Archive of Our Own

He continued walking under the assumption that he had misheard someone in the crowd of students walking to 2nd period, or it was one of those weird things where you heard someone call you even though no one did.

"Oi, Saihara-kun!"

Actually, that voice did sound familiar… He stopped in the middle of the hallway and looked behind him, spotting a sore thumb among the other students: a tall, tan boy with purple, spiked-up hair and a goatee.

Saihara Shuichi and Momota Kaito had known one another since their childhood. Back then, Shuichi was much shyer, much more anxious… Maybe that's what drew Kaito to him at first, because Shuichi was vulnerable and weak and he was so bold and carefree. Now—in their second year of high school—Shuichi had gained a lot more confidence and was more outspoken, and Kaito got better at concealing his hot-headedness and settling down when he needed to. They had started to drift apart when they started high school, mainly because of Kaito's behavior changes since two summers ago.

Kaito's parents had decided when he was really young that they weren't suited to take care of a child, and so custody was passed to Kaito's grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Momota. Kaito loved both of his grandparents very much, and they loved him equally. Shuichi had many fond memories with the Momotas, as he used to go stay over for days on end when his parents got too busy to care for him. Kaito had been Shuichi's only best friend in his entire life. But the summer after 8th grade, Kaito's grandfather passed away, and everything changed.

Kaito was completely crushed—understandably—and even refused to come out of his room for two days. The only person he would let in was his grandmother, although Shuichi stayed available at all times and sent Kaito texts everyday. It was freshman year when Shuichi noticed Kaito's change, mainly because it was the first time they'd really talked since the incident.

Kaito had gotten a lot angrier. It didn't show unless the slightest thing irked him. It's like his temper was constantly about to bubble over, and the smallest disturbance could make him explode. Shuichi hadn't considered himself timid since elementary school, but the fear of setting Kaito off the way he'd seen him get set off made him cautious around him.

And now Kaito was running towards him, maneuvering through the crowd to catch up with him, and he found the strange and melancholy thought of why being all he could think of.

People continued passing in the hall as Shuichi and Kaito stared at each other.

"Hah, you're fast dude!" Shuichi just stared at him, waiting for the point of them getting bumped into repeatedly because whatever this was apparently couldn't wait. "You heard there's a new kid, right?"

Thoroughly unamused, Shuichi gave a curt nod. Kaito, who was used to this, continued regardless. "Aaaand, you were trying to make more friends, right?"

Oh, yeah. He'd told Kaito last summer that he wanted to have more friends, a bigger circle of people as an attempt to work around his socially awkwardness. Additionally, with him and Kaito being not as close as they used to be, he had pretty much no one. He remained stoic.

"Not with any of these assholes. I'm sure this kid will just get sucked up into Kaede and her drama, too."

Kaito shook his head. "Nah, not this one. This kid's a weirdo, dude. Perfect for you."

Shuichi was now very unamused. "Thanks."

Kaito raised his hands and waved them back at forth, shaking his head. "Not like that. I mean he's got a thick shell like you. He doesn't seem like the type to get into whatever Kaede's got goin' on. He's quiet."

He raised a brow, his curiosity piqued. Of course Kaito could tell how closed off someone is, he's been friends with Shuichi for years. "You've met him already?"

He nodded. "Yup, got 1st period with him. We both have the next 2 periods with him, you have 6th with him, and we've all got 9th period together."

Shuichi nodded, still not quite certain how relevant this is, and feeling awkward at talking to Kaito like this. The hallways had long since cleared, and the bell was about to ring. "If you're that certain that we'll be friends, then… I'm eager to meet him."

Kaito nodded with a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah." And with that, they headed to math for the next 2 class periods. Shuichi was about to take his usual seat at the very back next to the window, but someone was already there, someone he didn't recognize. He tilted his head slightly and walked over, trying his best to sound friendly.

"Excuse me. You're sitting in my seat," he said monotonously. The kid—undoubtedly a boy—looked up at him with big purple eyes.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't see any names on the seats, so I just picked one," he said, somewhat quietly. Shuichi blinked.

This has to be the kid Kaito was talking about.

