Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

"D-Dad…?" He said, tears building up on the corners of his eyes. It was a typical cold December night, but it turned into the worst night of Makoto's life.

"R-Run… T…Take your…s…s-sister." Makoto couldn't understand, he was only 5 after all, he couldn't understand why some people broke in, he didn't understand why dad had red liquid all over the place, he didn't understand why mom wasn't moving. All he understood was that the situation wasn’t good. "D-DO IT!" He erupted, begging Makoto to escape. It took all of his remaining energy to shout that.

Run.
He hurried his pace, but only slightly. Running would be rash since it would make too much noise, it would attract them. “Makoto… what’s this all about?” Komaru said tiredly. They were outside the house now. Immediately after stepping out, he ran. He was clutching his sister’s wrists very tightly making sure that he wouldn’t lose her as Komaru yelped in pain.
*BANG BANG BANG*

It's been months since that incident. He and his sister lived in the streets. It was harsh and cruel. It was beyond unfair… It wasn't his choice, but he persevered, he needed to, for her. It was cold. Very cold. And Makoto was tired. "Are you okay?" Makoto looked up to see a red-eyed woman in her early twenties

If you ever met Makoto Naegi, you’d never guess who he truly was. To the casual observer, Makoto is the epitome of average. His appearance is unremarkable, his intellect blends in with the crowd, and even his preferences align with whatever is trending at the moment. Ask him what he enjoys, and you’ll get the most typical, uninspired answers. He’s optimistic, sure, and honest to a fault, but those qualities alone never make him stand out.

But when darkness comes. Something switches off in Makoto's mind. The sweet, innocent boy everyone knows shuts down. His smile fades. His warmth disappears. In its place, a cold, quiet killer emerges— An Assassin, trained to wield any weapon, adapt to any situation, and take lives with precision. At midnight, Makoto Naegi becomes one of the deadliest people alive. Only a fool or someone equally skilled would dare to cross his path.

He remembered hiding in a small closet, clutching his sister Komaru tightly, watching through the crack in the door as armed men burst into the Naegi household. The memory of his parents being gunned down still haunted him, the sharp, explosive sound of bullets firing, the way their bodies fell. And then, silence.

When the men finally left, Makoto, shaking with fear, grabbed his younger sister and ran. They fled into the night, gunshots ringing behind them, but somehow, they survived. They escaped. But survival came at a cost. With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, the two siblings lived on the streets. Makoto, barely six years old, had to protect his four-year-old sister in a world that had no mercy for children.

It wasn’t long before the streets hardened him. Makoto learned to fight. He learned to steal. He fought others over scraps of food and survived when he should have died. His willpower was relentless, and even in the face of overwhelming odds, he wouldn’t back down. One day, after a particularly brutal fight, he lay panting on the cold pavement, victorious but utterly exhausted. That’s when she appeared.

A woman with cold, piercing red eyes stood before him, her presence looming. She watched him for a while, curious. Then, in a oddly calm voice, she asked him a question.

“Are you willing to do terrible things to escape this life?”

Makoto, beaten and bloodied, said no.
The woman smiled faintly, unfazed by his answer. She crouched down, meeting his eyes. Then she asked a different question.

“Are you willing to do whatever it takes to give your sister a better life?”

He paused. That was the question that cut through his resolve. Komaru was all he had left, his only family, and he would do anything to protect her. So, he said yes. And with that, his life changed forever.

The woman belonged to a new and secretive organization known as the Sicarius Order, a group dedicated to training assassins. The training was harsh, but bearable. He studied human anatomy, poisons, and lockpicking. He assembled and disassembled weapons in the dark. It was intense, but it was nothing compared to what came next.

Makoto’s body and mind were pushed to their limits. Everyday, he was forced to do something tremendously difficult. He vomited from dizziness, and passed out from exhaustion. He was physically beat to help him withstand torture, and taught how to die quickly in case a mission failed and he was caught. He learned to wield a huge amount of different weapons. He was being repeatedly broken both physically and mentally, to make him feel empty, but even that can't break Makoto's resolution. He endured the horribly harsh conditions and was desperate to do his best, knowing that if he gave up now and died here, that would also mean that they would replace him and put Komaru in his place.

That’s could never happen. He wouldn’t let it.

Makoto learned to survive in any environment—cities, dense forests, deserts, mountains, islands, tundras. No terrain could stop him. He learned to kill with anything at his disposal: blades, guns, ropes, his own bare hands. They taught him where to strike, how to make his kills clean and silent. He studied his targets’ routines, followed them unseen, eliminated them without a trace, and disappeared as if he were never there.

