Two Birds

There's Nothing I Won't Understand

  PART ONE: SAIHARA SHUICHI 

 ". . .Hey. Can you hear me?" 

   Saihara groans softly as he opens his eyes to see a man in his early-to-mid thirties bending over him with a concerned look in his grey-green eyes. He has a fluffy mop of reddish-brown hair on his head and an alcohol wipe in his hand.

   The man chuckles nervously. "Try not to move or talk. I mean you no harm. Since I'm so accident-prone, my partner always makes me carry around a first-aid kit, so we got lucky, huh?"

   "What. . .What happened?"

   "Ah, yes. . ," The man begins his work, "A group of these high school students was roughing you up in this here alley. Luckily I happened to be passing by when they punched your lights out. I was about to pull my blade on them-"

   "Your what?"

   "But then a beam post fell from above and nearly squished them! They got so startled that they ran away!"

   "Why were they. . .attacking me?"

   "I have no idea, my apologies. . .There, I believe I've treated all of your injuries. Get home safe-unless you want to come back to our place for a hot meal or something? The baby is asleep, so there shouldn't be trouble. . .I just feel bad this happened to you. You seem like a nice kid. . ."

   Saihara sits up slowly, smiling politely. "Thanks, but I should really get going to my boyfri-shit! M-My friend's house, just a boy who is a friend."

   The man smiles, showing off a mechanical hand with a ring on it. "Don't worry; I'm married to a man. I won't attack you about that."

   The ravenet lets out a sigh of relief.

   "Oh, thank you. Well, I'm going to get going. Thanks for patching me up."

   The man smiles as they both climb to their feet. "My pleasure. Have the best rest-of-your-day."

   "Ah, you too. . ."

~

   Oh my God. . .that was one of those guys Shirogane cosplayed in the sixth trial. . .Komaeda Nagito, right? He looked so much more different, like. . .healthier and happier. . .What happened?.. And wait, what boyfriend?!

~

   "Nearly ten years after the Remnants of Despair have disbanded and presumed dead, rumours of despair are circling around once more. An anonymous source is talking about rumours of new members of Ultimate Despair-"

   "What the hell is this?" Saihara demands, glaring at the screen, holding the boy in his arms even tighter to his chest.

   "More despair?" He yawns, "Haven't we had enough of that?"

   "That's what I thought, at least. Things are finally back to normal, and now there's new Ultimate Despair? Is there going to be another Tragedy or what? I don't think the world can handle another one." The ravenet raves.

   "Well, I'm sure Future Foundation will stop them before things can get out of hand, Shumai. . ." The purple-haired boy murmurs. 

   "Oh yeah, right. I didn't see them stopping that big-titted Enoshima fellow. I'd like to see them stop a group." Saihara scoffs. 

   "But she also had an Ultimate Desp-"

   "Quiet, Koki. Although it would be interesting to see. I wonder if it would all be the same or if there are things they would do interesting, hmm. . .Oh, maybe-"