Chapter 23: Day 22
Togami knew the day wasn't going to go well when Monokuma, upon seeing the Monokumadult, remained stoic and silent for minutes, as if staring at nothing. "He's going to complain about this one, too, no doubt," Togami thought in frustration. "And we're going to have to stand here and listen to it." Seconds passed slowly, and Togami ignored the urge to look at the others in case Monokuma tried anything. He crossed his arms over his chest, tapping a finger against the inside of his forearm in irritation. The bear stood and stared, and stared, and stared some more. And then -
"Just what. The Hell. Is THIS?!"
"There it is."
Red eye blazing and with claws out and ready, Monokuma turned and spun on the students. "When you think of an adult, just what the hell do you think of? Because I sure as hell don't know what this is supposed to be!"
"It's, uh, supposed to be…" Maizono trailed off, looking worriedly at the others.
Owada stepped forward. "It's a damn adult version of ya, just like you asked!"
"Like hell it is! It's just taller and fatter than me!"
"I mean...that's what happens when you get older," Hiro mumbled.
"Yeah, and it's not like you're helping with ideas!" Enoshima countered, placing her hands on her hips as she shouted. "Heck, even I'll give Togami here some credit, as he's putting this shit together for us without–"
"Oh, don't give the corporate heir any more compliments!" Monokuma interrupted. "He's already full of himself!"
Togami glared but said nothing. As if to make it worse just because, Fukawa pointed at the bear and shouted, "Y-Y-You take that back! Master is doing great work for all of us!"
"'Master'? That's a weird title. You into that kind of thing, Togami?"
"Save it, Monokuma," Togami spat back. "We did what you asked of us."
"You built a bigger bear. I have no idea how you think that qualifies as an 'Adult Monokuma.'"
"You think you could do better?"
Monokuma growled. "Pretty sure I can!"
"Then let us outta here and do it yourself!" demanded Kuwata. "Dammit, this is so frustrating!"
"No freakin' way! At this rate, I might have you stay longer just to fix some of these!"
Togami tightened his grip on his arms to avoid showing his sudden fear, but he glanced over to see Kirigiri shooting him a look. Clearly, she had picked up on it too. Before either could say anything, however, Hina said, "No way! We're getting out of here on Day 51! I have it marked on my calendar and everything!"
"'Calendar'?" Monokuma repeated.
"Well… Not really. I mean, there aren't any calendars here. But I've been marking the days off and am counting them down!"
"Why aren't there any calendars here?" inquired Ogami, who was staring curiously at Monokuma. "Isn't a school supposed to have them in each classroom?"
"All right, now we're veering off-track!" Rushing back to the stage, Monokuma hoisted himself up as he said, "And fine, fine. You win this round. You DID make a new bear for me, and I suppose being down two members just meant you couldn't do as good a job. But you better step it up this time!" Pulling out his signature chalkboard, Monokuma spun it around to reveal his next design. "Maybe this will clean up your previous backup!"
A drawing of a Monokuma bear standing under sunlight was drawn in chalk, with the word "Ecokuma" written overhead. Flowers and a tree that looked as though it had been drawn by a five-year-old were also visible. "Looks like a demented garden gnome," Hiro remarked, and even Togami snickered at the comparison as several others chuckled.
"Laugh all you want, kiddos, but this one better be top notch!" Monokuma threatened. "I'm updating your handbooks! Now get to work, chop chop!"
Without another insult, Monokuma slipped away and disappeared, leaving the students alone in the gym. Fukawa was, shockingly enough, the first to speak. "Wh-what does he mean, he might keep us here longer?" She shuddered as she hissed, "He better let us leave…"
"He ain't gonna have a choice!" Owada proclaimed. "We finish up this shit, and then, we're gettin' out of here! It's that simple."
"I agree!" declared Yamada. "After all, my fans the world over are waiting for my next creation, and with all the free time I've had here, I must say, I've created quite a bit of artwork!"
"Well then, let's get to today's assignment!" Taka's voice rang out as he pointed at the other students. "Cleaning crew, with me!"
"Y-You don't have to shout all the time," Fukawa muttered. Togami watched as the other students began to leave, noticing in particular how Fukawa shot Naegi, then him, a look. He was almost certain she had seen the two talking yesterday in the rec room, given her habit of stalking him…
...which probably meant that she had seen their embrace, as well.
Togami's mental vision shot back to the previous day as Kirigiri and Naegi gathered around the remaining students. It had been otherwise normal; the two played quite a few rounds of billiards, during which Togami gave Naegi advice and feedback, before they shared lunch. He returned to his dorm room to read and ended up spending the rest of the day there, his thoughts drifting between the novel and the morning's events.
