Summary: It's exactly as the title says~
It took an embarrassingly long amount of time to regain his composure. After a few hours of uneasy sleep, Naegi decided to blow off some steam through the basic workout that Ogami had given him. In order to minimise the chances of contact with the other Ultimates however, he decided to stick to the confines of his room rather than do it in the boys' locker room or the pool area the Ultimate Martial Artist had taught him at in the first place. Slightly awkward, considering the cramped nature of the room, but apart from the occasional stumble into a wall and that narrow miss with the corner of his bed, he managed to get through the hour-long activity before collapsing onto the floor. The wooden surface wasn't exactly the best thing to lie against, but he didn't want to ruin the sheets of his disconcertingly comfortable bed with sweat-soaked clothes. Rolling over onto his back, he extended a hand towards the ceiling, angling it so that the light glinted off the ring he had taken from Kuwata's dead body.
"...the ribbon's beginning to fray." It wasn't particularly surprising, considering how much punishment his accessories must have taken alongside his physical form. And a ribbon wasn't exactly made from the most sturdy of materials. His collection of hoodies aside, the last trace of Maizono Sayaka was torn in several places, probably scuffed by the numerous times he had been flung across a room. Or into a wall. And then another wall. And then into the floor. He sighed, choosing to put that thought out of his mind. The teenager knew he was accident-prone, but this was approaching ridiculous levels of nonsense! Still, something akin to grief threatened to engulf his heart. Naegi slowly untied the knot tying Maizono's ribbon to his wrist, cupping the small thing in his hands with the care that its fragility deserved. He fiddled with the fabric before an idea struck the Lucky Student.
Slipping the ring from his finger, he threaded it through the ribbon before carefully tying it around his neck. Humming to himself while tapping the metal accessory, he tucked it away underneath his shirt, away from prying eyes. At least this way, it would be a lot easier to protect them…provided he stopped getting picked up by the neck. Chuckling at the thought, he fumbled around blindly before pulling a pillow down from his bed to support his neck. Naegi was already in quite a lot of pain. No need to make it unnecessarily worse. Closing his eyes, he shielded them from the light with an arm, letting his body go limp.
There were so many things left to do, but he was oh so very tired. It seemed like with each step of the way, the problems class 78 were facing just seemed to multiply. He was nowhere close to figuring out what exactly was done to them to end up in this situation in the first place. The Mastermind's identity remained unsolved. The threat of someone dying was still very present, even with the foundations already laid. Naegi resisted the urge to sigh once more. He chose this path, and there was no use complaining about it right now. Especially since there was no more turning back. Not now. Not while the Killing Game continued to operate, and the others' lives were still at risk. His hand tightened into a fist.
And then there were the new mysteries that were beginning to pop up, things that required investigation. The documents within that secret room still needed reading. Also, oddities that he couldn't really explain. A scar across his chest that he had no memory of getting in the first place. A slight twinge whenever he overexerted himself that spoke of a previously broken limb. His body may have been falling apart due to a mix of sleep deprivation and the constant fights he was getting into, but that couldn't explain how weak he had gotten. It was as though he had neglected the normal routines he operated with while still putting his body under more stress than it needed. Naegi turned over onto his side, lips twisting into a confused frown. The more he searched, the less he found. Like stumbling around in a maze while blindfolded, the walls and paths changing with each step. It was probably the worst sort of situation to be put in, especially for a completely average teenager like the Ultimate Lucky Student, Naegi Makoto. He should have crumpled under the stress, or clung to his Hope with an optimistic, naive confidence.
Sharp laughter bubbled up from within his chest, escaping his throat even as he tried to clamp down on it. Clapping his hands over his mouth did little more than muffle the hysterical giggles that refused to be stifled, the way his face twitched with a smile that stretched so wide it hurt his cheeks. His eyes rolled in their sockets, darting around the silent room frantically as though it could provide the answers that he so desperately sought. His eyes burned with unshed tears, even as he hunched in on himself to stave off the nausea.
