Chapter 2
Flightless Bird, American Mouth

So, I was in his luck cycle. He still kept trying to shoo me away from him, and sometimes had little outbursts about his hope overcoming all of the despair around us. But, this was him. Only he can change himself, and I wouldn't really want him to, anyways. I wanted him to be himself.

"Hajime, can we go to the library today?" He called out behind me as I was getting his pill ready.

"Do you think you can make it there?" I asked, continuing to fill the cup with water. "I can just bring you some books here, if you want me to."

I could hear him shuffling on the bed behind me, and I turned around, handing him the pill. He took it, and stood up with the help of my arm afterwards, setting the cup down. "I really like the library," he stated, having a sad tone in his voice, "I find it very relaxing there in silence."

Sighing, I nodded, heading over to get his oxygen tank. "I need to look at the others before I go. So I'll be back, okay?" He nodded, looking down at his arms placed in his lap. I headed out, visiting everyone's cabin to see if anything new had happened. Mikan was calming down more and more as the days went on, which was good, but still had the delusions of Junko corrupting her mind. We'll figure out a way to remove her brainwashing, I know we can. Nobody else's conditions had changed, but that's alright. We all have hope that they will wake up, I know it.

Going back to Komaeda's cottage, I saw an unsettling scenario.

"K-Komaeda!" I screamed, running over to him, lifting him up off the floor and onto the bed. He was bleeding badly from his head. "Wh-What happened?!" I grabbed a rag, running to the sink and soaking it in cold water, putting it against his gaping wound. He wasn't speaking for a while, just letting me try to stop the bleeding.

"I'm . . . I'm sure I deserved it, just by existing . . ."

"Stop it, Komaeda," I said in a soothing tone, keeping the rag on his gash. "Now, what happened?"

"I fell," he gave a sad smile, placing his hand on the back of mine, holding onto it as long as I held it there. "I'm sorry, I know this must be causing you trouble. Please, Hajime, kill me anytime you want to."

"Komaeda, please . . ."

He looked sadly into my eyes, "You must be disappointed, I am sorry."

I shook my head, continuing to dab his gash with the rag as he held onto my hand. We both stayed silent for a while as I tended to him, himself closing his eyes as he endured the pain.

I removed his hand from the back of mine, setting it on the rag. "I'll get the bandages. Hold it there, okay?" Going over to the cabinet, I got out some peroxide and the bandages, long enough to wrap around his head.

Moving back over to him, he continued to keep his eyes closed while I patched him up, flinching only a couple times. I finished wrapping the bandages around his forehead, it having to reach all around his head.

"Hajime?" he called out, quietly, as I finished wrapping his head.

"Yes, Komaeda?"

He seemed to hesitate at first before speaking, "Do you despise me with all of your being? You must, right? To treat me so well . . . to completely eviscerate me in the end. That's your true hope, isn't it?" He was shakily bringing his hand to his head, I started hearing his erratic laughter subtly begin. Sometimes he gets like this, but that's alright, as I've said. He can overcome it, I know it.

"No, I do not despise you one bit, Nagito," I took his hand away from his head, holding it in mine as I leaned down and placed my lips gently on his bandage. "Lay down now, you need to heal."

Still staring into my eyes, he smiled a seemingly genuine smile. "I must have had a great bad luck for you to be treating me this way, Hajime. Maybe I got a concussion, I don't know . . ." his voice trailed off, if only for a moment, before he spoke up again.

"But the greatest luck of all was meeting you, Hajime.

I think that was my selfish hope I held for myself in my heart was meeting someone like you who would accept some fool like me.

Or maybe just meeting you, in particular.

Hajime . . . I really . . .

was born to meet you."

Komaeda finished speaking with a confident glare in his eyes, if so silently being shown. I looked at him with curiosity, wondering what all was going through his mind. I felt him move my hand to his mouth, placing his lips on the back of it.

"Please, do with me as you please," he repeated, his eyes having a flash running across them. I felt my face become hot. I was frozen still.

Then, it all came to me at once.

. . .