After years of grueling training, Makoto Naegi swore the oath of the Sicarius Order. He became a fully-fledged assassin. He was assigned his gear, his ID, and his squad. He had become exactly what the Order needed him to be—a perfect weapon.

Makoto Naegi’s first year as an assassin went surprisingly well. He had a close-knit team and even found a sense of camaraderie among his fellow assassins in the Sicarius Order. The missions—silent infiltrations, clean kills, smooth escapes—became routine. It was dangerous. The nature of his work made him sick. Only his team, and the idea of his sister being safe made it bearable.

But then came that night.

It was supposed to be like any other mission. The target was marked for elimination, and Makoto’s team was assigned to carry it out. Kill, escape, regroup—standard procedure. No complications. Except, something felt wrong from the start.

That night changed him forever. It was the night The Midnight Rose was given birth.

Midnight became a legend within the Sicarius Order. His fellow assassins, many of whom were elite in their own right, regarded him with a mixture of respect and unease. To them, there was always something just off about him. While most of them enjoyed their missions or found satisfaction in their work, Makoto—now known by his codename Midnight—was different. He still valued friendship, sought out companionship, and was genuinely warm-hearted. He had a calm demeanor and could often be found drinking tea with fellow assassins, chatting casually, or helping younger recruits with their training. He was the last person anyone would think of as a ruthless killer.

But once the mission began, something changed in him. It was as if a switch flipped in his mind. The warmth disappeared. His eyes turned cold, calculating, and deadly. While other assassins had a certain intensity when fighting, Midnight’s shift was more profound. He became utterly silent, his focus terrifyingly sharp. He worked with surgical precision, eliminating targets without hesitation, without emotion. He didn’t kill because he enjoyed it, but because he could—because it was what he was trained to do. And no one did it better.

It wasn’t long before Midnight’s superiors took notice. The Masters of the Sicarius Order quickly saw his potential, steering him toward the Cipher Legion, one of the Order’s most prestigious Special Forces units. The Cipher Legion operated on a different level from the typical squads. They were sent on the most complex, high-risk missions where failure was not an option. Even among these top-tier assassins, Midnight’s efficiency set him apart.

While most assassins were skilled in solo operations, Midnight excelled at them. His preference for working alone became well-known in the Order. He thrived on rogue missions, where no backup was available, no safety net existed. He had never failed to complete a mission—every target assigned to Midnight was eliminated. Cleanly, efficiently, and without a trace.

But for all his skill, his legend wasn’t just built on his flawless kill record. It was the way he carried himself outside of combat that made him unsettling. Midnight was, by all appearances, normal—charming, kind, even approachable. He frequented an inn near the Order’s headquarters, where he would sit quietly, sipping tea, smiling at passersby. He never talke about his missions. He never talked about his kills. To anyone who met him outside the field, he seemed like an ordinary man, one you could sit down with and share a conversation without a second thought.

Everything changes when you see him during a mission.

There was only one hope left—to pray for a painless death. Because once Midnight was locked onto his target, there was no escaping him. You wouldn’t hear him coming. You wouldn’t see him until it was too late. And when his work was done, there would be nothing left behind but a body and the lingering chill of the killer who had disappeared into the shadows.

Hope's Peak Academy, the school that enrolls talented students in every field. Unlike a traditional high school, students were not required to take entrance exams and were instead chosen by the school as Ultimate experts in their subject. They say, students who successfully graduated Hope's Peak Academy had the reputation of being guaranteed success in life. To attend the School, there are 2 requirements, first is that you need to be attending highschool, and you have to be the best of the best at what you do. No ordinary student can go to Hope’s Peak, only professionals… though some professionals are a bit… concerning. Just last year, they enrolled a yakuza heir and now, according to the rumors, they’ll enroll the biker gang leader from Crazy Diamonds!

But unbeknownst to the people, a certain man in a tuxedo was planning to enroll someone much worse than a Yakuza or a Biker Gang Leader.

"Before we leave," said Koichi Kizakura, "I have one more thing to say."
He was standing next to the Headmaster, who was in turn, seated at a huge, circular wooden table in the center of Hope's Peak Academy's special conference room. The entire floor was covered in crimson carpet, and heavy drapes hung from the windows. The atmosphere in the room was rather solemn. It appeared to be something out of an old hotel rather than a school.
"What, we're not finished yet?"
The four members of the Hope's Peak Academy Board of Directors, who had believed the meeting had ended and began to rise from their chairs, sat back down, making no effort to hide their irritation.

