A/N: Here's my submission for Naegiri Week 2021 Day Four, taking place after "Kyoko's Sickening Guilt!" Please read, review, and enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Naegiri Week 2021
Day Four: Healing!
Kyoko yawned as she stepped into the Division Fourteen common area. Byakuya, Toko, Hiro, and Hina were already sitting around the main table as they ate their breakfasts. The director ignored the conversation and walked over to the counter to brew her morning coffee. Once she had brewed the caffeinated beverage and poured it into a mug, she made her way to one of the empty chairs and quietly sipped her coffee.
Ah, Civet Coffee…Kizakura may get on my nerves, but at least he had the foresight to make sure the Future Foundation had a healthy supply of this… Now awake and more alert, the young woman tried to listen more intently to her colleagues' conversations, only to frown as she noted another empty chair. "Excuse me…where's Makoto?"
"Hey, you're right." Hina realized. "We haven't seen him yet this morning."
"I wouldn't put too much stock in this." Byakuya waved off Kyoko's concerned expression. "He's probably just sleeping in."
"Yeah, let the dude sleep a little, for serious!"
Maybe…but still…he's usually the first one up…
Kyoko's brow furrowed as she contemplated Byakuya's hypothesis. Ever since they settled into their new roles in the Future Foundation, Makoto had made a consistent effort to wake up early, cheery, and ready for work, second only to the former detective herself. To say that she was proud to have Makoto Naegi as her number one employee would be an understatement.
That makes his absence all the more worrying… Kyoko drank the rest of her coffee in one gulp before she stood up, placing the mug on the table. "I'm going to go look for him."
The others watched as she turned and walked towards the dormitories.
*Knock Knock*
"Makoto?" Kyoko frowned after a few moments pass with nary a sound. "Makoto, are you in there? Everyone's having breakfast, and your shift is set to start soon."
Kyoko could hear some faint rustling from behind the door, cluing her in to the fact that Makoto was at least conscious in his room. The sight on the other side of the door shocked her once it finally opened. Makoto stood, his hair and pajamas disheveled as his normally docile, hazel eyes were tinged with red around the edges. Kyoko's heart broke as she observed his glistening cheeks.
Tears…he was…crying…?
"Sorry, Kyoko…" Makoto mumbled. "I'll…get dressed and head over…"
"That can wait." Kyoko told him curtly as she entered the room, forcing Makoto to step to one side. "What's wrong, Makoto?" She asked him once she had closed the door, any sternness in her eyes vanished in favor of concern.
Makoto sighed, his shoulders slumped in defeat as he turned around and walked back to his bed. Kyoko followed him before they both sat down, a comfortable silence passing between the two tested friends.
"I…I had a bad dream last night…and I couldn't sleep."
"A…bad dream…?"
"Yeah…I saw them. Their deaths playing over and over."
Makoto didn't have to explain who his nightmares were about. Kyoko knew all too well which casualties tortured his soul.
Sayaka, Mukuro, Leon, Chihiro, Mondo, Taka, Hifumi, Celeste, Sakura…he swore to carry the memories of them for the rest of his days…but such a hard path isn't without consequence…
"It just…it hit me just then how we hadn't had the chance to grieve their deaths…we had to survive…and when we got out, we were immediately thrust into the Future Foundation. I thought…that if I buried myself fin my work…if I just kept moving forward…that I could bear it…"
Kyoko frowned, recalling the stellar pace that Makoto completed his work. Damn, why didn't I think something was wrong?!
"But after I had that nightmare…I just…I started crying…I couldn't stop the tears…it was all I could do to just keep it down so I wouldn't disrupt any of you…"
Even in the depths of your despair, you chose to think of the rest of us before your own pain… "Makoto…you know you could have just talked to us. At the very least, you could have come to me."
"…Yeah…I know…" Makoto muttered. "I'm sorry…I just…figured we were so busy with trying to stem the Tragedy…that something as small as grieving those we lost seemed…petty by comparison…I mean…we don't even have their bodies with us…"
"But that's not healthy." Kyoko pointed out. Even if that's the tea pot calling the kettle black…
"Yeah…I know…but we just don't have time to grieve…"
"…Then we'll make time." Makoto looked up curiously at Kyoko as she explained "We're going to go before Chairman Tengan and Vice-Chairman Munakata. We're going to get permission to hold a funeral service for our classmates. Even if we don't have their bodies, we can still properly grieve and mourn their deaths." And finally begin to heal from the pain.
