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Kaito is waiting, his fingers tracing the crossbow. There’s a tremble in his hands as he has it pointed at the door, he knows Kokichi’s coming. He doesn’t want to kill Kokichi, barely even wants to hurt him, but he could get through to him. Kaito is confident in his ability to reach Kokichi and get answers to this killing game.
The doorknob wiggles, Kokichi’s pushing the door open, whatever snarky comment dies when he sees Kaito’s visibly armed. His face shifts to that horribly, blank expression as he backs up, sucking his teeth as the door swings open more.
“Ouma,” He talks slow, his voice low, “Why are you doin’ this to us? What’s happening?” Kokichi looks stunned for a second before it falls to neutral, he’s shaking his head and Kaito sees him make a move for his pocket.
“This isn’t how it’s gonna go, Momota,” Kokichi smirks, “I know your stupid but, you won’t -”
The door to the hangar opens. Kaito can feel his heart stutter, blood rushing in his ears and he doesn’t register the fear on Kokichi’s face as he turns to face the exisal entering the hangar. Kokichi turns towards Kaito but, without truly thinking - thwp - an arrow makes home in Kokicho’s arm. A noise of surprise falls from his mouth as he falls to his knees in front of Kaito.
Kaito is still looking in fear at the exisal, looking down at Kokichi to speak. Before that can happen though, the hatch to the blue exisal pops open, Maki climbs out with a similar crossbow pointing at Kokichi’s back. It makes a deep thunk as it shoots in his back, another sound and Maki is reloading her weapon.
Maki has this look on her face as she stares down Kokichi, similar to a hungry animal who’s finally found prey. She stalks closer, her eyes losing the hunger as she looks at Kaito, “Kaito? A- are you okay?
“God, you crazy bitch!” Kokichi yells, he slowly unfurls himself, his head whipping towards Maki. His breathing heavy, his eyes shooting everywhere before pursing his lips, “That hurt alot more than Momota’s,”
“Awh,” Maki lifts the crossbow again, a small smirk on her face, “The remnant of despair can’t handle a bit of poison? I expected better.” Her grip shifts her face falling as she speaks, “You’re gonna explain everything, Ouma,”
“Remnant of.. Despair?” Kokichi looks up at her, confusion lacing his words as he shakes his head, “What are you…? Why did you continue this killing game? Were you getting hungry, Maki roll?” His voice transitions to anger, pulling her strings even when he was cornered.
“God, I’m gonna enjoy this,” Maki’s fingers press the trigger.
The target is different though, Kaito’s clutching his arm, cursing under his breath. He looks up at Maki, “Maki, no, I can’t have you killing anybody,”
Maki’s looking at him with fear, her lip trebling as she starts to back up, “Fuck, shit, Kaito you idiot?!” When there eyes meet, Kaito can see mostly anger as her eyes get watery, “I’ll go get the antidote, stay - don’t move!” Maki turns and runs, her footsteps receding out of the hanger. Kaito watches her leave and then watches the shutter close.
There’s movement behind him, the clapping, “Wow, wonderful performance.” When Kaito turns, he sees Kokichi on his feet, unsteady and pale. He then moves out of the way, making a gesture towards the bathroom. “Go,”
Kaito does, he knows its the only way for Maki to reach him now. His hands clutch the frame of the tiny window, he can feel Kokichi behind him. There’s also a muttering coming from wherever he is, a small drone and when he glances to Kokichi, he can see the smaller boy tugging at his sleeves.
Kaito’s never seen Kokichi nervous or scared but, he cant bother to be astonished at it as he can feel the dull panging in his arms and chest. He closes his eyes tight, he imagines Maki’s smile and Shuichi’s laughter. He imagines what space will feel like, how he’ll describe it to Maki and Shuichi when he makes it back down. Kaito squeezes his hands tighter, heaving before coughing.
“Wonder what’ll kill you first,” is the only thing Kokichi says as Kaito feels a pat to his back, “Poison or weird cancer in your lungs, submit your vote belooww,” Kaito can feel the hand snatch away like he got burned, footsteps replace the sound of Kokichi.
“Kaito,” Maki’s voice is a breath of fresh air, “Here, take it, drink, idiot, drink,” She passes a small bottle into the window, it falls into Kaito’s hands. He backs up slightly, his hands shaking around the cap. He fumbles with it before Kokichi’s hands enter the mix, his hands are drier then Kaitos so he snatches it right up, cap popping off before he throws it back.
“Oh nooo,” Kokichi’s eyes well with tears, sticking his lip out dramatically, “and now Maki’s gonna be executed for the murder of her beloved Kaito,” He sniffles before sobbing loudly “we were all rooting for you,” He lets out a loud cackle, “Idiots!”
Maki is panicking, Kaito can relate as he looks up at her from his position on the floor. He doesn't know when he got down there but he makes his voice clear, “Maki, it’s okay,” Her red eyes snap to him, desperation scanning all over him, “Go, I’ll be fine, Maki, I promise.”
