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It was just another day working to restore hope in Towa City - with the exception that today involved a special mission. Komaru bounced on the balls of her feet as she awaited the helicopter's landing. Toko, standing next to her, huffed.
"I d-don't get why you're always s-so excited for th-this one," she grumbled. Komaru elbowed her lightly.
"Oh, c'mon, Toki!" she said cheerfully. "It's a lot of fun! I love being able to check in on my friends and help them out at the same time!"
"You call t-too many people your friends," Toko muttered. Komaru ignored her. The helicopter came down, and once the choppers stopped, the door opened.
"Komaru, Toko!" Makoto called out. Komaru tackled her brother in a hug immediately. Toko muttered incoherently to herself in the background. "Haha, I missed you too, Komaru, but, uh, I c-can't breathe—"
Komaru yelped, letting go and stumbling backwards. "Sorry!! It's just been a while since you've come in!!"
"Yeah, Ultimate Hope duties can get pretty busy, heh…" Makoto said, scratching his cheek and looking off to the side. "I'll have to head back off to headquarters as soon as you guys get all the supplies off the copter, actually."
"Aww, man!!" Komaru said. "Unfair!!"
"D-don't get your panties in a t-twist," Toko said. "Let's just get th-this d-done already."
"You're such a buzzkill, Toko!" Komaru whined, draping herself over Makoto dramatically. He scrambled to catch her from her pseudo-faint. "Fine, let's start unloading… Just move everything to the car, right, Makoto?"
"Yep!" Makoto confirmed. "All the boxes are labeled. Toko, you'll be driving, right?"
"D-duh, Komaru d-doesn't even have a license," Toko said, rolling her eyes.
"Hey, that's just because the Monokumas destroyed the DMV!" Komaru said.
"You're no good at d-driving anyway," Toko said. "Come on, let's unload th-the boxes."
"You got it, boss!" Komaru said, giving a salute. With the three of them, it only took a few minutes. Komaru and Makoto exchanged their goodbyes, and then Komaru and Toko got in the car.
"So, whose place first?" Komaru asked, bouncing in her seat. "Hiroko's closest to here, right?"
"Th-that's right, she lives at th-the Future Foundation housing c-compound," Toko said. "We'll go th-there, and th-then we'll do th-the apartments."
"You got it!" Komaru said. "I can't believe Hiroko got a job with Future Foundation so quickly… Do you think anybody else will apply?"
"Well, Hiroko is a l-lucky case," Toko said. "Her k-kid survived the killing game. Most of th-the others lost th-their people, so th-they might be less willing t-to help out Future Foundation. Not like I c-care or anything. Or th-think about th-them ever. Th-they're not my friends."
Komaru gasped. "Toki, are you blushing?!"
The car swerved, knocking a decapitated Monokuma into the middle of the road. Toko's gaze was fixed on the road. "Y… You shut up, y-you airhead!!"
"Hah!! You really are starting to care about people, Toki!!" Komaru cheered. Toko simmered in silence for the rest of the car ride, which was only another minute or so.
Komaru got out of the car first, rushing to open the trunk and grab Hiroko's box. She liked to think she'd gotten a lot stronger ever since being officially hired by Future Foundation. Sometimes, when she flexed her arms in the mirror, she could even see little muscle bulges.
They found Hiroko's housing, the partitioned-off left basement of what had used to be a duplex. Toko knocked, since Komaru's hands were full, then stepped back. Hiroko swung the door open.
"Koko, Fufu! Good to see you kids," she said. There was a sudden loud meow, and Grand Boi Cheri poked his head out the door.
"It's good to see you too, Hiroko!!" Komaru said. "Toko, can you take this box so I can pet the sweet kitty boy?"
"Wh-who do you th-think I am?" Toko grumbled as she took the box. Komaru leaned down, petting his head and then scratching him behind the ears.
"How have you been?" she asked Hiroko.
"Doing well, doing well," Hiroko replied, twirling a cigarette between her fingers. Komaru stood back up, noticing Toko bring the box inside. "There's actually been a lot less patients at the hospital lately, which I think is a good sign for Towa City's healing. Even if it is putting me out of work."
