Chapter Text
PAST
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…H o w b o r i n g…
PRESENT
Sakura had died a year ago.
She wondered if Sakura died knowing that it was June, that they were on the verge of summer and that most of the people she’d ever known were dead. Hina wondered if, at the end, she’d had some brief recollection of their school life. Even though it was beyond irrational, Hina liked to think that she had. That Sakura died smiling because she remembered the stolen years.
Most of all, Hina wondered if Sakura would be proud of her.
She wondered if Sakura would’ve approved of the Future Foundation.
But she couldn't know—
Because Sakura was dead and—
Her corpse. Smiling. Hunched over. Dead. Dead. DEAD—
The nightmare ended.
Hina gasped and lay still, afraid that she was still in her room at Hope’s Peak Academy, however foolish the notion was. Her room had possessed the faint smell of chlorine mixed with sweat. This one was strange and unfamiliar to her. Strange was good. As long as it didn’t smell like Hope’s Peak.
Her eyes felt heavy—which meant that she hadn’t had a restful sleep. Good. Less sleep meant less potential for nightmares.
She sat up and knocked her head against the bottom of the upper bunk so hard that her teeth sunk painfully into her tongue. Right. No more comfy Future Foundation beds.
Hina sat on the edge of her bunk, leaned forwards, and pinched the bridge of her nose. She wasn’t sure what had disturbed her sleep more: the nightmares or the gentle swaying of the boat. Despite being the Ultimate Swimmer, she’d never cared much for boating. She preferred being in the water as opposed to being on top of it, but the mode of transportation hadn’t been her idea.
Sighing, she knew that the time was drawing near. Daylight streamed in through the porthole. Time to put on a brave face, even though she wanted nothing more than to collapse and break down into tears. No, not now. Not when people would be watching her. Not when she had a job to do and others were relying on her. Hina stood in front of the cracked mirror in the claustrophobic bathroom and practiced smiling until she was satisfied, before drying her stray tears and giving her face a good scrub.
“Focus, Asahina,” she murmured. A mantra to keep herself in the present.
Hina gathered the belongings left scattered around her cabin and stuffed them into her duffle bags. It took much longer than usual to decide what to wear. She wasn't even sure why she cared, but the Future Foundation uniform had never been to her taste, so she was glad for any excuse not to wear it.
She emerged from her cabin wearing her usual choice of shorts and a tight-fitting tank top. It was difficult to avoid human contact on such a small ship, and she was reminded of it as she ran into one of the crew members. Not a member of the Future Foundation itself, but someone directly under the employ of one Byakuya Togami.
“I was just coming to get you, Miss Asahina,” said the crew member. “We’ve just docked and Mr Naegi is waiting for you.”
“Nice, thanks!” Hina said cheerily.
She rushed onto the deck and was glad to see that the crew member hadn't been getting her hopes up. The vessel that had served as her home for the last four or so days now sat at a dock glistening under an unpolluted sun and speckled sky. Hina squinted, unaccustomed to this much sunlight. It reminded her of the days before the Tragedy, back when it was an occurrence only imagined by cynics, conspiracy theorists, and dystopian novels.
Jabberwock Island certainly didn't disappoint its reputation as a slice of paradise. Although the dock was surrounded by abandoned warehouses and shipping equipment, she could see the settlement just beyond the property. Even from this distance, there was no mistaking the obvious scars of violence. Collapsed buildings, sullen faces, and people skirting in and out of the ruins they called their home. If the world hadn't ended, the island would still be a popular tourist destination. Now it was just a shadow of its former self. A beautiful shadow, but still a shadow. Just another place in the world where one could hide.
Once she was finished taking in her surroundings, Hina saw who she was looking for. Not hard to miss—he was the only one standing at the dock.
The grin that stretched her cheeks wasn’t painful this time. She sprinted to the end of the dock, discarded her bags, and threw herself into his arms.
“Makoto!” she exclaimed.
Makoto yelped and staggered under her grip, swinging her around as her legs left the ground. After recovering his balance, he returned the hug.
“It’s so good to see you again!” Hina beamed at him.
“I missed you, too, Hina,” said Makoto.
She broke the physical contact and studied his face. His hair was askew, his eyes pale, and his facial muscles tight. His smile looked strained, but sincere.
"Wow, you look awful," she concluded.
"Um...yeah," Makoto agreed. "And you look...good. As always."
She laughed. Not forced this time. "Hey, where's Kyoko? Didn't she want to come meet me?"
"She's getting everything ready at the house, so she's gonna meet us there. Uh—do you need help with your bags?"
"Nope, I got it!”
Hina scooped up her bags and threw one over each shoulder. Makoto led the way across the shipyard, to the fence that bordered the property. A large hole had been torn in it, and they ducked underneath to escape the towering warehouses. The road wasn't paved—just a flat, neglected patch of dirt.
"No car?" Hina assumed.
"That's right," said Makoto. "We'll have to walk."
"That's fine, I need to stretch my legs after being stuck on that ship. Are there any cars around here, anyways?"
"No, it's too hard to get gas."
