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He had been in sleepovers but had never been the host, and now, looking at the six teenagers in his room, made him ask himself, why did he choose the day before his Uncle came back home to do this?
Of course, studies, but now that he sees the chaos they made of his room, he wishes he had never done that. If he wanted to found someone to blame, it could be Ouma, he was the one who gave him the idea, and now he was letting Amami do his nails while he talks on the phone with Miu, telling her she hasn’t been invited, (which was true, Shuichi didn’t particularly get along with her); In the end though, he had decided to do it, so he is the only one to blame.
Even so, he asked his friends to maintain things clean, they said ‘ yes, of course’ . It was a lie, a complete lie he would have wanted Ouma to say it at the moment, because now he is thinking they are going to sleep surrounded by crumbs of chips, nachos and peanuts shells, with glasses of orange juice, cola and grape panta all over the place.
Everyone was talking and laughing, they were having a great time and he was too some moments ago before he realised the mess he had in his very own room, (the one his friends promised to be careful with). He resigned from any lecture he could give them, knowing he was the one to blame for not paying attention, while he started to grab every empty package and bottles to throw it away. Kaito asked him what he was doing, as if it wasn’t obvious, and told him to relax. How could he do that? his uncle is going to arrive tomorrow and he should have the house and his room clean, more than anything because he liked his room as tidy as possible and because he didn’t want to give more worries to him.
When he asked if he could do a sleepover with some friends he accepted under some conditions, like every adult would ask for: don’t destroy the house. He was sure that wouldn’t happen, not to the entire house but perhaps his room could end up like that, now that he sees the way things are going. He was in the kitchen now, filling the glasses again and looking at some numbers on the fridge, Pizza or sushi? he should ask first.
“Hey guys, what do you wanna eat, pizza or sushi?” he asked entering his room, it was the biggest room of the house, it didn’t feel that way when he was little but now that he has no toys and only has his bed, a desk and a closet, it is spacious.
“I vote for sushi” the first one was Keebo, who was playing God-knows-what with Kaito, this one looked at him with a frown face as he said “God no!, we need pizza” Rantaro laughed at this, looking amusing by the chosen words. “So this is about needing? Well I need a big massage chair in my living room, but I don't, the most close thing is sushi” Ouma was blowing at his nails to help them dry, stopping when he heard it.
“How does that even connect? anyways I’d want whatever Saihara-chan wants!, I bet we are thinking the same!” It was stupidly correct, actually, when it comes to food, thay have similar tastes, except for desserts, Shuichi isn't a fan while Ouma has a sweet tooth. Shuichi thought a bit about what he wanted, You can call him fancy or whatever, but right now he wanted sushi.
“Do you mind sushi then?” Ouma smiled widely, looking really cute as he moved his legs sitting on the bed like a child. “Of course, from now on I trust you with all my foods, Mr-” he cut his words, suddenly, as he remembered how strange the nickname would sound without context, and the others didn’t have that context. So he just giggled, seeing Kaede and Maki staring at him. “Shuichi-Chan!” Saihara felt his heart melt and cool at the same time because Ouma had said his first name without shame, instead of some nickname? what was wrong with him?!
“Wha- Ouma-kun !” Rantaro sighed, still painting Ouma’s right hand, while this one grabbed his chin, faking deep thoughts. “Umm, that feels weird, maybe I should call you another way… Oh! What about Shu-Sh-” he was interrupted by a red faced Saihara.
“Harukawa- San! Kaede-san!?, what would you like to eat!?” The two of them, who were sitting besides Kaito, looked at him, Kaede seemed to enjoy that show and Maki just rolled her eyes. “ I want pizza,” Kaede agreed. Shuichi ended up just buying a pizza and three boxes of varied sushi, so everyone has what they want.
“Why don’t we play something as we wait for the food to arrive?” Kaede said, lively as Kokichi sat before her in the mini circle they were doing. Kaede, Kokichi, Maki and Kaito were sitting on the floor, Rantaro and Keebo on the bed and Shuichi on a chair.
“ What game? and don’t say something so cliché like truth or dare, I'm tired of that game!” Kokichi complained with frown, rocking form one side to the other like a kid, Shuchi snored at that, trying to not giggle and look like a creep to the others for laughing out of nowhere, it wasn’t even that funny!
“Okay, what about never have I ever?” Rantaro proposed and Kokichi rolled his eyes, while Maki, with a neutral expression opened her mouth, giving everyone their glass to play.
“ You just don’t like it because you have to tell the truth, otherwise it is not funny” He stuck his tongue out, really, he is sixteen but he acts like a five years old.
“Well then, who starts? good questions please, nothing too spicy, and I'm talking about you, Ouma!” The blonde girl pointed at him, making him gasp exateraly. “ But that’s the best part of the game! like, never have I ever sucked a-” Keebo interrupted him, raising his voice.
