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Shuichi was trying to like Kaede’s twin sister; really he was. But it was getting harder and harder for him to keep a smile on the rare occasions she talked to him. Due to her moving, she’d recently settled into the area - and Hope’s Peak had generously accepted her as a temporary student, as she was the Ultimate Origami Master. It was only a temporary placement, however - much to quiet a lot of the class's relief.
It wasn’t that she was a horrible person… she just liked a lot of people. And not in a friendly, more cheerful way - but in the way that Kaito liked Maki, or the way Shuichi liked…
Well, it didn’t matter that much. As interested as she did seem in Kokichi, both Kaito and Rantaro seemed to have caught her eye more. Not to mention, Kokichi tended to avoid her when he could; he had gotten into a habit of immediately burying his face in Shuichi’s chest and pretending to fall asleep when she approached. The first few times it had made Shuichi stutter and blush furiously, but he had gotten slightly more used to it. He would still blush, but it would be more subtle now - and he could contain his crush to just smiling and looking down at Kokichi.
It also meant he could spend more time with Kokichi, without being the one to awkwardly instigate it. And he did enjoy spending time with Kokichi, because most of the time Aiko wouldn’t even end up bothering them, and they could just spend time together. Whether it was eating at lunch, or studying - or observing her as she tried to sneak up on Kaito or Rantaro.
Miu actually had a bet going around most of the class - when Maki would finally punch Aiko for trying to get with her boyfriend. Kokichi and Shuichi both said she wouldn’t, but everyone else had put somewhere between one to three weeks. So far, only Miu had been angry she’d lost her money. All in all, Shuichi was just happy he had something to laugh about with Kokichi.
“Shuichi, save me!”
Recognizing the overdramatic cries, Shuichi turned around almost immediately to see Kokichi barreling towards him. He didn’t even have time to formulate a response before Kokichi was in his arms, grinning up at him. Looking down, Shuichi matched Kokichi’s grin, “Hey Kokichi… um. How are you?”
“Terrible,” he responded, grinning, “But I’m doing better than Rantaro!”
“Rantaro?” Shuichi questioned for a second, the cogs turning in his mind, “Wait - did you abandon Rantaro to run to me?”
“Yup!” Kokichi looked up again, “And if you try to lecture me I’ll bury my head into your jacket so I can’t hear you.”
“Is that… supposed to be a threat?”
“Maybe,” even with the awkward angle, Shuichi could see Kokichi’s grin, “Unless you want me to be this close?”
“Of- of course not!” Shuichi can feel himself blushing more, and he tries to free himself from Kokichi’s grip.
“Nishishi, did I make you embarrassed?” Kokichi tilts his head, “You look preeetty red right now.”
“Kokichi, why did you run off like that?”
Having reached a point where he was (somewhat) safely out of Kokichi’s arms, Shuichi turned to look for wherever Rantaro was. Casually walking up to them, his eyes briefly flickered over the two, and he gave a small and knowing smile, “So you abandoned me for the detective, that’s cruel, Oma. Cruel.”
Finally turning away from Shuichi, Kokichi spun on his heel to face Rantaro, “I could never abandon my beloved Rantaro for long, y’know?”
“So randomly running off to hug Shuichi won’t be a regular thing?” Rantaro questioned, even if he didn’t seem that serious.
“Wait - randomly?” Shuichi looked down at Kokichi again, “You weren’t doing that because Aiko was being weird?”
“Who knows,” Kokichi turned side-on, so he could look at the both of them, “I am a liar, afterall.”
“Was she even interested in you in the first place?”
Nishishishi, you’re so distrusting!” Kokichi took a step closer, “Is it ‘cause I’m a liar, or you’re a detective, or both?”
“It’s because of… it doesn’t matter what it’s about. I’m just asking if you,” realising he wouldn’t get the truth out of Kokichi, Shuichi turned to Rantaro, “Is he just running off to me randomly?”
“Quite often, yes,” Rantaro smiled before laughing as Kokichi began to pout, a faint blush coming over him.
“Amami - I am most disappointed in you!”
“So sorry, Kokichi.”
“You should be,” Kokichi half turned his back to Rantaro, watching out of the corner of his eyes, “Now get down on your knees and beg for forgiveness!”
“Maybe later.”
With the last remark, Rantaro began to walk away, calling over his shoulder, “Have a nice time you two. Kokichi, behave.”
“Behave?” Kokichi huffed, “I’m perfectly reasonable, right Shumai?”
“Were you really lying about Aiko flirting with you so you could hang out with me?” Shuichi tried to stare into Kokichi’s eyes, to see if he was lying. But his eyes weren’t behaving like eyes at the moment, they were behaving like mirrors - just showing Shuichi’s affection back at him, and then Kokichi’s careful neutrality.
“She does sometimes flirt with me,” Kokichi admitted, “But I did just kinda use it as an excuse to bother people…”
Reaching up and pinching the bridge of his nose, Shuichi looked critically at Kokichi again, “Next time you want to hang out, just ask me honestly, ok?”
“So my Shuichi really wants to hang out with me?”
“Not your Shuichi.”
“So my Shuichi really wants to hang out with me?”
“Yes…” Even with a small sigh, he still smiled as Kokichi’s eyes lit up. Offering him a larger smile, he asked, “We have ten minutes before a lesson, do you want to hang out?”
“Of course not!” Kokichi skipped up to him, immediately linking their arms, “Where are we going?”
“Just to the library?” Shuichi suggested, his cheeks suddenly blushing as he realised what the two of them were doing. Just the two of them, spending time together alone; it almost sounded like a date. Kokichi grins up at him still, getting even closer, “Sure, you can be a nerd today.”