"Come on, it's th-the Tragedy," Toko scoffed, returning to stand beside Komaru. "Y-you won't be out of work any t-time soon."
"And besides, nurses will always be needed!" Komaru added, hoping to inject a bit more cheer into the conversation. Hiroko grinned.
"Well, thank you two," she said. "I'll see you around, Koko, Fufu."
"Th-that's not my name," Toko said, rolling her eyes. Komaru only laughed. They returned to the car, and Toko began driving them to the apartment building where most of the former captives lived.
Toko once again knocked on the door while Komaru held the box. There were some rushed footsteps, then it opened, revealing a messy-haired Taichi on the other side.
"Komaru, Toko?" he said. "What are you doing here?"
"We came for a grocery dropoff!" Komaru said, making her way in. "Should I just put it on the same counter as usual?"
"Ah, s-sure!" Taichi said. Komaru did just that.
"How's your injury doing?" she asked.
"P-probably better, s-since he was on bed rest l-last month and now he's walking around," Toko said. Taichi nodded.
"Yes, it's improved a lot! I've been able to do more work, too, which is nice. I think I might even be close to finding a way to get these wristbands off."
Komaru squealed. "Really, you think so?!"
"Don't get your hopes up, just in case, but I've been working hard on it," Taichi said. Komaru grinned at him brightly.
"That's amazing!! You're totally amazing, Mr. Taichi!!"
"Don't go thanking me yet, Komaru… But I'm glad you think so."
"Come on," Toko said, "th-there's more d-deliveries to make. We'll s-see you later, T-Taichi."
"See you later!" Taichi said. Komaru and Toko returned to the car to grab the next box. Once again, Toko knocked on the door.
"Coming!!" the apartment's inhabitant called out. It took a few minutes, but the door opened. Fujiko stood there, her hair swept out of her face and graphite stains on her fingers. "Oh, you two."
"Hi, Fujiko!" Komaru chirped. "How's it going? On that grind?"
"Yeah, sure," Fujiko said. "Put the box on the floor."
"Y-you look t-tired," Toko noted. Komaru huffed as she put the box down.
"A little," Fujiko said. "Just been focusing hard on Tara Spa. Don't worry, I've been sleeping."
"Oh yeah?" Komaru said, returning to the doorway. "How often?"
"That's none of your business," Fujiko said. Komaru sighed.
"You know, a good night's sleep is, like, super essential to recovery and stuff!"
"Or maybe it's j-just essential t-to being an airhead," Toko said.
"You say that, but I've heard you snoring every night this week!"
"Y-you're watching me sleep?!" Toko said, shakily extending an accusatory finger. Komaru yelped.
"No no no, that's not what I'm—"
"Okay, okay, get the two-man comedy show outta here, I'm drafting," Fujiko said. Komaru laughed awkwardly, scratching her neck.
"Alright! See you later, Fujiko! Good luck on your manga!" she said.
"Thanks."
Next was Ayaka. At this point, Komaru was running out of breath, and she silently resolved to make Toko take the next batch. Ayaka opened the door with a cheery idol smile, but her face fell the moment she realized it was just Komaru and Toko.
"Oh, you two. Got my groceries, I assume?"
"Sure do!" Komaru said. As she laid the groceries on the counter, she began making conversation. "How's the search for your groupmates going?"
"No evidence they're dead," Ayaka said. "Besides Sayaka, obviously. But no evidence they're alive either."
"Hey, it's only been a few months!" Komaru said cheerfully. Ayaka huffed.
"Yeah, yeah. Toko, how's your bug doing?"
"G-good," Toko muttered. "Th-thanks for t-taking care of Kameko while I couldn't."
"Yeah, well. I've got a soft spot for ugly stinky things," Ayaka said. "Have you given Fujiko her groceries yet?"
"Yeah!" Komaru said. "She seems like she's been overworking herself, though…"
Ayaka cursed. "I'll talk to her later. You guys shoo."