"Izuru Kamukura," A male with light hair greeted me with a deep bow, as I passed by him. What a boring, simple introduction. He came to me bearing a chain around his neck, a glove on his left hand. Then, kneeling in front of me, taking my left hand with his right, he kissed the back of it. "Please, do with me as you please, I will forever obey someone who has such hope to destroy their own despair. May I become your Servant for now."

. . .

How boring. Such a pitiful status.

. . .

The room came back to me. There was a window, outside it was dark. My hand was shaking as it was being held by someone. That someone was Komaeda.

"K-Komaeda . . ." my whole body was shaking with fear at the flashback. I was holding tightly onto his hand, surely hurting him as I was becoming delusional.

"You are hurting my hand, Hajime . . ." he muttered, looking down at my hand severely starting to crush his. I managed to let go, and I ran out of the cottage, too overwhelmed to even look at him. I don't know where I was running to. I wanted to cry out for Chiaki. I wanted to just get off this island. Not having to deal with all of these horrible things.

I found myself on the beach. I don't know how I got here. It doesn't matter. Nothing matters. I am gone for. Everyone is gone for. There is hardly any hope left to savor.

I seemed to be collapsed on the sand now, looking as if I were shipwrecked here, in this exact spot.

Somehow Komaeda was sitting next to me. Somehow I ended up laying my head on his lap. Somehow I fell asleep.

I don't know how he got here. I don't know if he had his oxygen tank with him. I don't know what all he knew.

But, I do know one thing.

That this bond he and I share will be forever. No matter what stands in our way, I don't care what it is. I am not going to let anything keep me away.

. . . We did not end up talking about what happened.

. . .

In the morning, I awoke with his back in my chest, pressed up against me, my arms around him in the hospital bed. The EKG was still going. His cannula was still pumping oxygen to him. But, he was still here. He was still in my arms.

"Komaeda," I whispered, my voice hoarse. I called his name again, only seemingly to lose my voice. Somehow he managed to hear me, though, and turned over in my arms to face me, placing his forehead on mine as we continued to lay here.

"I must apologize, Hajime," he closed his eyes, "I must be feeling selfish again, because it feels very comforting to be around you."

I shook my head against the pillow, "You are not being selfish, Nagito. You are being human."

"But I am merely a stepping stone, a piece of filth."

I lifted my head, kissing his cheek, "Not to me, Nagito." He gave a small smile, giving space between us so I could get up.

"Hungry?" I asked, heading over to the sink to look in the mirror and try to fix my never-ending spiked hair. I could hear Komaeda snicker from behind me, glancing at him in the mirror to see him staring at my non-useful efforts.

"Ah, I suppose so. I would like to eat in the restaurant with you today, if that would be okay. I mean of course it wouldn't be since you'd be with me, but . . ."

I turned around, stepping to place my hand on his head, it caressing down to his cheek, "Shh, it's alright. I'll gladly take you." I went over to the sink again, brushing my teeth and trying to prep my appearance if just a little bit.

"You don't need to impress me, you know," I heard his voice call out behind me. I felt my cheeks flush as I swiftly turned around to hear him give a genuine laugh. "Kidding, kidding!"

Going over to get his oxygen tank set up, I turned off the machines and hooked his cannula to the tank, hooking his arm in mine, and off we went. Slowly, so we can enjoy more time together, and keeping him steady on his feet. The air felt nice, and the ocean scent was whirling around us. It was a beautiful day. I caught myself glancing at him, I didn't know necessarily why I was looking at him. But, when I did, I saw him looking around with a faint smile on his face, almost as if his delusional self could be gone completely from him. We walked in a calm silence to the restaurant, myself helping him sit down while I went to get us some plates. "What would you like, Nagito?" I called over my shoulder, see him looking out the window with his hand under his chin, smiling away at the sea beyond it. "Anything you would like, Hinata-kun."

I sighed, using my intuition to pick something he'd hopefully like. I made my way back over to our table, sitting across from him, setting his plate down. "Oh, wow! Looks almost as good as you do, Hajime!"

"Wh-What even--?! Where did that come from, Komaeda?!" I felt my face heat up, myself covering my face in frustration. He let out another carefree laugh, putting his hands up, "Kidding, just kidding!"

