A breeze passes through the five former members of Class 78 while they stand among a bed of daisies. Some of the loose petals fly through them, leading Hiro to sneeze from the pollen.

"…why are we here, Naegi-kun?" Mukuro asked with a confused expression.

"Mmm. In all the chaos, I forgot but…today's the day we 'won' the killing game."

He remembers the six survivors staring directly at the door as the then SHSL Lucky Student pressed the escape button left from Junko's corpse. The large metal doors opened and revealed the gloomy red skies of the world, remnants of what was left from the Tragedy. An entire group of Future Foundation members, along with Koichi Kizakura, were waiting for them as they walked out into the heavily damaged world.

Makoto bends down and gingerly touches one of the flowers with his gloved hand, smiling as he moves his hand around it.

"Looks like these guys came with us."

After the final killing game, the rebuilt Hope's Peak Academy was surrounded by endless daisies as if the souls of all those departed were watching the future unfold. The former headmaster feels the flowers for a good while with a confused expression. He pulls back his hand and hums loudly.

"They feel really dry for some reason. But it isn't summer."

Kyoko goes over to check the flowers herself. "I believe these flowers are dying."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa Kirigiri-chi. These flowers are where we're from right? We're not dying too, are we?" Hiro started sweating, holding the sides of his head in fear.

Hina looked shocked. "But I feel fine. I feel normal." She goes back into her cheery expression. "So… maybe we weren't effected by what happened? Really lucky, right?"

The detective placed her hand on her chin. "I believe it would take more to affect a whole human being compared to a single flower. Perhaps if you were to time travel repeatedly you would start to see some damage. None of you have done so, correct?"

All four of the people she was talking to shook their head.

Makoto sighed. "But whoever is responsible for this…they probably went through the process who knows how many times?"

"True." Kyoko dusted off her gloves. "There could be a possibility that the person or people responsible could not even exist currently."

Mukuro responded in her usual deadpan manner. "Severely injured, maybe."

Hiro sighed. "I just hope that no weird time things happen. Or riots."

"Enough of that stuff! It makes my head hurt." Hina looked annoyed. "Anyway, what did you want to ask us, Kyoko-chan?"

"A good number of the HPA Staff will be taking an extended leave or outright quitting. There may be some students who follow suit, but it'll be a rough week and the academy will be short-staffed." Kyoko scanned the group with her eyes, aside from Mukuro. "I was wondering if any of you would like to work here temporarily."

"Man, I'd love to. It'd be like getting my old job back. But I got a job right now. It'll be hard to just get up and quit, especially since this isn't a permanent gig." Hiro sighed and rubbed his neck. "Believe me, I wanna help you out. Seriously. But I got rent to pay."

"Same, Kyoko-chan! I called off for the day saying it was a family emergency. I mean it was since you're like a sister to me…" Hina looks down. "B-But I can drop by after work to see what I can do." She smiles, albeit a bit awkwardly.

Kyoko turned to Makoto. "And you?"

"Well, I'm pretty flexible." He laughs. "I mean, I am a freelancer after all. Though, uh, this isn't exactly reporter work."

"You're already an experienced educator. In fact, I have an idea of what you'd be doing for the meantime."

Makoto drops his carefree smile and becomes serious. "You're not seriously thinking that I—"

"It's as you suspect. You do recall our homeroom teacher was not as gung-ho about the position as Yukizome-san is."

"Seriously? You want me as the homeroom teacher for Class 78?"

"It isn't as if you'll be doing actual teaching in that capacity. Just more of a glorified babysitter."

The former lucky student frowns. "This is going to be so awkward."

"Is it?" Kyoko turned to Mukuro. "Aren't you already teaching Ikusaba-san?"

The SHSL Soldier slowly nods.

"W-Well, I'm not exactly doing it on purpose!" Makoto sighs in defeat. "Alright, alright. But I'm not going to be their butler or anything. I remember how messy they can be."

"You needn't follow Yukizome-san's example. She goes above and beyond…in fact, I believe she can be too cavalier about this sort of thing." The former SHSL detective gives her trademark closed-lipped smile. "Also, this allows me to easily bring you anything I can find about Enoshima, Hinata-san or Komeada-san."

"That's true. So when do I start?"

The lilac-haired detective taps her chin. "As soon as you can."

"Tomorrow, then. This commute is going to be rough…"

Hina smiles. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow after work, Naegi! Hang in there!"