“So, what is this ‘thing’ you have to announce?”
“The Seventy-eighth Ultimate Lucky Student has been selected.” the scout responded confidently. Almost immediately, he was met with simultaneous disappointed sighs. They thought the lottery wouldn't take place this year, the raffle was usually held in August, mid-semester, 8 months before the attendance of the new class. It was now a week before the start of the school year.

“Oh,” one of the old men said, “the loser’s throne has been filled, has it?”
The Ultimate Lucky Student was a title given to a single high-school student selected in a lottery held by the Academy each year. The chosen student was unconditionally invited to enroll in the academy, and the Board of Directors referred to that slot as the “loser’s throne.” All four of them believed fortune to be no talent. “What a waste of a seat,” one muttered.

“Are there no other talents out there more suitable to be researched?” complained another.
The Board of Directors had ultimate control over Hope's Peak Academy, including the appointment of the headmaster, which meant that even he had to choose his words carefully, no matter how far off the mark the Board’s opinions were.

“Now, now. This time, I actually listened to your opinions. I’m not just enrolling any lucky student” Koichi said coolly. He was the kind of man to avoid arguments. “Meet Makoto Naegi”, he handed out a paper of the boy’s profile one by one to the board of directors. The old men took their time to read what the Tuxedo man had in store for them and-

“What is this? There’s nothing remarkable about him at all!” one exclaimed,
“Why even print his profile?!”
“What a waste of time”
“Oh look, an untalented boy, how amazing”
Many exasperated comments soon followed, disappointed grunts and irritated grumbles filled the room, the only calm person — who was still looking at the profile — was the headmaster.

“Oh you people judge too quickly. Besides, you don’t have to know him at all, he’s pretty famous around news channels and the police.” The talent scout chirped. “What is that supposed to mean?” The headmaster asked, concerned.
“Turn to the back of the page to find your answers”, the Board of Directors, annoyed and confused, flipped the paper of the printed form. The first striking part of the paper was a mugshot of a kid in his teens in a black cloak, not wearing the hood of it. Unlike the picture of the boy on the opposing page— who was smiling warmly with a gentle face— this boy’s face was cold, could be considered as heartless and maybe even sadistic. As they looked at the description, they were met with terror…

NAME: MAKOTO NAEGI
ALIAS: MIDNIGHT
ID CODE: NX5acz
UNIT: CIPHER LEGION
RANK: VARKAN
STATUS: ALIVE
AGE: 16
IN SERVICE SINCE: APR. 18TH, 2006
DATE OF BIRTH: FEB. 5TH, 1994
SEX:MALE
CONFIRMED KILLS: 2094
UNCONFIRMED KILLS: 219
FAILED ASSASSINATIONS: 0
APPEARANCE: 5’6. Spiky, desaturated brown hair. Washed-out hazel eyes. Wears dark clothes by choice.
DISPOSITION: Warm-hearted, hopeful. Average. Unmistakable sense of optimism. However, when it comes to doing his job, he turns quiet, cold, unsmiling and emotionless.

…Midnight…

The five figures seated around the grand table felt their blood run cold, as if the very mention of the name had sucked the life out of the room. The air was thick with tension, a silence so heavy that even breathing felt like a risk. No one wanted to be the first to speak, but the thought of him—Midnight—lingered ominously over them all.

Midnight’s name was rarely spoken aloud, especially in circles as powerful as this. Among the higher-ups, he was almost a taboo, something whispered about in fear and dread. Few dared to even acknowledge his existence beyond necessary discussions. Yet here they were, a group of prestigious directors at Hope’s Peak Academy, the most elite school in Japan, now forced to address the country's most infamous killer.

The reason for their fear was simple: Midnight—or as some called him, the Midnight Rose—was no ordinary assassin. His brutal, meticulous killings had terrorized the upper echelons of society for years. Politicians, CEOs, celebrities—no one was safe from his reach. The method of his murders was always the same: at the stroke of near midnight, his target would be dead. When the authorities arrived at the scene, they would find the lifeless body marked by a single rose, the killer’s chilling signature. And by then, Midnight would have vanished, like a ghost, leaving no trace of his presence. No one ever saw him. No one ever survived his attacks.

For years, his savage killings dominated the headlines of every major news station in the country. His name became synonymous with fear, and his reputation grew into something more than just that of an assassin. He was an urban legend, a monster that haunted the nightmares of the powerful, a shadow that struck down the untouchable. Japan's most wanted criminal. And yet, for all their efforts, not a single person had ever come close to catching him.

