Attending Hope's Peak Academy did not go as Hajime Hinata has ever thought it would be like. Most of its craziness is the fault of one particular Kuzuryuu. During class Natsumi can be quite a delinquent and Hajime just happens to care enough about her to have study sessions with her. Outside of class she's still a stubborn, emotional mess of a human being.

But hey, so was he. It was blatantly obvious how lonely he was before Nanami and Natsumi walked into his life, quite literally for the former and quite rudely for the latter. Now his days were less lonely with Nanami introducing him to her classmates and always telling him how she's having fun with him. The Ultimate Gamer is really the greatest friend Hajime could ask for but she doesn't relate to the mental frustrations that he struggles with.

Nastumi on the other hand completely understands him. They both admired Hope's Peak and its Ultimates and also need some emotional support. They just understand and get each other and now that they've become friends they've actually have been helping each other. Hinata's approach being talking with her and encouraging her to be more open with her feelings and Natsumi's approach being directly telling him that he's not a worthless.

Subtly was never really Natsumi's choice in conversations. Like right now when the wraps on her arms are soggy with blood, her face as fierce and anger as ever. "Fuck you Apollo."

Yes, Hajime befriended a yakuza and decided to be her partner for his mission despite the fact he has completely average skills in weapons and stealth. He couldn't just leave her alone knowing she'll risk her life to fight Nero. He's with Natsumi to the end, even when she's insulting the man in charge of a gang and the academy's human experimentations.

Apollo, the man who threatened him from the very beginning, laughed. Natsumi mentioned to him that he had a European accent and just as she predicted, Apollo was some European who wanted more money. He was a blond bloke with a scar on his face that slashed from his right cheekbone through the right corner of his lips.

"You're as charming as ever but that's what to expect from the Kuzuryuu Clan." He walked right up to them, grinning, "Make them kneel." His goons pushed Hajime to the ground, kicking his shins and did the same to Natsumi so they're on their knees. "Now let's see what toys you've brought to us."

Their utility belts were snapped off and their bullet proof vests were tossed to side. The man made a big show of inspecting their smoke bombs and the tranquilizer darts, acting impressed and intrigued. Overall Hajime would love to see Natsumi punch that smug look off his face.

"Very nice," he praised, "I'm assuming you have an Ultimate on your side. That's quite nice. You better use the best of them while you still can. Soon their skills will pale in comparison to the Kamukura's."

Gesturing to the window, Hajime felt sick looking down at the pods. He could have easily made the choice to join the project those months ago and become the Ultimate Hope. At that time he was desperate to fill the emptiness inside him as well as take the student fees off his family.

"For fuck's sake, that's stupid," Natsumi's crud words clashed with Apollo's upper class smugness. "I've seen the flies. You're rushing production so you must be behind schedule."

"Yeah, your scientists may be smart but you don't have the Ultimate Neurologist helping you," Hajime added, "The phase one files say that it'll take two months while phase two has the subjects in their pods for at least four more months. You've put them in the pods a month early."

The gangster holding them down added more pressure in their grip and strained Hajime's bleeding arm against his back. Natsumi was enduring the pain better as she continues to mock Apollo.

"Let me guess, Nero demands to have the Kamukura Project finished before the school year ends or whatever," she rolled her eyes like this was a causal conversation and then grinned, "I bet that Nero's really mad since the explosion."

The man's elegant and arrogant façade broke when he grabbed Natsumi's hair, yanking her head up. "Shut your mouth, lil' girl! After I'm done with you I'm going after that lucky bastard!"

"Getting aggressive, aren't you?" Natsumi continued, "You must be so embarrassed that someone just up and napped your bombs right under your nose."

It must have been just seconds but Hajime instantly knew what Apollo was going to do when he let go of Natsumi's head. Right when the man raised his hand, just like Sato those months ago, Hajime yelled, "Don't touch her!"