“ Ah, May I ask the first question?” Rantaro patted his shoulder, giggling at his embarrassment. Keebo was a shy boy, but he was willing to save them from an awkward moment like that.
“Umm well then… Never have I ever… called a teacher mom or dad” It was pretty...innocent, to say the least, everyone just looked at each other in silence, but Ouma broke the silence.
“ Oh c’mon! A supreme leader would never do something so stupid!” he didn’t touch his
glass at all while an embarrassed Kaede took a sip, giggling. “ Um I did… recently” Shuichi couldn't contain his laugh, feeling a little bit bad for laughing at a friend.
“ Oh my god, who?” Rantaro asked her, she just pressed her hands on her face and murmured. “ Ms. Yukizome...”
“OH GOD! AKA-CHAN! “ Ouma did not even try to repress his half screamed, half laughed, but still wasn’t a belly laugh, he was just exaggerating and Shuichi wondered when did he even notice it? It's not like he heard his real laugh before either, but he just knows.
“Ah, stop, it's so embarrassing!” Kaede had pink shades on her ears and Keebo seemed to try not to laugh, giving her a sorry smile. “ Well, if it makes you feel better…” Kaito spoke, drawing everyone’s attention. “... I called my third grade teacher grandma” This time, Maki was the one who chuckled first, followed by Ouma and Rantaro, while Keebo frowned.
“How old was she?” The albino asked, making Momota look down as he scratched his nape. “ Twenty Five…” It was a murmure, but everyone could hear it. And Ouma laughed again.
“ Oh my god, poor woman!” Kaede was laughing, and Shuchi saw how Kaito groned and shaked Maki’s arm while he said something like ‘ don’t you laugh at me , Maki Roll! you were my only hope!’ But that only seemed to make Maki laugh a little louder. Saihara thought he saw Kokichi smiling at that, but as soon as he noticed the smile washed away, as if it wasn't even there to begin with.
Rantaro spoke “ Ah well, I’ll say the next one! Never have I ever drank alcohol!” at this, Shuichi took a sip of his soda, expecting everyone’s gasp, even Kokichi was looking at him surprised, but then he had a beam on his face, and took a sip too.
“Yo! what’s up with you two!? we are minors!” Kaito was uncharacteristically alarmed, at this Shuichi raised his hands up before his chest, with a nervous laugh. “ Hey, don't worry, I’ll explain” he glanced at the other, everyone was waiting for him to speak, and so he did, sighing. “ When my uncle and I solve a case, he’ll give me a little bit of wine, just that, it’s not like I get drunk or anything” everyone made an ‘oh’, as if it was a good enough explanation for them.
“And you Ouma? don’t think I didn’t see you” Rantaro pointed at him, with a frown on his face, Shuichi had catched time ago, Rantaro was used to almost babysit everyone, Ouma being the best example, he was his friend but treated him like a little brother, which made him always smile, their dynamic was almost comical.
“ ah, don’t get all mom-mode, that’s Toujo-chan ‘s work!, it was an accident, actually. I used to go to church every Sunday, and there was a Catholisim class for kids as well, right before the mass. Once I sneaked out because it was fucking boring, and saw the holy chalice there on the table ready for the mass, and I was an innocent child back then, and if I had paid attention to the class, I would have known that what I was drinking wasn’t water, but white wine, so yeah, The priest scolded me for driking it, but who leaves alcohol there when children are there?”Kokichi finished his story with a nostalgic smile, everyone was laughing softly, but Shuichi couldn’t look away from Kokichi’s expression, which at first sight was pretty normal, smiling and listening the others talk, but if you’d know Kokichi like Shuchi had learned to, you could see that his eyes had became brightless, his smiling was small, almost forced and he wasn’t really looking at anybody.
“ But where was your mother?, didn't she see you doing that, nor scold you?” Suddenly Kaito’s question snapped Saihara out of his detective mode, but no from Ouma’s expression, which immediately shifted at that, just a second, but it did. It’s true that Saihara had the same question, nonetheless he suspected since long ago that maybe it was a sensitive topic, so he never asked. From the way he always avoided parent’s topics, and how does he always act around Kirumi… well he’s not a psychologist, but his particular behavior towards Toujou makes him think he needs a female figure to take care of him, and give him a little affection, and Kirumi does that; she cooks his favorite meals, she praises him when they are studying together (not like Shuichi pry on them because Kokichi is just too cute when he concentrates) and when Kokichi’s down, he’s always on her side, being clingy towards her all day.
It’s not one sided, though, Kirumi is always trying to be in charge of someone, she needs to feel useful and protective and capable, maybe it’s just part of her duty as maid, although it doesn’t seem that way to Shuichi, Kokichi and Kirumi are always rotating around each other, as if they are....
