He wakes to a bizarre landscape; the sinking ruins of a gone society. Buildings, several stories tall, float above the lustrous ocean - A sea of liquid gold stretched out beyond the horizon.

He stands upright, legs floating above the water's surface. From the size of the almost entirely submerged skyscrapers, he couldn't fathom how deep the ocean went. What was he standing on? He tried pulling his legs up but to no avail; it felt like his ankles were encased in cement. He couldn't drown and he couldn't escape.

He tilts his head downwards, searching for what lies beneath the ocean's surface.

Naegi's eyes snapped open at the sound of his morning alarm.

"Not again." He was boiling hot, sweaty and…couldn't move his body? Fearing that the dream had taken a sudden realistic turn, Naegi threw open the covers and twists around. Arms coil around his waist. In shock, he threw himself off the bed and landed harshly on the floor.

Naegi rushed for his glasses, clumsily putting them on.

The commotion roused the girl awake. With the bed was positioned across the window, the sun's rays reflected onto her straw-berry blond hair, endowing her with an angelic radiance.

What was Junko Enoshima doing on his bed? Naegi composes himself quickly. "How'd you get in here?"

"Good morning." The girl yawned. The covers slid down her body. Naegi couldn't be more thankful to see her dressed…in the same clothes she'd worn to the bar last night. She smiled down at him with mischief. Not unlike a feline who'd stumbled on a sparkling, new toy to play with.

Naegi composes himself quickly. "How'd you get in here?"

Enoshima blinks. "You brought me."

"I put you in your room." He scoffed.

"Wow, you must've been wasted. Not as much as me probably, but still." Enoshima yawned into her hand as if this ordeal was a minor inconvenience. "I woke up here in the middle of the night, then went back to sleep."

"That's impossible."

"That's what they all say." She stretched her arm, then sat cross legged on the mattress. "I wonder how you'd even get into my room anyway."

"Your key."

Enoshima crossed both arms in an 'X'. "Bzzzzt. Now that's impossible. I lost my key two days ago."

"You had it with you. It's right-" Naegi searches for the key he left on his desk and found not a trace of it.

Eyes narrow in suspicion. "I'll need to search you." Depending on how this conversation went, talking might not be enough to settle the matter.

"This really hurts, Naegi. But whatever." She says with a half smile. Long creamy legs slide out of the bed and touch ground. She raises her arms over head - one clasping the other - and pushes her chest out. "Do whatever you have to."

Naegi resists the urge to groan. "No sudden movements." He muttered grumpily.

They were roughly the same height, standing at eye-level. Naegi's hands started search from underneath her arms, travelling down her waist.

His pat down of her skirt only shows a wallet and other essentials, but no key.

"You're clean." He steps back.

Enoshima smirks. "Whew. Here I was worried I'd smell without my morning shower. You sure know how to make a girl nervous!"

"This doesn't mean you're in the clear." It only raised more questions. "If you didn't have a key, how did you lock your door, and how would you get in?"

"The landlady." She replies. "Yukizome has the master key, so until she gets me a spare, she locks up after I leave, and I have to go to her if I need my door opened. Check with her if you don't believe me."

I will

"Even if that was true, you shouldn't carelessly trouble other people. I'm sure Yukizome has her hands full all day."

"I'm careless?" She sneers and motions a pointed finger in circle. "If you're accusing me of breaking in, doesn't that mean you keep your door open at night? Pretty gutsy, Naegi. Don't blame me when you get robbed for real."

"No I don't leave my door open." He argued.

Enoshima snickered victoriously. "How would I have supposedly broken in then? I don't have the key to this place, so that means you leave the door open?"

"You could-"

…Damn.

Naegi had been about to open his mouth and reveal his trick for opening his door. He'd always been especially careful, making sure nobody else was around when entering his home. Enoshima shouldn't know about it.

He relented. This was a defeat no matter how you look at it. "Fine. We'll leave it at that, for now."

"That's it? Not even an apology?"

"When I'm sure of your innocence, you'll get one." It sounds ridiculous that she could be, but there's no evidence besides her being here.

From the looks of it, his compromise didn't alleviate the intruder's dissatisfaction. "I gotta say. I thought you'd be more bashful than this. Y'know, all stutter and blushes like you've never even touched a girl."

"All my training would be useless if I couldn't keep my cool around one civilian."

"So that's why it's so hard to get a reaction out of you." That piece of information does put a smile on the woman's face. "Always so serious. It wouldn't kill ya to lighten up."

