The Fragile Idea Of A Talent (A Naegami Talent Swap AU

5- the Worldwide Trial Project

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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.