His hand was so close to slapping Natsumi but he refrained and fixed himself, straightening up and adjusting his suit. "So you do have a backbone." Apollo walked back to his desk where their weapons were placed. "Hajime Hinata, you're not special at all. Do you really think you're the first civilian to get caught up in this type of world? I'm only surprised that you're alive this long," he picked up a pocket knife, Natsumi's signature weapon, "But of course you have your Miss Natsumi protecting you."

The red flags of Apollo attacking rose up again. He threw the knife and it stabbed the juncture where Hajime's neck met his right shoulder.

He screamed, barely hearing Natsumi's yell, "Hajime!" The gangsters restrained them once more, himself from his cries of pain and Natsumi for her struggles to attack Apollo. "You sick bastard, only scum like you would do this."

"Don't act like you're the innocent one here, Kuzuryuu," Apollo walked back to them, quickly pulling out the knife and pointed it to Natsumi, blood splatting her face. "The Kuzuryuu Clan has also done unspeakable actions like murder and drug trafficking but what I cannot believe is that your brother wants to cut ties to anything like this!" Again he pointed to the observation windows, "I suppose it's understandable, children like you can't stomach the knowledge of treating humans like objects but just look at the bigger picture here.

"In the long run, we're all going to die. What are we as humans going to do until the reaper comes? Anything we fucking want to do. The real elites of the world are those who have power and knowledge to achieve everything without consequences. Morals and law make people limit themselves from their truest potentials, making us fear going beyond the rules of science and of life. This world makes us fear any man or anything that does something considered unhuman."

Apollo grabbed Hajime by the chin, "Oh but what fools they are. It took time for cavemen to understand the concept of survival and it will take time again to make the modern day world to understand that doing the unimaginable may one day save the world," Apollo laughed, "or destroy the world. Like I said, we're all going to die but before that I am doing whatever I want instead of playing out a miserable, average life just like him. People like him are worthless." Hajime tried to even out his breathing as the stab wound burned and Apollo traced the knife's point lightly across his face, "Did you bring him here as a human shield or a scapegoat perhaps?"

"What are you, a philosophy major?" Natumi muttered.

Hajime heard Natsumi scream his name again when Apollo did a quick slash at his right cheek. Apollo pressed his thumb at the new wound, making the blood leak on his hand. It stung and looking at Apollo's malice smile made Hajime's situation worse. He dart his eyes to Natsumi who was still struggling, his blood still splattered on her face.

"No, you got that wrong," Hajime glared at Apollo, "Everything about life and its limits does not make life horrible. It just makes you a whiny little bitch." This time it was Natsumi's turn to yell as Apollo slapped Hajime's bleeding cheek. "That only proves my point."

"That is it," Apollo decided and pulled the pistol out of its holster and aimed it at Hajime. "I thought a slow torture would be fun but no, I will not let anyone make a mockery of me. I'll give you this Kuzuryuu, should he die by my gun," he rattled his pistol for effect then twirled the pocket knife in his other hand, "or your knife?"

"Apollo, this is between me and you," for once Natsumi stopped struggling but Hajime knows she's scared, "Leave him alone and I'll give you a quick death."

"Natsumi," Hajime took a breath and gave his friend a smile, "You can get out of this, I'm sure of it. I want you to know that I mean everything I ever said to you."

"Don't you fucking dare talk like that you piece of shit!"

"And this is the response I get for trying to have an emotional conversation with you."

"What did you fucking expect? Me saying how much I care about you?"

"I don't know, maybe!"

They didn't notice the gangsters holding them down were tilting their heads to each other, like they were either confused or amused, nor did the teenagers hear Apollo grumble, "So this is how kids are like nowadays." Suddenly the alarm system went off again, stopping the teenagers' bickering. Apollo pocketed Natsumi's knife and answered the beeping coms in his left ear, "What is it now?" Then he ended the call and shot Natsumi's right thigh, "You just love to stall, don't you. Your backup's arrived."