"A…Are you sure?" Makoto asked, touched by her plan. "What if we get behind on our work…?"
"I'm sure." Kyoko interrupted him. "We should have done this a long time ago, when we were first inducted. It's time we stop putting this off." Kyoko stood up and directed "Now, get dressed and clean yourself up. I'm going to speak to one of the other directors to help our case. Once you're ready and have had breakfast, meet me in front of Chairman Tengan's office."
"…Okay…" Though still nervous, Makoto smiled gratefully at his boss. "Thanks, Kyoko…this really means a lot to me."
Kyoko smiled at him before she walked over to the door and opened it. Once she closed it behind her, she sighed and began to walk to her next destination.
Hopefully this will be one of the times that he'll actually be useful…
"Ah, Kyoko!" Koichi gave a surprised smile from under his fedora as Kyoko walked into his office. "Anything I can help you with?"
For once, I think you can… Kyoko sighed and admitted "Yes, actually, I do require your assistance with an important matter."
Koichi's eyes sparkled with surprised amusement as Kyoko resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "By all means, grab a chair and tell me what you need my help with. You want anything to drink?"
"You know I'm not old enough to drink, Kizakura."
Koichi shrugged and took a sip of his sake as Kyoko sat down across from him. "Alright, what's the urgent matter, Director Kirigiri?"
Kyoko's hardened eyes softened slightly as she realized that the former talent scout was actually taking things seriously. "Very well, I'm going to be making a request to the Chairman and I'd…appreciate it if you would back me up."
Koichi raised his eyebrows in curiosity as he asked "I see…and what is this request?"
"Division Fourteen would like to request permission for a funeral service for the victims of the Killing School Life."
"I see…" An intrigued Koichi inquired "And why do you want me to back you up for this?"
"Because as his employee and friend, you can speak to what my father would have done if he were still alive today."
"Ah, I get it, so basically you're asking me to be Jin's voice, right?" Koichi's lips stretched into an amused smile as he stood up. "Alright, let's go talk to the boss, shall we?"
Kyoko smiled gratefully as she nodded in agreement. Koichi followed her out as they left to meet up with Makoto and make their case.
"I see…" Kazuo mused after Kyoko made her case. "So you want to hold a funeral service for the deceased members of Class 78th."
"Correct, Chairman Tengan. I apologize that I do not have a written report for you to review, but we only just decided that we need to do this."
Kazuo nodded understandingly before Kyosuke interjected "Chairman, surely the Future Foundation has more important things to do than to hold a funeral for a group of dead teenagers." Makoto grit his teeth and clenched his fists in anger as he heard the vice-chairman denigrate his friends and classmates. "The forces of despair are creating new corpses each and every day. Allowing an entire division to take a vacation to mourn those who are already dead won't spread hope to the world."
"Chairman Tengan, we have not had a chance to grieve our classmates' deaths properly. We had to spend the duration of the Killing School Life just trying to survive, and ever since we've escaped, we were thrust into the work of the Future Foundation. My former classmates and I have not had the opportunity to heal from the trauma we've endured, and it's leading to reduced morale and productivity."
Makoto nodded, silently admitting that he was overwhelmed and needed some time to re-center his emotions.
"Give us one day to grieve and remember our classmates, so we can finally heal and refocus on stopping the Remnants of Despair."
Kazuo hummed, contemplating Kyoko and Kyosuke's arguments before he finally came to a decision.
"I don't see the harm in a short funeral service. As long as it's limited to the six of you, it should be alright." Makoto and Kyoko nodded gratefully before Kazuo asked "By the way, just for the sake of written records, can you inform me who you will be remembering during your funeral service?"
…I was afraid he'd ask… Nevertheless, Kyoko began to list off her deceased classmates. "Sayaka Maizono, Leon Kuwata, Chihiro Fujisaki, Mondo Owada, Kiyotaka Ishimaru, Hifumi Yamada, Celestia Ludenberg, Sakura Ogami…and Mukuro Ikusaba."
"Unacceptable." Kyosuke interjected, glaring at his colleague. "Mukuro Ikusaba was an Ultimate Despair, one of the masterminds of the Tragedy. We would have executed her ourselves if she had survived. If we actually agree to mourn her death, then the Future Foundation will lose all credibility against the forces of despair."