"I-I can do that just fine with my friends." He retorts.

"Like Owada? Only your close associates get to see your vulnerable side, huh. Guess that means I've got one foot in the door already."

He stares quizzically.

"You were squirming a lot in your sleep. Like a kid." Enoshima pointed out.

Naegi's overwhelmed by lethargy, as scenes from the dream flood back. "I had a nightmare." He murmured.

"Try night terrors instead. You looked like you were having a panic attack. Wouldn't even wake up after I budged you, darling." Enoshima brushed the hair out of her eyes.

"…Darling?" Naegi spluttered and wracked his head thinking of what she could mean. "…Were you serious about that bet?"

Her fingers form a peace sign. "Oooh yeah. I'm a gal who always gets what she wants. It's boring otherwise. This morning is a pretty good start to being anything but."

"If you're bored, then go to work or find a hobby." Naegi straightened out his clothes. By this point, he had fully grasped the insanity of the intrusion.

"I don't have those kinds of obligations." Enoshima played with her nails.

Naegi squinted. "You don't?" Enoshima shook her head, to his surprise. Hope's Peak was costly to live in. A recent college graduate like himself had tons of loans he needed to work off. "What do you do?" He asked.

"What's this? You're finally interested in me?" She closes in.

He pushes her back by the shoulder "Never in the way you're thinking."

Enoshima stuck out her tongue. "In that case, I'm not spilling." She hopped back, motioning towards the door. She waves the back of her hand. "Next time you let me stay the night, let's be more proactive. Police roleplay wasn't a kink of mine, but I admit it's got potential."

"Leave." He shot the minx a glare as she waltzed out of his room, leaving behind the fragrance of strawberries and spice in her wake. That and about dozens of thoughts spiralling in Naegi's head.

It had been late, and he'd gone out drinking more than usual. If he couldn't open Enoshima's door without a key, it's possible he made a lapse in judgement and brought her here out of convenience.

That would explain everything. Naegi himself was still in the white dress shirt and pants he wore to work. Only his suit hangs off a nearby chair.

He sighs exasperatedly.

"Everyone does stupid things when they're tired and drunk. No biggie."


"What's the plan, Kirigiri?" Naegi places coffee on his partner's desk and retreats a small distance away.

Kyoko Kirigiri sifted through paperwork; fingers tapped down on a set of photographs. "The murders. The Atua cult case is too cold to get anything definitive, and Shingen General Hospital can likely wait."

"It's just like you to be so far ahead. Our culprit isn't going to know what hit him." Naegi declared.

"'Our' culprit. You're on board then?" Kirigiri spun his chair slowly until she faced him.

The warning undertones catch him off guard. "You don't want me to?"

"Perhaps." Kirigiri leaned back.

"If you're still mad about Owari…"

"That's related. The victim count is up to 5. The most recent incident being several days ago. Come have a look." She gives him the okay to come near her. Naegi rests one arm on the back of the chair and leans forward to look at the file.

The gruesome sight of young men strung up and impaled, is captured in the pictures.

"…Give me a heads-up next time." Naegi said dryly. He meets Kirigiri's calculating gaze. "…Do I have donut crumbs on my face?"

"Not this time. If you're prepared to handle your first mass homicide, feel free to tag along."

"You can count on me." He didn't know why she suddenly changed her tune, but he won't argue.

"To try your best to not get in her way, I'm sure." A new entrée came into view - A tall, lanky man with ghostly hair, both in color and cloud-like shape.

"How's it going, Komaeda?" Naegi addressed his fellow detective.

"I'm not one to complain, but standby is boring." Nagito Komaeda was sickly pale. Enough that Naegi used to tell him to rest or check in with a hospital whenever he could. Not that the older man would lend an ear to his advice. "The chief said I should act as reserve on the serial murders in case my meager talents are required. Although, with Kirigiri on the job, I doubt that'll be necessary."

Naegi nodded amicably. "I know exactly how you feel. I can barely keep up with her."

Komaeda smiled. "It's impressive if you could do that much. I'm sure even you'd learn something studying someone of Kirigiri's class, work."

"I don't believe I've ever mentioned my class." Kirigiri interjected.

"Haha, don't be modest. As if anyone with your record could be less than one of our shining lights."

Naegi detected faint traces of discomfort from his partner. Not in her expressions, she didn't seem bothered in the slightest. It was more…intuition. "Does any of that matter? At the end of the day, Kirigiri's efforts are what got her this far."

Komaeda pats him on the head.