He doesn’t want to think about it, it’s not the time, But then he sees Maki’s frown and he just worries more. “ Nope, but my father was there, he just laughed. That’s all I remember” Kokichi sweated off the question quickly, pretending his mother’s mention didn’t perturb him at all, but before Shuichi could do or say anything, the game just continued.
Kokichi’s turn “Okay, then, I’ll ask next! never have I ever entered the wrong toilet!” Keebo drank shyly, and Kaito laughed, while the albino excused himself saying he didn’t have his contacts on and he wasn’t paying attention. Then they saw maki, who was drinking silently.
“What?” she asked, expressionless.
“Nothing” everyone said in unison, probably not wanting to get kicked in the ass for nosy.
“Never have I ever given or received a valentine’s chocolate!” Kaede said with a smile, Kaito, Rantaro and Shuichi drank, but all eyes were on Shuichi, making him blush.
“ Oh, didn’t know Saihara-chan was a player!” Ouma said, with a smirk that made him shiver and flush even more.
“Waah, not like that!” He said almost incomprehensible due to the speed of the words coming out of his mouth.” She was grateful because I have found her pet, that’s all!”
Rantaro spoke with a poker face “ you really are dense”
“super dense” Kokichi backed him up.
“hella dense, dude” Kaito, surprisingly, agreed.
“ You talk as if you weren’t the same,” Kokichi exclaimed, rolling his eyes.
“ Why are you attacking me for now!?” Kaito frowned with a shout.
“Ugh, why must you do this to me” Shuichi sighed as Kaede laughed, and Keebo spoke again.
“ Who gave you yours, Momota -kun? I'm assuming Rantaro had his from his ex girlfriend” Rantaro nodded, but speaked.
“Well yes, but many girls gave me chocolates too, Not like they filled my locker but quite a few, enough to make me have to bring a little bag” Keebo huffed a little woah under his breath.
“Wow, talk about bragging ” Kokichi said.
“What? you jelly jelly?” Rantaro teased, and Kokihci made a displeased grin, shaking his head.
“Um, well, answering your question Keebo, “ Kaito drew everyone’s attention. “ It was a girl in my club, she gave it to me and after some time she confessed to me” Maki’s eyes winded and a little ‘ ooh’ filled the room.
“ so you dated?” Kaede asked, and Shuichi swears he saw Maki tensing up a bit.
“Nah, I rejected her” Kaito answered very nonchalantly.
“Woah, you broke a girl’s heart so cruelly? And you are supposed to be the good guy” Kokichi cried out, exaggerating.
“No dumbass, I had my reasons”
“Which were?” Maki spoke this time, and Kaito looked at her.
“A friend had a crush on her, months later they started going out” Kaito laughed, and Maki smirked a little.
“ What, she just suddenly liked your friend?” Rantaro asked.
“Dunno”
“It’s Maki’s turn!” Every gaze fell on her and she just sighed.
“Never have I ever been caught staring at someone” Kaede was the only one drinking this time, and her cheeks were pink in no time.
“What? He was pretty handsome and I’m not so discreet” Rantaro snored and Kokichi chuckled, busting into a laugh.
“ W- What!? stop!” Kaede was more red than ever and Kokich just laughed harder.
“Sorry Aka-chan! I just played the scene in my head and I'm- “ he giggled a bit more and she just groaned.
Kaito asked next: “Never have I ever kissed someone” He looked at everyone, nobody was drinking but Rantaro, nothing too shocking; He said he had a girlfriend before, but then Shuichi’s eyes widened as they stopped on Kokichi, who was silently drinking his grape juice.
“Ouma-kun!?” Kaede was the first one to point it out, and everyone turned his head, looking straight at him. “ Who did you kiss!?” Kaito asked with an almost cracking voice, probably not wanting to believe he did it before him.
“ Uh?” He seemed confused, almost like he didn’t understand what a kiss implicated.
“ I never thought Kokichi would have dated someone! It is a big surprise!” Kaede seemed really interested in this topic, maybe because it was just romance and love or maybe because it was Ouma who they were talking about.
“ I was ten, just trying, never dated” he said quickly, looking at him for some reason, and Saihara looked away, flustered and relieved with that answer… why though?
“ at least she was pretty?” Kaito asked, and Kokichi frowned “she…? Oh… yeah, she is really pretty!” He had a smirk for some reason that Saihara wanted to know.
“ How do we know you are not lying?” Maki asked, and that illuminated Kokichi’s face. “well I have hi.. her number, I can call her!” Kokichi went straight towards his bag, as Keebo murmured “ Oh god, did he really? for some reason I don’t see him interested in love at all!”
Kokichi had his phone on his ear, probably waiting for the other to answer, but he heard what Keebo said and he whined. “ Waah, you are so mean!” and then Shuichi could hear some noise coming from the phone.
