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Thanks for bearing with me. Real quick authors note: the way Naegi addresses characters throughout the story is gonna change a lot. He might change honorifics after second impressions and won't always use honorifics while thinking. This is honestly partly due to my own idiocy-- Carry on!
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It had been just over a week since the start of school, and I had grown pretty close to the other people in my group. For the group project of course. Well... I grew at least close enough.

"Togami-San!... N-no one asked about your time in London... We have to finish the split debate segment!" I yelped, papers with plot points, character lines, and random words in various other languages in my hands.

Sonia-Chan and Kuzuryu-Kun seemed to hold similar expressions. Though instead of how frantic I was Sonia seemed bored and Kuzuryu looked somewhat angry. You see... Togami-San had gotten into these tangents a few times before. Talking about his extensive knowledge as a Prince... And also recounting every encounter with every other royal he had ever met.

"Okay! Let's just... Let's just run through the main trial segment again. Okay? Okay!" Kuzuryu-Kun rushed with a groan.

Sonia clapped softly and responded quickly with," All right! Naegi-San, you start!"

I nodded, staring off as we decided," Mam, please calm down! You acting like this won't help us get anywhere. We don't know the culprit yet!"

"N-no! No! How could you accuse me of something like that! I'm a business woman- I-I would never!!" Sonia-Chan rehearsed, trying to control the deep grin of satisfaction, it was believable.

Kuzuryu continued on, stating in a bored tone," you seem to be the most likely right now. The evidence points to you and the prince, the nurse and I wouldn't ever be able to afford an assassin. Even if I had ties to one."

Sonia started fidgeting realistically well. Her blue eyes were filled with fake tears. She was- in fact- a business woman. She knew how to get her way.

"I-I-" Sonia started before dramatically getting cut of by a sneering Togami-San, who cut in with," And what reasons would either of us to kill a higher up. A detective would need a case and a nurse could do an autopsy... To get paid. The wealthy would have no need for this!"

I clapped happily, a grin on my lips," there we go! That was great! See- I told you a mock trial would be fun. We didn't need the Ultimate actress."

Sonia-Chan pulled me into a hug and Kuzuryu-Kun smirked in agreement. Togami-San just huffed. We knew we had a long way to go before we were done... But he didn't need to act so aloof to our success.

Then I started thinking about actually performing. Um, I wasn't socially anxious- I liked making friends. This however, didn't mean I didn't have other anxieties. Namely- Performance anxiety, or rather stage fright. Public speaking wasn't my thing. I'd just have to get over it!

"Naegi-San, are you alright? You seem troubled," Sonia spoke, a slightly worried expression on her face.

Kuzuryu-Kun nodded," Your eyes are narrow, but also wide. That doesn't make any sense unless you're a criminal sketch artist shit- anyways. You look anxious. What's up?"

Ah... So they could tell without me saying anything. No words would be needed for a detective or a businesswomen I guess. Still though, it was a bit unnerving. Okay, take a deep breath. Chin up. The state fright doesn't mean anything. Naegi, you're fine.

"Yeah! I'm fine!" I said, smiling quickly- and I was fine, I had calmed down.

Kuzuryu seemed to analyze me for a bit longer before shrugging it off. Sonia- who was still hugging me ended up squeezing me tighter. I wasn't lonely around Sonia and Kuzuryu-Kun. Togami-San hadn't actually shown me any kindness to this point... So I wasn't sure about them.

It was the afternoon, and it was already getting dim outside. It was honestly fine like that. I liked the stars. Honestly, they reminded me more of people than snowflakes did.

Stars were so far apart, yet they turned into such amazing patterns freckling the sky. They came together. The stars were all but gone, but we still watch them with wonder. They could all likely be dying but we aren't certain. Yet each and every star was beautiful. It was poetic if you think about it.

Togami-San snapped his fingers in front of my face, snapping me out of my daze as he said," you Makoto Naegi, are the only one in this group that I cannot read. I hate it."

