Chapter Text
Complete and utter turmoil. Bodies littering the streets. A red-eyed man plowing through anyone in his way.
Ultimate Despairs killing, cannibalizing, raping, mutilating – the Future Foundation barely hanging on, holding onto hope, praying, fighting, working, programming.
A sea of paperwork, screams, the sound of a ballpoint pen tapping on thick layers of forms, an Ultimate Despair eating his mother alive, an Ultimate Despair skinning a child, an Ultimate Despair stitching on a dead woman’s hand, an Ultimate Despair,
an Ultimate Despair, an Ultimate –
“Naegi, are you just going to stare into space, or are you going to boot up the program?”
“Ah! Sorry, Togami-kun. I think everything should be set up properly. Their memories have been modified and reset, and Usami seems to have everything in place. Kirigiri-san is double checking everything now with Alter Ego.”
“Good.” Togami seemed somewhat tired as he sat down, adjusting his glasses. “I’m choosing to trust you on this. Be grateful. The Future Foundation is just about ready to have your head on a platter and remember that my resources are the only thing between your neck and that plate. Understand?”
Blunt as always.
“Understood, Togami-kun.” Naegi chuckled, checking his phone for Kirigiri’s go-ahead. He finished writing an email to the Future Foundation, and as soon as hit clicked send, he heard his cellphone vibrate on the desk.
Message: Kirigiri Kyoko
Alter Ego is ready. Enter the password and boot up the simulation.
- Kirigiri
“She doesn’t have to sign her name every time she sends a text…” Naegi mumbled, smiling to himself. He could feel Togami glaring at him and he quickly turned to the computer.
“Fingers crossed.”
“You’re the Ultimate Hope here. Do your job and have some faith.”
“R-right. Yeah.”
Naegi typed in the password, took a deep breath, and hit enter.
Ch. 1
Wasn’t I in a classroom? I was – I was at school. I was at Hope’s Peak. So why…?
He could smell the salty tang of the sea, something floral, and then – something piney? Or... Like sandalwood...
“Have you calmed down now? Are you okay?” He blinked blearily. Someone was standing over him. They looked pale, almost glowing, a halo of white wavy hair around a bright, pale face. Mossy colored eyes. Was he dead? Was this an angel?
Hinata Hajime opened his eyes further to harsh sunlight, recoiling and shielding his view. His spine was curled against soft, warm sand. The hushed lapping of waves against the coast filled the air. It felt like a paradise, and Hinata asked his fear aloud.
“Am… Am I dead?”
“I certainly hope not.”
“So you aren’t an angel. That’s – that’s good.” Hinata sat up, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“That’s quite possibly the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me. You believed I was an angel? Do you have a concussion?”
Hinata couldn’t help but laugh. He observed the other person on the beach. The not-angel was… Just a guy. Tall, thin, and very pale. Hinata would’ve coined him as albino if not for his eyes. There was a strange stirring in his mind, and when he tried to chase the thought, a surge of pain shot through his temples so hard it made his eyes water. Hinata swore, balking.
“This may be a strange question to ask," the man began delicately. "But do I know you from somewhere?”
“I – I’m a student at Hope’s Peak, from the Talent Course. I remember being there – but now... I’m on an... Island? Why - why am I - what's -?”
“Ah! Please don’t freak out again, er – just - just take a breath.” Hinata nodded, inhaling slow and deep.
“I’m Komaeda Nagito. From what I can tell, everyone on this island is a Talent Course student at Hope’s Peak, like us. You woke up earlier but er, had a little bit of a meltdown?” Komaeda chortled sheepishly as he said it, rubbing the back of his neck. “Then you dropped like a ragdoll, and so I stayed here to keep an eye on you." Komaeda cleared his throat, as though he felt somewhat awkward. "I apologize, but I never actually learned your -?”
“Hinata Hajime." Hinata said before the man could finish his sentence. Hinata found himself desperately trying to place Komaeda's face, which was evoking a strange feeling somewhere in Hinata's torso. "And thanks – Komaeda, you said?”
“That's me, yes. I’ll - well, I'll try to fill you in. So, we all woke up on this beach, there’s a talking pink rabbit – yes, I can hear how that sounds, and no, I’m not completely insane, you’ll meet her soon – and the others already split up to explore the island. Apparently, this is a field trip? A field trip that, somehow, none of us remember going on. But uh, it’s safe! And the weather’s nice. There’s food, cottages, fresh water – no reason to panic.”