“ Oh no! not you, Komaeda- chan!” Immediately, Kokichi put her on speaker. “ Komaeda? Since when do you call me by my last name, Kokichi? ” her voice was deep yet soft, way to masculine to be a girl’s one. “ I should be polite to girls, shouldn’t I?” There was a silence, where Shuichi could take his eyes off the cell phone and look at Maki, who for some reason was smiling, looking up to Kokichi who was still standing. Other fact filled his mind, they usually call each other by their given names? she called him Kokichi just now...for some reason that bothers him.
“ Oh… yeah, anyways why did you call me for? I'm with Hajime right now, and he wants me to be with him when he plays video games with Nanami- san , he says I give him good luck, ironic” Ouma tch-ed and and looked at them, finally sitting down and letting the phone on the floor.
“Well, I’m here with some friends, and they don’t believe we kissed when we were kids, just wanted your alibi to back me up, Nishishi”
“ Which one did you tell them? like the one Ellie forced us to, -god how strong was that girl, or the one on the rooftop? that was romantic, seriously why didn’t we date? hahaha, No- wait- Hajime I’m kidding-' ' there was a strange sound, and then you could hear her voice, as if she was far away from the phone “ Oh my god, stop throwing pillows at me! you are gonna break my phone you’ll have to buy me another!”
“ You said you only kissed once?” Shuichi asked with an uncharacteristic firm voice, and Kokichi stared at nothing in particular, deep in thought. “Yeah I don’t remember the first one, probably we were little” The voice was loud enough again, probably she recovered her phone. “ Yeah, you had like seven I think,” There was some noise and she talked again. “ Anyway, Koki’s friends! he’s telling the truth, just an innocent kiss anyway”
“ Oi, Now I wanna know how you look like Komaeda- san!” Rantaro said, smirking at Kokichi, who pressed his lips as Kaede said in low voice ‘ Koki? that’s a cute nickname’.
“ Oh well… I'm not a photogenic person and Koki and I haven’t seen each other for a long time now…” Ouma’s face had a smile, as he took the phone again. “ Oh, I know which photo I can show you, but she was little, maybe nine or ten” Suddenly, her voice was firm.
“ Kokichi Ouma, don’t . you. dare” Ouma giggled as he showed them a photo of a little girl, with long white hair and and a green dress, delicate with fake flowers on the skirt, she wasn’t happy though, she had a frown on her face . “ Too late” the purple haired boy said.
“ Oww, she was so cute” at that, the voice in the other line groaned, and then talked again. “ Oh my god, Koki, why do you even have that photo, I thought it was missed already!” Kokichi laughed, looking at the photo with a smile. “ oh well, I have my ways”
“ Just admit you saved it, '' Maki said and Kokichi’s eyes winded.
“ Wait… Koki, that was-”
“ Hey, Komaeda I think it’s time to go, your boyfriend is gonna get mad!” the phone was on his ear already, just for him to hear what the other had to say. “ No, no! hey, it’s not like that, I’ll tell you later” Ouma’s voice lowered and he frowned, gazing quickly at Maki, that going unnoticed for the other though, but not for Shuichi..
“ uhm, yeah, talk later… Bye bye!” He smiled happily, and then he hung up. “ see! I wasn’t lying!” Rantaro laughed, and Kaito groaned.
“I can’t believe this bastard has kissed a girl before me” Kaito said and Kaede, surprisingly, was the one who responded to his statement.
“Well, I can” All eyes were on her, wide open, even Kokichi, who after a little moment laughed and went to hug her, resting his head on her stomach, letting half his body extend in the middle of the circle they have made.
“Well thank you, Aka-Chan!” he giggled like a child and she patted his head, laughing nervously, though she didn’t seem uncomfortable with the excessive clinginess, maybe because lately the two of them started to get along and she was now used to it, the thought made Shuichi smile, seeing two of his friends get along was always good.
“Ah, that sounded more straightforward that I intended it to,” she paused and then spoke again “ he’s cute, good-looking I dare to say, and well, some girls may be into him, like right now” she smiled a little, looking down at him, then Kokichi’s eyes widened with a horrified expression, looking up at her.
“ Bullshit” he said from his spot, ignoring all the compliments and focusing on the last part of her statement, what were they talking about?
“mhm, ignore it all you want, my eyes never deceive me” Kokichi jumped off her, with a serious expression, and then he laughed, bitterly and almost mockingly, going back where he was sitting before. “ Nah, I would have noticed, so, conversation over” he crossed his arms before his chest, pouting.
“ No, now I wanna know” Rantaro chimed in, looking at Kaede, expectant. Being honest, Shuichi was kind of curious too, who was Kaede talking about? He could think of girls Kokichi hung out with, but they weren’t so many. The Ultimate Musician, Ibuki Mioda, the senior that had came to their classroom, more than once, looking for Kokichi, and the other girl who seemed to be in the same class as her, according to what he had heard, Hiyoko Saionji, but he saw her with him once or twice.
