Chapter Text
A harsh shine came off from the pristine white flooring, smaller black lines marking up each tile. Luminous lights hung above him, refusing to let Shuichi relax. As if he could in the first place.
Nurses in blue and teal scrubs walked past him and a couple others in the waiting room, entering and exiting two rooms with opposing purposes. One led to the main hospital, the other was to the emergency room. The ER had Kokichi for the past few hours.
Just thinking about Kokichi made his heart sink, as if something was slowly crushing the organ. He couldn’t get the wide eyes of Kokichi out of his head, after Shuichi spat out the worst of his brain dead statements. It slightly concerned him how effortlessly it came out, after Shuichi determined the act of confessions to be one of the most terrifying things one had to do.
Why did Kokichi stare at him for so long? Why was his surgery taking forever? Shuichi glanced up at the clock, watching as the second hand slowly crept its way around the machine. He had no idea where his uncle or grandfather were, perhaps they were stuck in the main waiting area.
Shuichi had been stuck there long enough to have seen a few people interact with the doctors, telling them if the surgery went well or not. Each one were family members, no matter what the news was they all sobbed their eyes out as they received the news. Shuichi had begun bracing himself, waiting for the eventual doctor to come out.
There was always the possibility that Kokichi was the one who had an awful surgery. If he died, Shuichi would never be able to forgive himself.
The door to the main hospital suddenly opened, to which as Shuichi glanced over he found it to be another nurse holding a clipboard, yet instead of going to someone else, her eyes locked on Shuichi’s. She began walking towards him while his chest clenched up, did she have news about Kokichi? Was he alright?
“Are you Shuichi Saihara?” she asked, standing before him.
“Yeah.” Shuichi answered.
“Nice to meet you.” she said, “May I sit next to you?”
“Sure.” Shuichi said. She did as such, angling the clipboard more towards herself for whatever reason.
“You are waiting for Kokichi Oma, correct?” she asked.
“Yeah.” Shuichi answered. “Did something happen to him?” He went on to ask nervously.
“Oh, no.” she answered. “I’m here to ask you about your status.”
“…what?” Shuichi asked.
“What is your relationship with him?” she asked.
“He’s my friend.” Shuichi answered.
“Alright.” The nurse said, glancing down at her clipboard and picking up a pen. “Well, I’m sure you understand that he’s currently in an orphanage at the moment.”
Shuichi opened his mouth yet promptly closed it in fear she would grow weary over the fact he wasn’t aware.
“We have no contact information of his original parents.” She said. “And so because of that, you would be the closest to him at the moment. His orphanage has him under rules that even though they are temporary, they are not eligible to decide on what happens in the future.”
“What do you mean in the future?” Shuichi asked.
“Well, if you decide on this role then only you will be able to visit once he gets into the recovery room. Alternatively, if he doesn’t make it, you’re going to have a part in deciding how the burial will lay out.” The nurse explained.
“Burial?” Shuichi asked nervously. “Uh…okay?”
“Are you alright with that?” The nurse asked. “I can always have your uncle take your place.”
“I-I’m fine with that. It’s just I don’t exactly want to think about him dying.” Shuichi muttered.
“I see.” The nurse said. “Well, it’s helpful to be aware of all the possibilities.”
“I suppose.” Shuichi said.
“Here, you will need to sign this.” The nurse said, handing the clipboard and pen to him. Shuichi carefully took them, glancing down at the thing. She was right, all it listed was in the future. If Kokichi died.
Shuichi nervously signed it, handing the clipboard back to her. She took it, standing up from the chair. “Thank you.” She said, “now that’s covered. You can have a few of your family members in this room if you would like, it’s just that whatever happens next they will not be able to join you.”
“How many can I have in here?” Shuichi asked.
She paused for a moment, before going on to say, “the rules state only one. But since you’re all alone and underaged, I’ll allow two.”
“Who’s here?” Shuichi asked.
“Your grandparents, parents, uncles, aunt, and your cousins.” The nurse answered.
