After returning to her room, Kyoko's head spun uncontrollably as she tried to process everything that had just happened.
She had kissed him. She had kissed him. That hadn't been part of the plan. She hadn't meant to go that far, but as she saw Makoto doing his best to comfort her, and as she felt Makoto's hands glide around her waist, Kyoko couldn't stop herself. She had pressed her lips against Makoto's before she had realized what she had been doing.
A voice in the back of Kyoko's mind screamed that she had made a terrible mistake. How could she have opened herself up so recklessly? She had even cried, right in front of Makoto. To show such vulnerability was unbecoming of a Kirigiri detective. How had it come to this? What was happening to her?
You don't have to be afraid to take your mask off around me.
Those words echoed in Kyoko's head. She took a deep breath. Makoto was right. Kyoko didn't need to guard her emotions around him. She trusted Makoto. She had nothing to hide from him. Makoto was…
Kyoko wasn't sure. Not exactly. It was undeniable that her feelings for him were strong, but how strong? What is Makoto to me? My best friend? Family? Do I…?
When they had kissed, it had felt… powerful. Surprisingly so. It had been a sensation that Kyoko had never expected to feel. She didn't know if it was love yet, but the attraction was certainly there. Maybe in time…
Would such a relationship even work between them? Makoto's foolish openness was the polar opposite of Kyoko's iron mask, and the opposites attract trope was not a realistic one. Why was Makoto even interested in her? What was it about Kyoko that Makoto liked? When had Kyoko ever been a good friend to him? Even before that trial, Kyoko had treated Makoto so horribly.
Telling him about the secret room, but not warning him about the danger.
Then coldly brushing off the attack, because he was 'a boy' and could 'handle it.'
Throwing a tantrum over his choice to keep Sakura's secret.
Calling him arrogant.
Accusing him of not trusting her, despite giving him every reason not to.
Bossing him around constantly, never explaining anything.
Was this really the kind of person Makoto…?
Stop it, Kyoko scolded herself. You've already apologized for this. You know that you never asked Makoto for help the right way, and you know better now. Don't keep doing this to yourself.
Still, Kyoko didn't understand. It was kind of ironic. As much of an open book as Makoto was, this was one mystery Kyoko couldn't solve. Makoto did cherish her, that much was clear, but why? Did Makoto even know the answer himself?
Kyoko supposed she would have to interrogate Makoto later. She got ready for bed.
As she laid down, she felt anxious, yet hopeful. Was that contradictory? Maybe, but that was the only way Kyoko could describe it. Her lingering regrets still haunted her, yet she was happy that she and Makoto were working things out. Kyoko realized that she did want this. She wanted a chance to be something more with Makoto.
After all, there was no telling how much time they had.
It took a while, but Kyoko drifted to sleep.
In the mess hall, Makoto gave Hina a wide smile and a bubbly greeting. "Good morning, Hina-chan! How are you today?"
Hina smiled back, but titled her head in confusion. "Oh, I'm good. You seem to be doing better than expected."
Oh, crap. I can't let anyone know. I promised. Makoto gave a nervous laugh. "Heh, guess I'm just happy to be alive." I have no idea what that's supposed to mean, but we're going with that.
Hina smirked. "So you're over Kyoko-chan, then?"
"Y-yeah!" Makoto said. "So over it! Can't live my whole life with a broken heart, you know."
Hina hummed in suspicion. "I don't know. Can I really believe you got over her so quickly…?"
"O-of course!" Makoto insisted. "Nothing suspicious about it! You know me! Moving forward is all I'm good at!"
"I guess that's true," Hina said. Suddenly, she clenched her teeth and raised a fist in the air. "Well I'm not over it! You and Kirigiri belong together, damn it!"
Makoto raised his hands in genuine shock. "Whoa, Hina. Umm, you really don't have to be angry on my behalf."
"I…" Hina sighed. "I just want you and Kyoko-chan to be happy. If she really doesn't feel that way, I guess it can't be helped, but if she's holding herself back for some stupid reason, I can't accept that!"
Hina… Makoto was touched by her friendship. He gave her a reassuring smile. "Kyoko and I are happy. Don't worry."
After a pause, Hina raised an eyebrow. "'Kyoko?'"
… shit. "K-Kiri, of course," Makoto corrected. "Don't know why that slipped out."
Hina frowned. "Yeah, I'm sure you wish you could call her that."
Oof…
Hiro and Toko arrived for breakfast next. Hiro waved at Makoto. "Hey, man. You doing okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Makoto said, trying to sound more sad.
Hiro laughed. "See? A handsome young man like you has nothing to worry about! And maybe it's for the best. If my prediction about us was right, then I would have ended up with –"
"So, Fukawa-san!" Makoto loudly interjected. "How are you this morning?!"
Toko smiled cruelly. "Oh, just enjoying the pain of a reject."
Makoto winced. That was mean, even for her. Joke's on you, though. We're, umm, something now! I'm not sure what exactly, but it's something! More than friends, less than lovers, I guess?
"Hey, be nice!" Hina shouted.
"I guess misery loves company," Hiro jabbed.
Toko grunted. "Wh-what are you implying?! The love between Master and me is stronger than ever! You shut your mouth!"
Hina groaned. "All this time, and you still haven't accepted reality."
Toko slammed her hands against the table. "What would a donut-guzzling strumpet like you know?! Any more of this slander and I'll…"
Everyone fell silent as they heard the familiar clack of Kyoko's boots. Kyoko wordlessly got her breakfast and joined them at the table. Kyoko made eye contact with no one, and the deafening silence continued for some time until Kyoko finally broke the ice.