Natsumi tried to muffle her cries of pain by biting her lip while her head jerked wildly. Her eyes though were conveying her fear and confusion leading Hajime to guess one thing: her brother might be the one running into a gang corrupted science building to save them.

The two of them were bleeding, held down, at gunpoint from the right hand man of Nero, with dwindling options of getting out alive. Hopefully their rescuer makes it to them in time but both of them felt despair.

Then Hajime noticed something flashing behind Apollo. Their weapons were left on the fancy oak desk while their bulletproof vests were tossed aside at the foot of the desk. The collar of one of the vests had a faint red light flashing, its pattern increasing its pace.

"Natsumi," Hajime now has Apollo's attention and his gun pointing right at him as he said, "Jorge's prank."

Realization and alertness was immediately on her face as she yelled, "Get down!"

Another thing to add to the list of dangerous scenarios that Natsumi Kuzuryuu has gotten Hajime in was exploding vests. All that Hajime registered was a loud, fiery hot, explosion in the room and his ears ringing. He and Natsumi fortunately were able to hit the ground in time but gangsters holding them down got blasted to the wall and assumingly got knocked out. The observation window shattered and the alarm system changed into an emergency evacuation alarm. He could barely hear the scientists in the main lab yelling at each other.

Apollo's office may have been blown up with all the wooden furniture on fire but the blast radius was pretty small, nothing compared to Komaeda's event. The explosion was just enough to knock Apollo down, the back of his tailored suit charred and ashy.

"This is considered a prank?" He coughed out, slowly getting up. They both were in bad conditions with his knife wound and her bullet wound still bleeding.

It might have been his ringing ears or blood lost that made Hajime failed to react quickly when Apollo pushed himself up from the floor and lunged at him. Apollo tackled him to the ground then right hooked his face and pulled out Natsumi's knife. Hajime felt his left cheek swell and sting as he saw Apollo holding the knife over his head and ready to stab him.

Then a bullet went off. Natusmi shot Apollo in the back. Hajime saw the look of surprise over Apollo's face and so he took that moment to push the man off him. Natsumi limped over to Apollo and shot another bullet in his heart then tossed the gun to the growing fire.

"Are you alright, Hajime?"

"I'm good but we're both losing a lot of blood," he pocketed Natsumi's fallen knife then tossed an arm around her, letting her support her weight onto him, "I don't think we have enough energy to get out."

The door was then kicked open. Instead of a Kuzuryuu Clan member or more of Nero's gang there was a teacher smiling at them. The Ultimate Housekeeper, Miss Chisa Yukizome.

"Did someone order room service?" Natsumi joked but she was clearly baffled at the housekeeper's entrance.

Miss Chisa took Natsumi's other side and helped Hajime walk Natsumi out of the damaged office, "Kuzuryuu, you're a clever girl but you're not that clever at hiding information from me. Now come on, I called Sakakura and the rest of campus security, they'll be arriving soon but I want you two out of this mess." The students were still staring at her, still surprised and confused and even more so when they passed by unconscious gangsters on the way out.

Natsumi admitted, "Miss Chisa, I have so much respect for you."

"Thank you dear. I may not officially be your teacher but I couldn't just let you guys do something dangerous." When they finally got out of the building they saw a black van driving up to the curb and a blond boy with got out and ran towards them. "I also called your brother too."

Kuzuryuu took Miss Chisa's place in supporting Natsumi and he scolded, "I cannot believe you two!" Hajime assumed that he continued his ranting but his head was feeling very light from the blood lost to the point where Miss Chisa had to go on his vacant side to help him walk to the van. Jorge was there too, opening the van door and inside was Kimura, ready with whatever medical treatment that they needed.

Nastumi and Hajime were placed on the cots inside the van with Kimura treating his knife wound and Kuzuryuu tending to his sister. If Miss Chisa said any goodbyes he didn't hear them when she closed the van door and the engine revved up and started leaving the science building.

