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Her taunting smirk mocks
His pride and intelligence
He hates it and her
The taunting smirk. He’s seen it on her face so many times, it feels like. When she looks at him, looks at anyone, with that proud face as a way to say, “I know better.”
God, he hated it so much.
She didn’t deserve it. She didn’t deserve to smirk. That slim smile that felt jeering in the most irritating way possible. “I did it, I solved the mystery. You couldn't," or "You were caught, ha-ha.” JESUS, COULD SHE BE ANY MORE STUPID!?
Who were to tell him that he was a hypocrite for thinking this way? Not his brain, of course, because all his brain knew was that he was always right. He was always the smartest one in the room. Smarter than his older siblings, smarter than his father, even, because he won the title of heir with the least advantages. But his father was still wiser and more powerful. Nonetheless, of course he deserved to smirk. He thought quicker. He thought better. He knew everything people, especially commoners, didn’t know.
So why does this dull-eyed girl act like she’s so smart?!
Well, to admit, she is. But what does she know? Nothing, obviously.
Maybe if she wasn’t so smug. Maybe if her dull eyes didn’t shine with so much pride and confidence. Maybe if she didn't give off a sense of “I’m the most important person here.”
God, she’s so-…effing stupid. Wasn’t it obvious that he, Byakuya Togami, was the best and smartest person here? What a stupid idiot she is. She means nothing.
He didn’t trust her since day one. He didn’t trust anyone, really, but especially her. He could tell from her emotionless face and the way she kept to herself that she was someone to lookout for from the start. There was a 0% chance she could ever be trusted.
Her taunting smirk would haunt him again today. They were in the cafeteria, and after he correctly pointed out the stain that the burly traitor left on this killing game, she gave him some smugly put “warning.” Though she wasn’t actually smirking and instead had a disapproving frown, the tone in which she had spoken to him was still drenched in that smug attitude of her belief that she was correct. She had told him off about his disregard of feelings, and that “someday that attitude is going come back and bite you. Hard.”
Was- was she brain dead? Blind, maybe, in her own delusion? Just like any other commoner. There was certainly some nerve to that statement. Objecting against the disregard of feelings yet not showing any of hers? Certainly bold.
Of course, there was the main problem, that her statement was simply false. Who was she to object the way he’s lived all his life? The way of living that got him to where he was today? Does she think- does she seriously think that listening to pathetic feelings would ever help him? How absolutely stupid she was. Who the HELL does she think she is?
So, naturally, after she had said that ridiculous statement, he lunged at her. An easy win, obviously, because when Byakuya’s blood vessels pop they pop perfectly. He banged her head on the floor, greatly enjoying her gasps and cries and she struggled. It was all so fast, like a burst of urges from the brain. Her measly scratches could do nothing to the mighty Byakuya Togami. He fought her, or more like beat her up, for she hardly did damage, and emerged with her now busted ego and pathetic tears, a signal of victory for him.
Or so he wishes.
Because no, unfortunately he had decided to act calm and collected, despite his strong desire for her to be DEAD. It was a smart decision. THE smart decision, for if he had actually killed her everyone would know, and he’d instantly get executed. Besides, maybe he’d spare these commoners from his wrath. Specifically, Makoto, for Byakuya figured the little softhearted boy would hate to see such violence towards one of his “friends.” One he was particularly close with, in fact, however unfortunate that was for Byakuya. Not like he cared, though.
So, all Byakuya had said in to response to her was, “And I will happily elude its attempts.” And like the rest of them, he left the cafeteria.
And then the fourth trial came.
Oh goodness, oh goodness God, why. Why, why, why. Byakuya’s hatred for her spiked. He wants her dead, NEEDS her dead, he shouldn’t see that taunting smirk anymore. It actually means something now. She was right. She was right she was right she was right he was wrong he was wrong he was wrong no, no, NO, NO, NO!
He had a breakdown alone in his room after the trial. He cried and cried and cried like a horrible little baby. All because he couldn’t figure it out. He couldn’t solve the trial because he couldn’t even consider that someone, especially the traitor, would commit suicide. He disregarded feelings, which came back to bite him. Hard.
AND SHE WAVED THAT IN HIS FACE!
“I did it, I solved the mystery. You couldn’t, ha-ha. I told you. I told you feelings matter. You didn’t listen. You didn’t listen to my incredibly stupid words. Idiot.”
TO HELL WITH THAT BITCH!
God, SHE’S SO FUCKING STUPID!
He cried and screamed and thrashed himself 'til he fell unconscious.