I wasn't really sure how to respond to that honestly. He just glared at me and scoffed as Sonia let me go. The bell was going to ring soon and I had to work on the script anyways... I could leave I guess. Kuzuryu then cut in.

"Fuck off Togami-K- asshat. Yeah, sure. You can be a total ass, and had no Fuckin' right to talk to Naegi like that! He's just as important as you are- no actually, fuckin' more so!" The short blondes childish face had hardened angrily, he... Really was a detective despite his anger.

Togami-San... Actually Togami-Kun might work better.
Togami-Kun rolled his eyes arrogantly," Oh yes, as the commoner nurse has anything within the leagues of a Prince! The lady is just passing due to her status. You're unclear detective."

Another group that was in the room cut in. They seemed to be the lucky students. Enoshima... Juno Enoshima, one of two Ultimate Lucky Students. Her sister was Ikusaba-San if I remember right.
Then there was Hajime Hinata-Kamukura. He didn't have a defined talent, so the students had taken to calling him either the 'Ultimate Ultimate' or the 'Ultimate Hope'. He was interesting.
Chiaki Nanami was next up. She was the Ultimate Gambler. Her fashion sense was mixed. She wore a pink Lolita-inspired dress but wore blue jeggings under it and a cat beanie on her head.
Then there was Mikan Tsumiki, the other Ultimate Lucky Student. She seemed rather shy and timid.

"We... Couldn't help but hear that you guys were fighting," Hinata-(Kamukura?)-Kun Said, somewhat dully, before getting cut off by Enoshima... San.

"Meow! Hahah, We wanted to watch! Or... Well, We wanted to see if we could help," as Enoshima-San spoke, she changed how she acted several times.

Nanami-Chan tiredly said," h-huh? Ah, yeah. We thought maybe you needed help with something?... I think..."

"Y-you're r-r-right Nanami-S-San!..." Tsumiki-Chan said in a weak whisper.

The rest of the hour We moved on from Togami-Kun's feelings about me. I ended up holding a pretty coherent conversation with Hinata-Kun, who did say adding the 'Kamukura' wasn't needed. He had some similar interests, though he seemed passionate on everything, while I wasn't as much. It was still a nice talk.

Fast forward to four days later. The group project was due today. We were set to go second, after the performers. The techies came after us, followed by the lucksters.

Pekoyama-San sang the notes that evidently Fujisaki-San wrote. He played the melody on a mint green ukulele. Ishimaru-Kun and Katsumi-Chan duetted a dance. The former being more ornate and the latter being more driven by the music. Katsumi-Chan winked at one of the people watching, making the girl it was directed to swoon.

Okay. It was us now. We've got this. Remember Naegi, We scraped the language thing. Don't do that part. Our group wandered onto stage as Yukizome-Sensei introduced us.

"And now: the Worldwide Trial Project!"

Let's to this Naegi.

Kuzuryu-Kun was the first to speak," There is no known perpetrator to this Assassination. We have to find out who among this group ordered this to be done! My name is Unimportant. Call me the Detective. As this rules apply to me, they reply to you. Is that clear?" a pause as we say yes," good, introduce yourselves as I have!"

"Well, you can call me the Businesswomen."

"The Prince"

"C-call me the... The Nurse..."

"Good. Let's start then," Kuzuryu-Kun said simply.

"I'm just saying... The businesswoman seems the most likely to me..." I mumble out, purposely anxiously.

We then spring into the main debate into split debate.

"The high ups and the 'commoners'!" Kuzuryu-Kun yelled," Split debate, start!"

"There would have been no reason for me to buy an assassin!" Sonia cried.

I cut in with," The victim was your status! Buying an assassin would benefit you!"

Togami-Kun groaned," Ugh, That would never help you!"

Kuzuryu shot back," We wouldn't need help!"

This went on for another minute until we blamed Sonia, and then we left. Oh god... I was ready to pass out.

Eventually I was able to leave and collapse on my bed. Aghhhhh....

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I'm tired it's almost three a.m.  I want to sleep. But I wanted to finish this. Oh my fuck--- aghh
Word count: 1536
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