Chapter 55: Day 47

It was well past dinnertime when Togami finally finished looking through all of his belongings. Running a hand through his hair, he stared at the photo of himself with his violin, surrounded by the other students, for perhaps the tenth time that day. He was smirking in the photo, but he knew underneath he was smiling. He had been proud of whatever performance he put on. He wondered if he played the same song on stage that he had played for Naegi weeks ago to calm him down, when he was just recalling the deep emotions he held for the brunette.

He sighed heavily and stared. His mind was blank. Or rather, it was unable to process. Words and thoughts flickered in and out, but nothing concrete remained. He merely looked at the photo, as if in a trance, his body unable to move.

He was sitting in his room, having decided that the locker area wasn't appropriate to dig through such personal belongings. Particularly if one of the other students happened to walk on in and see him. So he had gone to the storage area, grabbed a backpack, and filled it with his things before returning to his dorm room. Slowly, one by one, he had gone through each and every item.

An agenda book. A folder containing old homework assignments. Copies of tests. A separate folder specifically for items related to the Togami Corporation as well as updates from Aloysius and from people at the company. Pictures of Naegi and him.

All evidence of a former life that was now just…gone.

He swallowed hard. He didn't eat or drink anything all day. Naegi wasn't around. He was exhausted. He needed to sleep on this. He needed to make sure Naegi was okay.

He needed to find Naegi.

He stood, setting the photo down on the table, when a sudden sound at the door caught his attention, and he blinked in surprise. "Is that Makoto?" he thought. It wasn't until the second knock that he recalled he had locked the door, and he swiftly approached. Opening it, his eyes widened when he saw both his boyfriend and Kirigiri standing in the doorway.

And Kirigiri had something in her hands. A box. What looked to be a present of some sort. Something that would need an explanation, something that told Togami without words that his night was far from over.

Fortunately, Naegi came prepared, as he held two cups of hot coffee in his hands.

Stepping to the side, Togami wordlessly let them in. "How are you doing?" asked Naegi as he handed Togami one of the mugs of coffee.

"I'm fine," Togami answered, yet his voice must have given away his exhaustion, for Naegi recoiled in surprise and frowned up at him. Quickly catching himself, Togami added, "I've been looking through the contents of my locker. It's been a long day."

"Then I apologize for what I'm about to do," Kirigiri stated. Togami frowned, realizing she hadn't even bothered to pretend to give the two space.

"What, make my day even better?"

"Perhaps…"

Togami glanced down at Naegi, who frowned and shook his head up at Togami. Togami sighed, took another sip of his coffee, and walked over to the table. "Did you find anything of interest?" inquired Kirigiri, who stood perfectly still next to the table. Her eyes darted at the various items, yet her gloved hands clutched onto the box with a tight grip.

"Nothing unusual," Togami answered. Setting his mug down, he cleared the table off, setting each item gently into the backpack. "All were belongings that I would have brought with me or collected during my time here at Hope's Peak. While we were students, of course."

"So nothing that Monokuma snuck in?"

Togami shook his head. "No. If he had, I would have strangled the little animatronic bear, consequences be damned."

"I see…"

"Why? I take it you found something?" Togami turned to face Kirigiri, noting how Naegi took his seat on the edge of the bed, letting his shoulders sag forward. He looked just as exhausted as Togami felt, and that's when it hit him that it was the first time all day he had seen either of the two. "Meaning they've been working since this morning, just like me."

"I did… We've solved the third mystery."

Togami's eyes widened. "You mean what happened to administration?"

Kirigiri slowly nodded and set the box down on the table. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, keeping her hands on the box. "We'll get that first A… And we can spend the rest of our time here finishing our back-up."

"So what happened to them? And what's in the box?" Togami's frown deepened when he saw Naegi shudder. He growled and took a step forward, feeling little patience for the build-up. "What's going on?"

With careful precision, Kirigiri unwrapped the bow on top of the box and set it to the side. Togami watched in awe, as Kirigiri's eyes remained closed while her hands worked to unseal the box. She grabbed the lid, and for a split second, he saw her hesitate. Then, with a sharp inhale, she raised the lid and set it to the side. Togami took a few steps forward only to cry out in shock.

Staring back at him was a skull. A gray skull. Completely devoid of blood or meat.