"Hey, at least you got your weekends. We definitely need to go out for a drink. My treat this time." Hiro slaps Makoto's back.

"I'll hold you to it, Hiro-kun."

"Of course, man. You're working way too hard."

A haughty and upper class voice interrupted their conversation. "You would do well to follow his example, Hagakure."

"Whoa!" Hiro stepped back in surprise. "Geez, Togami-chi! How long have you been there?!"

As if entering from stage left, the former SHSL Heir stepped forward. He narrows his eyes at the sight of Mukuro, who responds in kind.

"Long enough to know that you were all prattling. Have you forgotten our time at the Future Foundation? You mustn't be so lax." He crosses his arms. "I take it that this…was Naegi's idea." His eyes still fixated on the former member of SHSL Despair.

Makoto steps forward. "Yes, well, leaving her with Enoshima isn't exactly a good idea either."

"Fair enough. Though I figure that madwoman is plotting things regardless of Ikusaba's status."

Those words seem to have hurt Mukuro, but she quickly stones up her face.

Byakuya turns from them, completely draped in a black silk suit. "Now if you're done loitering, we have much to discuss. Considering my status as the current heir to the Togami Corporation, the academy has so graciously granted us a conference room for us to use. Away from prying eyes."

Hina sighs. "Geez, Togami. Really going along with how corrupt this place is?"

"It was always corrupt. Or are you remembering with rose-tinted glasses? Enough dallying." Togami starts walking from the group. Makoto looks at the rest of them, then begins following the affluent prodigy with the rest of the former Class 78 going along.

They make their way back to the administration building with what few staff and students were around giving curious glances over at them. On the third floor of the building is the aforementioned conference room, brilliantly draped with red carpet and silk curtains blocking out the sunset from the windows. There lies an expertly crafted conference table along with very comfortable executive chairs placed meticulously around it. All six of them take seats quickly.

"Togami-san." Makoto places his hands on the table. "Have you been able to find Komaru and Fukawa-san?"

"I have not. More than likely they're still in Towa City. However all information about that place has been blacked out by both government officials as well as the Towa Corporation themselves."

Hiro scratches his cheek. "Whoa, you're telling me that even the Togami Corp can't get info?"

"Of course not, you buffoon. They're competitors. Not directly in product, but in government influence. The only thing that my spies have been able to bring back to me is that they've been supposedly testing a new secret project and that the entire city has been on lockdown for the past few months."

Kyoko taps the table. "Is there any way for us to get into the city?"

Byakuya moves his eyes over to her. "It's a privately-owned city. You'd have to get permission from a high-level executive to be let through via the bridge. As for the seas, there are JSDF ships around the city. It's shut tight."

"Well, we have to do something, right? They're probably in danger!" Hina stands up and slams her open palms on the desk.

Makoto shakes his head. "I'm sure they're both fine right now. And an opportunity to get in will come soon. We just need time, right?"

"…how can you be so sure about that?" Mukuro gave him a puzzling look. "They made the Monokumas in the first place."

"I know. But those two can handle it. They've survived and taken down Towa before. They can do it again."

Hina calmed back down after hearing the former headmaster's words. "Yeah. You're right. They're best friends, after all. They're a good team."

Mukuro looks shocked. She wasn't expecting the younger Naegi to not only be a fighter, but also to somehow be close with the anti-social SHSL Literary Girl.

Kyoko continued her questions. "Have you received any news on Nagito Komaeda or Hajime Hinata?"

"Komaeda doesn't exactly flaunt himself like a certain gyaru does. He's essentially a wealthy hermit. Along with his aggravating luck cycle, it's been nearly impossible to track his movements. As for Hinata… I've been unable to locate him. It's as if he's a ghost of some sort."

Makoto glances over at Hiro before he says anything. The SHSL Shaman quickly goes quiet.

Mukuro turns to the heir. "…and my sister?"

Byakuya sneers. "I only know as much as you do. Enoshima casually went off-the-grid after her 'retirement.' She's disappeared without a trace."

"That's unlike her. But she doesn't like to be predictable."

"Indeed. We should have noticed during our time at Hope's Peak. We sorely underestimated both of you… as idiotic as it sounds." A vibrating noise comes from Byakuya's pocket and he glances over at it. He responds to whoever sent him a message and continues to look at everyone else. "At the very least another Tragedy was averted. For the time being."

