The quiet, yet ferocious hum of Makoto's car was the only sound between him and his unwanted passenger. He shifted into the next gear, glancing over at her.

Junko wasn't wearing her usual getup. She's dressed street style, a bright red longcoat over a black dress with long black boots, large sunglasses over her eyes. With a curious expression, she opened his glove compartment.

"Seriously? No gun?"

"Why would I have a gun? That's illegal."

"Aren't you some streetwise hard-boiled reporter or something, Naegi-kun?"

He sighed. "I'm pretty sure my bullets would just bounce back at me or something."

There was a small snicker that came from her. "Bold of you to assume you'd be using the gun here."

Shaking off the thinly-veiled threat, he focused back on the road.

Hope's Peak Academy is as he remembered it before The Tragedy: shining like a diamond right in the middle of a city. The drive took around an hour – he realized that when everything became rubble, things like city limits didn't exist anymore. It put things into perspective how widespread the damage was from the ground level.

Stopping before the main pathway, he parked the car. He took a good look at the gated school. He could only stare at it before he's brought back to reality from Junko slamming the door.

"Hey, be careful!"

Only a grin in response from her. "Seriously, Naegi-kun. A sports car? Midlife crisis much?"

"Could you say it's a midlife crisis when I ended up being one of the oldest people I know?"

Locking the matte black car, he made his way to the gate. There's a feeling of uneasiness. After all, he's approached the place several times in the past. The first time was to times of joy, memories that were taken from him. The second time it led to a killing game. He looked at his phone to make sure the time was correct. He was to meet whoever was contacting him at exactly 3:00 PM. The plan was to be let into the campus and exit after two hours of snooping.

Nothing ever exactly goes as planned for the former Lucky Student.

"So, you are the troublemaker."

A cool, feminine voice. He was happy for a second, before he realized the words have a hostile presence behind them. Turning to it, he sees that Kyoko Kirigiri was also an adult like he is, wearing the outfit he remembered her wearing during their time as HPA Staff. Her stance was neither offensive nor defensive, her eyes studying both intruders.

He figured he was probably in trouble. It didn't help that Junko was there to complicate things.

"Kirigiri-san, it's…been a while." Makoto glanced at Junko and she replied with a smug look on her face.

Kyoko raised one of her gloved hands, pointing a gun at Junko. Makoto kept still.

"Hey, Naegi-kun? Gonna call her off or what?!"

Makoto waited a few beats. "Kirigiri-san won't fire unless she has to."

A small smile crept on Kyoko's face. "So she hasn't brainwashed you. Or you've developed into a fine actor. It's good to see you, Naegi-kun. More than I can say for the demon that seems to be lurking behind you."

"Aw, did you miss me, Kirigiri?"

"As much as I miss contracting a terrible disease." She lowered the gun, placing it in the holster on her hip. She turned to Makoto. "Your contact was dealt with a few days ago. I was hired to find the source of some recent leaks of HPA dealings."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "So we were talking to each other, then?"

"Indeed. How long has it been since we last saw each other?"

"A few months, I think? It's good to see you. So uh…" Makoto started sweating. "Am I…going to jail?"

Kyoko pondered. After a few moments, she gives her trademark closed-lipped smile. "That depends. Will you cooperate? After all, you haven't trespassed on school grounds yet."

Junko groaned.

Makoto gave a nervous smile. "There isn't really a choice, is there? Sure. This nosy reporter will cooperate, detective."

"And nothing we find will make the news?"

"You have my word."

After a few moments of silence, both Makoto and Kyoko laughed softly. She walked over to the gate. Pulling out a familiar skeleton key, she unlocks it. She motioned to follow her as she opened up the way forward. Makoto glanced over at Junko as she just walks over. Kyoko shut the gate behind them.

Passing through the area with the Reserve Course students, they make their way to the main campus. The security guards bow to Kyoko as they pass by.

"Still the princess, Kiri-chan~?"

