Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Nanami Chiaki had one weakness in playing video games, the same genre millions of her viewers want to see from her channel - Dating games.

The Ultimate Gamer isn't sure why her fans want to see her play these games, but it might be because she always gets the bad endings before the good ones. All her choices in dating games are awful. It's one of the main reasons why Chiaki's first instinct was to run away from the sight of the infamous talent scout of Hope's Peak. Thankfully, her editor slash best friend convinced her to go for it. The first semester in Hope's Peak was way different from her old school. She gets to roam around a pretty colossal campus. She also gets to play games the school bought for her talent. However, Chiaki enjoyed the second semester better than the first. The new homeroom teacher that came in the second semester gave her enough confidence to befriend her classmates.
 

The boost of confidence suddenly brought another issue...

Apparently, people are starting to notice her in school. Unlike in her previous school, boys and girls call her pretty and pleasant, instead of calling her a nerd or sleepyhead. The compliments make her feel nice, but random boys began confessing to her.  Chiaki had to politely turn them down, regardless of the venue, person, and/or event.

She's flattered at the beginning until she realized some of the guys are stalking her at night. Her classmates help get her out of those situations, but the problems are getting more challenging. She's feeling paranoid. The eyes are making it harder to play games outside. Nowadays, Chiaki doesn't know if Hope's Peak is better or worse than her old school... [That's when it hit her.]

[Chiaki: i miss u ╥﹏╥ ]

[Hajime: Please tell me you didn't burn water again.]

[Chiaki: not this time.]

[Chiaki: i really do miss u Q_Q]

[Hajime: It's barely been a year.]

[Chiaki: ಥ﹏ಥ i host livestream for ur tuition]

[Hajime: It's late, and I don't know if that's a good idea.]

[Chiaki: (༎ຶ⌑༎ຶ) i tot u 💕 me?]

[Hajime: Why do you want me there, anyway?]

[Chiaki: get guys off my back (つ﹏⊂) ]

[Hajime: Why not ask your classmates?]

[Chiaki: Kaz is Sonia simp. Neko, Gundam and Fuyu are taken. Teruteru is no-no. Nagito protecc hope. Izuru is baby.]

[Hajime: I can't believe you called someone baby.]

[Chiaki: can't take girls coz guys find that hot]

[Hajime: Why not try getting a real boyfriend first?]

[Chiaki: u r bf material ( •́ω•̩̥̀ ) ]

[Hajime: Smooth.]

[Chiaki: pls?]

(Chiaki can already imagine her editor rubbing his face at her childishness. Thankfully, they're best of friends. Hajime wouldn't ignore her distress.)

[Hajime: Fine. =_= Let me get the mods.]

[Chiaki: (≧▽≦) ]

The Reserve Course tuition is expensive. The funds she got from the Livestream can only handle the first installment. Hajime and her will need to pool their resources if they want to pay in full. Thankfully, Chiaki is good with games, and Hajime is good at adapting to his environment. Also, Hope's Peak has a lot of businesses searching for willing part-timers. Downgrading the disadvantages, Chiaki presented the benefits of enrolling in her school as part of the Reserve Course. The newly formed department have good computer areas with fast internet service.

Hajime can take part-time jobs, edit her videos, and have a good education in the Reserve course. All the while, Hajime helps ward off the guys. It's a win-win!

Despite being the Ultimate Gamer's video editor, social media influencer, and secretary, Hinata Hajime has enough time to study at Kodaka High and get grades good enough to transfer into Hope's Peak Academy.  Of course, Hajime has zero talent, so he has to pay exorbitant tuition fees and study in the Reserve Course department.

Hajime was OK with the set-up.  He only has to study in this school for one year before drowning himself in reviewers for the college entrance exams.  His grades and exam results earned him a dorm room and unlimited orange juice.  It just had to be a beverage company that sponsored the dorm.  Hajime didn't need anything but  a computer, internet access, peace, and quiet .

Hajime himself admits he's a simple piece of joe, so it would be  very  nice if people stop rubbing that in. He's not a workaholic. Hajime just wants to be productive and forget his overall worthlessness. The funny thing here is that being a reserve student already dictates his worth to the Ultimates. Young and old, the guys with talent like to rub salt on any reserve student's emotional wounds.

Hilarious.

If it weren't for the fact Chiaki is his only best friend, Hajime would have declined the offer and continue living in his apartment. He had to move out of his home because his parents kept arguing and blaming others for infidelity or any shortcomings.  Just because you two are both lawyers doesn't mean the offspring will end up as the *BEEEP*  Ultimate Lawyer . Hajime didn't find law interesting when he was younger, preferring games over logic. Law sounded neat at the time, reminding him of some lawyer games, but Hajime quickly found it too complicated and grew bored of it. He was an ordinary kid. He had a short attention span and liked what his other age group wanted... Then he grew up. Hajime couldn't pinpoint when he became a realist, but it might be at the start of elementary.

...

"I will now introduce a new transfer student." The homeroom teacher of this class announced. Hajime watched as all eyes faced him, scanning the area to see a ton of them curious and yet empty. Before transferring, his classmates back in Kodaka did warn him to be careful.

'Something bad is going to happen, they say.' Hajime took a step forward. No one outside Hope's Peak understands why they came to that conclusion because these people could transfer out if they're so dissatisfied, but Hajime can see the concerns and possibilities. Hajime gave a slight bow, paying courtesy. 'This class will be the first batch to graduate, huh?'
 

"Hello. My name is Hinata Hajime." Hajime looked back up, confused why a blonde lady sitting at the back of the room is glaring daggers at him.  He also wants to know why students are whispering . Hajime continued. "It's nice to meet you."

"Good. Hinata-kun, please sit beside Kuzuryu." The teacher ordered, and Hajime walked down the path to sit beside the woman who stared at him. "Now, let's start class. Please open to page..."
 

'I barely did anything.' Hajime thought, pulling out his textbook. He can still feel eyes on him, slightly bothered but overall used to it. His father's associates are worse. Hajime flipped the page, staring at polygons. 'What the hell did I do to her?'

Chapter Text

When Hajime sent her a text message this morning, Chiaki can't wait to meet her friend by the water fountain, which is several feet away from the Main Campus entrance. She'll definitely show him around and tell him the plan. She made a list last night, looking into different Otome games for obvious signs two people are dating and out of the table. Hajime isn't exactly experienced with love either, but neither is she! They can transverse this rocky road called love together... Maybe?

'He didn't say YES, though..' Chiaki sighed. She should get his explicit consent first. 'Who knows what will happen in the long run?'

"Is something wrong, Nanami-san?" The Ultimate Princess asked, causing Chiaki to look up at a GAME OVER screen. She wasn't paying attention. Sonia Nevermind is her first and closest friend in class 77-B, delegated to be her assistant if Chiaki faints from the lack of sleep. Sonia Nevermind raised her hand, placing it on Chiaki's forehead. "You don't seem alright."

"I-I'm fine!" Chiaki reassured, a little flustered for getting caught zoning out. She couldn't bear telling a lie to her close friend in school, but Sonia wasn't exactly the best when it comes to secrets. "I feel a little under the weather, but maybe that's because I didn't sleep much last night?"

"I-I can help!" The Ultimate Nurse was quick to overhear their conversation, holding a box.

"No, thank you." Chiaki waved her hands, trying to calm the nurse. Mikan may be clumsy, but she's perceptive.

"You aren't part of the conversation, pig barf!" The Ultimate Traditional Dancer rushed to her aid before Mikan could pull out medicine, telling Mikan off for exaggerating the situation. Like what one should do in an otome game, Chiaki took note of each student's likes and dislikes. She also paid attention to detail, such as their family background, birthdays, hobbies, etc.

[Kuzuryu Fuyuhiko and Pekoyama Peko like each other. Fuyuhiko is friends with Souda Kazuichi, who likes Sonia Nevermind. Sonia doesn't like the mechanic but likes Tanaka Gundham, who somehow got along with Nidai Nekomaru. Owari Akane is great friends with Nekomaru, a potential friend to lovers with enough events are triggered. Hanamura Teruteru is a passive NPC who greatly contrasts aggressive NPC Saionji Hiyoko. Tsumiki Mikan is the nurse NPC, while Koizumi Mahiru is the save point character.]

"..." Chiaki glanced at Mioda Ibuki chatting with Mitarai Ryota. She doesn't know what to consider the two just yet. They act like NPCs, but they move the plot to the next chapter.  They know everyone and are amiable with anyone in particular.  Komaeda Nagito is best fitted to be a game player with how unpredictable his luck is. Or maybe he's the anti-hero? Kamukura Izuru is also a player, but he might be a hacker.

'They can't be love candidates.' Chiaki talked about them to Hajime, but the brunette decided to tease her to have a crush on the duo. 'Because I didn't experience  Doki Doki  from them.'

"You're spacing out again." Sonia smiled. "Do you wish to talk about it? I can help."

"I..." Chiaki opened her mouth but thought against it. She doesn't know if it's okay to talk about Hope's Peak newly opened department: the Reserve Course. A department relatively far from the rest, the Reserve Course building has a dreary atmosphere with desperation oozing through its walls. If something terrible happens to Hajime, then... 'I guess I should tell them just to be safe.'

"A close friend of mine recently enrolled into the Reserve Course." Chiaki started simple. "I wonder if he'll be okay in there."

"Do you know what section?" Mahiru intervened, comforting her class representative. "I have a friend in the reserve section too. It will be neat if they're both classmates."

"Oh hell no! Don't listen to her, Nanami." Fuyuhiko interrupted, and Chiaki feels he's correct in this assumption. "No offense, but Sato's crazy."

"For the last time, Sato-san didn't do it!" Mahiru glared at the Ultimate gangster, who glared at her.

"How are you that dense? Even Kamukura proved that bitch is insane in class!" Fuyuhiko pointed out, which silenced the redhead.

"..." Chiaki bit her lower lip, remembering Fuyuhiko and Peko being absent for the whole week before the practical exams. The incident in the music room. Luckily, Fuyuhiko's sister survived the assault. Unfortunately, the one who did it committed suicide shortly after the confession. Natsumi is adamant that Mahiru hired the student, but Sato has so many people backing her alibi.

'That's how we know Peko is contracted with the Kuzuryu clan.' Chiaki remembering the Ultimate swordsman enter the Reserve Course department and accompanying Natsumi at some point in time. Chiaki felt a little lonely and scared, but that's fine...

"So," Fuyuhiko rests his arm on his chair, asking. "How's your friend like?"

"Hinata-kun...?" Chiaki pondered an accurate word for her friend. Hajime is caring and determined, always overthinking things and searching for something to do. Chiaki answered. "Hinata-kun is player two."

"What?" Fuyuhiko asked. Before Chiaki can explain, Yukizome entered the classroom.

"All right, class! I'm glad you're all here!" Chisa cheered. Everyone went back to their seats.

"..." Chiaki returned to her game console, hitting her face with it because she could have told them she and Hajime are dating. "Urghh..."

...

When Chiaki told him to meet up by the water fountain, Hajime hoped to reach the area ASAP. He didn't expect to get blocked by random students asking if he's related to the Ultimate Hope.

They say he has the same voice range and birth date with the Ultimate, but Hajime has absolutely no clue what the hell these guys are saying.  He is Hinata Hajime.  He is an only child with ZERO talent.  Why the hell did Hope's Peak permit its students to see each other's birthday, anyway?!  Hajime doesn't know who this Ultimate Hope is, nor does he give a fuck.

'Shouldn't they focus on studying instead?' Hajime cursed, walking out of the building with his spare bag. He's wasted precious time from false accusations.  He should meet with Chiaki for a quick tour around the school before discussing this month's plan.

'Where is she?' Hajime thought, reaching the destination five minutes late to see no one there. He quickly pulled out his phone, ignoring the emails to check his chat with Chiaki. As his friend's secretary, Hajime combed through the various individuals who wish to collab with the gamer. 'This week is Chiaki's collab with the Hair_Fanatic.'

'I guess we can use my room.' Hajime recently entered his dorm room to set his equipment and miscellaneous before leaving for class. Hope's Peak may be a prestigious school, but their testing schedules are shady and rulebooks thick as his arm. Hajime took the exam around 12 AM and became an official student around 4 AM alongside a dozen others. 'Desperate for money or something else?'

*♫♪♬*

"I thought we agreed to meet by the fountain?" Hajime answered the phone with a question, curious where his friend could be. Instead of hearing his sleepy friend (Chiaki has problems sleeping), the brunette listened to a chorus of exclamations from the other side.

" HOLY SHIT! HE DOES SOUND LIKE IZURU! " A guy screamed, and Hajime is very tempted to hang up the phone. Someone must have taken Chiaki's phone.  Again.   The last time someone did that, Hajime saw Mr. Nanami using his authority as a police officer to track down the thief.  In this case, it must be her classmates.

"If this is one of Nanami's friends, tell her to check her email. Chunsoft made a beta game and wants her to test it out." Hajime knew that whenever Chiaki's classmates are involved, their plans to upload a video or talk with each other get cut off. "Thanks."

"Wait-" Hajime didn't wait and hung up on the unknown student.

*click*

'It's best not to get involved.' Hajime didn't want to cause more chaos in that area. He's listened to enough of Chiaki's rants to learn the class isn't precisely the logical bunch.

"..." Keeping his phone in his pocket, Hajime sat down on the bench. Hajime then pulled out a bottle of sponsored  orange juice and his laptop. 'At least she's right with one thing.'

'I'd kill for this bandwidth.' Hajime opened his laptop, taking a sip of his drink. 'Can't say the same with the people, but nowhere's perfect.'

Chapter Text

Announcing her relationship to her classmates might be the wrong move.

Chiaki never expected her classmates to be motivated to learn about her love life. Even Yukizome-sensei wants to meet Hajime?! It doesn't make sense to be this hyped at all! Chiaki did her best to calm them down, but they're adamant about meeting her confidant. Is it that hard to imagine her with a lover? Chiaki was both touched and offended by their reactions, except for Izuru. Izuru rarely reacts, so Chiaki actively promotes the Ultimate Hope to interact with them. If only it wasn't about Hajime. Chiaki called Hajime, but Kazuichi's remark might have caused her friend to hang up.

'I hope Hinata-kun isn't in a foul mood...' Chiaki walked beside Sonia, Kazuichi, and Gundham.  Lying to her friends to not knowing which fountain Hajime could be on, Chiaki agreed with her teacher's plan to split up and meet Hajime.  The gamer knows her decision might bite her in the butt, internally panicking when she heard Nagito, Izuru, Teruteru, and Fuyuhiko are heading to the fountain at the main entrance. She prayed Hajime got lost and took another fountain to sit on. 'Please, Gabcom almighty!'

"I already said I'm sorry!" The Ultimate mechanic has been begging for forgiveness for the past ten minutes from Sonia since he's the one who scared Hajime. Sonia was obviously displeased with how rude Kazuichi was, comparing a stranger to someone, and chose to ignore him. Yukizome sensei wanted their relationship patched up, but Chiaki is siding on Sonia on this one. Hajime has low self-esteem.

"I do not need your excuses, Souda. You must apologize to the real injured party." Sonia walked beside Chiaki and Gundham, making sure Souda is three steps behind them. Sonia may not know who Hajime is, but she told Chiaki that Hajime must be a wonderful friend to have her as a lover. Chiaki likes Sonia. She knows Hajime will like her too.

'Hinata-kun is probably editing videos or maybe coordinating with other people.' Chiaki believed as she reached chapter 2 of this tactic, turn-based game. She activated the recording mode in her game console, thinking. 'I'm just searching for bugs, right? Do I get paid more if I show it to my viewers? Hm... I remember something about needing consent first..'

"As expected!" Gundham spoke, and Chiaki looked away from her game to see Maga-Z, one of Gundham's hamsters, standing on the ground. Going down on one knee, the Ultimate Breeder held his hand out for the hamster to climb.

"What have you learned, dark one?" Gundham stood up, staring intently at the hamster, and proclaimed. "Let us be off before the doppelgänger escapes my generals' sight."

'Has Hope's Peak always been like this?' Chiaki followed her friends, deep in thought. Chiaki didn't think to compare Hajime's voice with Izuru, nor did she think the duo shared the same birth date. All Chiaki knows is that Hajime took the entrance exam at midnight.  She didn't expect the school to let Hajime start studying hours later.  'Is this how Hope's Peak conduct their exams for reserve course students?'

"Is that him?" Sonia asked, and Chiaki saw a familiar brown spiky hair in the distance.

"Yes! Hinata-kun? Over here!" Chiaki called out, waving her hand (which is also holding her game girl 4DS) in the air.

"?" Hajime looked up to face them. A chubby golden hamster named Champ-P is on his head.  Said hamster is playing with Hajime's ahoge, which is cute. Even with a five-meter distance and inching closer, Chiaki can see the fatigue weighing in her friend's face.

"Took you long enough, Nanami." Hajime greeted her back, and Chiaki can see how people can mistake her friend's voice with Izuru. However, Hajime has more life in his voice!  Life equals sarcasm.   Hajime just sounds dead because of the lack of sleep.

"It is a pleasure meeting you!" Sonia introduced herself, confidently walking towards the tired reserve student. Kazuichi was standing behind Gundham, still unsure if Hajime were a ghost or a hostile creature of the dark like what the forums said. All Chiaki knows is that Hajime could be verbally brutal in his comments. "My name is Sonia Nevermind. I am Nanami-san's friend."

"Hinata Hajime. Thank you for being Nanami's friend here. She talks about you a lot when she first enrolled in this school." Hajime agreed to shake hands with Sonia but removed it to cover his yawn. "Sorry about that... This school didn't give me time to adjust."

"It is of no problem." Sonia must be glad to see another person treating her like an equal. "May I see what you are doing at the moment?"

'What about the others?' Chiaki glanced back at Gundham and Kazuichi, who are still talking to each other.

"I'm not saying doppelgangers exist, but doesn't this guy have more color than Izuru?" Kazuichi asked Gundham, eyeing Hajime warily. "What if Izuru is, hypothetically, the Doppel?"

"Don't let appearances deceive you, low-leveled mortal." Gundham being his cryptic self, asked in turn. "There is more than meets the eye. The comparison would lead to your untimely demise."

"Can you speak normally for a second?" Kazuichi tugged his beanie, annoyed or confused. "And are we talking about Izuru or Hajime?"

'Ok. It's the effort that counts..' Chiaki pursed her lips and turned back to see Sonia sit down beside Hajime. 'What are they talking about?'

"I feel  this  is a good choice." Sonia smiled at something on his screen, already so familiar with the sleepy brunette. "When shall she visit the parlor?"

"Funny story, but this is going to be a part of a Livestream in celebration of..." Hajime explained. Chiaki opted to sit beside her friend, looking at the screen to see various hairstyles. It made Chiaki touch her hair, thinking what hairstyle Sonia liked.

"Did I already reach my sub count?" Chiaki recalled her promise with Hair_Fanatic on having Hajime cut her hair if she gains another 5M subscriber. "It's only been five months."

"But you did, and your followers are annoying me with memes." Hajime sighed, her in-denial workaholic who chooses to deal with the issue instead of ignoring it for tomorrow. "And didn't you tell me you wanted to cut your hair last month?"