"Huh. So does Byakuya walk everywhere too or does he make you carry him around on a litter?"
"Well, no...but do me a favour and don't give him any ideas.”
She giggled, and the laughter helped disguise her mood because she nearly burst into tears. Hina forced the laugh for a bit longer than was necessary.
Still, it was good to be walking with Makoto again. She hadn't seen him since he'd made a break for Jabberwock Island with the Remnants of Despair in tow. Hina had spent most of that time at headquarters covering his tracks.
Of course, she hadn't known then, so she hadn't been an emotional wreck. She'd been able to do her job with ease.
Easy, Asahina, she thought. You got a job to do.
It had been a month since the killings stopped and the surviving Remnants had emerged from the Neo World Program. Things had settled down at headquarters, just enough for her to put in an application for extended leave and depart before it was even approved. Maybe she'd be fired, but it was more likely that they would give her a slap on the wrist. After all, the Foundation kept a tight leash on the surviving Hope's Peak Academy students and she was no different. That allowed for a bit of leg room for bending the rules. But where she had bent them, Makoto had broken and then stamped on the pieces.
Hina wanted nothing more than to immediately launch into a tirade about everything that had happened, but she couldn't risk it. Jabberwock Island wasn't uninhabited. The surviving citizens had built up a tiny settlement that barely registered on the maps. They paid them no mind as she and Makoto headed down the road, but if they overheard any sensitive information, it could be enough to derail the entire illicit operation.
"How are Toko and Hiro?" Makoto asked.
Hina bristled at the sound of Toko's name. "They're fine."
"...What is it?"
"Huh?"
"Just now, you had a funny look on your face. Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine," she lied. "Toko's been adding to her Byakuya shrine. From what I understand, she was caught stealing from his room."
"Do I want to know what she tried to take?"
"Probably not."
Makoto led her down the road, which led away from the settlement. She wasn't exactly sure where they were going, except that it was inland and away from any surrounding buildings to discourage investigation. But at least the walk was nice. The road followed the beach and she imagined going for a swim in the ocean during her stay.
They settled on making small talk until they were well clear of the settlement and any potential eavesdroppers. All the same, when they were clear, Hina looked over her shoulder and scanned the area for any people.
“You think anyone's listening in?” Hina asked.
“No, I think we’re good,” said Makoto. His tone had shifted from casual to professional and cool. “What’s the situation at headquarters?”
"They've assigned a team to look for the Remnants, but they recalled all agents from Jabberwock Island. I planted a few false leads suggesting they were moved to a different location.”
“I knew I could count on you, Hina.”
"Heh, it wasn't just me. Hiro pretended that he 'foresaw' them leaving the island."
"Did they actually take him seriously?"
"It was one of more convincing performances, I admit. He even had me under his spell for a moment!"
Makoto let out a breath he’d apparently been holding. “That’s a relief. It’s all good news. For the time being, it looks like the Remnants will be safe here.”
“...But what if the Future Foundation realizes they never left?”
“That’s why there’s still a work to be done.”
"Makoto, look...You know...you know we might be able to hide them, but with all the evidence the Future Foundation has, they know you're involved."
Makoto paused, and then said, "I don't care."
“Makoto...”
“I'll do whatever I can to protect them."
“Maybe you should go into hiding, too.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why the hell not?!” she burst. “If you go back, it’s all be over for you! They’ll charge you with treason!”
Makoto stopped in his tracks. "If I try to run, the Future Foundation won't stop until they find me, and there's a chance they'll find the Remnants in the process."
“C’mon, Makoto! You’re way more important than they are! Maybe they should face the consequences for all they’ve done!”
“And trade in their lives? I know you don’t really believe that, Hina. If you did, you wouldn’t have agreed to this.
It was the truth and she hated it. She wished she was a little more ruthless, that she could see war criminals as demons instead of people. That she possessed Taka's rigid sense of right and wrong and that she was the Ultimate Moral Compass—that she wasn't just a swimmer who'd ended up at the apocalypse.
"I need to make a statement to the Future Foundation," Makoto explained. "I need to show them that we can't build a future if we destroy the only hope we have. That's what the Remnants are—that's what they represent. And...it's something I won't be able to do unless I go back and face the consequences for what happened here."
Hina averted her gaze. "You're asking us to let you take the fall for all of us."
"Yeah, I guess I am," Makoto agreed. "But if I take the fall, the Future Foundation wouldn't execute me like they would the Remnants."
"They’ll only slander your reputation and lock you up for the rest of your life. Completely different.”
Still, the steam fuelling her argument was lost. The situation was out of her control and she hated it. She couldn't force Makoto into hiding and it was clear to her that the Foundation was in the wrong. She just wished to God that it wasn't Makoto who had to put his neck on the line for the sole purpose of making a statement.
They resumed their walk until the road split into two directions. One ran parallel to the beach, while the other wound up a hill and into the forest—unkempt and overgrown with foliage.
“It’s not too far now,” said Makoto. There was a strange note in his voice. “Uh, Hina...you’re acting kinda weird. Is everything okay?”
Shit. “Huh? Everything’s fine.”
