Chapter Text
byakuya walked through the empty halls of hope's peak's second floor at some ungodly hour of the night (so what if there was a rule? it wasn't like the 99% had any control over their actions), heeled shoes clacking against the garishly lit tile. the only room of interest on this floor was the library, togami had almost immediately decided. now they strolled aimlessly along the halls, an action they'd never admit to in daylight; byakuya's eyes glanced along the desks that lined the bolted windows with little interest. they rounded the corner and ghosted their hand along the railing, taking the first step downstairs.
just as they were about to take a second, togami's head whipped around at the sound of a faint, echoing clang to their right. narrowing their eyes, byakuya stepped back towards the pool door, where the noise had seemingly come from.
silently cursing their heeled shoes that ordinarily gave them an air of importance and finality, togami stepped through the large, creaking metal door towards the boys' change room, intent on discerning the presence that had made such a noticeable sound.
the door to the pool swung open with a silent click on well-oiled hinges. togami refused to thank god or monokuma or the mastermind themself for their luck, removing their shoes in order to get a good look at the situation in the pool room before deciding to attack or run away.
it was a good thing they'd decided not to startle whoever was in there, byakuya would muse later. for now, their expression hardened as they took in the trembling, balled-up form beside the pool shore. tiny sniffles echoed in the tall, wide chamber the two stayed in, byakuya seemingly rooted to the spot as they took in the scene.
not long after they assessed the situation and determined that the shaking poolgoer was of no threat to them, byakuya examined the huddled student as best they could from the change room door. the student's tear-streaked face was buried in pale hands, their messy hair half-covered by a dark hoodie that concealed their form.
makoto, byakuya realized, narrowing his eyes as they took in makoto's shape one more time; the curve of his neck as he wiped his eyes on his sleeve, the rumpled hoodie he wore (different from the green one makoto favoured, byakuya would know, but not yet) that rested on his bare thighs.
my god, byakuya thought with disgust, he's wearing no pants.
byakuya blinked at makoto's thin legs once, twice, then turned on their heel, slipping on heeled shoes and tucking fitted suit pants hastily in and making their exit. they refused to intrude on the boy's teary form any longer.
why would someone so positive be crying in the middle of the night when their foolish rule dictates that everyone is to stay inside their dorms? togami wondered later. could the maizono girl really have meant so much to him? they stared at the ceiling, the pale expanse of skin they'd seen playing in their head on repeat like they were some common pervert. they'd successfully pushed away thoughts of makoto for most of the time they spent awake after their stroll, but byakuya could not avoid thinking about seeing makoto bare and teary for long when it was just them and their thoughts.
byakuya togami drifted off into an uneasy rest, their mind whirring on still about what could have possibly brought makoto naegi to tears.