"Hope!" Normal Speech
'Despair!' People's thoughts
"Truth!" Flashbacks
Disclaimer: I have as much ownership of the Danganronpa series as you do dear reader.
AN: Other tags for this story (since the site only gives you 2): Mystery/Friendship/Drama
Interlude
Anthropologist´s Good Luck Charm
As someone with the title of Ultimate, you are one that is considered elite among the elite.
The youth that will guide the masses into a future filled with bright hope, such is the weight that Hope's Peak Academy gives to the title of Ultimate, and for you to carry such a title means that you know this very well.
Given your situation I'm relieved you find the time to come here at my request. New students can have it difficulty to adapt, I know that myself, and given your family situation I didn't expect such a quick response.
And yet here we are, although I have the suspicious that a big part of your willingness comes from the matter at hand.
Of course, you already know why you're here, so let's not waste time.
You, the Ultimate Anthropologist of class 79…
Tell me about him.
My name is Shinguyi Korekiyo, and I am the Ultimate Anthropologist of class 79 of Hope's Peak Academy.
Kuku, there's no need to worry, Headmaster. I, more than anyone else, understand the value of keeping clear registry for the future, so I don't find it redundant at all.
I'll admit I actually have some questions of my own. You are Hope's Peak Headmaster, after all, and this is a place that prides itself in forming the stepping stones that will lead humanity to a new future.
I'm sure you can understand my interest given my profession, correct?
Hmm, only after I answer your own? Very well, I'm not stranger to such exchange of ideas…
Besides, given the subject you want to address, I can't hardly complain, now can I?
There is so much I can say about this, or rather, him though, so how would you like for me to start such tale?
My first impression of him? Hmmm…
I despised his existence, If I had to be honest.
What's with the surprised face, Headmaster? Isn't it normal for a brother to be protective of their sister? In my eyes, he was nothing more than an intruder trying to disrupt the little peace my sister and I had obtained…
I, of course, now realize how wrong I was at the time. Hindsight is quite the thing, isn't it?
If only I hadn't tried to reject his presence so strongly, maybe some problems could have been…avoided, but even so I truly feel that I'm blessed to have met him.
He's probably one of the key factors that has kept my only family alive…
Don't tell him that though, or else he would start going into rants about it.
I suppose this would be a good way to bridge into our first meeting, no?
Very well. It would be around… two years ago, the first time I heard his name.
"You seem awfully happy today, Nee-san." He commented lightly, while the brush in his hand kept moving in perfectly practiced strokes on his sister's long hair.
"Hmm?" And for a response, the only one he got was a pleased noise from his sister, making him chuckle slightly.
"You've been smiling ever since I got here." He followed up, regretting not having arrived at the hospital a bit sooner.
Sadly, work had gotten quite hectic today, and as much as he would have preferred to stay with his sister, his job was the only source of income they had nowadays.
"Is that so…?" He heard her absent-minded answer, which was followed by her bringing one of her fingers to her cheek. "Ah! It must have been Makoto-chan!"
"Makoto-chan?" He repeated, taken back by such an answer, for he couldn't remember ever meeting someone with such a name. Was it a new nurse or something?
"Yes, the poor one got hit in the head pretty badly." She followed with a sorrowful tone, making him blink confusedly in response." But ohh that dress was so cute! It was like from an anime! You should have seen it, Kiyo-kun! I bet both of you would be great friends too!"
Meanwhile, he could only release a small sigh in response, the small alarm bells that had been growing in his head seemingly disappearing with his sister's words. A new patient then? One that had probably been discharged already judging by her words.
"I'm happy you made a new friend, Nee-san." Still, he commented truthfully, knowing just how lonely his older sister could get in this hospital with no one but the doctors and nurses to socialize.
He would have liked to be present to make sure this girl was trustful enough around his sister, but since it seemed everything had gone well he could only sigh in relief, returning to his methodical brushing immediately after.
"Why don't you tell me more about this Makoto-san, Nee-san?" He prodded, earning a beautiful smile in response, and as she kept talking about this mysterious individual, he could only be glad that it hadn't been a man taking advantage of his innocent sister without him around to protect her.