“Oh…” Shuichi muttered. “Well, I want my uncle here. His name is Haru.” That was a given. Although he wasn’t sure who exactly the second person could possibly be, he himself wasn’t close to many of them. Calling up his mother was absolutely not happening, and he wasn’t going to ask any of his cousins to come. They were most likely bored anyway.
“Alright, anyone else?” The nurse asked.
“My grandmother.” Shuichi answered. He could at least apologize to her for abruptly shutting down her birthday celebrations.
“Okay.” The nurse said. “I’ll get them right away.”
“Thanks.” Shuichi said.
She gave him a smile, before she walked back into the main hospital with her clipboard in hand. She left Shuichi to watch as the massive metal door closed up his vision of the main building. He could imagine all his family members being dragged up to the hospital for, in their mind, most likely some stupid reason.
Were they pissed off? Worried? His uncle knew Kokichi from Shuichi’s seemingly endless rants about him, yet the rest of his family knew next to nothing. Hopefully his uncle told them at least some things, Shuichi didn’t want to explain them all himself. He was already stressed out enough.
He could hear the clock hanging above the door slowly ticking, seconds passing by that felt as though they were full hours. Shuichi leaned back in his chair that was causing his back to begin throbbing in pain, staring up at the dull wall opposing him. It was painted a light green, possibly in some hopes to bring the waiters a small sense of comfort.
Yet all it was doing was reminding Shuichi of how not normal the situation was. Were his feelings the exact ones his uncle felt all those years ago when Shuichi was in the surgery room? Anxiously waiting, while being reminded of how sudden it all was. Worried about the life of a loved one. Shuichi felt himself sink further into the chair, he already had developed regrets because of his attempt yet the new one was rather awful. It cut as though it were a fresh new wound.
The front door opened once more with a creak, to which Shuichi glanced up finding his uncle stepping inside the room. Bits of his combed back hair had been messed up, becoming tangled in the front with the jacket gone. “Shuichi!” He called out, rushing over. Shuichi caught sight of his grandmother stepping inside as well, closing the door.
His uncle leaned down, giving him a hug. “Are you alright?” He asked.
“I think so.” Shuichi said, scratching at the piece of skin underneath his eyes that was caked in smudged eyeliner. His uncle drew back as his grandmother sat besides Shuichi, setting her purse down on the ground.
“Oh, you poor kid.” His grandmother said as his uncle sat down on the other side of him.
“I’m sorry.” Shuichi muttered, feeling a wave of tears hit him once again. “I didn’t want your birthday to end up like this.”
“Shuichi, it’s alright.” His grandmother said. “I’ve had worse. What matters is that your friend is okay.”
“Was the ride over alright?” His uncle asked.
“Y-yeah.” Shuichi said. “The bone broke out.”
“Oh, Shuichi.” His uncle said, placing his hand on top of Shuichi’s.
“That sounds horrible.” His grandmother said, taking Shuichi’s other hand. The regret was swarming up in Shuichi once again, how superior did he feel, telling Kokichi he loved him when he had snapped the bone out and left him to die without even investigating. Kokichi had told him it wasn’t his fault, but Shuichi had to imagine he was just attempting to make him feel better. Because the truth was, it was all his fault.
Shuichi’s mind over swamped him with the feeling of Kokichi’s bloodied hands, so warm yet cold…he let out a sniffle, feeling tears beginning to pool up falling down his cheeks. He felt both of them squeeze his hands.
“He-he couldn’t tell anyone what happened. I think he was scared.” Shuichi mumbled, overcome with all the emotions of that night. “I wanted to help…”
“You did.” His uncle said. “You answered his call, and helped him over.”
“Mhm.” Shuichi muttered.
“He should be ever so grateful for having you as a friend.” His grandmother said.
“Hopefully.” Shuichi muttered. Based on his shit confession, there was absolutely no theory he could form on what Kokichi thought about him based on his expression when Shuichi told him.
“Did he wake up in the ambulance?” His uncle asked.
“Yeah.” Shuichi answered. “He was still really out of it.”
“What’s his name again? Kokichi?” His grandmother asked. “How on earth did he get over here?”
“He was already somewhere close to here.” Shuichi answered. Wherever that was, clearly with some monster. Was it his orphanage? The nurse did say it was temporary, that aligned with the fact he suddenly had shown up in a quiet town when previously he had never been.