"It also got us to meet with you." Makoto smiles. "I'm glad to see you're doing fine, Togami-san."

"Hmph. Did you expect anything else? No matter what happens, I will thrive." He then uncrosses his arms and looks at the former SHSL Lucky Student. "However, I am glad that you're still in one piece. You are extremely reckless as usual. We don't exactly have the Neo World Program to rehabilitate that criminal next to you."

"Well, the NWP didn't exactly work the first time did it?"

"Indeed. Thanks to the legacy of SHSL Despair. Still, it didn't completely backfire. But it did get you almost killed repeatedly."

Makoto sits back in his chair. "Well, the 'I've Tried to Hurt and/or Kill Makoto Naegi Club' has quite a lot of members, don't you think? I don't really take it personally."

Mukuro's thoughts flashed back to the killing game. "Wait… what do you mean?"

"Makoto-kun means that everyone in this room has done as he said." Kyoko didn't mince words. "Even those in the Future Foundation tried to murder him."

The freckled girl just gave Makoto a strange look while he just flashed a smile. "As I said, I don't take it personally."

Hina and Hiro looked down while Byakuya crossed his arms.

"Seriously, for you guys it was because of the killing game. You guys have more than made up for it."

The former member of SHSL Despair looked away. "And me?"

"Well you haven't tried to hurt me, Ikusaba-san. I can count on you."

She doesn't look back, trying to hide her blush.

"Well, as I've said to you in the past, I will respect your decision." He gives a serious look to Makoto. "Though in this case I reserve the right to say 'I told you so' if the worst comes to pass."

"Either way." Hina starts smiling again. "You need to share your number with us, Togami! Unless you want us to just show up at your house unannounced."

"Hmph. If you do so, you'd have better prepared better clothes than those, Asahina. As associates of the great Togami family I would be insulted if you did not at least dress properly."

Hina pouts. "Associates huh? I guess I'll take it."

"Also, you have a point." He reveals a QR Code on his own phone. The four other adults in the room capture it with their phones. Byakuya gives a scary and stern stare to Hiro. "Do not inconvenience me with minor trifles. This is my personal line. If you do so, well, it goes without saying that I WILL block your number."

Hiro sighs. "Okay, okay. Geez. I promise I won't bother you with my business proposals."

There's a knock at the door and Byakuya walks over to it. "If you'll excuse me. I have to return to business." He opens the door and two figures are there. One is an older, graying man dressed clearly as a butler. The other is a much younger girl dressed in a Hope's Peak Uniform with a cybernetic arm and a mechanical eye. She clearly looks related to Byakuya.

"Pennyworth. Blue Ink. Let's go. My meeting is done here."

The girl referred to as Blue Ink bows slightly. "Yes, Togami-sama." The two escort the SHSL Heir out of the room.

Hina was shocked. "I know that guy is supposed to be his butler, but what's with the girl?"

"That is Shinobu Togami, the SHSL Secretary. Normally she would be Togami-san's older sister, but since he's the same age as we are…" Kyoko trailed off.

Hiro groans. "Man…this time travel thing is really giving me a headache. I'm gonna go home and take a nice long nap."

"Yeah, a nap sounds great." Makoto stretches and yawns. "I guess we should all go home. It's been a really long day."

The others agreed with him. Hiro and Kyoko went their own separate ways, while Hina went along with Makoto and Mukuro.

After dropping off Hina at her flat, the two find themselves back at Makoto's apartment, there was a nice bowl of steaming pork buns between him and his roommate. On his phone he can see a recording of the press conference about the reserve course's riot earlier that day. Jin Kirigiri stands at the podium with a solemn, serious look on his face. He makes no mention of the existence of the now-deceased Steering Committee and instead takes all blame onto himself, much like the shadow rulers of the government originally intended him to do. There is only mention of one death, Yuto Kamishiro, which causes an uproar in the room.

"And at the end of the school year I, Jin Kirigiri, will be stepping down from my position as headmaster of this academy. My inability to prevent a tragic death as well as the unrest that occurred under my watch has brought great shame to Hope's Peak. I only ask for your patience and understanding in this tumultuous time for our academy. Know that we will never stray from our mission to continue to nurture the talented and bright minds of our youth. I would like to introduce my successor, the current deputy headmaster Kyosuke Munakata."

