Chapter Text
“The plan was called Operation Despair...” The radio host began with a dramatic flourish the second the on air light clicked on. Naegi was taken aback, as this was far different from her previous demeanor. They’d chatted for a few moments to make him feel ‘comfortable’ she said. “And one of the schools included in this plan was out own Hope’s Peak Academy.” Naegi smiled nervously as she continued setting up the story. He was on the talk radio show belonging to Hope’s Peak Academy’s Ultimate Host. Sadly it wasn’t the fun kind of host that entertained beautiful women. But a talk show host, tv show host, or anything else that really called for a dramatic touch. “Where a kid named Makoto Naegi...”
“Hi.” He squeaked nervously into the mic.
“Our very own Super High School Level Luckster. His luck came to fruition one day when a beautiful girl walked in.”
“Kirigiri.”
---
Naegi was drumming his pencil rapidly on his desk. He’d never been so bored he was sure of it. Everyone else had some talent to hone in on during the school day, and what did he have? Luck. How was he even supposed to test that? Buy a lotto ticket each day? It would get expensive quick if it didn’t pay off. He thought maybe his luck would rear it’s head by making something interesting happen. For once. As he thought that bitterly to himself, he heard the door to the classroom slide open.
A beautiful girl with long purple hair stepped in passing a slip of paper to their teacher. Every was already looking, but she called for attention anyway.
“Everyone, this is Kyouko Kirigiri.” The teacher introduced as the stoic girl bowed slightly. “She’s the Ultimate Track Runner.” Naegi frowned. She didn’t look like a track star. He supposed she was dressed like one, her tight fitting black running shorts and tank top, but she didn’t have the build. From what he knew. She didn’t seem to have the personality one would expect either. She was quiet, and her face stone cold. But she was beautiful. Naegi found himself enamored right away staring at her. She wore strange gloves, but he only paused on that for a moment his gaze continuing upward. Her lilac hair was pulled into a long ponytail that reached her lower back and she stood tall, unwavering. He felt scared, but mostly intrigued. She sat in front of him and his eyes quickly shot over to Oowada who was staring off into space. Quickly when she wasn’t looking he threw a paper ball at him and motioned for him to switch seats. It got him further from the front and closer to Ishimaru, so he complied, and Naegi slid quickly into the desk. Kirigiri looked at him, slightly confused, but then she smiled and Naegi felt his heart melt.
“Hey.”
---
“What first drew you to her Naegi?” He snapped himself away from the memory, leaning into the mic.
“The way she would fall asleep in class.” Naegi could remember her propping her head up on her hand and dozing off occasionally. Though now that he thought, maybe that was a ruse too.
“What’d she look like, Makoto?”
“She had this long purple hair, and her skin was so smooth. And when she wore her track shorts, I swear
everyone
turned their heads.” He couldn’t believe he uttered that on air. “But we had stuff in common too. She was new to Hope’s Peak like me, and she came from the same sorta modest background as me.”
---
“So I’ve never seen you around,” Naegi said leaning over to talk to her. She shrugged a little.
“I just got recruited recently.” He nodded a little bit, egging her to continue. “I came from a pretty small junior high, I don’t really know anyone... I’m kinda nervous,” she admitted. He could understand why. The school was intense.
“I understand, but it gets better!” He tried to be reassuring. “Everyone is nice.”
“Eyes up here please,” the teacher called to the two of them. Naegi quickly pulled out his cell phone, waving it a little for her to see before passing it. She looked like she was debating before she relented and put her number in.
---
“So we talked for a bit, back and forth. I felt like we were really getting to know each other. I told her about getting picked in the lottery and how nervous I’d been. I started to develop some feelings, you know how it goes.” He was red in the face telling this to possibly thousands if not more people. But he needed to do this.
“Did she ever confide in you?” The host asked, head cocked to the side as if people could see.
“A bit yeah... She told me about how much pressure she felt over her talent, and how her failure could lead to a lot of bad things going down, you know? I was confused, because she just did track. But to everyone our talent is sorta like life or death.” Naegi knew it was true, even someone like the ultimate host probably felt like their talent was The Most Important Thing. Like failure would ruin them. In a way it was true.
“And then prom came up?”
“And then prom came up.”
---
“A-are you guys sure about this!?” Naegi asked glancing nervously back at Kyouko in her chair.
“Bro, chicks dig music. Trust me.” Leon was grinning down at Naegi. Naegi, Leon, and Oowada were all gathered at the front of the classroom whispering about prom. The dance was fast approaching, and everyone was scrambling for a date. Leon had already asked Maizono, who was Naegi’s ‘let’s go as friends!’ back up. So now he really needed a date. And he was convinced to serenade her in front of the whole class. Naegi suddenly was questioning why he didn’t ask Sayaka for help. Or Asahina. Or an actual
girl.
What if he made a total idiot of himself? Mondo grinned as the music started blaring, it was officially too late to go back.
“What the heck I gotta do~”
Naegi stood, his face the color of a tomato. What if she said no? Or what if she said yes? He didn’t know what to do. So he stood, panting as everyone stared at him. But he stared at her.
“Will you go to prom with me?”
“I’ll think about it.” She was grinning though. That was a good sign.
“She’ll think about it!” Leon said clapping him on the back.
“She said she’ll think about it!” Mondo also seemed to be taking it as a good thing, as he wrapped his arm tightly around Naegi’s neck.
“Yes!”