Author's Note: Hey everyone! Just wanted to say thanks again for checking out the fanfic. I may post another chapter this weekend as a holiday present to you all, so be sure to keep an eye out!

Chapter 17: Day 14

Just as Kirigiri predicted, Monokuma had arrived at the dining hall shortly before breakfast to announce that the students were once again barred from working on the backup design. Having already made plans, the group ate in comfortable silence before slowly making their way up to the recreation room for a day of games, snacks, and conversation. Togami hadn't planned on attending, but after the run-in with Fukawa, he realized his options were limited. To not go would leave him alone, no doubt with her stalking behind him like a damned mutt. The very thought of spending the day that way made him ultimately consider socializing with the others.

He also had to admit that a day alone with his thoughts probably wouldn't be for the best. Between his dream, Fukawa's remark, Kirigiri's findings, and a lack of good sleep the previous evening, Togami felt he was on high alert. It wasn't that his brain was muddled or slow; on the contrary, his mind was sending him an excessive amount of messages. There were too many stupid, useless questions floating in his head when he should have been focused on his current predicament. Why had Naegi blushed when he grabbed the boy's hands to move the triangle? Why was Fukawa obsessed with him? Why had Fukawa said that about the way he looked at Naegi? Why did it bother him so much that the others may think he was treating Naegi harshly, even when he treated Fukawa worse?

Why wouldn't that damn dream leave him be?

None of it made any sense. Togami had tolerated Naegi for the past two weeks because the boy could make a good cup of coffee and because shooing him off wouldn't have been worth the hassle. They had just met, after all, in this insane asylum that was a former school. There was nothing mysterious or, gods forbid, romantic about it. That was what the corporate heir told himself as he got dressed for the breakfast meeting, what he repeated in his mind as he half-listened to Monokuma's orders, and what he insisted to himself when he finished the promised cup of coffee. But Fukawa's statement in particular, even with her now obvious insanity, made him pause. And he didn't know why.

"It has to be this school and the tasks being assigned," Togami thought as he stood from his lone table and took his dishes to the kitchen. "I'm losing my mind being trapped in this place. It's the only logical conclusion, because none of this is logical."

"So, are you coming with us?" The voice caused him to jump slightly, and he looked to his left to see Kirigiri standing at the entrance to the kitchen. She quirked an eyebrow. "Or perhaps the better question is, are you all right?"

"I'm fine," he replied.

"How did last night go?"

"Fine," he repeated.

"I noticed Naegi followed you into your room…"

"And?" Fighting a rising blush, Togami tried to stand as tall and proud as he could as he finished putting his dishes in the dishwasher. "Fukawa would no doubt try to harass him."

"So you brought him to your room?"

"Yes."

"Bold move."

The sarcasm wasn't lost on him. "And what would you have done in my place?"

She shrugged. "Honestly, I don't know."

"Exactly. So be quiet." He turned to face her and was surprised to see her standing a bit closer than before.

"Well, before I leave you alone, let me ask again," she said, smirking at him all the while. "Are you coming with us?"

Togami sighed in defeat and waved his hand in the air. "Yes, I'll be tagging along today," he answered. "Because otherwise Fukawa will no doubt spread some sort of nonsense about us."

"Good idea." And with that, Kirigiri turned and exited the kitchen, leaving Togami alone. Togami sighed once more, hating how cornered he felt, but followed the lavender-haired girl's path out of the kitchen, then out of the dining hall. Hiro, Yamada, and Celeste were heading as a trio upstairs, followed by Maizono, Ogami, and Hina. Togami followed several steps behind, hoping nobody had claimed the pool table already. He climbed the steps to the third floor, hands in his pockets and mind once again racing with thoughts. His only consolation was that, upon entering the rec room, he saw that the students already there were claiming positions for the darts game and that nobody seemed to show interest in the billiards table.

Togami rushed over, grabbed the cue stick and equipment, and began setting up a game. Just as he was prepared to strike his first shot, however, the door to the room opened once more. He glanced up to see Taka, Owada, and Naegi all enter.

And Naegi looked directly at him and smiled.

"Hey Togami!" Rushing over to the table, Naegi said, "I'm shocked you decided to come hang out with us!"

Standing from his position, Togami remarked, "Yes, well… After what happened last night, I felt the need to protect myself today."

"By spending time with us?" asked Naegi, knitting his eyebrows together in confusion.

"Does she strike you as the social type?"

Chuckling at that, Naegi nodded in understanding. Owada had also approached the table and was staring curiously down at the set-up. He then looked over to Togami and Naegi. "Yo man, you start yet?" he asked.

"Does it look like I started yet?"

"I mean, no. But ya mind if I join ya, then?"