That would have been disastrous.
"I'm Naegi Makoto. It's a pleasure to meet you, Shinguji-kun!"
This was disastrous.
"Ehh?! You came without that cute dress you had before, Makoto-chan?"
"I-I told you that was a one-time thing!"
No, this was beyond that. This was just horrible to the point he could feel his right eye twitch in sheer indignation at what he was seeing.
Closing his eyes for just a second, he racked his brain over something, anything that could have prepared him for this.
He found nothing. Repeating his conversations with his sister in his head only made him realize just how much he had assumed about her new…friend.
Was it his mistake then? The name Makoto was pretty gender neutral, and considering his sister had mentioned a dress of all things…
He had let his guard down by assuming stuff it seemed.
A mistake that he would absolutely rectify as soon as possible, but until then he could only hide his tightened knuckles behind his back, with the image of his dear sister interacting with a boy of all people being enough to make his blood boil.
Not that he blamed his sister of course. She had always been the innocent one, not realizing the dangers of the outside world because of her sheltered upbringing.
He, on the other hand, knew very well just how despicable humanity could be, especially those like this…Naegi Makoto.
He would rather die than to let anyone take advantage of his sweet, innocent sister.
"Kiyo-kun?"
"Yes, Nee-san?" But even so, he did his best to hide his emotions from his voice. His sister didn't deserve him lashing out at her, not when the real culprit was the third individual in the room.
"You've been quiet over there." His sister said with a frown. "Don't be shy! Makoto-chan has been telling me about this amazing school he goes to! Did you know he's an Ultimate? Doesn't that sound amazing?"
"W-Well, I only got there because of luck…" It seemed Naegi Makoto wasn't comfortable with fame. "Your sister tells me you're into anthropology, Shinguji-kun?"
"Indeed." His response was swift, his heart upset that this…intruder was now seemingly trying to get cozy with him too.
"Don't worry about it, Makoto-chan. Kiyo-kun is just being shy." That wasn't how he would describe it, but he refused to comment on it given the giggle that escaped his sister's lips. "Tell me more about your classmates, please?"
And so he could only watch at the two interacted, offering his own responses here and there when he got addressed, but for most of the time he offered nothing more than a watchful gaze over the older teen, observing his every movement in case he tried something…suspicious.
Luckily it never came, not that he ever let his guard down around Naegi Makoto's inoffensive act of course, but at the very least he wasn't forced into action in front of his sister.
However, once visit hours were done, which was something he had been counting the seconds for ever since they started talking, he knew his moment had arrived.
"I'll escort Naegi-san out then, Nee-san." He spoke once he saw them bid their farewell, doing his best to hide the smile forming in his lips. Luckily, his mask helped with that.
"There's no need for that, really!" The older, but still shorter teen, answered quickly, to which he could only shake his head in response.
As if he would miss the chance to correct this situation.
"I insist." His tone grew a little forceful at the end, but it seemed neither his sister or the interloper had noticed.
It didn't take long for Naegi Makoto to realize he would not let this go, and soon enough they were both leaving the hospital room together. He hated leaving his sister like this, but this was something that needed to be done.
Hopefully, Naego Makoto would get the message sooner rather than later.
"Eh?! But wasn't that dangerous?"
"I-I was sure they were going to stop before hitting me…well, mostly sure, but still!"
Naegi Makoto did not get the message.
Was he being stubborn? Was his desire to corrupts his sister really that big? Why else would someone go out of his way to come into a place like this?
Or maybe he was that much of a fool and didn't actually understand the message…?
'No.' He decided in his mind. His threat has been clear, and he was sure the Ultimate had understood that much if the worried face he had shown that day had been anything to go by.
But then, why was he still here?!
"Sorry, I need to take this."
It seemed he would need a more…direct approach then.
And now that Naegi Makoto was leaving to answer his phone, it was his perfect chance.
