Chapter 27: Day 27

Enough was enough. He had been in this school for nearly a month and had practically no evidence, information, or proof beyond Kirigiri's claims. It was time he found something and contributed for once. With pride coursing through his veins, Togami pulled booklet after booklet off the shelves, placing them on the floor in neat piles to indicate which shelf they came from with his own, internal organization system.

Throwing his mind at the books, titles, and layouts had resulted in nothing, so Togami would take a page out of Kirigiri's book and use his body. His muscles ached, not used to the sudden surge and use, but he persevered, ignoring the occasional papercut and bead of sweat. He had been at it for over three hours, and it was now evening.

Togami took a step back and panted slightly as he looked around at his work. Nearly half the bookshelves in the archive had been entirely cleared, their contents aligned neatly at the base of each one. The previous junk that covered the floor was all pushed to the side or placed out behind the desk in the main library. He already had a statement prepared in case any student got curious and came to find him or saw the mess. Pressing his hands once more against the back of the bookshelf, he felt for any crevice, any button, any mechanism that might reveal something hidden.

"There has to be something back here," he kept repeating to himself. "There has to be."

He sighed heavily as he slipped his jacket off and tossed it onto a nearby chair that he had used to reach the higher shelves. He suddenly felt disgusting. He could feel his hair slightly sticking to him, and he wiped a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek. Looking down, he could see a bit of dry blood from a papercut on his finger. He'd have to do laundry tomorrow morning first thing, and the thought of a hot shower flickered through his mind.

"Just one more bookshelf," he told himself, pushing up his sleeves as he did so. "That will be the halfway point." Starting from the bottom, Togami pulled the books off one by one, not wanting to risk missing a hidden note or slim booklet. He piled the books up next to him, then, once the shelf was cleaned off, he ran his hand over it, ignoring the dust and grime while feeling for any compartments, hidden levers, or contraptions.

Then the next shelf. Then the next.

It was at the fourth shelf, the one at eye level, that the thought of giving up once again crossed his mind. He had been at this for hours. If he was honest with himself, as Kirigiri so rudely remarked, he had been at this for nearly a month. Was there really something here? Or was he just grasping at straws?

"No, I won't accept that." He growled as he pulled down another book. The fifth shelf was nearly clear at this point. "Not until I've picked this room clean and–"

Togami's eyes widened. Even with several books still in place, he could see it.

In the back of the bookshelf, there was an indent. A line. No, three lines. Two horizontal, one vertical. "A box… A button…?" He pressed his fingers against it and felt the wood move inwards. It was slow, as though it hadn't been used in years, but he heard something click.

And the bookshelf made a noise like a groan as it tried to push against Togami.

Togami took a step back, too stunned for a second to make his move. The bookshelf didn't budge beyond the initial pop. It was as though it was stuck. Togami waited a few seconds to see if anything would happen, but nothing did. Then, with new vigor, he cleared off the remaining books, not caring the least about organization. Once cleared, the button was easily visible; a wooden box was indented into the shelving, going back into the wall. Togami pressed it again, and it popped forward, with the bookshelf clicking once more, though this time it seemed to move backwards rather than forwards.

"Does this bookshelf...move?" He clicked again. As before, the shelf clicked and popped a bit forward, but Togami noticed that it was only by a few degrees. "Maybe if I clear off the rest of the shelves, it'll move. The weight may be holding it back." He chuckled to himself as he all but swept the books off the higher shelves, placing them with only the mildest of care in order on the floor. "The most obvious trick in the book, and it was under my nose this entire time. A hidden button. A rotating bookshelf. Kirigiri might laugh at the crude nature of it all."

Once the books were cleared, Togami pressed the button once more and took a step back. He watched in fascination, a smirk of sweet victory painted across his lips, as the bookshelf clicked and pushed forward, until a thin opening was apparent between it and the pillar separating it from the bookshelf on Togami's right. He reached out, grabbed onto the side, and pulled the bookshelf forward. It only took a single pull to reveal a space large enough for Togami to slide through. He stepped forward -

- and was greeted by the presence of a door.

Togami took a moment to examine the doorway. "No weapons as far as I can see. Doorway looks normal. A single, wooden door. Nothing remarkable at all." He reached forward and clasped onto the doorknob, with Monokuma's warning ringing distantly in his mind. He turned the doorknob...and smiled.

"It's unlocked."

Togami let a genuine smile cross his lips. He had found something. He didn't know what. But it was something.

And that's when the fatigue hit him full force. Collapsing against the nearby side of the bookshelf, he inhaled and slowly exhaled, letting his gaze wander over his shoulder to the camera in the corner. It was still turned off. And he had all day tomorrow to explore.

"But then again, if something comes up, then I–"

And then he heard it. Off in the distance. The library door opening. He had kept the archive door propped open just slightly for such an event. Before he knew what he was doing, Togami stepped back and pressed the button once more. The bookshelf slid back into place, and he carelessly tossed a few books in front of the button to hide it. He had just finished up when the door to the archive opened.

Togami knew who it was immediately by the smell of coffee suddenly floating in the air.

"Hey To… Whoa."

Togami turned and saw Naegi standing in the doorway of the archive, two cups of coffee in his hands. He was looking in shock at the chaotic surroundings, and Togami noted a look of fear cross his features as his gaze landed on Togami. "What, do I look that worse for wear?" he taunted, trying to play off his appearance.