Kyoko ignored the fashion girl's quip.

Makoto tilted his head. "Is your dad still the headmaster?"

"Yes. As obsessed with talent as ever."

He frowned in response. The single-minded pursuit and attention to talent was partly why The Tragedy occurred in the first place. Becoming headmaster himself and gaining access to prior confidential information showed the deep-rooted corruption behind the scenes at the academy. The fact that a single high school girl took down an entire academy and then eventually the world spoke volumes on how foolish everyone was about their obsession with it. Makoto was partly guilty as well – before attending the academy himself he shared the world's admiration for people who attended HPA and their supernatural talents. Even during his time as a student he always felt inadequate.

It was a madness and sickness that afflicted the world. A warped hope that everyone had, quickly twisted into despair.

Snapping out of his thoughts, he looks over at Junko grinning. Makoto narrowed his eyes at her.

"It's so easy to make the world snap. Maybe you'd like to give it a try? You'd make a good mastermind, Naegi-kun."

"The only thing I'm going to mastermind is the perfect nap."

The fashion girl just crossed her arms in a huff.

Kyoko lead them to the new school building. Makoto bit his lip, as if anticipating something horrible.

"You might find some of my findings interesting, Naegi-kun. Are you prepared?"

"It's uh…not what I think it is, is it?"

"You have good intuition as always."

Junko looked ecstatic, fixating on Makoto's face.

She leads them to a familiar looking door, looking over to him. Makoto nods slowly. She slides the door open to a familiar classroom. The students inside stare back at the trio immediately causing the brown-haired adult to inadvertently step back with pupils dilated a bit and his mouth agape.

"Hey," a gruff voice sounded. "That guy alright?"

Kyoko coughs slightly. Makoto shakes his head and regains his composure.

"Oh, um. Sorry. Just a little star struck is all."

Leon. Sayaka. Chihiro. Mondo. Kiyotaka. Hifumi. Celeste. Sakura.

It seemed to be a very small class this year. Makoto looks a bit confused with one student unaccounted for. But the ones he can see now were uninjured and full of life, being able to do normal teenager things. Like hanging out with each other. Laughing. Making memories. Though the fact that they're all hanging around after classes have ended was a bit strange; not unheard of, however, as the class was originally that close-knit during the second year.

Makoto stopped himself from reminiscing. Seeing his old classmates alive was a relief, but the memories were painful.

These were people he should have grown up alongside with.

Sayaka almost jumped out of her seat. "Is…is that Ryoko Enoshima?"

Makoto made a wry smile at Junko. He whispers to her, "Seriously?"

"Hey, I only had a little bit of time to work here, Naegi-kun! Besides, the despair of being homeless lost its charm two days in. I gotta keep all my outfits somewhere, you know."

Chihiro blushed with a meek look. "She's a fashion icon…and so pretty…"

Leon only wolf whistled, garnering a look from Sakura and Sayaka. "What? She's hot. Sorry, not sorry."

"Yeah, I know." Junko winked while striking a sultry pose showing off her assets, making a good number of the guys blush. "And you're… Maizono-san, right?"

"Mmhm. It's nice to meet you, Enoshima-san. Are you here to attend Hope's Peak?"

"I'm just a guest today! But I'd totes hang out with you guys. You guys seem pretty awesome. Unlike the two party poopers here."

Makoto sighed in response, while Kyoko ignored her again.

Kiyotaka suddenly stood from his desk, facing Makoto with full attention. "Excuse me! Are you a new teacher?"

"Huh?!" Makoto immediately flinched. "No I'm not. Sorry to disappoint you, Ishimaru-san."

Teaching your former classmates would be really awkward.

A quizzical look came from the SHSL Public Morals Committee Member. "Have we met before…?"

Makoto weakly waved it off. "Oh, no. I'm a…reporter. It's my job to know about you."

Leon scowled. "They let a journo in? Dude, they're not allowed on campus!"