But now, sitting at this table, the directors of Hope’s Peak had come face to face with a truth that left them stunned: Midnight was no older than 16.

“He’s… a child?” one of the directors finally whispered, breaking the oppressive silence.

The others exchanged uneasy glances, clearly still struggling to accept the information. It didn’t make sense. They had all imagined Midnight to be a hardened veteran of the criminal underworld—someone with years of experience in the art of killing. The brutality of his work, the efficiency of his escapes, the sheer ruthlessness with which he hunted his targets—it all pointed to a professional assassin, someone far older, far more experienced.

And yet, their scout had revealed the impossible. Midnight wasn’t some old, battle-worn assassin. He was a teenager. A boy living an average life under their very noses.

“How did you figure out his identity… rather than that, who gave you this information about him?” The skeptical question by the Headmaster, ending another endless silence. “Even the police only knows a few about his appearance. They don’t know his real kill count, let alone his real name. These are details only known by that order itself” And ‘That order’ was the Sicarius Order. Before, it was a cult society, but 10 years ago, in the Royal Garden Massacre, the cult society became a revolutionary, aiming to abolish Monarchy and Capitalism in the country, calling a complete extermination of what they see as a deeply flawed government, and openly declare rebellion against it.

The others eyed Koichi suspiciously. They wouldn’t be surprised if he was a spy, because the Sicarius Order has ears and eyes everywhere.
“Woah there, don’t look at me like that.” He raised his one hand defensively, and looked at the Headmaster “You shouldn’t doubt my mastery over scouting.”
Jin sighed, “So, you want to do what exactly…?” He asked despite already knowing his answer.

“Enroll him as an Ultimate” He answered it as though it was an everyday thing. Kirigiri closed his eyes and interlocked his hands in front of him, thinking about the words Koichi had just said while the others exploded with fury.
“Preposterous! An assassin that kills high-profiled citizens? In a school full of high-profiled students? Do you know how foolish that sounds?” An old man snapped, standing abruptly in his chair.
“Why would this committee willingly enroll a notorious murderer in our school?!”

“Relax, it’s in his oath as an assassin to never harm children.” Koichi said casually, but it even made him more suspicious having knowledge of the contents of the assassin's oath
“Did you forget the Kanazawa Train Station Bombing Catastrophe? That killed and injured more than 1000 men, women and children. And who was it that caused it again?” The same old man replied
“Are we even sure that he caused it? He was just seen at the station, there’s no actual proof he was the one that caused the bombing” The scout replied confidently
“An assassin conveniently at a bombing incident, what a coincidence, and strangely enough, that was the only time he was sighted by a person” The director said sarcastically
“Exactly, Midnight doesn’t leave witnesses so why would he reveal himself in front of civilians? If he was really behind the catastrophe, he should’ve just bombed the place and left like any other assassin. And also, the Midnight Rose kills with a pattern.” The board of directors knew what he was talking about, the assassin only kills at midnight, the incident happened in the evening. Beside the rose, Midnight also kills leaving a push dagger in their throats. In the Midnight Slaughter, all of the dead policemen found in the mountain had push-daggers in their throats or at least stab wounds at their throats. In the Kanazawa Train Station, there was not a single dagger found at the scene.

“A-Are you defending an assassin?!” The old man said, having no more comebacks to that statement
“No sir, just saying the facts.” He chirped. He was the type of guy to not get into an argument, but he really needed to do this, he's the type of guy they need in Hope's Peak.
“Fine, let’s say we *did* enroll him in this Academy, wouldn’t that harm our reputation? We already took the risk with the Ultimate Soldier, but that sounds tamer compared to the title ‘Ultimate Assassin’” one of the old men stated thoughtfully. All 5 of the board of directors visibly cringed at the title. Koichi turned to face him.
“That’s why we would make the title ‘Ultimate Lucky Student’ as his cover-up.” He had been trying to get this message across the room the moment he introduced Makoto Naegi’s profile. The board of directors suddenly remembered why the boy was introduced in the first place.
“You guys always frown at the entry of Lucky Students because they’re so untalented. Now I picked a lucky student with an actual talent!” Koichi said cheerfully, as though teasing the Board of Directors. This aggravated them even more

One of the directors shouted “Yeah, he's got a talent for killin-!”

“Enough.” the voice interrupted the argument, it was none other than the Headmaster. “Everyone, the meeting is adjourned, you can now leave. Please excuse me and Koichi as we discuss this matter, you can know my final decision tomorrow. In the meantime, please refrain from leaking his identity to the police yet.” The 4 board of directors left scowling at the fact that the Headmaster of the school is actually considering enrolling an assassin to the academy.