He shrugged and took the seat next to the boy. "It's fine," he said casually. "We don't have assigned seats, but everyone kinda sits in the same place. Anyways, what's your name?"

The kid looked at him, like he was analyzing him, so Shuichi took the opportunity to do the same.

He had dark hair, just starting to grow out, with curls on either side, especially long locks turning a more vibrant violet at the tips. His skin was white as snow, and the elegant violet color of his eyes was a beautiful contrast. This guy was pretty.

And thin. Even with his dark uniform on, Shuichi could tell by his hands and ankles and the size of his clothes that he was extremely thin. Kaito's grandmother would have a conniption if she saw the state of him and quick to get a meal in him.

Finally, he spoke. "Ouma Kokichi. You can call me Kokichi, I don't mind."

Shuichi nodded, not about to argue. "Right. I'm Saihara Shuichi. You can call me Shuichi."

Kokichi shook his head. "I couldn't possibly. I'll call you Saihara-kun."

Shuichi's internal gears turned. Kaito was right, this guy was kinda weird.

Speaking of Kaito, said boy walked into class and took his seat one seat forward and one seat right of Shuichi. The last remaining students filed in and took their seats, save for the few who were always late. Usually, Shuichi was one of the late ones who never bothered coming to class on time, but today he had something to keep him occupied. He looked over at Kokichi, and the way he paid so much attention to the lesson, and he decided that he wanted to get to know him.

Suddenly, Akamatsu Kaede turned in her seat, eyes locking on Kokichi and a sly grin on her face. She leaned back in her chair and tapped the violette's desk, her pink nails making quite a distracting sound. Kokichi glanced at her and raised his eyebrows slightly, beckoning for her to speak.

"Can you help me out with something later? My so-called 'friends' won't speak to me."

Shuichi's gaze hardened. He pushed Kaede's hand off of Kokichi's desk and glared at her.

"He doesn't need your drama."

Kaede scoffed. "Do you even know his name?"

"Do you?"

The teacher heard them and scolded Shuichi and Kaede for yelling while Kokichi fidgeted with his fingers and sank down into his chair slightly. Shuichi tapped him on the arm, eliciting a startled jolt from him that Shuichi found somewhat amusing.

"I'm sorry about that, but you really don't want to get involved with Kaede."

Kokichi looked at him for a moment, then sighed and seemed a little more relaxed. "Yeah, I figured…"

Shuichi smiled. At least he could save someone from the rabbit hole of misery that was Kaede's friendship. Kokichi went back to focusing on the class, while Shuichi—bored out of his mind and considering just going home—doodled various things on his paper, most of them about a show he was particularly interested in, Danganronpa. The next two periods went slow as the teacher did nothing interactive but drone on.

A piece of paper was slid into his desk, torn from a page of the class's math book and folded in half. Shuichi took the paper and opened it, reading somewhat messy handwriting that read: 'You like Danganronpa?'

He blinked and looked over at Kokichi, who was glancing between him and the note. Once they made eye contact, Shuichi smiled and nodded, turning his book so Kokichi could see his doodles. They weren't the best coming from someone who didn't draw often, but the little Kirigiri Koko heads and Monokuma shapes were recognizable at the very least. Kokichi grabbed his pen and looked at his own book, with the corner of one page torn out, and started scribbling something down himself. It didn't take him long, and when he was finished, he turned his book to Shuichi to present a cute little doodle of Komaeda Nagito with a heart beside it and the words 'he is my favorite!' written beside it. He was obviously much better at drawing than Shuichi, who smiled and clapped silently, then turned to his book and scribbled some words down.

'I love Komaeda, too! Not as much as Kirigiri, though.'

Kokichi nodded and looked like he wanted to smile, but didn't. They didn't talk any more after that until the bell rang and kids started leaving for 4th period. Shuichi slung his bag over his shoulder and left the classroom and proceeded down the hall.

Kokichi was ahead of him in the crowd, though he was hard to see when so many other students were taller and there wasn't really a good gap to see him through, and Kokichi kept tripping.

Why is he tripping so much? Is he that clumsy?

He saw Kokichi look back at someone and say something, and he didn't look very pleased. He looked upset, even. Shuichi carefully squeezed between people so that he was just close enough to better see and hear the violette, who tripped once more and looked behind him again, at someone Shuichi recognized—though he never cared to learn the guy's name.