Hinata could almost hear the 'yet' at the end of that sentence.
But he nodded numbly. He tried not to stare directly at Komaeda. The man felt exceedingly familiar, and trying to remember why was giving Hinata a tremendous headache.
“I guess I should go see everything for myself. Get my bearings.”
“Let me help you up.” And Komaeda offered his hand. Hinata grabbed it, hoisting himself upright. His body felt sore and weighty with exhaustion. Why? When had he gotten here? And how?
“Let’s meet the others, alright? The talking rabbit – please don’t give me that look, I'm not mad – wants us to collect these things called ‘Hope Fragments’. Like hope would ever need to be broken into fragments!” Komaeda chuckled, as though that notion were the most preposterous thing out of everything he was explaining.
Komaeda strolled alongside Hinata cordially, and Hinata fought with his headache. He knew that he probably recognized Komaeda from school, that made sense. But Hinata was battling with another, somewhat uncomfortable thought.
Komaeda was pretty. Hinata had never thought of a man like that, or at least as far as he could remember. It wasn’t that he had an issue with it, but rather that, generally, when Hinata had found someone pretty, it was after getting to know them. Hinata had never been the type that was immediately drawn to beautiful people, he was far too skeptical for that. Generally, though it hadn't happened often, Hinata became attracted to others through their personalities, which in turn made him develop an interest in their appearance.
Which begged the question - if Hinata didn’t know Komaeda beyond basic introductions then why did he keep admiring him?
Why was he finding some perverse joy in the way Komaeda walked, the sharp cleverness of his green eyes, or how he talked with his hands? Was it perverse? It wasn’t in a sexual way, it was just...
Hinata shook his head. He didn't understand anything.
“Hinata-kun, you look troubled.” And the way Komaeda said his name – it was so damn recognizable that it was driving Hinata crazy. “Oh, I’m curious – what’s Hinata-kun’s talent?”
Hinata parted his lips to speak, but his words died in his throat. Why… Why couldn’t he...?
“I – I don’t... I can't remember. My head is killing me, but - but that’s such a simple question, so - so why can’t I -?”
“Ah! Please don’t worry, don't overexert yourself. It'll come to you eventually, you've just been through a shock. I’m positive it brims with hope! Just like everyone else - well, not me - but like our other colleagues!”
“Huh? Why not you? What’s your talent?”
“Oh, it hardly counts as a talent.” Komaeda scoffed at himself. “I’m lucky. That’s it. I’m the Ultimate Lucky Student. I won a raffle and got into Hope’s Peak. Luck is simply the all-powerful force that dominates my life.”
Hinata frowned at him. Komaeda said it with a scowl of fierce contempt, but it wasn't aimed at him.
“How – how is that a talent?”
“Honestly, search me. Hope's Peak wanted to study how it worked is all. I suppose the raffle is rather rare, so when someone does win it, it’s not merely a 'golden ticket' sort of deal. It’s the will of fortune. I haven't any ability to control it, though. If something good happens, so must the bad. My parents perished in a freak plane accident from it, I got rich from it, I was almost murdered from it, I got even richer, I was diagnosed with cancer, and I was accepted into Hope’s Peak like I'd always dreamed. Up and down, like the crest of a wave.” Komaeda demonstrated the motion with his hand, his posture relaxed.
“You – you’re joking right –?" Hinata spluttered. "That’s not funny –!”
“You’d be quite correct, Hinata-kun. It isn’t funny, and I am most certainly not joking.” Komaeda replied with a serene smile.
Hinata's brain was in agony.
“So it’s real. Luck, fate, karma, all those things, they're real.”
“Indeed they are! Which is why I’m frankly pathetic amongst all you magnificent Ultimates. It’s not even a proper talent. It’s just luck. Nothing I can do to change it, and nothing I can do to stop it. I’ll be cursed until the day I di –”
“That sounds kind of lazy.”
Komaeda halted, stiffening before gradually turning to glower at Hinata.
“Excuse me?”
“I mean, you were scouted by the school, right? They’re specifically researching your talent, but you threw your hands up and said, ‘Eh, sorry guys, no can do.’ You gave up instead of trying to connect some rhyme or reason to it. Isn't that a little arrogant?” Hinata clarified, snubbing Komaeda's indignation, and shrugging as he pressed on.