His head continued to ache and the pounding of his heart was all he could hear, the muffled words of Kimura and Kuzuryuu barely registering to him. Hajime turned his head to face Natsumi and he had to guess that her head was in similar condition. He gave her a weak smile and she just stuck her tongue at him and then a faint smile in return.

So, Hajime thought to himself, they made it out alive. He hurts all over but he and Natusmi are alive. He kept repeating that thought until his mind drifted off and everything went black.

When he regained conscious Hajime assumed it must be the very next day since his body still aches and there's sunlight hitting his eyes. His throat felt rough and dry when he groaned his pain, both from his injuries and from the sunlight.

"Hey, can you hear me?" Someone leaned over him, fortunately blocking the sunlight, "You seem really out of it but to be honest, I can't blame you since Natsumi got you into this."

Hajime rubbed his eyes, avoided the swelling from his left cheek and the cut on his right. "Kuzuryuu, what's going on?"

"Here," the Ultimate Yakuza and Natsumi's older brother placed an ice bag on his bruised cheek, "You're at our house. Dad wants a full report but most importantly he wants to see Natsumi patched up and to some extent that means you too." They were in a guest room of the yakuza manor, Hajime guessed from glancing around the spacious room.

"Is Natsumi awake?" Hajime pressed the ice bag more against his warm cheek when he saw Kuzuryuu' eyes widen up when he said his sister's first name.

Kuzuryuu sat up straighter in his chair, folding his arms and given the fact that he's looming over Hajime, his intimidation factor is really high. "Yeah she's awake, healing, and annoyed that you're taking such a long time to wake up."

Hajime let out a small laugh, "That does sound like her."

"So Hinata, you've known my sister for a couple months, help her with her homework, become her accomplice, and accompanied her to a dangerous mission even though the closest to a live firearms training you've ever had is your summer job at the paintball gunfight arena." He stared coldly at Hajime, practically turning the guest room into an interrogation room.

Pushing up into a sitting position, Hajime stared directly at Kuzuryuu and stated, "Natsumi's my friend. I care about her and yes I've only known her for a few months but we just understand each other especially when it comes to how we value ourselves and other people. She's been a great friend so I just want to be by her side whenever she's needs help."

Kuzuryuu was silent for a moment, analyzing everything that Hajime said. "You care about Natsumi, do you like her?"

"She's my friend and I care about her," Hajime shrugged.

He narrowed his eyes, making it hard for Hajime to keep a calm face and not freak out. "So you guess?"

"Sure," Hajime said barely managed to keep his voice from squeaking into a questioning tone.

Kuzuryuu let out an exaggerated sigh and mumbled, "I cannot believe you two." He abruptly stood up and said, "Alright Hinata, I know you're not a threat. Kimura will be here to check up on you so you better stay in bed," right before he walked out of the room Kuzuryuu surprised Hajime with a smile, strikingly similar to Natsumi's, "Thanks for being there for Natsumi."

Hajime had a feeling that Kuzuryuu was going easy on him, whether that was reassuring or not, he didn't want to know. He lay back down on the comfy and probably expensive bed, closed his eyes and tried to doze off. The key word being try.

So many things happened in the span of a few hours that Hajime almost didn't believe that he actually did all those things. The pain from the stab wound being a constant reminder along with the memory of Natsumi getting hurt. Then the image of her bleeding and holding the gun flashed in his mind.

There's also the fact that Natsumi killed a man to save him. Hajime knew that she's the daughter of a yakuza and yes that fact did scare him but he trusts her. He may have befriended the side of her that's slowly opening up her vulnerabilities to feel better but he can never relate to the yakuza part of her life. The best that he can do is just be there for her and keep her safe or at least ease her mind.

He was finally able to doze off and rest when something kept tapping his forehead. This time it was the other Kuzuryuu sibling that was leaning over him.

"It's about time you woke up," Natsumi drummed her fingers over his forehead one last time and leaned back into her chair. "And before you ask, I'm okay."

Hajime shuffled his body up to sit against the headboard of the bed, "You limped your way here."