“I see.” His grandmother said.
“Just know, we’re going to be here. Okay?” His uncle asked. “Whatever you need, we can help.”
“T-thanks.” Shuichi muttered. “I just want to know if Kokichi’s okay.”
“I’m sure he will be.” His uncle said. “But I’m sure it isn’t painless for him.”
“I think they gave him some pain killers.” Shuichi said.
“That’s good.” His uncle said. “He seemed to be in a lot of pain.”
“Didn’t one of the nurses tell us that he lives in an orphanage? Was that where it happened?” His grandmother asked.
“I don’t know.” Shuichi answered. He hoped not, but he had to admit it was the most likely answer.
“That’s alright.” His uncle said. “All we need to do now is wait and see if Kokichi is okay.”
Shuichi nodded, staring down at the floor as he attempted to blink the tears away. After a moment, both adults dropped his hands joining in on the murky silence that filled the waiting room, everyone hanging on the string of dread and anticipation.
One of the clock’s hands moved to the thirty mark, signaling the three hour mark of Shuichi sitting there for what better felt as though a series of breathless years combining into a few centuries, waiting for the eventual answer. What was going on beyond the ER doors? All Shuichi could hope was that Kokichi was going through things that were relatively easy and painless for him.
The second hand only seemed to be growing slower the more Shuichi watched it circle around the clock, counting the minutes that were being marked off. He couldn’t help but feel as though he were stuck, time halting just to spite him. The universe had Kokichi’s life in its hands, leaving Shuichi helpless to only hope he was okay.
Was Kokichi thinking about him? Most likely not, he was in surgery, completely asleep. He probably wasn’t aware of whatever was going on either-
Shuichi heard a door creak open. He glanced up, finding that the ER door was closing behind a doctor. His heart skipped a couple times, wondering who he was going to talk with. Yet he turned towards Shuichi and his family.
“Saihara?” He asked, walking up to them.
“Yes?” His uncle said.
Shuichi found himself holding his breath, desperately attempting to scan the man’s face for any signs of Kokichi’s well-being, or if he was, well, gone. Shuichi hoped he wasn’t. He could almost feel the paused breath from his uncle and grandmother beside him.
“Which one of you is Shuichi?” The doctor asked.
“M-me.” Shuichi answered, the dread beginning to build up.
“Alright.” The doctor said, “Kokichi’s in the recovery room. The surgery went well.” All dread immediately escaped out of Shuichi’s lungs, causing him to smile.
“Thank you so much.” His uncle said while Shuichi let out a sigh of relief. Kokichi was fine. He was fine. The great weight had been lifted off his shoulders, making him feel almost lighter.
“Kokichi will need to stay here for a few days so that we can make sure the bones are beginning to heal properly. Some of the extra wounds he had were infected, and we’ll need to watch those as well. He’s lucky, his blood pressure was dangerously low yet he managed to stay alert enough.” The doctor said.
“That sounds good.” His uncle said, glancing over towards Shuichi.
“Shuichi, if you want to visit Kokichi, now you can.” The doctor said.
“I will.” Shuichi said, already leaping out of his seat. His smile was unable to slide off yet another pit of anxiety had shown up, wondering what exactly he was to say in front of Kokichi. Especially about their hospital ride.
“Alright. Follow me.” The doctor said, already turning around towards the door.
The two of them walked towards the door, the doctor opening it with a creak while Shuichi glanced back at his uncle and grandmother who gave him a smile. He waved at them before he and the doctor slipped into the ER.
They were standing at the front of a long hallway, nurses running around with equipment around stations where curtains were drawn around patients, some letting out weak cries of pain. Shuichi hoped they weren’t Kokichi. The doctor kept walking past them lifting Shuichi spirits yet he couldn’t help but feel awful for the people in those hospital beds, clearly suffering. Was Kokichi one of them?
The two of them reached another door where the man opened it, showing Shuichi another room that appeared quite similar yet the beds had rooms separating them from the others, people standing over beds sobbing or celebrating next to whoever was in the hospital bed.
