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Hinata is the one who woke him from the Neo World Program, Komaeda knows that. He knows this isn't quite the Hinata that he knew on the island before, though.
"I'm both of them."
Izuru Kamukura. Hajime Hinata. He's reminded of it whenever he looks into Hinata's one red eye, or when his tone notably changes and he feels that he is in fact not talking to the Hinata he knows. Then again, he isn't the only one that changed.
Komaeda looks down at his hand, they had it ready for him when he awoke. He had assumed Souda had made it, but now he wonders if Hinata, or perhaps he should say Kamukura, did it instead. It's incredible workmanship; he doesn't have any nerves in the prosthetic limb and thus can't feel his fingers, but it moves just like a regular hand.
He lets his hand fall back down to the metal rail of the boat, chuckling at the soft clink as it makes contact. He leans on his elbows, looking out across the sea. He can see their destination now. He's been standing alone for a long while. Hinata had briefed everyone on the plan when they got onto the boat, after which they set sail for what would apparently be quite a long trip. He isn't sure how long he's been in this one spot, watching the ocean.
"Hey."
Komaeda glances over his shoulder at the all-too familiar voice. He smiles at Hinata's approaching figure.
"Hi," he replies when the other man reaches where he is, settling next to him as they look ahead at the slowly approaching building.
"Are you ready?" Hinata asks him, his gaze remaining on the horizon.
"Of course. I'm prepared to do whatever we need to."
Hinata turns towards him, leaning the side of his body against the railing, and Komaeda follows suit. They look at each other in the eyes, and it feels like there is nobody else on the boat.
"Listen..." Hinata snakes both his hands into Komaeda's, and somehow the slightly taller man isn't surprised by it, it feels like it's a long time coming.
"Go ahead."
"I feel like, after everything," Hinata is speaking slowly, he seems to be considering his words very carefully, "I feel like I finally understand you... Nagito."
He blushes at the use of his first name, feeling a small smile grace his lips before he realises it, "I feel the same, Hinata-kun."
Hinata frowns at the lack of reciprocation, it seems he wants them to drop that formality. They've been through so much. They both remember their time at Hope's Peak now, the times they met both as Komaeda and Hinata, and Komaeda and Kamukura. Their time as the Remnants of Despair, time they both regret. Their time in the Neo World Program, where they had fought and struggled against one another, all along feeling a desperation to just understand. And of course, the time, only hours before, that Hinata saved him from his cryogenic slumber. When he brought him back to life and took his hand. He took his hand so openly as if to say, 'It's fine now'.
"Sorry," Komaeda chuckles after probably too long of a pause, "Somehow I think I need a bit longer."
Hinata tilts his head and smiles, letting out a small huff of laughter. Komaeda may dare to say his expression is... affectionate?
"Well if it's alright with you, I'd like to still call you Nagito. And going forward, I'd like for you to move towards calling me Hajime."
Hinata's fingers trace the other man's palms, though he can't feel it in his prosthetic hand. It feels intimate, and Komaeda wonders where their relationship must be headed from here. They've reached the point they've been trying to all this time, so now what?
"I'll do my best."
Hinata looks like he wants to say more, but they're interrupted by the yells of Kuzuryu, telling everyone that they're close to land now and it's go time.
They share a look, a last moment of quiet before they silently make their way over to their friends, ready to face the Future Foundation for the last time.
~ ~ ~
Well, it's all worked out.
They've done it, they've stopped Mitarai and taken him in as one of their own. It must have been hard for him to have gone through all this alone. Class 77 have gotten by with the support of one another, though admittedly it wasn't always mutual between each class member.
He watches Hinata from where he is standing near Mitarai and the other students, waiting on a piece of Hanamura's meat skewers to become available. Hinata seems to be... peaceful. He wonders what he's thinking of, he thinks the other man may be talking to himself - then again, he wouldn't try to question Hinata's thought process now, their unofficial leader and the Ultimate Hope.
He feels a pleasant twist in his stomach at the idea.
Hanamura passes him a skewer and he asks for a second one, which Hanamura easily passes over since Owari and the Imposter are eating far more than their share anyway. He looks over at Hinata once again, and it seems that he's finished his moment.
"Hinata-kun!" he calls out, and the other man looks over at him, "The food is going to run out if you don't hurry!"