"See you later, Ayaka!" Komaru chirped. "Toki, you have to carry the next box got it?"
"Wh… M-me?! I d-don't want to!!"
"But my arms hurt!!" Komaru whined. "And you haven't carried anything!!"
"G-God, fine!" Toko said. "You're t-too annoying…"
So when they went to Fuhito's apartment, Komaru was the one to knock on the door, while Toko huffed and puffed over the groceries.
"Ah, Miss Naegi, Miss Fukawa," he greeted. "I can take those."
"N-no way, you'd s-snap like a bunch of t-t-toothpicks," Toko said, shoving past him with the box. Suddenly, she gasped. "Wh-what's Aloysius d-doing here?!"
Fuhito coughed.
"Simply spending some time together," Aloysius could be heard from inside. He followed Toko as she shuffled out of the apartment with a scandalized expression. "I can help you bring in the remaining groceries, if you wish."
"That'd be great!" Komaru said. "Can you bring yours to your place, so Toki and I can bring in other people's groceries?"
"Yes, of course."
Toko began muttering to herself. "W-we've still got T-Takaaki, T-Takemichi, and Yuta."
"Alright, let's go!" Komaru said. She picked up Yuta's groceries, and they were approaching the door of the apartment when Komaru remembered that Toko was supposed to be carrying them. Toko knocked, and the door swung open.
"Komaru!!" Yuta greeted excitedly. "Toko! Hi!!"
"Hii, Yutaa!!" Komaru said cheerfully. "How's your new prosthetic?"
"Really good!! I feel bad that I kinda broke the last one—"
"Hey, that wasn't your fault!" Komaru interrupted. "You didn't mean to!"
Yuta scratched his neck, laughing. "Hahaha… But it's good to have it fixed. How are you guys? Oh, are those groceries too heavy? You can put them on the table!"
Komaru did just that, heaving. "Phew… I've had to be the muscle this entire time, you know!"
"Oh, sh-shut up!" Toko said. Yuta laughed.
"It's nice to see you guys!" he said. "We should hang out more! Like that party we held a couple months ago, that was fun!"
"Totally!!" Komaru agreed, bouncing on her feet. Toko put a hand on her shoulder.
"Not t-to break up th-the fun, but Syo's starting t-to crowd me for front, a-and I'd rather not have her out around T-Takaaki."
Komaru winced. "Alright! See you later, Yuta!! I'll try to plan something!"
Yuta pumped his fist, and they went back to the groceries. Toko carried the box this time, to the relief of Komaru's arms.
"Ah, groceries?" Takaaki said when he opened the door. He took the box from Toko. "Thank you."
Komaru stuck her foot in the door before Takaaki could shut it. "How have you been, Mister Ishimaru??"
Takaaki shot a confused look at her, placing the box on the table. "I've been fine. About the best I can be in these conditions."
"Alright, let's go, Komaru," Toko said impatiently. Komaru nodded and let Takaaki shut the door. "Just Takemichi now, right?"
Her stutter was gone, so a switch was probably taking place right now. Komaru didn't know the details of how Toko's disorder worked, but she knew that when the girls didn't externally trigger a switch, they happened a lot slower.
"Yep! And then we can head back home and maybe rest for a bit."
"Alright, good," Toko said. She picked up the last box when a heave, and they headed up to Takemichi's place. It took a few moments after Komaru knocked on the door to hear footsteps.
"You two?" Takemichi said. "What's up?"
"We brought groceries!" Komaru did cheerfully. "What've you been up to, Michi?"
"Don't call me that," Takemichi grumbled. Toko placed the groceries down. "I was talking to Ayaka the other day and it got me thinking that maybe I should start looking for the other Crazy Diamonds. I've been waiting for Future Foundation's approval."
"We'll put in a good word for you!!" Kay said. "I'll see you later!"
"M-hm."
The drive home was a lot more bumpy thanks to Syo's lack of care for road rules. Komaru flopped down in her bed with a contended sigh.
"Watcha so happy for?" Syo asked. Komaru only smiled.
"I love my friends…!!"