Chapter Text
Kaede Akamatsu, The Ultimate Pianist, was Shuichi's best friend. They were an inseparable pair from the moment they entered the halls of Hope's Peak together, on the first day of their first year. Shuichi knew so much of his confidence came from having her by his side, as Kaede felt he kept her logic strong, and was always there for her when she needed him. Nobody could pull them apart. Everyone assumed they were made for each other, but that was proven wrong when both friends found themselves with significant others. Not only did they support each other's relationship, but they owed them to each other. Neither couple would have ever gotten together had it not been for the help of the wing man or woman. Even today, three years later, their friendship stands just as strong.
Rantaro Amami, The Ultimate Adventurer, was Kokichi’s best friend, yet their story was a bit… different. Rantaro was quite the brotherly figure, and Kokichi was quite the naïve one, as such they were a perfect match. Though they met the same day as Kaede and Shuichi, their friendship didn't truly bloom until a month's time had passed, blooming farther into a romantic connection that became official the next year. The couple's love seemed as strong as steel to the naked eye, yet Kokichi's feelings began to die shortly after the start. He realized quite quickly his heart belonged to another, and that Rantaro could never be more than a brother to him. He cut off the romantic aspect of the relationship, but they remained the best of friends for the years to come. Despite the length of time, and Kokichi finding himself happy with a blue-haired boy, Rantaro's feelings never truly died, yet he encouraged Kokichi to ask his crush out, supported them when they inevitably did get together, and continued to support them when they decided to move into the small, blue house Shuichi was currently walking into, turning the brass handle to reveal the entryway,
“Kichi~Ko, I'm home!” Shuichi called into the open space. The first floor, completely visible from his standing point, seemed empty, so he took it upon himself to walk upstairs.
“I’m not in the bedroom!” He heard from their shared bedroom. He opened their door, and saw his boyfriend sitting on their vanity, shifting his body to the side so he could look in it's mirror as he did up his hair.
He seemed to be dressed for a night out Shuichi wasn’t aware of: a long, black jacket over a checkered shirt, chokers alternating between white and black, and a small amount of make-up adorned on his youthful face.
He finished clipping his hair back, and jumped off the vanity into Shuichi's arms, a slight pout of disappointment lingering, “Awe, how’d you find me so fast? I lied ya know!” Before Shuichi could answer, he had already shifted his expression and moved on, “How was my beloved’s day out with his girlfriend?”
Shuichi rolled his eyes at his teasing, yet wrapped his arms around his waist, “It was nice. What are you dressed up for?”
“Nee-hee-hee! Ever the curious detective!” He loosened his grip on Shuichi in favor of folding his arm's behind his head, “I'll have you know I have a meeting with the Tsar of Russia! As the most important person in the world, I have responsibilities! I can't run around all day like you!”
Shuichi couldn’t help but smile at the cute little pout in Kokichi's cheeks, “Mhm…”
“But that's a lie!” His faux anger shifted into a cheery demeanor, “Your so gullible Shumai! I'm just going to a party with Rantaro!”
Shuichi's stomach twisted at the name. It wasn't like he disliked his lover's friend; he knew he was a good person, but Shuichi knew of Rantaro's residing feelings for Kokichi. Paired with their close connection, Rantaro's seemingly perfect physique and personality, and Kokichi's past interest, he couldn't help but feel stabbed with a pang of jealousy whenever the male was mentioned, anxiety washing over his sense of any logic.
“R-really?” Shuichi said, failing to control his stutter.
“Mhm!” the dolled-up male confirmed, “One of his sisters is throwing a huge party at her mansion cuz she got into the school she wanted!”
“S-sounds nice…” the bluenette muttered.
Kokichi chuckled at his boyfriend's anxiety signs, “No need to worry my Shu~Shu! I already told Rantaro you don't like parties and wouldn't want to come!”
Despite the obvious falsehood of the assumption, Shuichi couldn’t help but assume Rantaro might have wanted this, “G-good. So, when will you- be back?” Shuichi inquired nervously.
Kokichi tilted his head up with thought, “Hmmm, prolly’ around one or two. Depends on how drunk I get!”
Shuichi knew it was futile to attempt to keep Kokichi's actions legal, “Please don't get- wasted, or arrested,” Shuichi begged with slight desperation.
“Nee-hee-hee! Nooo promises!”
“Kokichi…”
“Fine, Fine… you’re such a spoilsport Shumai!”
“You'll thank me tomorrow when you’re not horribly hung over.”
Kokichi attempted to say more yet was interrupted by the honking of a horn just outside their window, “That's my leave!”
Shuichi’s small smile contorted into a frown, “Already?”
“Nee-hee-hee!” Kokichi wrapped his arms around Shuichi’s neck, pulling his head down and standing on his toes to give him a swift kiss, “I bet you'll be so devastated without me! Don’t stay up and wait for me kay?”