"Naegi-kun," Kyoko said. "I apologize for my behavior yesterday. I should have let you down more gently. I hope there are no hard feelings between us."
Makoto gasped. Wait, what? But she didn't reject me! I thought we were...
Oh, right. I'm an idiot. She's acting. I need to play along. Makoto cleared his throat. "It… it's fine, Kiri. I just hope I didn't make things awkward."
"Not at all," Kyoko said. "I still want to be friends with you, if that's okay."
Makoto gave her a genuine smile. "Of course. I don't want to ruin that." Even when you had turned me down, that's the truth.
Kyoko chuckled. "You handle rejection well, Naegi-kun. I truly am sorry that I don't share romantic feelings for you. I'm afraid I cannot explain why, but if you'll allow me to say a cliché, I promise that it's not you; it's me."
Makoto kept smiling. You're enjoying this, aren't you?
Kyoko turned her attention to Hina. "I must apologize to you, as well. I regret that our conversation became so heated. I may have overreacted a little."
Hina whimpered. "Oh, umm, it's okay. I guess I got carried away myself."
Hiro smiled brightly. "Ah, it's so nice to put all the bad blood behind us! We're all friends here, aren't we?"
Kyoko returned the smile. "We are."
Makoto sighed happily, but then he realized something. "Hey, where's…?"
As if on cue, Byakuya entered the mess hall. Bandages were wrapped around his nose. Makoto gasped at the sight. "T-Togami! What happened?"
Byakuya laughed sardonically. "Oh, I tripped."
Makoto blinked. "Tripped?" He looked at Kyoko, who slumped back in her seat with her eyes closed and her arms folded. "Kiri, do you know any -"
"He tripped," Kyoko said.
"What do you mean 'he tripped?!'" Hiro exclaimed. "The whole ship's talking about it! Kirigiri totally decked him!"
"You what?!" Makoto shouted. "What the hell happened?!"
"We just had a talk," Byakuya said.
Makoto titled his head. "A talk? What kind of talk?"
Kyoko smiled. "Don't worry. It was a good talk."
The rest of breakfast passed without any further explanation. The others parted ways and headed to work. Makoto and Kyoko were left at the table alone.
Makoto shot Kyoko a hopeful look. "So, umm, do you wanna 'hang out' sometime?"
Kyoko frowned. "I can't today."
Makoto whimpered sadly. "Oh."
"Don't take this the wrong way," Kyoko said quickly. "I'm not avoiding you, but something really has come up. I don't believe I'll have any free time today."
Makoto smiled, feeling reassured. After all the acting, it was starting to feel like last night had been nothing more than a dream. "Ah, okay. I understand."
Kyoko snuck him an apologetic smile. "I will make time for you, as soon as I can. Just be a little patient with me. I'll see you later…" She stepped close and whispered into his ear. "… Makoto."
As Kyoko walked away, Makoto shivered. This woman was going to be the death of him.
Makoto took a deep breath and pressed his hands into his cheeks. As much as he would have loved to stand around daydreaming about Kyoko, he had to get to work. People were counting on him, after all.
Makoto got moving.
The Operations Center was buzzing with activity as always. The room was lined with several rows of workstations, overlooked by a massive central screen. Dozens of personnel sat at their stations, and Makoto sat at his, on call with a survivor from a recent attack.
Makoto looked at her through his screen. She was a woman with long black hair and brown eyes. She looked to be in her late-thirties. She wore a white-blouse covered in dust, dirt, and blood. Her whole body trembled as tears dripped down her eyes. She could barely get words out through her sobs.
"Th-they killed them," she croaked. "My love. Our kids. They k-killed them all. R-right in front of me. I c-couldn't…"
Makoto held back a grimace. No matter how many times he did this, it never got easier. Makoto spoke to the survivor through his headset. "I'm so sorry," he said sadly. "I know you might feel like giving up after losing them, but I'm sure they wouldn't want that. As long as you're still alive, they would want you to keep going."
If anything, the repetition only made this more difficult. Makoto felt like he was just feeding everyone the same cookie-cutter lines as always. Could he truly console people he didn't even know? Did his platitudes about hope and not giving up mean anything to them? How much more death could Makoto witness before he became desensitized to it all?
The woman laughed derisively. "They always say that in shows. 'Live on for them.' What a worn-out trope."
Makoto again had to suppress his anxiety. The woman had said exactly what he had been thinking. "I… I know," Makoto admitted. "But it's the truth. If they loved you, they wouldn't want you to give up."
The woman sniffled. "Right now, I have another trope on my mind. Revenge."
Sweat dripped down Makoto's brow. "H-hey, I know I said not to give up, but don't do anything rash."
The woman clenched her fists. "Then, will you do it? Can you promise me that the Future Foundation will kill every last one of these terrorists?"
Makoto paused.
Kill them? All of them?
But was that really their only option? What if there was another way? Even if they were terrorists, was wholesale slaughter really the right mindset for the Future Foundation? If they were the good guys, they should always look for a peaceful solution, right?
Makoto took a deep breath. "I promise you that the Future Foundation will stop them."
After a long pause, the woman gnawed her teeth. "Stop them? I didn't ask you to stop them. I asked you to kill them."
Makoto whimpered. "I… understand how you feel, but –"
"'But?!' What do you mean 'but?!' Are telling me that you want to defend these monsters?!"
