Chapter Text
“Ma…Maizono…?” Makoto repeated as he thought Could he…
Kyoko scrutinized his face, her brow furrowed as she mused It would make sense…though it’s frazzled, he does have the same blue hair…and the surname is too coincidental to ignore…
Kiki’s eyes sparkled in realization as she voiced what her parents were both thinking.
“Maizono-san, are you Sayaka’s Daddy?”
Moshin’s eyes widened in shock, gasping as he breathed “You…you know my…my daughter?”
Kiki chuckled nervously, scratching her cheek as she explained “Well…no…but Mommy and Daddy told me all about her when they told me how they met at Hope’s Peak Academy!”
Turning to the two parents, Moshin pleaded “You…you went to Hope’s Peak with Sayaka? Then…you know where she is, right? Please, tell me where my baby Sayaka is! I’ve been searching for years and I haven’t been able to find her! Please, I’m begging you!”
This is bad… Kyoko thought We can’t tell Kiki what actually happened back then, but Maizono-san deserves the truth.
Makoto nodded to his wife, silently agreeing with her before he gently but firmly ordered “Kiki, go to your room and play some of your video games. This is a conversation that needs to be kept between me, your Mother, and Maizono-san.”
No fair! Kiki pouted, but seeing that this was one of the few times her Father wouldn’t budge, reluctantly turned around and marched to her room.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Moshin asked a little more calmly “You…do know where Sayaka is, right? She’s…all right…right?”
Makoto’s fists clenched, the young Headmaster hanging his head as his eyes watered from remembering finding her corpse in his bathroom, as well as the revelation of her betrayal during the Class Trial.
“Na…Naegi-kun?”
“I…I’m sorry, Maizono-san…but…Sayaka’s…dead.”
Time froze for Moshin; he gasped as his eyes widened in shock as he thought It can’t be…it can’t be…my baby Sayaka…she’s…dead? There’s…there’s no way! But…the Naegi’s don’t look like they’re joking. So…it must be…no… “NO!”
Moshin broke down, burying his face in his palms as he sobbed for the loss of his only daughter. Empathizing with the man, Makoto sat down next to him and awkwardly rubbed his back in comfort. Kyoko stood still, her stoic mask front and center as she watched her husband try to calm down the weeping Maizono.
As Moshin’s sobs subsided, he sniffled before looking up at Makoto and asked “D…do you know…how my…my baby died?”
Sighing, Makoto explained “A year after the Tragedy, we were…trapped within Hope’s Peak by the Mastermind. They told us that the only way any of us could escape was if we killed one of our own without getting caught.”
*Gasp* “So…my daughter…was killed by…one of her classmates?” At Makoto’s nod, Moshin asked “…Who…?”
Makoto bit his lip, apologizing I hate throwing you under the bus a second time, but Sayaka’s Dad deserves to know the truth…Please forgive me… He sighed before admitting “Kuwata. Leon Kuwata.”
“Ku…Kuwata?! Leon Kuwata killed my baby girl?!” Moshin’s eyes narrowed, his fists somehow managing to clench as he seethed with fury “That…bastard! I knew he wasn’t right for her! I should have tried to keep them apart! I should have…done something! Naegi-kun, please tell me that Leon didn’t get away with this!”
Biting his lip briefly, Makoto admitted “Whenever a murder happened, the Mastermind set up a Class Trial where we would have to vote on who the culprit is. We exposed Leon in that trial, and the Mastermind put him through the most gruesome execution I could have imagined as punishment for getting caught.”
Makoto closed his eyes, vividly remembering Leon’s terrified, pain-filled face as he was pelted with a thousand baseballs.
“…Good.” Makoto opened his eyes, turning to see the hate-filled look in Moshin’s brown eyes as he mumbled “…Serves him right for killing Sayaka in cold blood.”
“…I’m afraid that’s not the case, Maizono-san.” Watching Moshin stop his tirade and stare up at her with a bewildered expression, Kyoko continued “Leon did kill Sayaka, that much is true, but it was largely an act of self-defense.”
“D…defense…?”
Kyoko nodded “That’s right; Sayaka convinced my husband one night to switch rooms with her. Once they did, she switched their nameplates in the dead of night and sent Leon a note asking to meet her in her room. Leon went, and once he closed the door behind him, Sayaka attacked him with a kitchen knife.”
