A/N: I felt bad about leaving y'all on that cliffhanger, so here, have the next chapter a week early! The one after's going to take the usual two weeks, though. Maaaaaybe three depending on my workload.

Also, I only just realized this, but: Extra Life is the most followed AND the most favorited T-rated Danganronpa fic on this site. Guys. Guys I am blown away by this. I'm crying so much thank you all I do not have enough words to express the love

And finally, thank you to those offering their condolences and prayers for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. It's very much appreciated! Now I have to ask for the same thing for the people in the path of Hurricane Irma, including one of my grandmothers and my roommate's family.

The world around her must still be moving—she was vaguely aware the IV had been removed from her arm, that the nurse had left a while ago, and that a pair of soldiers had come in—but to Chiaki, it seemed frozen. She couldn't move. Part of it was because she was told she still needed to be checked over before she could be released, but part was because she just…couldn't. Numbness pervaded her entire being.

It felt like hours before her brain could finally think again.

Why am I still here?

Why…do I always keep living, when everyone around me is dying or brainwashed?

Why…

She shuddered, squeezing her eyes shut. Somehow, she'd never thought Kamukura-kun would fall to despair. He'd told her it was a possibility, that the Neo World Program carried risks, but there she'd been, the oblivious idiot, still believing everything would be alright—

What am I going to do now?

In this bleak despair, there seemed to be only one option. Give up. Spend the rest of her life living this lie of Watanabe Keiko, until eventually it became truth. Kill Nanami Chiaki bit by bit, every day, until she was nothing more than a bad memory. Live with this hollowness inside, guilt and failure and regret, until she died a washed-out, despair-filled shell.

It was a terrible future, and she trembled. But the only other option she could think of was to keep going. Try to find ways, somehow, to save Kamukura-kun and her friends. Keep fighting, like she'd told him she would. But the thought made her whimper. She didn't even know where to start. And—she wasn't strong enough. How could she keep fighting? She was so tired of it. She wanted the instant gratification, the reward. She wanted to have her happy ending and stop hoping for it. Hope hurt. It hurt. It hurt. It hurt.

You're so weak, her old, cruel friend, Depression, hissed. Didn't you say you'd find a way to make things work, somehow, if this very thing happened? That if you just do it everything would be okay? And here you are giving up on the first day. You're weak, weak, weak, weak—

"Kirigiri-san would like to speak with you."

The cool words cut through the fog of self-deprecation that hung over her mind. Chiaki glanced up, realizing for the first time that someone else had entered the tent. A man in a suit, body posture and proximity to one of the soldiers suggesting he'd just straightened up after whispering. His straight spine and choice of attire painfully brought back memories of Kamukura-kun, and she had to blink rapidly to restrain tears.

If any of the three noticed her distress, they showed no sympathy. The man who'd spoken before simply said, "Get up and follow us."

She thought she should ask why a branch head was interested in her, but couldn't seem to muster up the ability to care. Wordlessly nodding, she climbed out of the bed. A quick search for her clothes revealed nothing, and so in the thin hospital gown, she followed them out. She didn't take more than a few steps before the newcomer was at her side, hand closing around her right elbow too firmly to be kind. The first stirrings of unease rippled through her.

The field hospital was somewhat calmer now. The crowd had subsided, the injured safely resting in their beds and the nurses and doctors all watching over them. Only a few other people were around. The unsettled sensation in Chiaki's gut did not abate as the other two fell into place on either side, keeping pace like they were bodyguards…or prison guards. Goosebumps prickled along her arms.

The pace across camp was brisk, not allowing her much time to think. The three men led her to slightly larger than normal tent, off in a quiet corner. The one holding her elbow released her, rapped lightly on the canvas, and called, "Kirigiri-san? I've brought Watanabe."

"Enter."

When they not-so-gently brought her inside, Chiaki saw the fourteenth division leader sitting up in a bed, half her face discolored purple and bandages pressed over her left eye. Naegi-kun was with her, leaning close and talking in a quiet, earnest voice. His hand was pressed over Kirigiri-san's; at Chiaki's entrance, he started and withdrew it, cheeks flaming. Once it would have made her smile. Now, it just made her ache.