I hesitantly started eating after a couple moments, trying to restrain my embarrassment. "Hey, Hajime," he called out, seeing me trying to concentrate on my food. "In the simulation, did we used to eat together like this?"

I tried thinking back, remembering sometimes coming here with him in my freetime. "Yes, I believe so, why?"

"Well, it's another thing I feel really comfortable doing with you. I mean, I guess that's everything with you since you accept someone like me, but . . ." his voice trailed off, himself starting to look out the window again with a faint smile.

"I'm . . . really glad you're comfortable around me, Komaeda. I am with you, as well."

He turned his head towards me, hand still underneath his chin. "You're . . . comfortable with me?" I could see his eyes become glassy. "Ah, this is a surprise," he raised his hand to his head now, leaning on it, "Nobody's ever said that to me before, not even my own mother."

I tilted my head a bit, giving a sympathetic look. Reaching to grab his hand from his head, I held it on the table as I continued to finish my meal. He rubbed my knuckles with his fingers, feeling as though he was touching a hand for the first time.

"The hands of someone who saved someone like me . . ." he shook his head slightly, staring with a sad smile down at his hand overlapping mine, "You truly are something I take interest in, Hajime."

I decided I was done eating, standing up to clean up. Nagito went back to staring out the window, admiring the sun shining on the sea. I deposited and cleaned up the plates, going back over to help Komaeda up. He wasn't hesitating to take my arm anymore, as far as I could tell. I'm really happy to know that he is as comfortable with me as he is.

"It's a nice day, Hinata-kun. Can we go to the beach?" I smiled at his request, nodding. He started to lead us off, taking a relaxing pace to enjoy the day.

We had a nice time of relaxation under the palm trees, enjoying the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. I must have even fell asleep, because when I opened my eyes, I saw Komaeda looking down at me with caring eyes, hand on my head, gently petting my hair as my head was placed in his lap. I must have finally acquired enough exhaustion to fall asleep like this. I noticed the oranges and pinks in the sky. Was I really asleep that long?

"Ah, you're awake, Hajime," he smiled, continuing to place his hand on my hair. "Kaizuichi came by and saw us like this and thought we were doing something inappropriate. It was pretty funny."

He . . . He really just said that in a blunt--

I felt my face flush immediately, and I shot myself up, standing up quickly afterwards. I sighed, trying to brush it off. Turning around, I saw Komaeda continue to sit where he was, smiling at me with a calm, almost loving expression. I rubbed my face with my hand, sitting back down and laying right where I was. I could hear Komaeda laugh slightly, starting to pet my hair again.

"Komaeda?" I called out after a little while, myself being lost in my thoughts. I turned to look up, seeing him staring off towards the ocean. Then, he turned his head back down to me, "Hm, hm?"

"I know this goes without saying, but . . . You make me really happy, you know. I'm just . . . so glad I met you. I'm just so glad you're here right now," I closed my eyes, settling more. "Sorry, that was pretty cheesy. Hmm."

I felt a drop on my face. Then another. I opened my eyes, seeing his tears. I sat up, wondering what was wrong. "A-Are you crying, Komaeda?"

"Um, I'm not sure . . ." he rubbed his eyes, "I didn't authorize this, haha . . ."

I looked at him for a moment, then reaching my hand to his face, wiping away the remaining tears on his cheeks. He reached up and grabbed it, folding it to his lips, kissing it, then holding it to his chest. I could feel his heartbeat.

"Hajime," he said down at his lap, "What is this feeling I am having?" He continued to hold his hand to his chest, myself seeing tears continue to drop. "Is . . . Is this it? Am I finally receiving my selfish hope all along?" his voice trailed off within the air, seemingly letting the slight breeze take care of the rest of his feelings he was trying to convey for him. I placed my other hand on his cheek, bringing his face gently to mine so I could place my lips on his.

We let the ocean sea's waves do the rest of the talking for the night.

. . .

In the morning, I was making my usual rounds at looking at the other patients, visiting Mikan last. Nobody else's conditions had changed any, again. "Mikan, how are you feeling?"

"Ah, hello, Hajime!" she said with a smile. The first thing I noticed was that her voice was seemingly back to normal. The swirls in her eyes are starting to fade. This is good. "I'm feeling really great, actually! It's so nice to see everyone."

