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The hairs on her arms stood up as Kyoko Kirigiri listened aptly to her fiancé's freedom speech. Just having been sworn in as the new Headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy - High School for the New Generation - Makoto Naegi was expected by every breathing member of the new school board to formally introduce himself, to faculty and bright-eyed student body alike. For the sake of tradition, among plenty else.
All former and current members of the Future Foundation were also there to bear witness to the ceremony. The FF and rapidly growing Togami Corporation had overseen and funded the reopening of the newly branded Hope's Peak Academy, and as such were anticipating great things ahead. A new dawn was breaking, for every individual involved in the effort to fully revive hope in a world not yet healed from despair.
Needless to say, with hundreds of people and cameras flooding the school's front courtyard, the man who had become a symbol of hope itself around the world had all eyes on him once again.
And though he'd been nervous as all hell over coffee at the kitchen table that morning, his fretful demeanor and anxious words seemed like a lifetime ago now.
Makoto Naegi was in his element as he passionately 'rallied the troops', so to speak. Though his height may have always measured on the shorter side physically, he stood tall and proud by measurement of spirit in front of the school he loved enough to nurture to a new glory, one where students from every walk of life were permitted to enroll and thrive.
Gone would be the days of discrimination; ultimate titles would be given to those who desired a scholarship to study a special interest, but there would be no separation from the main course to students who wanted general education through Hope's Peak.
Makoto planned to foster every single child's special interest or ambition if they had one, and help *all* the kids to thrive in a way they had never been allowed to before. There would be no steering committee to answer to, thanks to Byakuya's financial involvement. There would even be a program (one the FF was willing to get involved in) to reunite families that had been separated during the numerous despair-fueled tragedies across the country.
Makoto Naegi would tirelessly see to all of it, only resting once he knew things were on track, and progress was well on it's way.
Kyoko Kirigiri couldn't have admired him more in that moment.
His hazel eyes were bright with excitement and inspiration, his mouth forming each fiery promise with creative ease. It was a talent that came naturally to him; igniting the devotion needed for a better future in people he'd just met, as though it were the simplest of tasks to perform.
Kyoko held her own head high and kept her neck perfectly straight, consciously aware that lingering stares were drifting in her general direction as well, despite her focus being reserved for none other than Makoto during his moment to shine.
It was fairly typical for her to recieve her own share of press from time to time, these days. Reporters were ever intrigued by the six survivors of Junko Enoshima's game and what they were doing with their lives. But Kyoko had also recently been dubbed one of Japan's highest ranking female detectives - a mysterious woman who doubled as a Future Foundation branch leader. All that in addition to being the future Vice Headmistress of Hope's Peak Academy, a job she would devote herself to full time, at least for a while.
So in any sense, she was certainly used to wandering eyes by now. But here, in this place, she knew of only one reason people would seek her out of the crowd, and it had nothing to do with her honorable accomplishemnts.
She was Makoto's fiancé. And everyone seemed to harbor a distinct curiosity as to who exactly had stolen the hope of the world's heart.
Normally this may have irked her, (she'd be lying to herself if she claimed otherwise), but as she touched one gloved finger to the engagement locket she kept at her throat in lieu of a ring, she was overcome with a strong twinge of pride to be marrying such an honorable, pure hearted man. The boy she was sure she'd loved since their very first days at Hope's Peak. Lost memory of their first two years attending the school together be damned.
Kyoko tossed her hair and dared to eye a few reporters smugly, catching envy on the faces of more than a couple. They knew exactly who she was, and exactly who loved her. It was a power trip she didn't think she'd ever get tired of.
"This sure is turning into a media feeding-frenzy, huh?" Kyoko's best friend Aoi Asahina whispered beside her, shielding her moving lips behind her fingers as Kyoko had instructed her to do. At a young age, her Grandfather had taught her everything he knew about what it meant to be a detective. Including handling the press on particularly public cases.
Kyoko answered with a curt nod. "Indeed. But perhaps the publicity won't be such a bad thing, this time. We want them to spread the word about the school's bright new future."
"That's true. But we both know the school won't be soaking up ALL the attention, this time. *Future Mrs. Naegi*."
Kyoko's cheeks flushed. She kept her eyes trained directly ahead of her.
"I've already told you I'm keeping my family name, Hina. Our children will take both."
"Oh so you *are* planning to have kids!!"
"T-that's - "
"Will you two *please*??"
Byakuya interrupted the whispered exchange, glaring at Kyoko and Hina in turn.
"As hard as it is to believe that Makoto has the ability to address this many people without screwing up, he's shockingly doing an adequate job. I don't think we should push his fickle luck any further by distracting him with gossip and giggling."