The former SHSL Student Council President stands and bows from his seat as Jin motions to him. Despite attaining what he originally dreamed of, he looks very tense and serious. He sits back down almost immediately, as Jin continues talking.

"Now, I will answer your questions."

Makoto's eyes shift over back at the meat bun in his hand as heated questions are being flung at the disgraced headmaster. He quickly eats it up due to the long day he's had. He then looks at Mukuro who appears to be watching him eat.

"Is there something on my face?"

"N-No." She starts to mutter under her breath. "It's still cute."

The reporter's face doesn't reveal whether he heard that or not.

"Anyway, I should apologize Ikusaba-san." He laughs nervously. "I've gotten you caught up in things you probably didn't want to involve yourself in."

"I'm fine. Don't worry yourself about me, Naegi-kun. You already have enough to worry about."

"But what have you wanted to do? You've kind of just let yourself be dragged along by me."

The freckled girl remained quiet for a time. "Actually, this is fine. Maybe I could be your assistant."

Makoto's face contorts a bit into a frown from hearing that word. "I'd rather say you were a partner of mine rather than that, you know. I don't want to be anyone's master and I don't want to be anyone's servant. That's just how I am now."

Mukuro looked shocked but her face softens into a smile. "You're a lot better at expressing yourself these days."

"If I don't say what I exactly mean it could lead to misunderstandings. It's something I've learned from not only my mistakes, but from others' as well. In a lot of cases it leads people to do things that they can't take back."

Those words triggered a bit of self-reflection on the SHSL Soldier's part. It wasn't as if she was suddenly remorseful for all the wanton murders that she committed, but rather about how she has acted around Makoto. She would always stalk him from the shadows and watch him from afar. In fact, the past several days have been the closest she has ever been to him. Both in a distance sense and in a relationship sense.

"Naegi-kun…" She musters up a bit of her battlefield courage. "I wanted to ask…why were you so eager take me away from my sister?"

Makoto laughs softly. "I wanted to show that you always have choices, Ikusaba-san. At any time you could have ignored my advice or did what you wanted. I can't really stop you. My words and my optimism are all I can offer anyone. You could've easily went off to find Enoshima yourself. I'd imagine you'd eventually find her."

"I…I see." Her face continues to be stoic. "You're a bit of a mastermind yourself."

"Erm. I can't really compete with Kyoko-san, Togami-san or your sister on that front. All I am is reckless. I just do what comes naturally. I make my mistakes and hopefully live on to learn from them. That's it, really."

"You always place so much faith in others. I don't understand."

"I don't expect others to do as I do. That's unrealistic, like how your sister expected us to all relish in the feeling of despair. If I'm able to make someone think about how they live their life and they improve themselves through it… that's enough for me."

"Now you sound like a teacher."

He laughs. "Just in time then, since I have to be one starting tomorrow." A hefty yawn escapes his lips. "Well I don't want to fall asleep on the first day. I'm going to get ready for bed."

"Good night, Naegi-kun."

The small student body of Class 78 were sit in their seats as directed by Kiyotaka as usual. Leon glances over at the classroom clock.

"Hey, if the teach isn't on time, I'm just gonna book it."

The SHSL Public Morals Committee Member raised his voice. "Kuwata-san! That is no way to behave in this institution of learning. I only wish you could take this more seriously!"

"It isn't like it's gonna be our regular homeroom teacher anyway. Why does it matter? It's not like we have to attend class in the first place! Just ace the practical exams. No big deal."

Sayaka looked at him with an annoyed expression. "Perhaps for you. Others have to continually keep their skills sharp."

"Whoa, hey Sayaka-chan. You're going to pass it with flying colors. Don't stress about it too much."

The classroom door slides open and Makoto enters while wiping some sweat off of his forehead. "Phew. Right on time!"

Chihiro gasped in shock. "W-Wait, you're going to be our substitute homeroom teacher?"

"Guess things aren't as smooth as they want us to think it is." Mondo sighed. "Lemme guess, Kirigiri asked you to do this?"

"Haha. Yes, well, I can't abandon a close friend of mine in need. I'm here until your homeroom teacher gets back from their stress leave." Makoto fixes his tie, looking similar to what he wore during his time as headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy.

Sayaka gives a good look at him. "He certainly knows how to dress for the occasion."

"Kinda stuffy, to be honest. Guess it means he's serious." Leon leans back in his seat.

