They would wake up.

They would eat three meals a day.

They would find something or someone to occupy their time.

They would go to bed.

That was the routine that Class 78 had established.

With the world outside falling to ruin, and very limited communication between the Headmaster and the Future Foundation, it seemed unlikely the routine would ever break. Headmaster Kirigiri would keep the children informed of any major developments, but they were few and far between.

Survival and desperation had quickly given way to tedium. Could this really be called living? To live is a verb. It implies action is being taken. But there was none. It was just the same basic cycle, day in and day out.

And yet, Naegi never seemed to see it that way. Nothing could shake the boy. Everyone in the school seemed to have their good and bad days, except for him. He never grew bored, and he never seemed to yearn for more from their limited lifestyle.

It baffled the others. They were certainly grateful for his upbeat demeanor, save one certain supermodel, but it made little sense. The secret of Naegi's cheeriness was a mystery for quite some time.

But that was why they had an Ultimate Detective.

"How do you do it?" she asked him.

"Do what?"

"Every day in this school is the same as the last. How do you keep it from getting to you?"

Naegi smiled again. "Because we're alive."

"And that's enough?"

"To me it is," he explained, "I have faith that the Future Foundation will save the world. And I believe we'll be able to help them one day. I know it doesn't seem like much, but carrying on is what we're doing for the sake of everyone else outside."

"That's quite the cross to bear," Kirigiri observed.

"I know it's hard, but we can do it, right? You're the Ultimates. Japan's best and brightest. And if someone like me can be strong at a time like this, there's nothing stopping you."

Naegi's words warmed Kirigiri's heart. "I really wish you'd stop selling yourself short. If anything, you're the strongest of us all."

"I doubt that," Naegi replied, embarrassed, "Optimism's just about the only thing I'm good for."

"But that's what we need right now," Kirigiri shot back, "We're capable of incredible things, but we need to keep in high spirits if we're going to actually make it happen."

Naegi smiled. "Whatever I can do to help."

Kirigiri smiled back. "Any plans for after we 'save the world'?"

"Find my family," Naegi answered, with no hesitation.

Kirigiri's mood dropped slightly. "Of course. I suppose that's only natural."

"And..."

"Hmm?"

"I'd like to introduce you to them. I mean, if you wanted," Naegi offered.

Kirigiri pondered this. "I think that would be nice."

With a clear image of the future in mind, Kirigiri's days stopped being a cycle, and instead became a countdown. They would move forward. No longer frozen in this single place.

It was just a matter of time.