"Yes, but I remembered cutting hair is symbolic to change and..." Chiaki trailed on. Hajime's response was to slowly blinked and-

"Or! You're thinking practical." Hajime suggested, and Chiaki pushed Hajime's arm. Hajime finally smiled, teasing. "What? I know you spend so much time on your hair."

"Long hair is scarf worthy!" Chiaki huffed, but Hajime rolled her eyes. "I can hide bobby pins in it too! In case I get kidnapped."

"Your hair is too smooth that the bobby pins eventually fall off." Hajime couldn't focus on his work anymore, closing his laptop. "Except for the pin your dad customized. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a tracking device in that."

"Well... My hair is only smooth because of my shampoo. It won't be that smooth after a year-" Chiaki argued in turn but grew silent at what she just said. 

"You bought a year's worth of  Idol shampoo." Hajime slowly blinked before asking. "Why?"

"Pft." Sonia tried her best not to laugh. Hajime consequently squinted at Sonia. Sonia sheepishly smiled, "sorry. You two are rare pair."

"???" Hajime grew confused at her words, looking back at Chiaki. "I can see how you two get along."

"... I know where you sleep." Chiaki hit Hajime with her game girl.

"Hey. Stop. Accept the truth." Hajime laughed as she thwacked him with her game girl.

"I can see how you two got together." Sonia tapped her fingertips together, scheming of something. "It reminds me of my grandparents, minus the weapons and responsibilities."

"We are childhood friends." Chiaki nodded sagely while Hajime stared at her in wonder. She technically met Hajime online when she was 12. That must count as childhood friends!

"What do you mean without weapons?" Hajime frowned, probably thinking a bunch of middle-aged adults playing knife monopoly.

"You see? In my kingdom-" Before Sonia can answer, Kazuichi and Gundham came into the picture.

Hajime likes Sonia. There's something about the woman that makes him want to protect her. It's not him being a simp, but akin to a security guard. He knew she's an Ultimate, but what talent would let him feel this way? This week, he has to cut Chiaki's hair to any of the hairstyles Hair_Fanatic and her fans chose for Chiaki. There are three hairstyles, and Sonia agreed that he'll cut Chiaki's hair up to her shoulders with bangs so the blonde can keep wearing her favorite spaceship hairpin. Before he could learn about Sonia's weird family tradition, two guys came up to him.

"I'm sorry for comparing you to a cryptid!" A pink-haired guy with sharp teeth bowed his head at him. His voice did remind him of the guy yelling at his ears.

"Cryptid?" Hajime glanced at Chiaki.

"Kamukura-kun is not a cryptid. He is baby." Chiaki crossed her arms. Sonia laughed again as Hajime sighed again.

"If this so-called baby is taller than me, I am going to make you play that Togami corp sims game," Hajime swore under his breath.

"Anyways," Chiaki changed the topic. "Hinata-kun, meet my other classmates: Souda Kazuichi and Tanaka Gundham." 

"The dark one is of the same height as you, mortal." The guy with no eyebrows and grey eyes-

'Hold just a second!' Hajime stared at the newcomer. 'So many things are happening in this guy's appearance!'

There's a grey scar running across this guy's left eye, but the injury looks too stylish for it to be from a fight. This guy either: (1) is wearing a red contact lens in his left eye and dyed his hair some time ago or; (2) has heterochromia and poliosis. It's not helpful how pale the man is or how the purple scarf hides half his face. Let's not forget the bandages on his arm and the hamsters.  Hamsters?  

"Oh? It seems he managed to look past my illusions and learned of my true nature." Gundham off-handedly remarked. "He may not be a simple mortal, after all."

"He is Nanami-san's boyfriend." Sonia struck up, looking at Hajime expectantly. "And I wholeheartedly believe they make a cute couple."

"Hinata-kun is buffering," Chiaki commented. "He likes to overthink and overwork."

"No, I don't," Hajime argued, focusing back on the sharp-toothed gangster? Hajime leaned forward, "Stand up. I forgive you."

"I'm sure you didn't mean to compare me to a baby cryptid..." Hajime scratched the back of his neck, looking away.

"Yeah. I didn't mean to be rude. You just sound like him, have the same birthday, even same height, which is fucking weird.." The guy rambled. Hajime might have to retract his pardon.

"Hinata-kun is different from Kamukura-kun." Chiaki reaffirmed her stance. "Kamukura-kun is baby. Hinata-kun is boyfriend material."

"You have made a great ally, Nanami." Gundham praised his class representative. "His physical appearance deceived even I, the Supreme Overlord of Ice!"

"What?" Both Hajime and possibly the other sane guy(?) said at the same time.

"A being who is capable of making the impossible possible." Gundham rambled on, and why are both Sonia and Chiaki interested in this guy?! "He may be a singularity."

"Please tell me the rest of your class isn't as weird as this?" Hajime heaved, rubbing his temple on the impending headache.

"I can't assure you that." Kazuichi chuckled, and Hajime lets out another sigh. "Now that I think about it, I kinda get what's going on here."

"You do?" Hajime looked at the guy who smells like oil (for reasons?)

"Yeah. I feel like we have a connection." Kazuichi has said the next weirdest thing Hajime heard in less than half a day in Hope's Peak Academy. "Like we're soul friends."

'Why did I enroll here?!' Hajime internally screamed.

Chapter Text

Hajime won't admit it out loud, but Chiaki makes him feel important and valuable.

Before they met, Hajime didn't know what he should be in life. He was talent-less and ordinary. He can foresee himself living a boring future. He couldn't be content with what his parents planned for him because he felt he wasn't good enough to live up to his parent's expectations. Hajime knew he wanted to be part of something bigger, but he also thought he wouldn't be good enough to take part in it in the first place.

Hajime will admit he's insecure and paranoid when Hope's Peak Academy accepted him right off the bat, but Chiaki needs him. Not only is she his best and only friend, but she makes his life exciting and productive. It's only a matter of time before his parents learn he's enrolled here, but that's his problem and not Chiaki.

'I guess this comes in a package...' Hajime sighed, sitting on his chair close to the window while watching his classmates argue.

The Reserve Course in Hope's Peak Academy  is filled with: (1) ambition-less, (2) delusional, and (3) self-entitled students. The first set fills up half the population, with the third set coming second.  This might be because the third set consists of teenagers born from wealthy parents with connections.  The second set is those who say they have talent but fail to understand the reality of their situation. They wouldn't be in the reserve course if they had talent.

'In fact, they might be their own worst enemy.' Hajime flipped a page in his book, advance reading his lessons to get it out of his schedule. When he bid goodbye to Chiaki, Kazuichi told him to befriend Kuzuryu Natsumi because Chiaki's friend, Kuzuryu Fuyuhiko, says so.

' Makes sense, I guess?' Hajime glanced to his side, staring at the Reserve Course's self-proclaimed  Ultimate Little Sister . With her army of simps(?), Natsumi gets the job done better than the lifeless student council elected last year. Once they move past each other's attitude, Natsumi being a sensible paranoid femme fatale, she taught him that the Reserve course students don't take kindly to each other's accomplishments.

'I'll have to stay low and hope the rumors die.' Hajime looked away from the blonde, back to studying his material. Just when he started planning how to end the rumors surrounding him and the baby cryptid being related, his classmates buzzed with a new and more controversial idea.

[Vote Hinata Hajime as Student Council President!]

'Why is this happening to me?' Hajime seriously did not prepare for all of these shenanigans. He obviously came up with measures on Chiaki's eccentric friends, but to think his new classmates would hit him below the belt?

'What am I going to do?' Hajime clicked his tongue when he heard his seatmate laugh beside him. 'And if I didn't know any better, the woman beside me must be some kind of sadist!'

"Keep this up, and you  will  be the student council president, Hinata-kun★" Natsumi whispered, and Hajime shuddered.  More unnecessary work!  Hajime can barely get enough sleep, and these guys want him to work even more?!

"Isn't this against the rules?" Hajime mumbled, flipping another page. "This is my first day. I barely know anyone here. I call BS."

"Not our problem. The admins are retards for making the rules filled with too many holes for the devil to start armageddon." Natsumi shrugged, casually leaning closer to his area as she wrote down her notes. "If I wasn't the Ultimate Little Sister, I'd think you're a self-entitled rich kid who paid your way to get into this department and control everyone into voting you as president."

"Funny story. You checked my records, didn't you?" Hajime grumbled, assuming this woman got her goons to grab any information about him.  He didn't understand her fake talent until he saw her surname.  Natsumi did glare at him earlier, but she later explained it was because she thought he'd ruin her chances of entering the Main course. As if the talent exams work that way.

"You got guts entering the school without your parent's funds." Natsumi professed, "then again, you do look like a guy who'd buy gamer girl bathwater."

"When can I change seats?" Hajime wondered, and he winced when Natsumi managed to kick his leg. 'What the hell?!'

"Too bad. You're stuck with me until I get into the Main course." Natsumi scoffed, but Hajime can see a smirk on her face.

'She's definitely a sadist!' Hajime will ignore the present issue in favor of reading his books first.

'At least I can control this setup.' Hajime also wrote down his teacher's words in his notebook.  Multitasking is not an unknown chore to him . Hajime did this in his previous school and lived to see the next day. 'The Reserve Course curriculum is slightly advanced than other high schools, but it must be in preparation for college..."

"Since we have a new student, you will be given an extension to submit module 3 by the end of the week." The math professor elaborated. [Hajime received a thick 200-paged book.]

"Ok. It's the teacher's fault.' Hajime skimmed the pages to see if there are any missing pages. 'Yup. These guys should be teaching university students, not high schoolers.'

'Less sleep for me...' Hajime sang sarcastically in his head, dreading his first day in this hellish department in this so-called glorious school. 'It can't get any worse.'

Chiaki thanked her stars when Kazuichi, Gundham, and Sonia agreed to convince their classmates not to bother Hajime.

Unfortunately, Mahiru is friends with one reserve course student (named Sato) who told her group (Ibuki, Mikan, and Hiyoko) about Hajime's shady parents!  Hajime's parents are big-time lawyers, so Chiaki isn't surprised to hear the parents being affiliated with Hope's Peak Academy.  Not only that, but Fuyuhiko decided to help Nagito and Izuru grab documents on the odd situation to help his sister, Natsumi, who is also studying in the reserve course.  Hajime did admit to using his negotiation skills to get the accountant to accept an installment basis.

The two groups now believe Hajime is a suspicious guy who wants to use their class representative to get into the Main Course!  Chiaki wants to cover her face with a pillow and scream.

'What do I do?' Chiaki doesn't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that Yukizome-sensei proposes they have a picnic tomorrow to learn more about each other's friends. 'The last time we did that, Natsumi-san almost died a week later.'

[Chiaki: how u?]

[Hajime: Nothing makes sense.]

[Chiaki: wdym]

[Hajime: I'm reading the handbook of Hope's Peak Academy.]

[Chiaki: ?]

[Hajime: Useless. It's all catered to the Main Course.]

[Chiaki: ( ・◇・)？]

[Hajime: What are the odds of winning an election?]

[Chiaki: ヽ(ಠ_ಠ)ノ oh no]

[Hajime: Listen. Worse comes to worst. We'll need to botch the election.]

[Chiaki: 4 de sake of zs ಥ_ಥ]

[Hajime: Pretty much.]

[Chiaki: ill talk to hiro]

[Hajime: ♥]

[Chiaki: ♥ (ˆ⌣ˆc) yay]

Chiaki paused, almost forgetting something.

[Chiaki: u meet classmates tom btw.]

[Hajime: Do I have to?]

[Chiaki: ╮ (. ❛ _ ❛.) ╭]

[Hajime: What do I have to bring?]

[Chiaki: nothing coz teru make nom]

[Hajime: You could say this to me when we meet up, you know?]

[Chiaki: (*°▽°*)]

[Hajime: We'll talk about this later.]

Chiaki hid her phone, thinking what to do to help Hajime. In the end, Chiaki threw precautions and managed to convince her classmates to get Sato and Natsumi to tag along for tomorrow's friendly lunchtime.

Chapter Text

Because Sonia wants to witness a live stream, Chiaki brought her friend along to sneak into the Reserve Course Dormitory and enter Hajime's room. [ Security is very loose in this place. ] They found Hajime answering a math module, already done setting the equipment.   The bedroom looks more like a studio room now. 

Chiaki played five-party games with Sonia and her lucky viewers while Hajime cut her hair. Hajime bonks her head when she moves too much.  Chiaki also let Sonia play with her, sometimes reading the comments and telling them not to throw question bombs on her bestie. After cutting her hair and making her laugh a couple of times, Hajime cleaned the area and continued answering his math module.

Many of her fans are curious about the Reserve Course's curriculum, and after all three of them explained what they think is going on in the department, they found the chat being bombarded with random school subject questions.  [Math, science, history, English, etc.] Sonia and Chiaki couldn't answer some topics, but Hajime was nice enough to speak up and give the correct answers to fill the silence.  [Hajime is her go-to person to avoid cram school.]

Sonia theorized that the enormous volumes of homework are the primary reason why the Reserve Course Department acts like they're dead inside.  Then Hajime had to finish the module and said it would've been easier to answer in a digital copy.  (Hajime couldn't use his hands for a while.) They finished playing games at 4 AM and fell asleep telling stories on Hajime's bed around 5.

...

"Rise and shine. I made pancakes." Hajime called out, and Chiaki opened her eyes to see the brunette entering the room with pancakes on a plate. Hajime's also wearing an apron she gave him last year. Hajime set four plates on the table, leaving the utensils on the side before walking back to hang the apron. "It might be a little sweet. I had to improvise when the kitchen lacked certain ingredients."

"Boyfriend material indeed." Sonia hummed, almost causing Chiaki to fall off the bed. The princess sat up, stretching her arms. "Thank you for letting me come along, Nanami-san. Hinata-kun!"

"You're welcome." Chiaki smiled back, getting her feet off of the bed. Both females went to their seats, both clapping their hands together to thank the meal on the table. "Itadaki-masu!"

"Hn..." Hajime still looks tired despite taking a bath, stabbing the pancake, and munching on it.

'It's not that sweet.' Chiaki munched on her part, glancing back at the sleepy male. 'I should buy him kusamochi. That would definitely increase his affection meter.'

"So, on what base have you two reached?" Sonia whispered close to Chiaki's ear, almost causing the gamer to cover her mouth before she spat the orange juice sponsored by the dorm.  Hajime has so much orange juice.  Sonia, thinking she's shy, chose her next target. "Hinata-kun. Am I correct to assume you two have already gone down and dirty?"

"..." Hajime continued munching, his thoughts elsewhere. He just realized how pretty Chiaki looks when she's blushing.

"We uh... Second base!" Chiaki blurted out, and Hajime blinked when Chiaki tapped his foot with hers. "We're taking things slow, right Hinata-kun?"

"D-definitely. (Hajime looked away from Chiaki, glancing at Sonia.) We barely meet after my parents transferred to Nagoya." Hajime took a sip of his orange juice. "It takes four hours to come here."

"I see." Sonia nodded slowly, taking note of the male's stutter. "So you came here because of Nanami-san?"

"He did." Chiaki nodded, trying to catch the princess' attention. "He heard me talk about my uh... admirers that he... got jealous?"

"He doesn't look like it." Sonia sliced her pancake with her knife.

"Hinata-kun is sleepy, that's why." Chiaki kicked Hajime's leg.

"Yea-A!?" Hajime jolted at the hit, snapping out of stupor. Ouch. Hajime rubbed his leg with one hand, reassuring the duo. "Sorry if I don't act like it. It would be best to solve the issue without emotion."

"Hey! Don't talk like that." Chiaki chided, waving her pancake piece on her fork. "Emotions are what makes us human."

"Whatever you say, Nanami." Hajime hummed, and Chiaki made him eat her pancake piece. They shared a look before Hajime chomped on it.

"You two act more like a married couple than lovebirds," Sonia concluded, setting her utensils down since she finished eating. "I'll do my best to prevent anyone from forcing you two to act against your will. That's what usually happens in the movies."

"Thanks. That means a lot to us." Hajime stuffed his mouth with the last morsel, standing up and grabbing the plates and utensils. "Class."

"Is there someone assigned to clean downstairs?" Chiaki asked, standing up and grabbing her school vest. She and Sonia took a bath yesterday night.

"There should be. I made everyone pancakes, so it's either staff or the guard." Hajime answered after swallowing.

"You made everyone pancakes? Why?" Sonia asked, walking out behind Hajime. Chiaki was the last to leave, locking the door behind her.

"They were staring at me. I had to." Hajime sighed, walking towards the hallway with the dishes in hand. "By the way, where will the picnic be?"

"We'll fetch you," Chiaki answered in turn, not sure either where the class will host it. "But probably in the school courtyard with the round tables and green pasture."

"I see." Hajime's deep in thought again, probably curious why there's a mob of students watching them. He set the plates in the sink, patting the staff's shoulder. "Thanks."

"Y-you're welcome." The awfully young female staff member stuttered.  Chiaki can hear a blaring noise in her head.

"Let's go." Chiaki tugged Hajime's arm, leading him out.

"Sure." Hajime eventually walked in sync with her. Sonia better not be laughing! This is serious! Hajime may be handsome, but he can't be that handsome!

'I didn't think things through.' Chiaki clung to Hajime's arm, screening their area. The thought of seeing Hajime being with another girl made her feel sick. One thought came across her mind:

'What have I done?!'

'I didn't think this through.' Hajime facepalmed, reliving his memories before entering the Reserve Course building. 'So many guys and girls were staring at Nanami! I was supposed to help her ward off stalkers, but I only made her beautiful!'

'Not like she isn't beautiful, but she was pretty.' Hajime rubbed both of his cheeks, trying to calm down. He needs to make a plan pronto. Hajime knew being lovers isn't enough to get people to mind their own business. 'But I don't know what I can and cannot do.'

"Uhm... Hinata-san?" Someone called out, and Hajime looked up to see Sato. Sato is the girl Natsumi said to watch out for.  The way Natsumi described this woman is similar to a yandere description.  The girl smiled, "I know you're worried about this lunch, but our teacher assigned us to be partners for today's Physics test."

'How generous. I've never had a partner in a test before.' Hajime thought to himself, watching the green-haired female sit down beside him.  He can sense Natsumi hissing at a distance.  (A tsundere?)

"I watched your Livestream last night. It was really enlightening." Sato placed the test papers on his table, leaning close.  Hajime wondered what this woman is scheming.  Sato praised, "It's no wonder you were accepted suddenly. Hope's Peak Academy wouldn't let go of any opportunity to boost its reputation."

"Even so." Hajime doesn't like the logic of these students.  Talent is not everything.  I would be dead if that were the case.

"I'm sorry for offending you." Sato snapped his thoughts back to the present. "I didn't mean it."

"It's all right." Hajime grabbed his pen.  That's right. Forget about it.  He took a sheet of paper, scanning the questions. "I'm assuming there's no air resistance to these word problems?"

"I'll ask." Sato stood up, offering him another smile.  Hajime can understand why so many of his classmates trust this woman.

"..." Hajime watched the girl head to the teacher, holding the worksheets. Hajime narrowed his eyes, bothered at the number of cases. 'Masking like Nanami.'