"I will go buy some drinks, Nee-san." He spoke wistfully a few minutes after the brown-haired teen had left. "I shall be back soon-"
He was immediately stopped however, when he felt his wrist being clasped by the soft hand of his beloved sister, forcing a shocked expression upon his face that only became stronger once he saw the worried frown she had on her face.
"Kiyo-kun." Her voice was soft, but also laced with obvious worry. "You don't really like Makoto-chan that much, do you?"
"…I have no idea what you're talking about, Nee-san." A part of him knew that it was too late to hide his feelings from his sister. They knew each other too well, after all, but it didn't mean he wasn't going to at least try.
"Kiyo-kun, please give Makoto-chan a chance." His sister even went as far as to plead for that guy, making his free hand twitch. "He's a good friend, and I'm sure you would agree if you gave him the chance."
Giving him the chance? Why couldn't she see he was only doing what was best for her? He just wanted to protect her.
In the end though, he could only nod towards her, for the idea of actually arguing with her was pretty much foreign to him. It seemed to be enough given that she released his hand, however the meaningful look she gave him next was enough to stop him on his tracks for just a second before he finally left.
He needed to think about this.
He actually went to get that beverage. The machine wasn't that far away from his sister's hospital room, and while he wasn't the biggest fan of it, a bit of tea sounded exactly what he needed at the moment.
"Shinguji-kun?"
But of course, he should have known that someone would come and ruin the moment of peace he was going to use to think things out.
The fact that said someone was none other than Naegi Makoto was certainly not helping in his mood either.
"Yes?" He drawled out, wondering if the older teen would get the hint and just leave while he was feeling merciful enough.
"You looked worried…" It seems his wish would not be granted. "It's about your sister, right?"
"And what would you know about that, pray tell?" He hissed out, this time not even bothering to hide his animosity. However, it seemed the nuisance wasn't bothered by his tone, or if he was then he was good at hiding it, considering that his smile never faltered.
"I have a sister too, although I'm the older one out of us." Naegi's sudden revelation was enough to make him blink in momentary confusion, not remembering the teen or his sister ever mentioning that little tidbit.
"Her name is Komaru." But before he could think more about it, he was already looking at a picture of a dark-haired girl smiling alongside the guy that was now shoving his phone in his face.
He could certainly see the resemblance there, and he didn't need to be an expert to tell how comfortable they looked with one another in that picture.
It was also hard to ignore the proud smile he could see had formed in Naegi's lips, especially since it was an expression he was extremely familiar with.
But still, was this supposed to change anything? Just because they had one thing in common hardly turned Naegi Makoto into someone trustable just like that.
"I believe our circumstances are still quite different."
"True…"
Silence followed such statements, with him sipping on his beverage from time. He would have preferred to be by himself right now, truly, but something told him that if he were to leave, the so called Ultimate would follow him along.
Truly, it was quite the wasted opportunity that Naegi Makoto had to be a male with obvious interest in his sister. Had circumstances been different, having access to information from someone attending Hope's Peak Academy would have been a dream come true.
After all, that place was a landmark of human history, one that had most definitely left its place as a legacy of his species. Being able to get access to first-hand information from such a place would be invaluable for him.
But sadly he would not get the chance since keeping someone like Naegi Makoto around wasn't worth it.
His sister's words, however, made him pause for just a second, right before narrowing his eyes at the unaware Makoto. Giving him a chance? Very well then, he would just have to wait for his chance.
For he knew Naegi Makoto would show his true colors soon enough, and he would be ready for that moment.
Months later, and he was still waiting.
"Are you sure you don't want to join us, Shinguji-kun?"
"I'm fine." He really wasn't, and having to look at his sister playing cards with the walking annoyance that was Makoto wasn't helping with his mood.
"Don't worry about him, Naegi-kun. He just woke up on the wrong side of the best today." His sister's giggle wasn't helping either, especially since it was followed by Makoto chuckling too. What he would do to wipe of that smile from his face….
In fact…
"Shouldn't you be in your own room or something?" He asked while eyeing the bandage around Makoto's head, earning a sheepish look in response.
"It was nothing serious, really!"