Makoto could no longer hold back his grimace. "I didn't say that. It's just… I don't think revenge is the answer. Shouldn't we want to find a diplomatic answer if at all possible? Most of them probably felt like they had no choice, so -"
"Fuck that!" the woman screamed. "They murdered my family in cold blood! They deserve the same treatment! All of them!"
Even though the headphones, the woman's outburst turned several heads in the Operations Center. Makoto felt crushed by the pressure of both the survivor on the line and his peers surrounding him.
"I… I know," Makoto said. "But that's why I want to understand them. I want to know what drove them to this madness. If we can't figure that out, who's to say this won't happen all over ag –"
"There's nothing to understand!" the woman shrieked. "The only good Remnant is a dead Remnant! And if you don't agree with that, you must be one of them!"
Makoto gasped. "N-no! I'm not on their side! I swear! I'll always be on the side of hope!"
The woman thrust an accusatory finger at him. "How can we be so sure?! Maybe the real reason why you survived the Killing Game is because you were an Ultimate Despair all along! If you would dare speak of mercy for the Remnants, that's the only explanation!"
"That's not true!" Makoto pleaded. "Please, listen to me! I'm not –"
"That's enough! I'm done talking to you!"
The line went dead.
Digging his hands into his hair, Makoto collapsed onto his keyboard. "Damn it," he muttered. Needless to say, that call had been a colossal failure. That woman had been counting on Makoto Naegi, the Ultimate Hope, to keep her going after her family's death. Instead, Makoto had done nothing but make her angry, convincing her that the so-called hero of Hope's Peak was a sham. No, worse, an enemy. How could Makoto have screwed it up that badly? Was he really cut out for this? Maybe he should just…
Makoto felt a hand rest against his shoulder. He looked up and saw Kyoko staring back at him, full of determination.
"Kiri…"
"Don't let it get to you," Kyoko said. "You did nothing wrong. That woman was driven mad with grief. You can't be blamed for that."
Makoto frowned. "But I was supposed to inspire her. That's my job."
"You're only human," Kyoko said. "Not everyone's going to listen to what you say. You're always telling everyone not to give up, so let me do the same for you. Don't give up, Naegi."
In his heart, Makoto knew that Kyoko was right. He was glad to have Kyoko's support. He smiled. "Thanks, Kiri."
Kyoko returned a subtle smile. "Whenever you're in doubt, I'll remind you who you are. As much as it takes."
While they had their moment, another voice chimed in. "Oh, dear. That looked like a rough one, Naegi-kun."
Makoto's heart skipped a beat. The Fourteenth Division Head herself approached them. Natsuki Nakazawa. She was a slender and tall woman with a bob cut of brown hair and pink eyes. She looked around forty-years old and wore a navy-blue suit. She gave Makoto a kind smile.
And by Nakazawa's side was her second-in-command, Yuri Yasui. She was lean and of average height. She had long blonde hair and a purple eye. Her left eye was missing, covered by a gray band, and a vertical scar running through her lost eye was visible. She looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties. She wore black body armor over gray military fatigues, and she had a pistol holstered on her left hip. She looked at Makoto with a stoic expression.
For just a moment – and only a moment – Makoto noticed Kyoko's eyes widen at the sight of Nakazawa.
Makoto bowed. "N-Nakazawa-sama, I apologize for my poor performance."
Nakazawa kept giving him a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Naegi-kun. I have no issue with how you handled it."
"Really?" Makoto asked. "How much did you hear?"
"Enough," Nakazawa said. "Hoping for a peaceful resolution to this conflict, I expected nothing less from you, Makoto Naegi."
"So, do you agree?" Makoto asked. "Should we look for a way to save the Remnants from despair, if we can?"
Yasui sighed. "Naturally. Nakazawa-sama is the Ultimate Diplomat, remember?"
Nakazawa gave an embarrassed laugh. "I would rather not bring my title into it, but yes. I believe Naegi-kun's concerns are well-founded. Just because the Remnants are our enemies doesn't mean we should be consumed by revenge. Negotiation is always preferable to violence."
"Oh, uh, thank you," Makoto said. "I'm glad you see it that way."
Yasui folded her arms. "Not that it's a realistic expectation. The crimes the Remnants have committed are beyond unforgivable."
"I can't say I feel sorry for them myself," Kyoko said. "However, I agree with one thing that Naegi-kun said; we need to understand them. Within a matter of weeks, millions of rioters terrorized the entire world. How is that even possible? There has to be an explanation for how The Tragedy came to be. If we can't learn from it, we are doomed to repeat it."
"Exactly!" Makoto said. "We should at least solve this mystery before we sentence them to death!"
"And then what?" Yasui asked. "Are we to pardon the worst terrorists in history because Enoshima had 'manipulated' them somehow?"
"I didn't say we should forgive them," Makoto protested. "I'm just saying we shouldn't rush things."
Yasui closed her eye. "Well, it's not my call to make. No matter what I think, I will follow the will of Nakazawa-sama."
Nakazawa laughed. "You flatter me, Yasui-kun, but I always value your opinion."
Kyoko rested her chin on her hand. "Yasui-san, may I ask you a question?"
"You may ask," Yasui said.
Kyoko looked at her intensely. "Do you trust Nakazawa-sama?"
Yasui gave a wry smile. "Can you expect me to give an honest answer when the woman is standing right there?"
"We may take this conversation elsewhere if you wish," Kyoko said.