Chapter Text

It's odd how much Hajime trusts Chiaki.   How Hajime finds himself willing to devote so much time for her is a mystery even for him. He isn't precisely a simp since this is the first time he gave in too quickly on Chiaki's demands.  They frequently banter and get into fights when they were younger.  However, Hajime doesn't consider Chiaki a sister figure either, judging from how he chose to rest on the couch and how he couldn't sleep with two girls on his bed.

'At least I know how to use make-up.' Hajime kept walking, staring at the trees as he held hands with Chiaki. He couldn't sleep (again), so he spent the remaining free hours researching about Hope's Peak Student Council.

His head juggled on two matters: Chiaki's cute yawn and the sudden departure of all the student council. The latter won in the end, leading Hajime to wander off and visit the old Main Campus building twice: (1) in the early morning before making breakfast and (2) an hour before lunchtime. He and Sato finished the test early, and the teacher liked him.

'Departure is another term for...' Hajime was bored, so he used his phone during class to learn what happened to the student council, updating himself on the latest gossip and scandal. It was about time he adapted to this new norm. [It's the reason he went into the building despite the increasing security guards in the area.] Finding peculiar items in the old building, Hajime was about to enter the control room when Chiaki found him.

"♫" Chiaki's humming a tune they made together. That's the beginning and ending OST for every Livestream they started and finished together. Nostalgic. If Hajime weren't carrying a student's burnt ID, he would've found this moment romantic.

"Ah." Hajime almost forgot, looking at Chiaki. "Are we going to fetch Kuzuryu and Sato?"

"I told Pekoyama-san and Koizumi-san to fetch them instead," Chiaki reassured, looking up and smiling at her. Hajime couldn't keep looking at her, finding the hairstyle too cute. "Is something wrong, Hinata-kun?"

"N-nothing." Hajime was never good at talking about what to prioritize. Should he talk about the student council possibly being corpses or Chiaki's incoming popularity? 'Both important to talk about, but morality wise...'

"It's  not  nothing if you can't look at me." Chiaki pouted, pressing close to him. "Hinata-kun. You know you can trust me, right?"

"You shouldn't have." Hajime sighed, pushing the student council to talk about the more important issue. "I think I shouldn't have cut your hair."

"Hm?" Chiaki tilted her head. Hajime wanted to let go of her hand, but she refused.

"Y-you're really cute now." Hajime tried to say it without blushing, his eyes focusing on the Gala Omega pin instead. "You might get more admirers at this rate. I should've known better."

"... Oh." Chiaki looked away, bumping her head on his chest. Chiaki is also blushing at the remark.  Hajime felt even worse for hurting her feelings . Chiaki muttered, "it's okay. You didn't mean it."

"I wish I did, then I would have a plan for it.." Hajime groaned.  He seriously should  sleep  soon.  'Then again, there is so much stuff to do right now.'

"You can't always have a plan for everything." Chiaki pulled away, looking around to see if they're close.

" Au contraire. " Hajime smiled, and Chiaki laughed at his accent. Since Chiaki loves playing all sorts of games, they both had to learn some linguistics and programming.

"Cut it off. We're almost there." Chiaki is back to her happy self, swinging their arms. "Don't panic. They tend to be pretty weird."

"Weirder than Gundham?" Hajime wondered, cupping his chin with his free hand. 'Weirder than what the school is hiding from everyone?'

"Hm~" Chiaki didn't give a concrete answer.

'Oh well. All good things come to an end.' Hajime sighed.  This school is filled with strange rules, weird students, and creepy mysteries.  Hajime hoped nothing terrible will happen, but he has a bad feeling he came at the wrong time  as always .

Chiaki definitely knows Hajime is up to something. She did find him loitering in a place he shouldn't be in. What's worse is how the security guards didn't notice he trespassed in the first place. They told her off for bringing a reserve student inside the prohibited area and used their walkie-talkie. Chiaki hoped Yukizome-sensei won't speak with her friend, or Hajime will get interrogated. Hajime doesn't cooperate in interrogation sessions, even if his life depends on it!

"?!" Chiaki made Hajime duck, avoiding the tossed plate, before looking at the picnic venue. Chiaki was gone for twenty minutes, and now the whole area looks like a mess.

Ibuki's jamming it out, having Natsumi cheering the woman.  Kazuichi made a butler robot that reacts to the music, which might also be why the mechanic got Gundham and Sonia's help to get the plate-throwing robot to shut down.  Fuyuhiko is arguing with Mahiru with Peko watching Sato in case the woman does anything suspicious. Hiyoko's teasing Mikan again. Teruteru and Ryota are actually trying to get Akane to enjoy the food, even enlisting Nekomaru's help to convince the woman.

"Why do I have a bad feeling the ones sitting quietly are the weirdest?" Hajime remarked, and Chiaki looked at the only undamaged place, consisting of Izuru, Nagito, and Yukizome-sensei, sitting together and eating a bowl of chawanmushi. There are also sushi platters on the small table.

"Ah! Hinata-san! Over here!" Yukizome waved her hand, smiling at the duo. Chiaki turned to look at Hajime, who also looked at her.

"She looks like the type who carries a wakizashi." Hajime grimaced.

"She has two." Chiaki corrected, and Hajime's eyes widened. "But don't be scared. She's nice."

"The fact you told me not to be scared of her scares me." Hajime pointed out. "Also, you never told me any of your classmate's talents."

"Because it doesn't matter." Chiaki tugged Hajime forward, avoiding the plates and mess on the ground. "The one playing the guitar is Mioda-san. The ones at the food area are Owari-san, Mitarai-kun, Nidai-kun and Hanamura-kun. You already know my ship Kuzuryu-kun and Pekoyama-san. Kuzuryu-kun is arguing with Koizumi-san. Oh! Before I forget, Saoinji-san is the smaller one who likes to tease Tsumiki-san."

"Finally, we have Yukizome-sensei, Komaeda-kun and Kamukura-kun." Chiaki sat down, patting the ground beside her for Hajime to sit. She looked at Nagito, slightly worried on the displeased expression of the albino. "Everyone. This is my boyfriend, Hinata-kun."

"..." Hajime was about to speak, but everyone stopped with what they're doing to look at him. The brunette also stopped, confused how everyone managed to do that.

'You can do it, Hinata-kun!' Chiaki knows Hajime can be awkward at times, but he's very easy to talk to!

"I promise I haven't fucked her yet." Hajime chose to say that of all things. It was so surprising that Akane spat her food, and Izuru beat his chest.  Well. That's one way to leave an impression.

"Duddeeeee" Kazuichi groaned, shaking his head. "Too much information!"

"Souda-kun! The robot!" Sonia yelled, chasing after the robot running into the forest. Gundham followed her, having his hamsters jumping out of his scarf to assist the battle.

"We'll be back!" Kazuichi yelled. "This isn't over!"

"Good to know," Nagito answered, and Chiaki wished the albino was more accommodating.

"Let's try this again." Hajime walked to where Chiaki is, "My name is Hinata-shit!"
 

...

"?" Chiaki blinked, watching something fall out of Hajime's pocket.  It's the work of Nagito's luck. The item is in a zip bag, very recent, and definitely what Hajime was examining in the old school building. To her and Izuru, it fell in slow motion.

[Kamii Tsubasa.]

"?!" Hajime was quick to grab it, but Yukizome-sensei was way faster, smacking Hajime's hand and holding the ID before Komaeda could fully see the name. However, the female photo, ID format, and burnt condition would be enough to confirm Hajime took a main course student's ID.

"Where did you get this?" Yukizome-sensei asked her voice concerned and full-on suspicion. Chiaki watched Hajime fidget.  Tell the truth or tell a lie?

"If I told you the truth, you'd think I'm lying." Hajime didn't answer her question. (It's undeniable no one is going to believe him.) Half of the students chose to continue with their own business. Of course, the two reserve students can now talk about Hajime (Ibuki, Fuyuhiko, and Pekoyama are chatting with Natsumi on one end. The other, Sato has Hiyoko, Mahiru, and Mikan). Teruteru and Nekomaru went back to the kitchen to get the extras, leaving Akane and Ryota to head to where their teacher was.

"Then I'll say it for her. Hinata-kun got that this morning." Chiaki theorized, "I found him in the hallway in the old building."

"Thanks a lot,  love ." Hajime sarcastically replied. "That definitely helps my case."

"Yukizome-sensei can be trusted." Chiaki crossed her arms. "And why didn't you tell me you keep zip bags with you?"

"Your sandwiches are packed in a zip bag." Hajime looked at the sushi platter, thinking if he can eat some. "I didn't have time to throw it, Huh. I guess the evidence now smells like a sandwich."

"Why did you do it?!" Yukizome asked the more important question. The old school building is off-limits, and Hajime just waltzed in there as if he was destined to enter a building filled with cameras and guards. "I know you're curious, but this is your second day in class. You could have been suspended or expelled!"

"I don't get what's going on..." Akane sat beside Hajime, resting her arm on his shoulder. "But why is the old building off-limits?"

"I can't tell you without getting penalized," Yukizome told the athlete. "What concerns me is how Hinata-kun obtained this recently. The student council went overseas last month. Is it okay if you tell me where you got this? Don't worry. I won't report you."

"If Nanami trusts you, then I guess it's all right." Hajime hummed, glancing at the general direction of the school. "Trash bags in the morgue, but close to the incinerator room."

"What?!" Chiaki couldn't help blurt out, covering her mouth to avoid alarm.

"This is bad," Ryota muttered under his breath. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what happened to the students.

"S-shouldn't we do something?" Akane asked, looking at the group for answers.

"Why did you do it?" Yukizome-sensei still doesn't understand the motive. Hajime will gain nothing from investigating and learning about what occurred to the student council members. She might also find it unnerving how chill the reserve student is.

"I... I wanted to stop thinking about Nanami's new hairstyle." Hajime looked away from Chiaki, embarrassed for admitting the truth. "So I went out and explored."

"R-really?" Chiaki is flattered and confused.  Hajime would choose to explore somewhere scary and risky than face romance! Chiaki noticed many students are ogling at her, but she thought it was because she looked weird.

"We'll only go to third base when we're ready." Hajime grabbed his chopstick, picking a sushi roll. "Fder wud kill me eve we hummrmm.."

"... Understandable." Izuru finally spoke, setting down his chawan mushi cup.

"Yeah. Nice hairstyle, Nanami." Akane congratulated, and Chiaki rests her back against Hajime's arm. She did her best not to feel shy, but she is.

"But still..." Nagito frowned. "We have to do something about this."

"We can't do anything," Ryota explained. "If the school finds out we know what happened, they'll do whatever it takes to keep us quiet. It's best to pretend knowing nothing for the time being."

"What do you plan on doing with the ID, anyways?" Chiaki asked Hajime who is eating another piece. "Going to ask your dad? I bet he could defend your case."

"He rather I rot in prison. I was actually thinking of giving it to your dad." Hajime shrugged. "But I shouldn't because then the school shuts down, and you guys might not be able to graduate."

"Good because I'm going to confiscate this from you." Yukizome sighed, pulling out a rulebook. "Luckily, I have an extra copy of the rulebook in hand."

[No response.] Hajime is back to thinking about something again.

'Not a great first impression, but not bad either.' Chiaki concluded, observing the current group. Everyone, but Izuru and Yukizome, are worried. 'I think today is a success!'

Chapter Text

Chiaki almost forgot how fast time passes when she's with Hajime . Now that she can interact with her friend in more than three ways (phone call, v-chat and genuine meetup), it's as if there isn't enough time to finalize anything.

After Hajime got his item confiscated, he got dragged like a ragdoll by Natsumi and Sato to introduce him to their inner circle.  Natsumi introduced Hajime to be a teacher's pet, but Sato introduced Hajime to being a teacher's adversary.  Chiaki asked about it, and Hajime said, 'people only want to see what they like.' Yukizome-sensei talked with her friend, as expected, but what Chiaki wanted to understand is why Izuru chose to stay highly silent.  Nagito noticed it too. Izuru knows something but decides to keep quiet.

When the bell rang, Hajime was the one who took the two girls back to class, but not before he gave his 'girlfriend' a kiss on the forehead. Chiaki felt a piece of paper slipped behind her ear as her classmates cooed at them. Unfolding it during class, Chiaki read the words:

[Can I stay in your dorm tonight? I have a theory.]

"Hope Cultivation Plan?" Chiaki mumbled, thinking where she heard those words before.  She knew she couldn't ask this Hajime. Her friend has a terrible relationship with his parents. All she knows is that if this thing exists in Hajime's scratch, it is facing legal complications.  Chiaki sighed, slumping her head on the table.

"..." Chiaki could play a game right now, but learning about the deaths of the Student Council in a short period felt wrong.  They should mourn, but not?  Chiaki watched her seatmate nearby the window, curious what Kamukura is thinking-

[Chihiro: i hacked into the system. u wont believe what i found.]

[Chiaki: student council?]

[Chihiro: how u know?]

[Chiaki: hajimeme entered the old building and look into trash]

[Chihiro: he know who did diz?]

[Chiaki: dunno. he wander. wat u think?]

[Chihiro: not enough for conclusion T_T]

[Chihiro: was thinking of telling kyo but i dunno]

[Chiaki: i no so hard. :((( ]

[Chihiro: Σ(°△°|||)︴]

[Chihiro: btw. how does hajimeme look like?]

[Chiaki attached picture of Hajime wearing glasses while answering the math module.]

[Chihiro: (」゜ロ゜)」omg. he work out]

[Chiaki: wdym]

[Chihiro: trust m3]

[Chiaki: lulz]

'So it did happen in the old school building.' Chiaki pondered what to say. Chihiro is her kouhai, and they help each other thick and thin. Chiaki typed.

[Chiaki: (*TーT)人(TーT*) wat 2 do naw?]

[Chihiro: i dunnooooo]

[Chiaki: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

[Chihiro: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

[Chihiro: w8]

[Chiaki: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

[Chihiro: get laid]

[Chiaki: ...]

[Chihiro: senpai deserves best. uwu ]

[Chiaki: (￣ー￣〃) disown]

[Chihiro: nuuuuuuuuuuuu]

[Chiaki: u talk to kyo?]

[Chihiro: think bout it :( ]

[Chiaki: i adopt u again]

[Chihiro: yay  \ ^o^ /]

'Things have gotten more complicated.' Chiaki set her phone back on her table, sitting straight to think what to do next.  It's only a matter of time before this information gets released.  Chiaki wished she understood why and how this happened in the first place. 'When I wished for a fun year, I didn't ask for this type of fun.'

"Is something wrong, Nanami-san?" Nekomaru caught onto her mood.

"Thinking how to max affection points with Hinata-kun." Chiaki lazily joked, contemplating about Chihiro's suggestion. If she's going to lose her virginity to anyone, it would be someone who she knows all her life. It's not like her life will change after high school. Chiaki will still keep being herself, so Hajime might be her only chance to having a fun life.

"Relationships, huh? I might not be that kind of speaker, but I do know food is the way into a person's heart." Nekomaru definitely changed the saying because of Akane.

"Food..." Chiaki looked back at her desk, curious where Hajime's trash paper went. It must have flown off. Chiaki fiddled with her phone, 'I guess I can search that. Cooking isn't that hard.'

Hajime knew  this   isn't normal. He came into this school and found himself knee-deep in a raging conflict between ideals and status. The worst issue to deal with. Hajime had to manipulate a girl to keep his outdoor expedition a secret. His luck didn't improve, letting a guard touch him just so he could enter the area. What a world to live in. Hajime may be rich, but damn everyone treats him like a disposable object! It's only fair to manipulate them in turn.

'The Mastermind is an Ultimate.' Hajime theorized but refused to accept. It made sense for the school to ask for the assistance of his father's law firm. His father did employ the  Ultimate Lawyer  and learned how said individual be titled. Hope's Peak Academy practiced morally dubious ways of recruiting students.  Killers, criminals, etc.  Hajime wouldn't be surprised if these Ultimates decided to go against school rules.

'How desperate is this school to contain talent?' Hajime kept walking, eyes suddenly catching sight of Chiaki's classmate chatting with a blonde girl and a black(?) haired soldier.

'Is that love?' Hajime didn't get the concept of love. His parents showed love way different from the movies and games he played:  Love is a temporary condition improving/degrading one or both individuals in the relationship. Hajime accepted his father's concept with a grain of salt. The look in Tsumiki's eyes might be adoration, or is that obsession? What about the face of the dark-haired female?

"?" Hajime and the dark-haired girl made eye contact, but he continued on to the Main Course dormitory. He shouldn't be considered a threat to them. He's a talentless reserve student, after all. Though Chiaki is in danger, he'll pray that death doesn't take him immediately. 'It's the least I can do for her.'

"Look out!" Akane called out, and Hajime begrudgingly looked at the athlete-

"Hot!" Hajime caught the frisbee, quickly dropping it because of the heat.

"Nice catch, Harry." Akane gave him a thumbs-up while Nekomaru writes down something on a clipboard.

"Shouldn't you guys be sleeping?" Hajime asked, staring at Akane playing with Nekomaru, a burly female(?) and another unknown female. "It's getting late. The Sport's festival is coming soon."

"He has a point. I'll need you to be in your best form to improve the limits of your body further." Nekomaru agreed, placing the clipboard down on the table. "All right. Until next time Ogami. Asahina."

"Understood, couch." The burly woman bowed before leaving. Hajime watched the woman enter the dormitory.

"See ya, Akane! Thanks again, senpai." The girl thanked both of Chiaki's friends before heading to the dorm. Hajime returned back to staring at Nekomaru and Akane, finding some synergy between the two as they chat.

'Back to the dorm.' Hajime turned his feet, walking towards the dormitory. It looks like another school building, containing not just the bedrooms but also the research labs after the petition of  Batch 76 . He brought his bag filled with the modules of his profs, just in case he can't sleep again. 

"..." Hajime pulled out his phone, ignoring his parent's messages, and texted Chiaki.

[Hajime: Here.]

[Chiaki: o O o]

[Hajime: Just get over here already. =_=]

[Chiaki: ฅ( ＞ω＜)ฅ]

'This is going to take a while.' Hajime sighed, standing near the gates and ignoring the piercing glare of the security guards. 'I don't know what's worse: lewd stares or hateful glares?'

"Hajime-chan!" Only one person would call him with -chan. Hajime looked at the source to see Ibuki rushing to him. "I know this is extremely weird, but have you seen Mikan-chan?"

"I saw her with a gyaru." Hajime offered, and he took note of the girl's hand twitch.

"Again? Ahhh~" Ibuki messed her hair. "She promised we'd have a sleepover tonight. Bros over hoes promise."

"How about asking someone else?" Hajime inquired, curious why this girl is making it a big deal. It's their final year. They should learn that everyone has a separate life after high school.

"It has been a while since we invited Peko-chan." Ibuki scratched her nose, grinning.  Hajime can sense lewd thoughts in this one.  Ibuki pat Hajime's back, "Thanks a bunch!" 

"Y-you're welcome." Hajime watched Ibuki walkout, presumably to recruit Peko in their sleepover. 'Yeah. These guys are a weird bunch. With talent comes with weird quirks?'

...

"And what is a reserve student doing here?" A very familiar voice asked.

"Komaeda." Hajime didn't even need to look or think hard to know who this voice belongs to. He only met Komaeda for less than an hour to know this guy is the most confusing and annoying bastard in this school. It was way better to hear Chiaki talk about the unlucky guy on screen, way easier to pity and move on with the guy in general.