"Are you sure? You seem upset about something, and all that stuff you said about turning over the Remnants isn't like you."
The trees parted, and up on the hillside she could see a house contrasting against the forest. She couldn't look at it. She didn't want to. Her thoughts blurred together like a puddle of ink drowning out whatever coherent words were written in her mind.
Finally, she let out a small sigh as she realized that Makoto wasn't going to let her set foot in the house without an explanation.
She said quietly, "My brother died."
The reaction was exactly what she expected it to be. He flinched.
"W—what?!" he exclaimed.
"My brother died," Hina repeated. "He died in Towa City. You know what happened to your sister? How Ultimate Despair captured her and kept her prisoner? Well...he was their prisoner, too, and...and Toko told me that when she was there, she met him and..."
She didn't finish her sentence. How could she? If she did, she would have to admit that it was her brother who'd died, that he had been mercilessly executed because of his association with her.
"Toko only got a chance to tell me in person right before I got on the boat to come here," Hina finished.
Before she could resist, Makoto embraced her. There was no joy in it this time, but she happily pressed her face into his shoulder. No tears right now, but if he kept squeezing maybe there would be. He mercifully didn't say anything.
"I'm so sorry, Hina," he said quietly. "Do you need anything? Is there anything I can do?"
"Nothing unless you turn into the Ultimate Time Traveller," Hina answered dryly. "I'll be okay. I have to be. I’m sorry for blowing up like that, it’s just...”
"...If he really was a prisoner like Komaru...then Ultimate Despair is responsible," Makoto realized.
"Yeah, that's it exactly."
The wind rustled through the nearby trees as if the spirit of her brother shuddered to think that she was in proximity of the people indirectly responsible for his death.
"I'm so sorry, Hina," Makoto apologized. "If I knew, I never would've asked you to do this."
"No, I'm glad you did," Hina affirmed. "If anything, I need distance from the Future Foundation to think for a bit. It's a good distraction and I don't blame them for it. All of this is Junko's doing."
She wiped her nose and put on a smile.
“So, I’m not going to let you down, Makoto,” she declared. “That’s a promise from me, so you know I’m gonna keep it!”
Makoto looked assured, however worried and gentle. The guy didn't have a tough bone in his body when it came to his friends.
"We—uh, should get going, right?" Hina prompted him. "Kyoko's probably waiting and you know how she feels about tardiness."
"R—right," Makoto nodded. "I don't think there should be any...oh, no."
All colour drained from his face and he broke into a sudden sprint.
The house was thoroughly out of place against the backdrop of the forest. It was a two-story house, narrow and tall, with faded peach-coloured paint and a jet black roof. If it was any other house, she wouldn't even spare a second glance to it, but she knew there was more to it, there was something deeper under its surface. Rather, the unassuming appearance seemed deliberate and methodical, as if someone had constructed it for the sole purpose of not drawing attention.
Makoto, however, didn't head towards the house. He headed towards the detached garage, where an old truck was kept. Makoto ducked inside and she immediately saw what had drawn his attention.
Sticking out from underneath the truck was a pair of legs.
"Did you run away from the clinic again?!" Makoto exclaimed.
"I was tired of waiting!" the owner of the legs answered.
"That's not what the plan was..."
"No shit. Your plan was to make me wait another hour."
Makoto massaged his temples. “I...I can’t talk to you like this. Could you please come out from under there?”
"I guess I could if I wanted to."
The legs made no effort to move.
"Oh, for crying out loud," Hina sighed. "Stand aside, Makoto."
Hina seized the ankles and pulled—and out popped Kazuichi Soda.
She only knew who he was because he'd tried to kill her back when he was Ultimate Despair. Some things were still the same. His eyes still glinted with mischief, his hair was still a terrible shade of pink, and his teeth were still pointed. However, there was a marked difference between then and now. First, it was immediately evident that he didn't recognize her. Second, he lacked the frenzied insanity that had defined his time as Ultimate Despair.
"Hey, what'd you do that for?!" Kazuichi whined. He looked at her, and his expression shifted from shock to panic. "You're not a doctor, are you?!"
"Uh...no?" Hina answered.
"You don't sound sure of that!"
Kazuichi rolled onto his feet and put some distance between him and her. He was wearing an orange jumpsuit stained with oil and a black beanie, which he tugged at apprehensively as he looked her over.
"Listen, if you're a doctor, I don't want you anywhere near me," he said. "I've spent the last month being poked and prodded and interrogated, and I can't take it anymore!"
"I'm not a doctor!" Hina asserted. "I'm Aoi Asahina, but everyone calls me Hina."
His expression pinched with concentration. "Asahina? Hey, aren't you—"
"The Ultimate Swimmer! I was with Makoto at Hope's Peak Academy.”
Kazuichi faltered. No mischief in those eyes now. "Oh, you mean from the last time she got a whole bunch of students together to make 'em kill each other. Yeah, that was fun."
Hina glanced at Makoto. His face was tight with unease. Kazuichi turned back to work on the truck engine, though he kept a watchful eye on her.
"Well, if you're not a doctor...I'm busy," Kazuichi snapped. "So stop hovering."