I went over and sat at her bedside, looking at her seemingly happy expression. I was starting to have confidence that the therapy might actually be working for her. I was really happy about that, I was even considering that she might be able to start going out onto the island accompanied with someone, as I do with Komaeda. I'll have to be sure to ask Sonia about it.

"Mikan, do you know about the other's conditions?"

"Oh, let's see . . . They are in comas, r-right?

I was relieved to hear she knew, "Yeah, that's right." Her stuttering was seeming to return now, as well. Though we'll help her return to her original state, we will also help her overcome her weaknesses. "I'm glad to see you are doing better. Komaeda is, as well."

"Ah, that's right! Komaeda is awake, too. You, Sonia, Kaizuichi, Fuyuhiko, and Akane were awake from the start, I remember," her voice drifted off a bit, her smiling as she looked out the window. "I . . . I do miss her, my beloved. But, I am now realizing what all she has done, and I can understand why people would want me to think that she is dead." I guess she was still a bit delusional about that, that she didn't want her to be dead, but that's okay. She's come a long way on her own, and with the help of the therapy, I'm sure we will have our Mikan back.

"Mikan," I asked, "Do you think you will be able to start caring for the other's soon? We could use the help of the Ultimate Nurse during this time, if you feel up to it, any. Please don't worry if you don't feel strong enough yet, we understand completely."

She continued to look out her window for a moment, then looked back at me. "I . . . I m-might. I do feel t-t-tired now, th-though. I sh-should get some rest, i-if that's okay, Hajime."

"Oh, yes, of course. Please rest well," I went and placed my hand on her head for a comforting gesture before leaving.

Sonia was passing by with Akane, and I approached them both, feeling more confident that Mikan will be recovering more and more. "Hey, Sonia? Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Oh, good day, Hajime. Sure, please do," she gave a kind smile, Akane folding her arms next to her.

"Well, I wanted to see if you would be willing to accompany Mikan to walk around the pool on the courtyard. I did that first with Komaeda to get him used to walking again, and he's gained strength by doing so. I think she's ready enough now that she can, as well. Do you feel up to it?"

She took her hand to her mouth, thinking a bit. "I'm sure I will be able to," she beamed. "Thank you for asking me."

"And, hey, Akane," I began, "If Mikan becomes violent again, I would like you to accompany them both, as well. You are surely the strongest out of all of us able-bodied here. Would that be okay?"

Akane chuckled, "Mhm! Sounds good, but now we're going to eat."

"Would you like to join us, Hajime?" Sonia asked, folding her hands in front of her.

"Sure! Can Nagito come with us, too?"

I could immediately see the flinch at the mention of his name.

We held a silence for a while, before Sonia gently said, "Maybe he should come. What do you think, Akane?"

"I don't know," she put her hand to her head, sighing, "I don't care, I'm just hungry. Let's go already."

Akane went ahead of Sonia, leaving her to say, "Go ahead and bring him, Hajime. I'm sure it will be nice to see him up and about," then she, too, went off to the restaurant.

Having a confident smile on my face, I opened Komaeda's door, seeing him looking out the window in his original place. He turned his head with a smile on his face, seemingly becoming more happy by seeing me.

"Hajime!" he held out his arms, myself coming right after to fill them. "I must be feeling selfish again, because I really missed you!" He started kissing all over my face.

"Woah, woah, Nagito!" I laughed, trying to push him gently off of me. He let me go, settling back on his pillow that was sitting upright. "What have you come to bear to me today, Hinata-kun?"

I continued my genuine smile, hooking up his oxygen tank to his cannula. "We're going to eat with Akane and Sonia today."

"Oh, really? This is exciting!" He smiled back, but soon he had a worried look on his face, "But . . . Hajime, don't they despise me?"

"I will not let them get to you if they will be like that, Nagito, I promise."

He reached up, taking my hand in his, kissing it, "Ah, you're too kind for somebody like me."

I helped him up, hooking arms, starting off towards the restaurant. I helped Nagito up the stairs, making our way in to see Sonia and Akane.