But to think that Togami felt unaffected by it all would've been a lie. And from Naegi's glances towards his table during breakfast, it was clear the Ultimate Lucky Student was also trying to gauge where they stood. Togami had not just let Naegi embrace him. He had welcomed it, returned it, and now, he desired it. He couldn't deny he wanted it to happen again. The sensation of warmth that permeated through him made him feel things he never had...or didn't at least recall, if Kirigiri's hypothesis was indeed correct.
Added to that was the subtle change that occurred after their embrace. It was such a small detail that most probably wouldn't have picked up on it. Maybe Naegi hadn't noticed it, either, but Togami certainly did. The two had stood closer to one another while playing pool. Sat closer to each other at lunch. Walked closer to one another down the hallways and the stairs. It was like they were testing each other. Testing the waters, finding what was appropriate and what wasn't. If a hug wasn't met with revulsion, what was next?
Suddenly everyone's observations of the two, the subtle and the outright, didn't seem as far-fetched as before.
Yet now was not the time to ponder such things… And indeed, Monokuma's underlying threat forced Togami to pull out his handbook and begin looking over the list of necessary items.
"I suppose it's as good a time as any to assign the teams," Kirigiri remarked as her gaze swept across the remaining students. "Naegi, you will be taking the day off today."
"You got it," Naegi nodded, his gaze focused on the handbook. Togami tried not to reveal his disapproval, as he could feel Kirigiri shoot him a look without even turning in her direction.
"Hina, Kuwata and Enoshima, you're all in the gardens," Kirigiri continued. "There's a lot of things we need from there, which I suppose makes some sense given the theme of this particular project."
"You got it!" Hina exclaimed.
"Togami, you and I will investigate the physics lab. Owada and Hiro, you two are staying here in the gymnasium, though if Monokuma kicks you out to take this…" She pointed at the abandoned Monokumadult as she spoke, "...then feel free to join another group. Lastly, Ogami and Maizono, you're in the music hall."
"Sounds like a plan!" Maizono smiled warmly, and one by one, the groups began to leave. Togami followed Kirigiri out of the gym and up the stairs until they arrived at the third floor. Turning down the hallway past the empty rec room, Togami heard Kirigiri chuckle and turned to look at her.
"What?"
"Just thinking, is all."
"I'm sure…"
"You have to admit, it's all rather cute."
"What's 'rather cute'?"
"Oh, you don't know? Well, then I suppose you'll have to figure it out yourself. I can only solve so many mysteries in this school."
Togami scoffed as the two approached the doorway to the physics lab. "If you're referring to myself and Naegi, you can drop it."
"Well, I certainly wasn't referring to you and Fukawa." A serious look spread across Kirigiri's features as she added, "And I would be careful around her… She's no doubt taken notice of your 'friendship' with Naegi. I can't imagine she will take it very well."
"I don't honestly care what happens to her," Togami remarked, ignoring her emphasis. His gaze caught sight of the box for their items. Taking his handbook out once more, he scanned through the list of necessary materials.
"Yes, but perhaps you should. After all, something may not happen to her, but she's already a bit unstable. You rejecting her has only made her more focused on you; imagine what she'll think when she sees you truly enjoying your time with another."
Togami blinked and looked up at her. The mere thought caused his free hand to tighten into a fist, and he clenched his teeth as he muttered, "If she tries to harm him in any way, I will–"
"I don't think she'll resort to violence," Kirigiri retorted. "Given how she glares at Naegi in the mornings, I think it might honestly be the opposite problem, that she'll ensure Naegi pleases you however you wish."
The observation caused Togami's frown to deepen. "What do you mean?"
"You haven't noticed? Remember weeks ago, when you told her that Naegi had to make your coffee each morning? She stares at him, practically stalking him, until he does so." Smirking, she added, "Though I don't think Naegi's caught onto it, either. After all, she stands in the far corner to avoid being looked at. But she is watching him."
"That girl…" Togami shook his head. "I'll inform Naegi to watch his back."
"Or perhaps just do it for him? That's one way to show you care for him, and he's busy enough trying to manage our schedules." Walking towards a nearby corner, Kirigiri remarked, "Well, that's enough of that. Let's get to work then, hmm? After all, I don't like what Monokuma said...and neither, I think, did you."
With a final nod, Togami headed for the adjacent storage room. "She's right. Because if Monokuma doesn't release us as promised… Then we'll have bigger problems than just Fukawa's obsessive nature."