“No…” Moshin shook his head in denial “No…she wouldn’t…I…I raised her better than that! And I…I remember!” Moshin turned to Makoto and insisted “Naegi-kun, she always told me how she thought so highly of you, ever since middle school when you set that crane free! She…she wouldn’t have betrayed you!”
“Maizono-san…” Makoto put his hand on Moshin’s shoulder and replied “Believe me, I understand how you feel…that look on your face is the same one I had when Kyoko told me about Sayaka’s plan during the Class Trial. But…I’m afraid it’s the truth…Sayaka tried to frame me for murder so she could escape, but it backfired and led to her own death.”
Moshin shook his head furiously, roaring “IT…IT CAN’T BE! SHE’D NEVER RESORT TO MURDER! YOU HAVEN’T GIVEN ME A SHRED OF EVIDENCE! WHERE’S THE EVIDENCE?! WITHOUT EVIDENCE, IT’S ALL BULLSHIT! IT’S BULLSHIT AND I REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT!”
…Just like Leon…Makoto thought as he noted the irony of their mirrored outbursts. “…Very well…I’ll show you the evidence tomorrow. We’ll go to Hope’s Peak Academy tomorrow and I’ll show you the evidence.”
Moshin, now calmer, scoffed “And how do you plan to get us in there? Even if Hope’s Peak has reopened since the Tragedy, that place doesn’t allow nonstudents on campus.”
Makoto smiled and revealed “I can get us in…because the Headmaster…is me.”
Moshin gaped, stammering “Y…yyy…you’re the He…Headmaster?!”
Makoto nodded “That’s right, and my wife here is the Vice-Headmistress, so we can access the evidence we preserved to show you and prove the truthfulness of our claims.”
Seeing Moshin reluctantly nod, Kyoko added “For now though, we’ll allow you to eat dinner with us, and you can stay the night in one of the guest rooms on the second floor.” As Moshin opened his mouth to reject out of politeness, Kyoko added “Kiki’s right; you need to eat and regain the weight you’ve lost, and a night in an actual bed would do you some good. We have the space, and making dinner for four is well within our means.”
“I…” Moshin hung his head and accepted gratefully “…You’ve done more for me than I could ever hope to repay…and I’m sorry for lashing out…”
Makoto smiled and told him “It’s okay, I was the same way at first…though I must ask that you not mention the subject in front of my daughter. She’s only six, so we haven’t told her about the Killing Game that we survived. We’re waiting until she’s old enough to process it.”
Moshin nodded, accepting “I can agree to that…the less said on that subject, the better.”
Kyoko nodded “Very well…now, come with me. You need a fresh change of clothes, and there’s a chance my Father’s old clothes might fit you.”
Seeing Makoto nod, Moshin sighed and began to follow Kyoko, leaving Makoto alone in the living room.
“Well, guess I’d better go tell Kiki that she can come out now…”
XXX
“Itadakimasu!”
Makoto, Kyoko, and Kiki dug into their plates, Makoto and Kiki almost ravenously while Kyoko ate at a much more controlled pace. The only one who wasn’t eating was Moshin, who simply stared at the plate of rice with gravy, turkey drumstick, carrots, and chicken and mushroom alfredo.
Still mid-bite of her own drumstick, Kiki nudged him with her elbow and urged “Maizono-san, eat up! You’ll love Daddy’s cooking!”
“Kiki, don’t talk with your mouth full at the dinner table.”
*Gulp* “Sorry, Mommy…”
Makoto smiled and urged “She is right though; you need to eat if you’re going to recover your strength, Maizono-san.”
“M…my apologies, Naegi-kun. I’m just…awestruck, that’s all. You let me into your home, gave me a bed to sleep in, a fresh set of clothes, and now you’re letting me eat dinner with you all. I…I fell so humbled is all…”
Makoto smiled and nodded “I understand how you feel. When I first set foot in Hope’s Peak Academy, I felt like a tame little housecat in a pride of lions. But I found myself fitting in sooner than I could have dreamed of. So if I could fit into a class of Ultimates, when I came from a completely normal family, then you’ll fit right in at our dinner table for tonight. For now, you’re part of our family, so eat up.”