Koichi seated near Jin and took off his white fedora but when opened his mouth to speak,

“No.” Jin deadpanned
“Ah come on! I haven’t even said a word yet!” He intoned, playing dumb at what Kirigiri meant.
“You already did this to me with the Crazy Diamonds Leader, the Fenrir Mercenary and the Yakuza Heir, you will not do it again to me. My answer. will. be. no.” He doesn't know how he does it. But everytime they discuss whether to enroll a student with a rather unpleasant title, Koichi somehow convinces him to enroll them.
“Okay, can we not enroll Naegi at Hope's Peak Academy?" Koichi was determined, not even showing signs of giving up
The headmaster gave him a resigned sigh. "So…? Tell me why I should enroll him?
The scout took a profile of Naegi and read one of the statements of what his neighbors said about him "'He is very kind, supportive and forgiving, though slightly naive at times' And he made many friends because of it too. Do you know how many of his friends I've interviewed?" The headmaster didn't need to answer that because judging from his look, the answer was 'a lot'. However, his assassin profile was still worrying, "2094 confirmed kills, 200 possible ones. That's 3 times more than the kill count of Mukuro Ikusaba. Might I add that he killed 218 policemen in one night?" He said hesitantly. They've had enrolled dangerous people in the past, this though? It was on another level.

Kizakura rolled his eyes "He's an assassin, it's his job!" He said, not even being slightly concerned about enrolling a murderer at their school, "It's not like he's a complete psychopath, 'Makoto will be the most warm-hearted person you'll ever meet', this quote was said by almost all of the people he met, even by his fellow assassins in the Sicarius Order. Besides, he uses his skills to beat up delinquents and bullies in his school, heck, he's even feared by that Society itself!" countered Koichi. It made the Headmaster worried that Koichi actually interviewed the assassins from the Sicarius Order but didn’t addressed the matter

"Does his friends know he's an assassin?" said Jin
"Nope, he's very secretive about it. I interviewed his sister and it looks like she doesn't know either"

Jin took Naegi's profile and took one last look at it, his lips slightly downwards, "I… still don't know if we should let someone like that go to this academy" Hope's Peak was one of the things Kirigiri cared for, he wouldn't let anyone ruin this academy.

Koichi sighed at his remark "If you won't take my word for it, then let someone close to him tell you" he said, almost disappointingly. "Wha-"

All of a sudden, a shadow appeared in the room and slowly approached them. It was a girl with red eyes and black hair held by two large red scrunchies, her bangs leveled in a straight line. He gives off the aura of being dangerous. The headmaster's eyes widened, surprised. He was a detective and yet he didn't see or even sense her in this room. How long has she been there…?

"She’s the reason I got the information about Midnight.” Koichi said, extending his hand in her direction. “She’s his Master, apparently. She approached me and convinced me to enroll Naegi”
A cold sweat escaped Jin’s head as he mentioned that. Meeting the one who trained the most dangerous assassin alive can be… menacing.
“Hello, my name is Maki Harukawa.” Her voice was lifeless, it’s as if she was empty inside.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Jin Kirigiri.” He replied apprehensively. “So, regarding Mr. Naegi-?”

“You should enroll him” It didn’t sound like a threat, it was more of a request. She added, “I know that you’ve already heard this but Makoto is an incredibly nice person. He only became an assassin for his sister’s sake, he needed the money to save her from being homeless. If it was only him, he would rather suffer than let anybody suffer, that was the kind of person he is.”
“But why kill more than 2000 people…? If he wanted to get his sister a middle class life, he could’ve killed at least once a week to earn enough money” It was unnecessary and over the top.
“He’s the perfect weapon,” Maki answered simply, “The Order’s favorite assassin, there’s no surprised he’s been ordered to kill a lot of people…”

“Before being an official assassin, you must first take an oath, the oath… chained his life to becoming an assassin. Being an assassin was a dangerous life. He knew he wouldn't live long because of it so he's earning as much money as possible, enough to let his sister live a comfortable life without him… Even after his death, he still thinks of his family." She took one of Makoto's Profiles in the rounded table and looked at it. "Assassin training… wasn't easy. It's hell. But… Makoto didn't break, instead, he remained hopeful that his friends and him would get through it. He was their motivation and because of that, they all graduated alongside each other." She said, having an expression of nostalgia on her face. She remembered the 5 kids she once trained, that was more than 10 years ago. “Makoto… it wasn’t his choice to become an assassin, he told me 10 years ago that he wanted to become a doctor when he grew up. He liked helping people every way he could” The Headmaster was surprised at her account. It made him look like an actual nice person rather than a cold-blooded assassin, caring about his sister’s life more than his is not a trait that everyone has.

