Truth, Perjury, and Sacrifice

Mentorship

"Hey, Karen, wait up!" Makoto called out, catching Karen as soon as she was stepping out the front doors. She stopped, holding the door open, and waited for Makoto to catch his breath. "Will you be Miss Shirogane's mentor?"

Karen blinked, "As the Headmaster, you really shouldn't run in the halls." She stopped for a moment and thought about his question. "How often will I need to be available? I haven't relinquished my place as chief director just yet, so I'm still plenty busy."

"I know, but you're the only one who shares the most similarities with her talent."

"I know why you asked me, Makoto, but I'm more concerned about how often I'll need to be around," she said.

"Well, we haven't exactly worked that out just yet. But Sakura agreed to be Miss Chabashira's mentor full-time."

"That's because Sakura hasn't opened a new dojo yet," Karen sighed. "I'll start with once a week, okay? I can give her tips and projects to work on for the week until I can make more time."

"So, you'll do it?" Makoto smiled.

A lightbulb went off in Karen's head, "Yes, I will, and right now. Can I take Tsumugi for the day?"

"Wh-what? Now!?"

"It's perfect, Makoto! She can help me make their uniforms. That way we can get to know each other. Of course, I will personally drive her back to the dorms when curfew comes around." Karen ran off to retrieve Tsumugi, leaving Makoto to scramble back to his office to prepare the early leave paperwork.

"I'm home!" Karen called out. "We have company as well!"

"Company!" Kotoko hopped down the stairs, meeting the gaze of a hesitant Tsumugi.

"Tsumugi, I'd like you to meet Kotoko Utsugi. But where's Nagisa?" Karen asked.

"With Byakuya. He said that you should be home soon and that it wasn't a big deal if I stayed here alone."

"Well, you are 13, but still he should have called me," Karen glanced at her phone, noticing three text messages as to why he was taking Nagisa to the office with him. She smiled, "Ah, well, I'm glad he's taking initiative, too."

"So, what's going on? Isn't she one of Naegi's students?"

"Ah, yes, I am!" Tsumugi gently bowed forward. "My name is Tsumugi Shirogane. It's a pleasure to meet you, Kotoko. Your...uh...Mrs. Billotte is my mentor, so I'm assisting her today."

"Oooo, can I help?!" Kotoko jumped in place.

Karen's face twinged with hesitance, but everyone had to start somewhere. "Sure, I'll teach you some basic hand-sewing techniques."

A few hours had passed when a familiar voice came from the front door. "We're home," Byakuya said.

"Ah, welcome home!" Karen called out, trying not to stab her lips with the pins they were holding. "Nagisa, could you come here for a moment?"

"Yes?" He glanced around at the three girls and the mess that surrounded them. Karen and Tsumugi were working on two different mannequins with Kotoko practicing her backstitch between them. "What is this?"

"I've decided to make you and Kotoko uniforms as well. I think you two should also go back to school."

"What for? We'll just be neglected in a classroom full of older kids," Nagisa said. "Besides, I found today more beneficial than any day of school." Behind him, Byakuya smirked at Karen.

"Yes, he has a solid understanding of business management," Byakuya said.

Karen glanced between the two. "Right. Then, like in business, let's make a compromise. You both will come with me on days I go to the school, and stay the entirety of classes."

"Will? Ha! What kind of authority do you think you have?" Nagisa scoffed.

"Nagisa, knock it off!" Kotoko blurted. "Why do you keep acting like that toward her?"

"Because she's just doing this because the idiot who killed Big Sis Junko asked her to!"

The room fell silent. Kotoko's face fell, her head dipping down. "Is that true?" Her voice was weak and defeated.

"It is true that Makoto asked Byakuya about this arrangement, but my friends made a really good point. That the Warriors of Hope deserve a second chance. That's what we are trying to do. You'll always have a home here," Karen said.

"I don't believe you!" Nagisa shouted.

"I know, and I don't expect you to trust us either. But Nagisa, we're trying. I think you know this and are scared to admit it." Karen glanced at Byakuya for backup.

"She's right," Byakuya said, putting his hand on Nagisa's shoulder. "I noticed how your demeanor changed for a while after we returned from France."

"Oh, well, that's...," Nagisa blushed.

"Yeah!" Kotoko smiled. "The others already get along with their...new families." The realization slapped her in the face. Kotoko immediately stood up, abandoning her sewing project. "Be absolutely honest with me, okay? What you said in France, you were totally serious? You meant it?"

Karen froze, her voice was jammed in her throat. She curtly nodded, "Although, based on age difference, we'd be more like siblings," Karen said.

"No, I don't think so. I'm not ready to say it, but I think you both have done a lot for us, more than what a normal sibling would do." Kotoko leaned in and hugged Karen. "You're both better parents than ours ever were."

Karen looked at the girl, remembering all the horrible things she had done in Towa City. She was a part of the group that tried to brainwash Komaru, who manipulated Nagito and Toko, who kidnapped Byakuya. They loved Junko and still consider her to be a good person in their lives. Karen wrapped her arms around Kotoko, "You will always be safe here, both of you."

Tsumugi, who had sat quietly during the entire exchange, looked at Nagisa. "You know, I know I'm a plain girl, but Mrs. Billotte and her friends have been really helpful for me and my friends, too. You should really try to meet her halfway."

"Aren't you the reason for all the bodies appearing on everyone's doorsteps?" Nagisa asked, then immediately walked upstairs.

The car stopped in the school parking lot, "I'm really sorry about all of that, especially Nagisa's last comment," Karen said. "I'll come back here tomorrow so that we can finish the uniforms uninterrupted."

"Please don't be hard yourself, Mrs. Billotte. Children can be just plain difficult sometimes. But can I ask a question?" Karen nodded. "Okay, well...not to be weird, but what was...Junko like in person?"

Karen took a moment to process what she was being asked. Was it normal that she would be curious about the person who destroyed their world and lives? "That's hard to answer, Tsumugi. Before the Tragedy, Junko was a fun girl to hang out with, albeit a bit obnoxious at times. She could be rough with others sometimes, but mostly just blunt."

"Do you...miss her? Do any of you miss her?"

"I can't speak for the others, but me personally? Sometimes, yes, I do. But let's save this for another day, okay? I'd even be willing to talk about this with your class someday."

"Okay. Thank you for the ride," Tsumugi exited the vehicle and watched Karen drive away. A smirk came to the cosplayer's face, "She really does care for those brats. They don't even appreciate Ms. Enoshima for what she truly was."