"Could you please stop? I know you're doing that on purpose," he said exasperatedly.

"Shut up, ya little twink. I'm not doin' anythin', so keep walkin'," a gravelly voice said from just behind Kokichi. Shuichi looked down, and the person kept stepping on the heel of the shorter boy's shoes, tripping him and forcing him to slide his shoe back on every single time. Shuichi maneuvered further so that he was behind the irritating bully and tapped him on the shoulder. The guy, with a blonde middle part and piercing hazel eyes, looked back at Shuichi with a glare. "Gotta problem?" He said threateningly.

"Yeah, with you tripping my friend." He and Kokichi weren't really friends, but what else was he going to say? The guy stopped walking, as did Shuichi, and Kokichi walked a few more steps before he seemed to grow curious as to why the nuisance suddenly stopped and looked back. He saw Shuichi confronting the guy and he immediately ran back and stopped beside Shuichi.

"I-I'm sorry, do you two know each other..?" he asked, trying to keep his voice quiet despite the loud commotion in the hallway. Shuichi shook his head.

"No, and I don't care to. Just stop picking on people, that's all I'm suggesting."

He blonde's brow twitched and he scowled. "What I do is none of your damn business. You should be embarrassed to be friends with this twink."

Kokichi folded his hands over his chest and looked downward, ashamed and a blush overtaking his face. Shuichi paused, then glared at the guy, who was nearly as tall as Kaito and extremely intimidating. He forced himself not to shiver.

"You should be embarrassed to be acting so damn childish. Come on," he grabbed Kokichi by the wrist and pulled him away from the blonde guy. Kokichi yelped, but quickly kept pace with the fuming ravenette. "What a douchebag…" he mumbled under his breath.

"What was that?!" the guy yelled after them, making Kokichi jolt and look behind them anxiously. Shuichi raised his head, but refused to look back at the guy.

"Douchebag!" he repeated loudly.

He pulled Kokichi along with him to the nearest men's room, making sure no one was there before he let the smaller boy go with an angry sigh. Kokichi immediately pulled his hands to his chest and watched Shuichi with nervous eyes, waiting for his next move. Shuichi ran a hand through his hair and glanced at Kokichi, expression softening slightly. "Are you alright?"

Kokichi's face twitched into something like concern and shock. "I'm fine… You didn't have to do that, y'know."

Shuichi shook his head and straightened his posture. "Of course I did. He was being an ass, and I don't take you as the type to do anything about it."

Kokichi pursed his lips, his thick and round eyebrows furrowing slightly. "I… would, eventually."

"Eventually."

"Just because I'm not the confrontational type doesn't mean I'm a doormat!"

A fair point, Shuichi decided, so he didn't provide a rebuttal. "Would you like me to apologize for stepping in?"

Kokichi paused, then looked ashamedly at the floor. "No. I'm sorry." More silence, and then. "No one usually does this for me."

Shuichi raised a brow. "Do you usually get picked on?"

"All the time," Kokichi nodded affirmatively, like it was no big deal. The thought made Shuichi angry for some reason. He sighed and they headed to their respective classes.

I was heading to 5th period when I felt my school bag vibrating. I reached into it and grabbed my phone, checking the caller ID.

"Dammit…" I mumbled upon seeing it. I pressed the answer key and held the phone up to my ear. "What's wrong?"

I listened, and felt shock pierce my every vein the more I did so. "W-What..? Seriously?!" More listening, which made me sigh. "Okay. I'll be right there."

Shuichi found himself slightly eager to see Kokichi in the 6th 9th period they had together. Kokichi didn't show up in 6th, which was odd but he brushed it off as him skipping. Kaito was there in 9th period and greeted him, which was still unusual, but Shuichi didn't mention that. Everyone changed for gym class and started warming up, but Kokichi never arrived then, either. Curious, Shuichi went into the men's changing rooms before class started.

"Kokichi?" he called. He got no response but his own soft echo. He left and started warming up, deciding to just let it be for then.

Gym class came and went, and Kokichi never showed. Shuichi internally decided that Ouma Kokichi had sparked his interest.