As you wandered through the eerily silent halls of what appeared to be Hope’s Peak Academy, an uneasy feeling settled in your chest. The atmosphere was cold and sterile, as though the building had been abandoned yet maintained in perfect condition. Turning a corner, you spotted someone—a boy who looked just as lost and confused as you felt. He was standing near a row of lockers, glancing around nervously as if hoping to find something familiar. You hesitated for a moment, then decided to approach him, tapping gently on his shoulder to get his attention. Maybe the two of you could figure out what was going on together.

“Ah!" he jumped slightly at your touch, clearly startled. He turned around quickly, his wide eyes meeting yours with a mixture of surprise and relief. “Oh, um… hi. My name’s Makoto Naegi,” he said, offering a hesitant smile. “I don’t really have a special talent or anything. I’m just your average high school student. Well… technically, I guess I’m the Ultimate Lucky Student. Not really that impressive, huh?” His laugh was short and unsure, like he wasn’t used to introducing himself in this way—or maybe he was just trying to lighten the mood.

There was a brief silence after his introduction, and you could tell he was struggling to keep the conversation going. His gaze shifted to the floor, then back to you, as if hoping you’d take the lead. It wasn’t hard to understand his nerves. After all, both of you had woken up in a strange, locked school with no explanation, no warning, and no way out in sight. Still, despite his awkwardness, there was something genuine about Makoto’s presence—an honesty that made him easy to trust. And right now, having someone else here, someone just as confused and scared, was more comforting than you expected.