"But are you sure?" He almost groaned in frustration at seeing his sister wasting her time actually worrying about Makoto. "It sounded like a nasty fall…"
"You must be living around a lot of faulty stairs…" He commented airily on the guy's excuse about his most recent injury.
"Yeah…something like that." Seriously, how couldn't his beloved sister see just how suspicious this guy was?!
It didn't matter though. Naegi Makoto could act as innocent as he wanted, but sooner or later he would slip, his true intentions would show and his sister would finally see him for the scoundrel he knew Makoto was.
"And just what happened to you this time?"
"Uh…I fell down some stairs?"
"…"
"…"
"…Truly?"
"…Yeah"
"It seems you have a lot of wild…stairs, in your life." He commented with a roll of his eyes, deciding that he didn't care enough to keep pushing for an answer from the bandaged Makoto.
"You have no idea…" The almost haunted whisper he got in response actually made him pause and look at Makoto strangely, but he ended up just shrugging.
Once more, he didn't care enough.
He would have also preferred to wait by himself, since his sister was being attended to by doctor Takemi right now, but of course Naegi Makoto just so happened to be here today too.
He sometimes had to wonder if he got injured on purpose just to come here. If so, he would give credit where it was due for his tenacity.
"Can I ask your something, Shinguji-kun?"
"…If you must." He answered with a sigh, wondering just what could he even want from him. Would It be about his sister? Because if so he was more than ready to shut that down if he really thought he would be getting anything like that from him.
"Your sister told me about your job, actually…You're an anthropologist, right?"
"Indeed." He was now looking at Makoto, wondering where this was going.
"I was wondering if you could explain me some stuff about, uh…people?"
"About people? You will have to be far, far more specific than that."
And surprisingly, he was, to the point he found himself looking at Makoto in honest surprise.
Not only it was extremely rare for someone close to his age to even care about anthropology, but the things Makoto seemed to be interested about where surprisingly bleak for someone that seemed to like to project an uplifting front.
It wasn't every day that someone asked him for the fall of different societies throughout human history, and the interest in Makoto's eyes seemed truly genuine, although such thing only brought more questions than answers.
A part of him wanted nothing more than to avoid having to deal with Makoto anything more than what was necessary, but it was the other part of him, the one that loved his work with passion and saw genuine interest coming from someone else, ended up winning over.
"Well, we could start with the Roman empire…"
"What's with that look, Nee-san?"
"Nothing."
He eyed his sister strangely, wondering what was up with that glint of her eyes and the way she was chuckling to herself.
Was there something on his face? He checked just in case, but his movement seemed to make the mirth in her eyes even more pronounced. Well, it didn't matter, he supposed. As long as she was happy then-
"You seem to be getting closer to Makoto-chan."
Her comment made him pause for just a second, just before he went back to combing her hair.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Nee-san."
"Sure you don't."
He decided to not let her teasing get to him, knowing that it would only make things worse.
It was true that he had spent less time watching over Makoto's every move as of late, and yes, his opinion on him had grown just the smallest bit, but anything more than that was simply pushing it too much.
He was only giving credit where credit was due, for even though he only trusted Naegi Makoto as far as he could throw him, he had to admit that he had quite the interesting perspective when it came to humanity as a whole.
It was a strange combination between hopeful naivety and depressing realism that he would dare say he found fascinating enough, specially coming from someone that excluded such high levels of mundanity.
Not like it mattered much in the end though. Interesting conversationalist or not, he would not lower his guard around him any time soon.
He ran
He ran as if his life depended on it.
It didn't matter that his muscles were screaming at him to stop, or that he found his lungs begging for a rest. No, none of that mattered, he needed to be there, he needed to make it before it was too late, he needed to-
"Shinguji-kun!"
It was only because he recognized that voice that he stopped dead on his track, his frantic gaze going immediately to the owner of that voice.
He moved, his hands quickly landing on Naegi Makoto's shoulders, and the voice that left was nothing of not desperate, but he didn't care. He cared for little right now, except…
"Where is she?!"