"But—" Hina began.
"Busy."
Makoto took her by the elbow and led her out of the garage. Once they were safely out of earshot, she turned on him.
“Is he okay?” Hina asked.
"He's just a little grumpy," Makoto answered. "He hated being locked up in the clinic for such a long time. I'm not surprised he left without permission again."
"How many times has he done it?"
"Um...I think this is the fifth or sixth time. I can't really blame him for it. First he and the others were essentially prisoners in the Neo World Program, and then they've been prisoners in the clinic—"
“But that was for their protection!”
"True, but Kazuichi doesn't exactly make the distinction," said Makoto. "He's not the only one, either. The others have gotten restless, too, but now that the Future Foundation has moved on, we shouldn't have any more problems."
Makoto led her to the house and she was all too happy for the distraction. There would be time to deal with Kazuichi later. She followed him up the front steps and through the front door, which was a bright shade of periwinkle.
“Uh, welcome home,” he smiled.
Some home. The moment she entered, Hina realized that it was a lot smaller than it looked.
The house, she thought, was barely suitable for a family of three, let alone a mismatched group of six. The ground floor consisted of a living from, a spare bedroom and bathroom, and a kitchen with screen windows that looked out the back of the property. The rooms were drafty, however bright and smelt faintly of fruit-scented air freshener. It rather reminded her of a grandmother's house.
Upstairs didn't fair much better. There were two bedrooms and two bathrooms—one each for girls and boys. With hardly any room to spare, the beds had been stuffed in like sardines, allowing little comfort as she quickly surveyed the place. Kazuichi had already made himself at home in the boy's bedroom, having claimed the bed furthest from the door. His clothes were deposited on the floor and some tools lay on the side table.
Hina had been assigned the bedroom on the first floor. It was a plain and boring place with blank walls and carpet the same shade of periwinkle as the front door. At least the Hope’s Peak Academy dorms had a sense of personality about them, but every room in the house was in a various state of sorry. When the tour was done, she found herself standing in the middle of it, her bags on the bed, and surveying the place as if she could will it to change just by staring.
"I know this place wasn't built with comfort in mind, but isn't it a bit cramped for six people?" Hina asked.
Makoto rubbed the back of his neck. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice."
She sighed. "I guess it can't be helped with the others in the cellar, huh? Where's the entrance to that, anyways?”
To answer that, he led her back outside. She could hear Kazuichi swearing loudly from the garage, but ignored him and went to the rear of the house.
The cellar doors were hidden behind thick bushes and locked with a hidden keypad. The doors didn't quite match the aesthetic of the house. Constructed out of thick metal, they looked like the entrance to a bomb shelter.
"The password's 'Mukuro,' by the way," Makoto told her as he imputed the password.
"Mukuro?" Hina repeated. "I thought for sure you'd use 11037. That's, like, your default password for everything."
"Is not!"
"It is too, Makoto Naegi," she teased. "Well, at least Mukuro's easy to remember."
The cellar doors accepted the password and Makoto pulled them open. As it opened to darkness, Hina heard a voice drifting up from below.
"Hiro, listen to me...Hiro, please calm down...No—that's not going to help."
Hina followed Makoto down into the cellar. They entered a room with scant lighting and a sense of quiet resignation, filled to the brim with electronics and machinery that didn't seem to have any discernible purpose. In the centre was a column covered with monitors and wires—the central core of the Neo World Program. It was now inert but still hooked up to fifteen pods that surrounded it. She only thing she could see of its inhabitants was faint humanoid shapes floating underneath the green surface.
Off to the side was the monitoring station where Makoto and Kyoko had spent most of their time when the program was running. It was a place Hina had only seen in video chats and it was surreal to finally be on the other end. Sitting at the station was Kyoko Kirigiri, herself, with a cell phone pressed to her ear and her expression decidedly neutral.
"You can assure them that we will be returning to headquarters within the week," Kyoko was saying. "Please stay calm and don't do anything reckless. Goodbye."
As she hung up, Hina could hear Hiro screaming in terror at the other end.
"Is Hiro okay?" Makoto asked.
"He's managing as well as Hiro can manage," Kyoko replied. She turned to Hina. "I'm glad you're here. I'll give you a quick briefing and the files you'll need. I suggest you keep them out of sight until the Remnants have acclimatized."
Ah, Kyoko. The consummate professional.
“C’mon, Kyoko, it’s me!” Hina laughed. Without waiting for permission, she gave Kyoko a bear-hug. “I missed you!”
Kyoko’s hands were hesitant as she gently patted her on the back. For her sake, Hina didn’t hold on for too long.
"I missed your company, as well," Kyoko admitted. "But onto matter at hand. Makoto, Byakuya, and I must be on the ship when it departs."
"You don't need to act so formal, Kyoko," said Hina.
"Did you review the files I sent you?"
"Huh?"
"The files I sent you about the Remnants. Did you review them?"
Whoops. "Definitely!"
"...No you didn't. You're lying."
"Is it really that important?"
"You can't hope to know what you're up against if you don't research thoroughly, and I'm afraid Makoto is leaving you with the more difficult task. Now sit down and pay attention.”