"Wh-wha… What the…" Words died on his lips as fear shot through him. Togami thought he'd maintain his composure; it wasn't the first time he saw evidence of violence in this place. But after the tiresome day, he realized his nerves were finally starting to fail him. He took a shuddering breath of air as he leaned forward. The skull, he saw, wasn't alone in the box, but accompanied by several other bones. What looked like bones for the legs, and was one of them part of a rib cage? "Human bones," he realized in horror. "This is… This was…"

"This is all that's left of the former headmaster," Kirigiri declared. Her eyes were still closed.

"This…" Togami's hands clenched into fists. "This is your father?"

"Yes."

His breath hitched in his throat. "H-How do you know this?!"

"We found him in the headmaster's room," Kirigiri explained. "And of course, Monokuma was there to confirm our suspicions."

Togami's gaze wandered to Kirigiri, then back down to the skull. He recalled his own dream and memories, where flickers of himself being shown his father's dental records had assaulted him. He recalled the horror, the fear, and what that meant for him.

For Kirigiri, it wouldn't be the same. She didn't lose her future, her corporation. But she did lose her father. And he realized that her silence, her stoicism, was her own form of grieving. He swallowed hard, then looked over to Naegi. Naegi sat perfectly still save for taking the occasion sip of coffee. "He found this with her…" Togami's chest tightened. "He shouldn't have seen this. He should have–"

"This is the only administrator we will find," Kirigiri continued in a cold, detached voice. "Per Monokuma and our own findings, the other teachers are deceased. Hope's Peak Academy officially has no owner and no administration. It is a building in the center of a ruined city." Kirigiri's hands tightened into fists, and for the first time, she opened her eyes and looked directly at Togami. "If I had to guess… Monokuma killed him. Or whoever is controlling the bear."

"Meaning that we were right all along," Togami muttered. His own hands unclenched, and he crossed his arms over his chest. His eyes strayed to the skull, and he swallowed hard. "We aren't here for our own benefit."

"No. I suspect we were here to be tortured or killed, but then the bear changed its mind."

Togami felt a shiver run down his spine. "He'll have to do quite a bit if he even considers touching Makoto." At that, Naegi's head perked up, and he offered a small smile Togami's way. Togami nodded back to him, then looked to Kirigiri. "So… What are you going to do with this?"

"Keep it in my room," she answered. "I…need to think about some things."

"Of course."

"Do you need me tomorrow?"

"No. We'll have the entire team working on building the back-up. If you need time, take it."

"I… Thank you."

"Do you…need anything? From us?"

She shook her head. "I need to be alone. For now. If I need anything further, I'll let you know. But I may take you up on the offer to…to reflect tomorrow."

"I understand. And… I'm sorry."

She nodded once more. "Thank you… I am, too."

"Have you shown Fujisaki?"

"Not yet. I may tomorrow morning before everyone heads to breakfast."

"You should do so sooner than later. He deserves to know. He was part of the initial investigation team, after all."

"I know." A light smirk crossed Kirigiri's lips. "Look at you, being a team player."

Togami felt himself blanch at the statement. "Do what you want," he hissed back.

"I shall." Placing the lid back on the box, she picked it up, then nodded once again to Togami. "We have one task completed," she concluded.

"Three more days, and we're out of here," he stated.

"That's right…" Walking towards the door, she waited until Togami opened it for her before looking back at him. "We're almost out of here," she whispered.

"And we'll be ready for whatever happens," he whispered back. "Including making the people who did this pay."

"Yes. Good evening, then, Togami."

Togami mutely watched as she walked down the hallway. She stopped in front of Fujisaki's room, and Togami inwardly smirked when she finally knocked on the door, evidently taking his advice to heart. He shut his own dorm door and turned to look at his boyfriend, who was still sitting on the edge of the bed.

And shivering.

Togami's eyes widened. He rushed to Naegi's side and sat down, instinctively wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "I'm sorry I wasn't there with you," he stated. Naegi's eyes were closed, and his hands were shaking.

"I-It's fine…"

"I wouldn't have let you see that if I was there. You shouldn't have–"

Naegi swiftly shook his head. "I helped her find her father," he whispered. "It… I know what I did was right. And I'm happy I was there. I can't be coddled and protected from everything going on."