“You’re so used to just accepting what life hands you that you don’t try to make use of what is, essentially, a superpower. You're not even trying to make sense of it. That just sounds lazy to me. If you say you’re not deserving to be an Ultimate, you’re basically spitting on the school's reasons for selecting you. You're saying Hope's Peak's whole selection process is irrelevant. That’s an insult to every Ultimate in the Talent Course, which is kind of appalling.”
Hinata had no idea why he was being so impolite. He felt frustrated, frustrated with Komaeda's attitude, frustrated with how calm Komaeda made him, frustrated that he found a stranger so attractive, and most of all frustrated with himself that Hinata couldn’t place his own talent.
“I – well, I supposed I’m not too surprised you’d look down on a pathetic, worthl – ouch! ” This time Komaeda staggered, clutching his scalp, his eyes clamped shut. After a pause, Komaeda blinked, kneading his thumb in the center of his brow, confused. “Er, sorry, I was saying that since I’m a disgust – damn it! ” And Komaeda almost fell backwards, tears of pain streaming down his pale cheeks.
Hinata grabbed Komaeda's shoulder to steady him, but the man was suddenly glaring at Hinata in anger, shoving him off.
“Wh-who are you?!”
“What? I already told you –”
“No, no, you’re – there’s something wrong with you. D-did you do something to me?” Komaeda’s stance became aggressive and accusatory. Hinata could see a glint of fear in his flitting pupils.
“No! What the hell are you implying?” Hinata shot back, and Komaeda bristled.
“I don’t know! You – I –!”
Komaeda cut himself off and drew a breath, lashes fluttering closed, placing his fingers over his lips and shaking his head in shame.
“I - I truly apologize. That – I have no idea why I said that. That was very nasty of me, I didn’t mean –”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“No, I’m serious –”
“Drop it." Hinata insisted. "Anyone would be shaken up in a situation like this. It’s not your fault.” There was a moment of silence where Hinata felt a peculiar tension and he coughed slightly. “Uh - I... Sorry, you know, for - for everything you went through. I shouldn’t’ve –”
“Don’t be. Water under the bridge. Literally!” And Komaeda smirked as he pointed to an enormous bridge that branched off the island and arched over the sea. Quiet stilled between them once again, and Komaeda cleared his throat. “We can keep going. We’re almost to the cottages.”
They walked a little more ways.
“What you said earlier, about being lazy…”
“I was acting really rude, I have no idea what –” Komaeda waved his hand, interrupting Hinata.
“No, no, it’s – I was thinking that no one has said that to me before. Or, I was thinking that, but then I had this odd sensation of déjà vu. As though someone once told me that exact thing, but I can’t recall who.”
“Sounds like they were an asshole.”
“Perhaps!" Komaeda laughed, fingers interlocking on the back on his head as he gazed up at the sky. "But, at the same time, if I had heard it before…” Komaeda trailed off, chewing the inside of his cheek.
“What?”
“Well, I don’t know. Perhaps there’s a way to test it, and I forgot. Perhaps I attempted to test it and failed? Or maybe I didn’t? With not remembering how I got here, I may be a smidge addled, but…” Komaeda peered searchingly at Hinata. “How... How would you go about testing it?”
“Why are you asking me? I don’t even remember my own talent.”
“I honestly haven't the foggiest.” Komaeda chuckled awkwardly. “But you... You feel a bit like an ideas guy. The sort of person that comes up with solutions.”
Hinata stared at Komaeda, considering it. He felt strangely comforted by Komaeda's presence. Sure, he was weird, but...
Fuck it.
“Let me get acquainted with everyone first. I’ll brainstorm while we walk.”
Komaeda nodded, flashing Hinata a grin as he let out a breath of relief.
Hinata kept track of everyone he met after learning the Komaeda was indeed not crazy, and that there really was a talking rabbit that was spinning around prattling on in a squeaky voice about the importance of love and friendship. And that rabbit, who called herself Usami, gave Hinata an automated student handbook that worked something like a cross between a PDA and a rulebook.
Usami insisted that she was their teacher, which was ridiculous, and that this so-called field trip was for them to form strong bonds with one another and to earn ‘Hope Fragments’.