Maybe that gothic girl, who was a year older than them, a sophomore , but Kokichi had told him he just talked to her twice, and it was to gamble, he had lost so he never talked to her again.
Miu? maybe?, they do seem close but, that much? He’s pretty sure Kokichi won’t see her that way in thousands years, or at least that’s what he wants to believe.
what? he just doesn’t think they would be a really good match...
“ Um, I’ll just say is on our class-”
“Himiko” Is the only thing that came out of Maki’s mouth.
“What!?” Keebo winded his eyes, looking at Kokichi who hid his face in his hands, groaning and leaning backwards, annoyed.
“ Maki Roll, you sure?” Kaito asked, but she just nodded, not saying anything else.
“ Ah- Ouma- kun you can't say anything to me, I wasn’t the one saying it!” She said and Kokichi rolled his eyes, sitting straight again.
“ she doesn't like me, what the heck, we barely talk” he looked really bothered, and he turned to shuichi, with pleading eyes, but it seems like nobody but him noticed it.
“Isn’t it your turn now, Saihara-chan?” Shuichi didn’t say anything for a second, trying to process what he just told him, but then he coughed and nodded, trying to make some noises to attack the others attention.
“ Never have I ever been hitted on by or hit on someone” okay what a question to come with, but that’ll take the spot off of Kokichi, that was the goal, wasn't it? Also, this could get some really juicy and funny stories.
“Well, somehow you gotta get the lady, right?” As he said this, Rantaro drank his juice, while Kaede silently followed him “ well, I had this thing with a girl but never end up in anything, and some guys flirted with me before asking me out, so yeah” the two of them exchanged a quick glance that didn’t went unnoticed to the detective, but decided to not say anything, too focused in whether he should have asked that.
He said it as if he never flirted, because that’s how you play, but um, this thing he has with ouma now… does this count as flirting? because they surely don't have a ‘bro’ way to talk to each other, the way he has with momota, so was he cheating this round? Maybe he’s just looking too deep in something that means nothing, yeah they do have this back and forth type of relationship, that didn’t clear absolutely anything. Even then, they were still friends, and they didn't do or say anything to make the other think otherwise, the holes and contradictions in their way of communicating could be just playfulness, who doesn't have a friend they treat slightly differently?
...he doesn’t know where he wants to get with this train of thought or what he wants to prove to himself.
“stop thinking about relationships as cases, Shuichi, get a grip!”
“Miu does tell me all the time im…” Keebo stopped talking, interrupting himself with the glass of water that touched his lips. Neither Maki nor Kaito touched their glasses, and Kokichi had it in hand, looking thoughtful.
“Ouma?” Rantaro started, looking at him,” why do you have it in hand, you are going to drink?” Ouma smiled, almost smirked, and started with this childish voice he uses when he is trying to be adorable,lowkey, trying to be devious.
“mmm well, I have this person who I think we both label us as friends, but we have this weird thing going that can’t be described as “flirting” but it isn't too mmm… non-flirty, so to speak” he moved his hand nonchalantly, finding words to describe what he was thinking, “ I mean, if you happen to heard some things we say at each other you would think something is going on, but like, never crossed the line, shit like “Your smile is pretty”, but yeah, I’m aware you don't say it to friends, unless i don't know, you know each other for a long time or is a special occasion”
The room went silent, and with a laugh, Kaito was the one to break it “ if you are even questioning it, I think that means something, to you at least” Shuichi was burning alive in that moment, when Kokichi just beamed and drank with no hesitation the soda.
He hopes nobody is paying attention to him, because damn, he wouldn't be able to explain why he was so flustered, does Kokichi think they…?
maybe he’s so flush because he was questioning it too just moments ago…
“Okay then… Now I wanna know who it is” Rantaro said, smirking at Ouma, he stuck out his tongue. “It’s a secret!” Kaede just laughed and Keebo looked at the petite guy quite mezmerised.
“Wow, who would have said Ouma had the most interesting life out of us?” They laughed and Kokichi gasped offended, then Maki’s monotone voice interrupted his incoming monologue.
“Hey, you haven’t asked yet.”
“Oh yeah! you are right” Kaede nodded, and everyone stared at the purple haired boy, who seemed deep in thought.
“Umm, I guess i’ve done everything! I can think of anything!”
“C’mon quit the bullshit and say something”
“Maybe he thinks it is too boring to ask,” Keebo commented.
“Anything will do!” Kaede clapped her hands happily.
“Sweety, the Idea is the questions have to be funny, I get why he’s thinking too much” Rantaro chuckled, they just ignored the nickname. Amami usually gave them to girls he’s close to, since it’s a habit he had with his sisters.
“Just say something already” Maki tapped her glass impatient, rolling her eyes at the annoyed glance Kokichi gave her.
