Summary of the Last Chapter:
Chapter i: The Despair Girls and Their Plan started off with Junko and Mukuro making their way to school. Mukuro and Junko get to Hopes Peak Academy, and once they get to the gates of the school, Mukuro has a flashback daydream of the sisters' childhood and their relationship with their mother and father. This flashback also tells a little bit of Mukuro's time in Fenrir, a mercenaries group. Junko snaps Mukuro out of her daydream and berates her, drawing attention to everyone around them. When the two girls decide to go into the school, they bump into Tsumugi Shirogane, an old friend of Junko's. Junko and Tsumugi catch up and talk about their plan for Despair, while Mukuro goes on to class. Once the two girls make sure they both know the plan, they both part ways and head to class.
Chapter ii: The Couple that was Never Meant to Be
Rating: E-10 for Mild Language
After about 10 minutes of walking, Junko made it to her and Mukuro's class. She entered in and drew the all of the class' eyes due to her being 15 minutes late.
"Well it seems that someone finally decided to join us today..." the Teacher said to the fashionista as she was scanning the room to find an empty seat she could plop down in.
"Oh no... not there. Anywhere but next to HIM..." mumbled Junko as she saw the only seat next to a boy who she despised more than anyone.
In the seat next to the empty one Junko had her eye on was an eager looking boy with a smile on his face. He was waving his hand at Junko, as to be courteous and welcoming to her.
"Junko! There's a seat next to me if you want to sit here!" said the boy with an immense amount of charisma apparent in his voice.
"I guess no have no other choice Makoto, so I'll sit next to you for today..." Junko said as she rolled her eyes at the boy, making sure she made him know she didn't want to sit there.
As Junko sat in her seat, Makoto tried to talk to her, only to get the silent treatment from the girl. Seeing this, Makoto had a decent idea in his head to try and talk to Junko, even though it was a pretty bad idea.
"Hey Junko, I was curious about what all the plan you've come up with entails," asked Makoto with an intrigued face on.l, "It seemed that you wanted everyone to be sad or something. It sounds pretty crazy."
When Makoto said this, Junko's eyes widened from shock as shes only told Mukuro and Tsumugi about the plan. She immediately stared at Mukuro with a passion, as if she knew that she told Makoto about it.
"She didn't tell me about it, no one did really," started Makoto, "Sayaka taught me how to read people's expressions and it lets me see what you're thinking of. I guess you could say I'm an Esper!"
Turning to Makoto, Junko's chin hung low as she was in shock of the boy's talent. Seeing as she was backed into a corner of having to acknowledge Makoto, she asked him a question.
"Why do you care about me or my plan? It doesn't have anything to do with you right now." Junko questioned, curious about Makoto's intentions.
"I just was wondering why you of all people would want to make everyone sad. You're always so cheerful and extroverted that it just seems abnormal." Makoto earnestly said, trying to emotionally understand Junko's reasoning behind the plan.
"Heh, you think that I'm all bubbly because of normal reasons huh Makoto?" Junko said quietly so that only her and he could hear what she was saying, "The only reason why I'm always so happy and cheerful is the discreet amount of despair I sense in each one of you. You, on the other hand, I have never been able to sense anything other than disgusting hope."
"Hmm... I think I see your predicament now, although I still have some questions about your reasoning," Makoto said while deep in thought, "Well I now know that this is a serious topic, so if you want to talk about it one on one somewhere during lunch then meet me by the fountain in the courtyard. I'd love to hear about it all." Makoto whispered to Junko.
"I might take you up on that, seeing as I won't have anyone to sit by since Mukuro has to leave early..." Junko said, sensing another opportune time to attempt persuade Makoto to turn to despair.
"Sounds good! Now, let's start listening into class before Mr. Kizakura gets onto us." Makoto said as he smiled and gestured towards the front of the class.
Once the class had ended, the two classmates said goodbye and left to go to their other classes. Around 11:30, Makoto had made his way to the courtyard to see if Junko would actually come. Once he got there he noticed a girl in a hoodie sitting on the bench in front of the fountain. She seemed to be playing a handheld gaming system with headphones plugged in.
"A-Ah, excuse me Chiaki..." Makoto started to say before he noticed that she couldn't hear him over her game.
In order to get her attention, he went in front of her and stuck his finger in front of her screen, making her look up and address him.
"Hey, Makoto. What's up?" Chiaki asked, looking up at him with sad, dejected eyes.
