Chapter Text
POV: MAKAOTO NAEGI
"HE TRIED TO FUCKING SHOOT ME!!" Hinata-san yelled, slamming the office's table in rage. He gave an eye piercing glare at Komaeda-san, who sat next to him, unimpressed. Komaeda-san only poured more oil into the fire of Hinata-san's temper, rolling his eyes at Hinata-san. Before I could talk in an attempt to calm Hinata-san down, Komaeda-san opened his mouth.
"Tch, stop overreacting. You could have easily avoided a mere bullet with that artificial talent of yours, reserve course." Komaeda-san scoffed, annoyed that Hinata-san was “overreacting” at his shooting attack on Hinata-san.
Just why, Komaeda-san . . . ? I winced at his jabbing words at Hinata-san who already seemed close to exploding.
"Why the hell would you even try to shoot me in the first place?! You could have killed me!!" Hinata-san roared, harshly pulling Komaeda-san off of his chair by grabbing onto his collar. Both of them glared into each other's eyes with burning hatred and anger, scrunching their faces like they were ready to bite each other’s faces off any moment. They already had many scars from the previous fight with sloppy patches of bandages around their faces and bodies. I bite my lips nervously. I had to find a way to get them to stop fighting. Quick. Their fight was especially dangerous since both of their luck talents would be triggered during it, causing anything from slipping on the floor to space debris flying toward them. This meant that their fight didn’t only lead to them getting hurt but also to the other workers in future foundations being in danger when around them.
"Ah- Wait-... Do-Don't fight...Let's talk it out! Yeah? Haha..." I desperately stood up from the table and muttered out, trying my best to stop them from fighting. I pushed my hands between them so they won't start getting physical.
I just wanted them to get along . . . Why did it turn out like this?
I sighed in confusion and regret, not knowing where it all started to go wrong.
It has been about a month or so since Komaeda-san woke up from the Neo World program. He was the last one to wake up from the program, as everyone else had already woken up and started their work or training for the future foundation. Though I didn't really want to, I had to order Komaeda-san to get trained right away for the future foundation as well. I hoped to give Komaeda-san at least a few months of break because of the trauma and exhaustion that he must have gone through in the killing game. After all, I knew what it felt like to be in one too. . . And not to mention, his medical conditions were also a concerning problem. Unfortunately, the future foundation was short on people compared to the complex and devastating problem the world was facing after the despair era. Togami-kun also kept pushing me to put him in the training sessions right away. With no choice left, I put Komaeda-san in his training session after about a short month of healing.
I thought that having someone familiar to him to help him get through his training would be helpful, maybe even comforting so I asked Hinata-san to help Komaeda-san with his training. But oh, how I was so terribly wrong… Only after a few minutes of gun training, the fire alarm was turned on in the shooting range. Apparently, the alarm was turned on by one of the terrified workers who saw Hinata-san and Komaeda-san firing at each other at the shooting range.
And well, now here we are.
"I just wanted to bring Kamakura-san out. Like cornering an animal out of their home with fire. Maybe putting the reserve course in a desperate situation would make Kamakura-san come out.” Komaeda-san said as if the logic was a matter of fact, smirking a little at Hinata-san’s red, angered face.
“I. Am. Not. An. Animal! You-!” Hinata-san spoke through his gritted teeth, roughly tugging Komaeda-san’s collar again.
“Kamakura-san is much more hopeful than you, some pathetic nobody reserve course… Such a shame really, everything would have been much easier if the reserve course had been just erased from that surgery." Komaeda-san spat out, looking up and down at Hinata-san.
“Komaeda-san-!” Though I was about to interject and scold Komaeda-san for being so insensitive and cruel, I quickly became silent when my eyes met Hinata-san. I swallowed thickly, frozen by Hinata-san’s expression and atmosphere alone. I had never seen gentle and kind Hinata-san with such a terrifying, brooding atmosphere. The air was heavy as Hinata-san’s widened red ruby eyes shone in dense fury about to crack open soon. His grip on his fist was so tight that it trembled and turned white. I couldn’t tell if this life threatening feeling was coming from Kamakura’s power or Hinata-san’s anger or maybe even both. I could only stay still in fear of Hinata-san, breathing quietly. Though I knew he wasn't Kamakura, he still held the powers of Kamakura. Even if half of the workers at the future foundation came, there was no guarantee that we would be able to stop him. Hinata-san took a glance at me, realizing my fear filled face. His face faltered at my expression and he sighed, closing his eyes tightly. Finally, Hinata-san roughly let go of Komaeda-san, throwing him back in his chair.