Yasui shook her head. "No, my answer won't change. Even if I don't always agree with her way of thinking, I trust her. She's served the Foundation well since the beginning. I know she's on our side."
Makoto shot Kyoko a quizzical look. "What makes you ask, Kiri?"
Kyoko crossed her arms. "I'm simply wondering if Nakazawa-sama is someone we can put our faith in. Our lives are in her hands, after all."
"Ah, yes," Nakazawa said. "I'm aware of your skeptical nature, Kirigiri-kun. I will do my best to earn your trust."
Yasui raised an eyebrow. "Do you doubt Nakazawa-sama?"
Kyoko looked back unflinchingly. "It's as she said. I'm skeptical by nature. I don't have any particular reason to suspect her, other than limited evidence to the contrary."
Although Makoto hadn't interacted with Nakazawa much personally, he had a decent impression of the Division Head. Nakazawa struck Makoto as a kindhearted and reasonable person, but now Makoto wondered if there was a deeper meaning behind Kyoko's words. Was there a reason Makoto needed to be suspicious of Nakazawa? As Kyoko had said, their lives were in Nakazawa's hands. Her orders could determine whether they lived or died.
Unfortunately, Makoto knew that they couldn't take up too much of the Division Head's time. It wasn't like they could hold a trust-building exercise right there.
Then again, it never hurt to ask! Makoto decided to try a question. "Hey, Nakazawa-sama. Would you mind telling me why you decided to join the Future Foundation?"
A small laugh escaped Nakazawa's lips. "Aside from the obvious? Well, like everyone, I lost a lot of friends and family to The Tragedy. For everyone who has died, I can't let this bloodshed continue, but despite everything, I hope we can find a way to cure those infected with despair rather than destroying them. Violence is a disease, and you don't cure a disease by spreading it to more people. As a Division Head, it is my duty to spread hope to everyone, even our enemies."
Makoto smiled. "We really are alike, then."
Kyoko hummed. "Do you have any family left, Nakazawa-sama?"
"You're asking if there's anything to hold hostage against me," Nakazawa stated matter-of-factly. "I'm afraid that I lost all my close relatives during The Tragedy, always a plus when selecting Division Heads."
Makoto was taken aback by how casually Nakazawa had said that. Is she okay?
Yasui groaned. "Nakazawa-sama, do you plan to stand around chatting all day?"
"Heh, apologies," Nakazawa said. "I didn't want to waste this opportunity to speak with the hero of Hope's Peak. Naegi-kun, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask. My door is always open for you."
"Uh, yeah," Makoto said. "I'll hold you to that."
Nakazawa and Yasui went back to their business. Makoto turned to face Kyoko, who stared blankly into space. "She seems nice," Makoto said.
Kyoko didn't react; she appeared lost in thought.
"Hey, Kiri?"
"Oh, yes," Kyoko suddenly said. "Seems nice, indeed."
Makoto's head cocked to the side. "Something wrong, Kiri?"
Kyoko shook her head. "No, nothing. I need to return to my station. You should too."
Kyoko walked away, but Makoto wasn't convinced. Sure, Kyoko may have been 'skeptical by nature,' but this felt like more than that. Why was Kyoko acting so strangely? Could Makoto really believe that it was just because Nakazawa was their boss? Something felt off. Makoto would have to press harder.
Makoto waited until their shifts were over. He caught Kyoko trying to make a quick exit through the halls. He ran up to her. "Kiri! Wait!"
Kyoko didn't stop, so Makoto dashed in front of her. "Hey, talk to me!"
Kyoko finally halted, grunting irritably. "I told you; I don't have time today."
"It's not that," Makoto said. He spoke quietly. "Kiri, are you hiding something? About her?"
"What gives you that idea?" Kyoko sharply questioned.
"Don't play dumb!" Makoto exclaimed. "I saw your shocked expression when she approached us, and then you spaced out when she left. What's going on?"
"You're reading far too much into it," Kyoko argued.
Makoto shook his head. "If it were anyone else, maybe, but not from you. I know you. Even the slightest reaction means something." When Kyoko didn't answer, Makoto continued. "You said that you don't have any special reason to suspect her, but that was a lie, wasn't it? You know something."
Kyoko met his gaze with an icy glare. "Naegi, drop it."
Drop it? Drop it?! Makoto's teeth clenched. He wasn't that interested in the secret, but why wouldn't Kyoko tell him?
Just like that time…
"Kiri," Makoto hissed, "I thought you said that keeping secrets means we don't trust each other, so why aren't you trusting me?"
Kyoko cringed. "I… I do trust you. More than anyone."
Makoto winced. His anger immediately deflated. "S-sorry, I didn't mean –"
"No," Kyoko said. "You have every right to be angry. I know how hypocritical it is of me to withhold information from you."
Makoto felt so dirty for snapping at her. Way to gaslight the woman you love, Makoto. He sighed. "It's okay. If you can't tell me, I'm sure you must have a good reason."
"I…" Kyoko held a hand to her chin as she trailed off. "We shouldn't talk about it, not here, but –"
"Hey! If it isn't Hope Boy!"
Makoto silently cursed his rotten luck as a man approached them in the hallway. Makoto recognized him. The Thirteenth Division Head, Aoi Eguchi. He was a tall man of average weight. He was around fifty years old. Short white hair and a beard framed his face. He wore glasses over his green eyes, and he wore an orange suit over a black dress shirt. He gave Makoto a jolly smile.