“...” But Jin stayed quiet, thinking about it. Was it really safe? He doesn’t personally know the kid, so “I’m not sure…” What if it’s the Class 77th’s Lucky Student all over again? What if his identity is leaked and the police get involved? What if he actually uses this as an advantage to massacre all the students? There were too many ‘What ifs’. Depending on his decision, the academy might or might not end up a graveyard

Maki saw that he was being slowly convinced, all she needed to do was continue. “If you’re worried about the other assassins, don’t worry, they have no business in his personal life, only in his job. I’m not even sure if they know where Makoto's address is.” The headmaster stayed quiet. ‘Just a little more push and it’s done’ She thought.
“This Academy builds hope for the future, right? Then Makoto Naegi is the perfect student, trust me” She said confidently because she was personally her student, “He may be a killer, but I’m sure that he’s going to make this world a better place” Maki added.

That was the last straw for the headmaster.
“You two are really persistent about enrolling this kid.” the two nod simultaneously “Fine, I'll enroll him… But you two better prevent him from doing… unpleasant things." He gave up
"Thank you, I promise you won't regret this" She said, content with the outcome.
Meanwhile Kizakura took out his hip flask and drank from it. "Thanks boss, I'm telling you, he's the best possible student for Hope's Peak. You'll see"

Jin really hoped that what they were saying was true.

Next Night

OBJECTIVE: Assassinate Hope’s Peak Acadamy’s headmaster, Jin Kirigiri.

Makoto Naegi crouched in the shadows, his breath steady as he check his watch, 11:50 pm. Time was approaching. In 10 minutes, Hope’s Peak Academy’s Headmaster, Jin Kirgiri, would be dead.
Makoto had heard that name before, of course. In fact, he had clashed with them before. Those people are too sharp for his job after all. The Kirigiris were known for their detective work, their relentless pursuit of truth. It was strange to him though, they were detectives, not headmasters. He wondered why Jin had chosen this path instead of following the family legacy. Anyone would’ve thought he would’ve carried on the Kirigiri legacy, Makoto knew he would.

There was no point in questioning it now because he was about to be dead anyway. He wonders what he did for him to deserve assassination. Maybe jealousy? After all, being the headmaster of an illustrious academy like Hope's Peak must be pretty sought after.

Makoto was in his assassin attire, wearing a black hooded cloak, bulletproof vest underneath his black attire that had armor pads in it, his black mask, black leather glove in his left hand while fingerless leather glove in his right, a bandolier belt that wraps around his leg, a snap buckle that had multiple belt pouches including his medkit kid and a gun holster that held his suppressed H&K mk23 gun, his comrades would have a laser attached to it but he didn’t need a laser to shoot accurately in the dark. Inside the pouch was full of poisons, tiny weapons, a flashlight, bombs and a lot of push daggers. Everything that requires the job of assassinating. Though surprisingly, there was a single Black Rose in one of his pouches, if it was any normal assassin, it wouldn’t have belonged there.

Makoto pulled his black hood further over his head, adjusting the mask that altered his voice to a rough, metallic growl. He let his emotions disappear and his attitude becomes cold, assassins normally do this so that emotions do not cloud their judgment, but for Makoto, it was an entirely different reason. His eyes became lifeless and his face expressionless.
Time to work.

He stealthily sneaks past the gate, hiding from one object to another to avoid guards. Only the darkness of the night seems to cover him. He looks around for a Security Camera, avoids it and proceeds with caution, he repeats this cycle for 7 minutes. The security around the best school around the country was no joke, with cameras and guards stationed at key points, but none of them caught sight of him. He dodged and weaved between patrols, slipping through the darkness with practiced ease. His senses were on high alert, every step calculated.

Here comes the easiest part of the mission, waiting. Makoto was hiding behind a building waiting for the correct moment to strike the old man when a rustling came from behind him. He whipped his head around, ready to pounce on whoever was there because if he was caught in the act, he’d have to kill another person, and that would be problematic, he only brought one rose, after all.

But… Nothing. No one was there. The rustling was gone as quickly as it had come.

Strange. He looked back around the corner — only to see that his target had slipped away from his sight.
“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, frustration flaring for a split second. His voice, distorted by the mask, sounded harsh and metallic even to his own ears. Losing sight of the target was a rookie mistake, and he knew better. Get it together, he scolded himself. There was still time.