“Ouma? I thought you would have been the first one to chim in with something-” Saihara was interrupted with Ouma’s gaze, his smirk carried a delightfulness that scared Saihara
“Or can I…?” he murmured, then he pulled the trigger.
Kokichi’s question was quite… sassy “ Never have I ever thought about dating someone in our class”
the room fell silent.
quietly, one by one, they took a sip of their glass, Kokichi’s satisfied smile was killing Saihara inside.
“Ugh, why do you have to expose me like this?” Rantaro said, laughing, and Kaede looked at him with her head down as she left the glass on the floor again.
Nobody commented about maki, and Rantaro started to tease Kaito, while Keebo hid his flustered face between his hands.
“Wow, how many confessions we have today! I never could’ve guessed so many people were in love!, just kidding I know half of you guys crushes” His purple eyes scanned the room, ‘till they ended up on shuichi, he smiled and opened his mouth.
“Oh, and you Saihara-chan? Are you head over heels for someone? If you lie I’ll know”Shuichi’s pulsations went above clouds, he swore he felt his heat was going to get out of his chest and never come back.
“Just say no, gosh, no, you are not in lov- why is he staring at me like that? Oh he’s waiting for an answer… which is no, of course,I wouldn't be lying, right? because i'm not in- Oh god stop staring, his eyes are so- NO, not in love, nope, just say it.... Why am I not saying anything? he’staringhe’sstaring’hestaringhe’staring- oH HE TILTTED HIS HEADJUSTLIKEAPUPPYWHYISTHATS- Is he talking? YEAH i THINK HE’S TALKING,,, oh god i have to answer, ANSWER GODDAMIT!”
“...Saihara- chan?” Ouma was smiling, and Shuichi thinks he might have been reading his mind, there was no other explanation for why he was smiling like a smartass.
“ Come again?” He needs to play it cool, but he can’t help tugging his jeans, why was it so difficult to lie? Maybe because it is Ouma.
“I asked if-” The doorbell rang, and Ouma’s body jumped like he had never seen. “ Food!” he ran downstairs, and everybody started leaving the room behind him, Shuichi breathed again, he didn't know when he stopped, but if he was one more second like that, his face would have been as purple as Ouma’s hair.
Saihara was the last one who went downstair, carrying the tray with all the glasses, when he looked up he saw Kokichi at the end of the hall, closing the door with his bare foot and boxes in hand; Then he looked up to, finding Shuichi standing there, after a moment, he tilted his head with an innocent smile.
“Food 's here!” he said, raising the boxes a little, and then he went to the living room, being welcomed with the others’ enthusiastic bustle.
And Shuichi didn’t know such an ordinary image could make his heart race and light with joy.
…
“Ok, Kaede- san, Harukawa-san, would you like to sleep in my parent’s room? I thought you may be uncomfortable sleeping with many guys around, so if you like…” He was interrupted by a big hug from Kaede who squeezed him, making him blush.
“aww you are so cute Saihara! but don’t worry! I trust you guys, I don't think any of you would try something strange! but really thank you for being so considerate, you don’t mind either, do you Haramaki?” Kaede was smiling widely as she hugged him.
“No, I’ll kill them if they try anything, but thank you, Saihara-kun” she nodded at him, and he did the same. “ It’s nothing, just wanted to make sure you feel comfortable”
“Thank you! but we would miss all the partie if we slept anywhere else!” Kaede said.
“That 's true! you are going to miss all the gossip we have here!” Kokichi chimed in, making Kaede laugh, she sat by his side, and he started talking about some romance between the seniors that Shuichi really didn’t care about.
They were accommodating the futons on the floor, talking and laughing, the girls were already in pajamas and Rantaro was heading to the bathroom to do the same. they played some games late into the night, one by one, they started to fall asleep,and Shuichi was the only one with wide open eyes, looking at the ceiling.
“Just great” he whispered, maybe it was because he was sleeping on the floor, he gave his bed to the girls, but he had slept on the floor before, so no excuse.
Insomnia again.
Lately it had been worse, the pressure of studying and working at the same time was starting to fall on his shoulder. His uncle told him to take a break, he even bought pills for him, but he didn’t want to back off; Once he gets used to work and study at the same time, It would go away.
no medical bases to prove that, he just knew it.
he turned to a side, then to the other, but no position made him fall asleep. Maybe he could use his phone, but the light may disturb the other, so he decided not to. Count sheeps never worked - who said it ever did?, and he didn’t want to play scenarios in his head, he was too tired.
but not asleep
he stifled a growl with his hands, rubbing his face. Fine, he won’t fight it.
He got up quietly, luckily he was the nearest to the door. Softly he opened it and left, his steps were as delicate as the ones of a professional dancer while he walked through the corridor.
he went downstairs and turned on the kitchen’s light, grabbed some juice and went to the living room. He put some random channel and lowered the volume, laughing at some silly jokes the guy in the tv said.