“You cant -”
“I can. Leave Maki.”
Maki stumbles back, the only noise is her running away. They both hear the banging but Kaito is shaking and his vision is spotty, it looks like the night stars. He can almost see Orion, he can almost feel the crushing of space. He hears something click and fall onto the floor, rolling somewhere in the bathroom.
“Hey idiot,” Kokichi’s voice is quiet, soft, he has a hand resting on his lower back, Kaito’s eyes flutter open and meet Kokichi’s, “Here, drink, Momota.” He guides the bottle to his lips, tipping it back slowly. It’s not instant at all, there's still the ache but the panic begins to clear as Kaito looks up.
“But, you’ll die, Ouma,” Kaito is filled with a different panic, a flare of anger as well, “You fuckin’ idiot?! Why would you -” He flails his arms, uselessly. He searches for an answer in Kokichi’s blank face, his hands gripping his shoulder.
“I will die.” His face stays neutral, his voice unnaturally even, “And you’re gonna kill me, Momota,” There is a slight sing song tone to his voice, his face doesn't match, a frown tugs on his lips and his eyebrows are furrowed.
"What?"
__
When Kaito is under the press, eyes closed and heart pumping like he’s still full of poison, all he can think about is Kokichi. It’s uncommon, he feels weird mourning someone not far from him. Someone who is breathing and shivering and about to crush him.
The press comes to a stop and Kaito waits for the hum of Kokichi, slipping out from the press. His jacket stays undisturbed, his sleeve sticking out. He’s careful to not leave footprints through the blood and heads up to the control panel. He takes in Kokichi Ouma, in all his sickly glory.
Kokichi is leaning heavily against the opposite railing, chest heaving. His eyes are clenched closed, his shirts already been flushed down the toilet. Kaito rests a hand on Kokichi’s shoulder, giving a squeeze as the other boy slowly comes back to focus.
“Don’t worry, Momota, I’m not dead yet,” He giggles, the facade doesn't stay long at all as he stumbles towards Kaito, letting out a desperate noise as he clutches at Kaito. Kaito, ever the genius, sits them down pretty quickly, another noise of protest from the speed before Kokichi leans his head against the cold rails.
“Can I ask you a question, Ouma?” Kaito keeps his voice soft as he gets a steadying grip on the other, “No bullshit either, tell me the truth, why did you act the way you did through all of this? What is your big plan?” Kokichi’s eyes open, analyzing Kaito’s face before shrugging.
“This wasn’t fun,” Kokichi supplies very dumbly, “I wasn’t having fun but, a common enemy is meant to bring people together right? I thought I’d step in, stop the killing game but then.. You.. Harukawa…” His explanation dips off, waving a hand dismissively.
“I’ll lay it out for you, Momota,” Kokichi pushes himself away from the railing, “Don’t mix in any hero bullshit if you retell it. I’ll haunt the shit out of you.” Kaito goes pale, shivering, making a mockery of Kokichi’s current state.
__
When Kaito moves Kokichi to the press, his state is worse. He slips out of Kaito’s grip, falling against the press with a groan and then a delayed side eye after getting his bearings.
“If I told you a secret, space case, would you keep it?” There’s a surprising amount of playfulness in his voice, it almost makes Kaito want to ignore him, push him into the press but then, he remembers Kokichi’s dying at the ripe age of 16. Kaito slides next to Kokichi, looking at him expectantly.
“I’m pretty sure I’m a girl,”
The confession hangs heavy in the air, Kaito’s scanning her face, taking in the pale glory as Kokichi slowly turns to look at him, questioningly, “This’ll be a bit awkward if you’re transphobic.” Kokichi states, a bone tired look on her face, mixing with the tiniest bit of fear.
Kaito, his brain finally working, exclaims in shock before scrambling to say something, settling on, “Dude, I don’t fucking care,” Which defintly comes out wrong, an obvious tell being Kokichi’s face pulled back in a cringe. “Okay, I meant, I’ll support you either way, Ouma, that stuff doesn't matter to me, as long as you're happy,” Kaito’s tone slips back into soft and careful, his hand resting on Kokichi’s clammy back.
“Another secret is that I'm dying,” Ever the charmer, Kokichi shoots finger guns at him before flopping back, “Into the press I go, only a girl when I'm gonna be a waffle,” Despite how ridiculous that sounds, Kaito’s heart still aches and he wishes he could turn back time.
Instead, he climbs to his feet and scoops the smaller girl up, careful to lay her down on his coat. It'd almost be chivalrous, he thinks, in a different context but then Kokichi looks up at him through her lashes and she's not truly there.
So, Kaito steps back, a small apology and a promise of it being painless before he's at the panel again, preparing to take a girl’s life and end this killing game.