"Wha- You got chased by an animal." Hajime was going to ask why Nagito is out late, but he saw the albino with twigs in his puffy hair, leaves, and scratches on his clothes. There's also the baby cryptid beside him.  They might be a pair.

"A bear." Nagito won't deny the statement.  That's sad to hear. Hajime would like to hear how someone managed to get lost after studying in this school for two years-WAIT DID HE JUST SAY A BEAR?! Nagito chuckled, "I can see how you and Nanami-san got along."

"I'm glad you two are friends." Hajime answered in turn.  He doesn't know exactly Kamukura Izuru's talent, but he does know Nagito is the Ultimate unlucky prick.  Izuru might be the opposite of Nagito or something. 'But what exactly is friendship in this place?'

"?" Hajime then noticed Izuru staring at him too intently. Something about that look reminded him of the dark-haired female. He didn't want that look directed at him. Hajime took a step back, telling both of them. "I'm here to talk to Nanami. She's actually taking a while..."

"Because we're going on a sleepover!" Chiaki yelled, running out and panting.

"..." Hajime now has two people glaring at him. Hajime thanked the gods he can't die from stares. Hajime coughed, "I thought this was a secret?"

"I-Uh...  Ops." Chiaki wore something pretty simple... You know, cat PJs.

"You chose to dig my grave?" Hajime covered his mouth with one hand, thinking who could have convinced Chiaki to wear cute pajamas.

"No... I..." Chiaki fiddled with hair. "I tried cooking and... Souda-kun and Hanamura-kun are putting the fire out."

"..." Hajime continued to stare at her, unable to comprehend how she managed to do this. He then looked back to see Nagito and Izuru watching them. Hajime shooed them away with one hand, mouthing. 'Go away!'

"Maybe we should go, Kamukura-kun." Nagito slowly (like a bastard) walked past the gate.

"Hmmmmm." Izuru (now labeled a bastard in Hajime's book) stayed in place.

'You both are dead to me!' Hajime hissed.

"How did you burn kusamochi when you have two people help you out?" Hajime squinted, and Chiaki flayed her arms. Hajime realized the issue. "Did you burn the water again?"

"Water is flammable," Chiaki stressed, and Hajime looked up at the sky for God to give him strength. "Then you came early, so we have this talk, and all your love points for me are going to go rock bottom!"

"Just because you can't cook doesn't mean I'm going to hate you." Hajime frowned.

"But how am I going to increase your affection points? We're in different departments." Chiaki pouted. "I don't want to increase your paranoia meter. You might think I'm a yandere, and there's one game that the love interest did a plot twist and was the true yandere-"

 
"Delivery for Nanami Chiaki." A delivery man spoke from behind him. Hajime accepted it, turning to look at Chiaki before giving the change.
 

"Let's see..." Hajime opened the gift, taking a peak, but quickly kept it and gave it to Chiaki. "We'll talk later."

"Planning for a homerun?" Izuru inquired, and Hajime is tempted to pull out his scissors to cut that man's hair.

"What did you buy, Nanami-san?" Nagito smiled, peering over Chiaki's shoulder to see the item. "Oh."

"Hanamura-kun suggested it." Chiaki blushed.

"It wouldn't be the first time someone died from a sex toy," Hajime told himself.

"For once, I agree with him." Nagito crossed his arms.

Chapter Text

It's day two in Hope's Peak, and Hajime found himself in Chiaki's room. It's supposedly just the two of them, watching movies while talking about the unpredictable future until they both fall asleep. Sadly, a couple of bastards Nanami's classmates encountered issues in their room, winding up at Chiaki's doorsteps and asking Chiaki if they can hang out in her room instead.

"..." Before Hajime knew it, every one of Chiaki's classmates is in her room. Chiaki doesn't mind, but Hajime can sense protective vibes from each student. They also ask questions he doesn't have answers to.  Fine. Hajime will admit it's odd he sounds and has the same birth date as the baby cryptid bastard, but can they not compare their handwriting and gather more evidence to prove this doppelgänger theory? Hajime would definitely know if he had an older twin. 'Older since Kamukura was born earlier...'

"What are you thinking?" Nagito asked. Despite being the one who detests talentless people the most, Nagito is the most attentive to his action. The albino watched him sink in the beanie bag, giving a wary smile. "You aren't acting very couple-like for Nanami-san."

"If I cuddled Nanami, I'd definitely fall asleep, and she'd doodle on my face in the morning." Hajime theorized, not exactly sure if he will.  He might have sleeping problems, but it's because there is so much stuff to do.  Hajime glanced at the room. The girls are chatting and watching the movies, while the guys are watching the same movies but are eating more than talking.

"You guys came here to make memories. Who am I to impose?" Hajime added, finding the scenery to be melancholic.  It's like a storm is brewing.

"You're her boyfriend, yet you choose to let us have time with Nanami-san." Nagito sat beside him, being very contradictory in nature.  Why does he care? Why does this matter?  "This is a long-distance relationship, isn't it? You should be rearing to spend as much with your loved one."

"I will once all of you go to sleep." Hajime wanted this guy to stop talking, reaching the final page.  He already spoke to Chiaki about the incoming scenarios based on his father's messages.  His father knew something was up and indirectly begged him to pull out and leave the place. Chiaki relayed to him what Chihiro learned, making the situation direr. 'I don't want to think, but damn, it's hard not to.'

"You don't make sense, Hinata-kun." Komaeda hugged a pillow, resting on another beanie bag. "Why is that?"

"You overthink. I'm just a basic character who doesn't get jealous over trivial matters." Hajime waved it off, setting down the finished English module to grab his laptop. He opened it, starting it up. "What did you say the talentless are? A stepping stone for hope."

"I can understand why you don't have a lot of friends." Nagito huffed, and Hajime rolled his eyes. "But do you truly understand where you stand in society?"

"I hope so, or I'm making a huge miscalculation in the upcoming days." Hajime opened up the site, checking the comments, issues, and mods.  Everything is in order.  Hajime checked the incoming videos, posting them as usual. Everything has a schedule. Hajime then checked the emails and other social media accounts.  Nothing is out of the ordinary.

"Question. How much hatred does the Reserve Course have for the Main Course?" Hajime opened up a draft, typing a message for his father. "What are the emergency protocols the school taught you in case of a riot?"

"Those are very specific questions, Hinata-kun." Someone else spoke up, and Hajime watched Ryota walk to their side. "Is something going to happen in the Reserve course?"

"It appears so." Nagito rolled to the side, trying to feel comfy in the beanie bag. "Why else is it directed specifically on our well-being?"

"The school has been hiding things from the Reserve Course." Hajime pointed out, holding a stylus since he promised Kazuichi to help him set up a blog. "High tuition fees, huge volumes of brain-numbing work, predatory teachers, and discriminatory sister departments."

"What are the chances of having  that fine line  snap from the pressure?" Hajime drew what he feels is the standard imagery of a space rocket.  Engineering gives him an architect vibe.  Hajime kept drawing lines and tangents. "And what can anyone do once said line snap? Reparation is a miracle by itself... Who's on my foot, by the way?"

"Tsk. I got bored of the movie." Fuyuhiko remarked, resting one arm on his leg. "I heard you talking about the reserve course and them going batshit crazy."

"I doubt it's possible to get the students to trust the school after learning this." Ryota voiced, resting behind Hajime's beanie bag while eating a bag of popcorn. "They'll have to make a major change in its staff, but even then..."

"Yeah. We can't do anything about that, but what about the reserve course students themselves?" Fuyuhiko steered the conversation to another critical element. "What the fuck are they going to do? Riot. Okay. What sort of riot? What about their studies? In fact, what about the admin supposedly guiding them?"

"The adults will vacate the building since they failed to construct a strong structure over the student body." Hajime rubbed his eyes, flipping the image. "Classes will be suspended. I don't know about the students. I recently came here, remember? Go ask your sister, I guess."
 

"Yes, but they could try suspending the students... Though that would affect the school's reputation once the parents find out." Nagito pushed the beanie bag to get closer to Hajime. "Is that what you and Nanami-san usually talk about?"

"We've reached a certain stage in our relationship where we contemplate what type of destruction society will create itself." Hajime humored, sending the steps and messages to Kazuichi. He wants Kazuichi to learn and be independent, 'or he might end up like Nanami clinging onto me.'

"I was really hoping you guys were talking about sex." Teruteru(?) heaved. "But I guess cuddling works too."

"Get back to whence you came." Gundham(??) ordered.

"I got your message, bro." Kazuichi(???) cheered who's using a laptop nearby.

"Ok. Can you guys leave me alone? You're making me claustrophobic." Hajime sent a message to his father, requesting him to talk with Nanami's father. He won't leave unless he can assure Chiaki is coming with him.

"What are you guys scheming? I'm in!" Nekomaru announced, and Hajime closed his laptop to see how many are beside him!

"This is all Komaeda's fault." Hajime declared, and the albino smiled cheekily at him-?

"Stop touching my stuff!" Hajime tugged his bag away from Izuru but failing miserably since this guy is strong as hell.

"Kokeshi?" Izuru pulled out a random wooden doll.

"The guidance counselor gave that to me for stress relief or something." Hajime gave his laptop to Kazuichi to get his bag back from the cryptid. "Just give it back!"

"Stress relief," Izuru repeated, turning it around before noticing a red button. He pressed the button, and it started vibrating. The raven stared at it for a second before chucking it against Teruteru.

"Triggered reflex." Izuru doesn't sound like he regrets it.

"Ouch! Why you did that fo... Oh. Oh~ It's perfect." Teruteru held the item like a prized possession.

"?" Hajime got physically moved by Fuyuhiko to move away from Teruteru.

"Why you have to be creepy, man?" Kazuichi pointed at the guy.

"But it's an amazing gift." Teruteru rubbed it on his apron. (Cleaning it?)

"That's from your guidance counselor?" Nekomaru wanted confirmation.

"Yep." Hajime thankfully got his bag from the cryptid, hugging it and glaring at the bored male.

"It's technically a toy." Ryota doesn't believe his words either.

"How is that going to remove stress?" Nagito wondered.

"Can I have this, Hinata-kun?" Teruteru pleaded, and Hajime sat back on the beanie. "I'll make good use for it."

"Yeah. Sure. I don't really get the point of it. Souda. Can I get my..." Hajime went to grab his laptop to stuff it in his bag, but he saw Kazuichi checking his files. "Oh, come on!"

"Guys... He has no porn." Kazuichi choked, tearing up at his search history. "Hajime's clean!"

"You don't know that!" Hajime felt violated. 'At least I have my phone-'

"Kamukura. Can you pretend to sleep from boredom? Or better, just die." Hajime begged. He doesn't know this guy's talent, but Hajime wished Izuru can go die in a ditch.

"No signs of sexual communication with Nanami." Izuru scrolled his message, and a familiar game sound popped up. "He has long hours of gameplay. He likely spends most of his time playing games than masturbating."

"Cut him some slack. We did expect Nanami-san to be ace years back." Fuyuhiko sighed.

"You are all banned from my wedding!" Hajime announced. "No exceptions."

Chiaki had a fantastic night with her friends. She doesn't know what happened on the boy's side, but they must have had fun. She's never heard Hajime so livid after that Livestream where a group of people kept spamming the world is flat theories to convince her other viewers. She might have fallen asleep in the third movie, but she did wake up on time to see Hajime tucking her to bed. He whispered something before he left, but Chiaki couldn't help go back to sleep.

...

"..." It was only when Chiaki ate late breakfast with her classmates when she remembered what Hajime said:

"If I were the mastermind, the best time to start a riot would be the exams week."

"So don't visit the Reserve course."

"Today's the exam's week," Chiaki mumbled to herself, unsure what to do with that information.  Hold a second!  

"?!" Chiaki stood up, making her classmates wonder why she looked so distraught.

'It's the Sport's festival, so we don't have to wake up so early.' Chiaki walked out, calling Hajime.  He isn't answering.  Chiaki walked out of the dorm, resting a hand on the door frame. 'What do I do?'

"Fujisaki-san? What's going on with the Reserve Course?" Chiaki asked, calling her friend.

"I don't know. Something's being broadcasted to them right now."  (Chiaki suddenly felt sick.) "Whatever you do, don't go to the Reserve Course."

Chapter Text

Day five of Hajime being in Hope's Peak Academy, and Chiaki regrets her decision. TIME IS MOVING TOO QUICKLY AND IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. Chiaki has some of her classmates saying Hajime will survive, not unscathed, unfortunately, but they don't understand! She personally invited Hajime into this school for one last happy high school year, not to be in a riot because of the school's questionable actions!

"I'm the worst..." Chiaki mumbled, face planted on the desk.  The school told them to stay on school grounds to avoid injury.  Hajime isn't answering her calls, and she heard from Chihiro that there's a coup/cult forming in the building.

"I can't believe their tuition fees are being used to create such distasteful creatures," Sonia commented, watching the riot outside their classroom. Right. Chiaki got a copy of the reserve students' documents from  anonymous/mastermind  and shared them with the class.  Fuyuhiko and Mahiru insisted on seeing it. The two wanted to know why Sato and Natsumi wouldn't answer them despite seeing reserve course students outside.  It didn't explain anything.

"What the hell are we going to do now?" Fuyuhiko slammed his hand against the table.  He's mad because Chihiro gave them the last information in the building.   A gunshot.  Chiaki understands his concerns, but what can they do?

"Nothing..." Peko solemnly answered. "Nothing but wait."

"Damn it!" Fuyuhiko kicked a chair, leaving the classroom.

'Nothing...' Chiaki glanced to the side, watching Mahiru clutching her phone. Nagito went out to investigate while Izuru was called by the Committee. Everyone else doesn't know what to do.

'Can we truly do nothing about it?' Chiaki scanned the area, seeing nothing that will help her.

'How boring.' She/he thought, staring at their despairing classmates.

'If I were Hinata-kun/Nanami, what would I do?'

It's a week of school isolation before Chiaki received word from Hajime. She knew Hajime wasn't good with anything, so she should have expected her friend to take a while before crafting everything together. But who could blame her? Her entire class has been in a depressed state for the past weeks.

Fuyuhiko and Peko are obviously distressed because of Natsumi. Mahiru, Ibuki, Mikan, and Hiyoko are also sad for not knowing what happened to their friend Sato. Chiaki hoped that's why Mikan left because she hasn't seen the nurse for quite a while. Akane, Izuru, and Nekomaru are bored in the classroom. Izuru has been traveling a lot too. Gundham and Teruteru are trying their best to cheer everyone up with animals and food but nothing. Kazuichi doesn't even respond to Sonia's questions sometimes, worried about Hajime. Ryota's withdrawing to his art, and Nagito isn't starting his hope speeches.

It's hard keeping the class together while trapped inside the school. So when Hajime sent a text, it was like an advanced birthday present handed to her. 
 

[???: How are you?]

[??? attached two photos of Sato and Natsumi entering their homes.]

[???: Got sidetracked for a second here. Sorry.]

[Chiaki: haji]

[???: Hm?]

[Chiaki: (.づ◡﹏◡)づ]

[Hajime: It's only been a week.]

[Chiaki: ༼ಢ_ಢ༽]

[Hajime: Please tell me you aren't crying.]

[Chiaki: i no cry]

[Hajime: Are you saying that to make me feel good because it isn't helping.]

[Chiaki: (´༎ຶД༎ຶ`) ]

[Hajime: I would suggest we go out and buy ice cream, but you would lose the protection of the school.]

[Chiaki: 。゜゜(´Ｏ`) ゜゜。]

[Hajime: This is why people call me a simp.]

"Why are you crying, Nanami-san?" Nekomaru inquired, and Chiaki wiped her face with her sleeve. It must be weird for them to see her cry during class hours, but Chiaki doesn't care!

[Hajime: How about we meet up today? You bring the food, and I clear the venue.]

[Chiaki: ༼☯﹏☯༽ k]

[Hajime: Let's meet at the East gate, 12 o'clock.]

[Chiaki: (づ◡﹏◡)づ ]

[Hajime: ⊂(◡‿◡⊂)]

[Hajime: See you later. Phone will die soon.]

"N-nothing." Chiaki then sent the pictures she got from Hajime to the group chat.

[Class 77-B groupchat]

[Chiaki forwarded attachment.]

[Fuyuhiko: Shit!]

[Mahiru: How?]

[Chiaki: Dunno, but they're wearing blankets. Something must have happened to them.]

[Mikan: I'm glad they're all right!]

[Hiyoko: Where are you, pig barf?]

[Milan: uh well. I'm treating someone.]

[Ibuki: For a second there, I thought you're kidnapped or sum thing.]

'At least she's all right.' Chiaki smiled, getting a ping when someone tagged her.

[Kazuichi: @Nanami. Are emoticons your go-to in your conversation?]

[Sonia: Well, I think it looks cute.]

[Kazuichi: ⊂(・▽・⊂) I can do it too, Sonia-san!]  

[Chiaki: This is a school-regulated chat forum. You can't use emoticons.]

[Kazuichi: Nooooooooooooooooooooooo]

[Nagito: Also spam and curse words.]

[Nagito: How is he communicating with you, by the way? I hear the school cut off internet access and electricity there.]

[Izuru: An insider from the school working alongside the Reserve course.]

[Nagito: As expected from the Ultimate Hope!]

[Chiaki: @Hanamura can you help me with food? I have a date with BF.]  

[Akane: In the middle of the parade?]

[Akane: Can we come along?]

"..." Chiaki debated, looking around. 'I guess it would be best for our mental health to go out.'

[Chiaki: I guess so?]

[Nekomaru: Niiicceeeeeeee]

[Gundham: So he finally showed his true ability.]

[Kazuichi: Where are you, anyway? You skipped one subject already.]

[Izuru: We still have class?]

[Nagito: You're excused by one of the Board, Kamukura-kun.]

[Izuru: How boring.]

[Izuru sent an attachment.]

[Fuyuhiko: Corporate slave.]

[Peko: Let's ask Yukizome-sensei if we can use her class to make food. I would like to hear what happened in the Reserve course a week prior.]

[Chiaki: @Yukizome-sensei Can we?]

[Yukizome-sensei: Let me scroll up first.]

[Yukizome-sensei: Where will this be?]

[Chiaki: East gate.]

"..." Chiaki tapped her stylus, capturing pocket monsters while waiting for a reply on her phone.

[Yukizome-sensei: (⊙_⊙) Oh.]

[Kazuichi: Aw, man. I want admin privilege too.]

[Yukizome-sensei: You sure?]

[Chiaki: Yes.]

[Yukizome-sensei: In the span of 2 hours?]

[Kazuichi: If you put it that way]

[Chiaki: You're right.]

"Hm..." Chiaki thinks how to solve this.

[Chiaki:    Hinata-kun can't carry heavy stuff, so we should bring food AND furniture.]

[Nagito: I don't think that's the issue.]

[Izuru: If you can distract the guards, I'll assist.]

[Nagito: I was born for this.]

[Chiaki: Who wants to carry furniture and cook food?]

[Teruteru: Aren't y'all hyped for this lunchtime.]

[Akane: coach and I can help too.]

[Yukizome-sensei: Guys. That's not the point I want to emphasize.]

"?" Chiaki blinked, reading the succeeding lines.

