Chapter Text
Byakuya Togami never got sick.
He's the Ultimate Perfection, he shouldn't get sick. But how else would he describe the state he was in lately?
He couldn't understand this, couldn't predict the next moment he would feel weak in. The illness would come and go as it pleased, messing with his head, because why couldn't it be consistent, to have some sort of proof for his doctor?
Was he overworking himself, maybe? All that time spent with commoners must have had an affect on his health. God, even a simple conversation with Makoto, that pathetic peasant, was enough to make him feel dizzy.
And each time he did lower himself to Neagi's status for a conversation, that stupid boy would dare to stand on his tip toes and press his palm to Byakuya's forhead, asking if he feels okay. As if the Ultimate Affluent Progeny would need someone to check up on him. Tch.
Byakuya couldn't stop thinking about that memory, which disgusted him even more. He kept going back to that moment, remebering how Makoto's palm felt against his warm face, how caring his voice sounded despite how he was treated by the Togami heir. Like trash. Byakuya felt a spark of guilt at the realization, but quickly brushed it off.
What mostly bothered his mind right now was why would he lay awake at night, think about that... that dirty commoner. Was it because of the embarrassment he felt when he dared to press his hand to his face? But... what was that weird, fluttery feeling, then? Maybe part of that mysterious illness?
Finally, Byakuya let out a sigh and put down the book he held in his hands for the past 15 minutes. God, he was supposed to be reading, but his eyes were just stuck on the same page, his mind coming back to that same memory, to that same... person.
No, Makoto wasn't a person. He was a dirty, annoying pig, who acted like he cares about everyone and their feelings, ignoring his own. He had no sense of style, nothing to be proud of, he never achived anything, yet acted like some important person. Byakuya felt himself shiver (with anger of course) whenever he saw that annoyingly adorable face of his.
The blonde flinched when he heard the door to Hope Peak's Academy creak as it opened. He looked up, expecting and maybe even hoping to see Makoto in them. But no, it was that freak of nature Toko again, whispering to some poor soul she brought along to stalk her "master". Ugh. Byakuya could take a lot, but this kind of pathetic behavior was more than just disgusting to him.
He rolled his eyes before his gaze returned to the book he was supposed to be reading, trying to focus on the words instead of the shushed whispers and that stubbornly returning memory of Makoto that he seemed to have now engraved in his brain forever.
He shook his head, scoffing out loud. Byakya pretended not to notice the other two people in the library, putting on an expressing as unfriendly as possible. Which wasn't really that hard of a challange, looking annoyed and cocky was the best way to repel commoners. There was one person that tactic didn't work on, curse him, and person just had to be walking over to him after being dragged into the library by Toko.
"Hey, Byakuya..." Makoto mumbled, looking rather uncomfortable. He turned his head around to look at Fukawa, checking if he's saying what he's supposed to be saying.
"Stop talking." The heir scoffed, closing his book and sliding it onto the counter. His eyes met Naegi's with a harsh gaze, hidden away behind his glasses. "Do I look stupid to you, Makoto?"
The brown haired boy seemed surprised by his sudden question, worried he offended Byakuya in some way by accident. He valued the Togami heir and didn't want to lose their friendship, if he can even call it that.
"No, of course not! Did I say something wrong?" Makoto asked, fidgeting nervously with the sleave of his hoodie.
"No, no. The real question is do you really think I wouldn't notice that poor excuse of a human hidding in the corner?" Byakuya asked lazily, his voice almost dripping in venom. He was harsh with everyone else, sure, but usually gave Makoto the pass in the form of being only a little harsh. What changed? Could Togami feel... hurt, that the other boy came to him not out of his own will, but because Toko bothered him?
"Well... She asked me to talk to you, it's not like I can refuse."
The blonde shook his head, as if disappointed in his classmate that he let Toko boss him around like that. The longer Byakuya thought about it, the more it hurt. He scoffed at himself and his thoughts, trying to clear his mind.
"You really should learn to pick better friends. Don't waste yourself on people like her." Togami scoffed, giving Fukawa a dirty, pitiful look. "Come on Makoto. Leave her here."
The blonde pressed, backing Naegi into a corner. Finally, Byakuya stood up, taking the book he was reading earlier and placing it carefully into his school bag. He took his time, not caring much for Makoto's impatiance and slight confusion or Toko's disappointment.
Ugh, Byakuya couldn't stand this. Now, instead of just Fukawa trotting behind him, Naegi also joined this little parade. It's not like Togami told the other boy to follow him.
"So if I understand correctly, you want me to... hang out with you?" Makoto asked after they left the library, following Byakya. He was a little behind the Ultimate Affluent Progeny, he wasn't as atheltic or as tall as him, so it's understandable that he struggled to catch up a little bit.
Togami scoffed, turning his head around to glance at Makoto with a soul crushing, pitiful look and spit some sarcastic remark. But then his blue eyes caught sight of his green ones, filled to the brim with hope and proudness because yes, finally, the ever so stoic Byakuya might want to spend time with him. And that sight made the illness return.
The blonde shut his mouth, throwing a half hearted insult at Naegi for even daring to think he'd ever want to be around such a commoner.
"Hey, Byakuya? You want to walk home together? You always leave on your own, maybe you could change your routine a bit?" Naegi's annoyingly soft voice broke the silence. Usually Togami would never even consider such a suggestion, but... It was Makoto after all.