Sonia almost-immediately greeted, "Ah, hello, Nagito! How are you feeling?"

I could see his hesitation of speaking, "O-Oh, I'm doing better, thank you." I helped him sit down in a seat across from the girls, myself going over to fix us some plates.

Akane starting chatting him up, "So what was it like in a coma? Did you think about food? Oh! How about a good romance story at a restaurant, much more fancier than this one?!" Turning around, I saw her shoveling in food while talking off to him, Sonia sitting patiently beside her, and Nagito sitting across, looking a bit concerned. I quickly made my way back over to the table, taking a spot next to him. I could immediately feel him relax a bit more since I was near him. I set his plate down in front of him, us all eating for a silent moment.

Sonia then spoke up, "So, Nagito, how has it been since you've been awake?"

"W-Well . . . it's been better since I've had Hajime take care of me, I know that. But, other than that . . . I'm not sure."

"We are here for you in case you ever need to talk about it, Nagito," she gave a smile.

"Yeah! And if someone gives you scuff over it, just leave them to me! I'll show them my serious side!" Akane continued shoveling food in her face, getting all revved up.

Nagito nervously laughed, "Ah, thank you, really."

We ate in a calm silence for a while. Or, maybe myself being forced to be quiet since Komaeda decided to place his right hand on my thigh under the table once he was done eating. I kept shaking my leg to try and get his hand off, but he wouldn't budge. I could hear him trying to restrain his laughter.

"H-Hajime? You're face is quite red. Are you feeling ill?" Sonia looked at me, concerned.

I immediately shot back, "N-No E-Everything's fine!"

"Right," Akane scoffed, "Well, I'm gonna go run some laps around the island. I'll see you guys later."

Sonia got up, as well, stuttering, "Yes, well, I feel like going to the library now. It was nice dining with you both. Farewell," she curtsied, leaving as well.

I turned my face towards Komaeda once we were alone, seeing him grin with googly-eyes, squeezing my thigh more.

"What in the hell was that for?" I felt my cheeks heat up too much. "Couldn't you at least wait until we were alone?!"

"Oh!" I saw Komaeda beam, bringing his hand off my leg to his mouth. "You're saying that I could do that if we were alone? I see!"

"Wh-What?! N-N-Nagito!" I stood up quickly from the table, seeing him laugh. To try and distract myself, I gruffly took the plates and cleaned up the table, heading over to the sink to wash the dishes.

After a little while, while I was drying my hands, I felt arms wrap around my waist, a head rest on my right shoulder from behind.

"Hajime . . . can we go home to our love nest?"

Sighing, I put down the rag, turning around to gather his oxygen tank and hook my arm with his, starting to walk back into the evening sunset.

We made our way back into his cottage, myself helping him back into the hospital bed, adjusting his machines and sheets.

"Suddenly I feel tired . . . may I rest, Hinata-kun?"

"Of course," I placed my hand on the top of his head, his hand coming down onto mine, then holding it to his cheek, laying his head on it for a few moments with his eyes closed. He soon after let it go, myself leaning down to kiss his forehead before leaving the room to let him rest.

. . .

I didn't know why here, looking through all of these things. I went through the Hope's Peak Academy files, reading over every single detail about him, just reading over things I had already known. Somehow I found comfort in it, knowing that I was reading this and he was still alive. I found myself cutting out his picture, hooking it into the frame of my mirror. What was I doing? Why was I doing this?

The Future Foundation sent us a transcript of what everyone had said to each other, and what they were thinking while in the simulation, or what they could recover. I found conversations between Nagito and I, cutting them all out and reading them over. Things he had said to me . . .

"For someone like me to be useful to you, and to even receive your words of gratitude...makes me happy."

"Your gracious invitation makes me want to cry... There's no way I could decline!"

"I just want to feel grateful for this good luck. I want to be thankful that there's someone who's interested in trash like me."

And then, his thoughts while talking to me . . .

(It's so calming to be around him . . . but, why do I feel this way? I should thank him for being so kind to some piece of filth like me.)

(Oh, Hajime! I wonder if I could I go approach h-- . . . Oh, he's talking to Chiaki over there . . . Ah, I shouldn't bother him.)

