"Free from despair?" Nagito seemed to be very surprised by his statement. He knelt down on one knee, eyeing him with his head cocked sideways. He was indeed fond of hope, but Hajime did not think that his attention would be gained so easily. "The only way that could happen, is if I get rid of you all, right?"

"Do you understand that the 'school trip', wasn't real?"

"You're changing the subject already?" he chuckled, seeing that Hinata was trying to control the conversation. "Of course I do. I may be garbage, but I'm not completely stupid. I'm alive, after all."

"So you should also understand that we don't need to kill eachother to survive." he only laughed again at his words. His laughter was irritating, but it would need to be overlooked for the time being. Hajime sat still, waiting for the laughter to cease before speaking again. "You don't need to hurt anyone."

'You're never going to make any progress talking like that. You sound bland. Generic. Boring.' Hinata's eyes went wide at the sound of his own voice echoing in the back of his head. The tone was stern and condescending, commanding attention. Nagito's own expression went blank as he watched Hinata experience what looked like an anxiety attack.

'Let me do the talking.'

"No!" Komaeda jumped back, caught off guard by his sudden yell. Hinata's stomach rose and fell quickly, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead as he fell over onto his side. "I don't want to...I don't want to...disappear..."

"Disappear? I'm not going to kill you just yet."

'He will kill you. Kill us. I've already given you aid before. You would not have lasted that long fighting her without my help.' Hinata sat himself back up slowly, closing his eyes when he heard Komaeda's laugh reach his ears again. His head was pounding, this throbbing self induced headache only get stronger as he argued with "himself".

"As an Ultimate, I can't help but pity you. Hold tight, I'll be back with some water." Nagito stood up to leave the room, but not before tightening the rope around Hajime's wrists and ankles. The knots holding him had just been tightened, he saw it himself. Which was why it surprised him greatly when he felt the rope around his wrists come undone.

'All the talents in the world are yours, even luck. It would be idiotic to not make use of what you have.'

"I am not Kamukura...Izuru." he spoke to himself again, undoing the rope around his ankles by simply tugging at one of the ends. "So tell me what you would say...just this once..."

'Finally, something that might be able to hold my interest.'

"If he dies, I'll kill him..."

"He's not gonna die."

"Are you sure you can't get that door open?"

"I think he hid all of my tools. I can't find anything to work with."

The four of them were still trapped, Kazuichi talking to Akane to pass time. Sonia and Fuyuhiko were pacing around the room, filling the air with occasional yawns. They were forced to give up there attempts at leaving, and wait until Hajime returned. And that was a reasonably sized "if".

"Fuck this. I'm going back to my bed." the others silently watched Fuyuhiko return to his bed, grumbling as he threw his covers over himself. He stared at the ceiling as he lay there, unable to fall back asleep as he wanted.

'I am your thoughts. You are my voice.'

"Aha...ah! Ahahahah! How exciting!"

Hajime was currently restraining Nagito with the same rope that had previously bound him. The Ultimate Lucky student was laughing hysterically as his clothes soaked up the spilled water on the floor beneath him. He had returned with a bowl of the liquid as promised, and was immediately ambushed by his own prisoner. He was now tied up himself, laying flat on his stomach.

"Someone like you is so predictable. You in particular, are very boring." Hinata's monotone voice brought Komaeda to silence. Grunting, he turned his head just enough so that he could see Hajime out of the corner of his eye. His appearance was now very condescending, looking down on him as he pressed his right foot onto his lower back.

"What was that? Say that again!" his voice carried a great amount of excitement in its tone. He thrashed about on the floor, causing Hinata to step back. Like he was in a hurry, Komaeda sat himself up, eyes wide as he waited to hear it again.

"I have no reason to repeat myself." he seemed equally satisfied hearing those words. He giggled and bounced in place, eyes rapidly looking up and down Hinata's body.

"Is that really you? You said we wouldn't meet again!"

"I'm surprised to say that I was wrong."

"I can't believe it! Ahaha, this whole time, it was you!"

"Now are you willing to listen."

"Of course, of course! Anything you have to say, I am listening!"

"You're going to hurt yourself! Akane!" Sonia shouted as she watched her friend charge at the metal doors, driving her fist into its surface. The gymnast repeatedly slammed her knuckles onto the metal doors, breathing heavily while she kept a constant pace.

"Hey, how well do you think the door hinges are attached?" Fuyuhiko poked Kazuichi with his elbow, the both of them flinching as they continued watching Owari try to beat the door down.

"Can't be that good, by now. " he answered, wincing as he saw Akane stop and clutch her left wrist. Her hand was shaking as it hung down, sprained. However, she only grit her teeth as she opted to start kicking the door instead.

"Come help me out..." he said hesitantly, slowly walking towards their struggling friend. Soda followed, after letting out a long sigh.

The two boys joined in the beating of the double doors, one kicking, the other throwing their entire body at it. Even Sonia joined in, letting her foot fall on the door as well. The three of them had decided to help their friend in her painful effort, something that wasn't lost on Akane. She smiled as she took a few reassuring breaths, and went back at it with full force.

"What was your title?" Nagito felt like a small child being told a story. As he heard the details behind what he was told was the 'Hope Cultivation Project', he was ecstatic. To think that Hinata Hajime wasn't the worthless, talentless person he had thought he was, it really held his attention well. "Well, Kamukura?"

"Hinata." those words were actually his own. Nagito only shrugged, not caring about what name he would rather be called. "Do you agree upon what we discussed earlier."

"Yes!"

"How can I believe you."

"Because I believe you! When you say that helping the others overcome their despair will inspire great hope, I believe that, and I want to see it!"

'There. As predictable as I thought. Hopefully the others will be more interesting.'

"Now will you tell me? Since you actually ARE an Ultimate, I need to know your title."

The voice of Izuru had ceased guiding him in speaking. This situation had been resolved, and he was no longer needed. All that was needed to sway Komaeda was a clear mind and a silver tongue. Not that he was lying about what he said though. Dealing with the others would bring about hope, and that was all he needed to convince him. Telling him about Kamukura was the lock that sealed the deal.

"The title they gave me..." Nagito shook his head up and down, silently waiting. "The title they gave me was...Ultimate Hope"

He seemed shocked when he heard it. It was hard to tell what he was thinking. He looked disappointed in some way, maybe even a bit jealous. And then, he smiled.

"If it means anything, I'm sorry about the 'trying to kill you' thing."