"What have you been doing in here?" Naegi's tone was all concern, his eyes taking in Togami as though looking for any sign of injury.

"Searching for a key that may have been hidden," Togami lied, recalling his memorized speech. A pang of guilt shot through him at the mere fact that he was, indeed, lying to Naegi, but Togami couldn't get Naegi involved. "If he sees that door, he'll ask questions. And we all agreed he needs to be kept out of this investigation...for all our sakes."

"A key?"

"Since the headmaster's room is locked, as well as several classrooms on the fifth floor, I thought I'd look to see if a key had been left behind," Togami explained as he walked across the archive. Approaching Naegi, he took one of the cups of coffee in his hand and nodded in appreciation. "The documents themselves here have offered me little information, so I decided to try the next step and physically search."

"Oh." The worry drained from Naegi's features. "That's actually pretty smart! Did you find anything?"

"No…" Taking a sip of the hot, delicious brew, Togami muttered, "Nothing yet."

"Ah. Well, it looks like you're halfway through. Maybe you'll find something soon?"

"Let's hope."

Smiling, Naegi took a sip of coffee before looking over Togami. "I gotta admit, I've never seen you like...well, this before."

"You mean a mess?" It should have been taken as an insult, yet when Togami saw Naegi nod his head, he couldn't help but chuckle. "You always speak your mind, Naegi, whether it's wise to do so or not."

"I guess," Naegi remarked. Chuckling, he added, "First the glitter, now this. Your clothes must hate you right now."

Togami scoffed, though a smile threatened his lips as he did so. "Yes, well… At least I'll sleep well tonight."

"Have you not been sleeping okay?"

Togami waved his hand. "No differently than usual… Why do you ask?"

"Oh, uh. I was just wondering."

"And what about you? How have you been since the other night?"

"I'm doing okay." Naegi smiled as he sipped his coffee. "No weird dreams since."

Togami nodded his head at Naegi before he set the cup of coffee down, grabbed his jacket, and put it back on. He grimaced, the feeling of sweat along his back making him feel disgusting once again. He needed to get cleaned up. Ignoring the small papercuts across his hands, he picked up the cup and exited the archive, shutting the door behind the two.

A comfortable silence descended as Naegi and Togami each took a minute to enjoy their cups of coffee. Naegi smiled as they stood, and soon he asked, "So, um, do you have any plans tomorrow?"

Togami went to say "continue investigating," but his mind caught his tongue. "If I tell him that, he'll more than likely offer to assist, which would make my lies amount to nothing." "I'm not sure yet," he slowly replied. The two began to move once more and exited the library, and Togami immediately caught sight of Fukawa standing behind a nearby pillar. She blinked in shock at him, and he realized just how messy he must have looked in that moment. "But before I consider it, I need a shower."

Naegi smiled as they descended the stairs. "Well, if you need any help taking down the books, let me know, okay?"

Togami slowly nodded. "I will, though I'll more than likely take a break tomorrow."

"Then do you want to swing by the rec room?"

"Why? To play billiards?"

"Kind of. Owada wants to practice against me… He says you're just too good at the game."

Togami smirked and nodded. "Then I absolutely will make an appearance tomorrow."

Naegi laughed as the two finally made their way to the dining hall. By now, both were nearly done with their coffee, and they entered the kitchen to find the room devoid of others. Togami finished his in one final gulp before setting the empty cup in the sink, with Naegi following suit. "I blame you, by the way, for this habit," Naegi remarked, smirking at Togami.

"You only have yourself to blame," Togami retorted. "After all, you're the only one who can make a decent cup around here."

"I'm sure the others could figure it out."

"The point is, they haven't yet."

"And if they did? Would you want them making your coffee instead?"

"No." The answer came before Togami could even grasp it, but once he said it, he knew it to be true. "No, only you are allowed to make my coffee here."

Naegi's smile widened, and a light pink flushed across his cheeks. "Does it make me a bad person that that makes me kind of happy?"

"I don't see how it does." Glancing up at the clock, Togami saw it was a quarter to ten and frowned. "Well, we should leave before the nighttime announcement comes on. Come on, let's head back."

"Sounds good." Naegi followed Togami out of the kitchen, and soon the two were walking side by side once more. Togami glanced down, seeing how close they were to one another yet again…

...and the irrational part of his brain took over as he reached out to touch Naegi's hand.

They stopped for a brief second, almost too quickly to notice. But Naegi glanced down, smiled, and reached back into Togami's hand. Their fingers graced against each other, the sensation sizzling between them. Togami's heartbeat quickened at the feeling. Yet he smiled confidently, recalling how Naegi had embraced him just the other night, and clasped his fingers between Naegi's.

Naegi squeezed his hand in return.

The two exited, with Togami looking out for Fukawa and sighing in relief when he didn't see her. It was such a short distance from the kitchen to the dorms that it seemed foolish holding hands. It was also risky, as anyone who exited their dorm would see the two walking together. But Togami kept their fingers locked until they reached Naegi's dorm door. "See you tomorrow," Naegi cheerfully stated as he waved goodnight to Togami with his other hand, his voice shockingly normal despite the circumstances. Togami nodded and let go of him, and before he could do anything more foolish, he turned and headed to his own dorm room.