"Watanabe-san," Kirigiri-san greeted. "I was hoping to speak with you. There's some information that's come to my attention, and I must discuss it with you immediately."

She glanced at Chiaki's escorts, who had released her but still lingered. "Thank you for bringing her. Leave us."

They saluted smartly and left. Chiaki's eyes drifted around. It looked like Kirigiri-san had gotten her own private tent, or that a command tent had been converted into a medical room; hers was the only bed. There was a small desk with stacks of papers, folders and a laptop. Though small and cramped, it was private, with a flap that could be secured shut. Naegi-kun did that now, then returned to the sole chair by the bed. Chiaki stood wordlessly, staring at the floor and unable to muster up the ability to care about her rudeness.

When it became clear she wasn't going to speak, Kirigiri-san folded her hands. "As I'm sure you're aware by now, all the other branch heads are dead or gone. The Acting Heads have stepped up to replace them, but many of them are psychologically and emotionally unprepared for the sudden promotion, and can barely manage their own division. Leadership is, in short, turbulent. As the only surviving, available member of the original branch heads, I have been placed in charge of the Future Foundation…at least for now."

She then fixed Chiaki with an unreadable violet stare. "It would not be an exaggeration to say that Future Foundation is the most precarious it's ever been. So, I must treat nothing lightly, especially not accusations of being a Remnant."

Chiaki had thought her situation could not possibly grow worse. She had thought wrong. Her stomach seemed to drop out through her feet. Her voice returned. "…What?"

"Your nurse informed me that you said Kamukura Izuru and his cohorts, a known group of Remnants, were your friends. At first, she thought you might just be confused, but you were quite adamant about it. Given the circumstances, she thought it prudent to report this."

It's all ending, Chiaki thought, in a vague sort of horror. She'd been stupid, she'd been careless, she'd been found out. One slip of the tongue, that was all it had taken to put the spotlight on her. And now…what was going to happen to her?

She was wrong. She didn't have the choices of giving up or keep going. Her only future was a prison cell or an execution block.

Chiaki trembled, wondering if she should run. But where would she go? This entire island was filled with Future Foundation forces. She'd have to somehow escape all of them, and then she'd spend the rest of her life running, and it just seemed so…exhausting. Even the despair seemed to drain out. She bowed her head, waiting for the axe to fall, her final thought how disappointing a person she'd been.

"However, your division claims you're a hero. From their account, your actions and quick thinking stopped a bad situation from escalating, prevented further injury, and saved Hayami-san's life. So, it would be remiss of me to not hear you out first."

…huh?

…She was…being given a chance?

Hardly daring to believe it, she looked up. Kirigiri-san's expression was neither severe nor soft. Just fair, waiting to judge. Willing to judge.

For a moment, she still felt empty, brain trying to wrap around this unexpected development. Then emotional whiplash, from dread and resignation to mercy and shock, hit her so hard her entire body shook. Her eyes started to water.

I…I didn't realize…right until I thought it was imminent…

Right until I thought despair was all that was left…and then had hope offered again…

She still…she still didn't want to die. She didn't want to die without seeing her loved ones again. She didn't want to die while they were in despair.

She didn't want to give up.

But how…how could she…she didn't know a way to help…

"Please don't cry!" Naegi-kun exclaimed. "I'm sure you have good reasons, and I promise we'll hear you out. The days where Future Foundation suspected people guilty until proven innocent are over."

Naegi-kun… He was so kind. So sweet. Giving everyone a chance, even suspected Remnants or Remnant sympathizers…

Memory fluttered. That…that was right, wasn't it? He'd given her friends a chance. Brought them to the Neo World Program. And—hadn't Kamukura-kun told her, what'd happen if that went wrong? That if he and her friends had emerged from the Neo World Program in despair, there was no way they would have left Naegi-kun alive or allowed him to escape? So, what did it mean that he was here, now, breathing?

