Epilogue: Hope

One year later

"I hope you know what you're doing, Makoto Naegi." Kyousuke stated, standing unflinching next to the younger boy.

Naegi remained silent, but Kyousuke could tell that the brunet was doing his best to contain the large smile that was threatening to surface on his face. He was far too easy to read. Kyousuke merely sighed before turning to return to headquarters. Once inside he was immediately flanked by Chisa and Sakakura.

"Um…Kyousuke-kun." Chias began shyly, placing her hands behind her back. "Um…About Monaca-chan."

Kyousuke stopped, turned to Chisa, and smiled. "I'm sorry…For making you feel like you had to hide that from me. No, not just you." He turned to look at Sakukura. "The both of you."

Without warning, Chisa grabbed Sakakura's arm and pulled the three of them into an embrace.

"Group hug!"

"I-Is this really necessary?" Sakakura asked, growing more flustered by the second.

"Sakakura…Are you actually embarrassed?" Kyousuke had never seen his friend blush this hard before. He hadn't even thought the boxer was capable of blushing until today.

"N-no! It's just— The twerp and his friends might be—"

"Naegi-kun's still outside!" Chisa sing-singed.

"W-well—"

"It's okay to be embarrassed, Sakakura."

"…Whatever."

Chisa eventually let them go and urged the two men to accompany her at the docks and await her former students' arrival. Kyousuke was a bit hesitant, he was the first to suggest executing the remnants, after all, but he just couldn't say no to Chisa's beaming face. As they walked out, Chisa spoke up again, her voice softer.

"Was it Kimura-san who told you? About us harboring Monaca-chan."

"No. She mentioned overhearing Naegi's sister talk about the Warriors of Hope, and I simply decided to investigate on my own from there."

"I see…"

"Are you upset?"

Chisa shook her head. "Kimura-san was only looking out for you. If anything, I'm more upset with myself for feeling the need to hide so much from you."

"Chisa, I already told you. It's fine. What matters now is that you're…No, we're all happy. And together."

Chisa's bright smiled returned as she sidled next to Kyousuke and wrapped her arm around his. As they neared the docks, Kyousuke made a mental note to offer a proper apology to Naegi and his friends when he had the time. For now, he was just glad to be with the people closest to him.

"So, what are you guys gonna do when we get back to the mainland?" Souda asked, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible as he crossed his arms behind his head.

"I"m going to look for my siblings!" Owari exclaimed excitedly, pumping a fist in the air. Hanamura nodded. "Me too. My siblings and I…We didn't leave on good terms…At the very least, I wasn't to be able to properly apologize to them."

Nidai let out a loud guffaw as he pat Hanamura on the back. "That sounds great! I'm going to look for the team members that I coached and apologize to them too!"

Tsumiki came up next to Nidai, smiling more confidently than she had ever done before. "I'll be going with Nidai-kun. The students he coached are probably malnourished, so I'll be helping him get their health back on the right track."

Kuzuryuu stepped forward confidently. "Well I'lll be busy rebuilding the Kuzuryuu clan!"

"And I will continue to stay by Fuyuhiko's side."

"But Pek—"

"That is what I want."

Kuzuryuu smirked. "Oh…Well if that's the case, then don't let me stop you."

Peko smiled back. "I don't intend to."

Sonia clasped her hands together and spoke in a voice that immediately drew everyone's attention. "I will set out to Novoselic. Even if my people now scorn me…Still, I'd like to do what I can to rebuild the country I destroyed. It may be selfish of me, but it's the only way I can think to honor my family's name…and to atone for what I had done."

"And I shall accompany her." Tanaka added, moving to stand next to the princess. "I have hear the the area round Sonia's country suffered the most wild life devastation, so I will be working to breed and rehabilitate any surviving beasts that still roam."

Everyone turned to Souda, expecting him to make some sort of protest. "…What are you all staring at me for?"

Hajime blinked. "You're not…going with them?"

Souda blanched. "What?! No! Sonia-san and Tanaka have their own stuff to do, and so do I! Naegi and Yukizome-sensei pulled some strings, so I'll be working with the Future Foundation."

….

"Why are you all looking at me with such shocked expressions?!"

"Souda-kun"; Hajime began, "You've really grown."

"Are you my mom?!"

"No, he's right, Souda-onii! For the first time, you don't seem as worthless as a cockroach!"

"Oh, thank— What's that supposed to mean?!"

Hajime smiled. "It's great that you all have plans for the future already. As for me…I'm still not sure what I want to do."

Souda turned to his friend and grinned. "Well, that's fine too, ain't it? Oh, hey! You could help me out at my workshop, what do you say?"

"Ugh, why would he want to help you out at your smelly old workshop when he can go traveling with me and Koizumi-onee?"

"Traveling?" Hajime asked, ignoring Souda's loud, offended responses in the background.

Koizumi nodded. "Yes. I..I want to take pictures again. To see more of the world that my mother…and my father loved so much."

"Ibuki's going with them too! Ibuki's already made an awesome mix tape and everything! Oh, and Shinji-chan's coming too!"

