Chapter Text
“Hey, you. Can you pretend to be my boyfriend?”
“Haha, excuse me, what? ”
Kokichi scans his eyes over the ridiculously tall person standing in front of him, drinking in every last detail. They weren’t too bad to look at, he supposes. Broad shoulders, average build, a very nice jawline that he can easily see himself running his fingers along if this was any other situation. Even their goatee and weirdly spiked hair doesn’t disway him too much. The one arm out of the leather jacket might, but he’s bored and the other seems like they’ll be a good time. And the subtle hint of desperation under their optimistic smile draws him in.
“Just pretend to be my boyfriend.”
“Hmm, I dunno. Who even are you?”
“I.. seriously? Kaito Momota? Legendary of the Stars?”
He curls his hand to examine his fingers, twists his wrist, spreads his fingers out, and wiggles them a bit before looking this Kaito person in the eye as best as he can considering their height difference. “Mmm, yeah, I’ve never heard of you.”
“I..” Kaito shakes his head. “Whatever. That doesn’t matter. I just need you to play boyfriend for a bit.” He pauses, and Kokichi can see the desperation starting to blossom. It’s a good look on him. “Please?”
He shrugs before crossing his arms. “I dunno, seems kinda boring . Why would I want to pretend to be your boyfriend?”
Kaito glances away towards the crowd before looking back at Kokichi, the desperation now tinting those lilac eyes. “Cus I’m Kaito Momota!”
“I just told you, silly, I haven’t even heard of you.”
“Look, please, just help a guy out would ya?” He tries to smile at him, but Kokichi can see the emotions he’s trying to hide so easily. The desperation now mixes with irritation, impatience, and he can’t help but want to see more of it.
“Fine, fine. This party was starting to get dull anyway. But you’ve gotta pay me.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yup! We can discuss payment afterwards~” And with that, Kokichi takes Kaito’s hand in his and revels at how tense the other gets. Oh? Perhaps he doesn’t actually swing that way. How interesting!
Just at that moment, a girl with above average looks comes bouncing up to them, a playful smile on her pink-tinted lips, eyes starry with optimism dancing in her eyes as she gazes at Kaito like he’s the best thing since sliced bread. All illusion and fantasy drops the second she sees them holding hands. Kokichi enjoys the way her lip curls slightly at the sight of them, how quickly the romantic vulnerability her aura was oozing mere seconds ago is blocked up by a wall of cold, disapproving ice.
“Oh.” Her tone is flat. “I guess you weren't lying.”
Kaito’s smile can almost crack under how much he’s forcing it, Kokichi notes with glee. “Haha yup! This here is my boyfriend. My very adorable boyfriend with whom I have a very serious, committed, closed relationship.”
Kokichi let’s go of his hand and wraps his arms around Kaito’s waist, snuggling his face against his side. He can hear the other’s breath hitch and it sends a delighted shiver down his spine. “Isn’t Kaito, likes, totes adorbs? He’s such a snack. I’m sooo lucky to have snagged such a catch~!”
“Yeah..” The girl’s brows crease as she frowns. “Completely lucky.”
Kaito let’s out a sigh of relief. “So are you and your friends gonna leave me alone then?”
“I guess.” She chews at her lip, causing some of her lipstick to come off. “But, like, there’s no way you’re just into guys right? I can't believe the Kaito Momota is gay .”
With his ear pressed against his side, Kokichi can hear the other’s heartbeat quicken. Ah, the sweet melody of a novice liar.
Kaito laughs and drops his arm around the smaller boy, pulling him in closer to his side. “Haha yup! Kaito Momota, lover of the stars and men.”
“I don't believe you.”
He falters. Panic is a good look on him. “What?”
The girl repeats herself. “You heard me. I don't believe you. And I won't until you kiss him.”
Kaito chokes. Kokichi rolls his eyes. “Jeez you’re so persistent aren't you? Why can't you take no for an answer and, like, stop trying to ruin our relationship? But fiiine we’ll perform a kiss for you so you can go back to your little vulture friends and go try to pick on another nice, vulnerable hot guy, riiight Kaito-chan~?” He starts snaking his hand up the other’s chest, enjoying the hammering of his heart against his palm, the tightness of his muscles. There’s no way the other wants to kiss him.
“Y-yeah. Right.”
It’s very natural, however, the way Kaito leans down so it’s easier for him to wrap his arms around his neck, and for a brief second he’s impressed not only by the courtesy but by the other’s acting as well. Despite the words from earlier sounding too forced, this feels much different, and a pool of fear and anxiety collects in Kokichi’s stomach before he pushes it away, closes the gap between them, and smashes his lips against the other’s.
They’re warm, and soft, and the weird anxiety isn’t going away. It feels like Kaito is actually melting into the kiss, which makes Kokichi’s heart start to pound, and when the other pulls him close he gasps against his lips.
It’s his turn to tense about things.
It feels like an eternity passes before Kaito let’s go. The redness coloring his cheeks and the intense sincerity that colors his eyes makes Kokichi want to bolt.
The girl is glaring at them. “Ugh ok fine I believe you now. Such a waste of a hot guy. Whatever.” She turns on her heel and disappears back into the party crowd.
“Woo boy! I wasn't expecting that!” Kaito slaps him on the back, a giant stupid grin back on his face. He’s acting like they’ve just gotten away with a crime, and not like they’re two strangers that just shared an oddly genuine, intimate moment that was supposed to be acting. “Good job, uh…” The smile drops. Kokichi’s stomach is doing back flips. “I never did get your name.”
No, it’s the host of an entire goddamn circus act. He has to get away from Kaito, and fast.
“Oh, haha, my name doesn't matter!” He beams up at him in an attempt to cover up the cocktail of feelings rushing through every fiber of his existence. It’s just a kiss, a job. Nothing more, nothing less. After tonight he’ll never see Kaito Momota ever again. “Anyway, thanks for making this party interesting for a few seconds, but I'm bored again so I’m, like, gonna go now, kay?”
Kokichi gives him a little wave and turns to leave. It takes all his strength not to burst through the crowd at a run.