Kyoko steps forward. "This is a special circumstance, Kuwata-san. He's not here to interview the students or spread gossip about any celebrities here."

Mondo spat. "Kirigiri, I can't trust 'em as far as I can throw 'em. Who the hell are you anyway?"

"Oh, I'm Makoto Naegi. Nice to meet you. I won't be here long, I can promise you that."

Sayaka suddenly speaks up, "Mmm… actually, I think I know you."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! You know a paparazzo, Sayaka-chan?!" Leon's eyes shot open. "Does he has some kind of crazy dirt on you—"

"Kuwata-kun." Sayaka smiles with a tinge of venom, stopping Leon in his tracks. "My manager actually warned me about him – he apparently has 'the devil's luck' where he stumbles into insane stories that no one else could. Who knows what he could find about you?"

Celeste looked over at Makoto. "Devil's luck? Intriguing."

"Mmhm. I browse through news pieces and tabloids to research…trends. His work's shown up a few times. And they're always so different from the others. Sometimes it's about funny or heartwarming things, like a town making a cat a mayor or a celebrity organizing a charitable event. Sometimes there are articles about a horrible crime, but there's always something else – like how the culprit was caught or what great things the victim did in life. It's not like the writing's phenomenal or anything, but I always feel less stressed after reading them."

Makoto couldn't hide the shock on his face. He had no idea people singled him out for his work, much less say positive things about them. Reporters who refused to do video correspondence don't become famous. Perhaps infamous. After all, being a nosy reporter was an occupational hazard and having a relatively "average" look had shielded him from any potential problems along with his luck.

The students only quietly assessed him for a few moments, while Sayaka smiled at him.

Chihiro meekly replied, "He does have a…calming aura. Is that a SHSL talent?"

Hifumi laughed. "Ah! Makoto Naegi-dono feels like some sort of old sage. Perhaps he can impart some teachings for my development into the SHSL Protagonist!"

"I'm not old…"

Sakura suddenly spoke up. "Your eyes look as if you have seen countless battles and suffered much, but have such an intensity of spirit that cannot be quelled. You are interesting, Naegi-san."

"I don't know about that, but thank you."

"We should not take too much more of their time." Kyoko interrupted.

"Y-Yes of course, Kirigiri-san." Makoto bowed and left with Junko and Kyoko following close. Makoto took a quick glance back and seaw the class peering out the door watching them leave. Sayaka seemed to have a curious look on her face staring right at him.

After getting far enough away, Makoto exhaled loudly. "That was…tough. So they don't remember anything?"

Kyoko nodded. "I've asked a few questions here and there and observed them. It's as if they've been reset to before the killing game. Father also doesn't recall anything. If anything, memories were changed to accommodate for our older selves."

Makoto turned to Junko. "Enoshima, you don't attend Hope's Peak?"

"Pfft. Are you saying that I should do everything the same way, Naegi-kun? I don't have to be here you know!"

Kyoko looked unimpressed. "Speaking of which, where is Ikusaba?"

"How should I know? I haven't run into that disappointing sister of mine."

Makoto held his chin. "Really? Well…she did die before you did."

"Mmm…" Kyoko stops and the other two stop as well. "But, Enoshima is a popular fashion icon now…albeit with a slightly different name. She'd be able find her easily. Perhaps something is preventing her from being around."

Makoto raised an eyebrow. "Like…what exactly? I don't think a lot of things could stop a SHSL Soldier."

He thinks for a few moments, while the two women just look at him expectantly. "It might have something to do with the world phenomenon, wouldn't it?"

Junko sighed. "Well, at least you aren't a total dumbass. Took you long enough."

Kyoko stayed silent. She most likely figured it out beforehand as well.

"Hey, I'm new to the supernatural."

Junko mockingly smiled with a childish face. "It's logic, Makoto-chan! Aren't you supposed to be the teacher?!"

Kyoko pinched Junko by the ear, a long string of expletives pouring out of the fashionista's mouth.