If her friends were in despair, Naegi-kun shouldn't be alive. But if her friends weren't, that video shouldn't have been sent. Neither option made complete sense, so maybe there was a third? Or pieces of the puzzle she hadn't seen?

The moment she had that thought, a tiny sliver of hope was born. It felt like a thorn stabbing deep in her chest. Maybe the pieces would fall in a way she didn't like. Maybe Kamukura-kun had just been wrong, for once. Maybe she was just being delusional. But she clung to that splinter all the same.

Giving up hope would be giving up on her friends. And that was something she just couldn't do.

I can't…I can't give in to despair! Not yet! Not when there are still truths I don't know! Not when there's even the tiniest chance…the tiniest chance they can still be saved! Because…

"You have to help them!" she burst out. "They're—it's not their fault, they're just brainwashed, please, y-you have to…" Because…because they saved me first!

"You're concerned about them?" Kirigiri-san's eyes narrowed. "Are you admitting to being a Remnant?"

"N-No! I'm not a Remnant! I…I just…" Her traitorous tongue tripped. Her shoulders heaved, lungs sucking in great big gasps of air.

The detective was silent a moment. "…Alright. I'll listen to everything before making any final judgments. Explain your relationship to them."

Chiaki tried to speak, but she was crying too hard, nose running and vision blurred with tears. So instead, she decided to just show them. A shaking hand pulled the glasses off and tossed them aside. Then she fumbled with the wig, yanking it off her skull, pain tugging at her scalp from the force.

As she pulled her pink hair out of its clip, letting it fall down her shoulders, her vision cleared enough to recognize the look on Kirigiri-san and Naegi-kun's faces. Pure shock. They stared at her as if they'd seen a ghost.

"T-There," she hiccupped. "W-Watanabe Keiko wa-as a fraud. I'm—"

"Nanami Chiaki." Kirigiri-san had schooled her expression back to one of casual indifference. "You're supposed to be dead."

"I…yeah. Yeah, I was. B-But…it was safer for me to pretend…"

Kirigiri-san steepled her fingers. "Start from the beginning."

And so, Chiaki gave them an abbreviated version of what had happened. How Enoshima had attempted to kill her. How her supposed death had been the catalyst for her friends' brainwashing. How Kamukura-kun had resuscitated her, hidden her, and nursed her back to health. How she'd joined the Future Foundation to make a difference, but kept her identity hidden for her protection.

When she was finished speaking, she looked between them beseechingly. Naegi-kun's face was one of sympathy, while Kirigiri-san seemed more ponderous, rubbing her chin. "…That's everything. Please…I know I have no right to ask this, but please…please don't hurt my friends. Please, at least let me go after them. I just want to help them. That's all I've ever wanted."

She still didn't know what would become of her. But, she figured she didn't have anything to lose. And if these were her last moments alive, she might as well use them pleading for the people she loved.

"We have no intention of pursuing Class 77," Kirigiri-san said. "That's all I'll say at the moment. As for letting you chase them…"

She trailed off, visibly musing. "I want to talk with my classmates," the detective decided. "In the meantime, please just wait. You may walk around as you please, but don't try to leave."

Typically, the Future Foundation's branch heads voted on important matters, with the Chairman acting as the tie-breaker. However, in a state of emergency, the Chairman could act without the other divisions' approval. Obviously, there were limits to this; at such times, the Chairman could only move military forces or resources. He or she could not abuse this power to remove other division heads, cancel projects, or force projects through. Additionally, two-thirds of the other heads had to vote in favor of maintaining the state of emergency for him or her to keep such authority for longer than twenty-four hours.

Still, while this ability was limited, it had come in handy now; Kirigiri-san had been able to call Future Foundation's forces off Class 77's trail. Makoto doubted she intended to remain in power any longer than it took to resolve this crisis. But for now, her authority was unchallenged.

