Chapter 26: Day 26
"Why am I even bothering with you guys anymore?!"
Monokuma touched the fragile backup with enough force to send it flying backwards. Togami watched as it fell to the floor and landed with a sharp thud. A piece of a solar panel cracked upon impact. Turning at them all, Monokuma asked, "Just WHAT is this? Why is it so shiny? Why does it look like such crap?"
"Hey man, you wanted something eco-friendly," Hiro argued. "The only eco-friendly thing we could find were some damn solar panels."
"But you all are inside!" Monokuma shouted. "How are you supposed to get sunlight to power the solar panels?!"
"Oh, uh… Didn't think about that," Owada mumbled.
"I did," Togami stated. "But the clairvoyant's right. Once again, we worked with what we had. And maybe if you'd–"
"If you say 'let us go,' I swear to GOD I'm gonna turn on the damn machine guns!" Monokuma growled again. "I mean, what the heck? This was supposed to be your guys' big day! After all, don't you know what day it is?"
"Umm… Thursday?" asked Enoshima.
"No! I mean the day number!"
"You mean how many days we've been here?" asked Kuwata.
"Oh, that's 26!" Hina exclaimed.
"Exactly! Meaning you're halfway done being here!"
At the statement, the lights dimmed, and the sounds of celebratory music suddenly blasted through the speakers. Balloons, streamers, and confetti shot out of the ceiling and began to land on the students. Glitter shot up from small holes that appeared in the floor. Togami didn't even bother to avoid the ridiculous decorations as he watched the other students clamor futilely to dodge the mess or clean themselves off. It lasted far too long, a full song of trumpets and fanfare echoing throughout the gym, and by the end, nearly everyone was covered in sparkles, confetti, and party streamers, while the floor was caked in decorations.
"Now, I hate to say you did a good job, 'cuz you didn't, but technically, yet again, you did complete my task," Monokuma continued once the song had concluded. "Plus, I gotta say, festivities always lift my mood! So I suppose you're okay on that front. But you know what that means, right?"
"Another backup?" Maizono mused, her tone reflecting the group's depression at the mere thought. She pulled a streamer out of her hair and frowned.
"Yooooou got it!" Rushing to the stage, Monokuma pulled out his usual chalkboard and spun it around. A headlight flashed down on him, created a pillar of light to illuminate the chalkboard. "And this time, I realized that I need a backup for you all. After all, it's been nearly a month, right? You all eating healthy? Not eating late-night snacks, putting on the Freshman 15?" Togami took a step forward and adjusted his glasses. On the board, he could see the words "Cooking Monokuma" written in colorful chalk, with what looked to be childish pictures of ramen bowls on the side. "Now, hop to it, folks! And for the love of all that is holy and just in this world, TRY to make a backup that doesn't make me want to gouge my red eye out!"
The lights turned back on, revealing the students standing in the center of a mess of confetti, glitter, streamers, and balloons. Monokuma, for his part, disappeared around the curtain, leaving them with the chalkboard. Togami felt his e-Handbook vibrate and pulled it out, seeing the new list of necessary items indicated.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair only to growl in irritation when he felt several pieces of glitter stick to his fingers.
"Bro, there's no way we can clean like this!" Hiro remarked, his own wild hair absolutely covered in glitter and confetti.
"This was obviously meant to slow us down," Togami observed. "Especially when our next day off is right around the corner."
"Well, this is just ridiculous!" Taka exclaimed. "How am I expected to clean the hallways of this school when my own boots will leave shiny tracks?!"
"Let's all return to our dorms and get ourselves cleaned up," Kirigiri noted, kicking a balloon to the side. "We'll meet in the dining hall and at least get an hour or two in."
"B-But wait a minute…" Fukawa's voice echoed in the gym, and all eyes turned to her. A balloon stuck to one of her braids, yet she didn't even seem to notice. Her eyes were wide with fear, and her hands were fidgeting. "D-Didn't you hear what that bear actually said?"
A few seconds passed before Maizono slowly asked, "What do you mean?"
"H-He said we're halfway done… Halfway done." Fukawa shook her head. "We've been here for 26 days, guys! 26 days! Where is everyone outside? Why can't we leave yet?! Why isn't he joking about any of this?!"