[Yukizome-sensei: There are half a thousand angry students at the East gate. The guards are having a hard time controlling them. I know you want to see your friend, but I don't want anyone of you to get hurt.]

[Chiaki: Just trust me on this.]

[Yukizome-sensei: Nanami-san.]

[Chiaki: I have faith in Hinata-kun! He hasn't  failed me ever.]

[Chiaki: Excluding those times he got me dating games to play during Livestream.]

[Yukizome-sensei: But to place your classmate's lives in jeopardy]

[Chiaki: If the crowd doesn't disperse by 11:30, then we won't go.]

[Kazuichi: Why 11:30?]

'You could ask me right here, but okay?' Chiaki glanced up at Kazuichi but typed the answer.

[Chiaki: because he'll be bringing furniture at 11:30, so the venue will be ready on 12.]

[Ryota: I don't know why furniture is essential, but I agree with Nanami-san. It takes half an hour from the building to the East gate.]

[Ibuki: Nah. Yolo. Nagito-chan already activated the sprinkler system on the 13th floor.]

[Nagito: I regret nothing!]

[Izuru: Freedom.]

[Izuru: And now I'm bored.]

[Chiaki: There's the bell! Let's start cooking!]

[Akane: Yeah! Let's steal tables and chairs!]

[Peko: You mean borrow.]

And so, Chiaki and co. cooked a meal and grabbed some stuff for lunchtime. Unsurprisingly for Chiaki, Hajime did precisely what she expected him to do.  Hajime is predictable that way.  He always does his best to be 30-15 minutes early.

Chapter Text

Hajime might not have thought things through.  Though he managed to get the students to head back to the Reserve Course building to rethink their lives while taking a lunch break, he never imagined the guards to be super paranoid at seeing him drag two chairs close to the gates.  He knew the guards won't listen to him, and he obviously lost trust in the school's administration.  However, he couldn't call Chiaki anymore because all the phones are dead.

'11:45. I still have 10 minutes to grab everything...' Hajime slumped on the table, more sleepy than fatigue. He should expect Chiaki to bring her classmates along, but a part of him prays Yukizome-sensei forbid them, and Chiaki snuck out to see him instead.

"Hm...." Hajime hummed, relieved none of those guards are coming over to his side.  Hajime's tired of being around people, especially when Nanami's dad told him to get as many sane people out of place as fast as he can.  Hajime sighed, 'Saved 2% of the population so far...'

"What's he doing?" One of the guards muttered beyond the gates.

"I don't know, but he's suspicious." Another guard confessed.

'I guess I can take a nap.' Hajime already brought a table and two chairs.  He'll take a nap, wake up and come back to the reserve course to grab a vase with flowers and a tablecloth . Hajime sighed, closing his eyes. 'It's still early. I have time...'

'Ten minutes.' Hajime promised himself. 'It's not like she's gonna pop out of nowhere.'

[ 12:00 ]

Carrying a bag of kusamochi, Chiaki sprinted out of the building without authorization .  It was 11:30 when Sakakura Juzo sent a live feed on the area.  The East Gate was brimming with students. Chiaki was obviously disappointed until she remembered where she found Hajime on their first day...

'That means he's here!' Chiaki ran towards the West gate, using the forest as a shortcut to get to where she has to be. She hoped her classmates will forgive her for lying, telling them she had to take a bathroom break. 'Hinata-kun would never break his promise!'

'I really should have toured him around the school.' Chiaki regretted her actions. 'But he really needs sleep! If we move around, he'll never get enough sleep.'

'Maybe I should smuggle him inside? Let him sleep in my room. He doesn't have class, so he can sleep all he wants.' Chiaki reasoned, taking a sharp turn when she saw guards passing by.  The gamer didn't notice her phone ringing in her jacket, sliding down a hill to reach the main path. Chiaki dusted her dress, thanking her stars that she wore shorts underneath her skirt. 'Don't worry, Hinata-kun! I'm coming!'

"?!" Chiaki stopped on her track, seeing a bunch of guards on her way. Beyond the gate, she sees her friend snoozing. 'Oh no. He died from overworking again!'

'W-what do I do?' Chiaki quickly hid beside a tree before they caught sight of her. She kept the dessert in her inner pocket, thinking about getting herself out or getting Hajime in. 'I'll need a distraction, but what?'

"Holy shit. He did it." Fuyuhiko startled her. Chiaki almost fell down the ground if not for the firm grip of Peko over her hoodie.

"G-guys?!" Chiaki squeaked, surprised to see not just the gangster and swordsman but also the athlete and manager. "What are you doing here?"

"You were carrying food with you, and I got curious." Akane shrugged.  Chiaki should have known her friend's nose are phenomenal.  She won't be surprised if Akane's sense of smell is stronger than a bloodhound.

"I saw all three of you leaving after I took a shit." Nekomaru professed, also hiding behind the trees. "What's the plan? Are we busting out or taking him in?"

"Can we bring him in?" Chiaki looked back, staring at the sleeping brunette. "I know Hinata-kun reached his limit. He falls asleep after 8 days of constant work."

"He really likes working." Fuyuhiko checked his pockets, pulling out smoke bombs(?!) "Here. We'll use this as a distraction and to hide our tracks."

"Why do you have these?" Chiaki asked, startled they would have these in the first place.

"He was supposed to prank his sister, but the parade happened." Peko  coughed  as she explained this. Fuyuhiko bumped his elbow against the albino, giving her a look.

"Yeah. Let's bring him in," Nekomaru advised after he finished reading the situation. "Owari will scale the bars and toss him into the air. Nanami will catch him and run as fast as she can. Kuzuryu, Pekoyama, and I will stay behind to distract the guards from shooting for Owari to get back in."

"That sounds okay-Wait. Did you say I'm catching Hinata-kun?" Chiaki backtracked, aware of how far Akane can throw. I should start running!

"We don't have much time in our hands. The class will grow wary of our sudden absence." Peko held onto one bomb, having her wooden sword on her other side.

"Easy-peasy. I'm ready whenever you guys are." Akane went to her marathon run stance.

"Wait a little more. Nanami barely got any distance." Fuyuhiko watched Chiaki run. He turned towards the guards, flicking his lighter to life. "Ok. Let's do this!"

...

'There he goes!' Chiaki ran a far distance, looking up to see her friend catapulted upward. Please tell me no one is staring outside!

[Meanwhile...]

"What the hell?" The Ultimate Neurologist rubbed his eyes, staring at a body flying from nowhere. "Have those students finally lost their minds?"
 

[Also...]

"What the hell?" Kizakura said aloud, dropping his flask as he stood at the principal's office.

"What is it?" Kirigiri inquired, standing up to take a look.

"I uh..." Kizakura rubbed his eyes, seeing nothing. "I think I drank too much for today."

"That's the first," Kirigiri remarked.

"I got you! I got you!" Chiaki held her arms out, retro running to catch her friend. "Hinata-Ack?!"

"Ahhhh!" Chiaki fell, forgetting that right behind her is a huge river. At least she caught Hajime.

*SPLASH!*

Chapter Text

Soaked to the bone, Chiaki got dragged out of the water current by her shivering bestie. They then chose to take a rest first. Chiaki allowed Hajime to eat the soggy kusamochi, listening to his heartbeat as they lay on mud.  Yeah. It's pretty romantic after they both almost drowned.  Chiaki wished her games gave her an idea of what to do right now.

They're tired but glad to have each other. [ It started raining. ]

'Got to get up.' Chiaki sighed, slowly sitting up to look down at Hajime.  He looked a little under the weather.  She slowly placed a hand over his forehead, commenting. "You're going to get a fever soon, Hinata-kun."

"I guess we better get going before I succumb to it." Hajime breathed out, pushing her hand away. The two are so pale. He raised his hand, and she grabbed onto it. "What time is it?"

"Past 1, I think." Chiaki pulled her friend to sit up as well. "Couldn't sleep there?"

"The reserve course is a mess." Hajime continued to hold her hand, watching his shaking hand due to the freezing temperature. "Never thought I'd shiver in the month of June."

"I keep telling you to rest, but you never listen." Chiaki pressed her forehead against his, watching the rain droplets fall from her face. Swimming is so exhausting. She doesn't know if he's crying from fatigue or she's crying for bringing this to him. Chiaki whispered, "Sorry."

"You didn't know any better." Hajime moved his thumb in the palm of her hand in a circular motion, "your father called me before the school cut us from the outside world. He asked me to round up anyone who isn't acting weird. I had to secure a route of exit."

"I could have called you sooner, but I wouldn't be able to save anyone if I did... I told you I have crappy luck," Hajime chuckled, staring down at their hands. "I got some people out, but this won't stop until we can reverse whatever the mastermind did."

"What is happening on your side, anyway?" Chiaki's voice cracked.  Chiaki realized she was the one crying since Hajime's too tired to cry or freak out anymore.   No one could contact anyone on what's going on in the Reserve Course. The news didn't even cover the parade. 'At least you're okay.'

"Let's say the video incited unadulterated rage, snapping the department's fragile tolerance to the school's injustice," Hajime explained, sitting back up and placing a hand on the side of her cheek. "I... I don't want you to enter there without a weapon."

"Nanami," Hajime called her out, letting her stare at his eyes. "I won't deny students died in the building or people went mad with the truth, but I need you to help me figure out what the mastermind wants so we can stop all of  this. We have to stop this."

"All we know is that the mastermind is an Ultimate." Chiaki rests her face against his hand, whispering. "who has great analytical skills to manipulate the entire student body and officials."

"We also know they're a high school student, based on the target audience of the video ranging from adolescent to young adult." Hajime cemented. "That they have ties with the Administration and the government. They aren't an integral member, but an influential third party."

"Around a hundred possible candidates," Chiaki mumbled, exhaustion speaking in her stead. "Can't we let the adults deal with it instead? We're just teenagers..."

"I'm tired too." Hajime flicked mud off her hair, "how about we head back and rest first? We'll decide what to do later."

"Hn..." Chiaki nodded, and Hajime helped her stand.

The two students walked around the muddy ground, searching for a way to climb up. The skies kept raining, taunting them of their feat. Chiaki's phone got lost in the rain, so they really were on their own. Finally, seeing a staircase, the two climbed up and found shelter on a small shed. Once inside, they removed their muddy jackets and tried to clean them. Hajime used a hose to clean her skin, and Chiaki retaliates by throwing a pail of water at his face. They couldn't find anything useful after cleaning themselves, but Chiaki feels they can use the tarp to cover their heads from the rain.

Hajime followed Chiaki, watching out for anything out of the ordinary. The two long abandoned the tarp after they used it to confuse a bear. Komaeda's luck had to say HELLO. His time in the Reserve Course taught him anything could hurt you.  Ah shit. I forgot to tell her about my wounds.  Hajime recalled someone wearing a nurse outfit, so she might help him tend to his injuries.  If not, that's fine.

'I'm a pretty resilient bastard if I say so myself.' Hajime held Chiaki by the waist, pulling her away before the renowned jackass spotted them.  Natsumi says this guy won't hesitate to kill a reserve student, so what more now?  Chiaki didn't fight back.  She should have known better than to swim against the current.

"We're almost there," Hajime told her, seeing the dormitory from a distance. Based on the guard rotation, it's nearing dinner.  The guards are fewer at night time.  Hajime lets go of her, surprised. "You're warm."

"No, you're sick." Chiaki held his green tie to keep herself standing.  Hajime bought the school's attire from a frustrated student online, so he doesn't have the full gear.  The gamer mumbled, "Actually, we're both going to be sick."

"I hear the Ultimate Pharmacist can alleviate fevers in a matter of an hour," Hajime suggested, trailing behind the gamer.

"She was expelled last year. Her products are in the prohibited section now..." Chiaki sadly replied. "I guess we can cook chicken soup and hope for the best."

"That's not how the body recovers, but placebo works too." Hajime hummed, reaching another tree and bush for cover.

"Wait here." Chiaki hugged him first as if that would reassure him.  She doesn't need to comfort him. The world has shown how much it hates him thus far.  Hajime speculated why Chiaki hesitated to leave him, landing to the idea of the unknown.

"Hn." Hajime nodded and the gamer left him.

Soaking in the rain...

Thinking about life...

Despair-Huh?

"I brought reinforcements." Chiaki rushed back, wearing a towel on her shoulder but running faster than Mahiru holding the umbrella.

"Nanami-san!" Mahiru is also accompanied by Hiyoko. "Geeze. We just dried you."

"Do you have a friend who knows about animation?" Hajime asked, clutching his head as his thought spiraled back to the video. He can't forget it. The violence. The chaos. The death. The possibilities.

"Hinata-kun?" Chiaki asked, kneeling down and staring at him in wonder. "Your eyes..."

"I.." Hajime raised his hand, tempted to... To... What?

"Hinata-kun?!" Chiaki reached out as the brunette passed out.

Chapter Text

Hajime rarely gets sick because no one would care for him.  The caretaker assigned to him isn't exactly loving.  Hajime prefers to be the one taking care of people, not the other way around.  Who knows when they'll abandon his talentless ass? When he wakes up inside an unknown room, Hajime thinks about the past and plans for the present to secure the future.  Being wrapped like a burrito isn't part of his list .

"You're awake."

"Kamukura." Hajime greeted in turn, turning his head to stare at the busy Ultimate.  Hajime doesn't get why people are in awe of this guy. Kamukura Izuru looks like one of those guys who underwent an emo phase and now has to take counseling to fix his emotional problems. Hajime shifted his body, feeling where his hands are. "Why am I here?"

"You're sick." Izuru is close to the window, using a desktop to type something.

"Shouldn't you be in class?" Hajime rolled out of bed, bracing himself on the fall.

*Thud*

"I am tasked to watch over you." Izuru finally looked at his area, staring at him like an ant. Next to Nagito, Izuru is someone who really dislikes talentless people. Izuru inquired, "What do you plan on doing?"

"Breathing." Hajime freed himself from the blanket. "And crawling."

"Your sarcasm is unwarranted." Izuru's voice is exactly the same , but Hajime can sense annoyance from a mile away . Thankfully, Chiaki isn't great friends with the guy.

"All right, wise guy. You got me cornered." Hajime sat up by the corner, staring at his clothes.  Who changed his clothes?

"Will you answer the question, or shall I answer it for you?" If Izuru were a mutant, he'd have laser eyes.

"If it has something to do with food, sleep, or medicine, then don't speak." Hajime stood up, stretching his arms. "Ah~ I'm thinking of work."

"You are a self-destructive workaholic with low self-esteem," Izuru remarked. That should be the raven's cue to continue with his work, but Hajime found the long-haired cryptid stand up to head towards his fridge. "However, you could prove interesting in the incoming events."

"Keep that up, and I'll assume you know the mastermind of this Parade," Hajime joked, but he didn't expect to hear him laugh. 'Shit. His laugh sounds better than mine!'

"That would be horrific." Izuru's even smiling, and Hajime pressed himself against the wall. While Izuru prepared their meal, Hajime scanned the room.

'What the hell is his talent?' Hajime really should have done his research on Chiaki's classmates. All he knows are their personalities and past actions. 'And why is this guy giving me the creeps?'

"Hey.." Hajime took tentative steps around the room, surveilling it. There are cameras, but they're disabled. Hajime also noticed Izuru is making too much food. "Isn't that too much food?"

"My talents increase my metabolism." Izuru waved his knife, and Hajime looked outside the window. [It's still raining.]

"Huh..." Hajime stared at the photos on the raven's table, looking again at the male who magically is wearing an apron now. Also, his hair is tied. Hajime ignored the changes to ask. "What are the odds of this school having hidden passages?"

"Yes," Izuru replied, cutting the spring onion.

'I guess there's a lot of them, then.' Hajime looked back at the pictures.  Chiaki seems pretty happy in these photos.  Hajime sighed, 'it would make sense if the mastermind hid after the incident.'

'However, I still don't know the motive. Why would someone force students to kill each other?' Hajime drummed his fingers on the table, staring at the class photo. 'People do things out of motive.'

"It's time to eat," Izuru ordered, and Hajime looked back to see a ton of dishes on the table. The Ultimate is sitting down, already holding his chopsticks.

'This is awkward...' Hajime went to the table, seeing the clock out of chance.  [12:13]

'Brunch?' Hajime sat down, thanking Izuru for the food. " Itadaki-masu. "

...

'It took me a day to get out of the trance.' Hajime thought to himself, taking bits and pieces of the meal.

Hajime can't recall what happened on the day everyone received the  [EVIDENCE]  that morning, but he felt angry.  The people around him amplified the effect.  Hajime wasn't himself when in a group . Neither was Natsumi and Sato.  He had to bruise them up before he could get them to be their usual self.   The video is destructive, and the setup was the ideal ground for aggression to flourish . Hajime doesn't know how he snapped back, but he simply did.  He should at least try to understand why it isn't working right.

'It's incomplete.' Hajime almost dropped one of his chopsticks, 'an unfinished product. This is more than a silly prank, more than just a cheap vendetta... The motive might be similar to one of those terrorist groups my dad had to defend.'

'But what asshole would do this?' Hajime can't figure it out. Not enough information. Not enough time.  Hajime has noticed Izuru half done with the main dishes.

"Out of the incoming graduate of this year, which section has the most influence in changing the world?" Hajime asked Izuru before stuffing noodles in his mouth. 'Wow. It is good.'

"Class 77-B." Izuru sipped his drink. Hajime really has a feeling this guy knows something, but he doesn't want to interact with this guy. Nagito seems like a better option compared to this guy for reasons. It's not like Nagito looks more attractive, but it's... Nagito is easier to talk to! Wait. Did he just say his class section? Izuru asked out of politeness. "Why do you ask?"

"Curious." Hajime found himself already done with his ramen.  It was too good. Hajime sets his chopstick down before he eats more, realizing this guy might be the Ultimate chef or something. "Can we meet Nanami now?"

"They're searching for Tsumiki as we speak." Izuru stacked the plates, observing the brunette. "Would you leave despite not being in your peak condition?"

"I overstayed my welcome." Hajime grabbed his green tie from the ironing table, wearing it over the plain button-down shirt. "You also have a place to go, don't you?"

"..." Izuru placed the plates in the dishwasher. "Hinata Hajime. Are you truly talentless?"

"Ninety-nine percent sure." Hajime walked towards the door, twisting the knob. "Thank you for watching over me."

Chapter Text

Chiaki should have seen this coming. Her mother must be laughing at her. No one can be trusted, after all. Chiaki doesn't mind if her friends use her because they can't help themselves. Memories, ideas, and experiences - These variables make a game character unique. But still! Entering Hope's Peak Academy made her believe friendship lasts forever. However, it seems she was mistaken. Still...

[Betrayal]

Chiaki wanted to save Yukizome-sensei. She knew the risk of the operation, but if they stuck together as a class, then surely... But one of them was working with the mastermind. Why didn't I notice it? Chiaki should have seen this coming.

(Tsumiki-san and Yukizome-sensei - Traitors)

If she got tricked twice, then the third time is inevitable. Chiaki stared at the monitor, at this psycho who started the Parade. The mastermind, who manipulated her classmate to create a [despair video], is a year below them - The Ultimate Fashionista, Enoshima Junko.

"You'll be the one who will complete my video of despair!"

'No...' Chiaki took a step back, hands feeling numb. She'll be a part of a video? Chiaki remembered what Hajime said about the video's effects on the reserve course. Despair is the motive.