Hina shot him a dirty look in return.
"We weren't gossiping! Get the stick out of your ass for once, Togami."
"I would, but what else will hold me up now that I'm made of money again? I could buy and sell you a thousand times, Asahina."
"How dare you insult Master Byakuya so?!" Toko chimed in behind them, seemingly ready to square up against Hina.
"Hey, I wasn't - !"
"Yo fam, quit squabbling! It looks like the Naegster is finally about to wrap up this snooze-fest!" Yasuhiro cut everyone off with a yawn, pointing to the stage ahead of them.
Kyoko's attention snapped back to Makoto, who was indeed nearing the end of his speech. She'd heard him go through the entire thing several times in preparation for this moment. But nothing could compare to seeing the fire alight in his eyes as he spoke each impassioned word with conviction now, to the future of Japan standing before him.
"I know how much the whole world is hurting right now, how much we've all lost," Makoto's gaze traveled over the crowd, lingering on the kids who would be the first to attend class at Hope's Peak since the tragedies.
"I'm no stranger to loss myself. We've all suffered greatly through an era of heartbreak and uncertainty. But with this one, maybe small but meaningful step forward, I'm determined to help make the future brighter. Let's make *our* future brighter."
The new students began to ripple with excitement, a few voicing their agreement with "whoops" and scattered applause. Makoto beamed.
"It's a brand new day, a brand new life. For you, for me, for everyone ready to heal from the wounds of the past. After such a long, dark night, let's stretch our arms and wake up with a smile on our faces. We have so much to look forward to."
At this, Makoto's purposeful gaze caught Kyoko's. Her breath caught in her throat as a different smile, one that was more private between them, the meaning of which only *she* was in on, lit up her fiancé's features. He meant her. He meant *them*. Their love, their future together. It was shining ahead of them like a promise. Makoto never failed to be the one to make her believe.
He looked her up and down once appreciatively, making her cheeks burn and her heart swell with adoration. He captured her eyes again, that loving smile all hers as he made his final promise to everyone listening.
"So let's look to the future and greet it warmly, with hope in our hearts!"
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, cheers ringing out over the school grounds like joyful music. Photos were being snapped a mile a minute as Kyosuke Munakata - one of the key contributors to the rebuilt Hope's Peak - gestured to Kyoko and her friends to follow him in joining Makoto on stage.
"And that's our cue," Byakuya hissed, nudging Kyoko forward none too gently. She glanced over her shoulder to question him. And possibly shove him back. He merely smirked.
"Well, Detective? He's going to be *your* burden for life, now. Our future Vice Headmistress ought to be the first of us to join him onstage."
Despite herself, Kyoko smiled, amused.
"I suppose you're right. Come along, everyone."
Praying to keep her balance on the extra spiked heels she'd chosen to wear that morning, Kyoko climbed the few steps up to the stage. Stopping only briefly to take in such a large crowd was dizzying, until she felt a reassuring hand on her shoulder - the hand of the man she loved - as he pulled her into his reassuring embrace.
"I could have never done this without you." He whispered into her hair, his voice so strained with emotion that it choked her up, too.
Though she may have felt some embarrassment over the extremely public display of affection, Kyoko didn't have time to ruminate over it for long. Because Makoto was standing before the mic again, her gloved hand folded warmly in his as he gestured towards her to the crowd.
"Please welcome your Vice Headmistress, Detective Kyoko Kirigiri!"
So many faces, so many eyes on her at once. It was overwhelming, the attention and positive energy of their audience. Kyoko gripped Makoto's hand tighter.
He introduced the rest of the faculty and trustees alike to a flurry of cheers. The resonance of hope in the air was so contagious it was almost physical. Kyoko doubted those photographers at the head of the crowd would ever be able to capture the true atmosphere of the day in a still image.
But maybe one photo did.
One photo that was taken just as Ultimate Hope, Headmaster Makoto Naegi pulled the girl of his dreams into his arms again, halfway off stage as the crescendo of sound began to calm and they thought no one was looking.
"I am so proud of you," she whispered, scared and thrilled and ready for what the future would bring when the man she loved held her out at arm's length and lovingly pressed his lips to hers.
Almost all the press had filtered out, but one sneaky reporter managed to capture that stolen kiss in a photo.
*
Hina caught the flash out of the corner of her eye and immediately hunted the guy down. Byakuya paid a pretty penny for the roll of film, and he, Hina, Toko, and Hiro later gave it to the happy couple as a wedding gift. The memory of a truly perfect moment kept alive in that photograph forever.