Makoto crossed his arms. "Kirigiri-san, have you checked the Old School Building? It should still be standing, right?"

"Not yet. Shall we?"

He nodded. The two investigators began walking to the abandoned building with Junko being dragged by the ear.

Staring at the long emptied building gave Makoto the chills. Unsurprising, considering several tragedies occurred right in its walls. The rotten fruit of the Hope Cultivation Project, Izuru Kamakura, was held in a room below ground and found by the Ultimate Despair. The SHSL Neurologist Yasuke Matsuda met his end at the hands of someone he cared for, an amnesiac fake identity of the Ultimate Analyst. The students of Class 78 barricaded themselves in here in a misguided attempt to preserve hope, only for it to be commandeered by the Ultimate Fashionista in her final attempt at sealing the world in despair.

It all came back to Junko, didn't it?

Being back here with his greatest ally and greatest enemy was probably one of the strangest occurrences he's ever had. And this was coming from a man that lived through the apocalypse.

"Ugh."

Junko seemed to be enjoying the pain. She grinned at Makoto. "Doesn't it bring back great memories, Naegi-kun? You gave me such a great gift, remember?"

He didn't entertain her with a response. Kyoko finally released Junko's ear, staring daggers at the strawberry blonde.

"Hey, Kirigiri-san. About the Kamakura Project…"

"The test subject ended up dying from the operation. Hinata-san was a stroke of luck for them."

"So Hinata-san isn't…"

"As far as I know, no. He's not Izuru Kamakura in this world. Though considering how we are right now, he most likely still has those talents still surgically inside him."

"Mmm. Maybe. We'll see when we run into him."

Junko rolled her eyes. "Done stalling? Are we going or not?"

Makoto exhaled. Kyoko unlocked the front door with her skeleton key, swinging the doors open. The doors shut behind them as they enter – it looked fairly normal for a creepy abandoned building. The sun still shined through the windows. Dust was gathered around the floor, walls and doors.

Makoto scanned the area. "No one's been down on this floor for such a long time."

"Supposedly a rumor goes around campus says that a strange ghost lives in this building. I wasn't able to see if it was something the Steering Committee made up to keep students away – but it's something I think should be mentioned."

"If only Komaru was here." He chuckled. "Still, this is a pretty big building. It'd take way too long to examine it. Even if we did the dumb idea of splitting up."

The reporter saw that an old metal broom was left against a wall. Makoto headed over and picked it up. "Definitely need this. There's so much to clean."

The trio heard small footsteps coming toward them. Junko looks delighted as the short figure approaches. A familiar, homicidal bear presented itself before them with its trademark grin.

Makoto immediately stopped it from getting closer by shoving the bristles against the Monokuma.

"Upupupu~!" It blushed, emoting sweat on its head. Makoto frowned, immediately pushing the bear into the wall.

"Hey! What did Kuma-chan ever do to you?!"

"Crimes against humanity for starters…"

He slammed the broom into the bear several times, turning it into scrap. He backed away, waiting and watching. There was no explosion. Or Spears of Gungnir.

Junko looked upset, but then hugged herself. "Ohh! Seeing Kuma-chan break into pieces. Now that's a nice taste of despair! Thanks, Naegi-kun! You're always so sweet to me…"

"Can you not?"

More little footsteps started walking toward them turning into a visual of a small group approaching them.

"Now what kind of feelings will I have when I start breaking them myself…?" Junko pulled out a large wrench from her coat.

Makoto grumbled. "Hey, isn't that from my car?"

"Don't worry, I'll give it back. Maaaaybe. Time to cut a little loose!" She laughed as she ran into the group, swinging the wrench with little to no regard for her precious Kuma. The bears crumpled from the calculated impacts her swings made, making short work of them. She continues on absolutely thrilled at being able to go all out.

"Seriously, does everyone in our class but me have some sort of super strength?!"

Kyoko smirked. "Don't be so gloomy. Come on, before we lose her."