Shinji just shrugged and flashed a small smile as the musician clung to his arm affectionately. Hajime paled upon realizing what Ibuki meant by "mix tapes."

"This mix tape of yours…Would it happen to be songs by —"

"The one and only!"

"I'll pass."

"Huh?!"

Hajime turned to Komaeda, who stood off to the side by himself.

"What about you, Komaeda? What are your plans?"

A look of surprise crossed over Komaeda's face before he responded. "Um…Well, I'm not quite sure either. I"m…not really sure what's out there for me. I don't have a family, and my talent isn't something I can really utilize."

Before Hajime could formulate a reply, Souda spoke up.

"Then why don't you be my assistant?"

"Huh?"

"You and Hinata. You guys don't have to figure out what your purposes in life are right away. So how about you help a guy out until then?"

"Is this what extortion looks like?" Tsumiki asked, peeking timidly from behind Nidai.

"What?! No! Besides, it's not like we're just doing grunt work for the Future Foundation. We can do other fun stuff, like building a Nanami-bot!"

Hajime blinked. Did he just say—

"Yep, you heard me! I'm building your AI girlfriend a body, because even if it's kind of weird, you're still my soul friend!"

"Um…Thanks?"

An unfamiliar sound rang through everyone's ears as all eyes turned to Komaeda. He was laughing. But it wasn't that malicious laugh that echoed through those nightmarish class trials. It was a genuine, innocent laugh. Hajime smiled.

"Alright then, I'll help. But only if you build a body for Alter Ego, too."

"Psssh, I already have the blueprints for that ready! Fujisaki-senpai was my friend, so of course I'd want to build a body for his life's work!"

"Um, I'd like to join as well, if you'll have me."

"'Course I do! Why else would I ask?"

Komaeda smiled and finally walked towards the group, returning all of their welcoming smiles.

The boat arrived at the docks without any fanfare. The 77th class were still wanted criminals, after all. There were only a few people there to greet them, but the former remnants were elated to see all of their familiar faces.

But the one that instantly caught their attention was the class's former homeroom teacher running full speed in their direction. Yukizome rushed up and hugged everything single one of her former students as she eagerly asked them all what they had been up to and what there plans were. Hajime watched them all fondly, feeling a bit awkward and out of place, if he as being honest. But after Yukizome had made sure to hug every single one of her old students, she wasted no time rushing over to Hajime and giving him a well deserved hug.

"Hinata-kun! It's so good to see you again!"

Hajime was so surprised by the former teacher's actions that he found himself at a loss for words.

"Um…Uh…"

Yukizome released him and gave him a bright smile. "Oh, that's right. We've never formally met, have we? My name is Chisa Yukizome. It's nice to meet you."

"Um…L-likewise."

Yukizome smiled back at him and squeezed his hand one last time before she to address her former students once more, all eager to catch up with their favorite teacher. There's a pat on his shoulder, and Hajime doesn't even have to turn around to know who's behind him.

"It's been a while, Naegi."

Hajime does a double take when he finally turns around. Naegi looks a little older now, especially with that new haircut…But he hasn't grown at all. Hajime wisely decides to keep that to himself.

Naegi smiles and nods excitedly. "i'm glad to finally see you all here! So, what are your plans now?"

Hajime rubs the back of his head. "Um…Well, Souda offered to let me be his assistant until I figure out what to do."

Naegi's smile somehow becomes bigger. "The kids will be delighted to hear that! They've really missed you."

Hajime looked behind him to find the rest of Naegi's frien— his friends, coming into view. Including the Warriors of Hope running full speed ahead.

Hajime stifled a laugh, wondering how it was possible for him to be so happy. He wasn't quite sure what his future had in store for him, but he was looking forward to seeing it unfold.

He would be forever thankful that Naegi and his friends gave him and his own friends this second chance.

He would forever be thankful to Chiaki for placing her hope in him.

A young child with dark hair, bright eyes, and a hair antennae that sits comfortably at the top of his head looks up from his book.

"Chiaki-neechan, can you read this for me?"

A girl with light pink hair smiles as she sets her game console down.

"Of course. Oh, you're reading the History of Hope's Peak Academy again?"

The boy smiles and nods. "Yes! I mean…It's sad, what happened to the people there. But it had a happy ending in the end!"

Chiaki nods. "Yes, it did. And those people, your ancestors, they worked really hard to make this world as peaceful as it is today."

The boy's smile becomes even bigger.

"Chiaki-neechan, if it's ok, can you tell me more stories about them?"

Chiaki smiles back as warm, fond memories flood back in her mind.

"Of course, Shuichi."

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21

It's finally done! There were some other things I wanted to do, like giving more screen time to other DR3 characters (like Bandai and Gozo), but I never found a good point in the story to integrate them in. To everyone that's been following this story, thank you so much for your patience! There were a lot of times when I considered dropping this story, but many of the reviews I've received always made me want to go back to finishing this. But with that said...I don't think I'll be doing another multi chap fic anytime soon...Keeping up with this was much more difficult than I expected, but once again, thank you for putting up with my horrendous update schedule and sticking with this story to the end!