"It's cute you think that, but you ought to consider something, Naegi. All the exceptional people in this city, the ones at the top are all high-class. Even in the station, nobody below Beryl can work here. Do you know why?"

"I'm sure you'll tell me." Naegi lowers his eyes.

"Because the likes of you barely scrape the talent quota necessary to be a detective."

"…We're in the same class." Naegi states the obvious.

"I've long made peace with my mediocrity. You'll be better off doing the same."

"Chill out, guys." The rising tension deflates when Shuichi Saihara happens upon the discussion. His face wracked with nervousness. If one were to look, they'd see many other spectators staring up from their desks.

"Komaeda…the chief is calling you…and Kirigiri." Saihara said.

Komaeda cracked a triumphant grin, as if he'd won some one-sided competition. "Shall we go?" He beckoned Kirigiri.

The lilac-haired woman stood, following Komaeda. But not before glancing at Naegi.

He scratches his head, unable to answer the silent plea for help.

"What was that about?" Saihara asks.

"That was you saving me from classism." He couldn't say the same from Kirigiri though. "I can't get along with that guy."

"Ah, I figured as much. He's not too far off. You know there's a correlation between gems and talent. Be it in athletic ability, intellect or social charisma. The guys at the top are more skilled and accomplished than we are." Saihara calmly assesses, as part of the Beryl class, just like Naegi. The issue was that so was Komaeda. "I can't help but wonder why he feels the way he does. After all, he's one of the best in the station."

Very arguably as good as Kirigiri was. "Ever tried asking him?"

"You kidding? Komaeda doesn't give me the time of day. You don't get along as badly as you might think. Some of us are like a different species in Komaeda's eyes." Saihara gave a low, pitying laugh.

"I'm not sure what you're implying. If all Komaeda cares about is talent, he'd be more likely to see that in you." Naegi slipped into Kirigiri's chair.

"That's a bit much." Saihara tipped his hat, as if to shield his face.

Naegi faked a sigh. "Even though we started at the same time. Even though you're one year younger than me, you've already solved multiple cases by yourself. Rumor has it that Togami's even thinking of promoting you."

"C-Come on. Stop." Saihara flushed.

"Meanwhile I'm still getting babied." He circled his finger on Kirigiri's desk.

Saihara folded his arms defiantly. "From what I've heard, you've broken conduct a few times. It's impressive that all you ever get is a slap on the wrist from the chief."

Naegi's head shot up at the tone. "Well there's a reason for that."

"If that weren't enough, that no-nonsense Kirigiri tolerates you just as much." Saihara presses his counterattack

"I'm her partner, she has to-"

"And you're liked by everyone."

"T-That's not true!" Naegi said, slackjawed.

"Really." With a skeptical tone, Saihara pursed his lips. "What were you doing on the 14th?"

"Valentines? I…didn't have a date if that's what you're asking."

"It wasn't – and wow, you admitted that so easily." What's with that pitying look? "You wouldn't have happened to help out a guy fix his car, would you?"

"Yeah, his name was Momota. Do you know him?"

Saihara nodded. "He's my closest friend."

"Oh…he did mention a Shuichi. I didn't think the sidekick was you."

Saihara lightly groaned. "He mentioned you helped him out of a jam. Thanks for that. I know Kaito can be a handful."

"I've handled worse." Naegi scratched his cheek. "How is he?"

Saihara visibly winced.

"Hm?" Naegi prodded.

"I actually don't know. Harukawa's kept him on house arrest for skipping out on her that night. I'm…not even sure he's still alive."

Naegi leans back into Kirigiri's seat, his heart going out to the astronaut-in-training. "Women are trouble."


"Good evening, Yukizome." Naegi passed by the bubbly woman sweeping the lobby.

"Somebody's early." She waved.

"Haha. I'm not…always late." He bashfully rubs the back of his head. Yukizome's stone-faced. "Togami pays a ton, I can't complain."

"Money can only go so far." Yukizome's motherly disposition was comforting, if a bit unnecessary. "Look at you, total bones." She poked at his arms.

"So I've heard. I don't really have time to cook." He scratched his cheek.

"That's fine. If you can't watch out for yourself then you can have your girlfriend do it for you." Yukizome grins fiendishly.

He needed to smoothen his way out of this angle. "...By the way. Is it true Enoshima misplaced her key?"

Yukizome hums thoughtfully. "Yeah, I should have the spare ready by Monday."