When she had called the rest of their classmates in and finished relaying Nanami-san's story, Kirigiri-san looked around. Asahina-san was sitting on the desk, her leg still bandaged, while Hagakure-kun slouched at the foot of the bed. Makoto noted in amusement that Togami-kun stood in the corner as haughtily as though this military tent were his personal castle. "Well, what should we tell her?"

"I think the answer's clear." Togami-kun pushed his glasses up his nose. "Nothing. She's lied to the Future Foundation for two years straight. We can't trust her with a secret of this scale."

"I believe in her," Makoto offered, and Togami-kun scoffed.

"You believe in everyone, Naegi."

He laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. That was true, but, well, it was just who he was. He wouldn't be Naegi Makoto if he was any other way.

But this wasn't just a matter of him simply being idealistic. He was pretty sure—she hadn't said anything confirming it one way or the other—but he was pretty sure Nanami-san was in love with Hinata-kun…er, Kamukura-kun? And…he knew that pain, of loving and losing, the joy of finding that special person again…

His fingers involuntarily tightened around Kirigiri-san's, which he'd discretely reclaimed under the bed covers.

It had been six hours, thirty-nine minutes, and eight seconds—not that he was counting—since he'd turned to see her staggering towards him. The awe and joy of seeing her there, alive, still hadn't faded. They'd had a brief, but heartfelt reunion before a nurse chased after her, scolded her, and confined her to bedrest. Kirigiri-san apparently chose to interpret that as "working from bed", as ever since she'd learned she was de facto leader of Future Foundation, that was all she'd been doing.

At first Makoto had protested, telling her Togami-kun could handle things, that she should focus on recovering. She'd shot that argument down by reminding him Future Foundation was in a very unsteady state and that she'd worry too much to rest if she didn't see for herself everything was going alright. So, Makoto had sat by her side, reading her reports and relaying her orders over radio and watching the medical equipment, ready to call a nurse if needed.

It was constantly busy. There wasn't any time to talk about…personal matters. Not that he minded, he was just happy to be back in her company again, and determined to see her recover well. But maybe…maybe soon, they could talk about their relationship.

Even thinking 'their relationship' made him blush like a schoolboy.

So, having loved, and lost, and regained…he empathized with Nanami-san. He empathized a lot. "That's true, but I still feel like we should help her. She just wants to be with her friends again. And I know…I know I'd do anything to bring ours back."

The mood became more somber at the reminder of their deceased classmates. Asahina-san bit her lip. Hagakure-kun rubbed his arms, looking away. Even Togami-kun was quiet, eyes drifting to the ground in reserved contemplation.

"Naegi-kun's right," Asahina-san finally said. "That pain of separation…it's awful. I don't think Nanami-chan would do anything to betray Future Foundation, if we told her the truth. If she knew her friends were fine—"

"She might get angry at us for letting them take the fall," Togami-kun countered. "She knew about an active Remnant mole in the Future Foundation, and did nothing, to protect her. What else would she do for her friends? What about Kamukura's plan with the virus? Did she know about that too?"

"She didn't say, but I don't believe Nanami-san is the type of person who would go along with that!" Makoto protested."A-And you've contradicted yourself! You just said she'd do anything to protect her friends, then insinuated she would put them in danger—"

"Yeah, I gotta agree with Naegi-chii." They all blinked and looked at Hagakure-kun, surprised he'd spoken up. Makoto felt mean for thinking it, but it was kind of rare for him to offer much in these types of discussions. "I actually emailed her a couple times before. She was one of Nakajima-chii's therapists, really helped her out. Nakajima-chii thought she was chill, and she's a way better judge of character than me! So…I kind of want to pay Nanami-chii back."

He hesitated, then added, "Besides…if it were you guys, I'd want to know you were really okay."

Hagakure-kun…

Togami-kun ground his teeth, turning to Kirigiri-san. "Kirigiri, I know you're sometimes a reasonable person. Tell me you see the stupidity in trusting Nanami Chiaki after all this."

