Chapter Text
Act IV: He Grew Up Just Like Me
Years passed and the graduates of Class 78-C of Hope's Peak Academy went on with their lives. Kyoko often spoke with her father, whether about investigation requests or other matters. In the end, Kyoko never was able to sever her ties with him, and while she admitted that their relationship would never be the same again, she had to admit that a part of her enjoyed those conversations.
Makoto and Kyoko occasionally kept in touch after high school, but seldom had opportunities to see each other. Shortly after the two became old enough to enjoy alcohol, she invited him to go out for drinks with her.
"I appreciate you accepting my invitation, Naegi-kun," Kyoko said as they sat down together, "but I notice something's troubling you."
"I'm that easy to read, huh?" Makoto said. "You always were perceptive, Kirigiri-san."
"Maybe I am," Kyoko said, "because I've observed that you're quite open with your thoughts and feelings."
Makoto nervously chuckled.
"Well, your guess was half right," Makoto said, "because I'm not the one who's troubled- Sayaka is."
Kyoko nearly jumped out of her skin. Makoto was always polite and courteous, using last names with appropriate honorifics on most of his friends and acquaintances. His younger sister Komaru was the only person he called by her first name without honorifics, so if he did the same for Sayaka...
"Maizono-san is?" Kyoko said.
"Yeah," Makoto said, looking around. "Don't tell anyone, but her idol career's on the rocks. Her agency's starting to get tired of her and her friends now that the novelty of the Ultimate Pop Sensation's fading."
"I'd heard rumors like this," Kyoko said, "but nothing definite. I hadn't expected Maizono-san's career to go downhill so soon."
"For idol singers, talent isn't everything," Makoto said. "Their success is determined by their public appeal and their fanbases can be rather fickle. If the public gets tired of them, or they have a scandal, they're finished."
Kyoko nodded, then looked around. The rest of the patrons were preoccupied, and most of them had already had a few drinks, so those who could hear them weren't listening very closely.
"Scandals like... being in a relationship?" Kyoko said.
"Nailed it," Makoto said. "We've been going out since the start of our second year at Hope's Peak, although we agreed to keep it secret. Sayaka said I could trust you with it, since you're a friend, and probably figured it out by now."
Kyoko was rendered speechless for a moment. She'd always known that Makoto and Sayaka were friends, but was thoroughly flabbergasted that she hadn't noticed they'd been in a relationship while they were schoolmates.
"She gives me too much credit," Kyoko said, "but I won't tell anyone."
"Thanks," Makoto said. "Sayaka wants to keep going as long as she can with her friends, for the sake of the dream they achieved together. Despite that, she knows the writing's on the wall for them, and she's starting to think about her life after being an idol singer."
Makoto then changed the subject. Kyoko tried to keep her usual poker face, but suspected that Makoto noticed that she seemed distracted for the rest of the evening, and wondered if he realized the reason why.
Within a few years, Makoto graduated from college, and Sayaka's agency terminated her and her friends' contract. Makoto proposed to Sayaka, who happily accepted.
The two of them sent out wedding invitations to their schoolmates, Makoto's coworkers and Sayaka's former groupmates. Naturally, Kyoko received an invitation, and she RSVPed to let the couple know she would attend.
Kyoko wore a formal purple gown to the wedding. She wore white opera gloves over her scarred hands in lieu of her usual gloves, and while they were less practical, they better suited a formal event.
The wedding was a standard Western-style wedding, with the venue being a small church in Makoto's hometown. Only friends and family were invited, and Kyoko ended up sitting on the bride's side of the church.
During the reception, Sayaka, fresh off a conversation with her new sister-in-law, asked to speak with Kyoko.
"Thank you for the invitation, Maizono-san," Kyoko said, "and congratulations on your wedding."
"I'm grateful for the kind words, Kirigiri-san," Sayaka said, "but I'm a Naegi now, just like Makoto. Why not call me 'Sayaka'?"
"Very well, Sayaka-san," Kyoko said. "Still, I was not expecting to receive an invitation."
"Of course we'd invite you," Sayaka said. "Makoto asked to include you, but wouldn't have done it unless it was okay with me. You're our friend, after all."
As Kyoko nodded and said "Thank you," the music player then moved on to its next track- Sayaka and her friends' cover of "Cat's In The Cradle." Kyoko immediately recognized the tune.
"Ah yes, this song," Kyoko said. "I've often listened to it ever since the single was released. It's certainly a good choice for your wedding."
"I know," Sayaka said. "Makoto said he plans to be there for our kids, and while he has a duty to support the family, he doesn't intend to spend all his time working. I'd say that for him, this song's warning got through."
"Indeed," Kyoko said. "Do you regret what happened to your idol career?"
"Not really," Sayaka said. "I'll probably miss being an idol from time to time, but I was glad I was able to do it. It helped me meet the members of my group, come to Hope's Peak and get a second chance to fall in love with Makoto. It didn't last, but that doesn't mean it wasn't worthwhile."
Kyoko's gaze wandered, and she saw Makoto with some of his old friends, clearly as happy as he could be. Some would consider him oblivious to what his wife had lost, but Kyoko knew that he'd made many compromises over the course of his relationship with Sayaka, from accommodating her being busy with idol work to keeping their relationship secret. There was no question in her mind that they deserved each other.
"By the way, Kirigiri-san," Sayaka said, "or Kyoko-san, if it's OK with you. Makoto and I would like to keep in touch with you, if you'd like that."
"Why wouldn't I, Sayaka-san?" Kyoko said. "After all, I'd like to stay friends with you."
Seeing the happy couple together would likely stir up painful memories for Kyoko, and remind her of how she'd missed the chance to be with the first boy she'd been interested in. But Kyoko believed that even painful memories could be useful lessons, and swore never to forget what she'd learned, or those who had taught it to her.
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
When you coming home, son, I don't know when
But we'll get together then, dad
We're gonna have a good time then