A/N: Here's Chapter Four of "Class 77's Recovery!" Please read, review, and enjoy!
Class 77's Recovery!
Chapter Four: Makoto and Kyoko Reconvene with Headmaster Kirigiri!
True to Jin's word, a week had passed, and Jin had summoned his daughter and Makoto to his office for further discussions. He couldn't help but smile in amusement at how Makoto nervously squirmed in his seat.
"No need to be nervous, Naegi-kun." The Headmaster assured the anxious luckster. "You don't need to look like you're in trouble."
Kyoko sighed and shook her head. "I've been telling him the same thing on the way up here. It still hasn't helped his nerves to any noticeable degree." Her lips tugged into a slight smirk. "I'm almost tempted to say he's allergic to your office."
Jin couldn't help but burst into laughter, not only because of the humor in Kyoko's joke, but also out of joy at the incidence of his daughter expressing anything other than cold indifference or frustration in his presence. Makoto meanwhile pouted, puffing his blushing cheeks and crossing his arms over his chest.
Eventually, Jin's laughter died down, and his expression returned to one of seriousness. Kyoko laid a hand on his shoulder, causing his cheeks to deflate and his lips to shift into an awkward smile. Once the Ultimate Lucky Student's hands fell back into his lap, Jin cleared his throat.
"In all seriousness, there's no need to feel ill-at-ease. Truthfully, we owe you a debt of gratitude for your assistance in helping to calm tensions with the Reserve Course."
"Indeed." Kyoko nodded. "You have quite the hidden talent as a motivational speaker."
Makoto bashfully scratched his cheek in response to their praise. After Jin made plans to offer parlay to the Reserve Course protestors, Makoto offered to help as a mediator.
"It's my school too, so let me help make it better!"
Though she was worried for his safety, Kyoko couldn't deny that his dual status as a Main Course Student and an otherwise average teenage boy made him a credible negotiator to both the Kirigiri Administration and the Reserve Course students. She also knew that having Juzo Sakakura accompany them as protection would only ignite the powder keg.
"Allow me to watch from the shadows. I can give the appearance of you two coming alone, and provide adequate protection if it comes to that."
Although Jin had his own reservations about his daughter throwing herself in physical danger again, if Chiaki's rescue had taught him anything, it was to never count out the Ultimate Detective of Class 78th. He also knew that he was powerless to stop her, no matter what order he gave as Headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy.
"…You're not going to relent unless I agree, are you…?"
Thankfully, the Kirigiris' respective fears ended up being exaggerated. True to Kyoko's intuition, Makoto's natural charisma and relatability to the Reserve Course made them feel at ease and willing to come to the table. Once they saw Jin Kirigiri's humility and willingness to admit to the failings of the administration, the Reserve Course felt reassured that their complaints would actually be taken seriously.
With Makoto mediating between the two groups, a compromise was quickly reached. The Reserve Course agreed to cease protests and return to class without complaint. In return, Jin promised equal access to the Main Course grounds, a gradual class integration over the next year, and an overhaul of security training to prioritize nonviolent interactions with students.
Though the school grounds still looked like a war zone, the violence and hatred had come to an end. The cleanup and restoration of Hope's Peak Academy had begun, and the student body felt safe walking the grounds of their own school. It was under the conditions of that miraculous turnaround that Makoto and Kyoko's meeting with Headmaster Kirigiri was taking place.
"Oh, I…I just helped…" Makoto denied. "I didn't really do much. You and the Reserve Course were the ones who reached that agreement."
"…Modest as ever…" Kyoko muttered under her breath as she shook her head.
An amused smile crossed Jin's lips. "If you say so, Naegi-kun. More to the point, since the danger has passed, this puts us in a better position to discuss your sister's visitation request."
Makoto's eyes lit up. "Does that mean Komaru can come visit now? She's been pressing me day-after-day about when she can come and visit, ever since I told her we were working on an agreement."
Kyoko held back an amused giggle as her father explained, "Not yet. Although the campus is physically safe to welcome visitors, it is still not what I would call…presentable."
Right…I guess there is still a lot of cleanup that needs to be done…
"The damage from the protests is still extensive. There's still a lot of cleanup that needs to occur before we can welcome anybody from the outside. However, once the cleanup and repairs are finished, I believe we would be in a beneficial position to welcome your family into the school"
"We can help with that!" Makoto exclaimed, earning raised eyebrows from both his crush and her father. "I-I mean…I'm sure at least some of my class would be willing to help with cleaning up the grounds. And if we all agree to participate, it should go by much faster!"