Togami blinked in surprise. "What, you know how to play?"

"Yeah, man! I played all the time with my brother at the pool halls. Got some skills, if I do say so myself!"

"Hmph, we'll see about that." The thought of putting the loudmouth in his place made Togami smirk. Reaching out for the second stick, Togami handed it over to the biker. "But I get to go first since I set up the table."

"Fine by me." Togami stood and lined up his shot just as he had before, noting out of the corner of his eye that Naegi had since taken a seat at one of the high tables and was now watching the two. Others had since entered the room or claimed games as well, with Celeste setting up an Othello game with Fujisaki while Yamada and Hiro watched. The others were either standing in front of the magazine rack or the darts machine.

Togami inhaled, pulled back, and simultaneously exhaled as he fired his stick forward, watching as the cue ball scattered the triangle of balls in all directions. Owada whistled as two balls sank. "All right, all right," Owada muttered. "You got some talent, Rich Boy."

"It's Togami," Togami corrected. Aiming at the next ball, he lined up his shot and went to strike when the sudden, jarring sound of pop music kicked on through the speakers, throwing off his concentration. He hit the ball just slightly to the left and watched in irritation as the cue ball missed.

"Alrighty, my turn!" Owada exclaimed. Togami stepped aside and took a second to scan the room. Fukawa was present and watching him, to his utter disgust; however, she was standing in the corner next to a lone locker, biting her finger and otherwise looking incredibly out of place. The only other person he cared about, Kirigiri, was watching the Othello game. He returned his attention to the pool table, hoping against hope that the social climate would frighten Fukawa enough to make her flee. Then maybe he could return to his dorm room for some peace. After all, he certainly didn't intend to stay here all day.

"Dammit!" Owada shouted. Togami watched as the cue ball missed its target. "A'ight, man, your move."

"Let's make this quick." Togami sank another two balls back to back before missing his third shot, the surrounding noise interfering with his concentration. Owada scowled, and Togami heard him say to Naegi something about being underestimated. Owada then proceeded with his turn and, to Togami's surprise, managed to catch up before finally missing a shot.

"So, uh, Togami, where'd you learn how to play pool?" asked Owada as Togami lined up his next shot.

"I taught myself the basics," Togami answered after sinking another target. "Once it became apparent that I had an inclination towards the game, I decided to invest in a coach."

"Wait, so you paid to learn?"

"Yes." Togami sank another target only to miss his next shot.

"Soooo your parents didn't pay?"

"No."

"Oh. That's, uh, surprising. I thought your whole thing was havin' rich parents."

"Just because I come from a powerful family doesn't mean that they paid for all my things," Togami remarked, watching as Owada began to line up his next shot. "I earned a fortune through my own work and paid for things I desired with that income. It's really not that difficult for even you to understand."

Owada shot and missed. Standing, he glanced over at Togami and smiled. "I just never would've taken ya for someone who knew what hard work was."

"Difficulty wasn't the concern," Togami noted. "But yes, I did earn what I have. And I'll continue earning what I have."

"So then, maybe this is an odd question, but why bother flaunting having rich parents to begin with?"

Togami frowned and shot Owada a glare. "You're right. That is an odd question. Because by proving my worth to my family, I've gained access to information and resources you could never possibly dream to have. It's not just that they have an obscene amount of wealth, though I suppose anyone within the lower ranks of society would first think of that. But it's the information and power we're privy to that gives the Togami name its depth."

Owada blinked in confusion, clearly trying to piece together what Togami was saying. As he did, however, Togami cleared the rest of his targets with ease, then called, shot, and sank the 8 ball in one go. Standing tall, Togami smirked and said, "Looks like I win this round… Not that that was ever in question."

"All right, all right. Clearly you like this game. But man, you are good." To Togami's surprise, Owada began setting up a second round and smirked at Togami's confused expression. "What? Never heard the phrase 'best two out of three'?" Shooting a look over at Naegi, who was still sitting and watching, Owada asked, "Unless of course Naegi wants to join in for a round?"

"I'll wait until you guys are done," Naegi remarked, smiling and nodding at the two. Taka had since entered and sat across from Naegi, joining the watch party while offering a soda to Naegi.

"All right, we'll get a tournament going!" Owada shouted. Pointing at Togami, he proclaimed, "Best two out of three it is!" Togami sighed and slowly nodded, watching as Owada set up the table. The biker had no chance of victory, but he was still willing to play. Just like Naegi. Togami wondered why they even bothered, only to determine that, if nothing else, it was good practice for him.

"And a little fun." The intrusive thought came and went, and he mentally scoffed before shooting a glance Naegi's way. "It's official. I am spending too much time with him."