Nodding with tears of gratitude in his eyes, Moshin hesitantly picked up a drumstick and bit into it. Smiling at its taste, he started to take more bites, his speed increasing along with the color in his face as he ate more and more. All three Naegis smiled at how relaxed Moshin was becoming at their table, almost as though he had always been a part of their family.
“So…Maizono-san?”
Finishing his last bite of drumstick, Moshin gulped before asking “What is it, Naegi-chan?”
“Please, call me Kiki!”
Moshin chuckled and replied “Alright, Kiki…what do you want to ask me?”
“I was just wondering…what was Sayaka like as a kid? Mommy and Daddy told me a bit about her, like how she had to turn Daddy down when he tried to ask her out.”
Makoto blushed and was about to reprimand his daughter when, to his and Kyoko’s surprise, Moshin chuckled in amusement and answered “Yeah, I can see that…though your Father can at least take comfort in the fact that he was far from the first. Sayaka’s popularity meant that a lot of boys tried to woo her, and she had as much of a reputation for breaking hearts of fanboys as she did for her musical singing on stage.”
Makoto and Kyoko sighed in relief before continuing to eat, watching Moshin entertain Kiki’s questions about Sayaka with interest and even an occasional chuckle whenever his answer necessitated a funny story.
Maizono-san…you’re taking the first steps to healing. Hopefully you’ll be able to heal more and forgive Leon once we go to Hope’s Peak together.
XXX
“The End.” Makoto finished as he closed the book, having just finished story time with Kiki and Kyoko.
As Makoto and Kyoko proceeded to tuck Kiki in, she asked hesitantly “Mommy…Daddy…?”
“Yes, pumpkin?” Makoto asked “What is it?”
Kiki bit her lip before asking “…Am I grounded? For bringing Maizono-san here without permission?”
Makoto sighed, then shook his head with an amused smile and assured her “We know you were just trying to help, Kiki, and in this case, it turned out to be the best course of action. Your Mother and I aren’t going to punish you for following your conscience.”
“Just…don’t make a habit out of this, okay?” Kyoko smiled as she stroked Kiki’s hair, continuing “Our house isn’t a hotel, Kiki, but you can still help people if you think they need it. If you come across someone who you think needs medical attention, ask an adult you know and trust to call for an ambulance, and they’ll take them to a hospital to get treated.”
“…Okay, Mommy…sorry, Mommy…” Kiki apologized.
“It’s okay, sweetie.” Kyoko playfully ruffled her daughter’s hair to let her know all was forgiven.
Once she had finished, Kiki asked “So…what’s going to happen to Maizono-san now?”
“Well, your Father’s going to take him to work with him tomorrow while you’re off at school. While they’re there, he’s going to help Maizono-san find the answers he’s looking for. After that…I don’t know, Kiki. He can’t live here permanently, but we’ll make sure he can find a place to stay with access to food before we part ways.”
Satisfied, Kiki nodded “Okay, Mommy.”
As Kyoko kissed her daughter’s nose, Makoto told Kiki “Alright, pumpkin, time to go to sleep.”
Nodding as Makoto kissed her cheek, Kiki yawned “Okay…good night Daddy…good night Mommy…I love you…”
“We love you too Kiki…good night…”
They watched with warm smiles as Kiki’s eyes closed, the girl fading into dreamland now that her worries had dissipated. Without another word, they quietly crept outside, Makoto closing the door behind them.
“Well, now that Kiki and Maizono-san are asleep, perhaps the three of us should head to bed ourselves.”
Giggling, Kyoko proceeded to walk towards their bedroom, Makoto following her as they made their way to slumber.
XXX
“Alright, Kiki! We’re at school!” Makoto announced, a much healthier Moshin sitting in the front passenger seat while Kyoko sat in the rear next to Kiki.
Kyoko unbuckled Kiki from her booster seat before the six-year-old jumped out of her booster seat and opened the passenger door.
Once she had jumped outside and closed the door behind her, Moshin rolled down the window on his side so that Makoto could call out “Alright, Kiki…Miss Maki will pick you up again as usual. Remember what we talked about last night!”
Kiki nodded “I remember, Daddy; I won’t bring any more strangers home.” Moshin looked down guiltily before Kiki’s cheerful call interrupted his thoughts. “Bye, Maizono-san, have fun at work with Daddy! I know he’ll help you find what you’re looking for!”
