"Naegi, are you listening?"
"--Huh?"
A voice dripping with annoyance pulled Makoto up and out of the dark depths of his psyche, causing him to shake his head and blink blearily around himself. The voice was familiar, reminding him mostly of the Coalition headquarters, leading him to believe that's where he had ended up. He couldn't quite recall how he had gotten here. He could barely even remember that awful nightmare. As for who was speaking to him, Makoto turned to stare at the source of the question.
With Makoto looking around dumbly, almost as if he was in a trance, the speaker leaned forward and spoke with more intensity.
"Have you forgotten how to speak, or are your ears clogged? Either way, do you need instructions on these simple tasks? Are there any other actions your body can perform you're confused about?"
"Uh..." Makoto wasn't entirely sure what to say, still dazed slightly be his sudden transportation. His mouth hung open as if he was about to speak, but nothing came.
Byakuya Togami, the Ultimate Affluent Progeny, had come to expect this sort of behavior from others. When he spoke, others were meant to listen, but sometimes his demeanor left people speechless and unable to respond. Makoto knew him well, for they both had joined Future Foundation together and had worked alongside each other since then. Though Byakuya was naturally the sort to lead, it was Makoto who always seemed to lead him instead.
"You t-tell him, Master," said a second voice, restrained and stammering, quite opposite from Byakuya's clear and precise speech.
"Show h-him how it's done... teach him a l-lesson, right here in front of m-me!"
Makoto looked upon the second speaker, knowing her to be Toko Fukawa, the Ultimate Writing Prodigy, At least, for the moment.
"H-Hey... wait! I just need a moment here..." Makoto leaned back in his seat, holding up his hands defensively. He offered Byakuya and Toko an embarrassed smile, knowing they probably found it odd he was acting so spacey. Makoto couldn't explain it, not one bit, and he needed to start figuring out quickly what was happening. The two speaking to him were both Future Foundation members, so he was likely at some kind of stronghold, right?
Except, when Makoto finally looked around himself and actually took in where he was, he found it far more surprising.
The Hope's Peak Academy cafeteria.
The revelation was enough to send chills down Makoto's spine. A cold sweat broke out on his face as he stood up quickly, pushing back his chair so that it scraped against the floor. Somehow, enjoying a meal with his classmates had become the most frightening experience.
This was just all wrong.
"Gee, Makoto, what's gotten into you? You hit your head or something?"
Makoto turned, his eyes meeting Junko Enoshima's steady gaze... no, that was wrong. This was the Ultimate Soldier, Mukuro Ikusaba. Of all the things that seemed impossible, the sight of her still dressed up as her sister seemed the most dizzying.
"Hey... if Makoto here can get away with a nap, why can't you guys let me sleep in a little...?"
Yasuhiro Hagakure, referred to as "Hiro" by his friends and bearing the title of Ultimate Clairvoyant, looked about ready to collapse as if this was a gathering for gym class and not breakfast.
There was a loud grunt as another gathered around the breakfast spread stood up much like Makoto had, with his fist slamming against hard surface of the table.
"What's with the fuckin' racket, you guys?!"
Mondo Owada's voice boomed across the cafeteria table, sounding as if he was yelling right next to Makoto. The Ultimate Biker Gang Leader was not the kind of guy you wanted to make upset. Makoto could only look at him, his throat dry.
"Makoto, would you like to sit down? Eat your breakfast, if you can."
Sakura Oogami had a gruff voice, for a woman, but it came out calm and direct. It was soothing in its own way. Of anyone, the Ultimate Martial Artist was an expert at keeping control.
"Yes, Makoto... please sit down. Do it for me?"
Makoto looked down to find Sayaka Maizono sitting next to him. She was smiling up at him, waiting patiently for him to do as she requested. He still remembered the Ultimate Pop Sensation's horrible words in that vague nightmare. How was it possible for her to say such things...? How was it possible for her and his other classmates to be together at all?
Makoto wanted to offer Sayaka his reassurances, but he held back. He wanted to match her pleasant smile, but all he could do was from.
Why don't you want to be happy?
The question was so sudden, Makoto let out a small gasp. His knees buckled and he fell back into his chair, trying to work out if that was Sayaka speaking in his head. She was still smiling, of course, though he could see his odd movements was causing it to wane.
"I'm sorry... what did you say, Sayaka?"
She stopped smiling completely then, looking at Makoto with worry. There was a moment's pause where she exchanged glances with the others around her before turning back to Makoto.
"You're acting very strange, Makoto. Are you ill? I think Kyoko is as well... were you both up late last night doing something?"
Kyoko Kirigiri.
The Ultimate Detective.
Just the mention of her name caused Makoto to stand up again, his head whipping back and forth to scan the students around the table. He found her quickly enough, standing so closely nearby that Makoto wondered how he had not seen her up to this point. He stared at her, not moving until she turned and recognized him as well. There was something in the way she looked at him that told Makoto she was not a part of all this...
"Kyoko..." Finally moving, Makoto stepped around the table so that he was standing face-to-face with Kyoko.
"Do you know what's happening here?"
Makoto had some idea, but he needed to hear Kyoko's thoughts. Needed to hear her
voice.
@Verite