Chapter Text
As Ryoma watched his motive video all he could do was let out a dark chuckle. The video he thought would give him a purpose to live just left him emptier than before he watched it. When Kirumi asked to meet in his lab he immediately could see where it was going. Nonetheless, he stepped forward and went into the room designed to taunt him.
As he listened to Kirumi explain her grandiose tale of what was supposedly inside her Kubs Pad, he began to have second thoughts. He entered the room fully intending to die, but there was something off about the situation. Ryoma liked to consider himself relatively intelligent, and things just weren’t adding up. Why would the prime minister go to a high school student for advice in a tragic situation? How would she become the de facto prime minister herself? And while he wanted to die he remembered a startling issue about his plan: she would intend to take out everyone else as well. She intended to take the lives of everyone else for a nation she supposedly ran. While he certainly didn’t mind dying for the sake of even something as ridiculous as this he came to the startling conclusion that he treasured the time he spent with everyone and he didn’t want them to die.
As Kirumi finished monologuing, he braced himself and used his Shukuchi Method to flee the area. He didn’t slow until he reached the dorms and slammed his door behind him.
…
He woke up to the clock in his room reading 6:30. It was much later than he usually would get up, but he reminded himself of the action that happened last night and let it slide. Taking a minute to marvel at the fact he was sleeping on a fluffy bed and had a room and bathroom to himself, he then pulled himself together enough and got ready. Despite all that, he still managed to get to the dining hall before Shuuichi got there.
While he ate breakfast courtesy of his attempted murderer, he contemplated on whether to out Kirumi or not. It would cause a fuss which could lead to a murder, but on the other hand not doing anything would lead to Kirumi likely making another attempt with how determined she was. All he would have against her is word of mouth and like he told Shuuichi and Kaede: testimonies without evidence are meaningless. He didn’t want anyone to die especially not Shuuichi so he needed to act fast. He came to a decision as soon as soon as the last person entered the dining hall-- of course it was Shuuichi, why wouldn’t it be? At least Kirumi didn’t kill anyone else after her failed attempt to off him.
The dining hall was an uproar of forcibly cheerful conversations about the magic show and while he hated to interrupt, he knew it was a necessary sacrifice. “Everyone, can you listen to me?” He couldn’t help but pull down his hat a bit when saying this in shame. He was a murderer calling out a yet-to-be murderer. What right did he have? No, it’s too late to back down, he tried to reason with himself.
Once the dining hall had quieted out at bit from other people relaying his message more loudly, he figured he should just get to the point. “Kirumi attempted to kill me last night.” He pulled his hat even lower down on his face. At this rate I’ll end up like Shuuichi was: hiding. Then again maybe I always was. Hmph, I’ve still got a ways to go.
Immediately the dining hall was thrown into pure chaos. Shuuichi was startled and stuttering nonsense despite his best efforts. Angie was trying to preach Atua and get everyone hyped for the magic show, deflecting. Miu was swearing out him and Kirumi, but that was expected. Himiko groaned about it being a pain and how today was supposed to be focused on Atua’s show. Gonta was confused and shouting for an explanation. Kaito and Kiibo were doing the same. So was Chabashira but saying it more like, “How dare a degenerate male accuse a girl of something so wrong! Explain yourself!” Kiyo and Kokichi seemed amused by the chaos and Maki and Kirumi were silent.
Eventually Kaito got fed up with everyone talking over each other and took matters in his own hands. Which apparently meant yelling “EVERYONE SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO HIM!” at the top of his lungs, which led to Ryoma and a few others near Kaito covering their ears in pain at the sheer volume.
After a quick explanation, everyone seemed to sober up and stare quietly at Kirumi. She simply stated calmly but with resignation, “I do not refute the allegations against me, however I ask for you to consider death for the greater sake of the nation.”
Kaito wasn’t going to let that just go unanswered, “Hell no! Life isn’t something you can trade or put a price on. It doesn’t just belong to you, it belongs to everyone else around you too! You can’t just throw it away on your own. Life’s purpose is to be lived! And I wanna live!”
Kirumi was stunned to silence, she even looked a bit scared. “Neeheehee! Space idoit may be a dumbass, but at the very least it’s scaring Kirumi. Awww, are you scared cuz we wanna live? Does that go against your god complex? Face it, even if what you say is true, what makes you think you could even stop it? Go home, mom. You’re drunk.” Kokichi seemed to go from messing around to nightmare fuel to back to messing around again in a few seconds. “Anywhoooos, since we all don’t wanna die we should keep an eye on Kirumi now, cuz we never know when she’ll attempt a kill!”
Everyone seemed to cringe at his abrasive words, but nobody seemed to argue. Kirumi seemed downtrodden but simply told Kokichi, “You are the most detestable cretin I have ever met.” Kokichi just gave a wicked grin back and chirped, “Thanks, mom!”
With the issue temporarily resolved, everyone headed to the gym together for the magic show. Some people gave paranoid glances to Kirumi on the way there. Ryoma noticed Shuuichi slip over to walk next to him and wasn’t surprised when he spoke up, “I’m surprised you ran. Have you found a purpose to live yet?”
Shuuichi sounded hopeful, and though he hated to crush that he had to have him face reality. “No, but you all have purposes to live and I couldn’t take that away because I selfishly wish to die.”
Shuuichi was silent for a bit before quietly saying, “I appreciate it.”
They both smiled softly and walked the rest of the way together in silence.