That settled it. Naegi had been dreaming. He really did owe Enoshima an apology. On the other hand, the woman in front of him was clearly not innocent either. "If you knew that. Why didn't you say anything when we walked in last night?"

The grin. It reappears "I tried helping in my own way. From the looks of it, things worked out between you two~"

Naegi creased his brows deeply. "I don't really get it."

"Enoshima told me all about it. I think you two are moving a little too fast but hey, you're young!"

He did not like the sound of that.

Naegi trekked to his apartment room with foreboding in the pit of his stomach. He twisted open the door and immediately took note of the lights on.

"Welcome home." Enoshima's head poked out of the kitchen. She'd tied it up in a ponytail.

Naegi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Getting angry did nobody favors. "Enoshima-san, let's get something stra-…what's that smell?" The intoxicating aroma drew him to the kitchen, where his stomach growled at the sight of a proper meal.

He chooses to ignore the triumphant expression plastered all over the diva.

"This...doesn't excuse you breaking in." There wasn't nearly as much authority in his words as he'd like.

"I didn't break in this time, either. Yukizome let me in."

"She did what!?" Naegi shook his head. "Never mind, I believe you. But why?"

"She asked for details about what happened last night. I just told her the truth." She pushed Naegi from the back, setting him into the chair. "However she might've interpreted things, is none of my business."

…He should have known from that implicative way Yukizome'd eyed him.

"You really keep me on my toes." Naegi sighed. "So, what's all this for?"

"I thought I'd repay one of the favors I owe you and make dinner. Don't worry, the ingredients were all mine, your stuff's still in the fridge." She sits across him.

This was a wealth of consideration she was showing. "…You can't believe how suspicious you are right now." He looked at the food warily. What could be in it?

"Oh my god. Just accept my generosity already!"

Maybe he was overly critical. Throughout this whole ordeal, Enoshima hadn't done anything wrong. "I appreciate the gesture, but letting you sleep here and bringing you home was a normal thing to do." And his obligation as an officer of the law. His modesty only seemed to encourage Enoshima's antics though.

"We got off on the wrong foot, that's why I thought I'd try a different approach." Oh boy, did they. Their first meeting had left a pretty negative impression on him.

"You mean having a mundane, ordinary conversation?"

"Yeah, that."

"…Who am I to say no to dinner?"


"That was great. You're an amazing cook, Enoshima-san."

"Best way to get a man is through his stomach." Naegi flushed at the advance. "Kidding. Personally, I know a ton of faster ways, but this was Yukizome's advice…"

"That woman won't be satisfied until she tosses me at the altar."

"Can't blame her. The tux makes you look cute." Enoshima complimented him. "By the way, what's a cuddly guy like you doing with the big boys in the police force. You uh, don't seem fit for it, no offense."

"None taken." He felt neither indignation or embarrassment at the snark. It was a known fact that he didn't exactly have the physique for his position.

"You got the hots for a babe named justice or something?"

"Um, no." Naegi began "…I just want to help people."

It was a vague, nebulous sentiment that elected a puzzled response from Enoshima. But Naegi meant it in a very specific way.

"It's been my dream since childhood. You know when kids play cops and robbers, or say they want to grow up to be one." Enoshima didn't react, making him feel a little awkward. Still, he continues. "In my case, I took a bit far. Some of my earliest memories was playing those types of games with my baby sister. I always wanted to be the police, and she never wanted to be the robber. We'd fight a little, then end with a compromise; we'd play cops and citizen. I'd be the police giving her my services. It could have been running errands, keeping her out of trouble, or helping her find missing items." He said in a low voice. "The feelings I had during those times stuck with me, now here I am. I think it's a stretch to say I could make the city safer, but I'd be glad to help make even one person's day a little better."

Enoshima studied him.

"I know it's silly."

"It is. But I don't feel like laughing, not when you're that serious about it." Enoshima continued. "Although, games are fun and all, but people like that get taken advantage of in the real world. Worst case scenario, they might lose their chance at happiness."

Naegi blinked, he hadn't expected Enoshima to give what he said some serious thought. "I know but I've never been able to turn down someone in need. I always try to do the right thing, when given the chance. They're like my instincts." He's proud to be a helper, even if it might be unglamorous in the eyes of others.

"I get you!" Enoshima said excitedly. "Instincts are what make us who we are. We can't fight them even if we wanted to. Sometimes you gotta go with the flow and fuck the consequences!"

He wouldn't go that far. "I…might be getting to the bottom of your lack of self-restraint."

"Go big or go home~" Was the strawberry-blonde's rhetoric.

