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After the killing game, Kokichi’s life felt bland.
Every day was the same.
He was alone.
In a house he barely remembered. It was from his pre-game life. And all of those memories felt foggy.
He was told that they would clear up soon. But they haven’t.
It was discouraging. But he didn’t have much courage left anyway.
Lately, he hadn’t been feeling anything at all.
And his birthday, when he woke up, it didn’t feel any different. Like he was secretly hoping.
If anything, the numbness just felt worse.
Because he knew he was supposed to celebrate today, and have a good time, but he just didn’t feel like it. Rather, he couldn’t feel like it. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t bring himself to even smile, never mind get out of bed.
A few people texted him, giving him the typical “Happy Birthday” wish. They asked to come over, to see him, to celebrate...
Kokichi lied, saying he was having a small party by himself. He even used happy emoticons to convince them.
But there was no party.
Just him.
He was alone.
Just like always.
Until the doorbell rang.
Kokichi didn’t answer it. He told everyone not to come over, so why was the doorbell ringing?
He didn’t want to see anyone, he just wanted to lay here, to rest, in the same pajamas he’s worn for days now.
But it kept ringing.
It wouldn’t stop ringing.
Finally, having enough of the sound, he pulled himself out of bed.
The front door was only a room away, but walking there was difficult. Especially since he didn’t get up a lot.
Still, he tried, he walked the steps he needed to and ended up at the door.
He hoped whoever it was would just go away.
But when he opened the door, he changed his mind.
Because standing before him, was someone he never thought he’d see ever again.
The checkered scarf, the outfit, the mask in their hand.
Kokichi recognized them immediately.
The first friend Kokichi ever had.
The first D.I.C.E. member.
“Happy birthday, Kokichi!” they exclaimed, and a crowd of people revealed themselves around them. They were smiling, laughing, some holding cupcakes and some holding gifts.
All wearing the same checkered scarf.
Seeing them was like a breath of fresh air. Kokichi’s life felt all muddy and dark and plain, but this, this was drastically different. Their smiles, Kokichi hadn’t seen anyone smile like that in so long.
He thought it was a joke at first. They weren’t supposed to be real. Over and over again, he was told that most of their lives were fake, that everyone they remembered in the game didn’t exist.
But upon further thought, he realized that couldn’t have been true: everyone looked and acted and sounded the exact way he remembered. How could this be fake?
“You...” he started, his voice coming out as a whisper. He hasn’t spoken in a while.
“I missed you, Kokichi!” a voice piped up from the back, revealing themself.
He remembered them, they were the nicest one in the group. With that, they had been through the most trauma.
Actually, he remembered everyone’s backstories, like the memories were flooding back to him.
It was...so strange.
He didn’t realize he was close to crying until he felt the tears on his cheeks.
And the feeling was immediately replaced by a different feeling, a warmer feeling.
A feeling he hadn’t felt since the last time he saw D.I.C.E. The feeling of multiple arms wrapping around him in a group hug.
It was...comfort. Not the type of comfort he got from the other members of the killing game. Not the type that the doctors gave him either.
It was the type only D.I.C.E. could deliver.
There were murmurs of “Happy Birthday” whispered by each of them. Kokichi could hear all of their voices perfectly.
He felt...at home.
He felt safe.
He was...safe.
What a happy birthday for him.