He awoke the next morning on the floor, with no idea what time it was. He didn’t hear the morning announcement, so either it was early in the morning, or he slept through it, though he didn’t feel like he slept long. Getting up anyway, he wandered into his bathroom and took a glance at the mirror staring disappointingly ahead of him.
He looked killable. How awful.
Eyes heavy and sad, and cheeks somewhat blotchy. It was an easy fix, splashing cold water on his face and putting concealer under his eyes. Applying his eyeliner like usual. Father didn’t approve of makeup that was too feminine. If it didn’t signify strength, it was definitely wrong. Byakuya knew that he showed strength and elegance.
Byakuya knew, but he didn’t feel it that day.
He wanted his smirk to taunt.
He wanted his smirk to taunt her, the girl who was frustratedly glaring at him for making her give up her room key.
Oh, I’m sorry, you “can’t remember” your talent? What absolute trickery. These lies aren’t fooling anyone, certainly not Byakuya Togami.
He knew it. He knew it from the very start that she couldn’t be trusted. Who knows what she’s hiding? She deserves to be locked out of her room for good. She’d probably just run off to use Makoto as a tool anyway.
Up crept the fifth trial, a truly confusing case. But Byakuya was not confused. In fact, he was more sure than the other people around him, who were blathering about nonsense. He was sure that she was the killer. Who else could it be? She was the only one not there when everyone else found the body. It had to be her.
“Makoto Naegi has been found guilty!”
What?
So, it wasn’t…her? It was…Makoto. Byakuya was...wrong again.
No, no, if there was one thing Byakuya was sure of at this point it was that Makoto would never kill.
Never. This was a lie.
It couldn’t have been him, she had to be the murderer. Byakuya can’t be wrong this time, he can’t.
It always would be wrong, wouldn’t it?
The pounding sounds of upcoming death answered Byakuya. Makoto was soon to be punished for his murder.
Makoto was soon to die.
Until a flashing light of artificial intelligence shown, and Makoto was taken away on the conveyor belt, falling.
Gone, but…alive.
Upon seeing this, Byakuya cried out, “Dammit all, I knew Makoto wasn’t guilty!”
His eyes did not leave the guilt on her face unseen.
The bear had left angrily, and now they were all alone in the courtroom.
She was pacing, trying to find a way to get him back. Byakuya stood away from everyone, facing a wall. He should go back to his room; why is he here? He could only hide upcoming tears in a public setting for so long.
“…I’m going to find him,” she finally spoke. “Good thing he is alive, that was almost unexpected, I’m definitely grateful for his luck.”
“What do you mean?” the idiot swimmer asked. “I mean, you said he was guilty.”
"Indeed, I did send him to die, but I had a feeling he would survive. The mastermind might not mind sending innocent people to death this time around, but Makoto’s luck always bounces back.”
“…Innocent?” Byakuya spoke.
“Yes, Makoto is not the killer.”
"Well, I mean, yeah or else he would have been dead!” that clairvoyant voiced.
"No,” she said, “because the mastermind was willing to kill anyone this time, remember?”
A silence then overtook everyone.
“You knew Makoto was innocent.”
Everyone looked at Byakuya, who had a horrible, accusatory glare on his face towards her.
She spoke up, "Yes, I did, but-"
“You knew Makoto was innocent.”
“Correct, I-"
“How dare you call me wrong again.”
“Excuse me?”
“You tried to tell me wrong, tell me that you weren’t the killer. You insisted that Makoto was. Don’t think that after the last trial you could mock me again! Say that I’m wrong. You are the killer. Don’t lie to me!”
“I’m not the killer, Byakuya, I only had to sacrifice Makoto because I can’t afford to die.”
"Sacrifice?!” he spat, then he laughed like a mourning hyena. “Don’t talk to me about sacrifice, I don’t want to hear that again!”
“Listen, I’m not being selfish. It hurts to see him gone, too, but-"
“YOU USED HIM!”
“Excuse me?”
“You used him, for your own sick little wishes, and tried to tell me that I'm wrong. I knew it, I knew he would never kill anyone. Hahaha! YOU’RE THE SICK ONE!”
Byakuya was still turned away from everyone, talking to a wall.
“What an interesting turn of character," she observed flatly. "Not too long ago you were insistent that Aoi would kill her own best friend. Why are you so sure now that someone is innocent, without any other evidence other than my word?”
“Because Makoto isn’t like that, idiot, he would never deceive like either of you. He trusted you, and you betrayed that!”
“Oh?" she was slightly shocked. "Why are you so sure about that? Since when were you so passionate about trust?”