Kyoko wasn't giving her the benefit of choice as she took her firmly by the shoulder and sat her down in the chair.
"Okay, okay, but I'm not taking notes this time," said Hina.
"Perhaps if you'd taken notes during school, your grades wouldn't have been as low as they were," Kyoko replied.
"Are...are you teasing me? Is the great Kyoko Kirigiri actually teasing me?!"
“Please pay attention.”
The moment Hina sat down, a familiar apparition lit up on the monitors. The being bore the face of Chihiro Fujisaki, and she had to quickly remind herself that it wasn't the pensive programmer who had once been her classmate. Still, she always hesitated and always thought that it was Chihiro back from the dead.
“Hello, Hina!” Alter Ego beamed. “It’s good to see you again!”
"Alter Ego will be a liaison between this base and us," said Kyoko. "Direct communication is inadvisable, so if you need to get in touch with us or review any information regarding Ultimate Despair, use Alter Ego."
"I’m happy to help however I can!” Alter Ego said cheerfully.
Kyoko swung the chair back around to face her. “Your mission is simple: make sure they don’t turn back into Ultimate Despair.”
“Mission?” Hina echoed. “Since when did this become a mission? I thought we were supposed to be supporting—”
"We are supporting them and part of that includes ensuring that they stay on the straight and narrow. That's why you're here, Hina.”
Kyoko paced the room, hands folded neatly behind her back, and focused as always.
"For the last month, the Remnants have been in hiding at the clinic located on this island," Kyoko explained. "Most of them required immediate medical treatment after they emerged from the Neo World Program because of traumatic injuries sustained during their Despair days. We also wanted to ensure that there would be no long-term physical repercussions as a result of the simulation."
Her head bowed.
"There is a more serious matter at hand," said Kyoko. "Despite having been removed from the Neo World Program, they have minimal recollection of their time at Hope's Peak or as Ultimate Despair."
"What?! I thought those memories were supposed to come back!"
"And they undoubtedly will. However, the process may take more time than we expected. Part of your job will be to correct this. If they continue to repress the memories, if they continue to deny their involvement with Junko, it will eventually devour their psyche. They need to confront that period of their lives and accept it as truth. Although...we do have an ulterior motivation."
"What do you mean?"
"We're hoping they have some information on Ultimate Despair that might be relevant to the Future Foundation's current situation. If they do, it may put them in the Foundation's good graces."
"That's a bit of a long shot, don't you think?"
"Perhaps, but it's worth a try. I also recommend you host support group sessions to ease the recovery process. Discussing the events of the last three years may trigger their suppressed memories."
"But I'm not a therapist!"
"You don't have to be, Hina. You're here to supervise and support them."
"What if things get out of hand?"
"...Then we'll call in Miaya."
Hina chewed on her lower lip. Miaya Gekkogahara was the Ultimate Therapist—a fellow member of the Future Foundation, and heavily involved in the creation of the Neo World Program. Despite her lofty role in the project, Makoto had been careful to not directly involve her in their plans and consulting her was the last resort, a contingency plan they all hoped to never have to use.
"Exactly how much do the Remnants know about the arrangement?" Hina asked. "Do they even know I'm going to be staying here?"
“We haven’t told them yet,” Kyoko admitted.
“What the hell?! Have you just been keeping them completely in the dark?! Does Sonia even know about Novoselic?”
There was a split second of hesitation in Kyoko’s eyes. Just enough to notice. “No, she doesn’t.”
“That’s messed up! Why doesn’t she know?!”
Kyoko whipped her head around. Her hair trailed behind her like a veil of snow. "Sonia's left leg was amputated."
The realization slammed Hina back into her seat. She clutched the armrests. Her heart froze in its never-ending race.
"Sonia was one of the Remnants who salvaged from Junko's corpse," Kyoko explained. "After she was removed from the Neo World Program, her body began to reject the limb, and there was little choice but to remove it. It has been replaced by an artificial one, but she needed time to recover emotionally and physically. Sonia needed to focus on the present—not to dwell on something that occurred during her memory lapse. A clinic is no place for her to learn that her country doesn't exist anymore.”
Hina couldn't bring herself to agree with Kyoko's decision. All she could think about was when Junko had given them amnesia, and she couldn't remember that her entire family and the whole world she knew was gone, and how she'd wished to God that she'd known that it had fallen apart.
"So when is she going to learn?” Hina asked.
"I’ll leave that to your discretion,” said Kyoko, brushing past her. "I would advise that you don't leave it for too long."
Hina hesitated. “Got to say, you’re putting a lot of faith in me. I’m...I’m not so sure that this is the best way to handle things.”
"I know it's tough," said Makoto. "We're putting a lot of pressure on you, but I know you can do this."
Makoto flashed a smile and she returned it. God, when he smiled like that, he reminded her of her brother.
"The opposite of 'possible' isn't 'impossible'—it's 'challenge,'" said Hina.
"I'm glad you came to that conclusion, because they have arrived," Kyoko announced.