'NO' Chiaki refused to move forward, unconsciously shaking her head. The video showing students killing each other is incomplete?! Chiaki stared at the dark and damp-looking labyrinth, one hand on her chest. Doesn't that mean...

<< I'm going to die? >>

"No!" Chiaki knows that if she enters the labyrinth, then she'll be walking into a trap. The lights are facing her, but she stood in place. 'I won't play this game.'

'I don't want to die.' Chiaki struggled to breathe, unwilling to make a move. I don't want to die. I don't want this! I don't want to be anyone's pawn!

"..." Chiaki took steps away from the entrance, landing on her butt. Everything's going black. Chiaki covered her face with her hands. 'If I go in, I'll die and cause despair. If I don't go, my classmates will get targeted next.'

'If I get out of this maze, I might be able to save my classmates. If I don't obey her, the video will never finalize.' Chiaki can see her hands shaking. The OST playing in the background is the same as a game she played ten years ago. 'No. It's a trick. I won't be tricked again!'

"Giving up so soon, Nanami-senpai?"

'What do I do?' Chiaki ignored the voice, stuck in a stalemate. 'Why is this happening?'

Natsumi doesn't remember anything after watching the video, but she woke and in the family home and just knew she had to see Fuyuhiko ASAP! She isn't the only one who wanted to get back into school. Sato and several others also want to get back in. The police may have prevented them from returning, but Natsumi has connections with the administration.

To be more specific, they all made a deal with one of the Steering Committee.  Hajime apparently saved them.  The deal had something to do with Hajime, but someone volunteered to pay instead. It was Sato who talked to the guy. //// Sato knew she shouldn't have given the man her GPS tracker of all her classmates, but this is for Mahiru's sake! She's in grave danger! Surely, Hajime will understand. She, too, has someone to protect. That's why she has to come back and see Mahiru.  No matter the cost.

After making the deal, Sato, and co. managed to enter school grounds once more. The shady board of trustees left with her device while making calls. Natsumi asked her what she gave, but Sato pressed they have to find their classmates asap! It's why they split up. Half of them going back to the Reserve Course to snap their classmates back to normal.

Hajime gave up searching for Chiaki. No one can blame him.   He doesn't know where the hell Chiaki and her classmates went.  He should have asked the cryptid, but that guy's creepy. The next best thing he can do is find the Mastermind. Thankfully, Hajime saw a familiar black-haired soldier. He obviously followed her, and then he lost track of her in the middle of a dark basement.

'If I were the Mastermind, where would I be?' Hajime asked himself, waiting for the elevator to reach the very bottom.   He's done his fair share of game theories, editing videos to make a long-lasting impact on the audience.  [ Consistency, duration, and impact. ] There are other variables, but those three are important to him.

"♫~" Hajime rode the elevator for quite some time, looking into the rooms and hearing nothing special. It's too bad the elevator can only go DOWN and not UP like a final boss stage...

"Wait a minute... Boss fight?" Hajime stopped whistling, realizing it's very possible. "Shit!"

Chapter Text

The good news , Hajime isn't alone, and the chances of survival are high. Bad news , Chiaki is here, and she's likely the reason he might survive the event. (Hajime hates the odds presented.)

*Smack!*

"Na...Nanami...?" Hajime looked back at the one who slapped him, clutching his injured cheek.

"Why are you here?!" Chiaki yelled at him, tears falling down her face. "You... You idiot!"

"I'm searching for the mastermind," Hajime stated the obvious. His curiosity is way stronger than his sense of dread. Hajime inquired, "side note. Who's the crazy bitch on the screen?"

"How... gah!" Chiaki beat his chest with her free hand, "Why do I still love you?!"

"I'm the easiest love interest?" Hajime raised an eyebrow, letting her cry on his chest. "We're virtually married in every game server. Does that count as evidence?"

Hajime knows Chiaki's fears are logical. [ No one wants to die and be the reason your friends turn into mindless zombies. ] However, Hajime doesn't see any problem right now.

♫

"♫♪" Hajime hummed their theme song as they walked together, tugging her to the side to avoid the darts.

"Neh... Hinata-kun?" Chiaki clung onto Hajime's arm, feeling safe despite their situation. "Do you think we can consider this our first date?"

"Definitely." Hajime joked, suddenly grabbing her waist and rushing to the side. Fire bursts out from their previous area. Hajime continued, "Our second date will be at the hospital."

"You goofball." Chiaki bumped her shoulder against Hajime's chest. They both fell to the ground just in time before a metal boomerang thing sliced his head. "That's not how dates work."

"Fine. We'll watch a movie." Hajime sat up, helping her get up. "I just hope your classmates are busy at that time."

<< Just for this moment, let's forget about death. >> He may be considered talentless, and her talent may not be for this task, but that doesn't mean he can't craft a future where she survives this labyrinth.

"Do you think we ruined the video?"  Hajime asked after Chiaki smacked his hand to stop him from touching his stomach wound. //// Chiaki sighed, their hands interlocked to gain a sense of comfort.  "I hope so."

Chiaki found it weird how calm Hajime is, but she finds it more strange why her head managed to think straight despite her injuries. (Hajime always makes her feel like she can do anything.)

"I guess she ran out of words," Hajime remarked, finally arriving towards a door with a huge GOAL symbol. "It seems this game gets easier with every additional player."

"The corpses lying around beg to disagree." Chiaki leaned on the wall, taking a rest. "Speaking of corpses, are you seriously going to carry that corpse to the goal?"

"Listen. I have zero talent, and we both have one life each. I have to be resourceful." Hajime tugged the collar of a scientist cadaver.  Hajime won't deny it, but he is a hoarder.  Chiaki is more of a speed run completionist. Hajime added. "And if I see a dead body lying around, you can bet your bitcoin I'm going to use it!"

"That explains why you have no shoes..." Chiaki glanced down to see Hajime's white socks. "Why didn't I think of that?"

"You were panicking." Hajime placed the dead body on the door, wiping a bead of sweat- Hajime stared at his hand. "Do you have any classmate who can take care of wounds?"

Chiaki can trust Hajime. [Hajime won't let her die and she won't let him die either.] However, Chiaki can see only one problem in this setup.

"I think I did it." Hajime tied his green tie around her injured arm, trying to bandage the wound. "We're going to need more cloth."

"More  dry  cloth." Chiaki nodded, seeing that both of them are injured from the labyrinth.  After telling him about Mikan, Hajime suggested they patch up some wounds since the journey to the surface will take a while.

"Hm~" Hajime slowly looked at the corpse. "Maybe we can use...."

"No~" Chiaki slowly pushed Hajime's face away from the thing. "They're stinky and unhygienic."

"But they don't smell that bad." Hajime tried to persuade her, but Chiaki continues to shake her head. "Come on!"

<< The GOAL is right there. >> Chiaki can't believe they made it. Too bad they're on the verge of fainting. Hajime's fever is coming back, and she might faint from the massive amount of blood loss.

INCOMING GAME OVER

Chapter Text

Chiaki opened the door, so Hajime could throw a corpse- The corpse got impaled by mysterious spikes, spurting out blood like a water fountain.

"Nope!" Hajime hurriedly closed the door. They got lucky when a metallic spear pierced through the door, striking the center and not the side.

That was close.

"You think that's it?" Chiaki asked, but Hajime continued to hold the door closed. "What if there's a motion-detecting trap or a facial recognition device or maybe even a sentient AI?"

"I doubt it," Hajime muttered, but he refused to open the door.  He's afraid. Chiaki can relate.  The brunette sadly continued, "But if there are, we have nothing to throw anymore."

"Maybe we can drag the body back in and cut him up?" Chiaki looked back at the door. "In case there are more traps in the room."

"We could, but the projectiles here can't be used with our bare hands." Hajime sighed, looking back at the door. "The body we threw is also riddled with holes after getting spiked to death... How many traps do you think the next room has?"

"The room is as big as a conference room." Chiaki caught a glimpse of a court setting in the middle, but that must be for show. "I don't know. She wants me dead, so it has to be a lot, right?"

"Yes, but we're bleeding and in need of sleep, food, and medicine." Hajime played with the doorknob. "Damn it! Where are your classmates? I thought for sure they'll be here about now."

"I..." Chiaki looked down on the floor.  She honestly doesn't know either. It's probably been 10 minutes since she got separated from her classmates-  Chiaki paused.

"Hinata-kun. You know an awful lot about the blueprint of this maze." Chiaki may be the Ultimate gamer, but even she gets into dead ends. That was before she met with Hajime, and they went to every correct route. Well, there are dead ends, but they always got something out of it.  Hajime grabbed corpses and items to throw to test the paths.

"I don't know how to make this sound less suspicious, but this place feels familiar." Hajime shrugged, letting go of the doorknob. "This place must be one of the talent testing sites."

"Talent testing sites?" Chiaki heard of those areas before, but Kizakura-sensei simply led her to a white room to play an array of games. "Right. Your parents are talent-crazy, but you can't have entered this place before unless this is the reason for your accident..."

"I don't know how else I know this place other than that." Hajime hummed. "Judging from its current state, the scientists decided to revive the place to test the  Ultimate prototypes ."

"This is all too much for one day." Chiaki raised her hand, wincing when she wanted to wipe the blood from one eye. "I just want to go back to everyone and sleep in my bed."

"Same... Not exactly. Sleep is hard. I guess I'd like to drink orange juice again. The taste is starting to get to me." Hajime got off the wall to finally start moving. "Hopefully, the coast is clear, and we made a ton of people unhappy."

"On the count of three?" Chiaki asked, both facing the door.

"One, two, three!"

Hajime walked to the side, holding Chiaki's hand in case something triggers again. They really have to go soon. The labyrinth may have got his adrenaline pumping, but it's starting to wear out. [This place really looks familiar.] He has to get Chiaki out ASAP.

"Tired?" Chiaki asked, watching him slump to the wall. Hajime breathed through his mouth, panting as he slid down to the wall.

"Kinda.." Hajime used the wall to stand back up, staggering. "Sorry..."

"It's ok." Chiaki gave him a one-arm hug, which physically hurt but emotionally comforting. "Let's go."

...

The two trudged forward, going for the red door on the other side of the room.

The silence is deafening.

No one is coming.

'Move. I have to keep moving.' Hajime forced his legs to work.  He isn't the only one dying.  It would be a great time for someone to come in and save them.

*thud*

"!!" Hajime fell when Chiaki collapsed on him. They really need to get to the hospital. 

"Sorry..." Chiaki confessed, her breath hitting his neck. "S-sleepy..."

"Not yet." Hajime told her, "Stay up for me. You have you stay awake."

"Hm..." Chiaki has more injuries than him, so she must be at her limit.

'Wouldn't it be pathetic to die from blood loss?' Hajime struggled to sit up, grabbing Chiaki in one arm. 'Sure. We succeeded in ruining the video, but can we not die from this?'

'This is pathetic.' Hajime hates himself, dragging her with him instead.

'I'm pathetic. I made this so pathetic.' Hajime kept tugging her, finally past the weird setup. He doesn't know why there are witnesses stands and a dumb bear on a high chair, but whatever.

"Ha..." Hajime took a rest on the floor with Chiaki right beside him. He's at his limit. This room should be banned for being huge! They're close, but the agony is terrible.

 
"Hm..." Chiaki's barely awake, scooting on the floor to rest on his arm.

"Tsk." Hajime sounded more dead than annoyed, "Don't."

"...ere..." Chiaki hasn't let go of his hand once, her breathing faint.

'Chiaki will die if I sleep.' Hajime rationalized, but his body is screaming for him to rest. 'I wish I was born with a kickass immune system.'

"?" Hajime heard the door open. For some reason, he remembered Chiaki talking about Nagito's logic. [For every good luck that happens, there will be a stroke of equivalent bad luck in turn.] Hajime watched the red door open, squeezing Chiaki's hand. 'Is this good luck or bad luck?'

Chapter Text

Natsumi knows she got played like a fiddle.  She should have known the administration couldn't be trusted. The old bastard is searching for people to blame.  How dare they pin the blame on her brother's class?! This is all Sato's fault. That bitch can't be trusted.  Natsumi should have beat the crap out of the guy to let them in. Bribery isn't a damn given when it's these shady fucks!

...so it made sense to retaliate.  The blonde pulled out her gun, pointing at the guards.

*BANG! BANG! BANG!

She's made a mistake, and she'll live with it. The green-haired female assisted her nemesis.

Sato can never forgive herself for bringing harm to her friends.  If Natsumi shot her, Sato would forgive her. All I wanted is to protect Mahiru! Stomping on the guard's head before they call backup, Sato knew she can't go back now. She's not only branded as some killer or revolutionist in the news, but she literally killed someone. However, she can still save this class's future.

I have to do it. It's the only way. I have to do it!

'If I hurt Mahiru/Onii-chan, then the admin can't pin the blame on her/his class.'

Fuyuhiko doesn't know what the hell is going on, but these guys greatly upset his sister.  Not just Natsumi, but also Sato.  He didn't think Natsumi would pull a gun out in retaliation. Hell! He didn't believe Sato could snap someone's damn neck. The problem here was their gaze turned vacant, almost in a trance state like those reserve students outside...

"S-sato-chan?" Mahiru called out, watching her friend stand up.

"I'm sorry..." Holding two guns in both hands, Sato apologized. "I'm so sorry!"

"She's really out of it!" Ibuki pulled Mahiru down before Sato shot her. "Guys! What do we do with them?!"

"Drop the gun, Natsumi," Fuyuhiko warned on his head, but Natsumi stayed silent. "Oy!"

"I'll do my best to disarm her." Peko held out her wooden sword but almost fell on one knee. "?!"

"Be careful. The video must have caused disorientation." Impostor-san told them upright as the rest of the class search for an exit.

"We're shut in!" Akane kicked the door, not even making a dent.

"How are we gonna help Nanami-san?!" Sonia looked back up at the screen.

"No signal, no exposed wires, nothing." Kazuichi tugged his beanie. "If we don't do something, they're going to die!"

"..." Nagito glanced around the room, 'Where's Kamukura-kun?'

Chapter Text

 Hajime knew the risk of staying in Hope's Peak Academy.   However, he can't leave Chiaki in there.

Hope's Peak Academy has a reputation of covering its mess and blaming its faults on innocent parties.  Hajime knew the Reserve Course can't be saved, but Nanami's father insisted he tries.  He's long given up salvaging his reputation, simply taking on the task of quelling this long-hidden resentment. He wants Chiaki to get out safely, but she won't leave until her classmates are safe. Chiaki, this innocent and clueless girl he met online, has no idea what they're in.  This school isn't fun and rainbows.  Hajime knows if he doesn't find the Mastermind, he'll be framed instead.

Why did he save and rescue several people in the building?   He was told to by his possible father-in-law and maybe out of conscience. 

How was he able to calm down the Reserve Course in the West gate?   He has a ton of experience with mobs, both virtual and physical. 

What did he do to get inside the Main Campus?   He doesn't know either, but he woke up almost drowning with Chiaki right beside him. 

Who did he talk to to enroll in this school?   He took the test with twelve others, got interviewed first before getting the results hours later. 

Can he blame himself for coming at the wrong time?  Hajime knows the school wouldn't. They'll use him to clean their hands.

Catharsis. Hajime listened to the voices entering the room, unable to keep his eyes open. He can't stay awake... That's what I felt after watching the....

Chiaki only took a short rest before opening her eyes, hearing the sound of footsteps entering their area. There are around five people in the room... Maybe?

"Is he the correct target?" The stranger wondered, poking the body with his rifle.

"Don't question orders." Another male walked beside the first, checking his phone. "GPS doesn't lie. He's gotta be the guy."

"What about the female student?" Someone is approaching her with a gun, lowering it to examine her. "She's an Ultimate, isn't she?"

"Ignore her." The other guard yawned. "She'll die soon enough."

She doesn't know what's going on, but the noises are painful to her ears. She looked up, seeing Hajime closing his eyes.

"Ha...ji..." She moved their interlocked hands, trying to nudge him awake. (He can't sleep now.) Chiaki opened her mouth, but she accidentally coughed blood.

"?!" Chiaki shut her eyes when she got kicked, and try as she might, she failed to hold Hajime.

'No.' Tears fell down her eyes from the pain, but her chest ached even more when she saw these men in black prod and kick her friend. "S...to..."

"H..." Chiaki could barely move. Her body burning as she stretched her arm towards her friend. "Ha...ji... me!"

"He's unconscious." The man confirmed.

"No shit Sherlock." The man bumped his colleague's elbow, glancing at the bleeding figure. "Uh... Sir? The Ultimate is conscious."

"We could execute her and pin her death on him." The sleepy guard suggested. "Easier for us, right?"

"That would be for the best," The leader who finished examining the room agreed with the logic, "but it would be suspicious if they found bullet wounds."

"She's my daughter, you idiotic deadweights." Said a voice Chiaki never thought she'd hear. "And handle the boy with care. He may still contain a remnant of his former talent."

"Oka...." Chiaki looked at the source of the sound. Her mother. 'Why is mother here?'

"What?!" The man, who poked Hajime, took a step back. "I thought he's talentless?"

"Shut up." The other guy quipped, placing one hand on his hip. "It's not like he can do anything when he's asleep and dying."

"Yeah, but you remember the white-haired luck storm?" The third man asked. "Well, he wasn't awake, and my squad almost died downstairs coz he got a bloody nice  dream!"

"Is this another bullshit project I'm hearing?" The leader asked the scientist. "He won't transform and kill us like the other experiments, right?"

 
"No, he has no involvement in the Hope Cultivation Plan." The scientist groaned, grabbing hold of Hajime's collar. "More of a government byproduct than anything. Now then, grab my daughter, and let's get out of here."

"Who do you think caused these two to end up like this?" Someone inquired.

"Not a reserve student, that's for sure. They ain't smart enough." Another joked.

"High pay comes with high risk." The third explained. "I bet it's the terrorists."

"Enough with the conspiracy theories and start moving." The leader barked, carrying Hajime like a potato sack.

"..." Chiaki couldn't fight back even if she wanted to as an unknown man held her in his arms.  She doesn't know what's going on, but anything that has to do with her mother is dangerous.  They're entering a white hallway. The light blinds her.

*BAAAAMMMM*

"Geeze! Haven't you heard adults are useless tag?"

'Oh no... The crazy gyaru is back.' Chiaki rolled her eyes up in pain exasperation. This must be the reason why that woman stopped talking halfway through the game. Chiaki cursed her luck, 'she's going to kill me herself.'

Chapter Text

Taking a nap is always a bad decision.

Hajime expected worse things to happen every time he closes his eyes.  Blink once. Day turns to night. Blink twice. The future is now the present .  Time moves too quickly for his liking.  Hajime couldn't do anything, though, being the talentless person he is, but he could have done better (maybe).  He might be a little hard on himself, but he's Chiaki's new BF, for crying out loud!  Hajime could already imagine the faces of her classmates. They won't go easy on him, especially when they're so fond of the gamer. If only this was a real dating game. Surprisingly, Hajime woke up at the sound of gunshots.

"?" Hajime blinked, surprised to see himself holding a knife close to his neck.  Hajime couldn't help but find this situation hilarious, especially when this is the exact same scenario he woke up after watching the incomplete video.  The reserve student doesn't understand why he ends up in these situations, but it isn't scary the second time.  It's gotten pretty stale.  Hajime moved the knife away from his neck, examining the sharp blade. Hajime hummed, slowly looking up at the situation god threw him on.