Makoto noticed this and asked her, "Is everything ok Chiaki? It seems like you're sad and sullen."
Chiaki was surprised at his response, wondering how much he knew about her current dilemma with her friend from the reserve course, Hajime Hinata.
"Eh, it's not something that you want to be bothered by... besides I'm sure what you're here for is more important," Chiaki said, waiting to hear if Makoto actually wanted to know what was going on.
"First of all, if something is bothering you, I want to know what it is pronto. Everything that bothers any one of my friends is important to me," said Makoto, trying to explain why he was curious of Chiaki's situation, "Second, I'm sure that to me what I'm here for is more important, but your predicament is more important to you than mine. Therefore, I want to help you get over your predicament because you're problems are way more important to me than my own."
"Wow really? I mean I appreciate it, I haven't really wanted to talk about it with anyone for a while since I'm so introverted you know?" Chiaki said, relieved that Makoto actually cared for her.
"Of course! I definitely understand." happily stated Makoto, trying his best to make Chiaki the most comfortable in their conversation, "So, whats been on your mind? Must be something serious for someone like you to be down in the dumps about it."
"Well, it's more like two things. You see, I have a friend in the Reserve Course, you know, the kids that don't have talents, but still attend because they spend a lot of money?" Chiaki started, hoping Makoto would know what to say to help her pickle.
"Mhmm, I heard about those kids. So what about this friend of yours is the problem?" Makoto said intrigued by the situation.
"Well," Chiaki started, making sure Makoto was still paying attention, "I think he's jealous of us and our abilities and feels no self-worth without a talent. I mean I get it, I don't think id have any worth if I wasn't super good at something. I just don't know how to help him from his self-deprecation."
"Well, if I were in your shoes, I would tell him that talent isn't what makes a person, it's the way they interact with other people and how they help others in the community. You can be a really mean and shitty person that talks a lot and is very outspoken about their talent like Junko, but you can also be a good quiet person who likes to help others and treats everyone nicely with respect, like yourself." Makoto said smiling at the currently blushing Chiaki.
"That's... the perfect solution to my problem with him, but I still have a problem with myself. I don't know how I can use my gaming ability to help people like Nekomaru's strength or Hyoko's dancing. Chiaki said as she slumped over a bit from disappointment.
"That's just not true Chiaki, I'm sure you can bring other people together through gaming," Makoto denied, knowing what Chiaki can do with her abilities, "I'm sure there's a whole wide variety of multiplayer games that you can enjoy with everyone, even your classmates!"
"H-huh? You'd think they'd actually be into playing some games with me and the others?! I always thought they would shun me for asking to play since they're always so into their own talents..." Chiaki said with a hint of excitement in her eyes.
"Definitely, now go find your friend so you can try to work things out with him. He seems to be an important person to you, so I would try to rekindle your relationship with him like you would handle a newborn baby." Makoto expressed in a serious but happy tone.
"Sounds good! Thank you so much, Makoto! You don't even know how much you've helped me today!" Chiaki exclaimed as she rushed over the Reserve Course.
"Heh, I hope everything works out in your favor Chiaki," Makoto muttered to himself with a smile on his face.
"Blegh, are you two FINALLY done with that gross conversation?" came the voice of Junko being behind Makoto.
"W-what! When did you get here Junko?" Makoto said, extremely surprised at the girl taking him up on his offer from class.
"About 5 minutes ago, although I was debating on whether or not come at all. Consider yourself lucky Makoto, then again you already knew that didn't you, Ultimate Lucky Student?!" Junko teased Makoto, who was still in shock at her actually coming to meet with him.
"W-wow, I never expected you to actually come heh..." Makoto said nervously since he was in the presence of one of the prettier girls in the school.
"Of course I would come silly! You wanted to hear about my plan, so I can only respect your wishes and tell you!" Junko said, semi-seriously.
"Oh yeah, I remember now. The plan, what it all about hmm?" Makoto asked, scared for what the answer was.
"Well, my main goal is to turn this entire school into a palace of despair! Once that happens the world will have no hope left and everything will turn into random chaos!" Junko said eerily with a grin on her face.
"Why would you want to do that? Do you really want everyone in the world to be full of despair and sadness?" Makoto seriously questioned.
"Well yeah! That's the way Junko Enoshima rolls! I am the full embodiment of despair! Everything else is gross and boring." Junko started to gag at the thought of happiness after she said that.
