The Ultimate Hunt {DRV3 AU}

Despair

"Shu-Shu! Have you forgiven me yet?!" Ouma jumped into Shuichi's room, disturbing Shuichi from his music.

"Huh... How'd you get in my room?" Shuichi asked.

"Uhh, I have my ways." Kokicki held a bent out of shape clip in his hand. "Anyways, this is more important."

Kokichi dragged Shuichi out of his room and across the halls. Shuichi reconised the deans office. Kokicki hid outside the office door, his back pressed to the wall. He gestured at Shuichi to do the same.

"Ouma, you still haven't told me what were doing?" Shuichi whispered as he moved beside Kokicki.

"Shhh- Just be quiet.... You'll see..."

Shuichi heard voices on the other side of the wall. He couldn't quite make out what they were saying, and judging by Kokicki's annoyed expression, neither could he.

"Ugh... Damn, I'd thought we'd hear something..." Kokicki walked away from the wall, thinking. He suddenly turned back, knocking on the door.

The voices stopped. Surprised that someone had interrupted them. Then the hushed voices spoke between themselves. They must have decided to see who was at the door, because a formally dressed Kirigiri answered Kokicki's knocking.

"What do you want?" Kirigiri asked bluntly, staring down at Kokicki.

"Me and Shuichi-" Kokicki pulled Shuichi over and layed his arm around his shoulders. "-want to know what is happening in there."

"That's none of your business."

Shuichi averted his eyes from his mentors gaze. Kokicki kept on prompting her.

"Oh really. Because I heard before you were gonna send a team of FBI agents and stuff to round up the othet ultimates."

Kirigiri looked stunned for a second before she spoke. "Thats none of your business Kokicki." she turned to close the door but Kokicki stopped it with his foot.

"Me and Shuichi can do the job for you!"

"....Excuse me?" Kirigiri narrowed her eyes. Shuichi was still staring at the floor.

"Didn't you hear me? Shuichi and I could gather up the other ultimates!"

"Wait, I didn't agree to this..." Shuichi started.

"No ultimates are allowed to leave the facility, you know this Kokicki. Plus, you choose to come here, why would you want to get out."

"Nishishi. I choose to come here because I thought we'd get to leave this planet. But it's two months in, and we still haven't left. If finding the other ultimates is what has to happen for us to leave, I'd happily do it."

Kirigiri eyed him for a moment before turning to Shuichi. Even though her eyes were on Shuichi, she was still talking to Kokicki.

"And what do you gain from bringing Shuichi? It's clear he doesn't want to come."

Kokichi nudged Shuichi, a bit too hard. "Shu-Shu can help! Plus, it's gonna be boring if I'm hunting my other classmates by myself."

Kirigiri knew a lie when she saw one. "Stop lying."

"Geez, you're no fun. Okay. Then.... Shuichi already knows some of the ultimates, so we can use him as bait."

"Wait, I don't know any ultimates. Well, besides you and Kiibo." Shuichi glanced up at Ouma and Kirigiri, finally making eye contact.

"Of course you do... You just don't remember." Ouma stated.

"I do....?"

"Now is not the time for this. We'll talk about this later. I have a meeting to sort out." Kirigiri glanced back inside the office, where Makoto was patiently waiting for his girlfriend.

"But we already know everything...." Ouma pouted.

"Sure. Just get out." Kirigiri shut the door on Oumas face, this time giving him no chance to stop it.

She turned back toward the Dean. "Sorry for that. Ouma's a bit more inquisitive than the others."

Makoto smiled. "Haha, I know. He's still a child though. It's good to see him and Shuichi become friends.

Kirigiri's face darkened. "Yeah... I still worry about him."

"Who...? Ouma...?"

"No. Shuichi. In fact, that's what we need to discuss."

Makoto patiently listened as Kirigiri went over the details.

"As well as AI Junko being stolen, they found out yesterday that three despair vials were stolen."

"Despair vials?"

"Yes. Needles that inflict a despair like trance on the person they're administrated on. A lot like Junko's despair video we had to eradicate a few years ago."

"... The one that caused the Jabbawok island incident and the remnants of despair..."

"Yes..." Kirigiri sighed. "I don't know what the thief plans to do with them, or if the academy is safe.... And I still don't know what Shuichi has to do with it all."

"You don't think he's... you know.... already in despair...? He's a shy kid... He wouldn't be... Right?" Makoto asked.

"I don't know at this point..."

"..."

Makoto's coughing broke the silence. Thick blood splatted onto the desk. "Makoto!" Kirigiri screamed, broke into a panic.

"Aoi! Aoi! Get the doctor! Quick!" Kirigiri panicked. She had never shown fear on her face before, but these last days were an exception. She was scared. More scared then she'd been in her whole life. And it was all because she loved Makoto....

Yes.... She was ready to admit it.... She loved him....