Just as he was about to reposition, Makoto felt a clamp down his shoulder. He flinched in surprise and quickly rotated his body to the person who grabbed his shoulder.

It was his target, Jin Kirigiri.

Time seems to stop for Makoto…

By instinct, he jumps away to create distance between himself and the target while swiftly taking out his Dagger.

He evaluates his options. 'Damn it… The element of surprise is gone, I'm sure that I can kill him but it will take some time, he doesn't look like a weak fighter, maybe 10 seconds will do but that’s too long and if he can scream for help, I'm done for. Can I escape? I'm in the center of the academy, I don't think I can escape with that much security, I have to kill them all, but even if I did, they would’ve bought enough time for the police to come, it will be Mount Kumotori all over again… In worse case scenario, I have to commit suicide. I can remove the suppressor in my gun and shoot him, then stab him with a push-dagger in the throat as the killing blow. While the noise of the gunshot attracts the guards, I can escape to the darkn-'

Suddenly, a hand grabbed his wrist and someone behind him took the dagger, interrupting his thoughts. But before Makoto could react, he was already on the ground. He was fast, but they were fast.

When he looked at who was behind him, it was clear how he was found out.
“...Master?” The words tumbled out of his mouth, his voice cracking with disbelief. His cold assassin’s facade crumbled in an instant, emotions flooding his face.
His master, Maki Harukawa, who taught him everything he knows about assassination, was behind him, she was the one who disarmed him and knocked him out his feet. He felt a little betrayed, but he convinced himself there was a reason for this.
Makoto’s mask suddenly felt suffocating. His heart raced as confusion and betrayal warred within him. Why? Why would she stop him?

“Hello, Makoto. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Ms. Harukawa has told me a lot about you. Including your… talent.” Jin gestures to the dagger, which was previously Makoto's, his Master has in her right hand. He was rather surprised how much the cold assassin changed in one second the moment he saw her master. Meanwhile Makoto is frozen stiff as he stares at Jin and Maki.

Makoto’s mind spun. His talent? His mission? This was all wrong. The element of surprise was gone, and now he was standing in front of the headmaster and his master, exposed. What is happening?

“I know you’re confused,” Jin continued, his tone patient. “But this isn’t what you think it is. We’re not here to capture you or stop you. We’d like to talk. That’s all.”

Makoto’s grip on reality felt fragile. Talk? Talk after he’d just tried to kill the man? None of this made sense. His mind was still racing through scenarios—ways to fight, ways to escape, ways to kill them both if he had to. But deep down, he knew the truth.

He couldn’t fight his own Master. Not her.

Makoto stood frozen, staring at the two of them in disbelief. His dagger lay discarded on the ground. His mind screamed for action, but his body wouldn’t move.
“Come with us,” Jin said softly, “and we’ll explain everything.”
Makoto swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. “...Where are we going?”
“To my office,” Jin responds.

Before he knew it, Makoto Naegi was sitting in Headmaster Jin Kirigiri’s office at Hope’s Peak Academy. The dim lighting of the room did little to ease the tension running through him. He didn’t know what to think or do, his mind racing in circles. All he knew for certain was that if he was going to jail, he wouldn’t be sitting here, in the office of the headmaster, at one of the most prestigious schools in the country. That realization kept him grounded, but not by much.
His master is sitting next to him, just as silent as him. It's been 4 years since Makoto graduated from being a trainee, they haven't seen each other since then

'This is so awkward…' Makoto sits there with cold sweat dripping down his forehead. Maki has kept the same expression on her face as when he first met her. Cold and blank. Before anything could get any tense, Makoto heard the sound of an opening door behind him. Relief rushed through him as Jin sat down in his chair.

“So, Makoto,” Jin began, his voice calm but carrying the weight of leadership, “you’re probably wondering why you’re here, correct?”
Makoto nodded slowly, still unsure of what to make of the situation. “Yes, sir. I’d also like to know why my master is here,” he added, casting a sideways glance at Maki from his peripherals. She hadn’t moved or spoken since they arrived, and her blank expression was starting to unnerve him.
Jin, on ther other hand, was rather surprised how fast Makoto turned from a killer, to what seems to be a regular teenager. He gave a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yes, I had a feeling you’d ask that. You see, Makoto, your master is the reason you’re here right now.”
Makoto blinked, confusion washing over him. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you right?”
Jin shook his head. “You heard me perfectly. Ms. Harukawa is the one who set this meeting up. She’s the reason you were brought here.”