Her thigh was bandaged and Natsumi didn't deny him, "I was almost here when Kimura found me and gave me medicine. Now take yours." She promptly shoved a pill bottle into his hands. Her face a bit red as Hajime let out a small chuckle, imaging Kimura finding Natsumi limping down the hall. Kimura's medicine worked instantly, his headache was gone, it felt like his cheek stopped swelling, and the stab wound felt like it was never there although his shirt did leak a few specks of blood. "Hajime, are you okay? Like with everything I put you through?"

This was the Natsumi he knew, the one who was concern and learning how to work through with her emotions. He gave her a reassuring smile, "I'm not a fan of murder but considering the situation I can understand why you did it. Natsumi, I may not ever understand all this yakuza business but that doesn't mean I hate you because of it."

The tension in her shoulders was subtle but now she relaxed and still at lost with words. "Hajime, thanks for being at my side."

"That's was friends do."

"Don't be nonchalant Hajime, I'm trying to have an emotional conversation with you," she smiled jokingly.

"I know and I am so proud of you right now."

He barely managed to keep his smile from wincing when she punched his arm. "I cannot tell if you're just teasing or being serious."

"Oh right," Hajime remembered and reached into his pocket, bringing up Natsumi's knife and handed it to the owner, "I forgot I had this."

Natsumi glared at the blood that had dried up on the blade and pocketed, "Thanks, maybe I'll get you your own knife."

"Um, I don't think that'll be necessary." Hajime has a feeling that she'll get him a knife anyway, at least to know that he has some form of protection. "But I'll accept it nonetheless."

"You better," was her empty threat.

Minutes later Kuzuryuu barged in with a tray of food and a frown, "I should have known you crawled your way here, Natus. I am not your fucking room service. Both of you, eat, especially the vegetables!"

Kuzuryuu was a very demanding and loud older brother but Hajime could see that he cares. It was fun to see the siblings banter as Natsumi threw small bits of food in the air trying to catch them in her mouth while her brother scolded. Sure their bond seems to be comprised of teasing and yelling but Hajime can see that they truly care about each other. Once all the food has been eaten, Kuzuryuu got to hear their summary of the events of last night.

"Exploding vests?" At Hajime's nod Kuzuryuu cursed, "God damn, Jorge told me he gave you the flash bang ones."

Natsumi shook her head disapprovingly, "I cannot believe that man is married and is a father."

"That's it, I'm telling his husband about this," Kuzuryuu declared.

Hajime looked between the siblings' annoyed faces, "Aright can you explain how things like exploding vests are a thing?"

"Jorge dapples in weapon proto-types and his latest success is in vests where they activate its function from a lack of heat signature for a certain time interval." Kuzuryuu explained, "And the word success is just being generous."

Natsumi patted Hajime's back, quickly seeing the beginning of his distress, "Relax Hajime, you're alive. Freaking you out is probably a part of his prank, probably."

"You are not very reassuring."

"Is that supposed to be new information?" Her joking smile faded as she asked, "Okay so now that you know everything, Fuyu, what's the damage report?"

"As you recall, it was Miss Chisa that saved your asses last night. The reason why she of all people was there is because from the very start she and her friends has been investigating Hope's Peak Academy."

"Hmm, she does have the perfect background and alibi to go into deep cover," Natsumi thought aloud.

"Don't interrupt," Kuzuryuu said. "Anyway she had the campus security raid the science labs and saw all the illegal experiments taking place but at that time all the data and files has already been deleted or transferred away."

"Except we have copies of the Kamukura Project," Hajime added.

"What did I fucking say? Don't interrupt! So this morning I made a deal with Miss Chisa and gave her copies of the files we have in exchange that the whoever she's with doesn't interfere with the Clan but will give us any more leads on Nero's gang. During the time you two snoozed, Miss Chisa did what she thought was best, she exposed the Steering Committee of their experimentation and financial frauds." Kuzuryuu took a deep breath, "The damage report is that hundreds of adults are unemployed and thousands of students are no longer in an educational system because Hope's Peak Academy is officially shut down in about," he checked his watch, "six hours give or take."