Stunned momentarily by Kiki’s enthusiasm, Moshin couldn’t help the small smile that danced on his lips as he nodded “Thank you, Kiki, I’m sure he will.” But will it be enough? Will I…really get the closure I need? And could my baby girl…really have resorted to murder? I admit I wasn’t around as much as I should have, but…
“Bye Mommy! Bye Daddy!”
Moshin was shaken out of his thoughts as Makoto and Kyoko called back “Bye Kiki! Have a great day at school!” before zooming off, Kiki disappearing within the school building as the three of them headed to Hope’s Peak Academy.
XXX
“Whoa!” Moshin breathed as stepped out of the car, looking up at the tall, skyscraper-like main building. This is…Hope’s Peak Academy…was…was Sayaka…this intimidated when she first set foot on compus?
Makoto chuckled, bringing Moshin out of his thoughts as he commented “Yeah, I was like that when I first set foot in Hope’s Peak. I was lucky Sayaka was in my class; she made adapting a lot easier by being my first friend.”
Moshin smiled, happy that Sayaka’s presence had been helpful to Makoto in his youth as he commented “Yeah…she always was a social butterfly who tried to help people smile…” Becoming serious, Moshin asked “So…you said there was evidence here you wanted to show me…Headmaster Naegi?”
Nodding, Makoto answered “Yes; Kyoko’s going to take over my Headmaster duties for today while you and I go to the vault; it contains various pieces of evidence related to The Tragedy that only Kyoko and I have access to, so curious students don’t sneak in and try to sell them on eBay or something.”
Kyoko nodded “Indeed, speaking of which, I should get going so I can set up shop.” Walking over to kiss her husband on the cheek, she told him “I’ll see you later, Makoto. I love you.”
“I love you too, Kyoko…” As she walked off into the building, Makoto turned to Moshin, a blushing smile on his face as he asked the amused Maizono patriarch “So…shall we go?”
XXX
“Before I start to show you the evidence of my story, there’s one detail you need to know to put things into perspective.” Makoto mentioned as he closed the door behind them. Seeing Moshin’s curious nod, Makoto explained “Just before the Mastermind forced us into the Killing School Life, they erased our memories of the two years that we spent at Hope’s Peak Academy. Not only did this mean that we thought we were complete strangers to each other, but we also had no knowledge of the Tragedy, so we were much more eager to leave than we were to stay where it was supposed to be safe.”
Two years…gone? So that means…Sayaka wasn’t even in love with Kuwata-kun when they were imprisoned…could it really be that… Moshin sighed and nodded, silently urging Makoto to continue with his evidence.
Makoto sifted through the shelves until he pulled out a DVD case, taking it over to the PC in the room and gesturing for Moshin to come with him. Gulping, Moshin reluctantly made his way to the chair Makoto had offered next to the PC as he inserted the DVD into the drive.
“To get us to start killing each other, the Mastermind would try to give us new motives every so often. The first of these was a video DVD for all of us, just like the one Sayaka got. For me, it showed my house destroyed and my family missing. For Kyoko, it was a video of her Grandfather. As for Sayaka’s…well, you’ll see soon enough.”
Moshin’s eyes focused on the screen as Makoto clicked “PLAY”, which then showed a shocked Moshin a video of Sayaka’s idol group, the five of them so vibrant and full of life, making him smile. That smile soon vanished as an unfamiliar, high-pitched voice spoke from the speakers.
“Sayaka Maizono, the Ultimate Pop Sensation – lead singer for a world-famous all-girl pop band. For these girls, the glowing spotlight only made them that much more beautiful. But then…”
What the… Moshin wondered as the screen momentarily went dark, black and white now taking its place before fading to reveal the four members of Sayaka’s idol group collapsed on the stage, and the image of a black and white teddy bear appearing on the stage’s TV screen. What the…what the hell is this?!
“This ultra-successful team suddenly fell apart! None of them will ever perform on-stage again. None of them will ever feel the warmth of the spotlight…For Sayaka, there’s simply nowhere for her to return to. So here’s the billion-dollar question—what oh what could have caused the group to go to pieces!?”