So why do I feel like this?
Time Remaining: 33 Hours
He poked his head into the library, idly noting with some curiosity the fact that one Togami Byakuya was missing from his favourite lurking spot. Side-eying the desk lamp and the changed location of that odd letter, he reached out to brush a hand over the now empty desk located in the corner of the room.
"The computer's missing." There was a clear imprint where dust had not collected because of the presence of a device occupying that space. Tapping the surface thoughtfully, he attempted to gauge how long it had been since the laptop was last present. No more than a day…probably. Whatever it was, someone had pilfered the sole bit of technology that wasn't completely bolted down (if you ignored their PDAs) between the last time he had been in this room and right now. He drummed his fingers against the table. Probably Fujisaki then, considering she was the only one with the sort of technological know-how that could fix up the device. Although he couldn't just limit people to their Talents. That would be foolhardy. He'd have to conduct a more thorough search, but the Ultimate Programmer was certainly the first one on his agenda. Glancing around, he tested the doorknob of the Records Room, pleasantly surprised that it wasn't locked or barred in any way. With Togami's ominous words on whatever was contained within the four walls before him, he would've expected the Scion to just straight up prevent him from going in altogether. Not like Naegi would have just given up at the presence of a locked door, but it certainly prevented the inconveniences that came with figuring out a way around it.
He slipped through the door, making sure to lock it behind him. No need for someone to barge in when he was in the middle of things. Humming a soft tune to try and fill the silence, Naegi scanned the shelves, eyebrows slowly beginning to disappear into his hairline with how high he was raising them. There were at least three different books he was certain were banned in Japan, if not just outright burned for their content. A whole shelf appeared to be dedicated to police files, judging from the labels on the spines of the books and a quick flip through one of them made the Luckster incredibly glad he hadn't eaten for about a day at this point. There went his appetite for the rest of the afternoon. He scratched his head, honestly at a loss for words. Where to begin?
Well, no time to waste. Naegi picked five books at random, inspecting them briefly to make sure the content was at least of some interest to the Luckster. The fourth involved some sort of obscure history knowledge that he was distinctly sure involved secret wartime projects that he was not supposed to know about and really didn't want to gain the knowledge of so he made sure to place that back onto its shelf where it belonged. Eyeing that row of books and files nervously, Naegi wondered if every single one of them involved some sort of terrible secret that only those who were involved knew about. Hopping up onto a nearby table, the boy propped open his first book on his lap, eyes slowly drinking in the lines of text before him. His eye twitched rapidly as the information present began to sink in, and his right hand drifted up to press against his temple.
Cold cases that weren't actually cold, just shut down by those with money and influence. A long list of crimes that would have the public baying for blood if they ever figured out who was behind them, the culprits hidden away because of their positions in society. The sound of paper crinkling began to pick up in speed and intensity as Naegi fought to keep the rage building within his chest from breaking loose. His already dim mood continued to darken, clearly reflected by the snarl twisting his face into something that wouldn't look out of place on a rabid dog. Taking several deep breaths, he clamped down on those feelings, hands trembling with a mixture of anger and morbid fascination. He looked up from the file, eyes tracing over the room with newfound intent. So this was what lay hidden away from the masses? If every single book in this room possessed information on the same level as this one right here, this was a treasure trove just hanging around in a derelict school. He knew Hope's Peak Academy was the best of the best, but to think that they at least knew what was going on, and might even be taking part in it…?
A shaking hand went to withdraw the small stack of papers he had squirrelled away from the secret room on the way here, but paused before doing so. Right, even here there was a camera watching his every move. He smiled bitterly, transitioning the action into a quick readjustment of his clothes before returning his attention to the pages before him. Well, it looked like he would never run out of things to read before he was either dead or successful. Laughing at his own terrible joke, Naegi's brief good mood quickly dried up as more knowledge made its home within the depths of his head.