Hina turned in time to see them on the security camera facing the front porch. Kazuichi was holding the door open as Byakuya and the others trailed inside, dragging along their bags and bright, excited faces.
They had no clue what they were walking into.
"Let's go meet with them," said Kyoko. "They will have questions and I want to keep the answers as brief as possible.”
She followed Kyoko and Makoto back through the cellar and to the open air. Hina hoped that Kyoko's plan would go off without a hitch, seeing as her plans typically involved equal parts brilliance and obscene amounts of danger.
The living room was alive with chatter when Hina entered on the coattails of Makoto and Kyoko. Hina was used to facing crowds. She'd done so in competitions and from the stares at Hope's Peak and at the Future Foundation. But she wasn't used to seeing their faces, of seeing the range of expressions and people scattered before her. Of course, this time, it was different and there was no glint of despair on their faces. Not yet, anyways.
Hina knew them. She knew them all, she knew their faces, their mannerisms, their talents. But at the same time, they were strangers—because no longer did they have expressions capable of mushrooming from eerily calm to livid at the drop of a pin. No more cultivated smiles and monologues about despair. Before her were not Junko's acolytes, but a collection of hopefuls crowding around Makoto like he was the Messiah. Kazuichi was the exception. He was too busy lounging on the couch and staring out the window to seemingly give a damn about Makoto's arrival.
Sonia Nevermind was at the forefront, as dainty as a porcelain doll, though hardly breakable. Hina's gaze instinctively shifted to her legs. Sure enough, she was limping, and Hina had seen enough now to recognize the sight of a cleverly disguised synthetic leg. It was almost identical to the real one, but Hina recognized the pinched expression as coming from pain—not stress.
Akane Owari was right on her heel. An Amazonian young woman who dwarfed all those around her with her sheer presence of character, Hina had competed with her back at Hope's Peak. It was amazing how her confidence seemed unscathed as she gave Hina a friendly smile.
It was Hajime that made her falter, though.
Hajime Hinata. Izuru Kamukura. Two sides of the same coin. But the boy standing in front of her was definitely Hajime...but his eyes were red.
The smile on her face felt like a too-tight sweater as she made eye contact with Hajime. He noticed, and the air shifted, and he broke eye contact to stare at the floor.
"Makoto, it is good to see you again!" Sonia exclaimed, brimming with joy. "We have been most concerned with the state of affairs and have many questions!"
"I wasn't concerned about anything," said Akane.
"The only thing you're ever concerned about is your next meal," Kazuichi pointed out.
"Yeah. So?"
Makoto cleared his throat, though it may as well have been a gunshot for the way heads turned.
"Sorry, there's a lot of things we need to go over," said Makoto. "Uh, first of all. Everyone, this is Aoi Asahina, the former Ultimate Swimmer.
"Still the Ultimate Swimmer, if you don't mind," Hina chuckled. "You guys can call me Hina, though."
Unsurprisingly, Sonia was the first to act. She stepped forwards and gave a lopsided courtesy.
"Hello!" Sonia beamed. "My name is Sonia Nevermind, Princess of Novoselic. It is a privilege to meet you.”
“Hey, I’ve heard a lot about you and your..." Hina squinted, to be sure she wasn't imagining things. "And your...hamsters?"
She wasn't mistaken. Perched on Sonia's shoulders was a quartet of hamsters. Somehow it seemed out of place.
"Hm?" Sonia glanced at the hamsters. "Oh, yes! These are the Four Dark Devas of Destruction. I'm looking after them while Gundham is...incapacitated."
It was difficult not to miss the way Kazuichi rolled his eyes.
"I'm Hajime Hinata," Hajime unnecessarily introduced himself. He extended his hand.
So formal. Hina played along and shook his hand.
"C'mon, Hajime, introduce yourself with a little more gusto," Akane butted Hajime out of the way and flexed her arm. "What's up? I'm Akane Owari, and don't you forget it!"
Hina smiled and was just about to reply, when a sharp and distinctive voice broke the air.
"Are you done playing nice?"
What with the others dominating the picture, Hina had completely overlooked someone lurking in the corner. He leaned against the wall, arms firmly folded. His face was composed, careful and practised. A cool mask protecting something him, much like the patch over his right eye. But just when she thought she saw it, the vulnerability faded and the lines on his forehead became pronounced as his eyebrow slammed over his exposed eye.
"C'mon, Fuyuhiko!" Akane groaned. "Play nice and say hello!"
His expression was unbalanced. "Tch, I don't think so."
"Er—that's Fuyuhiko," Hajime intervened. "He's nice once you get to know him."
"That's debatable," Kazuichi chuckled.
"Nice to meet you, Fuyuhiko," Hina chanced a smile that Fuyuhiko didn't return. She couldn't help but let her eyes wander to his exposed hands.
He was missing both of his small fingers and the ring finger on his left hand. The stare didn't go unnoticed.
"What, never seen a guy with missing fingers before?" Fuyuhiko barked. "Got something you want to say about it?!”
"Oh—sorry, I didn't mean to stare," Hina apologized.
"Good, then you know not to do it," Fuyuhiko snarled. "I will fucking cut you if I catch you doing it again."