The screen faded to red, then black as big, red text spelled out “Look for the answer after graduation!” Makoto sighed, pressing the pause button as the video had stirred traumatic memories in him. Though he was used to it by now, Moshin obviously was not; the man shook in his seat, his eyes bulging out of his head as he tried to process what the hell he just saw.
“Sayaka’s idol group…they were her best friends…they were like the family that I couldn’t give her. She always hated being alone, you know. That’s why she loved being a pop idol…having all those fans cheering her name after every show, doing all those concerts with her friends…it let her know that she was never alone. And the Mastermind…took that away from her?!”
Nodding solemnly, Makoto answered “The Mastermind imprisoned them, but they’ve since escaped and are living happy lives. But now you understand, don’t you? She was so desperate to find her friends that it broke her.”
“C…can it be…did my baby girl…really…?”
Makoto sighed and replied “If that’s not enough, then perhaps this will.” Makoto opened one of the drawers in the desk and pulled out a single, worn piece of paper, explaining “This is the note that Kyoko uncovered…the one that she sent to Leon in hopes of killing him so that she could make his escape.”
Moshin gulped as Makoto offered it to him, the man reluctantly accepting the note and reading it over, his eyes widening as he took in every word.
“There’s something I want to talk to you about, just us two. In five minutes, come see me in my room. Check the nameplates to make sure you don’t get the wrong room, okay? Sayaka Maizono.”
Seeing Moshin’s pained gasp of realization, Makoto asked “Now can you accept it? The truth about Sayaka?”
I…I don’t want to believe it, but…that motive…combined with this note…in Sayaka’s handwriting no less…I…I can’t deny it any longer…my baby girl…was pushed…into trying to kill her boyfriend…so she could escape…? Tears trickled down his cheeks, disappointment mixed with sorrow as he crumpled the note in his hands and wept “I…I’M A HORRIBLE FATHER!”
Makoto awkwardly wrapped an arm around Moshin’s waist and assured him “You’re not an awful Father, okay? Those of us that survived recovered our memories, and I remember that Sayaka would always talk about how much she treasured the days she would spend time with you and how thankful she was that you spent time with her whenever you could.”
“She…she did? So I…I wasn’t…a horrible Father…to Sayaka?”
Makoto shook his head and continued “We were all victims, those who were murdered, those who committed murder, and those of us who survived. We were all victims of the Mastermind. You shouldn’t blame yourself for Sayaka’s death, Maizono-san. You did the best job as her Father that you could, and she knew that up until her dying breath.”
Nodding, Moshin wiped the tears from his eyes and admitted “I just…I wish I could have said goodbye…told her how sorry I am that I couldn’t protect her from that hell…”
Makoto smiled at him and offered his hand, replying “I think I can make that happen.”
“Huh?”
XXX
“What is this place…it feels so…serene…and peaceful…” Moshin asked as the door shut behind them automatically.
Makoto smiled as he explained “This is a secret burial ground for all the students and faculty that lost their lives during the Tragedy. We created it after we rebuilt Hope’s Peak Academy. It’s no replacement for a proper funeral…but we did our best to honor their memory.”
“Wait…so then…is she…”
Makoto nodded, urging “Follow me; I’ll show you to her gravestone so you can say something to her.”
Nodding, Moshin hurried to follow Makoto through the pastures until they finally made it to a row of gravestones, Makoto stopping next to one. Seeing Makoto nod, Moshin shakily made his way over to it, falling to his knees as his hands gently grasped the curves of the one that read “SAYAKA MAIZONO JULY 7 1997 - APRIL 16 2016.”
Makoto turned around, trying to give Moshin some privacy as he wept “Sayaka…my baby Sayaka…I’m…I’m sorry…I wasn’t there enough for you…and I couldn’t protect you. Can you ever forgive your Father…for not protecting you?”
“…Don’t blame yourself, Dad…I’m in a better place now…”
Sa…Sayaka?! Moshin turned his head to look behind him, but upon seeing only green pastures, shrugged Maybe my emotions are making me hallucinate… Wiping his eyes, Moshin asked “Headmaster Naegi…would you mind if I said a few words to Leon, too?”
Turning around, Makoto smiled and nodded “Of course; he’s two tombstones to the right. Let me know when you’re ready to go.”