I gave him a sorrowful yet thankful smile as he tried to smile back, emphasizing “tried”.
"Ha-! Says the one who was saved by a reserve course! Then I guess you're even lower than me!" Hinata-san said as he fell back onto his chair, grinning back at Komaeda-san in victory. It was obvious that Komaeda-san wasn't very happy about this comment as his face darkened with disgust.
"You, the Reserve Course?” Komaeda-san gave a mocking laugh.
“I don't want to get arrogant, but I believe that you should thank my luck and me for staying alive and coming out of the Neo-program in the first place," Komaeda-san growled, glaring coldly at Hinata-san. Hinata-san scoffed back at Komaeda-san's retort. I furrowed my eyebrows at Komaeda-san’s words.
What does Komaeda-san mean, it's thanks to his luck that Hinata-san survived? Has Komaeda-san controlled or changed something in the game that the future foundation hasn't noticed?
"Right. What did you even do? Kill yourself and put chaos in the killing game while everyone else tried their best to survive?" Hinata-san said sarcastically, fighting back at Komaeda-san’s words.
"Komaeda-san . . . what do you mean your luck helped Hinata-san survive?" I asked curiously. Komaeda-san’s cold face at Hinata-san immediately melts into a pleased smile at my voice.
"Ah! Naegi-kun, pardon me for my ugly attitude that you have to see . . . But it seems I can't quite handle being in the same room with this reserve course. And to answer your question . . . Can he leave the room?" He replied, acting as if Hinata-san wasn't sitting right next to us. Hinata-san rolled his eyes and marched off, slamming the door open by himself.
"Yes! Yes! Your majesty-!! This dirty reserve course will leave so you can finally breathe some ridiculous air of the ultimate hope!" Hinata-san yelled, and he harshly slammed the door as he left my office. I sighed in frustration and a bit of relief from the tension that had disappeared.
"Komaeda-san . . . I know you don't like Hinata-san, but could you at least try to treat him like a normal person?" I pleaded with him in distress.
In truth, I believed that Komaeda-san and Hinata-san had a special connection with each other when I viewed them through the cameras during the killing game. I didn't quite get what it was, but they seemed to show somewhat more connection and trust with each other than with others. Even Kirigiri-chan seemed to analyze their relationships and commented that they seem so different and yet they are so similar. "Even if they act like they hate each other, they'll always be compelled to each other. After all, similars attract," she said. I was snapped out of my thoughts by Komaeda-san’s strange noise.
"Ahh~! The ultimate hope called my name! Is it finally the day I will die?" He sighed happily, melting on his chair, completely ignoring my request. I grimaced.
Not a sight I’ll ever get used to…
"Ha . . . N-Nevermind, Komaeda-san… Could you just please clarify what you meant earlier by how Hinata-san is alive and out of the Neo-program thanks to you and your luck?" I asked tiredly.
"Ah-Of course, Naegi-Kun! Well… You see . . . In the game, before I knew what a hopeless reserve course he was, I was … fond of Hinata-kun, which is quite embarrassing to look back at now." He started off, tapping his chin with much thought. His voice held regret and almost confusion at himself.
"Fond …?" I asked, trying to clarify 'fond of.’
So Kirigiri-chan and I weren't wrong after all. . . don’t tell me he actually …
Komaeda-san seemed to fall into a rabbit hole of his own thoughts when I asked the question, scrunching his eyebrows. After a minute of silence, Komaeda-san shakes his head slowly.
"Yes, fond . . . How pitiful." He murmured, which seemed like more to himself than to me. From his ambiguous answer, I could already tell that this conversation wouldn't be so easy.
"Komaeda-san, I might be forward to ask, but could you possibly have li-“ Before I could finish my question, Komaeda-san quickly cut me off, clapping his hands cheerfully.