She explained the rules, that there couldn’t be littering, they had to try to get along, no extreme physical violence was allowed, but that she wouldn’t intervene with their lives unless someone broke a rule.
“What do you mean by interfering?” Hinata had asked blandly, growing irritated with Usami's magical girl schtick.
“A stern talking to! Maybe even sitting in a corner!”
Is… Does she think this is Kindergarten?
“But we won’t be beaten or anything, right?”
Usami howled in horror, her plush hands squishing her cheeks.
“Th-that w-would be h-horrible! I would never commit violence against my precious students!”
Hinata nodded. So, a slap on the wrist if he accidentally missed the trash can.
Hinata met a small woman named Saionji Hiyoko, the Ultimate Japanese Dancer, who had a bad attitude and a foul mouth. Koizumi Mahiru, the Ultimate Photographer, a girl who had a blunt, determined personality, but overall seemed nice. Owari Akane, a positively terrifying force of nature of a woman, whose athleticism matched her talent as the Ultimate Gymnast.
Togami Byakuya, the Ultimate Affluent Progeny, a large man both intimidating and forceful, while still emanating something inspiring. Nidai Nekomaru, the Ultimate Team Manager, a man with the build of a bodybuilder who could probably punch a hole through a steel wall and laugh it off. Sonia Nevermind, the Ultimate Princess, a polite lady who had a calming but commanding presence, and was apparently deeply interested in Japanese culture, which was starkly different from her home country in Europe, ‘Novoselic’. Nanami Chiaki, the Ultimate Gamer, a woman that had a sweet and amiable disposition, and who wanted to get along with everyone when she wasn't falling asleep while standing up.
Tsumiki Mikan, an emotionally fragile woman that burst into thankful histrionics that Hinata had even bothered to greet her, and who held a position as the Ultimate Nurse. Soda Kazuichi, the Ultimate Mechanic, a 'chill bro' obsessed with three things: taking machines apart, ‘hanging with the boys’ and pretty girls. Hanamura Teruteru, a sleazy but earnest fellow who flirted with anything that had a pulse, who was titled as the Ultimate Chef. Kuzuryu Fuyuhiko, the Ultimate Yakuza, a short, vulgar, and violent man that essentially told Hinata to fuck off within a minute of hostile introductions.
Pekoyama Peko, the Ultimate Swordswoman, whose nature was gentle, dignified, and very respectful despite her frighteningly powerful presence. Mioda Ibuki, a colorful and energetic woman with an appearance that suited her talent as the Ultimate Musician, that also refused to answer if one didn't use her given name. Tanaka Gundham, the Ultimate Breeder, a darkly-clad man with a penchant for ‘the dark arts’ who, despite his obsession with all things evil, adored his pet hamsters – although Tanaka referred to the rodents as the “Four Dark Devas of Destruction.”
And then, of course, Komaeda Nagito, and Hinata himself.
They all appeared to be in a similar situation, though Hinata's classmates, unlike Hinata, remembered their respective talents. None knew how they’d gotten to the island. A few of them accepted it as just… How things were, now.
Hinata sat on the beach while everyone had decided to make the most out of a bad situation and go for a swim. Eventually, he shrugged, laughed, and decided to join.
Things quickly went downhill from there.
A monochromatic stuffed bear with a nasty sense of humor that beat and rebranded Usami as “Monomi” who he claimed to be his little sister, ignoring her protests that the assertion was untrue.
The announcement of a killing game.
The motive that the only way to regain their memories and leave the island was to commit murder, get away with it, and graduate.
There would be a class trial for every murder, and either the murderer would be caught and executed, or those who came to the wrong conclusion would all be killed, leaving only the killer alive and free to leave.
Any violation of rules, particularly trying to injure the bear – who called himself Monokuma – would lead to punishment, or more specifically, a quick death.
Hinata was in a nightmare.
“You ought to not make a habit of just passing out at bad news, Hinata-kun. You've been out for quite some time.”
Hinata woke spread eagled on the beach again. His heart raced as though he’d had a night terror, but he had no idea what it had been about. There was a lot of sand on his tongue. Hinata didn’t even have the energy to care.
“Please tell me it was a bad dream.” Komaeda stayed mum for a while, but Hinata caught the saddened concern that strained his handsome features.