She was quiet, head bowed. Slowly, carefully, as though weighing each word, she said, "I do think, considering all we know about Nanami-san's actions, how vital it is to preserve the Foundation's integrity in the eyes of the public, and how a single pair of loose lips can destroy that, sharing the truth about what happened here would be foolish."

"Thank you—"

"However…" Togami-kun groaned. "We should also consider what happens if we don't tell her. She might try to take action on her own. She might dig deeper and miraculously uncover the truth, and then get angry that we withheld it. If we tell her ourselves, we can limit the number of unpredictable variables."

A small smile crossed her face. "Besides…I think Naegi-kun, Asahina-san, and Hagakure-kun are right. Telling her is the right thing. And isn't believing in people what we do?"

"Even you, Togami-kun," Makoto interjected. "Even you decided to believe in Class 77 when we left Jabberwock. And that all turned out for the best, didn't it?"

"Yeah!" Asahina-san put her hands on her hips. "I bet even Fukawa-chan would side with us, if we called her up and didn't mention your decision! Why's it always you who's gotta be 'grr, I'm a jerk'?"

Very slowly, looking as if she'd physically wounded him, the Ultimate Affluent Progeny pinched the bridge of his nose. A vein in his temple throbbed. "Do not reduce me to such caricatures," he ground out. "I am merely exercising caution. That said, if this is the decision the rest of you have made…I'll go along with it."

"Togami-kun!" Makoto exclaimed, grinning broadly.

He crossed his arms. "If only because Kirigiri's point about controlling variables is not a bad one. This way, it will be easier to prepare precautionary measures."

"Oh, just admit it, Togami-chii," Hagakure-kun teased, "You're just a big ol' softy now!"

"I'm not even going to acknowledge that asinine delusion."

"Then," Kirigiri-san said, before the conversation could go off-target, "it's decided. Togami-kun, I trust you can continue managing hands-on matters for me?"

He sniffed, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Just who do you think you're talking to?"

"Asahina-san, please continue helping Branch 13 distribute resources around camp. Specifically, food and medical supplies."

"I'm on it, Kyoko-chan!"

"Hagakure-kun…just do what you can."

"H-Hey, why do you have to say it like that?"

"Naegi-kun, will you wrap up this business with Nanami-san?"

"Make sure you interrogate her about what she knew of Kamukura's plans," Togami-kun interjected.

Makoto frowned. "Togami-kun—"

"I'm just saying, it wouldn't hurt to check."

"I have to agree," Kirigiri-san said. "In fact, it'd be wise to see if she knows anything else about the Remnants. Something Kamukura did not, or chose not to share with us, perhaps."

He reluctantly nodded. "But we're telling her the truth no matter what."

"We are."

Makoto smiled. "Alright, Kirigiri-san. You can count on me."

Kirigiri-san gave him that tiny smile, the one reserved only for him, and his heart did backflips. "I know I can."

Outside the field hospital, the sky was still blue, the sun peaked high. She'd forgotten to put her disguise back on before leaving, but nobody had paid her any attention, too caught up in exhaustion and work. They all seemed to assume she was a member of some other division. And there was nothing odd about someone visiting the bodies, lined up in rows. Many people were searching the faces, hoping not to see friends or family among them, or quietly paying their own respects.

Like all the bodies out here, Yukizome-sensei's had been covered respectively with a cloth, but Chiaki could recognize the copper hair peeking out the top. Then the guards had briefly lifted it to show Yukizome-sensei's face. It had been still and pale, eyes closed and skin cleaned of blood. The Yukizome-sensei she'd known had been vibrant, full of livelihood and color. It was hard to believe the body before her belonged to the same woman.

Chiaki was glad when the cloth was dropped. She didn't want to remember Yukizome-sensei as a corpse, or as the crazed, despair-filled woman who'd betrayed her. She wanted to remember her as the kind teacher who'd encouraged her to make friends, who'd helped her reach out and guided her, who'd been more than happy to join her students on whatever silly activities they did together. So, as she stared unblinkingly at the cloth, she focused only on those memories, biting her lip until it started to bleed.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to the cloth. "You believed in me, more than anyone else, and I didn't live up to that. I made…such a bad decision. I couldn't help you, then or now."