"Coming!" he quickly replies, making his way over. Once he comes close, Komaeda passes him one of the skewers and they both move to sit against the wall, listening to everyone else.
"Hanamura's food is delicious, as always..." Komaeda mutters as he bites into the tender, juicy meat on the skewer. Hinata doesn't reply. He feels a heat on his shoulder, and a slight pressure. He pauses in his consumption of the meal, letting his eyes travel to the right to see the puff of Hinata's chestnut hair a mere inch from his nose.
"H-Hinata-kun?" he asks, surprised by the action.
"I just want to rest for a bit," Hinata sighs, resting his weight onto Komaeda's side a little more, "Just for a while."
Komaeda looks at Hinata's head, almost nuzzling his shoulder at this point, and then over at their friends who are finishing up Hanamura's barbecue.
"Don't worry," he replies, moving his free hand and reaching around Hinata's shoulder, resting his arm around him in comfort, "Hajime-kun."
Hinata laughs into his shoulder, satisfied.
~ ~ ~
The returning boat ride feels longer than the trip there; probably because there is nothing to anticipate now. For the first time since any of them entered Hope's Peak High, they can truly relax. Hinata hasn't stayed with him the whole time. He eventually got up to go talk to the others and to check in on Mitarai. Komaeda also took a walk around to see everyone. He noticed Tsumiki had an empty vial with her that he recognized as belonging to Seiko Kimura. He was amazed once more at the true hope within her, within all of them.
In the end, he found his way back to the railing on the edge of the boat, resting there and looking out to the sea; Jabberwock Island within view.
He reaches into his pocket, feeling around for the small bag of cookies he's keeping in there. He couldn't explain where he got it for the life of him; it simply came into his life right when he needed it.
He thinks he knows what their relationship is now, or what it could be. He thinks it's what Hinata wants too. It's strange, he's never been so confident before as to believe anyone could like him, let alone the most amazing person in the world - and that isn't even subjective. But he isn't who he was a few years ago... and he's happy that that's the case.
He pulls out the little bag. He has no idea what time of the year it is, to be honest. It could be Christmas Day or New Years and nobody would know about it, which is a little freaky. Nonetheless he hopes his gesture will carry the weight he intends it to, even if it is just a simple gift.
"Nagito," he turns his head at the mention of his name. He doesn't try to hide the bag of cookies, dangling it on his fingers in front of him.
"We're almost back," Hinata continues. Komaeda turns his head, meeting the other man's eyes as he comes up next to him once more, "Home, I suppose."
"Sounds good to me," Komaeda hums. He twists the bag in his good hand. He looks over at Hinata and reaches out, palm up with the cookies in hand. Hinata makes a small sound of confusion as he takes them, his movements seemingly automatic.
"Huh?" Hinata inspects the bag, recognizing the cutely-wrapped sweets as a Valentines-esque gift.
"Home with you... sounds good to me," Komaeda continues, his expression is relaxed. Hinata is surprised by how open he's being, but he supposes that's a memento of their newfound trust. In reality, he's had to slowly break through Komaeda's walls all this time in order to reach this point.
"Me too," Hinata answers him, holding the small gift to his chest.
"Hajime-kun..." Komaeda continues, his voice surprisingly solid considering how shaky he feels inwardly, "Hajime-kun... I love you."
Hinata doesn't reply, and just for a moment Komaeda feels something break inside of him. Has he somehow, someway, gotten everything wrong?
Before he can start to apologize, he feels Hinata's strong hand on his hip, the other one reaching around to hold the back of his neck, and before he can even comprehend the touches, Hinata's lips have been pressed against his own. Komaeda gasps into the sudden kiss, his eyes shot open in - not unwelcome - shock. He quickly settles, his own hands find their way towards Hinata's body, he wraps his arms around him and pulls them flush together, returning the kiss without any more hesitation. Finally.
It feels so good, and to both of them it lasts much longer than the few seconds it actually takes for them to separate, for Hinata to pull back just enough to make eye contact with him and to tell him, in as soft a voice as he could;
"I love you, Nagito."
And they press themselves together once more, drinking each other in. They feel everything that has happened to them melt away, all the despair becomes worth it in an instant, because they've done it. They understand, they feel, and they love.