"Well, it doesn't seem that way to me. You always look like the happiest person in the class. Plus you love talking to people, so you seem excited to be around people and having connections with us." Makoto said with a smile, trying to understand where all of the negativity that Junko is producing is coming from.
"I'm always happy because I can sense the amount of despair in all of you. Despair is my main feature! It's what Junko Enoshima characterizes herself as!" Junko stated, unprepared for what the lucky boy was about to say to her.
"Well, I want to see the real Junko, not just some fake, despair loving characterization of yourself. I want to see and experience the true happiness that I know is deep inside of you locked away from the world." Makoto said as he stared straight into Junko's soul.
"What the... he actually cares about my happiness? He doesn't want me to feel despair? Let me keep thus façade up and see where he goes in this conversation." Junko thought as she stared dumbfounded at Makoto.
Quickly, Junko recovered and stated, "Heh, I don't think you could ever understand my reasoning behind my actions, to be honest, not even I do someti-"
"Were you or Mukuro by any chance a part of an abusive relationship with someone important in your childhood? That's the only thing I can think of to explain why you would feel the need to inflict everyone with sadness." Makoto cut Junko off, sensing the amount of despair in the conversation, and not wanting to continue down that path.
"What? How did he figure that out? And especially that quick?" Junko thought to herself before acknowledging Makoto again.
"HAH! What would even bring you to THAT conclusion of all things?" Junko asked, half making fun of Makoto, and the other half actually intrigued at what his answer would be.
Makoto answered her as best he could, "Well, the way you've said how you're going to bring everyone despair and sadness gives me a feeling of revenge and angst behind your actions. It feels like you can't bring revenge to your parents for bringing you up poorly, so you're trying to take out the entire world since that's the only thing that amounts to the importance of your parents to you."
Junko managed to get out just a few mumbled words before she broke down and began crying her heart out in Makoto's arms.
Makoto saw this and decided to leave her be for a few minutes before consoling her about how she's feeling now. Every couple of seconds he would think about all the trauma Junko must have gone through to be wanting the whole world to experience sadness. As he thought about it though, he decided to not worry about it, as it was in the past and didn't matter now that Junko seemed to be opening up to him.
After about 5-10 minutes of Makoto holding Junko in his arms as she cried, she lifted her head back up. Once her eyes were at his level, she started tearing up again, only for Makoto to try and wipe the wetness off of her face.
"Th-thank you Makoto... Thank you for understanding me like no one has ever understood me before," Junko shakily said, "Not even Mukuro has been able to understand me as well as you have, and she's been trying for 16 years."
"Heh, it's no big deal. You deserve to feel loved and understood, I think everyone does. You went through great trauma, and honestly I want to see you through the recovery process till the very end," Makoto revealed, not noticing that both him and Junko had started turning red in the cheeks from him saying that statement.
Makoto noticed this after a few seconds and immediately scrambled to come up with something else to say, "If you don't mind having me be in your life a lot of course! You probably don't want some hope-filled boy as your friend since you despise ho-"
"No, I would greatly appreciate it Makoto. You being there for me will remind me that someone actually cares for who I really am, and not for some persona I made to cover my true feelings," Junko let out as she cut off Makoto with a finger on his lips as if she was shushing him.
"Oh, ok cool! So, after school did you have anything planned? Kinda was hoping we could go somewhere and I could talk more with you as a friend now," sadly wained Makoto, "You know, since we have to go back to class now that lunch is over..."
"Oh yeah. I almost forgot what time it was because of me being emotional heh..." sighed Junko, also having a sense of disappointment in her voice.
"But in any case, yes Makoto Naegi, I would love to hang out with you more, especially when there are no time restrictions set," gleamed Junko as the two started walking back to their classes.
It took the two new friends about 10 minutes to get to the hallway of Junko's next class.
"Then it's set! I'll meet you out front after school today, sound ok to you?" asked Makoto as they were nearing Junko's class.
As they arrived at the door, Junko pulled him in close for a hug, something she rarely did. "Definitely, now go to your class or you're going to be late!" Junko said teasingly as she let go of him.
Once Makoto made sure that Junko was in her class safe and sound, he let out a sigh of relief. He turned to walk back to his class in an attempt to not be late. However, he was met with a set of familiar faces that blocked him from proceeding on.
"Umm, Makoto? What were you doing with Junko?" asked a concerned, yet slightly aggravated Tsumugi.
