A/N: Here's a brand new commission ordered by StealthPhotographer. This takes place prior to the epilogue of "Despair Arc: Execution Failed!" Please read, review, and enjoy!
Class 77's Recovery!
Chapter One: Meeting with Headmaster Kirigiri!
Jin sighed, folding his hands on his desk. He stared at the crowd of students in front of him, thinking wryly First Class 78, now Class 77-B and Hajime Hinata…it seems these past couple of days have been filled with an unusual amount of excitement, even for Hope's Peak Academy…
Shaking the thought from his head, he first addressed the still injured Ultimate Gamer standing front and center. "Nanami-chan, how are you feeling? Is your physical recovery going smoothly? I know it's only been a day since you awoke, but…"
Chiaki winced, partially from being the center of attention, and partially from the small bursts of pain that struck randomly. "I'm fine…I think."
Hajime grimaced before Sonia objected, "You are not fine, Chiaki!" She bowed respectfully to Jin, apologizing "Please forgive my outburst, Headmaster. I meant no disrespect-"
Jin smiled and assured her, "It's fine, Princess Sonia. I take no offense to your concerned words." Sonia sighed in relief. "To be honest, I'd be surprised if any of you were fine, after what you endured."
The remaining members of Class 77 grimaced, recalling their brief state of hypnosis. Though none looked quite as guilt-ridden as Hajime, who arguably bore the most responsibility of the group for what happened.
"Hinata-kun?"
Immediately standing at attention, he stammered "H-Hai, Headmaster?"
Jin gave him a reassuring smile. "How have you been since you regained your original persona? Have there been any side effects? Any lingering remnants of Izuru Kamukura's existence?"
"W-Well…" Hajime sighed. "Last night…I…heard his voice. In my dreams, I mean. Izuru was…trying to talk to me…but I couldn't make out what he was trying to say…"
"Hmph…so his demonic presence still clings to his mind like a cockroach…" Gundham mused.
"Hinata-kun!" Sonia gasped. "Why did you not mention this during the sleepover last night?"
"Sleepover…?" Jin inquired curiously, causing Hajime and some of the girls to blush in embarrassment.
"Oh, let me explain. You see, after what happened, we didn't want to leave Chiaki all alone, no offense, Hinata-kun." Hajime nodded before Sonia continued, "So we all slept in the same room together."
"It was honestly really cramped." Hiyoko grumbled. "Made me wish I was short again for the first time in my life…"
"Eh, I've slept in worse conditions…" Akane shrugged.
"Yeah, it was a little bit of a tight squeeze…" Mahiru admitted. "But it was also a little…wholesome? Kinda wish I could have taken a picture of it…"
"I certainly enjoyed getting squeezed…"
Everyone shivered at the lust in Teruteru's voice before Peko glared at the perverted chef. "Cease such base thoughts."
"Yeah, this ain't the fuckin' time for that kind of shit." Fuyuhiko muttered.
Jin cleared his throat, silencing the internal discussion. "Anyway…it would seem from what you're telling me that there are still lingering effects from the Steering Committee's experimentation. Have you retained any of Izuru's talents?"
Hajime fidgeted from everyone's curious stares. "W-Well…I haven't really tried anything out…so I don't really know. I guess…if I'm still hearing his voice…it's…possible…"
Jin hummed in contemplation. "I see…well, we can determine the answer to that question later. In the meantime, given Nanami-chan's near-death experience, Class 77's collective hypnosis, and the experimentation you were deceived into agreeing to…I think some collective therapy is in order."
"Co…Collective…therapy…?" Mikan asked nervously.
"Correct. One of our employees, Miaya Gekkogahara, was the Ultimate Therapist. She's admittedly a little eccentric, but I believe that could be a strength for your class. Given your collective experiences, I would advise you to attend daily sessions with her together, along with Yukizome-sensei and Mitarai-kun."
"Mitarai?" Kazuichi asked curiously.
Jin nodded. "That's correct. Security found him and he confessed to having been forced by Enoshima and Ikusaba to create the video that hypnotized you. Rather than punish him, however, I think it would be more productive to attend therapy and deal with his guilt for his unwilling role."
Ryota's other classmates nodded. Pleased with their agreement, Jin turned his gaze to Hajime.