"Ugh."

The two adults ran after the despair girl. Passing through some more wreckage in the hallway, she tossed a mangled Monokuma at them. Kyoko grabbed the broom from Makoto and swung it – knocking the bear past Junko and into an oncoming group. It exploded as it nears them, with the fashion girl crossing her arms in triumph with the explosion behind her.

The detective narrowed her eyes at the analyst. "Tch. I played into her hands."

Makoto sighs. He examined the blast zone – there was Monokuma wreckage but the building itself isn't damaged. "That's…pretty strange, isn't it? Shouldn't there be at least some scorch marks?"

Kyoko placed her fingers on her chin. "Considering the demented bears started showing up out of nowhere, there may be a connection."

Junko looked dissatisfied. "Some sort of dimensional disturbance, obviously. Keep up! Expand your minds a little. Maybe you'll even learn to accept the beauties of despair?"

The detective ignored her last comment. "If so, then I assume Ikusaba is involved."

Makoto thought for a moment. A mass of Monokumas attempting to block their path to advance. It sounds suspiciously familiar, especially when thinking about Mukuro. IF only he could remember.

After a short while, he remembered.

He snapped back to reality. "Either way, we can't fight through five floors of this."

Junko looked at her nails, bored out of her mind. "Yeah, it's getting really uncool now. Check out this wall though!"

Makoto and Kyoko glanced at the wall for a while, until they hit a realization: this was where the elevator for the class trials was. However, all they can see now was a nondescript wall with a keyhole in it. In the Zero novel, as Makoto recalled, this was the elevator that led to Kamakura's hideout. It seems it is one and the same with the elevator they used during the killing game.

"Hm. I see." Kyoko pulls out the skeleton key and turned it, opening up the elevator. The trio entered, with Junko immediately pushing a button on the floor console. It most likely was removed during the time they were barricaded in the building in preparation for Class 78's game.

"What a worthless sister of mine. No skill in controlling Kuma-chan. It's so disappointing. Just like I told you both all those years ago."

Makoto stared at her tiredly. "What makes you think Ikusaba-san is the one controlling them?"

Junko gave him her blank stare. "Hm?"

"Weren't you the one that just told us to 'expand our minds'? I think the Monokumas are the ones keeping her here for some reason."

Junko's eyes widened a bit, while Kyoko only smiled at him.

The elevator opened up once it hit the fourth floor. There was a lack of Monokumas from what they can see.

Kyoko glanced over at Makoto. "Look. The windows are covered in metal plates."

The lighting was also reminiscent of the killing game, with different and strange solid colors separating each part of the floor. Another physical impossibility, from what the reporter can tell.

He nodded. "Then let's check the Monokuma control room."

The short walk over was quiet enough, no small toy bears approaching them from any direction. As they approached the final corner, there was a loud mechanical whirr. Turning the final corner, a strange non-bearlike mechanoid was in their way. It appeared to be a large insect, almost like a mix between a centipede and praying mantis. The only thing tying it to Monokuma was its top shell; a white and black horror.

Makoto screamed his lungs out. "What the hell?!"

Kyoko passed the broom off to him as she draws her gun.

Junko's eyes lit up. "I'll call you…Monokumasect! Yeah, that's awesome… a despair-inducing name for a despair-inducing robot!" She grins and grips the wrench. "Now I'm pissed! Someone made this and it wasn't me."

"I-I'm going to need a bigger broom…"

The Monokumasect swung a femur at Makoto, but he ran around it. Junko swung her wrench at its underbelly and barely made a dent. "Oooh…thick carapace…good idea…"

Kyoko fired a shot at its red eye with the bullet getting lodged but unable to penetrate fully. "Not the right spot for this one. It's not a Towa-speced machine."

"Hey! Over here!" Makoto yelled at the giant insect and it swung its other leg at him. The lucky student ducked and dodged again, hitting a door and loosening it from its frame. "Wait, this is the Data Processing Center…"

Kyoko fired another shot at its opposite eye. "Naegi-kun, go!"