(Hajime . . . why doesn't he know? C-Can't he tell that I . . . Ah, what am I thinking? Of course he wouldn't be friends with someone like me.)

. . .

But . . . This, however, really gets me . . .

. . .

"Hinata never knows.

It's not as though Komaeda is anything but transparent about his feelings, more than obvious that he has something deep and meaningful buried in his heart for Hinata. The first person to show him compassion, his first real friend. They spend almost every waking moment together.

But Hinata never knows.

A murder happens. An investigation commences. Evidence is collected, a trial is held. Information comes to light and fourteen students imprisoned on an island get to see an entirely new side of someone they thought dependable and trustworthy.
A dark side. A murderous side. A deceitful side.
Hinata is angry with him, confused by him, long after it's found that despite his efforts, his plan failed.

But Hinata never knows.

He's tied up, unfed for over three days, and it's just his luck that it's Hinata who comes with food instead of Koizumi. He doesn't like Koizumi one bit. He asks if Hinata would be so kind as to feed him and watches as his lip curls up in disgust before he leaves the food on the ground and heads back to the others.

But Hinata never knows.

Starvation imminent. A deadly game played. Loaded gun, five in the chamber, the pull of a trigger and the sound of a click. Komaeda always believes in his luck and the payout for his success proves interesting indeed.

Hinata is still angry with him, still looks at him as though there is something to fear, and Komaeda knows so much more about Hinata than even Hinata himself remembers.

But Hinata never knows.

The ploy is easy enough: threaten harm to everyone via a fiery explosion and you can tend to get people to do what you want. Gather the materials, set up the trap, devise a strategy. Tape over the mouth to muffle the screams. Slashing. Stabbing. Lying in wait.

Fire.

Poison.

The look on Hinata's face when he finds the body.

Nagito Komaeda's last thoughts are about Hajime Hinata, the boy who struck such a chord with him that even the discovery of his innate uselessness wasn't enough to dull his feelings. The Super High School Level nothing.

A reserve student.

Talentless.

Worthless.

His last thoughts are about Hajime Hinata, but Hinata never knows."

. . .

When I first read this, I didn't know what to think. I wanted to doubt it. I didn't want to think that this report on how Komaeda felt was true. But it was. Right in the corner -- the Future Foundation's logo. I'm not sure what this supposed to mean exactly. I don't know why they did a report on this. What was the point of it?

But . . . it's here. It's printed and in my hands. My tears are leaving marks on it.

Why did I get these out again?

Why . . . did he think so much of me?

Komaeda . . .

Komaeda . . .

"KOMAEDA!" I was screaming, running out of my cottage, slamming open Komaeda's door, seeing him shoot up from his bed, fear in his eyes.

I was weeping furiously, seeing Komaeda try and get out from his sheets, "H-Hajime? Wh-What's wrong?" He got up slowly from the bed, quickly hooking up his cannula to his oxygen tank.

I stayed there, my vision being blurred, and looked at his worried, concerned face. A concerned thought for me . . .

"Wh-What's--"

I took a few steps toward him, falling onto my knees, then bowing my head to the floor, as Fuyuhiko once did for all of us in the simulation.

"FORGIVE ME!" I cried out, "FORGIVE ME, KOMAEDA! PLEASE . . . Pl-Please . . ." The tears continued to pour from my eyes, all until I was completely sprawled out on the floor, my arm under my forehead as I continued to weep.

I heard Komaeda shuffle above me. I couldn't look up. I couldn't . . .

I felt his hand bring my face up, seeing him kneeling on the ground, his legs under him. I saw his slight smile, his eyes glassy. "Hajime, please, don't forget . . . from the bottom of my heart . . . I am truly in love with you."

He leaned down, placing his soft lips upon mine, my tears falling onto his cheeks. I reached my arms around him, leaning him back onto me, holding onto him as if he were to disappear in any second. He held his arms gently behind my neck, onto the floor.

. . .

I don't feel like it would be right to either of us to explain what happened that night, but . . . it was meaningful. Something I'm sure neither of us will forget. Because, though I feel embarrassed to admit it, I loved him, too.

He . . . was worth dying for. He would always be worth it to me.

Always . . .