Nodding, Moshin stood up and walked the short distance to Leon’s tombstone, reading “LEON KUWATA JANUARY 3 1997 – APRIL 16 2016”, keeping a neutral expression as he spoke his mind.
“Kuwata-kun…Headmaster Naegi told me about the circumstances of your and Sayaka’s deaths. I…was a bit harsh on you and overprotective of Sayaka when she brought you home for Christmas back in 2014. I had my doubts about you…but Sayaka seemed fond of you, and you seemed to respect her, even if I had my doubts. I’ll be honest, I…I still don’t know if I can forgive you for killing Sayaka, even taking into account that your memories were stolen from you and that you were in an unthinkable situation. But…I’m going to try…because Sayaka would want me to forgive you. And maybe…someday…I’ll be able to forgive you.” Moshin turned and walked back to Makoto, telling him “Headmaster, I’m ready.”
Makoto smiled, telling him “I’m glad you were able to get the closure you needed, and by all means, take all the time you need to forgive Leon. In a way, you’re fortunate; you get to have the luxury of healing from the feeling of betrayal at your own pace. I…didn’t have that luxury back then…I had to move forward from the sting of Sayaka’s betrayal seconds after I felt it. Our lives were on the line; if we guessed wrong, then everyone except her killer would have been killed by the Mastermind.”
“Headmaster Naegi…” Moshin breathed, in awe of the strength that the young man in front of him possessed.
Smiling at him reassuringly, Makoto continued “Well, enough about that. Come on, let me show you another way we honored Sayaka’s memory.”
“A…nother way?”
Curious, the surviving Maizono followed Makoto out of the burial ground, wondering what exactly he meant.
XXX
“Sayaka Maizono Music Hall?”
Makoto nodded, opening the door as he explained “Yeah, we renamed a number of the facilities after the victims of the Tragedy to honor their memories. Leon got a baseball field named after him, and Sayaka got the Music Hall. Care to take a look inside?”
Nodding, Moshin walked in, hearing a faint melody as he followed Makoto, staring as they saw a group of young boys and girls finish a soothing melody. Moshin flashed back for a split second, seeing Sayaka and her idol group on stage before shaking the memory from his head.
“Alright, great job guys! Now, let’s…Oh, Headmaster Naegi!”
Makoto chuckled at the blushing music teacher and assured her “It’s okay, don’t mind us. I was just showing Maizono-san here the…”
“Wait, MAIZONO-SAN?!”
“ARE YOU RELATED TO MAIZONO SAYAKA-CHAN?!”
Gulping nervously, Moshin stuttered “…Well, yes, I was her Father, but…”
“EEEK! SAYAKA’S DAD HAS COME TO GRACE US WITH HIS PRESENCE!”
“WE’RE ALL HUGE SAYAKERS!”
“CAN YOU TELL STORIES ABOUT SAYAKA?!”
“CAN YOU AUTOGRAPH MY SAYAKA ALBUM!”
“EEEK!”
“Boys, Girls, settle down, you’re scaring him!”
As the teacher tried to get her class under control, Moshin sent Makoto a glance that screamed “Help me!” Makoto chuckled, shaking his head before intervening.
“Alright, that’s enough everybody. I know you’re all excited to meet Sayaka’s family, but he needs some space!”
“AWW…” the class groaned before reluctantly backing away and letting him breathe a sigh of relief before one of the girls asked him another question.
“Can you sing like Sayaka can?”
Putting his hands up, Moshin denied “Uh no…I can’t sing; that was a gift she developed on her own…”
Not to be deterred, another one of the girls asked “Do you know anything about concerts though? You must have gotten VIP passes to all her concerts, so you must know about how to organize them!”
Sweating, Moshin admitted “W…well…I did get a first-hand view of Sayaka’s concerts backstage, but…”
“Can you organize our choir’s concerts?”
“We’d love to have you!”
“Our teacher always forgets something!”
“I…I do not!”
Makoto sweatdropped, then chuckled and agreed “To be honest, that’s not a bad idea, Maizono-san. We could use someone who could organize school events and handle the paperwork. We’d have to subject you to an interview process, but I think it’d be largely a formality. Besides, this could be the perfect way for you to get back on your feet with a stable home and income.”
“He…he’s homeless?!” The girls gasped, making Makoto curse himself for not keeping that last part silent.