"Even if I survive this," he muttered sarcastically, "I'm pretty sure the government's gonna turn me into a statistic."
Time Remaining: 27 Hours
"Naegi." There went his plans of exiting the room without bumping into anyone else. Kicking the records room's door shut behind him, the Luckster took a deep breath to center himself before looking his least favourite blond straight in the eye. His mind was still reeling from the things he clearly wasn't supposed to read, and fatigue was tugging at his eyelids once more, but he ignored that in order to properly confront a clearly irritated Ultimate Affluent Progeny. Internally, he noted the change in posture of the normally standoffish teenager. Interesting.
"Togami-san." He smiled awkwardly. What was the right thing to say to someone who watched you air out his dirty laundry with the same amount of effort one used to take out the trash? "Is there something you needed from me?"
The bespectacled boy scoffed, folding his arms with an almost dramatic flair. Naegi repressed a chuckle at the sight, feeling far more relaxed than he should've been considering who he was currently in a room with. Alone. Subtly drawing his foot backwards, the Luckster hooked it underneath a chair leg before slipping his hands into his pockets. Appear strong when weak, and weak when strong. Or something like that. His personal threat level had probably skyrocketed with all the things he accomplished (or failed to) over the past couple days, so even if he appeared defenceless, it would take quite the fool to immediately let their guard down in front of Naegi. Internally, he sighed. Seriously though, there wasn't a need to treat him like the plague, right? The Luckster was briefly reminded of the way Asahina practically ran away from him as soon as they locked eyes in the morning. On the bright side, Ishimaru seemed more cheerful than usual. Although that was immediately offset by the fact that he was now hanging out with the person most responsible for his injuries, bar Monokuma.
"Nothing of the sort." Ah, he was having a conversation with Togami. He nearly forgot. It was certainly a hassle to keep track of all the different things they had to deal with on a daily basis. Was this how an overworked salaryman felt like? "Although I did wish to speak with you." And with that, the Scion drew out a chair for himself, sitting down in a posture reminiscent of a mafia boss waiting to exact his judgement on the poor fool that had upset him. Perhaps an overexaggeration. Togami wasn't nearly as intimidating as the absolute goliath of a man that had attempted to trap him with inescapable debt. Slowly, carefully, he dragged his own over, making sure to keep out of choking range. Not exactly a sentence he thought he'd be thinking, but when you were Naegi Makoto, abnormality quickly became the norm. He gestured silently, urging Togami to continue.
The Ultimate Affluent Progeny sneered, but something akin to reservation flickered in his eyes. "You never did get around to telling me how you figured out the things that you know." The teenager's gaze fell on the door Naegi had moved away from. "And by the looks of it, you seem to be an avid collector of forbidden knowledge. Should I be calling you Alhazred now, rather than the name you hide yourself behind?" A chuckle threatened to escape Naegi's lips, only suppressed by his own astonishment at Togami's display of humour. Why not indulge him a little, at least until he figured out the Scion's true motivation for speaking to him in the first place?
"No dark secrets here. Just an average teenager with a penchant for finding trouble. Or rather, letting trouble find me." He smiled almost bitterly, crossing his legs while watching his current conversation partner's reactions.
"Please, don't embarrass yourself." Togami adjusted his spectacles with the dignified air he imagined royalty all possessed. "That little act might have worked in the beginning when you were pretending to be a doormat, but after your…outbursts…" The duo both averted their eyes for a little bit. "It is clear to me that you are no normal peasant. I pride myself on being an esteemed member of the top 1%, but to think that I would find diamonds in the rough here…perhaps the Principal of Hope's Peak saw that something in you that I neglected to even consider." The elegant teenager coughed slightly as Naegi observed with only the slight widening of his eyes showing the surprise he felt at the rare display of immaturity. A sheepish smile threatened to escape his tightly held poker face.