" This is... unexpected. " The Mastermind commented, staring down at the lone survivor who should have died like the rest of the five adults. She definitely sounded annoyed, but there was also a hint of amusement. Hajime wouldn't know the whole story. His memories poked with holes just like the first time he watched the video. Hajime could talk to the woman all he wants, but he has one task in mind: I have to find Chiaki .

"Hey~ Are you listening to me?"  The girl called out, and Hajime scanned the bloody room. Everyone seemed to have killed themselves after watching something on the monitor. The clip already ended, only showing a monochrome bear with a text. If only this wasn't a life or death situation, Chiaki would have liked the OST.  Hajime will admit the bear looks like a great mascot.

"If the Mastermind is here, then I guess Nanami is still in this building." Hajime theorized, walking towards the door and opening it, finding the new room all too familiar but not.  Why is that?  Hajime did his best not to step on corpses, aware he doesn't have to bring any. "Now... If I were the Mastermind, where would I place the protagonist?"

"Oh my god! You are hella annoying!"  The Mastermind yelled at him as he reached the next room. The room felt familiar. It's as big as a conference room.

"Stop ignoring me!"  Hajime scanned the area, seeing dead policemen and a couple of dead reserve students. Hajime chose to look at the reserve course students, finding them familiar.  "Oh~ Do you remember who those two are?"

"Nope." Hajime let the P pop out, tilting his head.  Familiar but not good enough.

"What a shame..."  The blonde shook her head.

'Is that a good thing or a bad thing?' Hajime wrecked his brain for anyone in mind, but all he knows are his classmates in Kodaka, his parents, and Nanami. "Nothing."

"..."  (Hajime can feel her glare through the screen, but that didn't matter either. Wait. Did she change her attire?)  "Despite undergoing an extraction process, you retain parts of your talent."

"If I play along, would she tell me where Nanami is?" Hajime ignored the woman's nonsense, thinking about what to do since he doesn't trust that crazy bitch.  He does want to ask why he's bandaged up, but he would also open up a can of worms because he's a guy and she's a girl.  Hajime walked away from the corpse, curious where he got the new shoes. 'I am kinda hungry, and cannibalism is a no. I guess I should talk with crazy.'

"You really don't care, do you? Not angry with the government or even the parents that abandoned you. Not even the fact the government might hunt down and strip off your GF's talent? Nothing???"  Junko rests her face on the palm of her hand, watching his indifference.  "I guess this is what happens when a guy chooses to simp for a gamer girl."

"I can't change my past, so I move forward." Hajime shrugged. "If something happens, then I'll decide from there."

"Yeah, and you chose to fuck with my plans..."  Junko's eyes narrowed, but she quickly waved her hands in the air with a grin.  "But I  always  prepare a backup plan!"

"You half-assed the videos. If you didn't make a backup plan, you did all this because you're bored." Hajime sighed.  Just the sight of this woman exhausts him.  "Just tell me where Nanami is."

"Dead,"  Junko announced with a serious tone.  "And her class? They've all succumbed to despair. They're all my Ultimate Despair now~."

"..." Hajime stared at her, blinked once, and frowned. "Almost had me there with the omissions,  bitch ."

" Hahahahaha!"  The blonde laughed hysterically, pointing at him.  "Y-you! You're as deadpan as Kamukura-senpai, but that sass! I can't even! HAHAHAHA!"

"I am this close to coming up with a hundred ways to killing you," Hajime muttered under his breath, and the girl laughed even louder.  This girl is a psycho. He's a hundred percent sure of this! Or could she be a sociopath? Who cares? She needs to go to the asylum!

"H-how did I miss you? Hahahahahaha"  The woman is faking it.  She's so bored that she's trying to make him feel uneasy . Hajime wondered if the asylum is too good for this woman.  Maybe a third-world prison?

"Stop pretending. This is getting boring." Hajime already entered the next room, seeing more bloodshed. "Since you get off with despair, it wouldn't surprise me if you decide to give everyone a dose of your so-called despair. The more, the merrier."

"Thank god! You totes get me, Hajimeme."  Junko even ruined his name.  Only his friends can ruin his name.  Hajime leaped for cover, falling to the ground to avoid the gunshots. He looked up, curious how the girl got gun turrets.  "I find the world predictable and the people worse for taking boring routes. Despair shakes things up, makes things interesting. What better place to start chaos than in Hope's Peak Academy?"

"TBH, if I didn't do it, then some random noob will!"  The girl has a point, but did it have to be the time when he entered this place? Hajime crawled to reach the next area, almost falling down to a hole when one of the floor tiles fell. Hajime stared down, seeing nothing but darkness.  "You could ask for my help, you know~?"

"Where's Nanami?" Hajime asked the obvious, taking note of the tiles and their shape.  The patterns presented after he almost fell five times.  Hajime reached the next room.

"Planning to fuck a corpse?"  Junko teased.  Hajime doesn't believe her. Something tells him this woman is trying to get him to fall into despair.  "You've been sleeping for two days. Anything could happen."

"Stop shitting with me. You'd die from boredom if I woke up later than the grand event." Hajime scoffed, staring at the two doors. He remembered the room he woke up in, asking. "Are you trying to bring Nanami to despair?"

"Nah! I was testing you guys."  Junko ate something right in front of him.  Takoyaki.  Hajime looked away, back at the two doors.  "One to induce despair and the other for the incoming event."

"For the Reserve Course?" Hajime can't think of anything better.  The parents of the children would rebel, scream for relief and comfort from the death of their loved ones.  Hajime opened the right door, entering an operating room. His legs initially refused to move, but that must be his imagination.

"Am I predictable for you?" Junko pouted, her voice echoing outside this place. "Does that mean you've got your talent back? It would be epic if you got it back."

'Why am I scared?' Hajime walked further inside, despite his mind screaming at him not to.  Corpses of students experimented by the school. Some recently murdered, while others twitch in place for the sweet release of death.

"...." Hajime reached the end, staring at an old television set. It flickered open, a recording of Nanami Chiaki strapped on the table. Don't look. The world around him paused as he watched the video play. 'Nanami?'

"Will this be enough to bring you to despair, Ultimate Future?"

Chapter Text

Izuru learned he had a sibling when he was one year old, catching sight of his mother cuddling a baby in the garden. His younger brother had brown hair and green eyes, always surrounded by the manor's servants.

Izuru was finally able to interact with his baby brother when he was two years old, but neither was allowed to know each other's name. Izuru politely calls the child  Otouto, and the younger child tried to call him Onii-chan.   Izuru quickly learned he dislikes his brother due to his dull nature.

"No." Izuru whacked his baby brother's hand, reading a book.

"Yes!" The toddler giggled, wanting to play with his brother's hair.

Izuru was three when he noticed his little brother's ability to grab anyone's affection if the child so desired. Although their parents gave more focus to him, Izuru could see his little brother being showered with love and care from other parties. The toys and materials in his little brother's room never came from the family's pockets. Strangely, Izuru never saw his sibling playing with the toys, preferring to annoy him instead.

When he was four years old, Izuru understood the concept of annoyance. This explained why he disliked his little brother's presence. The brunette always trailed behind him, babbling nonsense with that irritatingly simple mindset. His little brother had always been predictable, so Izuru should have known better how to get the child off his tracks. His little brother saw him as a role model, someone interesting.   Sadly, the relationship is one-sided.   Izuru found his little brother boring.  

Chapter Text

Hinata Hajime doesn't want to remember the past because memories are painful and bleak. Hajime doesn't want to remember the present either because time refuses to make different memories.

[All he has is his future.]

[But is the future his, to begin with?]

The Ultimate Future brunette falls into despair, realizing he can do nothing but accelerate the inevitable.  Everyone dies, and everything is irrelevant in the grand scheme of life.  No one can escape the END. Try as he might, Hajime can see the world about to burn around him. I can't do anything. Isn't that's why I choose to support those that can?

However, it's all for naught.  Is this my fault?

Hajime watched the students, he supposed saved, kill others. Should I have killed them? He watched the school admin announce him as the mastermind. Should I have left them to die? Hajime only wanted to do the right thing. What is the right thing to do? Hajime couldn't look away as students lost their minds, choosing to despair and spread chaos. WHAT DO I DO?! He watched Chiaki screaming for anyone for help... but no one came to save her.

I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorryI'msorryImsorryImsorryImsorryitsallmyfaultIwantedtosaveyoubutImuseless

"Sshhh~" Someone familiar held him from behind, wrapping her arms around his neck. [no.] Hajime's sitting on the ground, having stumbled back as he watched the video. [No.]

"♫♪" Hajime didn't move when the female hummed a tune only he and Chiaki know. [No!] Tears fall from his eyes, unable to utter a word as the Ultimate Gamer finally spoke to him: "I forgive you, Hinata-kun..."

"I miss you so much, you know?"

Hajime held onto Chiaki's arm, feeling Chiaki nuzzle his hair. His memories are littered with holes. He can't remember everything.  He is Hinata Hajime, a high school student from  Kodaka High . He has friends there.  Right?   He transferred to Hope's Peak to help his best friend.   That's correct, right?  Chiaki needs him...  Right?

"Let's start a Livestream after my graduation," Chiaki told him, sounding so calm and relieved. Her eyes are swirling, thoughts riddled with despair. The Ultimate gamer waited for him to calm down [before she hits him with the news.] Hajime synched his breathing pace with hers, needing someone to hold onto to...? At least she's alive. Nanami is alive...

"You'll help me, won't you?" Chiaki asked, making a new goal for next year. Hajime stayed silent, listening to her words.  It's possible, of course.   Anything's possible, but is that the right thing to do?  Hajime can feel his eyelids give up on him, unable to stay awake after everything. Chiaki keeps talking, sounding determined. "Let's unite everyone through video games."

'Us.' Hajime wondered if he can honestly do it. The past week shoved him face-first at the truth. He can't do anything.  He's talentless. How could he possibly help her now that he's branded by society?  But I want to help her.  Nanami needs my help. She needs me... Right?

"Don't worry. Enoshima-san will help us." Chiaki comforted him. Hajime feels he knows that name.  Is she trustworthy? I didn't trust her. Why do I...?  Chiaki pulled him closer, letting him focus on her. "Let's focus on the present, Hinata-kun, for the future!"

"..." Hajime thought about the gamer's words. That sounds like the right thing to do.  He can trust Chiaki.  Who else can he trust if not her?   That means he can trust Enoshima, too, right? [ Enoshima can be trusted.]  Hajime opened his eyes, gaze vacant. "All right..."

" Let's create a bright future. "

[DESPAIR]

...

Despite the busy schedule, Nanami Chiaki always has enough time to be with her predetermined love interest. Of course, Hajime isn't allowed to go out with how dangerous the world is. He's fine with the setup, getting more sleep with how hyped everyone is. The only problems she has might be the occasional security breach and low-level players in her games.

Fuyuhiko did quick work with the government while Sonia and Impostor played with the other countries.  Everyone has their own agenda. The only ones who dare to enter her territory would be the pesky resistance and...

"..." Chiaki opened the door to the master's bedroom, seeing her classmate who infiltrated her area for the sixth time. Out of all her classmates, Chiaki saw Izuru as a threat. It's not because of his talent but his affiliation with Hajime.

"..." Izuru is asleep, hugging Hajime like a pillow.

"Zz..." Hajime's too tired to care. Chiaki doesn't like being alone too. Hajime is all she has left. Izuru already has Nagito, so Izuru should leave them alone.

"?" Before Chiaki stepped forward, Izuru woke up.

".Kamukura-kun?" Chiaki politely asked, "Let go of him please."

Chapter Text

Unable to find anything or anyone to prevent Izuru from entry, the Ultimate Gamer knew she had to get out and investigate her classmate's odd behavior. Kamukura Izuru began visiting Hajime three months ago, five months after the start of the Tragedy. It makes no sense for someone as curious as Izuru to enter her sanctuary. If he wanted entertainment from her domain, he'd visit the [Main Lounge] or the [Game arena] or the [Waiting room]. Instead, Izuru snuck into the [Core] to cuddle her unconscious love interest!

Of course, she can't find any fault from Hajime. The only time he leaves her side would be when he needs to sleep. Despair makes Hajime have a regular sleep schedule. This isn't much of an issue in their relationship, but it makes her lonely since she can't sleep with all the fun games she's hosting. Playing with people would delay her schedule. She has to spread despair as fast and far as she can to the world!

The voluntary/involuntary players in her games aren't exactly the brightest when it comes to survival. They believe they can outsmart her, but they're only digging their graves. No one wants to kill, but that's the only way to win. She revealed a fantastic prize last week because she wants new people to come to her domain.

That worked...

'Now, if only I can get my love rival off my route.' To make things easier to understand, Chiaki sees life as a video game. Hajime can translate the variables she can't fully grasp. Her friend is the closest thing to an NPC guide in her life. Since she can't solve the issue through violence, intimidation, or pleasure, Chiaki feels this has to be a love game. Izuru must be a love rival.

'And the best way to get a love rival away is to pair him with someone else.' Chiaki agreed with her idea, getting out of the car alongside Kazuichi to enter the [Boss area] in Towa City. Chiaki doesn't want to kill her classmates, but she doesn't mind hurting them either. It's a complicated feeling. Yukizome-sensei understands her, but she's busy playing nice with her loved ones.
 

"Can't believe we're doing this again." Kazuichi chuckled, walking beside her with his robot escorts. He didn't change anything except removing his beanie and wore more practical items. "Man! I thought we already got those two together."

"But we didn't." Chiaki sighed, fiddling with her monochrome hoodie. "If they were, then he wouldn't be sleeping with Hinata-kun."

"That sounded so wrong..." Kazuichi shook his head. Chiaki contacted the rest of her classmates in Japan for assistance, tweaking the information to let them agree to her plan.

"You think everyone will come over if Izuru and Nagito host a wedding?" Kazuichi joked, entering the elevator. He waited for Chiaki to enter before pressing the button.

"It would be fun to tease those two." Chiaki smiled, watching the mechanic lean on the wall. "Kamukoma ship, operation: Lemon."

Chapter Text

Living with Chiaki, Hajime quickly learned the gamer's taken the yandere route. Not only is he forbidden to leave Akihabara, but he's indirectly caused a lot of the people to get kidnapped and eventually die in gruesome manners. Male or female or whatever gender, Chiaki doesn't like him meeting people without her knowing. That's not a good thing because how will Hajime get better people to assist their goal if he isn't allowed to talk to people? He can't bring her along because Hajime knows how dangerous the world is. He will never forgive her if Nanami died because of his actions.

Hajime loves Chiaki. He really does, but how can he make her happy if he isn't allowed to do what he needs to do? This is all for the sake of the future. Online communication isn't enough to forge a connection between their associates. Hajime tried the robots and using henchmen, but his social skills might need to adjust to the times. Despair made people lean to a realist mentality. (They'll be easier to manipulate if they're at the breaking point.)

Currently, Hajime got a visit from Owari Akane since she followed the delivery trucks of food blessed by Hanamura Teruteru. Hajime learned some of the food have poison in them, getting cured at the nick of time when Nagito came over with medicine. (His bad luck is getting into a fight with Izuru.)

...

"..." Hajime bit on the melon bread, watching Akane chowing down the food prepared by the Monokuma servants. They're at the dining room. Chiaki had to visit someone.

'Should I ask her what's happening outside?' Hajime thought to himself, unable to research what happened to the Reserve Course students or his classmates in his past high school. Chiaki has control over everything here. He can only organize and formulate plans with the variables presented to him. 'Would she tell Nanami if I ask her?'

"Not hungry?" Akane asked, tearing off meat with her teeth. Akane doesn't have a motive except to eat and fight. Undoubtedly, the girl traveled around. Hajime knows another person who does the same thing, Izuru, but Hajime never has an alone moment with the guy. Chiaki doesn't like Izuru. Hajime should hate Izuru for being a potential threat to both their lives, but he finds Izuru calming... Like Nagito.

"Not really," Hajime answered, watching her eat more. The servants are shaking. Did Akane do something terrible? Hajime inquired, "How's everyone?"

"Hm...." Akane thought about it, and Hajime sipped the orange juice offered to him. "Coach is helping baby gangster. That's all I know."

"Didn't you guys contact Junko?" Hajime recalled Chiaki telling him about the meeting when he woke up. 'Something about keeping the Future Foundation alive to improve the experience.'

"Not exactly my thing," Akane shrugged. "You and Nanami should go out. It'll be neat! Like a date or sumthing."

"I should.." Hajime smiled. It has been a while since they went out together, 'with the world ending and all.'

Chapter Text

"What do you mean he has no interest in sex?" Chiaki repeated, alarmed at the sudden turn of events.

"I'm sorry, but Izuru has shown no desire to have sex with anyone." Nagito offered a pained smile. Chiaki and Kazuichi can imagine the awkward boners the albino experienced with Izuru. They witnessed Izuru walking half-naked out of Nagito's bathroom on their second year in Hope's Peak Academy. Those two are definitely close!

"This is bad," Kazuichi whispered. "He might be ace."

"He isn't. Trust the professional." Chiaki is technically Izuru's second friend next to Nagito. She knows Izuru ain't asexual when she saw how invested Izuru is in Nagito for the entire first year in school.

"We're doomed..." Kazuichi muttered under his breath, and Chiaki bumped his shoulder.

"So, Komaeda-kun." Chiaki needs to know what he's already done. "Have you tried asking him?"

"I have tried a dozen times, but Izuru already predicted the outcome of each and every conversation. He shut me down... " Nagito dropped his head, staring down at the strawberry-flavored shaved ice created by the multi-purpose monokuma bot escort. Chiaki will be taking that monokuma escort with her later because she likes shaved ice.

"Did you drop hints beforehand?" Chiaki inquired, recalling how mystifying Nagito is. Then again, his love interest is Izuru, who likes to analyze everything. "Maybe Kamukura-kun was in a bad mood? Have you asked him to date first?"

"Izuru always accepts my date invitations, but tragedy always happens immediately after..." Nagito is the luckiest and unluckiest man the duo has ever seen. What's worse is how hopeful Nagito is, but then despairs deeper with the hopelessness of the date outcomes. "He truly is unobtainable."

"Don't give up, man! You're the only guy who likes- I mean understands him the most out of all of us." Kazuichi's Freudian slip is terrible, but his statements are correct. Nagito is the closest person to the Ultimate. If Nagito misses Izuru, then Chiaki will have to ask Junko, and she's in Hope's Peak Academy with Class 78!

"Kaz is right!" Chiaki vigorously nodded, determined to get the two together. Maybe she'll rope Hajime in with her plans. Hajime might know what to do! Chiaki raised her spoon, "you haven't tried everything yet! The greater the despair, the stronger the hope!"

"You're absolutely right, Nanami-san!" Nagito cheered upon her words, but his eyes told a different story. Suspicion. The servant inquired, "Is that the reason for your visit?"

"I-uh..." Chiaki scooped some ice. "Other than the fact he's annoying Hinata-kun, Kamukura-kun has been observing the Future Foundation."

"...I see." Nagito looked outside the balcony, staring at the crimson skies. "Will you tell her?"