Chiaki ducked her head. "And…I almost gave up, just now. I almost let you down again. But I won't. Even if it takes the rest of my life, I'll make things right for our class. So…please watch over me, sensei."

And even though she'd said everything she wanted to, she didn't leave. There wasn't anywhere else she particularly wanted to go, and this felt like the last respect she could give her dear teacher. She simply stood there for an indefinite amount of time, allowing all those good memories to loop through her head, until one of her guards finally told her Naegi-kun was ready to speak with her.

Chiaki crouched, the muscles in her legs groaning, and tentatively rested her hand on Yukizome-sensei's cloth-covered one. "Goodbye," she whispered. Then she straightened up and walked away, refusing to look back for fear that she'd break down again.

When she reached the command tent, she found Naegi-kun slipping out. He raised a finger to his lips when he saw her. "Kirigiri-san's working again," he whispered, "so let's not disturb her. The guards will keep watch and make sure no one eavesdrops."

"What you're telling me is that important?"

He nodded, solemnly. "I don't want to go too far, but everyone else has a lot of work to do, and I've been at the forefront of these past events. So, we figured it'd make sense for me to tell you everything."

Her heart began pounding as he ushered her a little away from the collection of tents. Two lawn chairs had been brought to the back of the garage, and her legs shook as she sank into hers. Naegi-kun folded his fingers. "That video is fake," he finally began. "Your friends…they were cured of their despair by the Neo World Program."

If before had felt like the world ending, this felt like waking up and finding it was a nightmare. Her fingers tightened around the armrests. "It worked?" she whispered. "It worked…then, why would they…?"

Naegi-kun bowed his head. "The Future Foundation itself began that killing game. We had several corrupt members…not just Yukizome-san, but the Chairman as well."

Her jaw dropped in shock. "E-Even the Chairman…?!"

How...? Weren't they the ones who were supposed to fix the world? Weren't they, like Hope's Peak, the hope of the world? How could this happen again? Shock gave way to anger, fizzling like a hot pot of water.

"Yes. He's the one who started the game. He was planning to use it to drive your former classmate, Mitarai-kun, into brainwashing the world into hope. And after the killing game…Mitarai-kun tried to do exactly that."

"Just like Enoshima," she spat, eyes slanting.

"I don't agree with it, but they were both desperate," Naegi-kun defended. "Anyway, Togami-kun called your classmates in. Not only did they talk Mitarai-kun down, they rescued Togami-kun and saved many others. They're heroes. But if it was ever known, that the Future Foundation's own leaders did this to itself…"

"So you stabbed my friends in the back."

"No!" Empathetically, he shook his head, leaning forward. "No. They took the blame of their own volition. I would never have asked them to make a sacrifice of this scale. But now that they have, I'll honor it."

Chiaki scowled at the ground. The Future Foundation was one of, if not the, top leaders of reconstruction in the world. While they had many supporters, they had many detractors as well. And if it was discovered that even they weren't infallible, those detractors would swoop upon them like vultures. It wouldn't take long for their credibility to be lost and all that painstaking work undone.

She got it. She did. It just sucked that her friends had to pay the price for someone else's mistakes, again.

Her friends. "They're alright," she repeated. She could scarcely believe it. Her face smoothed over, anger washed away by awe and relief at that one fact. "Oh god…they're alright… Wh-Where are they? Do you know?!"

Naegi-kun smiled.

"We do."

They were on Jabberwock Island, Naegi-kun said. Though they wanted to help the world, it wasn't feasible for them to travel around. So, they were keeping the archipelago as a base of operations. There, they would use their talents to research and create inventions, which they would entrust to Branch 14 to distribute around the world. Anonymously, of course.

"We'll tell everyone the facility there was destroyed in a Remnant attack, so we're abandoning the location entirely due to suspicion of compromise. Eventually, we'll work with Class 77 to fabricate a video of their deaths. Then they'll truly be free to live in peace."