"Fair enough. But enough about me, what about you? Why come to this district?" Naegi suddenly asked.

Enoshima deadpans. "Whoa, didn't know this was give and take."

"Let's just say I'm interested."

"Fiiine, if you put it that way...Laugh and I'm kicking you in the shins." She twirled her pink locks.

"I doubt it's trivial enough to." Naegi replied.

Hope's Peak was a bustling metropolis yet, this progress was hard-earned and required the compliance, effort and taxation of every citizen who lived within the city's walls. District 14 was not an environment a man with even a mediocre salary could survive in; they needed to be exceptional talents who earned far above the norm to meet the standard of adequate living – For those who could still be considered significantly wealthy under these circumstances…well, they were a different breed entirely. Sadly, it had one thing in common with all other districts – crime and poverty, while in the minority, were still apparent.

And so Naegi couldn't imagine Enoshima. or anyone for that matter, would move here with half-baked intentions. This city wasn't for the faint of the heart or the poor, as bad as that sounded.

She must have her reasons.

"I'm looking for love." Enoshima rested her chin on her hand.

Naegi cocked his head to the side. "…Like a marriage?"

"Nope." She popped the 'p'. "You know. It's this supposed feeling where you get all giddy and junk."

Naegi's head tips to the other side. "I know what love is...but…you need to find that here?"

"it can only be here."

"I…don't understand. How do you plan on going about this? How are you making a living?" He wasn't even fishing for information at this point. Enoshima's response was more frivolous than even he'd dreamed.

Enoshima hid a Cheshire smile behind her hand, her shoulders shaking in a silent laughter.

"What?" He asked.

"You've never been in love." Her declaration took him aback.

"I haven't. Not like that." He spoke honestly. Owada sort of already blew that cover the previous night anyway. But what's that have to do with anything?

"Cheer up. I ain't judging a guy in the same boat." Enoshima remarked.

Naegi was sure he wasn't making a sour expression. Sure, it was still embarrassing to admit at his age, but the people around him gave his love affairs more thought than he ever did.

"For your information, this is also the reason you've seen me with multiple guys."

"I didn't ask." He said, his lips forming a line.

With the quirk of her lips, he knows she enjoys making him uncomfortable.

"I didn't want you to get the wrong idea. I'm a woman on a mission, and while it might look like I play around, I take my goals very seriously."

"I'll hold you to that." By some chance, his impressions of Enoshima had grown, then spiraled into who-knows-where territory. What a strange woman.

"With that said. Go out with me."

"What?"

"You're my next target." She leans over the table, her pointed fingernails almost touching his forehead.

"Forget that bet already!" He spluttered.

"Hey hey hey. I hope you still don't think I'm joking. I'm very serious, Naegi."

In that case, all he to say is "Good luck. You're fighting an uphill battle." Enoshima's eyes twinkle with bemusement. That's fine, she can entertain herself however she wants, but that doesn't mean he'll put up with it.

"But let me say this. I have a dream, it's important to me. I'm not going to let anyone get in the way of it." He narrowed his eyes.

Enoshima's phone rang at that moment. She looked at the caller ID with scorn. " I'm busy." She said without naming herself or the caller.

"…" She sighed and rubbed her temples. With the press of the button she ended the call.

Naegi blinked. "Who was that?"

"That was my older sister. Excuse me while I go bail her out of a fine mess, she's gotten herself in."

Sister? Naegi shuddered at the thought of another Enoshima. One was already proving more than he could handle.

"…The food was great. Thanks." He admitted as he walked her to the front door.

"This was fun, Naegi." Enoshima waved.

He closed the door. He strolled into the kitchen and brought the dirty dishes to the sink. Tap water runs. Naegi can't help whistling to himself. The day had gotten off to a rocky start…but he could do with more endings like that. Choice of company was a bit questionable though.

He rarely had anyone over. That might be one of the reasons why he was seldom around, even on work-free days. The detective couldn't deny the emptiness left his home bleak.

However, that also made it easier to tell when that emptiness had been filled. The rustling behind him has the detective twisting his body. He freezes. Someone who should not be there, was.

A masked figure.

"Who-" Stunned, he's unable to get out more than a word before a blunt object strikes his head. His glasses fly off as he's knocked to the floor. The world spins, as does his vision.

Naegi struggles to look up at his attacker. His face twists in a weak glare, the only meager resistance he could muster.

His final flickers of consciousness show his attacker clumsily stepping back, their body shaking with an emotion he can't describe.

Then darkness comes.