Shuichi could remember having a room of his own. He had to remind himself to breathe, telling himself that he had to focus on Kokichi. They kept passing by each room, Shuichi’s legs quickly turning into jello, nearly stumbling over his own feet.
They reached one room much further down the hallway, where Shuichi caught sight of a pale arm hanging off the bed, long purple nails curled up as a nurse blocked the rest of his vision. Shuichi attempted to bite the inside of his mouth, yet it wasn’t helping, he was grinning by the time they walked into the room.
“Hello!” The doctor said.
“Hi.” The nurse said, turning around to face them, letting Shuichi land his eyes on Kokichi. His right arm was wrapped in a white cast, elevated by strings that were mounted up on some contraption above all of them.
“I’ve brought Shuichi.” The doctor said with a smile.
“Nice to meet you.” The nurse said.
“She’ll help you with any questions.” The doctor said, motioning over to the nurse.
“See you.” And with that he walked off in a rush.
“Could you wash your hands?” The nurse asked. “That way no other germs can reach Kokichi.”
“Yeah.” Shuichi said, quickly laying eyes on the sink. He walked over, turning on the metal handles while he heard the nurse adjusting something. He washed his hands, drying them before he walked back to the nurse and Kokichi, finding himself avoiding eye contact with Kokichi.
“Call me over if you two need anything.” The nurse said, giving the two of them a smile before she slipped off, leaving them alone. Together.
Shuichi finally met Kokichi’s eyes for longer than a couple seconds, finding himself unable to glance away. He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to start the conversation with him. ‘Are you okay? By the way, could you actually give me an answer to my confession?’ That sounded too abrupt.
“Shuichi!” Kokichi said, completely knocking him out of his thoughts. “Guess what I got!” He leaned over the best he could, snatching up a remote type thing along the side of his bed. It was white, with a blue button on it although Shuichi instantly knew what the thing was. He too had the thing.
“I can call any of them! They’re all at my command!” He went on, letting out a laugh. “Whenever I’m bored, I can just-“ he flicked his finger towards the button.
“Cool.” Shuichi said, holding back his tears for what felt like the millionth time. Simply hearing Kokich’s regular, carefree voice after god knew how many hours of him panicked and scared felt as though a massive wave of relief had rushed over him, nearly knocking him over.
Kokichi paused, his expression softening ever so slightly. “What? Am I too boring for you?” He asked.
“Oh, not at all.” Shuichi answered. “I’m just glad that you’re alright.”
“I’m fine! It didn’t even hurt that badly.” Kokichi scoffed, rolling his eyes.
“Mhm.” Shuichi said, letting Kokichi just lie through his teeth. He had a feeling Kokichi too knew Shuichi could tell he was lying.
“Seriously, you look horrible!” Kokichi said. “What happened to your eyeliner?”
“Oh, uh. The tears kind of washed it off.” Shuichi said, gingerly placing one of his fingers underneath his right eyelid. It was still wet and sticky, causing him to wince.
“Washed it off? More like made you look like you're going to join the black parade.” Kokichi snickered.
Shuichi found himself laughing, scraping some of the makeup off his face leaving black smears on his finger. “It’s probably not that flattering.” He glanced down at Kokichi, finding that his appearance had changed a bit.
His face was more flushed, appearing not as gray. His clothes that he had worn for days at that point were replaced by a blue hospital gown. The wounds on his arms and legs had been bandaged up, or the bandages he did have on in the first place were replaced by cleaner ones. He didn’t appear as worrying any longer.
Kokichi opened his mouth, yet nothing came out. His eyes were glancing around Shuichi’s demeanor, almost as though he were scanning himself trying to see if something was there. Just like what Shuichi had done with him, he was clearly attempting to figure him out. Why?
“Hey.” Shuichi said. “…is it okay if I ask you something?”
“What?” Kokichi asked, although he seemed more on edge. Shuichi hated disrupting how joyful he seemed, yet they were still in a horrible situation. Things needed to be answered.
“Who really wanted to kill you?” Shuichi asked, dropping his voice down to a whisper. The door had stayed open, leaving any doctor or nurse the ability to walk past and hear their conversation.