Along with Eguchi was his direct report, Akihiro Nagata. He was also around fifty years old. He had a large and round frame with a thick potbelly, and his hands beared dark scorch marks not unlike Kyoko's. He had medium-length dark blond hair, a full beard, and brown eyes. He wore a black suit over a white dress shirt, the standard Future Foundation uniform. He stared blankly with his hands by his sides.
Hina was also with them. She smiled and waved.
Makoto bowed. "Eguchi-sama."
Eguchi laughed heartily. "No need to act so formal! You can drop the 'sama.' Just Eguchi is fine."
"Do you need something?" Makoto asked.
Eguchi waved his hand dismissively. "No, no. Just passing through, but I did hear you had a rough day."
Makoto looked away in embarrassment. "Word travels fast."
Meanwhile, Kyoko stepped away. "We'll talk later, Naegi."
"Oh, uh, okay," Makoto said.
As Kyoko left, Hina shot Makoto a sly grin. "Hey, did we, like, interrupt something?"
"N-no," Makoto said. "It's not like we're dating or anything, haha."
Hina eyed him suspiciously. "I swear, there's something fishy between you two."
Makoto internally sighed. Man, I'm really not good at this secret stuff. How does Kyoko hide her emotions so well?
Not that it was a total lie. They hadn't even been on an official date yet. Makoto hoped they would rectify that soon.
"But, anyway," Hina said, "are you alright, Naegi? I heard about it, too. People are saying we can't trust you anymore. That's so messed up! You're the one who convinced us to defeat Enoshima for crying out loud! How could you ever turn to despair?!"
Makoto frowned. "It's really that bad, huh?"
Nagata grinned. "Can you blame them, though? Most of civilization has collapsed because of Enoshima's followers. Billions are dead, and Naegi comes along and suggests we just need to be 'nice' to them. It's only natural to suspect he might not have our best interests in his heart."
Makoto groaned. "You make it sound like I'm some kind of spineless coward. I know we have to fight to survive. I'm just saying we might not be able to solve this by eradicating every last Remnant. Do you even think that's possible? For every one we kill, more take their place. Isn't that, like, common sense?"
Eguchi gave another emphatic laugh. "Yes, you speak of the cycle of retaliation. 'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.' Everybody knows that!"
"We've all heard it," Nagata said, still grinning. "That doesn't mean we all agree with it."
"How can you not at this point?!" Makoto asked. "Revenge played a huge part in The Tragedy! Killings always led to more killings! For every betrayal, a retaliation soon followed! It was the most devastating, most awful domino effect the world had ever seen! The Tragedy will never end until we find a way to stop fighting!"
A short laugh escaped Nagata's lips. "There was another factor, you know. Distrust." He smirked strangely at Makoto. "Can we really trust you, Naegi?"
"Of course we can!" Hina exclaimed. "I just explained it to you! It's thanks to him that Enoshima is dead! And that was a massive turning point in this war!"
"You never know," Nagata said. "It could all be part of the plan."
"And do you have evidence for that?!" Hina demanded.
Nagata shrugged. "No, just thinking out loud. Don't read too much into it."
Eguchi nodded while humming thoughtfully. "Yes, yes, trust is essential. We'd all go mad if there wasn't someone we could trust. I, for one, am grateful that I have companions I can put my faith in." He pat Nagata on the shoulder. "Nagata and I go way back, and he even saved my life during The Tragedy. There's no one I'd rather have at my side."
Hina's eyes sparked with interest. "Oh, you never told me that. How did he save you?"
Folding his arms, Eguchi grinned. "As you may know, I was the Ultimate Show Host. I was in the middle of a performance when our studio suddenly trembled. There had been an explosion. The whole building was on the verge of collapsing. We all ran as fast as we could, but just before I reached the exit, a flaming pile of rubble fell on top of me, pinning me to the floor.
"I thought I was a goner, but that's when my faithful security guard, Nagata, showed up. He pulled the debris off of me, not caring how badly his hands got burned, and he carried me outside. We narrowly escaped as a thick cloud of dust blew around us. When it calmed down, we were exhausted. We stopped to catch our breath, and then…"
With a wink, Eguchi jabbed Nagata's elbow. "Well, why don't you tell them what happened next?"
Blushing, Nagata shook his head. "Please, it's embarrassing."
Eguchi laughed. "Okay, fine! We'll leave it at that!"
Hina examined Nagata's hands. "So that's how it happened. Kirigiri has a similar injury. I wonder if she was also saving someone."
It was certainly a possibility that had crossed Makoto's mind, but he really had no idea. In any case, he doubted that Kyoko's story had a happy ending like Nagata's.
"Anyway," Eguchi said. "Naegi, I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that you shouldn't worry so much about what everyone thinks, because they don't know you. Your friends like Hina here are the ones who do. They're the ones you can rely on."
Hina smiled and nodded. "No matter what anyone says, we have your back!"
Makoto gave a small laugh. "I know that. Still, I don't want to let anyone down."
"For what it's worth," Eguchi said, "I have faith in you. I cannot deny your strength after watching the Killing Game. Even if it was to save your own life, you made sure that Enoshima was brought to justice. It's that kind of determination that the Foundation needs. People like you are how we survive."
Makoto smiled. "I appreciate that, really."
Eguchi began to walk away. "Well, it was nice chatting with you. See you around."
Hina waved. "Later, Naegi!"
"Farewell," Nagata said.