Makoto walks over to the teacher's podium. "So let's see. The practical exams are coming up, right? I mean it goes without saying, but if you need any advice or counseling… that's my job, I believe. For the time being I'm just a teacher, not a reporter. Nothing you say will go on any tabloid or blog."

Sakura spoke up in her powerful voice. "I do not mean disrespect, but do you have any experience with any of our talents? I believe our homeroom teacher also doubled as one of Hope's Peak's researchers."

"No, that's a perfectly fine question." Makoto shakes off his normal meekness. As one who had cameras, reporters and the rest of the world constantly on him, he knew how to play the part of the SHSL Hope. "As you've seen before, I have experience in getting into dumb fights. I've also worked with technology before, which includes working with advanced Artificial Intelligence."

The SHSL Programmer stifles a gasp as the substitute teacher continues.

"I've also been roped into learning how to properly swim by my friend Hina-san. That is to say…I've been coached pretty hard before."

"Ugh." Leon groaned. "I don't need another Nidai in my life."

"I've…also played a lot of luck-based games. Even shogi."

Celestia gives a curious look. She was interested in his "devil's luck" before, but now there seems to be a competitive fire in her eyes that belies her calm and cautious expression.

"My younger sister is an aspiring manga artist, so I've watched a good amount of anime with her."

Hifumi nearly jumps out of his seat. "Then what do you think of Demon Angel Pretty Pudgy Princess?!"

Makoto sweats a little bit from the outburst. "The magical girl anime? It's… alright. I'm more of a shounen kind of guy myself."

"Hmph! I suppose I will have to teach you the true beauty and artistry that is Princess Piggles."

"That's…" Makoto sighs. "Never mind. Anyway, I can't say I have much experience as a musician, but considering I've reported a good amount of them, I can give some pretty good advice on interviews."

Sayaka smiles. "You're a bit of a renaissance man aren't you?"

"I guess I am. I'm only a few years older than you guys, so I hope we can learn more together."

The class mutters to themselves after his introduction. There are a lot of impressed faces among the students. Time goes by quickly as the homeroom period ends. The electronic bell rings over the intercom system, signaling the start to normal classes.

Leon rubs the back of his neck. "Y-You know, I wouldn't mind if we could cancel the next class and have Naegi stick around longer."

"Kuwata-san!" An immediate rebuke from Kiyotaka follows. "What did I just say about taking your studies more seriously?"

Makoto smiles. "Look, I can understand that classes can be boring and that you don't really need to attend them. But sometimes you should try and get experience in other things. Your talents can set you for life, that's true… but if some no name guy like me can get skills from anywhere, what's to stop actual SHSL talents like you from being talented in other things?"

"Teach has got a point, Kuwata. Didn't you say you wanted to try to be a musician?" Mondo smirks. "Aren't gonna get anywhere by just dragging your feet."

"You…you got a point there, Owada. Though I don't understand how math can help me in becoming a punk rock star. I mean, I'd imagine Mioda would help me out more."

Sayaka turns to him. "Songs from scratch, whether you're playing an instrument or singing the lyrics, requires proper knowledge of measuring timing and melody. One day I'll be able to write songs for myself so I've been using my math knowledge that way."

"Huh…you can do it that way?" Leon crosses his arms. "Heh. Seems like I'm learning more today than I have for the past year. Wanna help me with my math homework, Sayaka-chan?"

"I'm not letting you copy my answers."

"Oof! You didn't have to shoot me down so hard!"

Makoto waves at them as he leaves the room. "Don't give your teachers a hard time, alright? See you all in the afternoon."

The former SHSL Lucky Student finds himself back outside of the entire classroom building. There are SHSL-level high school students walking to either their research labs or physical education classes. There was a bit of a melancholy feeling seeing many of these people alive and well – they're getting to live their lives as if nothing happened, but he still remembers that many of these people most likely died during The Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy.

He suddenly feels a soft warmth around his left arm. His eyes quickly dart to the left, and he finds a red-headed female student clutching around it like as if hanging on for dear life.

"Wh-whoa?!" He almost stumbles backward, but the sheer force of the girl is preventing him from even breaking away from her. Makoto gets a better look and his memory comes back to him – he's seen that face and long hairstyle before.

"Enoshima?! What are you doing? Why are you dressed like that?"

"What? I'm just Ryoko Otonashi, Naegi-kun~"

"You're not the type to do this again. B-Besides, wouldn't you be talking about Matsuda-san in the first place?"