There was silence between the three of them and then Natsumi decided to be loud.

"Fuyuhiko, why didn't you announce that first?" She yelled.

"Well excuse me for going in chronological order!"

The siblings continued yelling at each other while Hajime dazed out. Hope's Peak Academy was the most prestigious school in the world and from the moment Hajime learned about it he wanted to attend the school. It was pure admiration that motivated Hajime to get into Hope's Peak but after all his efforts he never had enough time or practice to be scouted as an Ultimate. Attending the Reserve Course seemed like the next best thing even with the payment fees. Now everything he did in his life for getting into Hope's Peak is wasted because the academy is getting closed for good.

The end of Hope's Peak Academy happened because of its own corruption, Hajime reminded himself. He looked at Natsumi, the girl that changed his life from being a part of the corruption or from losing himself in his self-pity and hatred.

"The Academy might be done but that doesn't mean Nero is done," Hajime pointed out, getting the siblings to stop their bickering.

Kuzuryuu nodded, "You're right, I doubt that Apollo's death would throw off Nero. His plan for human experimentation has gone to shit with Miss Chisa getting the scientists arrested and the test subjects in proper medical condition."

"That's good to hear," said Natsumi, "How the media taking all of this?"

"They're having the time of their lives broadcasting the news. Anyway I better tell Dad about your report. Last night could have been worse but it seems like you two made a good team," Kuzuryuu complimented and left.

His description about the media's excitement was as accurate as Hajime would have thought, there was no way the school can cover this up. There have been global news reports of the Steering Committee's scandal for weeks as he and Natsumi recovered their injuries and returned to campus. New reporters and journalists were constantly trying to get more information on the school and as for the students, they had similar views.

There was a school wide announcement to the students that the academy will be closed for good and that everyone on campus must clear out their personal items by the end of the week. Hajime and Natsumi saw firsthand how outraged the Reserve students were at the news of their classmates being test subjects and that their fees were the ones used to finance the project. The Reserve Course wanted answers and their money back but they were mostly happy that at least the Steering Committee was punished with life sentences.

As for the Main Course, they were shocked with the revelation, or so he heard from Nanami. When he asked she texted him about the rumors of some Ultimates anonymously giving the news stations more in depth information about the illegal decisions the Committee has made. Most of her concerns were about her classmates and how she's been telling them that the one thing that the academy did right was having them meet each other.

Reading Nanami's hopeful and positive text messages made Hajime feel better about stopping the Steering Committee. He recalled to all the moments of Nanami telling him that he didn't need a talent, that spending time with him and the rest of their friends is what makes life worth living. Smiling, he sent her a message thanking her for being his friend and that he finished up packing and leaving the campus soon.

When he locked his room for the last time, his phone beeped with two new messages, one from Nanami and another from Natsumi. The gamer's message was something that Hajime decided to talk with Natsumi later and the yakuza's message was telling him that Jorge going to pick up Hajime's stuff and to meet up with her at the water fountain. When Hajime walked out of the dormitory, Jorge collected all of Hajime's bags and boxes and tossed them into his car. He patted Hajime's back, apologized about the exploding vests, and said Natsumi's waiting for him.

On his way to the fountain, Hajime passed by other students that have also finished packing. All week it has been crowded and hectic with all the students freaking out about the Kamukura Project and packing up all their belongings to get the hell out of the crazy school. Now nearing the official day the Academy will be closed the campus has gradually becoming deserted.

It was kind of a weird sight. A famous academy that was once filled with loud, hopeful students was now empty. It got a little bit more ridiculous when Hajime found Nastumi walking in circles in the drained water fountain.

"Hey Haji," she greeted, still walking in around the dry water spout, "Your new phone's working right?"