"But that's not fair!" Makoto fiercely objected, speaking up for the first time as he glared angrily at Kyosuke. "I know what Mukuro did, but she was our classmate, not to mention a victim of the Killing School Life! She deserves to be mourned just like all the others!"
"Still your tongue, boy, lest I split it for you." Kyosuke warned as he drew his katana.
"Now, now, Director Munakata." Kazuo tried to cool the tensions between Kyosuke and the others, acting as a mediator. "There's no need to threaten him for stating an opinion."
Kyosuke exhaled through his nose, still glaring at Makoto before he relented and sheathed his katana.
"Director Kirigiri, what are your thoughts on this?" Kazuo asked honestly. "Should we allow Mukuro Ikusaba to be mourned?"
Kyoko sighed, admitting "As one of her and Enoshima's victims, I hold no warmth for Ikusaba in my heart. I cannot forgive her for what she did to us…that being said, Naegi is right. She was one of our classmates, who was viciously murdered by her own sister during the Killing School Life. Given these facts, I'm willing to put my personal grudges aside and permit her to be mourned as a member of Class 78th."
Kazuo nodded, contemplating her argument before he turned to Koichi. "Director Kizakura, you scouted Ikusaba prior to the Tragedy, and you were closer to Headmaster Kirigiri than any of us prior to his death. How do you think he would act in this dilemma, given that the decedent in question aided in his murder?"
Koichi sighed, tipping his fedora as he smiled grimly. "I won't lie, I hate Ikusaba, and I've spent weeks kicking myself for not being able to see that she would help to orchestrate the Tragedy when I scouted her. But…I'm not here to speak my own mind; I'm here to speak for Jin Kirigiri, especially since he's not here to speak for himself."
A tense silence passed before Koichi spoke up once more.
"Jin was a forgiving man, not unlike Naegi over here. Sure, he had his grudges, but he still tried to forgive, and he always tried to believe in his students. If he were here today…I think he'd want to mourn her death. Ultimate Despair or no, he considered her one of his students, and he always put his students before himself. So…even though I hate Ikusaba for helping to execute him…I know Jin would want to grieve her murder."
"I see…thank you for your input, Director Kizakura." Kazuo hummed in contemplation, causing the others to tense as they awaited his answer. "…There's no reason why the public needs to know of this funeral service's existence. So as long as you can ensure that this stays a secret within the Future Foundation…I won't object to your request to mourn Ikusaba's passing."
"Very well, we'll agree to your terms. Thank you for your compromise, Chairman Tengan. Naegi, Director Kizakura, let's go. We have a lot to plan."
"Sure, right behind you."
"Coming, Director Kirigiri!"
Makoto and Koichi followed Kyoko out of the chairman's office, leaving him and a disapproving Munakata behind.
Makoto stared at the photo of Sayaka, tears trickling onto the frame as he sniffled. He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder and turned to see Kyoko. His eyebrows raised in surprise at Kyoko's surprisingly melancholy expression. Makoto wiped his eyes against his sleeve before he placed the frame reverently on the shelf along with the other photos of his deceased classmates.
"…It was nice of Director Kizakura to give us these photos of them for the service." Kyoko commented. "I suppose we should be grateful that he kept those old class photos of us."
"Yeah, at least these ones don't have a red X through any of them." The two of them shared a wry smile before they frowned. "So…tomorrow's the service. You think the others will come?"
"I think so. Hina will of course want to come for Sakura. Toko as well, I assume, especially given how she tried to hide the role she played in Sakura's suicide. I suspect Byakuya has some regrets about his actions towards Chihiro. And Hiro…I suspect his fear of ghosts will compel him to attend."
Makoto chuckled wryly at that last remark, unable to refute it. "Yeah, you're right…thanks for fighting so hard for this, Kyoko."
Kyoko silently wrapped her arms around his torso from behind. Makoto reflexively leaned backwards into her embrace, relaxing as she held him tight.
"No need to thank me. Like you said, we needed to grieve and heal from the tragedy we personally endured. Once we've had the chance to grieve and mourn their loss, we can move forward and end the tragedy." Makoto nodded solemnly before Kyoko reluctantly released her protective embrace. "Alright, I think we've finished setting up for tomorrow. I suggest we get a good night's sleep; we'll need it for tomorrow."
Makoto nodded as Kyoko took his hand in her own. With one final, grim smile, they walked out of the room, failing to notice the silhouettes watching them.