Kokichi didn’t answer for a moment. Instead, he thought staring all around the room was much more entertaining, pursing his lips appearing almost genuinely uncomfortable.
“Sorry for asking.” Shuichi said. “But I think it’s a bit important.”
“You won’t tell?” Kokichi asked.
“I…can’t promise that. But I can promise that I won’t give the hospital a lot of the details. They need to know what exactly happened to your arm.” Shuichi answered. “Besides, I really don’t want you in a dangerous situation like that again, it was really bad. I don’t know for sure, I’m not some mind reader. I don’t even know where this took place.”
Kokichi paused, biting one of his nails. “Sorry.” Shuichi said. “You can tell me what you don’t want me to say, I would be fine with that.”
“What if hypothetically I don’t want you to say anything?” Kokichi asked.
“But then wouldn’t you just wind up right back where you were?” Shuichi shot back. “I do not want that to happen again.”
“I’ll be fine!” Kokichi said, waving his hand dismissively. The one that had previously been covered in blood.
“No, you won’t.” Shuichi said. “Please, just let me help.”
Kokichi rolled his eyes. “Fine. He said. “But I tell you what can be said, got that?”
“Of course. It’s your story.” Shuichi said.
Kokichi hesitated for a brief moment, glancing around the room. He kept refusing to glance much into Shuichi’s eyes, fiddling with the thinnest bedsheets Shuichi had ever seen previously.
“It was a camp.” Kokichi muttered. “My stupid family sent me there.” Shuichi knew that was a lie, yet he kept quiet.
“He-“ Kokichi stopped himself, his eyes frantically scanning the room. “He hated me.”
“Was he a staff member?” Shuichi asked.
“Yeah.” Kokichi answered. Pieces were starting to connect in Shuichi's mind, with what exactly had happened when he found Kokichi on the beach.
“He got really pissed a couple days ago and…” Kokichi trailed off, his lips curling into a frown. Shuichi could feel a pain pinging in his heart, watching Kokichi’s demeanor only grow more anxious, curling up as though he wanted to disappear into the floor. The shift from his cheery attitude was sudden, Shuichi couldn’t help but feel guilty for being the main cause in it.
Shuichi paused for a moment before he reached out, holding his hand out to Kokichi. He stared down at it, then back up at Shuichi. Almost as though he were a scared child. Shuichi wasn’t sure what he was doing, but perhaps it could help a bit.
Kokichi slowly dragged his hand towards Shuichi’s, interlocking them. His hand felt much warmer than previously, holding Shuichi’s hand much stronger. The feeling of blood wasn’t present, leaving Shuichi to finally notice how Kokichi’s nails gently rested against his knuckles. The dark purple stuck out next to his pale skin that appeared ghostly next to Shuichi’s skin.
He could only hope Kokichi wasn’t noticing the amount of heat that was marching across his face. Kokichi seemed to have relaxed a bit, yet he still didn’t meet Shuichi’s eyes.
“He hit my arm.” Kokichi finished. “And then again tonight. And snapped it.”
Shuichi had a feeling it wasn’t a simple smack. Bones broke against much more pressure than that, the man must’ve been wild enough to do such a thing. But nonetheless, Kokichi had told him what was going on. He lended the information out himself.
“I’m so sorry.” Shuichi said.
“It’s whatever.” Kokichi sniffed.
“But thanks for telling me.” Shuichi said. “That camp seems horrible.”
“It wasn’t that bad.” Kokichi said, shrugging the shoulder that he could as the other was strung up in suspension. “Would happily go again! Five out of five stars!”
Shuichi rolled his eyes, yet he found a smile creeping up. “I’m sure.”
“There, you now know what happened.” Kokichi said. “Anyways!”
“Well, I think you need to tell the hospital this. They want to know anyway. Besides, then you don’t have to be there anymore. You’re still 17, so CPS could help.”
“What, so they can throw me in something else?” Kokichi snapped, clutching Shuichi’s hand tight. “They’re useless.”
“My uncle can help with the process. He’s a detective, after all.” Shuichi said. “All you need to do is share what happened in the detail that’s comfortable to you but gets the truth out. I know that’s hard for you, but it’s in your best interest to do something like that. Lying to protect your image could only end up hurting you more.”