He looked hesitant, but then nods. He slams his shoulder into the loosened door and busts into the room.

"Confident are you, Kirigiri?" Junko jumped over another femur sweep.

The detective's eyes narrowed. "We don't have all day, Enoshima." She jumped back and dodged a slam from the opposite leg.

"Yeah, yeah…whatever…" She ran up the back of the Monokumasect and jumped onto its head, slamming the wrench into where its mouth should be. It starts cracking as she continually swings into it. If it could roar, it would, and it starts shaking its head violently to throw the fashion girl off. She gives one last calculated swing and jumps off.

Grinning, she landed next to the detective. "Too easy."

Kyoko fired several shots at where Junko weakened the thick shell of the robot. The last shot she fires made the robot jerk forward and fall over. The entire Monokumasect ceased to function, only leaving its metal corpse as a reminder of its existence.

"Maan, having to actually work at this kinda sucks! Big sis, for all of her faults, would've scrapped this thing in a quarter of the time."

"Perhaps working an honest living is something you should be considering. Though I doubt you deserve that much."

Junko sticked her tongue out. "Ugh! That sort of life makes my skin crawl. You wanna punish me that badly?!" She sighs. "I can't believe how you, with how talented you are, want such a boring life. It's kinda despairing…"

"There's more to life than talent and hedonism, Enoshima."

"Gross, you sound more like him day after day. Gee, aren't you gonna fight me or something, or did puppy boy make you all soft like a marshmallow? I know how much you haaaaaaate me, Kiri-chan~."

"Indeed. I would have preferred if you stayed a ghost of our past. However, that is not the reality of the situation. As to why I don't deal with you myself… he has faith that I won't do anything drastic. I intend to keep his trust in me."

"Lame lame lame lame lame lame lame…seriously, how can you be so predictable? It's like rebranding a designer label and passing it off as your own…yuck!"

Kyoko crossed her arms. "And what fuels your curiosity with Naegi-kun, then? Is he not as predictable?"

Her face became emotionless as she thinks. The detective's face remained stony, not showing any of her own emotion in return.

"You will not change the subject on me, by the way."

After a while she showed a threatening grin. Kyoko was visibly unmoved.

Junko finally answered. "Well, I mean…you're singing the tune of hope now, but what happens if Hope guy dies, eh? And what about if you kick the bucket instead? He'd just keep going. Maybe even remember you once in a while..."

"So that's your answer."

"Playing it cool still, huh? Not bad. You're a little less boring now."

Makoto dusted the loose gravel off his shirt. The Data Processing Center was just as he remembers it. He can also see the Monokuma control room door on the other end. He rushed over to the futuristic door and tried to open it with his hands. It refused to budge. Walking quickly back to retrieve the broom, he began to use the handle as a surrogate crowbar, forcing the door open. Digging in his heels, he made slow progress until he had an opening big enough for him. He jumped forward into the room, landing on his shoulder. Stifling the pain, he used the broom to help himself up. The room was dark with the only light coming from the surveillance monitors.

A sad voice was murmuring as if in a trance:

"Sister, please

Don't throw me away

I can do this, I can give you despair

You never did anything wrong, right?

I'm the only one who understands you

Please, I…

I love you.

Why did you…this wasn't supposed…to happen…"

Makoto's eyes wided as he listened to her words. He looked over at the chair, and a figure he hasn't seen in a long time was facing away from him. The reporter stood straight, looking at the girl. He took a step and Mukuro turned the chair around. In a flash she leapt, with Makoto stopping a knife swing barely by his quick movement using the broom with it blocking and absorbing the blow.

His arms strained against the force and the broom started to bend. The handle snapped in two from the unstoppable force of the SHSL Soldier. Luckily for him, one of the two halves hit her hand on impact, causing her to drop the knife from the hit.