He walked around, from one side of the hall to the other one, his gaze clued to the floor. His body was still begging at him to take a rest, but he couldn't stay still right now, for he might go insane if he did.
He kept fiddling with his gloves as he moved, trying to find anything that could distract his erratic thoughts right now. It didn't help much however, and it only made him even more frustrated with himself.
To think that his beloved sister would suddenly need an emergency operation…Even though she had looked so healthy as of late.
And he hadn't even been here for her when she needed him the most just because of what, his job? As if something like that would matter if something happened to his sister.
But now the only thing he could do was to wait. They were still operating her, and the only thing that the doctors had told him was her condition had been a critical one.
Once more he cursed the sickness that had plagued his sister, and wished it could be him instead of her.
His breath became shallow bursts once a dark idea started to form in his mind, one that he had done his best to never think off, for the sake of his sanity, but one that right now was slowly taking over him, almost to the point of making him feel sick.
What if she didn't make it?
What if he lost his sister?
What if he was left alone…?
"Shinguji-kun?"
It was only that familiar voice that took him out of his darkening thoughts, making him look up to see an obviously worried Makoto holding a can of something he cared too little to recognize.
"Here, I thought you would need it." Makoto offered him the can, but he could only offer a glare in return.
"I don't need it." He responded, not even bothering to hide the harshness from his tone anymore, and went back to his pacing, for the last thing he needed right now was to deal with Makoto.
Just seeing him brought bitterness to his mouth, for even though he hadn't been here when his sister needed him the most, someone else had.
Makoto had.
And that fact alone was enough to make him bit his lip so hard it almost drew blood.
The fact that Makoto was no sitting in front of him as he paced around did little to help on his worsening mood.
The only sound that could be heard was the one of his own footsteps, but even then he could feel Makoto's gaze following his every move, something that was only getting on his nerves the more time passed.
Why was he even here still anyway? Didn't he realize that he should just leave him, them alone? His presence wasn't needed and definitely not wanted, so-
"Why are you still here?" His voice, almost like a snarl, came out before he even realized it himself, but somehow Makoto didn't seem the least bit surprised about it.
"I'm worried, so I'm not going to leave." Makoto's firm tome made him falter for a second, for he had never heard such voice coming from him, or seen sucht a determined look on his eyes.
But even so he simply returned such look with a glare of his own, his gloved hand tightening into a fist as he did.
"Do you think my sister needs your concern? She was fine without you, and she will be fine long after you-"
"She's not the only one I'm worried about."
Makoto's message was clear, and his eyes widened in surprise at hearing such a thing, but once more his visage was quick to return to that of a glare, his frustration growing with each second.
"Are you mocking me now, Naegi Makoto?" Did he really believe he would bite on his fake sentimentalism just like that?
"I'm not, Shinguji-kun. I don't think you should be alone right now."
"And what would you know? This has nothing to do with you." Pity was not something he needed right now, especially from an outsider like him.
"Because I know how it feels." Makoto's soft words ended up being the tipping point. He was most definitely not an emotional person, but right now he found himself caring very little for things like that.
So when he planted both of his hands to the side of Makoto's head, it was with nothing but cold rage. He looked down at the still sitting brunette, his eyes boring into Makoto's own.
The fact that he found no lie in those brown orbs did little to sooth his anger.
"Do you, now?" The mocking tone in his voice could not be mistaken for anything else. "Please, enlighten me then, since you seem to know everything, Naegi Makoto…"
It was an open challenge, one that he was more than sure would make Makoto's fake kindness crumble in front of his eyes.
But the change he received was not the one he expected.
He always prided himself in his ability to understand people. From the history of the masses to the minds of the individuals, it was simply something that he had always seek to comprehend to the best of the ability, to the point his affinity towards it was undeniable.
So when he saw Makoto's visage turn into one of almost defeat to the point he almost felt drowned by his eyes alone, it became too much. It was such a haunted look that it felt as if he was looking at someone completely different.
Suffice to say, it came as quite the shock.