“Never thought I’ll see saihara-chan laugh at some stupid joke” Kokichi’s voice starled him, he was lending on the door frame.
“God!, don’t scare me like that!” he whisper-screamed, and the boy just laughed at him, jumped over the sofa and sat beside him. “so? What are we watching?”
“Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” Shuichi raised an eyebrow, and Kokichi rolled his eyes.
“ So do you, but you are here” they watched the interview in silence for a moment, not an uncomfortable one, but still could be better to have something to talk about.
“I… couldn’t sleep either” Not that especially.
Shuichi removed uneasy on his spot, he wasn’t comfortable talking about his recent insomnia, people tend to try to be nice and they tell you ‘ you should sleep ’ ; well, yeah Karen that’s obvious. but they just don’t make him feel any better, and he can tell every phrase he’s going to say from now on, starting with…
“why can’t you sleep-...
“Yo’, that guy is a terrible comedian, can I change the channel?” Shuichi stared at him, the blue light of the television on his face, the oversized shirt and his legs pressed on his chest, eyes looking at him. did- did he just overlook the fact that shuichi obviously had a problem he didn't want to talk about?
“Um. you don’t want me to? That face is scary saihara-chan!” he snapped out of his thoughts, nodding.
“No, yeah, it’s okay, choose whatever, I don’t mind” After some minutes, Kokichi decided for a mystery movie that was just starting so they catched everything quickly, theorizing about what possibly could have happened.
“Oh my god, they are so stupid! is obvious the detective did it!” Shuichi looked at him, confused.
“what makes you say that?” Ouma took Shuichi’s glass and drank, puttin it on the same spot and then he answered, ignoring Shuichi’s blushing face and the possibly thousands thoughts that came through his mind panicking about using the same glass.
“ because they are all rich and diplomatic people, that happen to be locked up on a mansion; someone starts a killing spree, and they are doing it so perfectly neither the doctor nor the detective are capable to discover who kills the people nor how or when exactly; The only ones capable of this could be the militar, the doctor or the detective!” he looks a saihara” and well, given that the soldier was the first victim, and the Doctor is pretty much dead by now, the detective is so fucking sus!” he yelled at the screen, when a lady hugged the said man and told him she loved him.
“Yeah but, I think the butler is the killer” Kokichi gave him a weird look. “ Well, they are pretty much depending on him, none of them know how to cook, make the drinks or have access to all teh room in the house, he could easily kill them slowly, also, the duque had said he was one of the most qualified butlers in the city, saying he had a billions of abilities, one of them could be being and assasin, or maybe self defense? a rich person could need it” Kokichi seemed to consider it for a minute.
“yeah, you may be right, the man hasn’t had too much in camera, wow, I didn't thought about it like that, You really are a detective” Kokichi smiled at him and he felt like he could lean down and swim in those cute eyes that were looking at him with glee, he smiled back and then he looked at the screen again.
“You didn’t answer” suddenly Ouma stated.
“sorry?”
“ the last question, in never have I ever, you didn’t do anything” Shuichi tensed up.
“well, I didn’t drink, Isn’t that an answer?” he said, that should do.
“You doubted”
“why would I?” they felt in silence, looking at the screen, but both of them knew they weren’t watching the movie, suddenly aware of the other’s presence, and that known tension built back again, oh no, back at it again, are they?
“you said that statemet, so you never thought about dating one of us” fuck, not ‘one of us’, you are including youself too, you idiot!
“neither have you, according to you” obviously he’ll be against the ropes, as always.
“ I have already answered” ok , ok, maybe that’s it.
“ with the others around, we are alone now” oh god, a little bit of that tickling is gathering on his belly again, just as every time he and Kokichi play this back and forth; and he knows Kokichi feels it too, the air is getting heavier and the distance between them feels almost nonexistent even if they arent that close.
“Why would it be different?”
“You know it always is” God, he can’t say that with that tone.
yeah it’s true they act different between the two of them, but they never brought it up, making it obvious, just… never did it.
they felt in silence again.
“You know I’m a liar, don’t you?” Oh god, he...he really said it?Shuichi looked at him for the first time throughout all this silly conversation, he wasn’t looking at him, but he saw that little blush, he was so pretty. Suddenly Shuichi hated to be on that weird abyss between friendship and something more, where you aren’t allowed to do so much but just a little bit, it was so confusing.
“I know” He refrains himself of saying anything more, he would talk more than he should if he didn’t.
“aww, you are so cute when you blush!” he teased, and Shuichi didn’t realize he was, and he was dying to tell kokichi “so do you” but then he would have had to openly admit he looked at him enough time to realize about that minusculus flush, and he wasn’t as bold as Kokichi to do it.
“Shut up, they are going to investigate and I wanna hear” he said, and Kokichi laughed.
