Chapter Text
Not long after Hajime Hinata, Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu, Akane Owari, Sonia Nevermind, and Kazuichi Souda all made the decision to end the Neo World Project (that had been tampered with by an AI version of Junko Enoshima) on their terms, the three suited members of the Future Foundation--Kyoko Kirigiri, Makoto Naegi, and the real Byakuya Togami--were ensuring that the place Makoto had chosen to hold the remaining members of Hope's Peak Academy Class 77 in stasis was secure. It was a fact that Makoto was eventually going to have a lot to answer for, since his orders were to capture and eliminate the Remnants of Despair.
Sensing Makoto's frustration, Kyoko silently walked over to the brunet--who was absently rubbing the back of his head with his left hand as he often did when he was either thinking or really stressed out. With a light tap upon Makoto's right shoulder, Kyoko offered, "Since you seem to be tense, maybe some fresh air and sunlight would help."
Makoto looks to his lavender-haired classmate with a smile and nods. He quietly asks, "Is it that obvious?"
Byakuya, annoyed at literally everything because that's what he does, looks over to the pair and states, "Anyone would be a fool not to notice tics and habits of their.. companions." He'd hesitated to call them friends, but he secretly meant that instead. Far be it for the Ultimate Affluent Progeny to admit to frilly emotions. Impossible.
Sensing the tall blond's annoyance, Kyoko replies, "We know that we're here for specific reasons, and that we have to go back to the Foundation by a specific time." She whips out her cell phone to confirm the time, and then offers, "By my estimation, we have almost two hours before the boat leaves."
Sighing in resignation, Byakuya tersely retorts, "The sooner we get back, the less questions that there will be. As long as you don't treat this as a summer break, I suppose a bit of leisure can be allowed. Just don't expect me to join you. I have better things to do."
Makoto, surprising Kyoko, smiles and states, "I don't think that you were invited anyway, Byakuya, but if you change your mind you're welcome to join us."
Byakuya merely huffs, then looks away as he feels his cheeks warm up. Kyoko further presses by saying, "Your demeanor clearly shows that you want to come with us. Also, the more time that you have a certain someone not knowing exactly where you are, the better."
Byakuya certainly couldn't argue with her logic, and he of course knew exactly who Kyoko was referring to--Toko Fukawa, the Ultimate Author, and her second self Genocider Syo, the Ultimate Serial Killer, both had a massive crush on the tall, lithe blond.. which peeved him to no end. Along with that crush was a burning need for Toko and Syo (whoever was present) to hang on his every word, call him "Master", and make borderline lewd suggestions about what the two Ultimates should do together (Syo was the bigger pervert of the two, though). So with that logic in mind, the self-professed "Heir to the Togami Empire" simply nodded and followed the Luckster and the Detective outside of the dimly lit building that they were in.
The day was bright and sunny, and the three had to adjust their eyes to the light difference. Once they had, they all noticed that the sky was a deep, rich shade of blue, that there were large white puffy clouds in the sky, and that the waves from the ocean crashing onto the pristine beach were within earshot. Another good thing in Makoto's reckoning was that it wasn't too hot, seeing how the three were still clad in their black suits.
Kyoko, more to herself than the other two, said, "It's really a shame that we have a limited amount of time to enjoy this.. and that we didn't bring swimming gear. It's a really beautiful day today."
Byakuya surveyed the view with a more critical eye than his partners, but he again couldn't argue with Kyoko's statement. Not to mention the fact that what they all had recently gone through during the final part of the simulation made the spectacular view even more stunning.
Makoto had also heard what she had said, and turned to her with a smile. "So.. what would you two say if I told you that I actually have our swimming gear covered?"
Kyoko turned to Makoto with a stunned look on her face, while Byakuya was equally stunned. He spat out, "How!? With the state of the islands as they are, gathering that type of provision is next to impossible."
Makoto just grinned and plainly stated, "I think you've forgotten my Ultimate talent again."
Stifling a chuckle, Kyoko puts a gloved hand over her mouth while Byakuya can only shake his head. "You and your luck. Next thing I know, you're going to tell us that you have beach towels."
Makoto, still grinning, replies, "Actually... "
Byakuya cuts the luckster off with a rare smirk and replies, "You know what? I don't want to know. We're wasting time talking."
Kyoko, with a rare smile, nods her head in Byakuya's direction. "Come on, you two. Let's go have a little fun in the sun."