Makoto turned to Maki, the shock and confusion clear on his face. His heart clenched slightly. He hadn’t expected this. He had always trusted Maki, relied on her for guidance, but now? Now he felt... betrayed. Yet, deep down, he knew she wouldn’t have done this without a reason. He just needed to hear it from her.

“Master… is that true?” He asked with a careful voice.
Maki nodded her head.
Makoto hesitated, swallowing the knot in his throat, “But… why?”
For the first time that night, Maki spoke. “I wanted to give you a chance.” She stated with no clear emotion in her voice. Makoto tilted his head. He was confused. “Do you remember why you started your life as an assassin?” She asks him.

He nods slowly. It was because he had to do something to keep him and his sister off the streets. Even if it meant sacrificing human lives to do so. “I didn’t want you wasting your humanity on assassination anymore. I didn’t want you to waste your life like how I did with mine.” She sounded almost regretful. “Master…” Makoto felt his chest tighten. He wanted to say something more, to reach out and tell her it was okay, but the words didn’t come. The weight of her words sank in. She had been protecting him, even now, even when he didn’t realize it.

Jin pipes up. “What she’s trying to say is that she and I worked out a way for you to attend Hope’s Peak.” Makoto looked at Jin like he was crazy. Him? Attending Hope’s Peak?! The school that’s for the elite only to attend? He’d be going to Hope's Peak now? It was his dream, heck, it was anyone's dream to go to Hope's Peak. Jin analyzes Makoto’s expression. “So you want to continue assassination?”

Makoto’s eyes grow wide as he wildly starts to shake his head. “No! I… I’d be honored to attend Hope's Peak. But, why help me out…? Don’t you have other super talented students that could replace me?” he asked him, bewildered.

“Well, hypothetically, I could. But I felt this was right.” He says. Makoto felt that that wasn’t the entire truth, but decided against it. But unbeknownst to Makoto, it took him agony to convince the Board of Directors to enroll Naegi to the school. "Next week, on April 8th, you will be attending this school, bearing the title as the Ultimate Assassin." Giving him a letter of acceptance

“Ultimate Assassin?!” Makoto raised his arms defensively and sweatdropped. It raised problems… too many problems for him and the school itself. “...I've made many enemies," He started, "the elites, police, politicians, even other assassins, you name it, if they figure out I’m here in this school, it probably won't end well… besides, wouldn't enrolling an assassin harm the school reputation...?!”

Jin shakes his head.

“Ms. Harukawa has already disclosed that matter to our school scout, and we've made arrangements for you to attend as the Ultimate Lucky Student for your cover-up.” He explained.

Makoto slumped back into his chair, exhaling in relief, though the weight of the situation still pressed down on him. Ultimate Lucky Student. It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than exposing his true identity. Still, he had one last concern.

“And what about the Sicarius Order? The Leader—he won’t just let me leave.”
He was the most important weapon in the Order, surely the leader won’t let him go to a vacation?
Maki finally spoke again. “I convinced him to give you leave for the duration of your time at Hope’s Peak.”
Makoto’s jaw dropped. “You... convinced him? But he—”
“Yes,” Maki interrupted, her voice as cold as ever. “It wasn’t easy, but I managed.”

Makoto fell silent, processing everything. His master had done all of this—for him. She had risked everything to give him a chance at a normal life, a chance to walk away from the darkness he’d been trained in. He didn’t know whether to feel grateful or guilty.
"Last question, why didn't you just send an email or a letter about my enrollment, wouldn't that save you a lot of trouble?
"We didn't want to risk your sister knowing that you're secretly an assassin" Jin cuts in. "So we wanted to give it to you in a much safer way." She said. ‘Safer way?! I could’ve killed the Headmaster!’ Makoto thought

“…Alright. Thank you for this opportunity, Headmaster Kirigiri. And uhmm… Sorry for trying to kill you earlier…” Makoto said as he bowed in his chair.
“It’s fine.” Jin gives Makoto a warm smile that doesn't seem to suit his neutral face. “You’d best head off now. You’ve got to prepare for this school year.”

Makoto nods and looks at Maki. “Thank you, master. For caring so much.” Maki nods, and for once in who knows how many years he’s known her, smiles a little. “Course. You’re like family to me.” Before the two are about to leave, Jin says something. “Oh, by the way. My daughter is attending as the Ultimate Detective. I’m sure you’ll have lots of fun trying to keep your secret from her.” He smiles amusedly from behind them.

What…