"Indeed." Kyoko nodded. "Though some of our class would do anything to get out of manual labor…" Like Togami and Celeste… "…I'm sure enough of us could be convinced to assist with cleaning up Hope's Peak."
Jin smiled. "Well, if your class is offering, then I'd be happy to have your assistance. Kyoko you'll contact me about your class's response?" Kyoko nodded. "Very well. Naegi-kun, tell your family they can come visit in tentatively a week's time."
Makoto smiled gratefully at the Headmaster. "Thank you, Headmaster." He stood up and bowed respectfully. "I'll go tell her right away, then Kyoko and I can convince the others to help out during the next week."
Without another word, Makoto stood up and hurriedly walked out of the office. Follwoing suit, Kyoko rose from her seat.
"I'd better go follow him, then. I'll contact you with our collective answer."
With a nod of approval from Jin, Kyoko turned and walked out of the office. Now alone, Jin let out an amused chuckle at what had just happened.
It looks like things are finally starting to look up again…!
Chihiro grunted, carrying a rather large piece of rubble in her arms. She sighed in relief as Mondo lifted it out of her grasp as if it were a mere dodgeball. Chihiro's face fell in disappointment at her lack of strength.
"S-Sorry…"
"Ah, don't worry about it." Mondo assured her, ruffling her hair and causing her to giggle. "It's just a little heavy for you right now, is all."
"The important thing is that you're making an effort, Chihiro!" Taka agreed, shooting a glare towards Byakuya and Celeste. "That's certainly more than some of us!"
Byakuya snorted. "I hired the Togami Conglomerate's finest cleanup crew to assist with this operation." The Ultimate Affluent Progeny gestured to the team of workers diligently clearing away debris. "Someone of my stature doesn't need to lower myself to manual labor."
Celeste nodded, sipping the tea that Hifumi had just brought her. "I refuse to get my hands filthy, especially when my little piggy can do it for me. Thank you again for making my tea correctly, Yamada."
The Ultimate Fanfic Creator smiled goofily and bowed. "It was my pleasure, Miss Ludenberg."
The remaining classmates sweatdropped at the scene in the distance. They collectively sighed and continued cleaning the fountain.
"I can't believe how lazy those guys are being…" Leon grumbled, earning a wry smirk from Sayaka.
"You're one to talk, Leon."
Hina stuck out her tongue. "Yeah, you and Hiro are probably the laziest ones here."
"Hey, don't be mean!" An incensed Hiro narrowed his eyes. "I'm out here doing this for free, aren't I?"
"…Enough." Sakura warned, her voice gentle but firm. "We're all helping to clean up campus so Makoto's sister can visit a presentable academy, so stop arguing and continue cleaning."
With only a few grumbles, the others complied and went back to their tasks. As she knelt next to Makoto and put in her own elbow grease, Kyoko raised her brow at the smile on his face.
"You seem unusually happy, even considering your optimistic disposition."
Makoto chuckled. "It's that obvious?"
"Well, you are a bit of an open book, Makoto."
"Yeah, you've told me before. I guess I'm just glad things can finally go back to normal in time for me to show my family the awesome school I go to…" His smile widened as he added, "…And my awesome classmates." At that moment, his lips tugged into a deflated frown. "Though…now that I think about it, I guess I can't introduce them to everyone…"
Kyoko's brow furrowed before the gears turned in her head. "…You're still feeling conflicted about Enoshima and Ikusaba, am I wrong?"
Makoto nodded and let out a rather large sigh. "I know they did terrible, horrific, unforgivable things. I can't just let that slide. But still…Junko and Mukuro were my classmates, too. I guess…I always imagined introducing them to my family, too. You know, the entire class…I guess I'm still reconciling my feelings about being betrayed with the bond we had as classmates…"
Kyoko wrapped her arms around his waist, holding the blushing boy against her torso. "You've always had too big of a heart for your own good…but that's one of the things I've come to treasure about you."
"Kyoko…"
"It's okay to feel conflicted. I imagine all of us are feeling the same thing to some extent. All we can do is deal with it in our own way. Just…don't let it get you too down, okay?"
A moment of heavy silence passed before Makoto nodded. "Okay, Kyoko…I'll make sure not to let it bother me…at least not in front of the others."
Kyoko nodded in satisfaction. "Very well, then let's get this place cleaned up." She let out an unusually girly giggle. "I must confess, I'm looking forward to meeting your family."
Makoto laughed. "Don't worry, I'm sure they'll love meeting you and the others."
With shared smiles, the two best friends continued their work. Excitement thumped in their hearts, overpowering any sense of conflict for the time being that Junko and Mukuro's betrayal had left them.