"Oh, you mean the guy who doesn't know who I am here? Come on. If Maizono-san didn't remember you, what makes you think he would remember me? Besides, my Matsuda-kun is long gone already!" She shrugs in a way more fitting for Junko rather than Ryoko. "Well, at least my childhood friend was actually one and not just some bird voyeur."

Makoto frowns in frustration. "Could you not speak ill of the dead?"

The redhead just pouts. "Aw, and here I was thinking you'd really like this."

"Um… this story doesn't have a happy ending in the first place, does it? Why would I like it?"

"Like, you know. 'Oh, she erased her memory in order to redeem herself' or whatever your idiot hope brain would be thinking about this. It's what you want, right?"

He just narrows his eyes in response.

"Oh? Then what were you going to try to do if I didn't end my life after your amazing gift? Throw me in the Neo World Program, right?"

"The NWP only rebuilds memories from a certain point. With you that would mean…"

"Hehe, not bad. But that's right!" She sticks her tongue out and moves her hands in a similar way to her rockstar persona. "You'd have to rebuild me from scratch! That would be—"

"It would be the same as killing you. I know." Makoto's eyes move away from the redheaded Junko. "I might've done it back then along with Class 77-B. But now I know better. I'd feel sorry for the girl that would have to live in your body because of your crimes."

Her face moves closer to his as he looks back at her. There's only a small amount of space between them. "So you're glad, right? That I kicked the bucket?" She flashes a toothy, dangerous grin.

He immediately shakes his head. "I feel about it the same way I felt about it long ago." His gaze hardens and looks straight into Junko's eyes. "It was just another pointless death." His voice sounds hollow and tired.

The SHSL Analyst's face immediately flicks into her neutral expression devoid of expression. After a long silence, she starts to laugh loudly, startling some of the students passing by. The girl immediately grabs Makoto's face with both her hands on both of his cheeks. The former SHSL Lucky Student starts sweating as he can't get away.

"Even now!" She smiles in what could only be expressed as ecstasy. "I keep on analyzing you and I can't get a solid answer. I've always been impressed with you, Makoto Naegi. Even back then when you were just some boring, fashion-challenged boy that only knew how to make others happy. Even when the odds were against you back in our killing game, you still won."

Her face moves even closer. "But you know what made me even happier? You were stupid enough to watch the Suicide Video. Oh…when you screamed and despaired, my heart was pounding. It took a damn magical brainwashing video to see it, but it was totally worth it!" She looks playful with her cheeks reddening as Makoto bit his tongue. "And when you raised that knife my breath…I actually held my breath!"

Her lips move toward his as if to kiss him, but she breaks away as she looks angered. "But that damn gorilla Sakakura decided to save your ass. Of all people, HIM?! He tried to kill you throughout the whole thing and then he goes and pulls that?"

The area around them have been devoid of students for a while now. Makoto feels his cheeks for the slight scratches left on them.

"What exactly are you up to, Enoshima?!"

"Are you that blockheaded still? Then let me spell it out for you. I l-o-v-e you, Makoto Naegi!"

Makoto feels a deep pit in his stomach as he grits his teeth inadvertently.

"Oh, do my honest feelings bring you despair, Makoto?!" She lights up in glee. "Amazing, wonderful, excellent—! I wasn't expecting that, but I'm loving you even harder now." She twirls her hair as if to validate what she just said to him.

Trying to shake off his feeling of dread, he responds in a shaky tone. "You don't exactly have the best track record when you actually love someone."

"Oh, did the reckless SHSL Hope finally found something he can't take on? Something you're too scared to face? Don't be disappointing me now, Naegi-kun."

"That's not it at all! Wait…" As if something struck him, he realizes something. "No…you were acting normal all this time to…wait for me?"

Junko smiles as she immediately returns to his side. "Hm? What do you mean?"

"You were acting as if you were the SHSL Fashion Girl again. Everything I could find out about what you've done—where you pretty much hid your true nature from everyone again until recently—it all makes sense now."

"Mmm. Once again, not bad. Guess you aren't the worst student in history. Hee hee, since I was denied seeing you again so soon, I figured I might see you as an old man when I see you again. So I figured…maybe I can make you feel awful when you see me acting like a totally normal fashionista? Then that could bring you some hilarious despair when you're all weak and senile. But then you and your merry band of hopefuls decided to mess with my analysis again and show up anyway!"