"I know how it is…" Makoto started, and for reasons beyond him he found himself hanging of his every word. "The helplessness, of not being able to help my sister when she needed me the most, it was as if I had failed her as a brother…I would have done anything to help, but there was nothing I could do, and that fact just made it all worse."
Each word felt like a punch to his stomach, to the point he actually recoiled back until his back touched the wall behind him, his eyes trembling as he focused on Makoto's sad smile.
Maybe it was because of how tired he was, or maybe because of how emotionally drained he felt, but he almost felt like crumbling right there and there.
In fact, the only reason he didn't was because Makoto was suddenly by his side, using his body to support him.
A few seconds later and they were both sitting on the floor with their backs against the wall, not a sound to be heard between the two.
But even so, one last question appeared in his mind, one that he needed the answer of.
"How did you handle it?" He asked, knowing full well that Makoto would understand.
"I had friends that reminded me of something." Makoto answered with a smile that could only be described a melancholic. "They reminded me that my sister was strong… and so is yours."
He forced himself to look at the front, doing his best to blink away the tears that almost threatened to leave him. Makoto was right for once, that much he couldn't not deny.
His sister was strong; she would make it out of this…
He knew it so.
"I'm telling you that you don't need to pamper me so much!"
"Nonsense, Nee-san. If someone deserved such treatment right now, it is you."
The pout he got in response was enough to make him smile under his mask. He sometimes forgot she was supposed to be the eldest of the two.
"You shouldn't be skipping classes because of me." She whispered after a while. "And what about your work? You told me that the museum-"
"All of that matters little right now, Nee-san." His answer left little room to discussion. "You should only be worrying about getting better, nothing else."
It was the true, in his opinion, for even though the operation has been a success, she was still considered to be in a delicate state.
Not that he wouldn't be doing this even if she wasn't, however, for after that last scare there was no way he was leaving his sister out of sight any time soon.
"I'm sorry." Her sudden apologize came as nothing but a surprise.
"There's nothing for you to apologize about, Nee-san." He clarified quickly, not liking the crestfallen look that had fallen on her. In his opinion, he should be the one apologizing.
"You were probably so scared…" The regret in her voice was palpable. "I'm so sorry, Kiyo-kun."
And so, without doubting it, he hugged her, his hand making circles around her back while her tears soaked his shoulders. No words were exchanged between them, for he knew they didn't need to. The only thing they wanted right now was the comfort of being with one another.
But even so…
"I wasn't alone, Nee-san." He said quietly once her sniffling had stopped. "So you don't have to worry."
The confused look she gave him made him redirect his gaze to the corner of the room, or to be more precise, to the object resting on the table on that side.
They were flowers. Nothing too extravagant, simply an assortment of flowers resting in water, and yet he knew that for his sister, who had never received such thing from anyone but himself, that they had been significant.
Especially considering who had gift it to her.
And judging by the blinding smile that had now appeared on her lips, she understood what he meant perfectly.
"Should I be the one jealous now?" On one hand, he was glad she felt well enough to return to her teasing tone. On the other hand, he could do without such tone too.
Didn't mean that two couldn't play that game, however.
"Maybe you should."
He had to admit, the way her eyes widened in response was a memory he would treasure for eternity.
"I'm so sorry, Shinguji-kun!"
He knew that, at one point, seeing Naegi Makoto pretty much grovel in front of him would have brought him nothing but satisfaction, but right now?
Well, he couldn't deny the smidge of amusement that danced through his eyes at seeing Makoto nervous like that, especially considering just how confident he looked the last time they saw one another.
"I shouldn't have said those things to you." Makoto continued while bowing. "I just wanted to help but I shouldn't have come off so strong and-"
"Why don't you make it up to me then." Sure, he could have told Makoto that there were no hard feelings between them, far from it in fact, but now that would be a missed opportunity, wouldn't it?
"Huh?" Makoto raised his face in obvious confusion, to which he could only nod with a smile.
"I have answered every question you had brought me so far about my work and my knowledge." He explained swiftly. "So I think it is only fair that you return the favor, no? That way, we can be even."
