Our Hope

Chapter 31~End

As soon as Byakuya focused his eyes on me, I could hear his sigh of relief. His arms wrapped around my shoulders, nearly pulling me from my seat. My body went rigid; eyes wide in fear. Nagito noticed, yanking Byakuya away. "What the hell are you doing?" his bewilderment caused some to stir in the living room. Byakuya looked back to me, noticing how my legs were shaking in fear. He knelt in front of me, "What happened?"

"I wanted to save your classmates. I didn't want to abandon you," I glanced at Nagito. "You...told me that I destroyed everything. You stabbed me". I muttered apologies while Byakuya stroked my hair. "I'm sorry for not stopping her," I whispered, barely focusing on Nagito.

Hajime shot his boyfriend an irritated glance, "No one is to blame. What happened is done and there's no changing the past". Tilting his head, Hajime grinned at the few who shuffled in. In the doorway stood Mahiru with an arm around Hiyoko, Fuyuhiko holding Peko's hand, Mikan, and Ibuki. "So Ko," Hajime rested a hand on Nagito's shoulder, "maybe ease up a bit? Before you tempt more than one of us to hit you?" He noted Byakuya's side-glare.

"Too late," Hiyoko snickered. Mahiru gently elbowed the dancer's side, glancing apologetically at us.

As I prepared breakfast, Ibuki dragged Nagito and Hajime into drawing on the others' faces. I warned them to avoid anyone who could severely retaliate, particularly Kyoko, laughing as Ibuki cornered an unconscious Kazuichi. Byakuya sat at the counter, watching me as I stirred pancake batter. He reached out, pulling the bowl out of my hand and set it aside. "I've contemplated several possibilities since I thought I lost you in Towa City," he said, leaving his seat, focused on my necklace. I nodded in agreement, letting his fingers examine the brushed silver strand around my neck. His hands disappeared under my hair, finding the clasp of the necklace, and slipped the ring free. "I couldn't lose a woman worthy of the Togami name," he smiled, slipping the ring onto my finger. Although my heart couldn't beat any louder, I nearly jumped at the gasp from the doorway. We turned to find Makoto quickly pulling a stunned Komaru out of the kitchen, giving Byakuya a thumb's up. I grinned, pulling Byakuya along to the living room. Komaru had woken everyone up; most of the girls surrounded me, eyeing the diamond and inscription.

Makoto nudged Byakuya's arm, grinning. "Stop staring at me like that, Naegi".

"You've softened, Togami," Kyoko approached the two, offering a smug expression. Nodding towards me, the three caught my gaze.

Byakuya's face warmed with blush, smiling. Makoto nudged him again, pulling Byakuya's attention back. "Stop acting like children," he tried to muster the cold mask but was stumped by Kirigiri and Naegi's knowing expressions.

"Hurry up, Hinata! You can't be late for work every morning!" I walked passed Hajime and Nagito, rushing to return forms to Byakuya. Hinata prepared to say something, "Nagito, stop making both of you late every morning!" I glanced back, catching Hajime sneering at Nagito, who stuck his tongue out in response.

"Good morning, Mrs. Togami," Sonia covered the phone speaker to greet me, exchanging an excited smile.

"Are the generators fixed, Souda?" I glared at Kazuichi, who still insisted on bothering Sonia every morning. I smiled back at Sonia and continued to pick up my pace.

With the world still in recovery, merely exchanging rings made the marriage official. Although, Byakuya claimed that the current ring I wore was simply a placeholder for a ring "fitting of a Togami wife"; I chuckled at the memory, stepping into his office. "Here are the recruitment forms," I placed two folders into his expecting hand.

His eyebrow shot up while glancing over the second file. "Is this Future Foundation's new project?" Byakuya skimmed through the pages. He leaned back in his chair, stunned by the contents.

"Before you say anything," I quickly sat down, "this is for Hope's Peak Academy. Someone has to track the history we've lived through". The historical tragedy that was Hope's Peak and the restoration of the world. The concept alone is jarring enough; our goal for a hopeful world was closing in and I believed this would be another step. "This is a legacy for both hope and despair".

Byakuya crossed his arms, still unconvinced. "Why now?"

I pressed my lips in a smile, "For the future generation," I said breathlessly, wrapping an arm around my stomach. The further the realization formed in Byakuya's expression, the broader my smile become.

"For our hope," he said, reaching over to take my hands; a streak of glistening joy marking his cheek.