A/N: This threeshot is the result of an ask sent by one of my followers on AO3 and Tumblr, with this chapter taking place just before the events of Trigger Happy Havoc. Please read and review, and enjoy!

The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Komaru Alone!

Chapter One: The Naegi Family Separated!

Komaru sat on the couch in the living room, arms wrapped around her torso as she shivered, biting her lip as she felt herself wallowing in despair as the past year of staying in hiding took its toll on the young girl.

How did things go so wrong?! Why did my friends have to die? Why did everyone still alive have to go nuts and start a riot? Why did we have to barricade the whole house? Why did Makoto and Kyoko have to be sealed away in Hope's Peak Academy? Why isn't he with me now?!

"Alright, that should keep the rioters at bay." Shingi commented as he dusted off his hands, he and his wife Hana walking into the living room.

Hana nodded and replied uneasily "Good; the streets have become more and more dangerous with each month. It's probably not safe to take any more grocery store runs for a while."

Shingi nodded "Yeah, you're right. We'll have to ration our remaining…"

*Sob*

"Huh? Komaru!" Hana and Shingi exclaimed running over and sittind on either side of their daughter, stroking her back in comfort.

"Komaru, dear, what's wrong?" Hana asked, though she felt like she already knew the answer.

Komaru sniffled before she cried "I hate it! I hate how we have to hide in our own house! I hate how we can't go outside because a mob could shish kebob us! I hate that we have to talk about rationing our food because we can't even go to the goddamn supermarket! I hate how I can't even see my big brother! WHY?! WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS?!"

Hana and Shingi frowned, having had those exact same thoughts multiple times during the Tragedy. Only their need to stay strong for Komaru had kept them from falling into despair during the past year. Hana let out a sigh and wrapped her arms around her daughter, pulling her into her arms and holding her like she did when she was a little girl. As Komaru sobbed against her Mother's shirt, Shingi continued to rub her back, trying to provide whatever fatherly support he could.

"I…I'm scared, Mommy…"

"Shh…I know, sweetie. Your Father and I are scared too. And I wish we could explain why this Tragedy had happened. But it's not your fault, Komaru, nor is it any of ours. Komaru…your Father and I feel the same. We want to have Makoto with us too, so that we can be one big happy family again."

Shingi interjected "But think about it, Komaru. Your brother is in probably the most secure place in the world right now, with enough food that he and his classmates won't worry about starving. Kyoko and her Father promised us that they'd keep Makoto safe, and your Mother and I trust them. I hate that it has to be this way, but for now we have to stay separated, not because we want to, but because it's what's best for Makoto."

Hana stroked her daughter's hair and assured her with a smile "Besides, dear, I have faith that this is only temporary, that eventually the riots will die down and the world will return to normal. Hate has a tendency to implode on itself in the end, so we just have to hold out for now until that day comes. We have to stay strong, for Makoto."

Komaru sniffled, looking up at her Mother and nodded "O…okay…for Makoto…" Komaru's stomach rumbled, making her blush in shame as she reflected "…Guess we'll have to save our food for when we really need it, huh?"

Hana and Shingi frowned, wishing that they could feed their daughter until her skirts wouldn't fit around her belly. However, they could only nod, knowing that they couldn't afford to waste food.

Shingi spoke up, suggesting "Hey, why don't I go break out the Clue board? That should take our minds off our rumbling bellies for a while."

Komaru finally smiled, wiping her eyes as she stepped out of her Mother's embrace and stood up, offering "Sure, that sounds nice. I'll go…"

*CRACK*

"AH! What was that?!"

Hana and Shingi's eyes narrowed, masking their fear as they frowned, Shingi postulating "The rioters must have found axes or something to break through the barricade."

"A…AXES?!" Komaru shrieked.

A rare, serious expression on her face, Hana urged "Komaru, Shingi, down to the basement, just like we agreed."

Nodding, Komaru and Shingi followed Hana down into the basement, the Naegi Patriarch locking the door behind them as they hurried downstairs, preparing to hide for their lives until the mob left.

XXX

Don't make a peep, don't make a peep, don't make a peep… Komaru chanted mentally as she withheld the urge to whimper in fear, her parents' hands resting on her back the only thing giving her any semblance of calm as they heard the echoes of the rioters' footsteps rampaging upstairs.

I don't even wanna know what the hell they're doing to our house… Kyoko thought, shivering at the undoubtedly wanton destruction happening in their own sanctuary.