Something with Kokichi’s demeanor shifted. He glanced up at Shuichi with an odd glint in his eyes that Shuichi hadn't seen before. “Whatever you say, Shuichi.” Kokichi said, although his tone seemed more playful snapping his lips up into a grin. “You’re so smart.”
“Thanks?” Shuichi said, his mind reeling on why exactly Kokichi was telling him that information. “How was the surgery?” He asked, attempting to deter the conversation away from the camp.
“Oh my god, it was so awful!” Kokichi protested. “I’m in so much pain!”
“Sorry about that.” Shuichi said, already seeing past the dramatic performance. “How quickly did the amnesia hit?”
“Well, they put me in some other room first off and just watched me.” Kokichi said. “And then I woke up here.”
“Did you even notice yourself getting sleepy?” Shuichi asked.
“Fuck no.” Kokichi answered. “It completely knocked me out.”
“Well, that’s good.” Shuichi said, taking notice of Kokichi glancing down at their interlocked hands.
“Could I now ask you a question?” Kokichi asked.
“Yeah?” Shuichi asked.
“Did you know adrenaline can make you say things you don’t mean?” Kokichi asked, his eyes staring into Shuichi’s, his mouth in a completely straight line. I don’t mean…he knows.
The pit of anxiety roared back in Shuichi’s mind. His stupid confession that he didn’t think twice about saying. What was wrong with him? Kokichi was bound to ask, of course he was. Shuichi had to somehow explain himself, he just wished his true feelings for Kokichi didn’t have to come out like how it was unraveling.
“I’m sure it does.” Shuichi said. “But not then.”
“How can you be sure?” Kokichi asked. Did he not believe him?
“Because, well, I’ve felt that way about you for a bit now. And I still do. I don’t really know what came over me.” Shuichi began explaining, going on to say, “but the thing is I’ve realized that you're quite, well, pretty.”
“So you weren’t joking?” Kokichi asked, his tone becoming flat.
“Of course not.” Shuichi answered. “I don’t think that was the time to joke around. But it also wasn’t the time to, well, confess. You were already panicked and probably scared, and I shouldn’t have made that worse. I’m sorry.”
Kokichi didn’t answer for a moment.
“I really love you, Kokichi. I wish there could’ve been a better time to tell you this. Perhaps I just thought you weren’t going to make it, and I wanted to tell you…” Shuichi trailed off, his anxiety only growing worse. “Sorry.”
“Are you sure?” Kokichi said quietly, to the point where Shuichi was second guessing if he ever heard it. He had a frown plastered across his face, his eyebrows curled up in worry. His eyes almost screamed in desperation, for an unknown reason.
“I’m sure.” Shuichi said.
“I-“ Kokichi started, although he stopped himself. “I’m not a great person. I don’t know what you thought, but I’m not what you think.”
“Then who are you, really?” Shuichi asked.
The question only seemed to send more distraught into Kokichi. His fingernails had begun digging into Shuichi’s skin, his eyes refusing to meet his own.
“Someone you don’t want.” Kokichi muttered. “I just lie, manipulate, and I don’t care about anyone.”
“But isn’t that what you want people to think of you? I thought of you that way during school, yet the more I am around you I have come to understand that’s not the case.” Shuichi said. “You lie, yes. But don’t you just do the others to make everyone else scared of you?”
Kokichi blinked a few times. “No.” He lied.
“Mhm.” Shuichi said.
“God, stop doing that!” Kokichi suddenly snapped, boring his eyes into Shuichi’s soul. “You know I’m lying, stop pretending you don’t!”
“Do you want me to call you out?” Shuichi asked.
“No! Why why why do you fucking care so much!? Why did you want to figure me out? I’m not worth your time! I’m just a fucking annoying brat, you don’t deserve someone like me!” Kokichi protested, thin lines of tears spilling out of his eyes. His breathing hitched, his eyes wide and fearful. He kept Shuichi’s hand in the death grip, his arm beginning to shake.
“It’s alright, Kokichi.” Shuichi said. “I really do want to care about you. I always have. You’re so amazing, it’s hard not to.”