"Uhh…" It was obvious that Makoto was not expecting such a response if the frown of his face was any indication. "What do you want to know?"
"Why don't you start with Hope's Peak Academy?"
"Fascinating…" He whispered for what felt like the tenth time just today, an act that he had become more used to the more Makoto told him every time he visited.
He had always been more than curious about Hope's Peak Academy. A place where the so called Ultimates gathered to prepare for the future, and supposedly guide society to a brighter tomorrow? How could he not be interested in such a thing?
Especially since evidence of Hope's Peak being more than just talk was already more than clear to anyone that paid attention.
So having access to inside information of such treasure of a place, he had no shame in admitting just how giddy he was feeling on the inside.
It was good, however, that he was able to read between lines properly, considering how Makoto liked to share information.
It wasn't like he was trying to deceive him or anything, but he could tell that Makoto was doing his best to…downplay, so to speak, some of the tales that he was regarding him with.
A combination of both modesty and not wanting to make his fellow Ultimates look bad, he had decided, was probably the why of it. Not that it made what he had learned any less valuable.
Not only was he always left yearning for more, but he was also becoming aware of one particular thing that he hadn't even considered before.
One that Makoto probably didn't realize himself, but that was well enough. He doubted Makoto would understand it even if he explained it. He would probably just deny it until kingdom come.
But he wasn't blind, and now, knowing what he did, his desire to see Hope's Peak with his very own eyes only increased with each tale heard from Makoto.
The fact that it would also involve going at the same school as Makoto was just an added bonus.
"Shinguji-kun, this is Koichi-san."
"Yo!"
"…A pleasure." He said, his gaze moving between the two individuals in front of him. Makoto's smile was an apologetic one, which clashed heavily with the blonde man, this Koichi-san's, laxer one.
"I must wonder what this is about, however." He continued with a narrowed gaze. Not that he didn't trust Makoto, but he could tell that the other man's eyes were studying him too intently for him to be a nobody. "Since you really didn't give me many details before calling me over."
"About that, well…" Makoto looked like a combination between embarrassed and excited, which seemingly made Koichi chuckle in what seemed good spirit.
"I'll take this one from here then." The blonde said, earning an earnest nod from Makoto and another sharp look from himself. "So, long story short, we weren't going to approach you just yet, but boy wonder over here just so happened to know you already, so we decided to go ahead with it even if you haven't graduated Middle school just yet.
"…We?" He was more than sure that this man was doing this on purpose, and it was only sheer curiosity that has him playing along.
The way Koichi's smile widened just a fraction was enough to tell him this man was enjoying himself plenty.
"Would you be interested in attending to Hope's Peak Academy?"
I won't deny it, Headmaster. Assisting to this school is a dream come true. I can already see it, whether you know it or not, but these are the beginnings of a new era
And having first-seat watch to see it unveil. It is truly fascinating.
After all, not only I get to see my fellow Ultimates leave their mark in the world, but also get to follow the one person in this world that can command them like an army, even if he doesn't realize it himself…Isn't that a lovely idea, Headmaster?
It seems you yourself had also realized it, yet have done nothing about, hmm? I suppose I'm not the only one that has decided to put his trust into certain Lucky Student…
Ahh, yes, you wanted to know what I think of him, correct?
I almost forgot, but the answer is quite simple actually.
He's my family's good luck charm.
This chapter was meant to come out like, 4 years ago. That says a lot about my update schedule, doesn't it?
But oh well, it is finally here. It was a pain to write, especially since I had to start over twice, and the end result isn't to my like, but here it is. Sorry to all of the Kiyo fans, all 4 of us.
On the bright side, this means I can finally change the poll that I put on my profile. The winner of that thing was pretty much decided a long time ago, but now I can officially close it and put the next one, so yeah go vote for your favorite DR1 character! Only Junko and Makoto won't be there because of reasons.
A good news however. Next chapter won't take years to come. In fact, it will be out in 2 weeks! Hard to believe giving my track record, but it will be there.
Thank you all for your patience and for sticking around this long!
Next Chapter: A Student's Duty is to Study