On my way to class, I heard some people arguing, so I decided to see what was going on.

I was not expecting that. It was Nagito, and he seemed to be in trouble! A guy that was at least a head smaller than him was threatening him.

"How can you say something like that you creep! I'll make you regret it fucking bastard!"

I needed to intervene before it would get too violent. I decided to use my body to separate them but the small guy pushed me away and grabbed Nagito. I used all my strength and my weight to apprehend him. I wasn't expecting it to work but before he could realise, I was sitting upon him and holding his wrists against the floor as tightly as possible. His face was all red and his eyes were full of rage. I wouldn't have been able to hold him for long.

Fortunately, a teacher arrived a second after, probably alerted by all this noise. He ordered us to stop everything and to follow him to the headmaster's office.

We entered the office after the teacher was done telling the headmaster about what he had just witnessed. I sat between Nagito and the other guy. The headmaster was facing us and seemed quite annoyed by this situation. I truly hoped we were not in trouble. Nagito didn't seem to be really affected by all of this even though he had a huge scratch on his face that I hadn't noticed earlier. The other guy still seemed full of rage.

The headmaster asked:

"Can I have an explanation for what I heard just happened? Violence isn't tolerated in this institution. You better tell the truth and explain yourself clearly if you don't want to be expelled right away. I hope this is a misunderstanding."

I stayed silent. I didn't know why they were arguing so I wanted to let the others explain. No one spoke.

"You in the middle. Speak before I lose patience."

"Hmm… Sorry Mr Kirigiri I don't know how all of this started. I just wanted to help… I might not have been aware of my strength…"

"Alright. Komaeda, what have you done again?"

The other guy replied before Nagito could even open his mouth.

"He said something he shouldn't have said! He's a freak! I wouldn't be surprised if he was implicated in my sister's death!"

His sister's death? I heard about that. A girl from the reserve course was killed a few days ago. I didn't know she had a brother studying here. I did notice Nagito seemed worried because of this event. I didn't think he knew the victim or her relatives. What did he say to this guy?

"Please calm down Mr Kuzuryu and let Mr Komaeda speak.

I really didn't mean to upset Fuyuhiko. I was scared he would lose hope because of the recent events. I'm genuinely sorry, I only meant to help. I should have known that trash like me could only come up with something stupid."

He seemed more affected by what Fuyuhiko was going through than what might happen to us.

The headmaster tried to be comprehensive of the situation, even appearing to be a bit relieved. He finally told us what he had decided would happen to us:

"You in the middle, what is your name? I usually know all of my students, but I can't put a name on your face."

"M-my name is Ushi Komugiko."

"Oh Komugiko! I've heard you were good at solving conflicts peacefully. Tell me what you think of the situation."

"I guess we lost control of the situation since we are all affected by what happened to Miss Kuzuryu even though it doesn't excuse any act of violence. But I believe Nagito didn't mean any harm… and he might have misunderstood the way Fuyuhiko copes with grief… conflicts are always misunderstandings. I can make sure Nagito and Fuyuhiko get along."

"That's never going to happen! He's a freak!"

Fuyuhiko was looking at me with as much rage as before, then turned his head to the other side and crossed his arms.

"Well, maybe I can find a way to make them at least tolerate each other. And it won't be as bad as they might think…"

"I have no problem with Fuyuhiko! And I don't mind if he hates me. But I would be truly afflicted if anything would happen to two symbols of hope because of me. So please Mr Kirigiri, punish me, not the others, it's all my fault!"

"Fine. This time only, I'll let you off. All of you. But I don't want more tragedies or violence in my academy! You better lay low. Especially you Mr Komaeda! I want to believe you can do something good. You are an ultimate after all. Not everyone deserves this title."

Before Nagito could say something self-deprecating, I said:

"Thank you very much Mr Kirigiri! You won't regret your decision. I'll personally keep an eye on Nagito. You can trust me."

"You may leave now."

Mr Kirigiri is a reasonable man. So I guess if this conflict stops there, we will be fine and I won't have to use my talents again. A troublemaker like Nagito is very lucky to have me around. I'm sure I can get him out of any situation. Maybe that is why he chose me. No other reason.

Fuyuhiko disappeared in less than an instant. I'm pretty sure he was still mad. I don't think it relieved any tension. Well, I believe it was his way to express his grief. Hopefully he won't seek revenge. I have the feeling he is more reasonable than what he wants us to believe so I guess we should be fine. We started walking in the direction of the classrooms.

"From all the people you could have irritated, you chose a Yakuza."

Nagito seemed concerned for once.

"I'm sorry… I never meant to drag you into this. I attract all the troubles and always drag people around me into it…"

"Don't worry. I decided to take part in it. I knew the risks."

I think he felt ashamed of himself. Maybe he believed I was disappointed by him.

"Anyway, what did you say that would upset him that much?"

"I just noticed that he was really affected by what happened to his sister. I was scared he would lose hope. An ultimate cannot afford to lose hope. They are the embodiment of hope. I told him to try to find the silver linings! That hope always rises from despair! And that is when he went mad..."

That was reckless indeed. Did he even realise that you need a lot of tact and choose your words very carefully when you talk to someone who recently lost a relative? Or simply whenever you speak to a Yakuza!

"I suppose your words were… definitely inappropriate. It is sometimes better to not say anything if you are not sure your words won't affect the person you are talking to in a negative way. Everyone copes with grief differently. You should have known someone like Fuyuhiko would express his grief with anger. Because he is a Yakuza and you are not naïve! It's not because you cling onto hope that everybody does. I know you only meant well. But you would attract less trouble if you were less reckless. I don't like when you get in trouble, you know?"

"Thank you for what you have done. Actually, if you didn't intervene, things would have probably gone wrong and maybe Fuyuhiko would have been expelled or worse. I hope Fuyuhiko is thankful for that. This is exactly what I was expecting to see in Hope's Peak Academy: ultimates working together to create the brightest hope… I need to make sure I see that again… With you around I'm sure I will. But do I deserve it?

…

Good-bye now. I shouldn't return to class since I doubt Fuyuhiko is ready to face me again."

After waving at me with a quite satisfied smile, he went in the opposite direction. Is Fuyuhiko in his class? That might be a problem. But I could tell that Nagito listened to me. But I'm not sure he understood. I'm worried about him. In the end, I don't know much about him. He is trouble for sure. But I feel like I can't let him down. Maybe I should investigate. Learning about him will help me understand him and help him. I'm sure there is something I need to know that will make a difference.

Recent events… they seemed to have triggered something in him. I don't know why he is getting involved in something that has nothing to do with him. Even if Natsumi Kuzuryu was a Yakuza, she didn't deserve what happened, and when a tragic incident occurs, it always leads to another… I really don't want anything to happen to Nagito, that is why I need to make sure he doesn't get involved anymore.