“Okay, okay!”
they watched the movie, maybe twenty minutes had passed and then it felt like it stanked itself, they focused so much on the romance that both of them were talking about random stuff, until they came back to the interesting part of the show.
a yawn from him drew Kokichi’s attention. “Um? are you sleepy already? so adorable!” He just looked the other way, blushing and too tired to be nervous. Suddenly Kokichi’s shoulder seemed like the best pillow around.
“Ah-!” Kokichi made a little sound of surprise, and Shuichi felt him turning his head at him, then looking forward again. “ That’s my answer then, You are lucky a supreme leader like me is so generous to let you use me as a pillow!” Shuichi felt like nothing else mattered but finding a comfortable position to sleep on his friend.
his brain began to function less and less, his primitive instincts were the only ones aware of the surroundings and the smell of sweet fruit that Ouma's neck had.
“You smell ice, Ouma-kun” his mouth talk before he even processed the thought-
“Oh? Do I?” Kokichi shifted, making Shuichi groan and rub his cheek on him. “Woah, clingy are we? It’s a cute side of Saihara-chan I haven’t seen! Nishishi” His voice sounded unstable, but SHuichi’s tired brain hadn’t registered that, so he just put his indiscreet sleepy arms around Ouma’s tiny waist, sighing.
“And you are warm...Like it” his voice was quiet and his word extended more than necessary, but Ouma understood him.
“I could say the same, you naughty detective” Kokichi was blushing, but he didn’t push him away. His flustered face was the last sight before he fell asleep on him.
…
“Shh! be quiet”
“ I wanna take a picture, I’ve never seen either of them like that.”
“How did both of them end up here? ”
“Oh my god! Shuichi is so cute like this”
“So is Kokichi!”
voices filled the room, they were whispering but loud enough to make the both boys shift, snuggling on the big sofa the Saiharas owned.
“Should we wake them up?” Rantaro asked, everyone was already ready to leave, they thought both Shuichi and Kokichi were awake, but they discovered the two teens were sleeping downstairs; Kokichi under shuichi, and this one with his head on Kokichi’s stomach, embracing his waist, looking very comfortable.
“Nah, just let them sleep, if we wake them up, Shuichi is going to be super embarrassed.” Kaito said, accommodating his backpack on shoulder and looking down to his wrist clock, “Guys I gotta go now, just let them a note, they’ll deal with their embarrassment together” Kaite headed to the front door and Keebo followed, murmuring apologies, saying that he got plans too.
“Isn’t a bit rude leaving like that” Kaede asked, looking conflicted.
“Kinda, but we can’t wait forever, I’ll put an alarm, so they will wake up before Saihara’s Uncle arrives.” He took Kokichi’s phone and unlocked it.
“You know Kokichi’s password?” he just nodded, and then he placed it on the tea table.
“C’mon, they are going to be ok, I’m going to take you both home, ok? It’s too early to take a bus, it’s going to be crowded, is that alright?” Rantaro asked, and Kaede thanked him, Maki just nodded, finishing the note nobody saw her writing.
“Kaito’s idea may be good, at least this way they won’t be so confused “ they nodded and went outside.
Maki let the paper beside the phone, then looked at Kokichi, whose eyebrows flitched.
“ He isn’t sleeping” the thought made her roll her eyes, and she left.
...
Kokichi opened his eyes, face blushing. “ How the hell did we ended up like this'' murmured to himself, he wasn’t supposed to fall asleep, he was going to finish that movie and go upstairs again, letting Shuichi confused and he would laugh at his face in the morning, but the movie was boring with no one to talk about it and then… the curtains just fell and when he last expected, he woke up at the others no-so-whispering-voices.
“Shit” he said when he moved, feeling his legs numb due to Shuichi’s weight over him and his stronger grip around him, which tensed up because of the movement.
“ Don’t...comfy” Sleepy shuichi was going to kill him, he was warm and cute, and so heart melting.If he moves just a little more, Shuichi will wake up fully and he’ll lose the sweet embrace on his torso, not to mention the awkward moment they’ll suffer...well, it ‘s not like his leg are going to function anyway.
“Ok… I won’t move, just...let me move my legs to a side, yes?, you are going to cut my blood circulation.” The sofa was big enough for him to be in a diagonal position, so half of his body isn’t hanging off the furniture.
Shuichi just lifted to the side, enough time for kokichi to move his leg before the body fell on him again.”That’s it, I'm not moving again.” Shuichi made an affirmative noise and didn’t speak again. Kokichi knows he shouldn’t be enjoying this too much, they are just friendss, but he is not stupid and knows his heart shouldnt’ be beating so fast if he wanted Shuichi just as a friend.
Let him enjoy the moment, Rantaro put an alarm, didn’t he? He’ll wake up and then change his password; this won’t happen again. He made himself comfortable and allowed himself to fall into morpheus' arms.
they’ll have time to question themselves and their strange relationship when it’s a reasonable hour to wake up after falling asleep at three A.M.