Hajime gave her a hopeful and tense smile. "Seriously, he's nice once you get to know him."
"If you're done with introducing yourselves, pay attention," Byakuya spoke for the first time, and it was a voice difficult to miss. "Our time is too valuable to be wasted on social etiquette."
“Tactful as always, Byakuya,” Hina murmured.
"I would prefer if we got to the point," said Byakuya. "After all, we don't have a lot of time to waste here."
"Whatever do you mean?" Sonia asked.
Makoto glanced at Kyoko. Whether it was for confirmation or assurance, Hina couldn't be sure, but he stepped forwards.
"Byakuya, Kyoko, and I are returning to the Future Foundation," he announced.
Kazuichi suddenly sat bolt upright on the couch. "WHAT?!"
He wasn't alone with this reaction. Collective gasps and sounds of protest all around.
"You can’t do that!” Hajime exclaimed.
“You promised you would help us!” Sonia added.
"Calm down, we're not abandoning that promise," Kyoko reassured them. "The Future Foundation is still hunting for you and every minute that we are not there to conceal the truth creates a risk that they will locate this sanctuary."
"But...but they know you're involved!" Hajime pointed out.
"Hajime is right," Sonia agreed. "The Foundation is aware of what you have done for us. They will not take kindly to it."
"They're gonna be super pissed off!" exclaimed Akane.
"You're right," Makoto nodded gravely. "I suspect it's only a matter of time before I'm arrested."
"They cannot do that!" Sonia protested.
"True—not without hard evidence," said Kyoko. "It could be months before they have gathered enough to convict Makoto of anything."
"Hey, Byakuya—can't you do something about this?" Akane demanded.
"Do I look like I own the Future Foundation?" Byakuya drawled. "If I had that kind of power, I wouldn't have to bother with such trifles."
"...You know, I think I liked fake Byakuya better."
"Of course you did. He was inferior."
"You cannot do this!" Sonia objected. "I cannot accept it! You can hide here, Makoto—with us!"
"Believe me, I'd like to stay," said Makoto. "But it's a matter of principle. I have to show the Future Foundation that they were in the wrong, and the only way I can do that is if I accept the consequences. If the Foundation had succeeded in executing you guys, that would mean that they had fallen into despair themselves, that they'd given up all hope of undoing the damage Junko did."
The Remnants' gazes were tense and childlike.
"We knew and accepted the risks when we did this," said Kyoko. "...Even Byakuya."
"Although my motivations were vastly different," Byakuya asserted. "Unlike Makoto, I don't put my trust in blind optimism and foolish sentimentality."
" Big surprise," Kazuichi muttered.
"There's something else you need to know," Makoto continued. "Hina's going to be staying here to keep an eye on you."
"You mean to make sure we don't go all Ultimate Despair on your asses?" Kazuichi interpreted.
"Yes," said Byakuya.
"No!" Makoto interrupted. "No, that's—just—precautionary! That's all it is. The idea is that Hina's going to help you recover your memories and whatever comes after that. Think of her as your...um...Think of her as your den mother."
"Aw, man, did you have to call me that?" Hina asked.
"Den mother?" Fuyuhiko snarled. "Are you fucking serious?! We do not need a babysitter!"
"Hina's not a babysitter," Kyoko corrected him. "Hina is here to help however she can."
"Sounds suspiciously like a babysitter to me," Fuyuhiko snapped. "Let's face it. At the end of the day, you don't trust us to not revert back to Ultimate Despair. You practically expect it!"
Kyoko Kirigiri was always calm. Always stoic. But now, there was the slightest spark of fire behind her eyes.
"This isn't a debate," said Kyoko. "You reverting back to Ultimate Despair is a worst case scenario that Hina is here to prevent. She will be organizing support group sessions and supervising your efforts to revive your friends. And the support groups are mandatory."
“Support group?” Fuyuhiko echoed. He rounded on Hajime, suddenly still and motionless like Hajime's opinion was the only one that mattered. “Is she for real? Do I look like a need a support group?!”
"This is an informal arrangement, but it's the best we can do under the circumstances," said Kyoko. "If the Future Foundation had endorsed this project, we would have access to counsellors and after what you five have been through, therapy would be the standard approach. Given that we don't have that option, we went for the next best thing. As I said, these sessions are mandatory. Officially, Hina will be in charge around here, but even that arrangement is informal. You will have full autonomy over your actions so long as you agree to the support group."
"I guess that makes sense and all, but why Hina?" Akane asked. "I mean—no offence, Hina, you seem cool and all, but you don't look like a shrink to me."
"Miss Asahina was the logical choice," said Byakuya. "The rest of us would be missed from headquarters. Hina wouldn't."
“Yeah, that’s exactly it,” Hina agreed. When she realized what she’d just agreed with, she rounded on him. “Hey!”
"I DON'T NEED THERAPY!" Fuyuhiko shouted in a way that suggested he needed therapy.
"We're not asking you to lie down on a couch and confess your deepest, darkest secrets," said Kyoko. "I figured all of those out, anyways, so there would be no point to it."