Makoto waved goodbye as the three of them left. Eguchi was certainly an energetic fellow. Makoto appreciated his kind words, and Eguchi always seemed to treat Hina well at the Thirteenth Division. Makoto had a good feeling about him.
As for Nagata, Makoto wasn't sure what to make of him, to be honest. Makoto couldn't blame Nagata for having doubts, as many others did, but Nagata's attitude seemed a little… Makoto didn't know the word. Like, it was as if Nagata was enjoying himself too much? Although Nagata had expressed his doubts about Makoto's trustworthiness, he had appeared almost amused by the idea that Makoto would turn on them. Wasn't that weird?
Although, if the story Eguchi had told them was true, maybe there was more to Nagata under the surface. Like Eguchi had said, Makoto didn't really know these people, and likewise, they didn't really know him. Perhaps it was too soon to judge them.
Makoto's phone vibrated. A text message. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement when he saw Kyoko's caller ID.
Kirigiri: Meet me in my room when you're free.
You: Oh? I thought you were busy today.
Kirigiri: Don't get too excited. This is business, not pleasure.
You: Okay, okay. I'll be right there.
Makoto supposed that Kyoko wanted to continue their discussion. He started moving towards the Officer Quarters.
As he got closer, he felt a sense of anticipation. Kyoko had said not to get too excited, but Makoto was always happy to see Kyoko. Even if it was purely for business, he always enjoyed working with her.
Makoto reached Kyoko's door. Like all doors in the Officer Quarters, there was a console to its side. Makoto moved his eye towards it, and a laser scanned his retina. Makoto heard the bell ring inside Kyoko's room.
Ding, dong!
"Bell rung by: Makoto Naegi."
In just a few moments, Kyoko opened the door. Looking at him blankly, she silently gestured for Makoto to come inside. Makoto stepped into the room, and Kyoko closed the door. Once shut, the door locked automatically.
Makoto spoke first. "So, uh, what did you want me for?"
Kyoko was silent for a while longer, then she finally answered. "Makoto, before I say anything further, you need to promise me something."
"That does sound serious," Makoto said. "What is it?"
"Two things," Kyoko clarified. "One, this secret stays between us."
"Not a problem." We're already keeping the one, after all.
"Two, you must not do anything reckless with this information, no matter what."
Makoto blinked. "Nothing reckless? That's a little hard to promise when I don't know what it is."
Kyoko glared at him. "If that's the case, I can't tell you."
Makoto recoiled as if he had been punched in the gut. "W-wait! Okay, I promise! I won't do anything rash! I swear!"
Kyoko sighed. "Very well. You… deserve to know about this. It concerns you on a highly personal level."
Makoto cocked his head to the side. "Something personal?"
After another pause, Kyoko spoke quietly. "It's about your family."
Makoto's chest tightened. "My family? Did they find something? Do we know where my parents are? Where Komaru is?"
Kyoko shook her head. "Nothing of the sort, unfortunately. A couple days ago, the Future Foundation managed to secure your family's former residence from Remnant forces. The investigation hasn't turned up any leads on your family's location. However, there's no sign that they had been killed, so at least there's still hope that they're alive somewhere."
Makoto breathed a sigh of relief. "Yeah, there's still hope." He shot Kyoko a serious look. "But there's more, isn't there?"
"Indeed," Kyoko said. "Although no clues pointing to your family were found, the Foundation did uncover decisive evidence regarding the identities of the kidnappers. Surveillance footage from your home's security system was recovered, and it clearly shows the face of a certain someone."
Makoto's stomach sank. It wasn't difficult to put the pieces together. "Don't tell me… Nakazawa…?"
Kyoko nodded solemnly. "I'm afraid so. Nakazawa-sama was among the people who abducted your family."
Makoto swallowed. Their own boss… he could hardly believe it. "But, how? How did the Future Foundation not realize that a Division Head is with the Remnants?"
"Well, that's the question," Kyoko said. "Is Nakazawa-sama still in contact with the Remnants? Or has she cut ties with them since then? That's what I've been tasked with investigating. Has she been leaking intelligence? Has she been sabotaging us behind our backs? If so, we need to find out."
Makoto held his chin. "I take it that's why she hadn't been arrested already?"
"That's part of it," Kyoko said. "There's also the fact that this will inevitably be a public relations disaster for the Foundation. The head of the PR division herself found guilty of treason, the First Division is trying to figure out the best way to soften the blow."
Makoto hummed. "Yeah, I can imagine." He met Kyoko's eyes. "So, have you found anything?"
"Haven't had much time yet," Kyoko said, "but so far, nothing. I've found no evidence that Nakazawa-sama ever communicated with the Remnants. Although, I do have a suspicion as to her motive."
"What's that?" Makoto asked.
"Her family," Kyoko explained. "As Nakazawa-sama said, all her close relatives died during The Tragedy. I suspect that Enoshima's forces were holding them hostage. And if they're dead, this implies that Nakazawa-sama ultimately defied Enoshima."
"Ah, so you were investigating her back there. Solid detective work as always, Kyoko."
Kyoko smiled. "Hmph, no need to flatter me for such a trivial deduction."
"Can't help it," Makoto said sweetly. "You're too amazing for me not to admire."
Kyoko's cheeks turned just a little pink. "Well, I don't mind when you compliment me…"
As nice as that moment was, Makoto frowned as he turned his thoughts back to Nakazawa. "Although, if what you said is true, I feel bad for Nakazawa-sama. I can't blame her if her own family was at risk, and if she couldn't obey Enoshima's orders anymore…"
Kyoko sighed. "I knew you'd say that. However, there is another possibility."