While Chiaki was relieved her friends had a haven, a small piece of guilt still gnawed at her. "Gekkogahara-san, though…she talked so much about how she poured her heart and soul into the Neo World Program…"

"We still have her research and data," Naegi-kun assured. "Even if it we have to lose the current Neo World Program…we'll ensure Gekkogahara-san's work doesn't go to waste. It does need tweaking anyway. We'll use the time spent building a new facility to work out all the final kinks."

She exhaled. "Good…"

Naegi-kun shifted, and she glanced over. He was working his lower lip between his teeth, a worried expression on his face. Finally, he sighed and turned towards her. "I should probably have asked you this before telling, but…I wanted to show you that I believe in you. I hope you can return that by being honest with me."

Chiaki blinked. "Alright. What is it?"

He took a deep breath. "First…is there anything Hinata-kun—er, Kamukura-kun—told you that he might not have shared with us? Information on other Remnants? Any other plans he had lying in wait, that he just…forgot about when he erased his memories of you?"

She racked her brain. "Um…he was anonymously giving you guys funds for the Neo World Program. And like my friends, Yukizome-sensei was brainwashed. Well, lobotomized. But—she wasn't a Remnant voluntarily. That's it, really."

Then Chiaki frowned, something about Naegi-kun's sentence sticking with her. Meanwhile, his eyes widened. "Really? We'll have to try and contact Munakata-san, then. I don't know if it'll make him feel better…but he should know."

Naegi-kun hastily jotted down a note. "Alright. Finally, Nanami-san, how much did Kamukura-kun tell you about his plans for the Neo World Program?"

Distantly, she answered, still chasing that niggling detail, "Just that he was going to bring my classmates, and that there was some danger of the program glitching out."

"I see…so he didn't tell you…"

Perhaps he thought she wouldn't overhear his soft murmur, but she did. And at the exact same time, her brain locked onto what, specifically, had been so strange about Naegi-kun's previous statement. "Tell me what?"

He started, a guilty expression crossing his face. "That's, um…"

"And what did you mean by other plans?"

Naegi-kun winced. Chiaki's skin prickled in trepidation. Icicles seemed to form in her stomach. "…What did Kamukura-kun do?"

What struck Chiaki the most, as Naegi-kun slowly explained what had happened in the Neo World Program, Enoshima's AI and the killing game and how Kamukura-kun had initiated it all, was the complete and utter lack of surprise. She was confused, and angry, and hurt. But she wasn't surprised. Something deep inside her looked at the information and didn't protest, didn't scream how it couldn't be true. It just accepted it as fact.

Because of course Kamukura-kun would do something like that. Of course he was capable of making such a huge gamble. Hope or despair, salvation or damnation, his life and her friends' or Enoshima's.

She had one small comfort, and that was knowing he hadn't done it for Enoshima's sake. The way he'd spoken of her, the spite and bitterness in his voice and eyes, had proven his hatred of the model enough. And he'd said plenty of times that he was after some answer from the Neo World Program.

But it still hurt. It hurt that he'd done something like this when it wasn't necessary, when the program would have worked just fine on its own. It hurt that he was willing to risk Enoshima's return for his answer. It hurt that he'd lied to her face about it. And she didn't understand what answer he could have possibly gotten from another killing game, or why it was so worth the associated risks.

When Naegi-kun was done, she quietly tucked her knees up to her chin, wrapping her arms around them. She stared out over the tents, struggling to reconcile what she knew of Kamukura-kun and her friends with what she'd just been told. It felt like she should cry, but her eyes were suspiciously dry.

After another moment, Naegi-kun asked, kindly, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Chiaki hugged her knees closer. "I would, but…I don't know where to begin. I just…I feel so betrayed." He lied to me. He actually lied to me. He risked bringing Enoshima back, and—

It hurt.