"Fine, fine, no need to get beg so much. I'll let you be around me someone like me for longer than necessary, maybe you'll pick up on proper manners." Byakuya sighed, acting like he's the one doing someone a favor, not the other way around. He would never admit that to himself, but deep down, he did want to spend time with Makoto. He didn't say it out loud, asking for such a thing would be an embarrassment.
Togami bottled up all of the different emotions he was feeling. Slight excitment making his heart beat faster, but he blamed it on the mysterious illness again, just like the hotness that grew over his usually pale cheeks. He tried to desperately focus on any sort of pity for Makoto, on his disgust about the other boy, but they both were fleeting way too quickly, replaced with some weird nervousness.
Well, it shouldn't be a suprised Byakuya felt uneasy, he worried about being seen with someone like Naegi. Or that's at least what the blonde was telling himself as he left the school grounds with Makoto.
"Soo..." Naegi started, a bit awkward, as always. It's no wonder he didn't feel comfortable around someone like Byakuya, he probably felt ashamed that he'll never be as successful as him. "Why are you so adamant on avoiding me?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Togami scoffed, knowing damn well the answer he was about to give Makoto was far from reality. From his true feelings, the very same ones he kept shut away, not even wanting to acknowlage. But he had to, at some point. "I'd be embarrassing for someone like me to be seen with someone like you. Treat this day like an one in a lifetime opportunity, because I'll never again step down to your level."
The harsh reality was completely different. Of course, Byakuya still found Naegi inferior, but, surprisingly, it didn't bother him as much as it did with other people. He avoided him because he seemed like the reason of the sickness that has fallen upon Togami. A small part of Byakuya's mind knew that this wasn't some stupid illness, but an entirely different thing, one he promise himself he would never give a name to.
"You don't have to keep pointing it out..." Naegi sighed, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his hoodie. Sure, he heard Byakuya say this kind of stuff to him on a daily basis, but it always hurt to be constantly reminded how different they are, how lowly the blonde thinks of him.
"You need to know your place in the world and in my life." Byakuya simply responded, giving Makoto little to no comfort about this. He needed to keep the brown haired boy away from him, not matter how much it hurt the both of them.
"Oh, so I do have a place in your life? At least something." Naegi mumbled, speaking more to himself rather than to his arrogant classmate. He didn't expect to get a reply.
"Enjoy it while it lasts. I might change my mind." Byakuya warned him, mad at himself he let that slip out. Because yes, despite how he might behave towards Makoto, he did have a place in his life. That happens rarely, even if one is part of the successful 1% of the world.
The shorter boy smiled softly, he seemed glad that Togami finally acknowlaged him after so much time. That little grin once again made a characteristic flush show up on Byakuya's usually pale face. He rolled his eyes, keeping quiet after that.
Makoto looked at him again, this time with a curious expression. He has noticed Byakuya's weird behavior a while ago and the thought of what might be the reason behind it made his heart beat faster. He knew that the blonde boy never was the best at expressing his feelings, treating everything and everyone with disregard and disgust, weirdly stoic no matter what was the topic. So, with time, Naegi learned to see through his facade, understanding more than Byakuya might himself. But to think it was... that? About someone like him, someone he put down constantly? It was ridiculous to even think about, but a part of Makoto very clearly wanted it to be true.
But all of Naegi's day dreaming was cut short when their hands brushed together. His gaze immediately went down to first Byakuya's hand and then to his face - shocked and bright red. Surprisingly, not a word left Togami's mouth, not even the slightest insult. Neither of them pulled their hand away, their fingers still brushing against each other.
Mokoto didn't dare speak up about this, not wanting to ruin this moment. It seemed like Byakuya felt similarly, keeping himself quiet as well. Naegi tried to test the blonde a little, his pinky finger wrapping around Togami's.
Another surprise came for both sides of the interaction with that gesture.
Byakuya felt like he was about to throw up, but... Nothing in the world would make him scold Makoto in the moment, and he found himself squeezing the other boy's finger. He wasn't even thinking about that, it was an instinct and he hated that he reacted this way.
This was the first time in years that Byakuya let someone else take the iniciative and Naegi most definitely used to occasion. They were walking slower now, as if doing anything to bask in each over presance just a little while longer.
Makoto grew a little bolder, moving his hand to properally hold Byakuya's. It was soft and taken care of, a clear sign he didn't work much with his hands. Despite getting to know the blonde better, Neagi still was pretty sure that Togami's life is pretty... easy. He had to work hard to come out on top, but it came easy to him.
Neither of them broke the silenece, but it definitely felt comfortable. Byakuya felt dizzy again, an annoying smile trying to make it's way onto his face like an a irritating pest. Heck, that's not all. The blond haired heir was even enjoying this, to some extent. It was still embarrassing to be see around someone like Naegi, especially like this. Holding hands.
God, Makoto really just might be the reason behind that illness. Because there's not way someone like Byakuya might... fall for someone else. That's not what the family tradition say, he's choosing his future. And if Naegi is in it too, Byakuya won't kick him out of that future.
Because maybe, just maybe, he will admit that he isn't sick. That he doesn't hate Makoto as much as he makes it look. That he feels something entirely different than hate.