Chapter Text
As unpleasant as it always is, Maki knows how to handle it. Run for the hopefully nearby bathroom, get it all out, and hope that by the time she fully wakes up it’s all over. This was far from the first time she had been woken by nausea, and while she had made it through the first murder and execution mostly unfazed this is just too much for her. Especially given what had happened afterwards. Dangit Kokichi. You just had to ruin EVERYTHING. I should have killed you on the spot, trials be cursed
For better or for worse, another hurl distracts her. She let’s it out, feeling no need to mask the physical and mental agony of the moment. Maki the Assassin. Maki the liar. Maki the killer. She had to have known she couldn’t keep it up forever, but maybe a part of her had hoped she’d be dead before the truth came out. Wouldn’t be the first time she wished this, that it was her neck in the noose, her corpse on the ground, her body reduced to nothing but bones. Rantaro was innocent. Kaede and Kirumi had only killed one. Ryoma had killed more, but it was to avenge his family. Righteous killing, if such a thing exists. Nothing she’s doing or could ever do would redeem her merciless… another hurl, the strongest one yet. So much for getting sleep and approaching tomorrow with a well thought out plan.
Or maybe this is how it ends. She was to die, amongst her own vomit, removing another killer from the world. No one would be executed, no one would mourn, some might even be happy, that their family was vindicated. Maybe that was…
An unexpected noise pierces her thoughts, startling more blood and vomit out of her. Please let it be Kirumi… but no, she’s dead, her room vacant, and the only other person who’s dorm was close enough to hear her was…
“Maki, what…” Kaito, the astronaut, the idiot that had defended her hours prior with no clue of her past, was in the doorway, no, now by her side, holding her hair back. Anything she wants or doesn’t want to say is interrupted by more hurls. She clutches her stomach, blinking away tears, Kaito whispering reassurances, brushing his fingers through her hair, rubbing her back so gently she could hardly feel it.
The final wave eventually passes, and all restraint Maki had tried to put up for Kaito vanishes, leaving her limp and gasping for air. She still doesn’t have the words to breathe or explain herself to Kaito, but he doesn’t seem to need it. He picks her up and sits her on the side of her bathtub, taking care not to make any sudden movements. Holding her steady with one hand, he begins to try and rinse off her stained hands and legs. To Maki’s surprise, he doesn’t seem phased by the puddles of vomit and blood, though she had seen him panic over much less.
Maki must have passed out, because in an instant she was clean, well, as clean as she could be with stained clothes and blood forever on her hands…
“You feeling any better?’ Kaito whispers, now holding her in his arms. All Maki can do is nod, though that seems to satisfy the astronaut.
“Here, go get changed into something comfier.” He gently scoops Maki off the ground, carrying her to the side of her bed. Once he was assured she’d be alright for the time being, he excuses himself to the bathroom. Maki can hear him rummaging about, presumably cleaning. That should be Kirumi, and it should have been Maki lying dead with thorns piercing her arms and metal splinters embedded in her back and lifeless, lifeless like the people she’s slain, with their whole lives ahead of them, lifeless, lifeless, lifeless…
Maki finally shakes herself out of the daze and dons a nightgown, discarding the now vomit stained clothes she had been too tired to change out of before sleep. As she allows herself to rest in her bed, her thoughts turn to Kaito. He had now been in the bathroom for what she could only guess was around 10 minutes. All she had thought of him was that he was an idiot, who couldn’t see the truth if Shuichi threw it at his face. All he knows is his belief in friends, and he must be a specific amount of stupid to believe she of all people is trustworthy, especially over someone as distinguished and noble as Kirumi…
She doesn’t want to think about how nice it was to be defended, or to be taken care of. To admit that, to become reliant on that, would be the end of her, especially in a killing game like this. But before she can come to terms with everything, a knock interrupts her thoughts once more.
“Hey Maki you alright out there? Am I good to come out?”
Maki sighs as she gets up. Whatever positive emotions she had regarding him there was no denying his status as an idiot, going and locking himself in an assassin’s bathroom. Any other person would just lock him in and let him starve there... that's not her, it can't be. She opens the door for him, seeing the bathroom… not exactly spotless, but no vomit remains. So he had cleaned it. Typical Kaito, having good intentions but being a complete doofus. And speaking of the doofus, he was now looking at her, and Maki now realizes that the nightgown she had donned wasn’t exactly the most concealing.
“MAKI WHAT THE HEC-” Kaito stops himself, and before Maki could quiet him down she finds herself wrapped in his sweater. This is the first time she had seen him without it, and she can’t help a faint blush from spreading across her cheeks at the sight and the jacket’s unexpected warmth. Now that he deems her modest enough, he gently takes her in his arms for the third time tonight, laying her back on her bed.
“You think you’ll be able to get back to sleep Makiroll?”
“Yeah I…” his words finally catch up to her mind. “Wait, what did you just call me??”
“Makiroll!” Kaito grins, sitting down on the bed next to her. “Gotta come up with good nicknames for my sidekicks!”
“Do you wanna die?”
The words leak out before she can consider the repercussions, now that she’s a known assassin, but not even a shadow of fear dims Kaito’s smile.
“Cmon, I’m the hero, even if you really wanted to I wouldn’t go down that easily?” He says it with such bravery, Maki can’t tell whether he’s trying to cheer her up or cover any negative emotions… the most likely option.
“Idiot.” That’s the last thing she says before leaning back into her pillows and releasing herself to sleep. She can’t come to depend on him, no matter how reliable he had been, no matter how he had defended her, no matter how safe she felt in his arms…
Kaito stays for a few more moments, watching her breathing, making sure she’s sound asleep. She was his sidekick now whether she likes it or not, and of course he had to look after her! After a few more minutes, now satisfied she’s out like a light, Kaito finally convinces himself to retreat to his own room…
Which is what he would have done had his hand not been entwined in Maki’s. She must have subconsciously reached for him. Kaito smiles. He’ll be the best hero he can be for her and Shuichi, no matter what.