Eventually, Chiaki returned to school, much to everyone's joy. While the rest of the classmates gathered around and congratulated Chiaki, Nagito kept his distance and sat alone at his desk.
"We're so glad to have you back" Sonia said.
"We were so lost without you" akane said.
"Promise you won't get sick again" mikan cried.
"You are the angelic heart that keeps our class vessel alive" gundam said.
"Thank you, everyone" Chiaki smiled.
"Alright, I'm glad to see the class has been rejuvenated with Chiaki's return" Chisa said," but let's not forget that this is a school and therefore we need to begin class"
"Can't Ibuki perform her big welcome back song?" Ibuki asked.
"Maybe after class" Chisa said much to many students dismay.
While Nagito prepared his desk, he noticed Chiaki gave him a warm smile, even though he didn't join the others in celebrating her return. He wanted to praise her for how nice she was, but class began before he could do anything.
...
That morning, Munakata worked on some files for hopes peak. Just when he thought he was done, his phone rang.
"Kyousuke Munakata" Munakata answered," who is this?"
"I am the seeker of truth" a distorted voice answered.
"What do you want?" Munakata said as he turned deadly serious.
"I only wish to re establish the truth" the voice said," as such I need to enlighten those who blind themselves to it"
"What truth are you talking about?" Munakata asked.
"This world has been distorted thanks to a few individuals, including yourself" the voice said," You believe in your loving family, but they are part of the distortion"
"Do you think your ominous words can fool me into doubting them?" Munakata asked.
"We'll see" the voice said before hanging up.
"Damn it" Munakata bite his teeth.
When he tracked the call, it came up as a public payphone near hopes peak. This meant the caller was both close and sly.
"I don't care who you are" Munakata began," I will find you and punish you for your insolence"
...
During lunch, Chiaki and Junko met up at there usual lunch spot. This time Chiaki made two lunches so Junko wouldn't go to buy her own like always. Peacefully, they ate as the fountain sparkled in the sunlight behind them.
"You really should give the school lunch a chance" Chiaki said.
"I did and I swear there was something weird in it" Junko said," never again".
"Glad to see you're still as stubborn as always" Chiaki laughed," it's nice to be back"
"No kidding, my lunch always taste better when we eat together" Junko said," and eating your cooking sure brings back memories"
"Which ones?" Chiaki asked.
"The one where in elementary school I lost my lunch and you gave me half of yours" Junko said.
"Sorry that it was burnt" Chiaki said.
"Don't feel bad, it was your first time making curry and you were a little kid" Junko said," I still loved it"
"I should make my lunch more often" Chiaki said," then we can share it"
"I'd love that" Junko said before taking out a blue gamegirl advance," almost as much as I'd love to beat your high score"
"Bring it on" Chiaki said while holding her gamegirl advance," you know how much I've trained in gala omega"
"I'm aware" Junko joked," but that will make your defeat all the more satisfying"
"To think we would meet again thanks to this game" Chiaki said as she played.
"You came just when I had doubts of entering hopes peak academy" Junko said," all because you were gaming while walking"
"I can't help it" Chiaki said.
"Still, it feels like fate brought us back together" Junko said.
"I'm glad it did" Chiaki said," you were my first real friend and I was so sad when you moved"
"Don't worry" Junko said while almost placing her hand on chiaki's," I'm here to stay this time"
...
After losing two to one games to Chiaki, Junko stretched her legs.
"Alright, what do you want to drink?" Junko asked," you won fair and square, so I have to give you some sort of reward"
"A water will be just fine" Chiaki said.
"That's so boring" Junko said," you deserve something more extravagant as a prize"
"Then I'll take a melon soda" Chiaki said.
"That's it" Junko said," I'll get you the best melon soda that you've ever tasted"
"Good luck" Chiaki laughed.
"I won't fail you" Junko said as she marched towards her quest.
Chiaki couldn't help but laugh as she watched Junko walk away like a soldier. Once Junko disappeared over the horizon, Chiaki laid her back on the bench. This fountain was so familiar to her, but when she was here alone something felt strange. It felt like something was missing, but she couldn't remember what. Thinking on it, Chiaki figured it must have been Junko that she was missing.
While Chiaki was lost in thought, she didn't notice someone walking up to her. She heard footsteps approach her, but, before she could turn her head to see who it was, she fainted.
...
During lunch, Nagito usually ate alone and today was no different. When he decided to go to the vending machine, however, he saw a black masked figure running. In the masked figures hand was chiakis pendant. Not wanting to take any chances, Nagito chased after the person.
"Hey!" Nagito shouted," Stop where you are!"
The figure ignored him and kept running. While Nagito wasn't athletic, he did have one talent he could rely on. Right when Nagito thought he would lose the figure, they miraculously tripped on a soda can. Upon falling, the pendent slipped out of the masked figure's hand. Out of fear, Nagito tried to catch the airborne pendent, but it fell through his fingers. Miraculously, the red crystal didn't shatter or even get scratched when it fell on the concrete. Nagito swiped the pendant from the ground and held it close to his chest. Before Nagito could interrogate the masked figure, they released a smoke bomb and vanished. With a sigh, Nagito held onto the pendent and went searching for Chiaki.
...
Upon finding chiaki unconscious at the fountain, Nagito returned the pendent to its rightful place around her neck. The Crystal softly glowed, before Chiaki opened her eyes.
"What happened?" Chiaki asked weakly.
"It looks like you fell asleep" Nagito said," you must be fatigued from coming back to school."
"I see" Chiaki said," thank you"
"I'm just glad you're okay" Nagito said.
"I'm back!" Junko said as she skipped over the horizon with a melon soda in her hand.
"I should go" Nagito said.
"Are you sure?" Chiaki asked," you can stay if you want"
"I'm fine" Nagito said before he walked away," I'll see you around"
"Okay" Chiaki said with a little wave goodbye just before Junko came up to her.
"Is that the luck boy from your class?" Junko asked.
"Yep, his name is Nagito" Chiaki said.
"I see" Junko said," my class has a luckster too"
"What are they like?" Chiaki asked.
"He's an absolute cutie pie, but not as much as you" Junko said as she offered a melon soda," here's your prize for earlier"
"Thank you Junko" Chiaki smiled.
"Anytime" Junko blushed.
...
Near the end of the day, Chisa was grading some papers when someone stepped into her office.
"What brings you to my office, juzo?" Chisa asked.
"Munakata sent me to give you this" juzo said as he placed a bento box on Chisa's desk.
"Did he think I would forget to eat?" Chisa asked.
"Did you?" Juzo asked.
"Kind of" Chisa said shamefully," Mikan spilled her lunch, so I gave her mine"
"Of course" juzo said.
"A teacher must always support her students" Chisa said.
"I know" juzo said," you always say that"
"Only because it's true" Chisa said.
"You're as stubborn as you were in highschool" juzo said," like that time you forced me and Munakata to take a picture when we graduated"
"Is that where I got this picture?" Chisa asked.
"Yes" juzo said," don't you remember"
"Yes...it just slipped my mind" Chisa said.
"Okay, try not to forget anything else important" juzo said," I gotta get back to work"
"Okay" Chisa said," Thank you, juzo"
"No problem" Juzo said before leaving.
'How could I forget something so important?' Chisa thought as she looked at the photo,' why would I forget?'