Shaking his head slightly, Shuichi began to lead him to the library - not caring they only had about ten minutes, or that this wasn’t a date. Shuichi was caring that he was with Kokichi. And he was happy with that, and that there was a slight blush on both of their cheeks. Even if Kokichi thought of this as nothing more than a way to get away from Aiko - Shuichi was seeing this as something. And when they settled down into the library, Kokichi fiddling with a random sheet of paper; it was still perfect.
“Can you do origami?” Kokichi asked suddenly, holding his hand out with the paper still there, a smile on his face.
Shuichi couldn’t help but frown slightly, why was he thinking of Aiko with them? But he answered anyway, “Yes, if not incredibly well. Why do you ask?”
“Just thinking,” Kokichi smiled, leaning in closer, “Can you give me a heart?”
“W-what?” Was Shuichi’s immediate response, before he realised the actual question, “Ah! Yes, I can make a heart… for you.”
Kokichi battered his eyelashes, “Will my Shumai make me something?”
“Of course,” Shuichi took the paper from him, looking at the dimensions and trying to see how easy it would be to make a heart, and what he would need to cut off. With the Ultimate Origami Master in their class, it certainly wouldn’t be great - but he would try. For almost five minutes, the remainder of the time they had, Shuichi tried to make the heart - while Kokichi watched, a small smile on his face.
Throughout the rest of class as well, Shuichi made Kokichi the paper heart he wanted. It was imperfect, but he felt it was like him - he was still proud of it. At the end of the lesson, he finally stood up - briefly slipping his hand into his pocket; it could be a surprise for Kokichi. The two made eye contact, and Kokichi grinned at him, calling out, “Don’t worry underling - I’ll get us good seats!”
Looking down, Shuichi realised he hadn’t packed up the rest of his equipment. With a sigh, he tried to put it away as fast as he could - eager to meet Kokichi again, even if they’d only been apart for an hour. Carefully putting his lid on his pen, Shuichi straightened and made for the door - before being blocked by Aiko.
It was remarkable, even for twins, how much the two sisters resemble each other. For a second, all he could do was blink awkwardly, before asking, “Can I help you?”
She beamed, “Yeah, you’re friends with Kokichi, right?”
“Yeah, I am,” Shuichi narrowed his eyes slightly, hand subconsciously shifting over his paper heart.
“Could you give him this?” Aiko smiled, holding out a paper heart. It was made of the same paper, but it looked much more professional, much better than his. But Shuichi still nodded, stiffly taking it in his hand and briefly running his thumb over it, “Of course.”
“Thank you so much!”
Leaving him, Shuichi waited for a second. He had given his word that he’d deliver Aiko’s heart to Kokichi, so he couldn’t just back down. Thinking as he walked, he decided he would give Kokichi the heart made by Aiko first - and then give Kokichi his own. Hopefully he’d still appreciate it.
Walking into the room, Shuichi looked around for a second before spotting Kokichi; sitting near the centre of the room, with a cheery smile and a large space around him. “Shuichi! I’m lonelyyyyy!”
Chuckling slightly, Shuichi sat down next to him, “Nice to see you again.”
“Do you have my sacrifice?” Kokichi demanded eagerly, eyes focused on the hand Shuichi was holding the heart in.
“Yes,” Shuichi said. Handing him Aiko’s one, he turned briefly to get his own out of his pocket - why had he put it in such an awkward position. Having it in his hand, Shuichi turned around again - staring at Kokichi to see something was slightly wrong. Kokichi was staring at him, smiling - if looking somewhat, shy.
His hand still held paper, but it was now flattened. For a second, Kokichi’s eyes darted back to the paper, and then back to Shuichi. And then Kokichi moved forward.
Acting quickly, Kokichi moved upwards - his lips pressing onto Shuichi’s, gently but firmly. It was as though someone had lit fireworks in Shuichi’s chest as they kissed, it was brilliant. It was everything he had ever wanted, but also so much more. There was something so intimate, so genuine in Kokichi’s actions. Leaning forward, Shuichi went into the kiss as well - the two of them in almost pure happiness. Kokichi kept kissing, almost not wanting to leave until they were out of breath - when he reluctantly drew away.
Still smiling, Shuichi’s heart continued to hammer - his cheeks continued to flush. And then everything hit him, all at once. Him and Kokichi had kissed. Him and Kokichi had kissed. In front of everyone in their school as well - even if it was completely silent in disbelief. Trying to gather his senses, Shuichi took a deep breath - still entranced by Kokichi’s eyes.
They were a more beautiful purple than Shuichi had ever appreciated. And they were sparkling with pure joy, pure affection, pure adoration. It took all of Shuichi’s effort to break the almost magical spell, but he whispered out, “Kokichi… why did you do that?”
“What do you mean?” For once, the carefully constructed mask was off. And confusion clouded his eyes, “What do you mean, why did I kiss you? You asked me.”
“I-” Shuichi was almost lost for words, “I asked you?”
“I wouldn’t lie about something like that,” Kokichi immediately grasped the paper, holding it up for Shuichi to see, “Look, it says ‘kiss me, please’.”
“Kokichi…” everything felt so magical, he didn’t even want to say it, “Kokichi, that's not my handwriting.”
“Then…” Kokichi’s mask slipped back on suddenly, along with a flash of anger, “Never mind.”
“Kokichi wait!” There was a conscious effort on Shuichi’s part not to be embarrassed. And instead, he focused on his love. The one who had liked for so long, and the one who had just kissed him. “Just because I didn’t write it -doesn't mean I didn’t like it.”
“Lying’s my game, Shuichi.”
“I do love you, Kokichi!”
“W-What?”
“I love you.”