Hina couldn't tell if she was joking or not. It was a standard Kyoko thing.
"We're simply suggesting that the five of you—meditated by Hina—work together through the process of recovering your memories."
"What recovery?" Kazuichi groaned. "I feel fine!"
"I've never been better," said Akane.
"And when your memories return, what then?" Kyoko asked. "The convenience of amnesia isn't going to last forever and the day that it ends will be a day of reckoning."
"It's not that we don't trust you," said Makoto. "We just want you to be safe here."
"Tch, like we need protection," Fuyuhiko grumbled.
"In case you forgot, Fuyuhiko, the Future Foundation thinks we're the bad guys," Kazuichi reminded him.
"We are the bad guys."
The others shifted uncomfortably, but Fuyuhiko was motionless.
"What?" Fuyuhiko barked. "Did you forget that while we were at the clinic?"
"It's not the Foundation we're worried about," said Kyoko. "We're protecting you from yourselves."
"That's bullshit!"
"I told you he would react like this," Byakuya scoffed. "You should be grateful we spent our precious time on you, Kuzuryu."
If Byakuya had kept his damn mouth shut, perhaps they could've defused Fuyuhiko's temper. Perhaps he would have run his mouth off for a minute before losing steam. Instead, there was newfound fury etched in every line in Fuyuhiko's face.
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!" Fuyuhiko yelled. "We're not gonna sit in a circle and sing 'Kumbaya' just because you guys say we have to! If I wanted shit from you, I would've asked!"
"Adorable," Byakuya drawled. "You throw around your weight as though the Kuzuryu name still holds influence. Continue squealing all you want. I am a Togami and you cannot intimidate me."
"Oh, that fucking does it—"
Akane moved like a choreographed dancer. In one, smooth motion, she got between Byakuya and Fuyuhiko, grabbed the latter by the waist, and threw him over her shoulder.
"Okay, you need a time out!" she announced.
"PUT—ME—DOWN!" Fuyuhiko screamed.
Akane hauled Fuyuhiko up the stairs—with him swearing the whole way. They could hear the two struggling on the floor above. Still, no one seemed especially phased or even surprised by Fuyuhiko's extreme reaction.
"I really hope they don't break another window," Hajime said casually.
Kyoko cleared her throat. "Byakuya is right on one point. We did anticipate this reaction from him. Fuyuhiko has never quite forgiven us for the deception involved in the Neo World Program."
"It wasn't like it was an intentional deception," said Hajime.
"True, but impartially has never been his strongest characteristic."
"So...what happens now?" Hajime asked quietly.
"Now, we depart," Kyoko announced.
"So soon?!"
"It's short notice, but necessary. I'm afraid we can't delay our return to headquarters."
The atmosphere was grim as Makoto, Kyoko, and Byakuya bade farewell to the Remnants. Hina hung back, giving them space and trying her best not to eavesdrop. She didn't have to eavesdrop to recognize the expressions, though—expressions drawn as tight as her throat felt at that moment.
She waited until the goodbyes had been said before meeting Makoto, Kyoko, and Byakuya on the porch. Hina shut the door firmly behind her and folded her arms. The sun was now at its peak, and beyond the trees, she could see the ship waiting at the dock.
"Remember, if you need to contact us, use Alter Ego," Kyoko reminded her. "He's hooked up to the security system installed in the house, so he'll monitor your situation and contact us in the event of an emergency."
"Great, more being watched by security cameras," Hina sighed.
"At least the one using the security system won't try to make you kill each other."
"Are you sure? Because I really don't want to end up in that situation again."
Kyoko hesitated, then firmly gripped her shoulder. “You’ll do fine, Hina.”
"You'll have to do better than 'fine,'" Byakuya snapped. "My time is too valuable to waste any more of it on the Remnants and I won't be returning to correct the mistakes you'll inevitably make."
"Glad you have faith in me, Byakuya," Hina sighed. She tried not to take his condescending comments too personally—but he sure was making it difficult.
"Even if Byakuya doesn't have faith in you, Kyoko and I do," said Makoto. "Everything'll work out, Hina."
"Of course it will!" she gave him a hopeful smile. "You guys worry about the Future Foundation and let handle these guys."
Makoto, Kyoko, and Byakuya finally set off down the driveway and out of sight. Hina waved until they were gone from view, and the last she saw of Makoto, he was looking over his shoulder, hand extended. Her heart raced as if she'd just run a marathon, suddenly struck with the knowledge that she was in killing distance of the Ultimate Despair.
She looked back and stared at the periwinkle door. No matter who they were now, no matter how friendly they seemed and how severe the amnesia, that didn't change the fact that there was blood on their hands. Too much blood. Still, she thought of the friends who had died at Hope's Peak—the ones Junko had killed. Not just friends like Chihiro, Taka, and Sayaka—but the ones who'd died in the riots, the ones whose spirits had been killed by despair.
Hina inhaled sharply and with the breath came renewed energy. She was going to change it. She couldn't save the world, but she could save a small portion of it in the form of her new students.
Just then, she heard the sound of breaking glass sounding from somewhere above her.
She let out a long sigh. Definitely a challenge.