Chapter 7: Day 5
Togami didn't need to take a sip to know he was not testing the cup of coffee placed in front of him. Without so much as a second glance, he pushed it aside and stated, "I'm not drinking this."
Fukawa shuddered as she looked in shock at Togami. "W-What do you mean, you're not drinking this! D-d-do you know how long it took to make this to y-your desire? Those are y-y-your instructions, aren't they, on the r-refrigerator?" Togami's nose shriveled at her sour breath and pungent stench, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Yes, but it doesn't take a savant to know that you didn't follow the instructions clearly," Togami countered. Others were entering the dining hall at this point, most of them taking their seats at the long table. The clock on the wall indicated 7:20am, meaning that Taka would no doubt be sauntering in at any moment to call another useless meeting. Ogami, Fujisaki, and Hina apparently claimed breakfast duty from here on out and were heading to the kitchen, but a few heads were turning in the direction of Fukawa and Togami, much to his annoyance. Wanting the argument to be done with, Togami repeated, "I'm not drinking this."
"B-But… B-But I…"
"Go take a shower, leave me alone, and then figure out how to actually read instructions." A few seconds of silence passed, during which Fukawa stared in abject sadness at the corporate heir. Finally taking the hint, however, she bolted with a forlorn look from the dining hall, leaving Togami alone with the disgusting brew.
He sighed heavily and stood from his seat.
"Hey man, I know she's a weirdo, but ya don't gotta be treatin' her like shit," Owada remarked as he turned in his seat to look in Togami's direction. Togami turned to see most at the long table staring his way.
"Would you like to taste whatever this is?" he offered, holding out the cup of coffee. The burnt smell of beans caused him to grimace, and even the others at the table shivered as the disgusting smell permeated their way. "That's what I thought, so I'd suggest you mind your own business."
"Geez, just what the hell is your problem?" Enoshima asked as Togami turned his back to the group. "You've been an asshole to practically everyone here since we all arrived!"
"My problem is that I'm stuck in this school building nonsensical machines," Togami retorted. "And I'm not here to have fun and get to know anyone. I'm here to get this done and leave, then find whoever started this charade in the first place and end them."
"I thought we already discussed the importance of groups getting along?" The voice caught Togami's attention, and he turned to see Kirigiri, along with Taka and Naegi, entering the dining hall. Kirigiri shot a look Togami's way and said, "Let's just get through breakfast, and we'll assign the rooms and tasks. Tomorrow we can focus on finishing the Casanova."
"In order to get through breakfast, I need to avoid drinking poison," Togami shot back. He brushed past the table and entered the kitchen, avoiding the three girls as he approached the kitchen sink. Dumping the coffee down the drain, he set the cup aside and went to leave when he stopped short.
Naegi stood directly in front of him, smiling warmly up at him. Nodding at the Togami heir, the boy sidestepped around him, and Togami watched as he headed towards the coffee maker and began brewing a pot of coffee.
It was the first time Togami had actually seen Naegi preparing the delicious brew, but to say he was confused with the reality was an understatement. Sure, the cups of coffee had been appearing in front of Togami, and he intrinsically knew when Naegi was the one who brewed it. But in an odd twist, it suddenly hit him that Naegi had passively accepted the role of making the Togami heir's coffee, and so far he had yet to make any demands in return. "What is he getting out of this?" he pondered. "Why does he simply do things without question? He makes my coffee, he was roped into making that list of all our tasks. There's no doubt others have him wrapped around their fingers... Is this really what it's like to be one of the common herd?"
"Uh, Togami...?" Hina's voice cut through Togami's thoughts, and he rolled his eyes before turning, walking back to his lone table, and taking his seat. Fortunately Fukawa had yet to return, leaving him alone once more.
"It must be a sort of exchange for the time he spends with me," Togami concluded. "He believes that, if he makes me coffee during the day, he's entitled to spending an evening or afternoon with me. He's done it at least two nights now, the first being the second night we were here, and then last night. And if he doesn't sit nearby, he at least stops by to 'check in' on me, like I'm some sort of child." Togami smirked. "So that's it. Coffee in exchange for my time. Well, I can't deny that the coffee pays for itself. I'd be more than willing to bet half my total worth that he only manages to make such a delicate blend thanks to that presumed good luck of his. I suppose if it means a sustainable brew each morning and night, then I guess I can tolerate him."
"All right, it's 7:30am!" Taka declared, grabbing everyone's attention. "We can begin our meeting and assignment of today's tasks!" Kirigiri and Taka both stood at the head of the table as everyone else shifted in their seats. Fortunately, with the group's attention on the two, nobody seemed to notice as Naegi rushed out of the kitchen and quickly set down Togami's coffee on his table. Togami smirked and nodded as Naegi offered another smile before rushing to Kirigiri's side. "Today's assignment is simple. We only need a few more items, then tomorrow, we shall put together our second Monokuma Casanova!"