A sudden silence swept through the group. Togami glanced over at Kirigiri, who stared blankly at the Ultimate Writer. Fujisaki had a sympathetic expression, as did Naegi. The others looked awkwardly at each other. Finally, Owada said, "Hey, listen, there's nothing we can do right now. You know what that front door looks like, just like the rest of us. And think of it this way." Smiling, Owada cracked his knuckles and noted, "Yeah, this ain't exactly a fuckin' vacation or anything, but it's been kinda cool hangin' with you all each day. I can't wait to get back to my bike gang, but if we're forced to be here, might as well make the best of it, right?"
"Brother is right!" Taka proclaimed. "We are trapped here. That much is certain. But we cannot lose hope, and, indeed, spending time with you all has been an educational experience all its own! We must do our best to make the best of it!"
"The best of it… The best of it…" Fukawa repeated the phrase over and over, as if memorizing something for a test. Togami sighed.
"We've survived each other this long," the corporate heir remarked. The looks of shock thrown his way weren't lost on him, and Fukawa looked up as though the voice of God himself was echoing through the ceiling. "And we're still in no real danger, despite Monokuma's constant complaints regarding our creations. Just keep your head on straight and focus on the end goal. To waste your energy on any other concerns is to slow us all down."
"Holy shit, the dude's right," Kuwata muttered.
"Yeah, who'da thought…" Hiro remarked.
Fukawa's eyes glowed wide with adoration, and she clasped her hands together in front of her as she said, "M-Master gave me… He gave me advice. He truly, truly cares for me… Oh my goodness, I… I…"
Togami rolled his eyes. "This is why no good deed goes unpunished in this insane asylum," he muttered.
"Your charisma was high enough to convince her to continue," Hifumi noted. "You should have known the consequences of your actions."
"You are, after all, the one stuck with her," Ogami observed with an amused grin.
"The hell I am," Togami countered.
Hina giggled as she said, "Yeah, haven't you noticed he's been hanging out with Nae–"
Shooting them all a glare, Togami quickly interrupted, "I've wasted enough time this morning. I'm getting a shower. We're meeting back in the dining hall, no?"
Kirigiri nodded, though the smile across her lips indicated her amusement at the ongoing conversation. "Let's not waste the full day. Everyone, get cleaned up and meet back in an hour."
"You got it!" Enoshima exclaimed, who, if Togami wasn't mistaken, seemed to actually be playing around in the confetti. The students began to filter out of the gym in small groups, and Togami himself went to leave when, to his lack of surprise, Naegi practically sprinted towards him and began to walk beside him.
Then, to his actual surprise, he noticed Kirigiri do the same, walking on the opposite side of Naegi. He shot her a look. "What?"
"What you said back there was rather kind, truth be told," Kirigiri stated, shooting a humorous look his way.
"What? Telling Fukawa to get over it?"
"You didn't have to say it. But you did. It's the thought that counts."
"Hmph." Togami rolled his eyes as the trio exited the gym and began heading in the direction of the dorm rooms. "I meant what I said. She's already mentally unstable. If she becomes–"
"You don't have to justify every kind act, Togami," Kirigiri interrupted. "Sometimes it's okay to just say nice things, right Naegi?"
"Huh? Oh, uh…" Naegi chuckled and said, "Sorry, wasn't paying attention."
"Oh, so you were just looking at Togami because…"
Togami's eyes widened, and Naegi's face turned scarlet red as he waved his hands innocently. "I-I-It's not every day that you see Togami with glitter in his hair!"
Togami scowled and rolled his eyes, though the idea of Naegi staring at him made his heart skip a beat. He could still vividly recall the sensation of embracing Naegi as well as the sense of happiness that had spread throughout his body at the realization that he had been able to help him. He had fallen asleep with only thoughts of Naegi in his mind, making him feel like a heartsick puppy. He wasn't much better by breakfast, but he reminded himself that he still had tasks to complete. Building the Monokuma backup had been a decent distraction, but it dawned on him that, after this, he would no doubt be grouped with Naegi to find more items, pulling his mind back to the previous evening.