Shuichi nodded, attempting another kiss but being rejected the sensation as Kokichi darted towards the exit of the room,
“Text me later so I know your safe.”
“You’re such a mom! Keep the bed warm for me!” With the last words leaving his lips, he disappeared from Shuichi's view.
~♡~
He had failed. The bed felt numbingly cold.
Shuichi was curled up under the black covers, staring at his phone screen with tired eyes. The time read 3:07 a.m.
Where is he?
Maybe he shouldn’t be so worried. Maybe he should turn off the phone and just let his mind slip away, but the thought of Kokichi alone with Rantaro so late in the evening made his mind race with what-ifs and maybes. Not to mention the fact he was an hour late.
He felt like such a clingy and jealous boyfriend. Could he not spend a night alone without his lover cuddled up in his arms? He knew Kokichi spent countless nights falling asleep by himself, nights where Shuichi's work kept him at the office until the sun had already risen, nights when he promised to be home hours earlier, but he couldn't seem to do what Kokichi managed to,
He's so much better than me…
He couldn’t help but think it. His boyfriend was so confident, so independent, yet he had to fight back tears the one night he was off with someone else. Was it jealousy, loneliness, or worry? The confusion just made it harder to keep the water from dripping out of his eyes. He felt- pathetic.
BZZT
Shuichi dropped his phone in shock, hearing the thud as it hit the ground.
BZZT BZZT BZZT BZZT
Oh. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding in. It was his ring tone. He leaned over to grab his phone, bringing it up to read the caller. The name read “Erity,” who Shuichi knew as Rantaro's younger sister, and a housemate of his.
He swiftly clicked the answer button, putting the phone to his ear, “Erity?”
“Shuichi! I didn’t expect you to pick up!”
Her voice sounded as gentle as ever, being known for her soft-spoken words, “O-oh, I'm just… waiting for Kokichi. He's at a party with Rantaro.”
“Yes, the party, that is why I'm calling you,” she replied, “Kokichi is here. Rantaro told me to bring him back to our house.”
Shuichi's blood went cold, “W-what?”
Erity took a breath, beginning her explanation, “According to Rantaro, someone spiked his drink, or the source, he wasn't sure.”
“IS HE OKAY?” Shuichi asked with a little too much volume, sitting up abruptly.
“Oh yes, he's fine. Just, and I can this from seeing him, completely wasted.”
“Where is he now? Can I speak with him?” Shuichi rambled off questions.
“Well… here I'll show you,” Without specifics, Erity turned on her video, showing her curly, shoulder length hair the same color as her brother’s, and eyes, unlike his, an icy blue. She immediately flipped her camera, entering the room not far from where she was standing. The room itself was submerged in darkness, but the flick of a light switch revealed a, in Shuichi's eyes, ghastly image.
Cuddled in bed were the boys their conversation had been about, Rantaro wrapped completely around the shorter male, who had his hands and head placed delicately on his friend's chest, eyebrows furrowed, as if to display discomfort.
A sickening pain speared through the bluenette's heart, jealousy flooding his mind and anger ringing in his ears.
Erity shut off her camera, and spoke once again, “Cute, right? I had to drive them both home, ‘cause Rantaro was a bit drunk as well. He put Kokichi to bed, and I guess felt like joining him. I’ve tooken a thousand pictures to tease him with.”
Shuichi felt as if his phone would break under the pressure of his grip, “Send me one.”
Shuichi heard a polite giggle through the speaker, “Gladly. I should get to bed as well, I just wanted to inform you of your boyfriend's whereabouts, ta ta!”
The call hung up before Shuichi could reply, not like a word would have left his mouth. He couldn’t help but think Rantaro had planned for this, and somewhere in the irrational part of his mind came the conclusion Kokichi was in on it as well. Kokichi loved Rantaro. Kokichi had lied to him. Of course, his feelings didn't fade, how could they? Rantaro was perfect, and he was a useless emo who almost cried over the absence of his boyfriend for one night.
Through all this anger at Rantaro, and some directed at Kokichi, came the truth behind all of his rage, his self depreciating thoughts. He wasn't good enough. He didn't give enough. He didn't deserve the fake love Kokichi had given him. Perhaps his thoughts would have been clearer, his logical mind immediately able to prove his jealous accusations wrong, if it hadn't been for the wave of self targeted hatred.
A notification alert brightened his phone. Looking down, he saw the image he planned to use to confront Kokichi; it just made his stomach twist more. He threw his phone across the room, barely caring for the damage it would cause. He never felt angry, it was so foreign and terrifying. With no one to comfort him, loneliness crept up on him like a venomous snake, biting its poison into his tear ducts, the liquid dripping from his once dry eyes. He clutched onto Kokichi's pillow, taking in the scent he had longed to have for himself. As far as he knew, it would never be his again.
With no way to clear his bitter mind, he lay awake, wishing for the sugar of yesterday to lay upon his lips once again.