[ < the first part ] [ the squishiest in each of my ships ]

- - -

While Kokichi was needling Nagito for information about his classmates, he had an ulterior motive - he wanted to entangle the classes as much as possible. The upperclassmen who adored him would be the top priority, and he wished to match them up with his own classmates in order to (hopefully) improve his hold over them.

Some people were genuinely out of his reach and would stay that way. That was fine - he was concerned about covering the most ground, not converting every individual. That was impossible and he knew that. (Additionally, Kokichi bestowed responsibility onto himself for all of his classmates - and any others who ended up within reach, of course. Matching them up, to him, was just another appendage of 'taking care of his property, looking after them'; as previously mentioned, he's got a pretty pronounced controlling nature.)

The first one Nagito mentioned while they were idly chatting was Chiaki. He simply noted her tendency to bury herself in her room and avoid socializing for days; it wasn't a cause for concern since she was just engaging with her favourite hobby, the isolation was just an after-effect, not a symptom--

- - - Nanojo - - -

Kokichi already had an idea. One of his own classmates who never gave him too much trouble was Kirumi - he asked her to make sure she checked on Chiaki a few times a day, issuing it as more of a command than concern.

It worked. Kirumi followed orders and within a few days, she and Chiaki were spending inordinate amounts of time together. Sometimes Chiaki would follow behind her or wait nearby while she was completing other tasks (playing something on a portable gaming device, of course)... However, most of Kirumi's free time was being spent with Chiaki from that point forward.

It was safe to say that Kokichi would not get credit for setting them up - and he didn't want it, in all honesty. His plan to control as much of the upperclasses as he could depended on staying in the shadows as much as possible. He wanted to retain his reputation, and this would definitely destroy it if he wasn't careful.

Kokichi knew he'd need to start with the individuals who didn't hate him and work on the more difficult ones later - he asked Nagito if his class had any "animal lovers" in it. Nagito confirmed without hesitation - Gundham. Gundham mostly seemed indifferent to people's proximity... Which wasn't to say he disliked them - it just didn't matter to him who stayed or went. He sounded as if matchmaking him could go either way, but it was worth a shot.

- - - Gondham- - -

The next time Kokichi was within arm's reach of Gonta, he steered him over toward Gundham, making up some type of nonsense about how he'd heard Gundham was a bug-enjoyer - Gonta was enthusiastic about meeting him right away.

The pair got along immediately. It didn't take long before Gonta was talking directly to the Dark Devas, treating them the way they deserved to be treated (in Gundham's not-at-all humble opinion). It didn't hurt that Gonta was pretty animal-like himself - just his presence was comforting to Gundham in a way no person had been before.

Those two - Kirumi and Gonta - were among the easiest in Kokichi's class. Not really up for a challenge but deciding to get this particular failure out of the way early, Kokichi asked Nagito who in his class should be watched the closest, who was the easiest to underestimate, which one was the wildcard.

Nagito seemed reluctant to answer at first, most likely because several of them could apply to that request, but he eventually started describing Peko. He mentioned her talent, the cover-up for her "obligation" toward a shadowy criminal organization-- He barely finished explaining when Kokichi had heard enough - Maki. The match could be a terrible one, but the worst thing that could happen was they would refuse to spend any time together (or maybe bond over how much they hate Kokichi - that would qualify as a victory, sort of).

- - - Makiyama - - -

Kokichi had to completely stay out of arranging that meeting, but it did end up paying off. It was a little uncomfortable at first - neither one being particularly bubbly or sociable, but after the initial awkwardness, Peko and Maki began to commiserate. They'd had a similar upbringing, raised to be in complete servitude of an organization that didn't value them as people at all... Surprisingly, it was Maki that started the conversation. After being accepted into a friend group in her class, finding out she wasn't "ruined", she wasn't monstrous by nature, she saw an opportunity to help Peko out of the place she'd previously been in, herself.

That conversation, surprisingly enough, started off when Maki discovered Peko had a particular fondness for animals, especially bunnies. They weren't different at all, and it was actually a bit of a relief to know Maki wasn't completely by herself, stranded in a group of people who could never fully understand her.

It was time for a real challenge - matching somebody from Class 78, one that neither of them actually knew personally, using only Nagito's cyberstalking experience for one half of the match.

Nagito seemed reluctant, even more than before; despite how he'd spent all that time following their movements as if they were celebrities, spectating their triumphs and admiring their promise from a distance - his self-esteem issues were getting in the way. He was balking and concerned he might have misunderstood something important, he's 'incompetent' after all - and he got fussed at sternly by Kokichi (who was trying to force Nagito to stop bullying himself).

Kokichi disliked feeling like his own hands were tied but the only way to continue was matching somebody in Nagito's own class - Kokichi really wanted to pair his own classmates off first, but it didn't work out that way... It was fine, there was plenty of time for the others.

- - - Sayabuki - - -

Nagito mentioned about how phenomenal a friendship would be between Sayaka and Ibuki - how they could inspire great things with their amazing talents, it was almost troubling to think about. He'd had that theory for quite some time, even hoping they would have met each other on their own - they must have had so much in common--

It was all Kokichi needed to hear at that point (and it did seem important to Nagito, so ushering that introduction would be worth it [probably]).

That one was one of the easiest - Kokichi underestimated just how easy it would be for him to introduce two people who didn't know him personally - Ibuki and Sayaka willingly agreed to come along with him to the designated meeting area; they barely even needed to be asked.

Sayaka seemed a little reserved at first because of how wild and odd Ibuki seemed - her behaviour was the reason she'd separated from her own group before and Sayaka found it a little unsettling... But only for around five minutes, maybe less. By the time their meeting ended, Ibuki's hair was braided in long, careful plaits, Sayaka had received three of Ibuki's favourite phone charms, and they'd already made plans to spend time together the next day.

Nagito found it incredibly gratifying - almost disturbingly so. The fact he had such strong feelings about their potential for friendship... 'As if he would know anything about that, of all people...' Meanwhile, Kokichi confirmed what he'd already found out - he would easily become king of that school (with Nagito's help). His original idea was just to entangle each of the classes and expand his own grasp over every grade - and that was on-track to happen... But watching his plans going correctly for once? It was an amazing thing to behold.

He still accepted not every person could be matched, some would remain outside of his reach... But the ones he could manipulate into interlocking the various classes together? They were as good as his already.

- - -

That's... Basically it so far XD!! I have one more ship (Kaede & Komaru) that I consider morgue canon, but because Komaru wasn't at Hope's Peak, it's a little difficult to string that in there with basically any certainty at all. They are, though, they are matched and they are deliriously happy together, you have my word XD!!

I'll be considering other ones in the future, feel free to pitch me some suggestions if you'd like ⊙ v ⊙