Hope's Peak Stadium - morning
Kyoko corrected Makoto's bow tie. "Good luck Mr. Headmaster." She smirked.
"Thanks, it's a pity really, not my first speech." Naegi smiled back. "Alright so, here I go.."
He entered the stage and looked around at all the taken seats from the medium school's stadium.
"Whoa, now that I see them all gathered, it's a lot of people..." Ultimate Hope thought and moved the microphone over to his mouth.
"Thanks for coming everyone! Dear teachers, students, school staff.. When I look at you like this all gathered together, I see a community but most importantly I see a new generation. A generation better than mine and the previous ones which couldn't stop the madness that took over the world. A generation of people that will refuse to give up on protecting their ideals, their moral values, their loved ones, and their homeland. A generation which I truly believe will eradicate every bit of egoism in their hearts and connect, because I learned on the verge of deadly peril that working together is far superior to loneliness, doubt, and distrust ." Makoto gesticulated with his finger tapping on the rostrum.
Meanwhile, Kirigiri got back in her seat next to her sport-loving friend. "I hope that they'll take his words seriously."
"His speeches are always so beautiful. I'm sure that at least some of them will get inspired." Aoi responded.
"Don't think that I forgot about what you did yesterday." She interjected.
"It's all good girl, you'll thank me later." Asahina giggled after Kyoko sighed and put her hand on her forehead.
In the interval, Naegi was getting close to ending his performance.
"With a heavy heart, I and your deputy headmaster will have to leave you and our school duties for an indefinite period of time due to our extremely important mission related to Future Foundation and project Phoenix that you might've heard of. I can't share further details with you for the sake of our safety and confidentiality clause... Even though, with all my heart I have confidence in you and your exemplary behavior during the time of my and Mrs. Kirigiri's absence. Thank you for listening." Makoto left the platform as the entire stadium got filled with sounds of talks and gossip.
"Let's get out of here before they swarm us with questions." Kirigiri stood up and joined Makoto to get their suitcases.
20 minutes later
"We'll be doing a huuuge party when you come back, I mean it! An enormously big one!"
Aoi cheered.
"There will be no party, we want zero parties when we'll be back, got it? Kyoko didn't agree on the way to their butler's car.
"You can't speak for Makoto am I right?" She wrapped her arm around his neck.
"Um, I guess that a small party won't hurt anyone." He chuckled unsurely.
"Fine guys, come here." Asahina embraced her colleagues in a tight hug. "Don't be silly, remember to avoid any danger!"
"We will be back in a flash I promise.. m-mm, y-you're hugging, a bit too, hard." He spoke out with difficulty trying to catch his breath.
"Just a bit mooore.. all good!" She let them free and heard them gasp for air. "Have a safe flight!" Aoi shouted and started waving as her friends handed their baggage over to the butler, got into the car and waved her back.
"If only we had even half of her energy right?" Naegi chuckled.
"..I wanted to show you something before we take off, it's for your safety." She mentioned.
"Oh okay sure, what is it?"
Future Foundation Training Center - shooting range
Kirigiri emptied an entire pistol magazine in just a few seconds by firing right in the middle of the shooting target. "See? No big deal." She ejected the clip.
"Uh, Kiri, you.. did this before, didn't you?" Makoto asked being surprised by her skill.
"I had to learn it for some more dangerous cases in case of an attack. Fortunately, I didn't have to use it outside my shooting range though. Now you try." Kyoko pressed the safety button, loaded the gun, and handed the firearm over to Naegi. "Straighten up, bring up your arms, eyes at the rear sight, align it with the target." Kirigiri stood behind her friend and began to correct his pose until it was close to perfection. "Alright, arm it."
He took the gun's safety off and closed his left eye...
"You know in the real world you don't have this much time to aim." She pointed out.
"It's just, can you step aside? I can't focus like this heh." Makoto requested.
"Oh of course." His colleague moved away.
POW!
"You scored 8, pretty nice for the first time.. Also before I forget, try playing with the magazines." Kyoko suggested.
"Okay let's see.." Naegi ejected the current ammunition storage, inserted a new one, and pulled the slide. "Like this?" He questioned to make sure.
"See if it works and you'll find out." Kirigiri proposed.
Her friend shot the target a few times. "Works like a charm." Makoto smirked.
The Ultimate Detective brought him 3 new magazines. "Remove the current one and take these three with you." She said and walked away to prepare a gun for herself as well.