"Well, that isn't very important. The important piece is that when I didn't know his hopeless talent in the virtual world, I may have. . . favored him a little and have always wanted him to be the most hopeful and talented ultimate out of all. I wished for him to show his bright hope to the world! Even as I died in the game, though I knew the truth! I kept wishing for him to be someone who everyone finds hopeful. Quite pathetic of me, in all honesty! I should have never wished for such a thing. . . After all, my luck always knows how to surprise me . . . even after all these years.” He sighed disappointingly, staring at the office’s carpet.
Komaeda-san continued to explain with an unreadable polite smile, “My hopes came true in the end, Hinata-kun was an ultimate with all talents that saved the day for everyone. Though it wasn't quite the way I wanted it to be . . . In exchange of my despair of realizing that he was an utterly hopeless and useless desperate reserve course who has a fake talent, my past hopes came true!"
"So . . . you're saying because Hinata-san is the ultimate hope and he proved his hope to others by saving everyone in the Neo-program, your wishes became true as your good luck. But, there was also bad luck in return because Hinata-san is a reserve course that has artificial talents which… in your book is a big no, right . . . I see… And this probably came off as worse to you because you lik-mMmMMMPP" Before I could go on, he blocked my mouth with his hands.
"Haha! As expected of the ultimate hope! You truly understand the situation very clearly!" He interrupted, smiling carefreely.
"MmmMMpp!!" I struggled against his hand, feeling the sticky and sweaty hand on my face.
"Ah, I’m sorry! A trash like me touching you, the ultimate hope is quite revolting, isn’t it? Haha!" Komaeda-San quickly removed his cold hands. I rubbed my face with my sleeves, getting the moisture off my face.
"It-It's fine. Just- please don’t do that again." I mumbled, smiling awkwardly. Suddenly, the door slowly opened, and Hinata-san peeked his head inside.
"Is everything alright? Uh, did I hear muffled screams…?” Hinata-san asked, concerned.
Komaeda-san flinched and yelled, "Do reserve courses never learn privacy? Of course. Even if they did learn it, their brain isn't capable of comprehending such tasks, isn't that right?" It was painfully obvious Komaeda-San was only acting like this because he was afraid Hinata-san might have heard about his not-so-platonic interest in him in the past. I pressed my lips together in frustration. I know that Komaeda-san had a hard past due to his luck cycle. So I hoped through the Neo-World Program, it could finally help him make new connections and build trust but now . . .
"I came in because I heard some weird noise! God-! Why are you trying to relate everything to reserve course?! You are fucking impossible, you know that? I try not to say something, and this is what happens every time!" Hinata-San yelled, finally losing it, which I couldn't quite blame him for.
"Well, maybe you stop acting like a brainless reserve course, then I'll stop calling you that, hm? Reserve course?" Komaeda-san stood up, staring at Hinata-san with disdain.
"I had enough talking from you!" Hinata-san started to march towards Komaeda-san with a terrifying aura as Komaeda-san did the same.
"Enough!!!!" I yelled as I slammed my hand on the table. They both stopped and looked at me. They both seemed shocked since I have never really yelled at anyone. I was actually more of the person who would stop Togami-kun from yelling at everyone instead. I looked up with a stern look on my face.
My mind was made up.
"I am getting you two back in the Neo world program."
" . . .
What?!?!" They both yelled.
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POV: HAJIME HINATA
"Hey . . .
Can you hear me . . . ?
Are you okay?"
I heard the same worried voice repeat the same phrases at uneven timings. The familiar yet dreadful sound of waves softly clashing on the sand and the birds squawking was heard. The warm sunlight and random patches of shadow were covering my face.
Why do I have a feeling of Déjà vu-?
Urkg- my head hurts . . .
"Hinata-kun?"
"Kamakura-san?"
"Hajime-kun?"
The same light husky voice called me by different names.
"Mmgh-" I groaned as I tried getting up.
"Tsk . . . Stop whining and get up, reserve course."
Komaeda is here… Of course. I groaned.
"Shut up, will you?" I mumbled as I tried to get up. I fluttered my eyes open to find . . .
Multiple Komaeda-kuns?
" . . .
. . . Haaaaaaaa-?!!"