Byakuya ignored the agitating question. "I knew I should have taken him away from you, I should made sure he listened to never trust anyone, especially you.”
“Hm, and what makes you think he could trust you?”
Byakuya fell silent. He felt bad, but why would he feel bad if he knew that Makoto would trust anyone, anyway?
The parasitic insect in the room then decided to speak. “M-Master! Surely you wouldn’t care about someone like him-!”
"SHUT UP! I didn’t ask for any word from you," Byakuya snarled at that insect.
Then the foul betrayer in the room then spoke again, “I’m asking for another word from you, Byakuya. What makes you so sure he could trust you?”
He finally turned to her, now that he was he had forced any tears to dry away.
That taunting smirk was there.
“To hell with you.”
“What?”
“To hell with you, Kyoko Kirigiri.”
“You’re dodging the question-"
”TO HELL WITH YOU, BITCH! GOD, WHY ARE YOU SO FUCKING STUPID!?”
Her eyes widened briefly in shock, but then she retorted in defense, "Such vulgar language from the Ultimate Affluent Progeny. Surely, I have a struck a nerve.”
“And I’ll rip all of your nerves out," he growled. "I don’t care anymore, Makoto isn’t here to watch me kill you, but he will appreciate your betrayal being punished.” Would he?
“You can’t afford for me to die, no matter what you think. I’m the only one who can get us out of here. And killing me here will only result in your death, which I'm sure you don't want. You wouldn’t want to give the mastermind what they want, would you?”
A pathetic surge of frustration overcame him, and he slapped her.
“YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE?! DON'T BE STUPID!" he screamed. "I DON’T CARE WHAT HAPPENS, I DON'T CARE WHAT THE MASTERMIND DOES OR DOESN'T WANT, I'LL KILL YOU!”
The slap had briefly ripped off her emotional mask, making her flinch at Byakuya's screaming. The flinch had finally given him some sort of satisfaction in his outburst of rage, but Kyoko stiffened up, refusing to keep her guard down. "You will not kill me,” she stated.
“I will kill you! I will kill you and kill you and kill you...” Byakuya seemed to be repeating this more as a crazed affirmation to himself than a threat to her.
She squinted. “You’re just acting like a child now.” She had started to walk off, until in a brief flash of anger, Byakuya punched her, and then pushed her to the ground and immediately started tearing into the skin of her face with his nails.
“I hate you, Kyoko Kirigiri," he growled. "I hate you. I HATE YOU. I HATE YOU SO FUCKING MUCH! I hate you, I hate you, I HATE YOU!”
Everyone else only stood in silence, horror, and pure shock as they watched Byakuya claw into her.
He banged her head on the ground and hit her in ways that didn’t even make sense, screaming in pure hysterical bliss that would scare anyone else, but no tears were on her face. She kept herself as stoic and as calm as she could, frustrating Byakuya to no end. But it wasn't that frightening to her, anyway; she knew he couldn't kill her.
“If you won’t die now, JUST CRY ALREADY! DIE, WOULD YOU!?” Byakuya cried.
She didn't say anything.
She didn't do, or say anything, just continued to take it, calmly.
She knew it would pass.
That was all she did at the moment, which drove Byakuya madder than anything else could have. It eventually left him completely stunned, tired, shaking with pure rage and anguish. In his motionless vulnerability, he was then simply pushed off by the girl he had been fighting with, falling pathetically to the floor, still shaking out of anger and exhaustion. He looked and felt like a pathetic dog.
Standing over him, the girl looked down at him with a bored and disappointed look in her eyes. “You don’t realize your mistake, do you, Byakuya?” she spoke.
He layed on the ground, tears coming to his eyes again.
She continued to speak, “Emotional vulnerability, right?”
He was still shaking, practically twitching like a corpse, and then he grunted, trying to get any last word out of him. Yet nothing came, leaving him to whine hopelessly in frustration. The girl watched his pathetic attempt at fighting back, and asked, "Haven’t had you had a taste of your own flaws yet?”
He only glared at her, until the wails of a beaten wolf cried out of him. Everyone else watching stepped back as soon as he cried, surprised, and almost concerned, and definitely terrified.
“You- how could you-" he spat out in a harsh voice, trembling with grief and jealousy. Those feelings bringing overwhelming sadness, anger, and fear in him. A despair gnawing at him.
The girl only looked him, still with that unphased demeanor. “Well, I’m off to go find Makoto," she announced. "Good luck with your loss."
She then turned around and walked off, and the last thing Byakuya was left with was Kyoko’s taunting smirk.