"Hinata-kun."
"Uh, h-hai…?" Hajime stammered, obviously still nervous.
"As Headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy, I must express my sincerest apologies for everything you have been put through. Your discrimination, the illegal experiments done by the Steering Committee, Junko Enoshima's manipulation…" Jin shook his head, remorse clear in his eyes. "There's no excuse for your suffering. No remedy could possibly make up for that, but as the administrator of this school, I'd like to begin our atonement."
"A-Atonement…?"
"As of this moment, I would like to offer you a place in the Main Course of Class 77-B."
"The…The Main Course…?" Hajime felt the wind knocked out of him, disbelief punching him in the gut. The Main Course? I can't believe it…my dream…it's finally…coming true…?!
"Now wait just a second."
Everyone turned towards Nagito, who glared with disdain at Hajime. The former Reserve Course Student suddenly withered under his intense dislike.
"I cannot agree to this. This Reserve Course student may not have been the one to plan Chiaki's death, but his insecurity allowed the Steering Committee to claim him for their experiments, which in turn gave Enoshima exactly what she needed to initiate the Tragedy. If you think about it…he's responsible for everything that's happened. Are we really sure we should reward someone like that with a place in the Main Course?"
Hajime felt himself shrink under the painful truth of Nagito's words. To his surprise though, he felt a gentle hand squeeze his own. His gaze flitted to Chiaki, who smiled reassuringly and shook her head.
"Nagito Komaeda…" Jin sighed. "I understand from what Yukizome-sensei has told me that you hold disdain for those who entered the school without talent. But…that attitude is exactly what led to the Tragedy in the first place."
"Even so…" Nagito shook his head. "Doesn't it send the wrong message if Hope's Peak Academy rewards someone who helped bring the very institution to its knees?"
"My offer to Hinata-kun to join the Main Course isn't a reward…it's compensation and atonement for the wrongs Hope's Peak Academy forced on him. The discrimination and arrogance of Hope's Peak Academy needs to end, and it starts with offering Hinata-kun the rights and privileges he should have had from the start."
"Nagito…" Chiaki interjected with a gentle, yet firm tone. "I know you don't agree…but Hajime doesn't need a talent. In some ways…he's more talented than all of us…because he can choose his career and develop whatever talent he wants. But we…we're all stuck in the talent that Hope's Peak Academy gave us. People will expect us to stay within our defined skillset, never branching out, never evolving. But Hajime…he can choose to do whatever he wants, without expectation."
"Well put, Chiaki!" Sonia clapped, a proud smile on her face. "I am in agreement; Hinata-kun has no need for an official talent to be part of our class!"
Jin nodded approvingly. "I'm glad you feel that way. Komaeda-kun, I understand your reluctance, but that's another reason why I'm advising you all to attend therapy together. Healing as a group will allow you to strengthen your bonds with Hinata-kun and accept him as your classmate."
"Ah, I see." Nekomaru mused "Athletes need to learn to work together if they want to win any kind of sports competition. Sometimes, how well a team can get along is more important than one person's individual skills."
"Yeah, that's why Ibuki left her band!" Ibuki sighed, shaking her head. "Too many creative differences…I couldn't work as a musician with how incompatible we were."
"But still…" Hajime finally spoke up. "Being in the Main Course means I'd be expected to have a talent…but what talent could I possibly be given?"
"We can figure that out after your therapy, Hinata-kun." Jin assured him. "For now, though, all of you should get some rest. Unless anyone has any objections, I'll schedule your first group therapy with Gekkogahara-sensei tomorrow."
Nobody moved to object. Even Nagito kept quiet, though his haughty expression was far from a ringing endorsement.
"Very well, I suggest you spend some time bonding as classmates. Get a good night's rest, and I'll email you the details of your therapy tonight."
With a group nod, the newly reformed Class 77-B left the office. Chiaki held his hand, squeezing and smiling reassuringly at her new lover. Hajime smiled back, though his anxiety still shone in his eyes.
Be part of the Main Course…deal with Izuru in my head…? How am I supposed to do all that? I didn't even get in by luck! That Naegi kid is more qualified for that than me! Is therapy…really going to change all that? Will I…really find a place to belong…?