"Nah. Izuru's always been weird." Kazuichi snapped his fingers, letting the monokuma pop out an extension to produce more ice on his cup. "This'll be like old times."

"Old times..." Both Nagito and Chiaki said at the same time, recalling the chaos of the second half of their first year.

'Yeah. Pretty despairing.' Chiaki sighed.

Chapter Text

"You're afraid for him," Hajime stated, hugging his pillow between his legs as he stared at the so-called Ultimate Hope. After Akane left after dinner, Hajime decided to head back to the master's bedroom and have some alone time. He was shamefully fantasizing about fucking Chiaki tomorrow when Kamukura fucking Izuru barged in. Now here he was, hiding his erection at this red-eyed son of a bastard!

"I am not." Izuru denied. Hajime calls BS!

"I wasn't talking about his physical condition." Hajime groaned, wishing he knew how to get this conversation finished ASAP. "I'm talking about what comes after. Based on what Nanami described you guys to be, starting a relationship during the apocalypse would be the fastest way to increasing the death rate of a loved one. The fact you're here talking to me only proves you care about the guy. We both know the possible relationship will change your perception of uncertainty. Deny it all you want. You're afraid of performing deeds your logical mind would scream irrational~"

"I didn't come here to hear the facts. I came here for familial advice." Izuru stated. Hajime can't recall who Izuru is in his life, but this Ultimate loves to annoy him. Chiaki told him Izuru visits him when he's asleep, which creeped him out a lot.

'But he does look like my brother...' Hajime weighed his options. 'If I help him, maybe he won't visit me anymore?'

"I say go for it." Hajime tilted his head, internally apologizing his Id for putting aside his sexual fantasy and supposed plans for sexual release in favor of talking to this self-proclaimed older brother. "It won't be the same as my relationship with Nanami, but that's why I feel this relationship will be interesting for you. You and Komaeda have a history together, so it'll be easy for you to expose your weakness momentarily to experience various forms of intimacy. I suggest you not take friends-with-benefits. That type of relationship won't do well for both of you."
 

"You're not saying this because you want me gone, are you?" Izuru narrowed his eyes, and Hajime tugged the blanket to cover his bare legs.

"If you really are my older brother, wouldn't I want you to experience the joys of love?" Hajime rests his head on the bolster, losing his shame of being naked on the bed since he's feeling tired again. "If you're afraid of how sex feels like, I can vouch it's awkward on the first few nights. If you're the bottom, it'll hurt, but the pleasure will be a rollercoaster later in life. If you're the top, not much pain, and the pleasure comes in waves."

 
"Did Nanami pegged you?" Izuru grimaced, and Hajime blushed.

"W-well. We are lovers, so it's normal for couples to experiment-!" Before Hajime could explained his side fully, Izuru stormed out of the room.

'That... Was weird?' Hajime blinked, then his thoughts caught up with him. 'Wait. Did he say he owns my virgin ass?!'

Chapter Text

"What the hell did you do to him?!" Fuyuhiko yelled, driving the car with Peko as his guide to avoiding the incoming projectiles. Kazuichi, Nagito, and Nanami were casually going to a convenience store to buy food until the sudden appearance of a fighter jet with limitless ammo. Luckily for them, Fuyuhiko and Peko were visiting, so they got out of the vehicle before it exploded and rushed into the faster but less armored one.

"I don't know, man!" Kazuichi is tinkering something, trying to build a device that will do something. Komaeda and Nanami are keeping an eye out on the road and incoming obstacles. The jet is being driven by none other than Kamukura Izuru. Unfortunately, he's too far to hear or see who's in the car. "We were just hanging out, thinking about getting him and Nagito together. He ain't a psychic."

'What if he is?' Nanami pondered.

"I have this bad feeling he visited Hinata-kun." Nagito may be right, but that begs the next question to save their collective arses. What did those two talk about? Chiaki tried contacting Hajime, but Towa city has jammers that prevent her from calling anyone outside the zone. Kazuichi doesn't have the materials, patience, and time to create a device immune to frequency disruptions.

"Then why is he shooting us?!" Fuyuhiko grumbled under his breath, making a sharp U-turn to get temporary cover from the attacks. The Ultimate Yakuza stepped on the gas, aware of what that angry bastard would do. If he's right to believe Izuru is pissed, then he'll destroy the building. "Wouldn't Hajime be more pissed if we died?!"

"I apologize for not being much of help, young master." Peko meant it, aware the projectiles shot from the carrier would definitely be disadvantageous to her blade and those around her. There's a reason why Izuru's considered the number one Ultimate Despair to never mess with.

"I'm almost done, guys. Don't worry." Kazuichi reassured his friends, almost done creating a communicator to contact the angry long-haired bastard. "Hold still!"

"We'll die if we hold still!" Fuyuhiko complained, wiping a beat of sweat from his forehead when they miraculously mowed past the rubble to avoid getting crushed by the falling apartment building.

"Ok! I got it." Kazuichi cheered, holding a cellphone-looking device. He scooted close to Nagito, "Now let's sync this! Fuyuhiko! Go slower."

"You asking too much, you sick fuck." Fuyuhiko growled, but he did. Kazuichi almost fell off the car if it weren't for Nagito and Chiaki holding him in.

"Done!" Kazuichi hastily giving the device to Chiaki before vomiting outside the car.

"..." Nagito continued to hold him but wincing at the noise.

"Kamukura-kun?" Chiaki asked, moving the dials and hoping she's doing it right. Her games did teach her to play with the knobs. "Kamukura-kun!"

"You're dying tonight, Nanami Chiaki." Izuru declared. Everyone (even Fuyuhiko) wanted to look at the gamer.

"What did you do?" Peko was the first to wonder.

"Omniscience?" Chiaki feared, very confused.

Chapter Text

"That is quite a situation you have there..." Sonia covered her mouth as she chuckled, looking at the exasperated and confused brunette who dared to date her best friend. "A protective lover and a killer brother. How have you not died from asphyxiation?"

"Haha. Very funny." Hajime scratched his head. After Izuru left, Hajime couldn't masturbate and sleep. His present issues came beating his door, so he had to get this over with. "What do you think I should do? I know I told him the right answer, but I still feel he's going to come over again."

"You can't do anything. If Kamukura-kun is truly your brother, then he's merely exercising his familial obligations to keep you in harm's way." The Ultimate princess (or should one say) Queen say. Sonia isn't married, but the next closest thing to a king she has is the Overlord of Ice: Gundham Tanaka or the Ultimate animal breeder. "Although Kamukura-kun doesn't stalk you 24-7, Nanami-san has always caught him in the bedroom while you sleep. Don't you feel angry or afraid of him?"

'I've dealt with sexual offenders all my life. What the hell does she want me to say?' Hajime thought to himself. Yes. Izuru could have touched him inappropriately, but Hajime is too used to inappropriate touches to know the difference. Chiaki would definitely know, but her analysis isn't accurate when feelings are involved. Hajime chose to look at the portrait beside Sonia,  "I don't exactly know what to expect with an older brother, but I am annoyed he's making Chiaki scared. I don't want her to get hurt."

"There is no escape from destiny, Hajime." Speak of the devil, the Ultimate Animal breeder came with his huge snake wrapped around him. Tanaka Gundham comes and goes as he pleases, but Hajime knew this man had a soft spot for the dark queen.

"At what cost must he pay, overlord of ice?" Sonia inquired in Hajime's stead. Hajime doesn't really get the roleplay exchange, but if this will get him to fix the issue, then he'll take it.

"A heavy toll to defy the prophecy foretold." Gundham warned, "Whatever Fate has written is set on stone. To defy her wishes is akin to defying the natural order. However, only the weak-hearted would choose such a meager existence. Fortunately, our comrade is unlike anyone we've encountered... The singularity capable of changing the world."

'I liked you better not complimenting me...' Hajime lowered his gaze, flustered at the praise from the man. Not only is the brunette rarely speaking with anyone, but his ego can't handle compliments even of the slightest trace.

"Go forth! Travel upon the damned earth." Gundham advised, surprising Hajime. "And make haste. My minions have foretold incoming danger for your loved ones."

"I think I understand what I have to do..." Hajime smiled, standing up. "Thank you!"

*BEEP*

"I guess it's about time to leave the sanctuary..." Hajime walked out of the communication room. 'Hope Nanami doesn't get mad.'

Chapter Text

[Good luck]  Nagito agreed to hang out with Kazuichi and Chiaki to get Izuru to finally fuck him?  [Bad luck]  Izuru rode on a fighter jet, shooting at them with exceptional accuracy.  [Good luck]  Fuyuhiko and Peko recently came from a business deal with the CEO of Towa Chairperson and willingly gave them a ride despite the dangers.  [Bad luck]  Izuru wants to kill Chiaki for some reason and has managed to land a strike on the vehicle they're on.  [Good luck]  The cavalry Fuyuhiko called managed to damage the aircraft as well.  [Bad luck]  Izuru is alive, still mad, and highly dangerous.  [Good luck]  Nekomaru got a call from Sonia and arrived just in time to distract the angry Ultimate while making their getaway.

- They're currently in a plane heading to Kyoto (because Fuyuhiko is the boss) -

'Will we be facing bad luck, or are we still in good luck?' Chiaki thought to herself, keeping track of her Ultimate luck friend's luck cycle.  Izuru should be canceling Nagito's luck, but the raven must be focused on killing her . They left Towa city to decrease the casualty and ire from the Towa conglomerate, but it's only a matter of time before Izuru managed to catch up.

"How did he get a fighter jet in the first place?" Fuyuhiko exhaled a puff of smoke, sitting like a boss while Peko contacts their personnel. Nagito is looking pretty queasy for some reason while Kazuichi's making another device. "And it takes half a day from Tokyo to Towa. How the fuck?"

"What's wrong, man?" Kazuichi asked, not looking at Nagito as he tinkered with another potential weapon/device that will save their collective arses. "Thinking about Kamukura?"

"Every time I board a plane, they usually crash..." Nagito confessed, honestly worried for their safety. "How despairing if something other than Izuru were to shorten our trip."

"Don't speak of that fucker's name. That car was one of my favorites." Fuyuhiko warned, crushing the bud of the cigarette since it failed to calm him down. Although their Ultimate despair, they take extraordinary measures to maintain a conducive environment to perform significant feats of despair. One of which would be Kazuichi's discriminatory air purification system.

'I guess we're far enough?' Chiaki pulled out her phone, checking the tracker in case Hajime decides to wander again. Her boyfriend is usually obedient, but she has noticed a pattern of rebellion whenever  something  is happening. 'This would be his third time.'

"Why is Hinata-kun in Shizuoka?" Chiaki squinted, confused how he managed to walk barefoot... Chiaki frowned, almost forgetting about his ability. 'Hitched a ride.'

"Where's the general direction?" Peko asked, closing her phone. A bunch of Monokuma yakuza walked past through them, mumbling something too fast to comprehend.

"Nagoya, I guess?" Chiaki pondered.

"Izuru?!" Nagito stood up, leaning close to the window.

"No way. Nekomaru had that guy...?" Fuyuhiko also looked out, surprised to see him. Again. "Peko. Remind me to regulate all aircraft in this godforsaken country."

Chapter Text

Probably Nagito's luck, but Hajime managed to spot and grab a free ride into Ibuki's tour bus. The brunette wasn't sure why he needed to go to Kyoto, but he needed to. Ibuki didn't understand his reason either, but she was on board to go full speed. During the ride, he had Hiyoko and Mahiru to hang out with.

Sadly, Hajime didn't expect the two to get frisky. He declined their threesome, afraid Chiaki is going to kill him if he agrees. It didn't matter if this would cause the Ultimate gamer to despair. Chiaki will kill him if he cheats on her. However, he's free(?) to watch the two get down and dirty. It got even weirder when Ibuki joined the duo. Hajime didn't feel arousal, but he did feel the bus temperature increase. Consequently, Hajime chose to go away and raise the AC. It was an awkward but thankfully fast bus ride.

When they finally reached their destination, Hajime told the driver to give them his thanks before exiting the bus. (Hajime knows how emotional Chiaki gets after sex. He wouldn't want to interrupt their moment by barging into the room.) Walking to the source of burning debris, Hajime trusted his gut feeling to know where he had to go.

After ten minutes, Hajime gave up on his gut feeling and pulled out his phone to finally call Chiaki. He learned his protective(?) older twin is hunting her down and that he's mad(?)

"..." Hajime ran to where Chiaki might generally be. Izuru wasn't the type to hold a grudge, right? The Ultimate also admitted he likes Nagito, so it's only natural for Izuru to do his best to threaten but not kill her. 'Komaeda is friends with Nanami.'

"?" Hajime heard gunshots, finally reaching Chiaki's general location. He turned his direction to the source of the fire, walking forward as he tugged the cat hoodie.

"!!!" Hajime stood several meters away as Chiaki, her classmates, and the Ultimate having a play fight? Real fight? He didn't know, but he wanted them to stop fighting. The main instigator is obviously Izuru, but how is he going to distract this psychopath?! He was too far to do anything but scream. Izuru already reloaded his gun, so Hajime had to think fast.  He had to distract him, but how?!

"Please stop, Onii-chan!" Hajime called out, embarrassment creeping onto him when his voice echoed. That wasn't what he had in mind. Hajime felt his face heat up when everyone he knows is staring at him.

"U-uh..." Hajime didn't know what to say, not thinking ahead after visiting the place to witness something. Hajime covered his face, pretending he said nothing. 'Someone. Anyone. Kill me.'

...

"Hajime," Izuru went to Hajime's side, which is a good thing because the Ultimate changed targets. "Why are you here?"

'What do I say?!' Hajime had to take the risk and ignore his pride, looking at his brother. "I-I missed you."

"..." Staring at his teary-eyed twin, Izuru dropped the gun.

Chapter Text

Hajime is handsome or cute, depending on the situation. Chiaki understands why Izuru wants to coddle his twin since Hajime rarely gets nice things, but Izuru really needs to focus on someone else now. Hajime is an adult, and it's odd how very  single  Izuru is despite his reputation.

"ZzzzzZzzz..." Hajime is hugging the deadpan Ultimate, eventually falling asleep because he exerted too much energy for tonight.

"♪" Izuru is strangely content receiving physical affection from his younger twin. At first, Izuru was still focused on harming Chiaki and knew his younger twin's intent to prevent his actions. However, Hajime fell asleep, and no one can deny how peaceful, sleepy Hajime makes people feel. Izuru is no exception.

'What to do?' Chiaki thought the Ultimate fell asleep humming with his eyes open, but Izuru recently pulled out a gun and shot a bystander holding a phone out to take a picture. 'I guess he doesn't want word spreading about Hinata-kun.'

"This is bad..." Kazuichi muttered, glancing in her direction and whispering. "I think we have a brocon in our hands."

'Yeah...' Chiaki agreed, not exactly having a plan, but at least she's not injured. She knew Hajime had issues in the past, but the first half of his memories got erased by the funky project his biological parents let him participate in. The only person who knows her lover's past would be Izuru. The fact someone as apathetic as Izuru would get up and chase after her with a gun isn't normal. 'Kamukura-kun already knows Hinata-kun, and I are in a relationship, so why would he get mad?'

"Hinata-kun being here is surely good luck, but then it's only a matter of time before bad luck arrives..." On her right, she can see Nagito still contemplating if their very late/early dinner is good luck or bad luck. The person beside Kazuichi is Fuyuhiko talking with Peko about the laws again.

"More more more!" The Ultimate Musician cheered as the two athletes did a food-eating contest. Akane, Nekomaru, Mahiru, Hiyoko, and Ibuki are on the other table, being the exact opposite of their table and causing so much noise.

"So..." Chiaki started, and Izuru looked in her direction. "I understand Hinata-kun's random visit, but why did you visit us, Kamukura-kun?"

"You desecrated my brother's virgin ass," Izuru said with such a straight face that no one could believe that was the reason for the Ultimate to hijack a jet to stalk them down. Sadly, the raven is a hundred percent serious, holding Hajime close. "I own this ass."

"I'm going to die." Kazuichi coughed, beating his chest to get a morsel out of his throat. "S-someone!"

"Oh." Nagito then looked at Kazuichi for input... Kazuichi is gagging. " Oh.  Kuzuryu! Move!"

"Hm? You gotta be fucking with me." Fuyuhiko turned to see the mechanic struggling. Fuyuhiko and Peko moved to get Kazuichi some good ol' Heimlich maneuver.  This isn't the first time this happened with the amount of chaos Junko starts up.

Chapter Text

"You got to be joking with me..." Hajime slowly dragged his hands down from his face, having facepalmed for far too long to realize he cannot deny the outrageous statements uttered by his supposed older brother. Hajime pleaded, "Please tell me you guys are joking."

"Sorry, man. Izuru must've developed a brocon to pass the time." Kazuichi sat beside Chiaki and Nagito. Those three were sitting in the room when the brunette woke up.

"But... But how?!" Hajime was initially embarrassed to learn he fell asleep, but his humiliation turned to exasperation when he learned of Chiaki's plan to solve the issue. He saw no use berating the so-called Ultimate Hope, incapable of understanding Izuru's intentions. "There's nothing good about me! Why can't he disown my talentless arse?!"

"Sadly, I have to disagree on both statements." Nagito hope-addicted Komaeda chose to compliment him of all the times?! "While I can't grasp the full extent to your talent, Nanami-san allowed us to feel your-"

"What the fuck, Nanami?!" Hajime threw a pillow at his lover, blushing at the endless embarrassment he will have to shoulder for the rest of his life.

"You have a good butt!" Chiaki pouted, catching and hugging the pillow he threw. Hajime found himself wanting to scream. "I mean, it's not bouncy, but it looks nice and has a nice feel to it. Thankfully, it's not obvious with your pants."

"Nanami..." Hajime groaned, looking up for god to give him strength. "Keep your thoughts to yourself."

"Thankfully, he didn't claim your chest, or Nagito's a goner." Kazuichi nudged Nagito, who looked down at his chest.

"Wha-" Hajime looked at his chest, then at Nagito's physique. "Komaeda, you aren't ugly. I'm sure Kamu-er... Izuru likes you inside and out."

"Speaking of confession, since you told us Kamukura-Kun admits to liking Komaeda-kun, we can start operation Kamukoma Lemon." Chiaki nodded sagely. "Now, I just need to know what his kinks are."

"How about we focus on sex last?" Hajime wasn't good at the sexuality thing, but he grasped the gravity of the situation. "Also, let's lessen the murder and destruction of our home country since I know I can't convince you to remove me from the plan."

"Don't worry. You're our trump card in case we screw up." Chiaki explained, and Hajime can see a lot of flaws in the plan. However, they are trying to pair an overanalytical bored psychopath with an unfortunate hope-loving sociopath.

"I thought Enoshima also has a thing for  him ?" Hajime almost forgot the crazy bitch. "Don't forget the cult."

"..." Chiaki opened her mouth, then closed it.

"Right... The cult." Kazuichi repeated. "The fanatics might trash the dating sites. I'm sure we can get that sorted out."

"I'm more worried about Enoshima." Nagito crossed his arms. "She's... unpredictable."

"I'm sure you'll find a way to distract her, Hinata-kun." Chiaki cheered.

"I... I expected that..." Hajime sighed, getting out of bed. "Let's eat breakfast first, then we can polish the first part of the plan."