Naegi had almost forgotten, with the almost supernatural Talents that each and every one of them possessed, and especially considering their own adult-like maturity, that these were all teenagers. In a time period where they were supposed to be enjoying their high school lives, they excelled in their fields. Perhaps it was just success in the genetic lottery, or the culmination of years of hard work and dedication, but these were still kids. And now they had been tossed into a Killing Game, aamong strangers that could easily befriend them one day and stab them in the back the next. For the first time in a while, he wondered if his actions were for the best. Was he being too harsh on them?
"I really don't know what you're talking about, Togami-san." He concealed his inner turmoil beneath a soft smile, reaching up to rub the back of his head. "You're overestimating my abilities. All I did was compile some information I found on the internet."
He scoffed. "Sticking to your story, even when it's falling apart? A fool's errand, but I suppose that you already know that." Togami's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "How long will you keep up this facade, I wonder?" And to Naegi's continued surprise, the Scion chuckled, covering his mouth with a hand.
"I first thought that this so-called Killing Game would be the prime source of entertainment in this prison the others are trying to break out of…but you, Naegi Makoto—" The Ultimate Affluent Progeny rose to his feet, adjusting his collar with a swift flick. "—have been worthy of catching my interest. Rejoice, commoner. When I win this game, I'll spare a thought for you. And if you keep creating such interesting scenarios, I might even consider sparing your life." His piece said, Togami didn't bother saying a goodbye before exiting swiftly. Naegi blinked slowly, mind still scrambling to try and figure out what exactly just occurred.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, definitely feeling that migraine forming for real this time.
"Please tell me that wasn't a proposal."
Time Remaining: 20 Hours
After a short cat-nap in his room that was, for once, filled with nonsensical dreams rather than the usual selection of increasingly graphic and violent nightmares, Naegi made his way to the kitchen after his stomach decided to remind its owner of what happens when you refuse to eat for extended periods of time while still going through strenuous activities. Another couple hours and the hunger cramps were probably going to start resurfacing. He sighed, steps echoing as he marched down the corridor, shoulders slumping with newfound considerations.
Fujisaki had made a remarkable impression of a startled mouse once he tracked her down, but there was steel in her eyes when she was being questioned on the subject of the laptop. He wisely chose to drop the subject before he drew one of the few more neutral classmates into yet another altercation. Plus, if she was using it for something to fight against the Mastermind, perhaps it would be best to leave that sort of conversation to a place away from prying eyes and ears. Which was certainly difficult, considering there were only a few rooms that fulfilled those requirements. How badly would it reflect on him if he pushed a girl into the bathroom…? He shook that thought from his mind as a full-body shudder briefly took hold. No, not unless he desperately needed answers. Best to build up a rapport with the Programmer before resorting to the most extreme means he possessed within his arsenal.
Peeking into the dining hall, he was surprised to see that no one was around, considering it was sometime in the afternoon right now. Maybe they already had lunch? Slamming his hand against a table, the boy wiggled his fingers to get rid of the stinging. Well, if no one abruptly jumped out at him after that sort of noise, he had the place to himself. Grinning, he sifted out the various recipes he had taken to learning after getting sick of takeout all the time, resisting the urge to rub his hands in anticipation. Good food in peace and quiet. Sign him up—
Footsteps. He whipped his head around sharply, stepping behind the table as his eyes narrowed. Well, it seemed like he wasn't as alone as he had hoped to be. Naegi carefully eyed the door, tension coiling within his insides. Maybe it was just paranoia, but why hadn't he noticed the fact that someone was so close behind him until now? He shrugged mentally before relaxing. No need to be so hasty. Nothing happened so far and even Togami, who had the most incentive to attack him, seemed to have mellowed out after their altercation.
A figure stepped through the doorway as Naegi sighed. He glanced at the newcomer before waving a hand in greeting.
"What brings you here?"
Time Remaining: 16 Hours