It also didn't escape his notice that, while they were traveling as a group, Naegi was walking closer to Togami than to Kirigiri. Close enough, actually, that their arms nearly brushed against each other. If he wanted to, all he would have to do is reach out the slightest bit, and their hands would be touching...
A fact, no doubt, that Kirigiri was also picking up on, given the curious glint in her eyes.
"So Kirigiri, what do you plan to do when we get out?" asked Naegi as they passed the school store.
"What do you mean?" she asked slowly, glancing over at the two.
"Well, we're halfway done. Got any plans for when we get to leave?"
"Hmm… Perhaps return to my old school," Kirigiri noted. "Though I am curious as to why the police have yet to arrive, so I may decide to look into that matter if nothing becomes clear here."
"Ah…" Glancing over at Togami, Naegi asked, "What about you?"
Togami scoffed. "The second we leave, I'm finding the people responsible for this and ending their careers. Then maybe I'll reinstate this school and replace those responsible with competent people. Or just burn it to the ground and be done with it."
"W-Well, I mean… This school isn't that bad," Naegi remarked, clearly taken aback by Togami's harsh response. "Although that would be cool, making this an actual school. Having real classrooms, taking the metal plates off… It'd need a lot of work, sure, but…"
Kirigiri shot a look at Togami that didn't go unnoticed. Indeed, as Naegi spoke, Togami recalled his dream of discussing a math test, the nighttime announcement that sounded like a normal announcement, the idea of relaxing over the weekend… All the romantic elements aside, the dream had reflected a normal school life for students living at a school. "And then there's Fujisaki's dreams and Kirigiri's visions. Plus Naegi's dream last night…"
He frowned. Togami had briefly pondered the events in Naegi's description of his dream, and he had to wonder what news could possibly be so shocking, so appalling, that he could have gone into a catatonic state over it. Whatever it was escaped him. Perhaps it was just too preposterous, or perhaps their hunch was incorrect, and it had simply been a dream and nothing more. "I need to write down my dreams...and maybe add Naegi's to my notebook," he reflected. "Maybe something will trigger, like Kirigiri believes."
"What about you, Naegi?" Kirigiri suddenly asked. "What will you do when we leave?"
"Well, I don't really know," Naegi answered. By now, they were passing the bathhouse and approaching the hallway for their dorms. If Togami didn't know any better, he could swear they were walking just a tad slower, as though to draw out the conversation. "I'd like to stay in contact with everyone here. Owada was right, after all. Yeah, the backups kinda suck, but this has been kinda fun, too. Meeting everyone, hanging out with people…" Togami watched as Naegi glanced up at him and smiled. "And the idea of turning this school into something actually sounds kind of neat. But then, I'd also want to go back home and check in on my family. Make sure my sister is okay, at least."
"I mean, we have cell phones." Kirigiri chuckled. "Or we did. But it's not like we're all going to vanish once we leave the school. I'm sure we'll keep in contact."
"Yeah. I really want that."
"Then just do it," Togami scolded. "If you want something to happen, make it happen."
"Isn't that a little rich coming from you?" taunted Kirigiri.
Togami shot a glare her way as Naegi chuckled. "No, Togami's right. If I want us all to stick together after this, I'll need to get people's numbers and information."
"Look at you, being all optimistic." Togami watched as a shockingly light smile crossed Kirigiri's features as she looked from Naegi to him, then back to Naegi. "Well, I need to shower, as do the two of you. Meet back in the dining hall." Pulling out her key, she approached her dorm room door and began to unlock it. Togami turned and also approached his room, though as he did so, he peeked over his shoulder to see Naegi hastily opening his own door.
"Keeping in contact with everyone, hm?" Smirking, Togami opened his dorm door, entered, and shut it behind him, becoming suddenly aware of all the glitter and confetti stuck to his clothes and hair. "Perhaps not everyone, but… Maybe Day 51 of this nightmare doesn't have to be an end, after all."
He scoffed, then laughed at how utterly pathetic he sounded. Stripping out of his clothes, he quickly entered the shower, doing his best to focus on getting the glitter out of his hair.