At last the angry echoes dissipated, leaving the house as quiet as a church.

After a few minutes of tense silence, Shingi dared to speak, whispering "…I think the coast is clear."

Hana and Komaru nodded nervously, getting up and dusting off their skirts as Hana suggested uneasily "…Alright, let's…go upstairs and see what the damage is. Hopefully our house is still habitable."

Shingi nodded "Yes, though I'll have to barricade the doors and windows again."

Will that even help? Komaru wondered. If they broke through once, they can do it again…

Hana wrapped an arm around her daughter, hugging her close as she assured her with an uneasy smile "…It'll be okay, Komaru. We'll get through this together, okay?"

Komaru nodded uneasily, squeaking "…Okay, Mommy…", feeling like she was seven instead of seventeen.

Without another word, the two Naegi women followed their patriarch up the stairs, their eyes darting around nervously as Shingi tried to give them a reassuring smile, though even that was uneasy.

As he undid the lock and turned the doorknob, he assured them "It'll be fine, you two. We just need to refortify our defenses and hold out a little longer, then when the world's back to normal we can go get Makoto from Hope's Peak and we'll be planning his and Kyoko's wedding before you know it!"

They knew he was just trying to make them feel better, but the thought of attending Makoto's wedding made them smile as Hana agreed "Yes, you're right dear."

Komaru merely nodded at her Father who smiled as he opened the door, the three of them walking out of the basement as he suggested "alright, let's take a look at the doorways and see what we can find to barricade the house again. Then we can…AGH!"

"DAD!" "SHINGI!"

"KOMARU!"

"MOM!"

Before they knew what was happening, they found themselves grabbed from behind, restrained so they couldn't move no matter how hard they thrashed. Komaru looked up and saw a small battalion of men and women, their heads obscured by full-head bear masks that were white on the right side and black on the left, the black side decorated with a red jagged eye and an evil grin.

No…an ambush! They hadn't left; they were waiting for us to come out of hiding!

As the invaders started to drag them away, the three Naegis tried their best to struggle, Komaru crying out fearfully "MOM! DAD!"

"KOMA…AGH!" Hana and Shingi groaned as they were swiftly thumped on the head, causing them to go unconscious instantly.

"MOM! DAD! MMPH!" Terrorized tears streamed down her cheeks as she watched her unconscious parents get dragged away before a white cloth was pressed against her mouth, muffling her cries. Before she knew it, she started to feel drowsy, wondering as she felt her eyelids droop Why…why am I so sleepy…? What…what did I do to deserve this…? Mommy…Daddy…Makoto…help me…

After several minutes, Komaru's entire world went black, the young girl losing consciousness as she fell into a pit of despair.

Please…let this be some crazy dream…please…

XXX

"Huh? W…what…?"

Komaru groaned, rubbing her head as her eyes fluttered open, her hazy vision coming into focus. She felt around, her eyes widening in surprise as she felt a soft mattress underneath her.

"Wait…a mattress…but…where am I?" She looked around, frowning at the unfamiliar setting as she concluded "This…this isn't my room…it looks more like…someone's apartment. But how…" Komaru gasped as her memories came rushing back, bringing her to tears as she exclaimed "That's right…rioters broke into our house and knocked us out…so…" She immediately rocketed to her feet, a panicked look in her eyes as she hoped "Maybe Mom and Dad are in this apartment too!"

She then ran out of the bedroom and frantically combed the apartment.

"MOM?! DAD?! MA…MAKOTO?!" However, no matter where she looked, her parents were nowhere to be found, causing her to call out "MOM?! DAD?! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Her eyes snapped over to the door before she decided "Alright, if they're not here, maybe there somewhere else! I have to find them!"

She ran over to the door and grabbed the doorknob, attempting to turn it only for it to refuse to budge.

"No! No, you can't be locked!"

Panicking, Komaru frantically began yanking on the doorknob, trying to open the door with all her might, only for the door to continue to seal her from the outside world.

Tears streaming from her eyes, Komaru began to bang on the door with her fists, screaming "LET. ME. OUT! LET ME OUT OF HERE! MOM! DAD! GET ME OUT OF HERE! PLEASE! LET ME OUT!"

Her tearful, screaming demands only invited further silence, causing her to begin hyperventilating once the truth finally settled in. Her knees buckled, causing her to fall as she began to sob in despair.

I…I'm alone…I'm all alone…Mom…Dad…Makoto…Please…come back…I need you, please! Don't leave me all alone!