words, although he was interrupted before he could do that.

"You'll excuse me, but I do not wish to be on anyone's ride, Director Kirigiri."

Both Former Ultimates turned around and noticed Vice-Director Byakuya Togami entering the cafeteria, a neutral expression across his face — one that was very characteristic of him.

"I am the heir to the Togami Family. My own ride is much more impressive than anyone else's, mind you," he told Kyoko, walking over to his colleagues with a frown. "And while I don't mind giving a hand if needed, please do not forget that you are only two commoners."

Kyoko and Makoto both sweatdropped. "I sincerely apologize if my comment has hurt your poor ego, beloved Vice-Director Togami," the Former Ultimate Detective told him ironically, making hmph unhappily. "However, you will have to agree that for a commoner, our friend here is of the impressive kind."

"K-Kyoko!" the shortest boy exclaimed embarrassedly, cheeks turning red.

Byakuya gave a nod. Still, Kyoko knew better than to take that as a form of agreement just yet. As it turns out, she was right.

"Impressively foolish and simple-minded, yes," he said with a sigh. "You're lucky to be working alongside Hiro, Makoto. It makes your work shine in comparison."

Makoto scratched the back of his head, unable to come up with anything to say in response.

"Sure, he works miracles on the field, Kyoko, but you aren't the one who has to check on his paperwork!" the Former Ultimate Affluent Progeny told his boss, glaring at his fellow Special Agent for a split second. "There are errors everywhere! Didn't your mother scold you when you made spelling mistakes as a kid, Naegi?!"

That… wouldn't surprise me much, actually… The Branch Leader had to admit. After all, Makoto — for all his qualities — still had some defining flaws. He was better around people than around office work, at least.

"M-My bad… I'll be more careful from now on…" Makoto said timidly. In reality, this was a backhanded compliment, and both he and Kyoko knew it. He would take what he could get from the Togami heir.

"See to it that you are. Now, what are the two of you having a crying party about, hm?" Byakuya asked, looking at them with friendly contempt. It should have been an oxymoron, but for him, it really wasn't.

"I, um… didn't feel so well," the Former Ultimate Lucky Student admitted. "But I'm doing better now, thanks to Kyo-"

"Thanks to yourself alone," she cut him before he could finish. "I only lent a hand. Or in this case, a shoulder, I suppose. This is what makes me human, compared to a heartless being like Byakuya."

"Please keep your comments to yourself, Director Kirigiri," the blonde Vice-Director said with minor annoyance. "I do not wish to be anyone's shoulder to cry on, although it would be cruel of me to let a helpless colleague alone." He peered at Makoto. "I'm afraid I cannot give you kisses like Kyoko can, but I'll be willing to sacrifice some of my precious time to help, should it be needed."

"I-I did no such thing!" the young lavender-haired woman protested. "Refrain from making baseless theories, Byakuya. I have enough of Hina's teasing for you to join in."

"Hmph." He pushed his glasses up. "Alright then. I'll be proven right once we get these missing memories back, anyway. Well," He turned around and prepared to leave. "I shall leave you two lovebird commoners alone. I still have work to do."

Neither Makoto nor Kyoko had time to say anything as the Former Ultimate Affluent Progeny disappeared through the doors of the cafeteria as quickly as he had appeared.

The Division Director sighed as soon as the doors were closed.

"Some people won't ever change, it seems." Actually, *fundamentally* change might be a better way to put it… She decided after some more thought. "But it does prove my point, Makoto."

The Luckster's train of thought was interrupted. He looked at his boss with curiosity.

"What do you mean, Kyoko?"

"I mean that you have us to help you. If you have days off, all your friends will be here to cheer you up, just like you do for us," she said with a friendly smile. "I may not be an expert at giving motivational speeches, but I can do my best. You're not alone, Makoto, and you never will be. Not as long as I'm around."

The young man's eyes filled with happiness as the words reached his ears. Kyoko opened her arms for another hug, and he didn't hesitate a second to accept her embrace.

"Can you promise you'll never leave me, Kyoko?"

"I swear I won't ever leave you, Makoto. I haven't made many friends in my life and I do not wish to lose them. Consider this a promise."

Hugging the other's body really close, the two friends found comfort in knowing that they, respectively, had people to help him and that she had been able to give some comfort to somebody who meant a lot to her.

Of course, healing took much more than just hugs and gentle words, but these hugs and gentle words paved the way towards recovery.

Despair had struck and taken Makoto's friends, but Kyoko always made sure they could share their grief and hope together, whatever the circumstances.

The End.


A.N: This was without a doubt my most emotional entry of the week. I personally believe that Naegiri without some degree of emotion and support isn't really Naegiri, if what we've seen in Future Arc is any indication. Well, I hope you liked this fourth entry! It was a lot of fun to write! Please leave a review and I'll see you all tomorrow for Day Five!