"Which is?"
"If Nakazawa is a Remnant," Kyoko said, "we can't rule out the chance that she wanted her family to die."
The mere thought gave Makoto chills, but he couldn't deny it. The Remnants had proven themselves capable of unfathomable depravity. There seemed to be no limit to their cruelty. Nothing could be ruled out with them.
"There's something else we must consider," Kyoko said. "The fact that the Remnants allowed us to find this evidence. They could have covered it up, but they didn't. They wanted us to know."
Makoto winced. "They want us to doubt each other, but I don't suppose that clears Nakazawa of suspicion, does it?"
"No, it doesn't," Kyoko said. "We can't trust her. That's part of the reason why I'm telling you this. It's dangerous for you to know, but it would be even more dangerous for you not to know. Do you understand? In the event that Nakazawa approaches you…"
"Y-yeah," Makoto said. "I'll be sure to watch out for her." He smiled. "Hey, I appreciate you telling me about this. You didn't have to, but I'm glad you did."
Kyoko looked Makoto straight in the eyes. "Makoto, promise me. Don't confront Nakazawa about this. I know you might feel tempted, but you must leave it for now."
Makoto nodded. "Of course, I give you my word. I won't make you regret trusting me. Ever."
Makoto raised his pinky finger. Kyoko stared with a look of bewilderment, and then she laughed. "You dork." Despite saying that, she intertwined her pinky with Makoto's. "It's a promise, then."
"Right!" Makoto said. "I won't let you –"
Before Makoto took back his hand, Kyoko held the back of Makoto's head and pulled him in for a quick kiss. Makoto's heart fluttered at the unexpected contact. He chuckled. "Kyoko, I thought we were here on business?"
"Couldn't help it," Kyoko said sweetly. "You're too amazing to keep my hands off of, not when I have you alone like this."
Blushing deeply, Makoto cleared his throat. "A-anyway, I won't let you down."
Kyoko's purple eyes filled with determination. "Makoto, I'll do everything I can to find your family. I'm uncertain if even Nakazawa knows where they are, but we will find out what she knows. Just keep a cool head, okay?"
"Haha, you don't have to worry so much," Makoto assured her. "I want to see my family again, which is exactly why I won't do anything stupid. Give me some credit, will you?"
"Heh, sorry," Kyoko apologized. "I know I shouldn't worry. Not if it's you."
"Just one thing," Makoto said. "If there's anything at all I can do to help, don't hesitate to ask. I'm sure I can be useful for something."
"Of course," Kyoko said. "If I need anything, or if I find anything, you will be the first to know."
Kyoko sat at her desk and opened her laptop, immediately getting to work. Makoto smiled. He would have liked to stay, but Kyoko probably didn't want him breathing down her neck. "I'll leave you to it, then. See you, Kyoko."
"Until next time, Makoto."
This day had been quite eventful, to say the least. Makoto still couldn't believe it. Nakazawa had truly been involved in the kidnapping? How much did Nakazawa know? Did she know where his family had been taken? Could she help Makoto find them? Would she be willing to? Was she still allied with the Remnants? Was Nakazawa friend or foe?
But whatever the answers were, Makoto was confident that he and Kyoko would get to the bottom of it.
With a warmth in his heart, Makoto returned to his room.
Later that night, past 11:00pm, Makoto heard a knock at his door.
Knock, knock…
Makoto grew tense. A knock? That was strange. The ship's protocol strictly forbade opening the door unless someone scanned their retina to ring the bell. It was a security measure designed to verify and log all visitations. Why was someone trying to circumvent that rule? Had they forgotten? Or…?
Makoto carefully walked close to the door. He had no intention of breaking the rule, but he wanted to listen for anyone outside. Makoto noticed a faint smell of lavender. Kyoko? He looked down and spotted a piece of paper sticking out of the bottom of the door. He picked it up.
It was Kyoko's handwriting.
Meet me in the breakroom in five minutes. Our rooms are not safe.
Makoto shuddered. Not safe? What did that mean? Had someone been listening in on them? Had someone heard them discuss the investigation on Nakazawa? Makoto's face turned pale. Had someone heard them… last night?
No way…
Makoto pocketed the note and took out his phone. He checked the time. 11:08pm. He had five minutes to search his room.
Makoto frantically turned over everything that wasn't bolted down. He checked his drawers, his cabinets, his desk. He looked under the bed, and that's when he saw it.
A small electronic device was affixed to the bottom of his mattress. Makoto grabbed it. No mistake. It was a wiretap.
"Fuck!"
Makoto crushed the wiretap underneath his foot. How? How?! Who? Why?! Who had done this?! How had they done it?! Why had they done it?! Someone had eavesdropped on them! They had heard everything!
Seriously, how?! The only way to open the door from the outside was to scan his retina. There wasn't even a keyhole to pick, and there was no sign that the door had been forced open. The only people Makoto had ever allowed into his room were his classmates. It didn't seem possible for anyone to have wiretapped him.
Makoto held his chest as he tried to calm his breathing. Could it have been Nakazawa? As Division Head, she seemed most likely to pull this off. Perhaps she had access to everyone's rooms. If so, had Makoto and Kyoko unwittingly alerted her to the investigation? What did this mean? Where did they go from here?
Calm down, Makoto. Kyoko has a plan. That's why she wants to meet you. This is going to be okay.