“But why?” Kokichi asked.
“Would you like a list?” Shuichi asked.
“Fuck.” Kokichi said, using his arm to wipe off some of the tears.
“I’m sorry.” Shuichi said. “You’re already overwhelmed, I shouldn’t have…”
“No, I’m sorry.” Kokichi said, lowering his arm.
“It’s alright.” Shuichi said. “I didn’t think telling you would be easy.”
“Of course it wouldn’t.” Kokichi said. “So why even bother?”
“Because I love you too much not to.” Shuichi answered. “It’s a wonder I didn’t even figure it out sooner. You’re so fucking pretty.”
Kokichi froze.
“…so this isn’t out of pity? Or just some joke?” He asked.
“Of course not.” Shuichi answered. “Sorry for making you cry. God and constantly making you uncomfortable. I’ll understand if you don’t feel the same, you don’t have to comply with me.”
“Stop apologizing.” Kokichi said. “You literally did nothing wrong.”
“So-fuck.” Shuichi muttered.
Kokichi let out a small laugh, working his hand up so that it was wrapping around Shuichi’s wrist. “I’m such a fucking bitch.” He said.
“A bit.” Shuichi said with a shrug.
“I have to tell you something.” Kokichi said.
“What?” Shuichi asked.
“Come here.” Kokichi said, tugging at Shuichi’s arm. Shuichi nervously leaned forwards, hanging over the bed yet Kokichi kept pulling him down, his grin only becoming wider.
“Wha-“ Shuichi didn’t have time to ask his question.
All of a sudden Kokichi leaned up, planting a kiss on his lips. A sudden rush of warmth shot through Shuichi, perhaps due to the shock or Kokichi himself, nevertheless it was over before he knew it, opening his eyes that he wasn’t even aware had closed as Kokichi fell back on his pillow.
His face was tainted with red, his lips having been darkened giving Shuichi a smaller smile than his others, yet it gave more emotion than any of them.
“Well?” Kokichi asked.
“I-“ Shuichi said, his mind feeling as though it were short circuiting. “I thought-you-didn’t- huh? ”
Kokichi let out a laugh, quickly intertwining their hands once again. “Did you seriously think I didn’t like you back? Obviously! You're the bitch who kept making me fess up!”
“Wait-what?” Shuichi asked.
“You…you’re like the only person who I’ve been really honest with.” Kokichi confessed almost as though he were embarrassed.
“Oh…really?” Shuichi asked.
“Yeah.” Kokichi answered.
“I…well, thank you. Thank you so much.” Shuichi said.
“It wasn’t really my choice.” Kokichi said with a shrug. “You were just too hot for my mind I guess.”
“I-“ Shuichi wasn’t sure how to reply to that, his face quickly heating up. Kokichi simply laughed, clearly he was getting a kick out of Shuichi’s demeanor.
“When I get out of here, would you want to actually go on a date?” Kokichi asked. “Instead of faking it like last time?”
“I would love to.” Shuichi said. “I thought I was the only one who thought that!”
“You wish.”
“But when you get out, you’re not going back to the camp. Alright?”
“Fine.” Kokichi said, rolling his eyes.
“Or anywhere else awful.”
“I can’t promise that.” Kokichi muttered.
“Then I’ll try and make it not happen again.” Shuichi said.
“Alright.” Kokichi said, although he seemed a bit unsure. Shuichi wasn’t exactly sure how he was to stop it as well, yet staring down at the boy that at first he was terrified of becoming broken, mended, then broken and mended all again made him want to attempt everything to help.
It still felt surreal, holding hands with Kokichi himself. Yet he had come to an understanding of him, he was much more sweet than he would most likely want to admit. All Shuichi wanted was for Kokichi to feel happy, and grow out of whatever mess he was in. Whatever mess he was always in.
Shuichi had to simply thank his shit sleep schedule for keeping him awake that one fateful morning, leaving him to end up in a hospital with Kokichi, a whole new relationship blossoming between the two of them. The purple haze had cleared, Shuichi could see what really was on the other side.
“Hey, I’m going to talk to my uncle. I think we’re going to get you far away from that place.”