"Let's not assume that we'll have to use it anyway, it could be bad for our positive attitude." Naegi recommended.
"I appreciate your optimistic approach but this time we must strictly follow our sense." Kyoko approached him with her firearm hidden in her suit. "Don't let your guard down. We do not know how the situation looks in the other countries so always stay vigilant."
"Yeah, I get it but let's not go crazy from stress either right? We are going there to help people"
"Not everyone wants to accept your vision of this world, and I'm not talking about the despair zombies. You get popular, you gain supporters and enemies."
"I'm not a politician or something alright? Relax!" Makoto smiled.
"No, I am very serious now. You're coming back home alive and-"
"The plane is waiting. Its pilot listens to my commands and oh trust me I am not patient. Togami interrupted.
"We are coming Byakuya, no worries." Naegi assured.
Future Foundation - Airport
The two ultimates and their flyer were standing in front of a small-sized night-black airliner that had two turbines in its wings and two thrusters at its back. What single outed this model from the others is its slim aerodynamic beak with space for just one steering person.
"Oh yes of course, your suitcases are already on board in your rooms. By the way, your apparent student Kazuichi tuned this baby to a 2 mach max speed! It's also invisible for most detectors available at the moment so we're all clean on the radars no problem with that. Luxury standards are a pity for him as well." The pilot kept on admiring his ship until he got interrupted.
"Wait did you call your plane, him?" Makoto asked.
"Yup! We have a special connection with our machines, like normal people with pets y'know." He explained.
"Normal people..." Naegi thought.
"Can we just enter this "work of art" then?" Kyoko requested.
"Of course, Mrs. Kirigiri. Ladies first." Their captain opened the door and pulled out fold-out stairs.
They saw a pretty big room with some furniture, three doors at the back which led to two rooms and a bathroom between them. There was even a kitchen corner.
"That's very nice of Byakuya." Ultimate Hope smiled when checking out the plane.
"You will thank me later." Togami entered the plane and gave his friends one earpiece each. "Wear them so we will stay in touch. They track your location and have some other features that I will tell you about when necessary. That would be it." He offered his hand for goodbye.
"Oh come on!" Makoto gave him a hug instead.
"Gh-" His colleague didn't seem too happy about it but slightly hugged him back. After they broke the hug Kyoko offered her hand.
"Good luck." The Ultimate Affluent Progeny wished while shaking her hand and then left the plane.
Both of the passengers wore the earpieces that Togami gave them and sit on a couch as the door closed and the aircraft began moving.
"Ahem, it's Makoto Naegi can you hear me?" He asked after turning on the earpiece. "..Hello?-"
"Of course I can hear you! I made sure that everything works, humanity depends on it!"
Byakuya shouted.
"Yeah if you only cared about humanity." Kirigiri muted her and his colleague's earphone.
"Don't be so mean, he is our friend after all. Even if he doesn't show it I'm sure that he values our friendship." Naegi assured.
"I really want to believe in what you say." She said looking down.
"Whoa!-" Makoto felt to his right as the plane tilted and grabbed Kyoko's hand for her not to fall off the couch. "Got ya!" He pulled her back as the aircraft balance normalized.
"Thanks, we should use the seats with seatbelts next time." She proposed.
"Sure thing.. hey uh, is it just me, or the thrusters are off? It's so silent." Naegi went to ask the pilot.
"That's because the thrusters are meant for emergencies, and yeah they're loud as heck. Right now we're using just the turbines but if you wanna feel some more speed I can-"
"No showing off." Kyoko interrupted the flyer with a serious tone. "Let's wish that we won't have to use them."
"Y-yes, naturally Mrs. Kirigiri." Their captain settled down.
"Let's get to work." Makoto closed the cockpit door and sat down at a round table along with his friend. "We need to study the documents Byakuya left us... From what I see they're mostly related to negotiation strategy." He started to browse many secret folders that were lying on the table.
"That's a lot of information, some coffee should help." Ultimate Detective stood up and headed to the small kitchen corner.
01:00 am
Kyoko got out of her room to get some water.
"Oh, Makoto.." She poked her friend who was sleeping on the table. "It's very late. Go to your bed."
"..Huh?" Naegi rubbed his eyes.
"Come on." Kyoko helped him to get up. "Sleep well."
"You too-" He yawned. "Kiri..."
"That's my room sleepyhead." She smirked.
"Ah! S-sorry my bad." Ultimate Hope chuckled nervously. "G-good night." Makoto smiled and went to his room.
