Naegami

Naegami is the slash ship between Byakuya Togami and Makoto Naegi from the Danganronpa fandom.

Canon
Byakuya and Makoto's rivalry, which eventually evolves into companionship and actual friendship, is one of the most heavily focused on interactions in the whole franchise, partly as a result of both boys appearing in every main installement of the series.

The seemingly first time they meet each other was during the School Life of Mutual Killing. Byakuya saw Makoto under the impression that he was only an ordinary high schooler unworthy of his time. This could be seen during the first Class Trial, where Byakuya commented that he doesn't believe Makoto would be able of defending himself against Sayaka Maizono's accusations had the latter survived her failed murder attempt. However, as the story progressed, Byakuya began to admire Makoto's investigative skills, although he would never openly voice it. The biggest turnaround in his opinion of Makoto comes from the aftermath of the second Class Trial. With Naegi solving the truth behind Togami's involvement in the case, along with the whole truth of the case for the second time, the Ultimate Affluent Progeny began considering him as someone to watch out for had he ever decided to kill someone.

Byakuya often demanded Makoto accompany him on investigations so he could judge whether Makoto would be a threat to him winning the competition. At times he shows little regard for Makoto's well-being, telling him to go die on more than one occasion and volunteering him to open a door after Aoi Asahina suggests that the door might explode if they try to open it. However, he began gaining more and more respect for Naegi after each time he proved to be of great help during investigations and Class Trials. In Chapter 6, once the Ultimate Lucky Student comes back from his failed execution, Togami is shown smiling and compliments him in his own way for managing to survive, comparing him to a cockroach. During the climax, Makoto succeeds in getting through to the Ultimate Affluent Progeny, with the latter realizing the hope for Togami family isn't lost as long as he's the last surviving member of it. Although he claims he didn't need encouragement, he's clearly shown to appreciate the help in his time of need after learning his whole family is dead.

In Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, Makoto, Byakuya, and Kyoko Kirigiri become companions and he supports Makoto's plan to save the remaining students from the will of the Future Foundation's higher-ups. This new bond is reinforced in Ultra Despair Girls where Byakuya remembers kindly Makoto's words from back at the academy and decides to team up with him to pay his debt to Komaru and Toko. The bond is furthered strengthened in Future Arc of Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak Academy, when Byakuya is willing to come and rescue his fellow survivors after they were forced to take part in the Final Killing Game. He also gives Makoto a backhanded compliment when they first make contact. In a post-credits scene of Episode 12, he and his men save Makoto from being gunned down by brainwashed Future Foundation soldiers.

In Hope Arc, Byakuya compliments Makoto's optimism, praising how influencial his hope is. He's also shown to have worked on rebuilding Hope's Peak Academy alongside him.

Canon
"I don't know... I'm not sure our softhearted Makoto is capable of that kind of cutthroat behavior."

- Byakuya believing Makoto wouldn't be able to defend himself against Sayaka in the first Class Trial if she hadn't been murdered.

"What's the matter? You're not actually trying to encourage me, are you? Hmph. Ridiculous. It never even crossed my mind that I might give in to despair. But don't misunderstand me. I couldn't care in the slightest what happens to you. I just have to keep my word. I swore I would end the life of the mastermind. Besides, the Togami family *isn't* dead. Because I'm still alive... So until I can restore the Togami family, and bring it greater glory than it's ever known...!"

- Byakuya after being encouraged by Makoto in the finale of Danganronpa 1.

"Hearing you say that reminds me of what you said back at the academy. Hope keeps going, huh... Fine. I'll partner with you. For just a little while."

- Byakuya teaming up with Makoto in the finale of Ultra Despair Girls after the latter refuses to stand on the sidelines anymore.

Free Time Events
"How a commoner like you, with absolutely no unique talents or abilities, could get into this school. Oh, I forgot to mention boring. How a boring, untalented, utterly generic commoner got in..."

- Byakuya about how unremarkable Makoto is during their first Free Time Event.

Fanon
In some Danganronpa fans' opinion it's possible for Byakuya to have a crush on Makoto, however he would never voice it openly because of his personality (just like it was with his admiration for Makoto's investigative skills), while Makoto's docility towards Byakuya could have meant that was too shy to confess it to him.

Such opinion is further fueled by the fact that by the second Class Trial, Byakuya considers Makoto a worthy opponent he needs to watch out for in case he decides to murder someone. It's even further fueled by their Free Time Events where Byakuya offers Makoto a well-paid job, which is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, moments from Byakuya. It's the most written for Togami and the second most written for Naegi. It is also the eighth most written ship in Danganronpa.

Fandom
FAN FICTION
 * Naegi/Togami tag on FanFiction.Net
 * Byakuya/Makoto tag on FanFiction.Net
 * Byakuya/Makoto tag on FanFiction.Net

ART

TUMBLR

WIKI
 * on
 * on

Trivia

 * Both, along with Chihiro Fujisaki, Junko Enoshima, Monokuma and Usami, are the only characters who appeared in every main installment of the series in one way or another.
 * In their case, they were the main characters of Danganronpa 1, appeared in the finale of Danganronpa 2, appeared in Ultra Despair Girls (although Makoto only via a laptop's screen), appeared in all three arcs of Danganronpa 3, and appeared in Danganronpa V3 (through Tsumugi's cosplays as well as in person in the bonus mode Ultimate Talent Development Plan, and, in Makoto's case, through one Flashback Light in the main plot).
 * In Danganronpa: the Animation's artbook, Genocide Jill reveals she ships Naegami.

Variations

 * Naegamigiri refers to the ship between the two and Kyoko Kirigiri
 * Naegamizono refers to the ship between the two and Sayaka Maizono