Makoto checked the time again. 11:13pm. There were probably more wiretaps, perhaps even cameras, but he would have to search later.
Makoto exited his room, making sure to close the door on his way out, which engaged the lock automatically. The Officer Quarters hallway was quiet and empty. Feeling on edge after discovering the wiretap, Makoto checked his surroundings carefully. Everyone's doors were closed and locked, indicated by red lights at their terminals. If opened or unlocked, the lights would turn green. In case something happened, there was a red button in the hallway that would trigger an alarm when pressed. Security would arrive in a matter of seconds.
The breakroom was just a couple of doors over. Makoto went to it. Like the other rooms, he had to scan his retina to enter. He did so, and the door opened.
Makoto stepped inside. The breakroom was filled with the usual recreational furnishings such as a pool table, a dartboard, a magazine stand, plush chairs, and a coffee table. There was also a cabinet with a bronze statue of Kazuo Tengan on top.
But Makoto saw no sign of Kyoko. His head swiveled from side-to-side in search of her. "Kiri?" he called quietly. "Are you…?"
Makoto felt something press firmly into his mouth.
Some kind of cloth.
Something else wrapped around his neck, pinning him in place.
Makoto felt himself breathe in something coarse. His heartbeat skyrocketed as he realized what was happening. A trap?! No, no, no, no! Wh-who is this?! Kyoko wrote that note! It was her handwriting! I know it was! Did… did something happen to her?!
Makoto desperately squirmed and tugged against his assailant's arm, to no avail. Their grip was unbreakable. Makoto tried to scream, but hardly any sound escaped. What was happening? How had he fallen for this?! His vision grew blurry. Was he going to…?
No… not like this.
I can't die here!
A flurry of images raced through Makoto's mind. He saw his parents, Komaru, Sayaka, Hina, Hiro, Toko, Byakuya…
Kyoko…
We were just getting…
Makoto couldn't let it end like this! He struggled with all his might…
But it didn't matter.
As Makoto slipped into unconsciousness, Kyoko's smiling face was the last thing he saw.
Makoto awoke to a familiar stench.
He had smelled it before, at Hope's Peak Academy.
With a groggy groan, Makoto opened his eyes and sat up. He was still alive? What had happened? Where was he? Makoto scanned his surroundings. He saw a bed, a desk, dressers… Makoto was in someone's quarters, but whose?
On the floor, Makoto spotted something, and his heart pounded.
It was Nakazawa, lying face up on the floor, not moving.
"N-Nakazawa?!" Makoto ran to her side. Nakazawa's forehead was covered with multiple fractures. Blood trailed from the wounds over the top of her head, feeding into a pool of blood. Her right eye had been blackened. Nakazawa's pink eyes were completely still, and there were streaks of a clear liquid running down her cheeks. Makoto felt sick to his stomach. There was no doubt.
Nakazawa was dead.
Makoto realized there was something in his hand. He looked and saw it was that statue from the breakroom, a bronze sculpture of Kazuo Tengan. It was covered in blood, along with Makoto's hand. A chill ran down Makoto's spine. Wh-what? Why am I…?
Someone screamed. "Wh-what the hell?! Nakazawa!"
Makoto turned his head and saw Aoi Eguchi standing in the hallway. His mouth opened in shock as he stared at Makoto. "You… what have you done?!"
Makoto shivered. Did he think…? "W-wait, no! I don't know what's…"
There was another voice. "Aoi, what is going…?"
Akihiro Nagata looked into the room and gasped. "Wh-what?!"
"Aki!" Eguchi yelled. "Go sound the alarm! I'll make sure he doesn't escape!"
Nagata shook his head. "N-no, that's too dangerous! I won't –"
"Go! I've got this!"
With an anguished whimper, Nagata ran. A moment later, a shrill alarm sounded. Red lights flashed in the room, and Eguchi stood in the doorway, staring down Makoto fiercely.
Makoto didn't understand. What was going on? Who had killed Nakazawa?
As the alarm blared, someone else ran into the room, Yuri Yasui. Her face turned pale when she saw Nakazawa's corpse. "No…"
Right behind Yasui, another person ran into the room… Kyoko. Her shock was muted when she saw the body, but the moment she saw Makoto, her hand flew to cover her open mouth as she stared at him with wide, trembling eyes.
"N-Naegi…?"
Makoto felt his heart pound out of his chest.
Wait…
You don't think…
I did this?!
Mere seconds later, more people flooded into the room. They were armed with rifles and wore body armor. One of them headed straight for Makoto and pointed his gun at him. "Drop it! Now!"
The statue fell to the ground with a thud as Makoto raised his hands. "W-wait! I didn't…"
"It was him!" Eguchi cried. "No question! I heard everything!"
You heard… what?!
More guards trained their weapons on him.
"Makoto Naegi, you are under arrest for the murder of Natsuki Nakazawa."
Sweat dripped down Makoto's shuddering face. "N-no! It wasn't me!"
The guards forcefully seized Makoto and cuffed his hands. He shot a pleading look at Kyoko, who continued to stare back frozen with wide eyes.
"I didn't do it!" Makoto yelled. "I swear! I didn't –"
A guard shoved his hand into Makoto's back. "Move!"
"Damn it! It wasn't me!"
AN: A body has been discovered!
Puhuhu, this isn't just a sweet, innocent Naegiri fic. We've got another murder on our hands!
I don't have much experience writing murder mysteries. I hope it's interesting and not too predictable.
Next time: Deadly Life