"I can imagine." He fiddled with his hands, rubbing them around his left wrist. "Kirigiri-san…once she risked my life, and recently she risked her own, for her own purposes. She didn't tell me why either times, not until everything was over. So, I do know what it's like to be hurt by the secrecy of someone you love. But…I've never regretted knowing her.

"Nanami-san…I don't know if it's my place to say this. But I spoke to Hinata-kun after the shutdown, and he was a man filled with regret. I don't know if that's worth much to you, and I'm not saying you shouldn't feel angry or sad or hurt. Or that you should forgive him, that's for you to decide. But I think you need to ask yourself whether the pain he's caused is worth the joy he's brought."

…Pain and joy, huh…?

Waking up. Healing under his care. Learning about the Tragedy.

Playing games. Braiding his hair. Crying into his chest. Watching the Killing Game. Being held in his arms through the worst of her flashbacks, and feeling so safe.

Moving. Talking on the phone. Confessing. Seeing that small smile for the first time. Kissing.

All the good times they'd had…the good times they hadn't yet…

That she still wanted to happen.

"Yeah," she finally admitted, voice cracking. "Yeah, it is."

He smiled. "Then there you go. Maybe you don't understand why this happened, and maybe there isn't a reason you can accept. But maybe there is, and the willingness to still love someone and believe in them, to take that chance…I think it takes great strength, Nanami-san."

"…I'm not strong."

Naegi-kun tilted his head to one side. She continued in a watery voice, "I'm not. I couldn't help Hinata-kun and I couldn't save Yukizome-sensei and I got my friends brainwashed… I couldn't get Kamukura-kun to just have faith in hope… I'm not like you and your classmates. I've never succeeded when it mattered most…"

"No, that's wrong!"

His declaration was just as forceful in real life as it was on television. She jerked back, blinking dumbly. Naegi-kun twisted in the chair and grabbed her shoulders, a beseeching expression on his face.

"You have done things that mattered, Nanami-san! There was one point where Hinata-kun and the other students were so deep in despair, it looked like Enoshima would win…but do you know what pulled him out of it? His memories of you. You did, Nanami-san. He told me so. You gave him the strength to fight back, to keep hoping. And then he inspired everyone else to not give up.

"And what about Nakajima-san? Or the people in your squad? Those lives were touched for the better, saved, by you as well. I think, for each time you've failed, there's also been a time you succeeded…you just can't see it because you're always looking back at those failures."

…Really?

She actually had helped Hinata-kun and her friends? Even just in spirit…?

…When Naegi-kun said it so sincerely…it was impossible not to believe him, even just a little.

Her lower lip quivered. Chiaki wiped away the moisture gathering in her eyes with a determined sniffle. "Th-Thank you…"

"Do you feel a bit better now?"

"Yeah…you really do live up to your title."

"You think so? I'm just doing my best, honestly."

He passed her a handkerchief to blow her nose in. There was a long silence. Finally, Chiaki spoke up again. "…Why do you call him 'Hinata-kun'?"

Naegi-kun laughed. "That's definitely not my place to say. Besides, I'm not sure I fully understand it. I'll just tell you he's a changed man, and let him explain the rest…if you still want to see him and your other friends, that is."

It wasn't even a question. "I do."

He smiled. "I thought you'd say that."

Then his expression became more somber. "But, Nanami-san, you should know…there's no coming back from this decision. We have to restrict traffic to Jabberwock to lower the odds of someone cottoning on, so you won't be able to come and go as you please. Your contact is going to be limited entirely to those on the island. I mean, I'll try to call, but most of the time it'll be for business. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say you'll be living in exile. Do you still want—"

"Yes," she said firmly. "When can I go?"

Naegi-kun scratched his cheek, looking sheepish. "Well, you may have to wait a while. We're trying to evacuate this island, so all our helicopters and ships are occupied. We can't divert one for one person, it'd be instantly noticed."

She smiled, thinking back to a dock and a pair of keys that had not been used once. "That's okay. I have a boat in Tokyo."

A/N: Next chapter: the moment you've all been waiting for.