"That being said, there is a very high probability that Monokuma will demand another backup once we have finished this current one," Kirigiri remarked. "Therefore, it would be a good idea to continue searching for as many items as possible. Those assigned to rooms with blank items listed on your e-Handbook should focus on finding new items. Those assigned to rooms with all the items found can continue collecting as normal. Those on cleaning duty will continue as such."
"Someone's going to have to pull Fukawa out to clean," Celeste noted. "Since our lovely Ultimate Affluent Progeny scared off the poor girl."
Togami scoffed and ignored the bait. "It's not as though she was contributing much anyways, if her behavior yesterday was anything to judge."
"Anyways, after breakfast, we'll split up like normal," noted Naegi, who, as always, clearly wanted to avoid confrontation. "The groups for today are as follows." Opening his notebook, he read off, "Enoshima and Kuwata, you two are in the gardens… Maizono, Ogami, and Hina are all in the library…"
Togami shuddered at the thought of them rummaging through the bookshelves. "Please don't let them enter the archive…"
"Owada, you and Kirigiri will look through the nurse's station."
"The nurse's station?" Togami frowned. "Why is Kirigiri once again in the nurse's station? What is she trying-"
"And Togami, you'll be with me in the music room."
Togami blinked in surprise at Naegi and looked just in time to see a smirk across Kirigiri's lips. He scowled. "So that's what she meant when she said she had 'an idea.' No doubt she's picked up on the fact that Naegi is the one making me coffee." Still, he couldn't deny a sense of relief over the fact that he wouldn't have to be with someone loud or obnoxious.
"Any questions on the assignments?" Taka asked. When nobody responded, he declared, "Then this morning's meeting is over!"
"Oi, I gotta request," Owada suddenly said, grabbing everyone's attention. Looking directly at Taka, he asked, "Can't ya keep it down in the mornings? I mean, do ya gotta shout all the fuckin' time?"
"You're one to talk, Owada," Enoshima remarked.
"Hey, I don't start off loud!" Owada yelled back.
"It's imperative I speak with authority!" Taka argued. "That way everyone in the room, and even the kitchen, can understand today's assignments!"
"Yeah, but it's such a headache when you're shouting right at us! Especially so damn early in the mornin'."
"And it's such a headache when you curse throughout your tasks!"
"The fuck do you mean by that?!"
Togami sighed heavily as the sounds of a full-scale argument filled the dining hall. As he reached forward for his cup of coffee, however, a gloved hand appeared next to his, and he glanced up to see Kirigiri staring down at him, a smirk on her face. "Yes?" he huffed when she didn't continue.
"I just thought I'd ask if you liked our new group arrangements," she began. She glanced over her shoulder. Togami followed her gaze to Naegi, who was smiling and sitting next to Maizono, clearly doing his best to ignore Owada and Taka's shouting match. "After all, you seem to have taken a liking towards him."
"And what makes you so sure of that?" asked Togami, breaking his gaze to resume his morning coffee.
"Well, he's the only one who's been able to convince you to drink their brew of coffee," Kirigiri observed. "But more than that, he's the only one you haven't told to leave you alone or be quiet. In fact, you seemed to be enjoying his company last night in the library."
Immediately sensing the threat in her words, Togami glared at her. "Oh, so you're the local spy now, are you? Digging up clues or what-not on your fellow students for, what, entertainment?"
"On the contrary, I'm happy that someone here is looking out for you," she countered, crossing her arms over her chest. "As I said, I'm still not convinced that this is just a curious prank being pulled on us. If that Monokuma bear, or whoever is controlling him, really does have something malicious in store for us, well, it's good to know that Naegi will at least keep you fed."
"I once again fail to decipher how what I do after we're done investigating is any business of yours."
"It's not...at least, for right now." The sounds of movement caught their attention, and both looked over to see the three girls carrying the plates of breakfast food out of the kitchen. With a final look, Kirigiri concluded, "Just...try to be nice to Naegi. The group needs someone like him, someone who can split up the fights and keep spirits high. They need that. So don't break it, and don't break him. Particularly when he's gone out of his way to make you comfortable for no other reason than his own sense of kindness."
"Listen, I don't need-" But before Togami could finish, Kirigiri turned her back to him and approached the long table, taking her seat next to Celeste. He rolled his eyes at the childish reaction, but as he went to return his attention to his coffee, his gaze wandered across the table and back to Naegi, who was evidently trying to simmer the boiling Owada from shouting at Taka again.
The sound of a plate tapping his table caught his attention, and he blinked in surprise as Hina smiled down at him. With a curt nod, he took his silverware and began to dig into his food, pushing Kirigiri's words from his mind.