Tsumugi and Makoto's relationship isn't as close as Junko and Mukuro's relationship with the boy, so the only things that Tsumugi knows about Makoto are the sense of annoyance that he gave Junko when he would do all of his hope bullshit, and how Mukuro secretly has a crush on him. Due to this lack of knowledge, Tsumugi has created some assumptions about Makoto
"Oh, hey Tsumugi and Mukuro! I was just walking Junko to her class since we ate lunch together," explained Makoto with a cheerful attitude, something that rubbed the wrong way with Tsumugi.
"Well, you better stay away from her from now on, or you'll get what coming to you!" yelled Tsumugi, causing both Makoto and Mukuro to flinch from the sudden eruption of anger.
"Hey Mukuro, can I talk with you for a second in private? I need to ask a personal question to you." Makoto asked, hoping that Mukuro would say yes.
"H-Hey! Why does she hav-"
"Yes, I can Makoto. Tsumugi, I'll be right back. Just stay there." Mukuro said as she cut off the angry, blue-haired girl. This made her furious, but she let it slide for now.
Makoto and Mukuro proceeded down the hallway and into a supply closet around a corner.
"What's up Makoto?" Inquired the soldier.
Mukuro never really talked to the Luckster, just watched him from a distance as shy girls do when they look at their crush. This sense of atmosphere, being in such a small room with her crush only made her more and more nervous as the conversation went on.
"It must be important since you didn't want Tsumugi to come along..." Mukuro said nervously, partially because of Makoto, but also partially because she was wondering what Junko and Makoto talked about at lunch to make him want to ask the soldier a personal question.
"I'm curious Mukuro..." started the boy, being cautious of what he should and shouldn't tell Mukuro, as he didn't want to be a shish-kebab, "How much do you know about Junko's whole 'Despair Plan'?"
Once Makoto said that question, Mukuro's eyes opened so wide they were the size of golf balls. This question shocked her because she thought Junko would only tell her and Tsumugi since they were the only ones to actually enact out the beginning parts of the plan.
"S-she told y-you about-t it?" Mukuro stuttered out, being more nervous than she ever anticipated.
"Yes she did, and I have some breaking news about it that I figured only you could hear it, since I know that you'll take in the right way, unlike Tsumugi," Makoto said sternly, showing how serious about the situation.
"Wh-what is it-t?" Mukuro asked not knowing what would come out of the boy's mouth next.
"Weeeeellll, what would you do to me if I told you that I got Junko to cease operations on the plan and switch to the hope side of the fight between hope and despair?" Makoto asked nervously, causing him to chuckle and rub the back of his head with his hand uncontrollably.
"Y-you..." Mukuro started, making the atmosphere in the cramped closet that much more dense, "You actually got her to do that?"
As Mukuro said this she started forming droplets in her eyes, not of hatred or anger, but of actual joy.
"I'm so happy for her..." said Mukuro still crying uncontrollably. "I mean I was fine with it, but at the same time, I pleaded with her not to go through with it because... of you being involved..."
"What me? Why me?" Makoto said as he held the girl in his arms trying to calm her down from the immense amount of emotion pouring through her heart.
"W-well, it's because I like you Makoto and I sort of want to try to be more than 'just friends'," Mukuro said with a wet face as she looked up at his hazel eyes.
"Really? You mean that?" Makoto smiled as he asked her this, putting Mukuro in a position of comfort rather than nervousness.
"I definitely do, I just am always scared you'll say no to an introvert like me." Mukuro sadly stated this and started to look down in rejection.
Makoto saw this and swooped his hand under her chin and wiped her tears away with his thumb, trying to get every last spot of wetness off of her face.
"I would never say no to someone who does the same things as me." Makoto chuckled and proceeded, " I sometimes watch you from a distance too, since I'm oddly enough the same as you when it comes to people."
"Yes Mukuro, I would love to be more than just friends with you," Makoto said as he held her in his arms and hugged the girl as gently as he could.
A/N:
Early Chapter! Sorry for the pretty abrupt ending for this chapter though. I didn't want to do it, but if I didn't I would've had either a really long chapter to end the prologue or a really short one. The ending of this chapter and how Makoto and Mukuro are now a couple is loosely based on the Danganronpa IF novel found in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. I wanted to include this ship over my favorite of the ships Naegiri because I felt that Makoto x Mukuro could bring up more interesting topics and chapter plot points in the future than Naegiri would. Plus, I felt that Mukuro needed some love after learning in the Novel of how much she liked Makoto and just dying in the actual game. The next chapter will be the final chapter in the Prologue, so after it'll be time for some new juicy story arcs!
K. Kirigiri