“Er... Would you like me to accompany you back to your cottage? It’s late, and…” Komaeda trailed off again. Hinata knew what he was going to say. It was late, and bad things could happen at night.
“Yeah. I was thinking about your talent, anyway. We can talk on the way.”
Komaeda helped Hinata to his feet again. Hinata dusted himself off.
“So,” Hinata began, massaging the lump on his head from when he'd passed out. “What sort of feelings do you get when you get a stretch of good or bad luck?”
“Typically that I should have expected it. In truth, I oddly do. I vaguely foresee something bad or good happening before it happens, like something precognitive. I always had anxieties about getting cancer for example, and then whoops, I got it! Such is fate, I suppose.”
“Don’t say that sort of thing so nonchalantly, Komaeda. Death isn’t a game.”
“I mean, it sort of is. It is here, at least.”
“Don’t remind me." Hinata grouched, cramming his hands in his pockets, grimacing at the ground. Hinata sucked air through his teeth and refocused. "Right, so, when you had a bout of good luck, what were you thinking?”
Komaeda grew pensive, squinting at the horizon, stroking his chin.
“I believe that... Normally I was focused on something I wanted. When my parents died, I recall wishing that I could just live by myself, because my panic attacks stressed them out, and as a child... Well, I worried they hated me due to my neuroses. But I didn’t... I didn’t want what happened. I didn't want them to die.”
Hinata gazed at Komaeda, a wash of sympathy driving him to instinctively reach out to grab Komaeda's shoulder as a show of comfort, but Hinata hesitated and let it fall when he rationalized that it might be weird to do since he was still a stranger to the man. Komaeda either didn't notice Hinata's clumsy attempts at consolation, or was pretending he hadn't seen it, to be tactful.
“Anyway," Komaeda sighed. "Every time I really wanted something, I usually got it, but it would happen in such an extreme way that I hurt other people. Like the plane crash. It’s why I’m used to being alone. It’s... Safer that way.”
“That’s actually a really good hint, Komaeda.” And Hinata turned to speak to Komaeda properly, crossing his arms across his breast as he speculated.
“It sounds like your luck is operating in a zero-sum way. You get something huge, and then something awful befalls you or the people near you. But what if it’s like a muscle? What if your luck is connected to your emotions? If you hate yourself, then obviously bad things will happen, because that’s what you think you deserve. If you think ‘I’m a clumsy asshole that will knock someone over and then that person's gonna die’ they probably will, because you’re actually controlling circumstance and probability! Not just luck.”
Komaeda gawked at Hinata, his brow furrowed tightly over narrowed eyes, unsettled.
“This is all just a theory, but we can practice it. If I’m right, then you having such luck could save people’s lives! Imagine that!” And Hinata was suddenly grinning at Komaeda, a manic sensation of admiration and something else swelling like a balloon in his chest, but his face turned to one of confusion. Why was he so happy? Why did he keep wanting to cheer this random stranger –
“Hinata-kun...? Er, why are you crying?”
“I – wh -?” Hinata wiped his face in a humiliated frenzy. Komaeda appeared growingly uncomfortable. “I wasn’t crying! I don’t know – I have no idea why that happened! I wasn't crying!" Hinata iterated in stubborn defiance, his ears burning from shame. "I probably just - just got sand in my eye or something.”
But Hinata's eyes felt fine, he felt fine. He hadn’t even been sad, so why…?
“Sorry about that, I swear I’m alright. Anyway, that’s my idea. So what do you say?”
“I... Ouch!” Komaeda flinched, lids crinkling in pain as his palm smacked his forehead. He groaned, and Hinata assumed Komaeda had been struck by a migraine. When he spoke again, Komaeda's tone was trepidatious and mistrustful. “Er, I – I don’t know. I think maybe you should - I need to be alone, Hinata-ku – Hinata. ”
Hinata raised his eyebrows, affronted by the abrupt and biting shift in Komaeda’s addressal. Hinata had never demanded anyone to use an honorific with him, but it was clear that Komaeda had removed it as a pointed insult.
“I – I don’t mean to be rude," Komaeda said, bearing a cold air of condescension that indicated his rudeness was very much intentional. "But – I’m... I'm not feeling too great. I need to lie down, to think, and... I - yeah.”
And, leaving Hinata extremely disoriented and slightly stung, Komaeda stalked off without saying goodbye.