One of the girls offered “My parents are real estate agents! They can help you find an apartment for cheap!”
Another girl pouted “No fair! I wanted to help Sayaka’s Dad find a home! Maizono-san, I know of a great house for sale; I can give you the agent’s business card if you’re interested…”
“No way, let me help you find a home!”
“NO ME!”
“NO ME!”
“NO ME!”
“Girls, girls, settle down!”
Makoto and Moshin sweatdropped as the teacher tried to calm down her class, Makoto whispering in Moshin’s ear “…Maybe we should leave while we can…we can meet Kyoko back in my office and see about having lunch.”
Nodding, Makoto and Moshin headed out of the Music Hall, hurrying to the Headmaster’s Office before the Sayakers could realize that they were gone.
XXX
“Hi honey!”
Kyoko smiled and stood up from behind the desk, putting her pen down as she walked over, greeting “Makoto, Maizono-san, was your trip productive?”
Moshin nodded “Yes, Vice-Headmistress Naegi. I’ve…come to terms with Sayaka’s death, and although I’m not ready to forgive Leon not just yet…I don’t hate him either…”
Kyoko nodded “That’s good, I’m glad to hear that. Take it from me, holding a grudge over years and years isn’t healthy.” Seeing Moshin nod, Kyoko asked “So, anything else happen while you two were away?”
Makoto grinned, nodding as he explained “As a matter of fact, there is; I’m thinking of hiring Maizono-san here as our extracurricular event organizer. With his experience witnessing all of Sayaka’s concerts, he definitely has the background knowledge to plan out school events and process the paperwork. Plus, it’d be a good way to put him on the path to rebuilding his finances and helping him to find a home.”
Kyoko chuckled “Is that so? I’ll still need to put him through an appropriate vetting process before I can consent to a new hire. Hope’s Peak isn’t a charity, and I need to make sure our staff meet our high standard.”
“Of course, of course…but why don’t we discuss it over lunch?”
Kyoko nodded “That sounds nice…alright, let’s go…”
“Naegi-san?”
“Hm?” Seeing Moshin approach her, her brow furrowed in curiosity as she asked “What is it, Maizono-san?”
Moshin bit his lip in hesitation before asking “Naegi-san…you’re expecting…aren’t you?”
Her hands instinctively flying to her slightly rounded belly, she admitted “…Yes, I’m about four months along. Makoto and I are still waiting for the right time to tell Kiki, so we’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell her.”
Nodding as Kyoko let her hands fall back to her waist, Moshin replied “…I was really out of it the other day, so I didn’t notice it before, but…I remember when my wife was pregnant with Sayaka, so now that I’m more aware, I can recognize the signs.”
Makoto and Kyoko’s eyes widened in surprise as Moshin reached to lay his hand on her belly, closing his eyes in concentration. Kyoko flinched slightly, but resisted the urge to pull away, recognizing that for some reason, this was important to Moshin. Makoto frowned, but stayed silent until Moshin began to speak.
“…My wife and I talked about having more children…when we were expecting Sayaka. But…she died in childbirth, so we could never realize that dream. You’re incredibly lucky, you know…to be able to raise two children together…” Moshin’s eyes hardened as he advised them “Forever treasure the baby in your womb, Naegi-san. And I’d recommend breaking the news to Kiki sooner rather than later. I can’t speak from experience, but I’d imagine she’d need some time to adapt to the news of being a big sister.”
Surprised by his serious advice, Makoto and Kyoko nodded before Moshin let his hand fall back at his side.
“…Alright, what do you say we get some food at the Dining Hall?” Makoto suggested “We can discuss your potential employment here at Hope’s Peak Academy, and we can help you discuss how to find an inexpensive apartment nearby.”
Kyoko nodded “Indeed, and while we’re working out the details, I’m sure Kiki wouldn’t mind having a housemate a little while longer. So, shall we go, Maizono-san?”
“H…Hai…” Moshin stuttered, hurrying to catch up with the administrators as he allowed a small, peaceful smile.
Sayaka…I still feel guilty for not being able to protect you as your Father…but…I think I can finally move on. You’ve made good friends, Sayaka; they’re doing so much more for me than I have any right to ask…and it’s all thanks to their daughter. Sayaka, my little girl…I hope you and Leon are happy, wherever you are…