Makoto stumbled backward, but before he could regain his footing a punch straight for his gut connected. He reflexively held his stomach and a right jab followed-up right into his head, slamming him into a wall. She held him up by the neck and raised her fist.

"…Ikusaba-san?"

Mukuro's irises dilated. "Naegi-kun…?"

The freckled girl started shaking. "I…hurt…Naegi-kun…?"

Her choking grip loosened, leaving Makoto slumped on the floor dull from the pain.

"Haa…I…I…" She held her head. "Why…?"

Makoto coughed as he stood slowly. "Hey…I'm not... that fragile these days. Though it's gonna be…really sore." He grits his teeth and stands to face her. The pain is immeasurable.

The soldier just looked at him, her eyes starting to return to normal.

"Can…we go now?" He extended his hand to her, with his other arm clutching his stomach.

Her face twisted in pain as she looked at his face. He smiled through his own. She grabbed his hand and went limp.

Makoto walked out of the room with an unconscious Mukuro slung over his shoulder.

"We could hear it from out here, Naegi-kun. Reckless as always."

"Ah, well, mission accomplished right?" He did a thumbs up but immediately winces from his pain. "Ow, owow…"

Junko stayed silent. Makoto eyed her for a few moments, but starts moving with limited success.

"This is what I meant, you know." Kyoko took Mukuro over her own shoulders. "You are in no condition to be assisting someone. I have a first aid kit in my car." She dragged him along, Junko walking behind them.

The building slowly became normal again on the fourth floor with the metal sheets on windows dissipating behind them revealing the open windows. The lighting was returning to normal and they can only see an orange tint - the sun was starting to set as it pours into the building.

The walk back was a blur for Makoto as Kyoko lead everyone to a parking structure on campus. He regained proper vision as they stop at the detective's vehicle. Kyoko places Mukuro in her backseat.

"Heh…a luxury European sedan?"

Kyoko reached for her glovebox. "Of course. I take it you opt for a domestic model?"

"Of…of course. I'm pretty adamant on buying Japanese."

"Hmph. Perhaps we can fix those tastes of yours. Sit." She did a quick once-over on his injuries. "Looks like it is only swelling and bruising. Good thing she isn't the SHSL Fighter. Though a few more hits and you could have lost your life." She places a cold compress on his face first.

"Mm. Hey, where are you living right now? I'm in Yokohama."

Kyoko glanced over at the silent Junko. "I'm not too far from you, actually."

"That's…good. Until you get another overseas job?"

"It's my permanent residence. Though I don't take many of those cases these days. Now I have even less reason to."

Makoto took the cold press from her hands. "I can handle this." He placed it on his own stomach. "Mind giving us a lift to my car? I'm near the front of the campus."

The detective raised an eyebrow. "Are you in any shape to drive?"

"I should be. I mean, only way I'd stop driving is if I can't use my arms or legs anymore. And that's a big maybe." He flashes a grin.

"Stubborn. Fine. I take it you'll be dropping off Enoshima at her residence?"

"Yeah."

"Good. It's best I know where it is too."

ANote

BlackCapPI: So, Kirigiri-san is amazing.

BlackCapPI: In the various novels she's in, she's shown to be able to dodge furniture and oncoming cars.

BlackCapPI: Mentally she's able to figure out cases so fast, it's like she has her own version of being the Ultimate Analyst.

Shirokuma: but enoshima-sama's still the best, you know?

Shirokuma: i mean she's basically the face of danganronpa. and people cosplay her all the time even though they don't exactly know who she is.

BlackCapPI: She's…colorful, sure. But she's an awful person… I mean, she killed her twin sister just like that. And everything we've seen after the first game doesn't really help her case.

Shirokuma: i know she's an awful person, but dangit, i can't help but like her guts. and kirigiri is really boring imo

BlackCapPI: What? The cool, silent type that is really sweet to people she's close to? It's an amazing archetype.

Shirokuma: i guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.