"Still, I…"

"Byakuya…" Togami took the cup of coffee from him and set it on the floor before wrapping both arms around Naegi. He could feel his boyfriend shaking against him, and as Naegi looked up at him, he saw the tears on the edges of his eyes. He knew what Naegi was thinking, and before he could stop the question from being asked, Naegi whispered, "My parents are dead, too, aren't they?"

"Makoto…"

"Your family died… Kirigiri's father was killed…" Naegi chuckled harshly and set his head against Togami's chest. "There's… I mean…"

Togami tightened his grip around Naegi and pressed his chin on top of his head. "Makoto… Your family was in a completely different position than ours. Mine ran an international corporation. Obviously they would be targets of a group trying to create chaos in the world. Kirigiri's father was an administrator for our school. Given that we were kidnapped, it's more than evident that this school has something to do with what happened outside, thus his involvement."

"B-But–"

"Your family is entirely different. Normal. Average. And, for perhaps the first time in history, that may serve you well. There's no reason your family in particular would be a target."

"Y-Yeah… I guess."

Smirking, Togami added, "And besides, you're our Ultimate Lucky Student. If anyone's family survives, it has to be yours on principle alone."

The combination of laughter and tears from Naegi made Togami sigh in relief. He knew Naegi needed to release his emotions, but he wasn't going to let him sit here and mope, either. He was stronger than that. Deserved better than that. The laughter made the tears sting less. "I sure don't feel like an Ultimate Lucky Student right now," Naegi admitted.

"Whether you feel like it or not, it is your title," he stated. "Own it."

"I-I guess…"

"No." Togami held his boyfriend out at arm's length, using his thumb to wipe away some of the tears sliding down his cheek. "You are. Kirigiri is the Ultimate Detective and was able to solve the mystery of her father. It's the price she had to pay for that title. I will need to start the Togami Corporation from scratch; that is the price I must pay. Your price is owning your luck. Staring unlucky situations head-on and seeing that there's another side to all this." Naegi's eyes widened at Togami's words, causing him to smirk. "You see, you even have me making pathetic, emotional speeches to you after I just reminded Kirigiri we started out as a team. Clearly you have a gift."

A chuckle escaped Naegi's lips, and he smiled and wiped the remaining tears away. "Y-You're right… I just hope they're okay. I hope Kirigiri's okay. I hope Aloysius is okay. I hope Mom and Dad and Sis are all okay."

"Well, stick around us. We could certainly use some of your luck. Just give Kirigiri the time she needs right now. And as for your family, I told you already. We'll find them. I promise."

Naegi smiled and nodded, then leaned back against Togami. Togami wrapped his arms around his boyfriend once more and smiled at the feeling of his warm body. "I'll do my best," Naegi whispered.

"I know you will. I won't let you otherwise."

Another chuckle filled the air, and Togami felt Naegi clutch onto his jacket. Then, in a soft voice that shook the room, Naegi whispered, "I love you, Byakuya."

Togami felt his hands twitch and his heart skip a beat. Naegi must have noticed, for he looked up at Togami with wide eyes. The corporate heir slowly placed his hand on Naegi's cheek, caressing the soft skin underneath, and let a smile cross his lips. "I love you, too, Makoto," he whispered back. The sigh of relief from Naegi made Togami act. He leaned forward, kissing Naegi softly, before whispering again, "I love you, Makoto."

"I love you, too, Byakuya."

Pulling Naegi close to his chest yet again, Togami hugged him with all the strength and energy he had. He then gently leaned back on the bed so the two were lying on their sides, yet he maintained his tight grip on Naegi. Letting his hand rub Naegi's back, he gave his boyfriend a moment of peace and quiet, of comfort, things that he knew they were about to lose the second they left Hope's Peak.

And when Naegi's breathing evened out, he glanced down to see the brunette had fallen asleep in his arms. He kissed his forehead and closed his eyes, not even bothering with the room light or his clothes. Those were problems that could be dealt with tomorrow. He simply took off his glasses, setting them to the side, before closing his eyes and smiling. "I love you, Makoto," he whispered. He continued holding Naegi in his arms, loosening his grip to give him a bit more space, and listened to Naegi's steady breaths. It didn't take long until he, too, was fast asleep.