"You really are twisted, Enoshima. But you have that capability of not ending the wor—mph!"

It was a long and agonizing kiss. Makoto pulls away when he can, wiping the spit from his mouth.

"What the hell?!"

Junko smirked. "It was a good first kiss, wasn't it?"

Makoto looked horrified. "What was the tongue for?!"

"French kissing." She twirls her finger around his ahoge. "Did you think I wouldn't take the chance?"

Looking angry, he stared daggers at her. "This is somehow more dangerous than when you were the mastermind…"

"Oh, but that heart of yours is pounding so hard isn't it? Want to feel mine?"

Immediately knowing her intention with that, he just pulls away with his meager strength. "Stop it already! What makes you think I'd do that willingly?!"

"True. I could always force it but…that's not what I want right now." Junko grins. "Don't forget, Naegi-kun. I am the SHSL Analyst. I may not be able to accurately predict your actions, but I do know what you're in to."

Makoto refused to respond to that.

"And you know how much I love a challenge." Junko sighs. "But I'm out of time. Your attack dogs are coming. Bye, bye lover~!" The cheeky redhead walks off and disappears into a building. As if on cue, Mukuro and Kyoko show up.

Kyoko crosses her arms. "You have lip balm all over your mouth. What happened?"

He continues to wipe his mouth. After a few goes at it, he responded in an annoyed tone. "Enoshima decided to show herself."

"Are you okay, Naegi-kun?" Mukuro asked with genuine concern.

"Aside from her taking my first kiss from me, I'm still in one piece."

Kyoko and Mukuro immediately narrowed their eyes. The lilac-haired woman immediately followed up with, "Where did she go?"

"She disappeared into the science building. But she knew you guys were coming. Doubt she'll let you catch her."

Mukuro looked guilty. "If I was around I—"

"Yeah. She probably wouldn't have approached. But you needed to do this, Ikusaba-san. You're still a minor after all. Last thing we need is for you to get in trouble with the law. By the way, Kyoko-san, how did that go?"

The former SHSL detective cleared her throat. "Well, we managed to recreate most of her academic achievements in our records from what she told us. And with my testimony of her actions during the riot, she should be on a fast track to becoming an honorary graduate of Hope's Peak Academy."

"Good. Thank you."

"It's the least I can do, Makoto-kun. Though are you sure you don't want to take a break? Lunch isn't for another four periods."

"Well, I could take a breather. I'm a little stressed out."

"A little? No need to act tough." Kyoko placed her hand on his shoulder. "She hasn't changed much. I'd imagine it was a harrowing experience. And it confirmed my suspicions that whatever she has planned involved you."

"Yeah, well, can we talk this over inside with a cup of hot chocolate?" Makoto rolls his opposite shoulder.

"Of course. Though I will have to opt for coffee personally."

Mukuro simply nods as she looks at him with continued concern.

ANote

PINNED: Hello everyone! Happy anniversary to the Danganronpa series! Don't forget to leave your thoughts and comments about everything here.

BlackCapPI: Happy anniversary.

Shirokuma: happy anniversary! wow, it's been a long time hasn't it?

BlackCapPI: Yeah. But having to spend a day like today in school isn't far from ideal.

Shirokuma: you said it, school sucks..

BlackCapPI: Speaking of which, did you know Japan is quite unique in how we handle high school?

Shirokuma: are we?

BlackCapPI: Mmhm. Most high schools in Japan actually don't have their own cafeterias, but in other countries they do.

Shirokuma: wait, what? other countries don't eat their own lunch boxes in their homerooms like we do?

BlackCapPI: Nope. Also, get this, students in the United States have to change classrooms all the time when a class ends unlike us where it's the teachers who go to the classrooms during a period change.

Shirokuma: yeah we only have to move when we really need to, don't we? like for PE or a lab. do they have two homeroom periods like we do?

BlackCapPI: From what I've seen, they usually only have one homeroom period in the mornings and it's as long as a regular class. Ours are five minutes at the beginning and end of the day with one weekly homeroom meeting that lasts as long as a class period. Here's one last fact: other countries also hire people to clean the school facilities for them.

Shirokuma: oh wait what?! we have a raw deal here! i hate having to clean up after everyone, even though everyone in school has to.

BlackCapPI: The world's a varied place outside of our own narrow viewpoints, isn't it?

Shirokuma: i guess so.