Both Ultimates entered the interrogation room and sat down on metal chairs.
On the opposite side of the table was a middle-aged man with short black hair and stubble wearing orange prison clothes. He was tied to his chair and had handcuffs on his hands.
"Who do you work for?" Kyoko asked.
"Junko Enoshima."
"She's dead." She stated.
"Doesn't matter."
"Why didn't you kill him?" Kirigiri pointed at Makoto.
"We're not some barbarians, we don't kill just because we feel like it."
"I would argue over that." Naegi said.
"We give everyone a choice, they surrender to despair, or they die. Sometimes it's a slow death, sometimes quick, but trust me, we're learning new ways to kill every day." The sniper smiled. "That shot was just an invitation to begin our cooperation. But it was also a warning. We won't let you sell those machines."
"I assume that you're here because you were given an order from someone higher in the hierarchy." She speculated.
"Just listen carefully. Either you go back to your country and shut down the production, or your students will face a truly bombastic surprise."
"So by cooperation, you meant blackmail." Makoto pointed out.
"This is pointless. You will try to attack our school anyway." Kyoko assumed.
"I take your answer as a no. I don't have anything else to say then. All you can do now is face the consequences of your choice." He lay back on his chair.
Kirigiri stood up.
"Huh? Are we just gonna leave him here? He probably knows a lot more than that." Naegi conjectured.
"There's no point. Tortures don't work on them." She stated.
Makoto called Byakuya on their way back to the hotel. "We need to focus on buying and producing military equipment, mainly surface-to-air systems, this is very important. They will try to attack us from outside. You need to talk with the government."
"They are aware of this risk and to be honest I wouldn't bother so much if I were you." Togami told.
"Why would you say this?! We're talking about the biggest terrorist organization in human history!" Naegi shouted.
"If they moved their forces over to us they would instantly lose a lot of territories. After all they keep battling on many fronts all over the world." He pointed out. "Besides, it's in the interest of other countries for us to keep the production going, we can count on their support."
"He's right Makoto, we should be safe for now." Kyoko assured.
"If you say so... We still know nothing about their leader or leaders." He informed.
"That's not important either, if they die or get captured there will be new ones. Why do you care about this stuff anyway? Just focus on your job. Leave the rest to the experts." Byakuya disconnected.
They got out of the armored truck and sat down in Makoto's hotel room.
"You should get some sleep now." He suggested.
"If they already know that we refused their offer it means that we're useless to them. They can just rub us out now, we lost our immunity." Kirigiri stated.
"They can do something much worse than that Kiri.. And that's my biggest fear of all, even reminding myself Yukizome's story is making me feel anxious." Naegi confessed.
"You have the brainwashing on your mind don't you?" She questioned.
"Yeah, it is fate worse than death, or it was until now when you can reverse it. But you can't reverse the things you've done as the despair zombie. Having memories of killing innocent people must be just, horrifying." Makoto said starting to feel uneasy.
"If it's just making you worried then don't think about it." She sat closer to him on the couch and put her hand on his knee. "We won't let it happen to any of us. I believe that-" Kyoko got interrupted by her friend's hug.
"Thanks Kiri.. you know for, comforting me when I need it and, for taking care of me. But I also want you to know that when you'll be in need I'll be there, no matter what." He assured.
"It's nothing Makoto and, thanks.." Kirigiri slowly embraced him back.
"Now don't tell me that you didn't ever hug!" Naegi joked as he detected her feeling awkward.
She backed away and just smirked.
"Alright so, I can't move my fingers just yet but if your assumptions are true then it's better that we take off today, maybe after you take a nap?" Makoto proposed.
"Sounds perfect to me." Kyoko replied.
They went to her room and did the same thing as in The Ultimate Hope's apartment but reversed roles so this time Naegi was now guarding his resting friend while sitting in an armchair.
"I wonder if she ever has any dreams.." He thought.
Kirigiri rolled on her side facing her friend and put her hand under her head.
"It must be tough to live with these gloves... I like it way better when she has them off. Her hands are scarred but it doesn't change the fact her touch feels so good.. I mean, not in a perverted way.. W-wait, I'm thinking so I don't have to tell that to myself heh. Well, I'm already used to how they look so at least she can feel comfortable around me... It's kind of an honor to be on Kiri's trusted people list since it probably doesn't even outrange a one-digit. She is so cold to everyone she first meets that I'm not even sure if she has fully opened up to me yet even though we've known each other for quite a while now, or at least she knows me..." He glanced at her again, sighed, closed his eyes with a smile, and lay back on the armchair..."
...
...
"You said that I can feel safe around you, didn't you sleepyhead?"
Makoto slowly opened his eyes and saw smiling Kyoko putting her suit on. "W-wha-w-what's the time? He stuttered.
"It's half-past eight. Get up, they announced that copper Junko will be no more in 30 minutes and you don't wanna miss the explosion am I right?" Kirigiri asked.
"Y-yeah of course not." Makoto stretched.
With the escort of many soldiers, they got to sit on concrete stairs placed along the Hudson River.
The sun's rays shone stronger and began to brightly reflect off the water's surface.
"There is only one downside of leaving Future Foundation for me." Naegi stated.
"I wonder what is it." Kyoko looked at him.
"Losing my fancy "future merch", including the super-cool wrapped-around sunglasses. I lost all my style since I left didn't I?" He chuckled.
"You didn't, but you certainly lost some good sun protection for your eyes." Kirigiri smiled.
"I guess that I'll have to look elsewhere then." Makoto looked into his friend's eyes with a wide smile.
They stared like this for not more than 2 seconds until a black-backed gull took their gaze.
"Whoa, the last time I saw a gull was like forever ago." He said.
"Or maybe you just don't remember that you spotted one during our normal high school time since she stole your memories." Kyoko speculated.
"You know, actually I think that I remember a photo of us on a beach, so if Junko didn't fake it then it's quite likely that I saw one." Naegi confirmed.
"I see.. Tell me what you remembered from that picture." She requested.
"Well, I can't really recall if I was there but, I think that I saw you, Celestia, Aoi obviously and, maybe Junko." Makoto told.
"So you basically gave all your attention to girls." Kirigiri pointed out.
"N-no! I- I mean, a little, maybe but, that's normal isn't it?" He questioned in embarrassment.
"I guess. Hey, relax. I'm just playing with you." Kyoko smiled.
"Ah, r-right." Naegi chuckled. "So it's possible that you actually had your first vacation already."
"It seems so." She assumed.
"That doesn't break our holiday promise though!" Naegi stated.
"Fine." Kirigiri agreed with her smile not leaving her face.
Soon they started hearing a large crowd counting down to the detonation.
"It's time." He looked over at the statue while supporting himself with his right hand placed on the concrete step.
Kyoko took her glove off and gently touched her friend's finger while looking at the monument as well.
Makoto felt it and with a little hesitation slowly grabbed her hand.
Like that, they admired the view of the copper Junko exploding into pieces and falling into the river in the sunset.