"Yep and I haven't dropped it at all unlike you," he said. As a thank you for helping out Natsumi, Kuzuryuu got them both new phones since their old ones got damaged in the explosion in Apollo's office.

"Fuyu practically threw mine at me when I wasn't looking," she defended and stepped out of the fountain. He laughed at her exaggerated facial expression as they both sat at a bench.

"Are you still going after Nero?"

"I'm a part of the Kuzuryuu Clan, Hajime; of course I want to go after him." Natsumi gave Hajime a curious glance, "What about you? All you wanted to do is make sure I'm safe, that was your only reason to ever get involved with all of this."

"That is true, Natsumi. I didn't want to lose any of my friends. But knowing you, you'd still go into dangerous situations."

"You're not stopping me, Hajime," she reminded. "Wait, you're not thinking about joining the Clan just to keep me safe, are you?"

She had a panicked look that Hajime immediately reassured. "No, I don't think the yakuza life is for me, nor do I think my parents would approve." His smile faltered with a new train of thought, "My parents, the student fees, are we getting our money back?"

Nastumi poked his cheek, "Don't worry about that. Dad's way of thanking you for your assistance is giving you money and a lot of it, ya know," she shrugged, "as long as your parents don't ask too many questions. Besides, I think Miss Chisa is working that money problem and we both know she'll clean up this mess by at least the end of the month."

"I don't know if I should be happy about getting my parent's money back or be disappointed at your pun."

"Hajime, just be both." They both slouched into the bench, after such a busy week they finally had time to relax. "So Apollo's dead, Sato and the rest of the test subjects are in the hospital and doing well, the people involved in the experimentation are arrested, the school's closing, and now you don't have any financial problems anymore."

He nudged his elbow at her side, "You know, it almost sounds like you closed the school down for me."

"What, can't a girl close down a school just because?" Natsumi punched his arm, "Besides we had a quiz the next day."

"Yes, you are a savior for all students." Hajime then noticed that how frequently she's been making jokes and her smile looked a bit strained. "Natsumi, are you sure you're okay? You also admired Hope's Peak and you really did want to be an Ultimate even with a silly title."

The yakuza let her head dip back over the bench, staring at the sky and organizing her thoughts, "I made such a big deal about being an Ultimate and going to this school. At first I thought that being by Fuyuhiko's side would be all that I needed but now that I think about it, I would still think lowly of myself. If I just got what I wanted then I would still be in denial of my problems and treat everyone horribly."

"But now you're different," he reminded, "You talked through your problems and you apologized to Koizumi. Nastumi you really have changed."

"Yeah and I guess that I have you to thank. You know, you look much happier compared to the day I arrived here." She smirked, "I bet that I'm a good influence on you."

He simply rolled his eyes but didn't feel the need to deny her claim. "By the way, Nanami sent me news about Sonia inviting everyone to her kingdom for an early summer vacation. She's wondering if we want to go with them."

"Wait, Fuyuhiko didn't tell me anything about that," her phone then beeped with an invitation message, "Never mind, we're both invited." Natsumi stretched her arms over her head, "I need a break after being a heroine and I doubt that Nero's ever heard of Sonia's kingdom so we should be in the clear."

"You two are going to bring weapons," he stated. "I am not going to be surprised."

Natsumi got up, tugging at Hajime's arm, "Come on let's leave this place already. We're done here. We don't need this place at all."

She's right, Hajime thought, letting her hook arms with him as they walked back to Jorge's car. He did have admiration for the original and true values of Hope's Peak Academy, the ones about the hopes of the world, but with befriending Natsumi he realized something far more important. His life should not be spent in the despair of toxic thoughts or stuck with a hope of getting everything he ever wanted. The future, his future, all his friends' future, it's something that they must all achieve together and be there for each other when in need. And whatever his future hold, Hajime knows that Natsumi will be right there with him.

Thanks for reading and thanks for the comments! It's been fun writing all of this and I hope you all enjoyed it too.