Archive of Our Own ^beta

It was the perfect opportunity.

Everyone's backs were turned on him. Determined smiles were painted on their faces. Even Makiroll’s lips were slightly quirked, though that might have been more to the fact she would be finally getting rid of the annoying thorne at her side. Shuichi was reviewing his plan for the up-teenth time, obsessing over the floorplan. It seemed like he still had an affiliation with maps despite everything.

The group had hidden themselves in a secluded murky part of the casino. It was a forgettable spot compared to the blinding flashiness of the casino.
No one else even knew they were here.

Each member of the group was laser focused on Shuichi, completely unaware of their surroundings.

No one would know it was him.

It was so easy, ridiculously so. He briefly wondered what Kokichi would do if he was in this spot. Probably laugh at their naivety.

Swallowing his hesitation, the man reached out. Pixels -red, angry, and violent- swarmed around his palm like wasps. It was easy, as long as he just didn’t think about it too hard.

“Ahaha~”

Kaede suddenly laughed. Her round cheeks flushed with joy. It was soft, with a melodic tint that he hadn’t heard in ages. The note tied around his arteries and tightened.

The man hesitated. He slowly pulled his trembling hand away, red pixels fizzling away. Taking a deep breath, he forced his heartbeat to slow, silencing the ringing in his ears.

He tore his eyes away, catching the phantom thief. He watched as the thief danced amongst the diamond chandeliers, a shiny jewel in his sticky paws.

The World Destroyer didn’t say a thing.

——

Shifty murmurs curled throughout the casino floor like smoke, everyone fearful of the possible thief in their midst.

“Another great job, Joker!” Heart's staticy voice rang out of the earpiece snug in his ear. “We’re starting to head out now. The last bit is up to you, as always. Good luck!Bzzt.”

Kokichi sat on top of the colorful hanging lights. The busy casino laid before him, every detail In perfect display. A middle aged man spinning away his retirement plans. A woman with a bluish tint grabbing another unpaid drink. A cocky detective crew hiding away in a murky hallway.

Heists like these were easy, a bit too much. There was nothing wrong with upping the difficulty level, was there? A few ransom notes here, and few rumors there, and the next thing you knew there was double security, vigilant crowds, and a private detective on your coattails.

It’s not like it stopped him, though.

The thief tossed the elusive thirty-five carat diamond in his hand. It was the prize of yet another successful heist. He bounced the gem as if it were a sparkling game of Ping-Pong. Moments like these were best. All the dominos were set up, all he had to do was wait for the fool to recklessly knock them over. The anticipation of waiting for the next moment was addicting.

The thief caught the gem yet again. Reflected in one of the many faces was a colorful crew, led by a pink pianist and a dark-haired detective. Kokichi grinned.

“There they are!” One of them yelled.

The thief twirled up, the lights wobbled at the sudden movement. He blew a kiss, turning the detective, turning him pink under his bangs. The thief leaped across the neon lights, earning the attention of all the patrons. Good. The more eyes on him, the less on his team.

“Good job showing yourself, Joker.” Spade said. “Be careful though. According to my transmitted footage, the Ice queen is up ahead.”

“Bleh, she’s still here?” Kokichi snarked as he jumped onto a balcony overseeing the first floor. “Whatever, It’s not as if she can-“

Suddenly, a loud squeal blared from the earpiece, causing Kokichi to double over. Maki took the opportunity to dash at him. Fortunately, Kokichi was just a tad faster and was able to parkour up to a fire ladder that was just out of her reach. Wasn’t that a shame?

“Sorry about that Joker,” Spade apologized over the incessant ringing. “Facing some technical difficulties. We’re going to cut off the signal to stop the interference. See you tomorrow.”

“Wait-“ but it was too late. The ringing cut off, leaving Kokichi with the sound of jazz and Maki trying to catch the railing.

Odd. There was nothing in the casino that would have caused something like that.

His thoughts were cut off by Maki grabbing onto a rung. Her eyes were filled with a bloodthirsty malice. She stalked up the ladder like a hungry panther.

The thief scampered up the ladder, Maki only a few rings behind. Once he was high enough, Kokichi started kicking the side of the ladder. A satisfied smirk spread on his face once the latch unhinged.

The ladder opened up like an accordion. Gravity pulled the ladder to the ground, bringing Maki down with it.

She fell to the ground with an undignified yell.

…

…She was probably fine…

With that thought in his mind, Kokichi continued to climb to the roof.

——

The thief opened the trapdoor with a theatrical push. Taking a breath of the crisp air, Kokichi basked in the tranquilness while it lasted. The quiet, almost muted, ambience of the city-night contrasted with the overwhelming bustling of the casino. It was as if the casino was its own separate pocket dimension.

Kokichi took a look at the gemstone. Its faces reflected the clear night sky. Stars were splattered throughout the night as if someone twirled a wet paintbrush in the sky. Pastel clouds shone behind them. Kokichi was almost blinded by it all. It was rare for the night to be so clear in such a populated city.

Some might say it was impossible.

“Stop right there!”

Kokichi flipped around. Standing in the spotlight of stars was Kaito Momota. The galaxy pattern on his coat blended with the starry sky, as if the night itself split on his jacket.

“Give up while it’s still graceful!” Kaito blazed like a shonen protagonist about to blow their final move. “You can’t hide now!”

Kokichi glanced down at the busy highway hundreds of floors beneath him. The ground was so far it was blurred by fog. Cars blazed through the lanes, smearing into vague blurs. Anyone who tried to get in the way would probably just be crushed into roadkill, even if they were a master thief.

“I guess you're right.” He balanced himself on the railing. “But I can still run.”

——

“And then he jumped!” Kaito raved. “Jumped. Off. The. Railing.”

“That’s impossible.” Maki took a sip of her overly fancy latte, the kind no one would expect from a girl like her. “He would have died if that was the case.”

Kokichi watched as Kaito went over the legend of what he saw last night. The only (accurate) detail the astronaut was able to provide was the fact the thief was most probably a male, which narrowed down their search to only half the population!

“Is the thief really that dedicated to his work that he is willing to die for it?” Kaede pondered.

“I doubt it.” Shuichi said. “After all, why would he kill himself before doing anything with what they stole?”

Kokichi smiled at the conversation going on around him. The dramatic irony of the whole situation was almost as sweet as the soda he was drinking.

Although, he couldn’t help but ponder the whereabouts of his team. Neither Hearts or Spades responded to any calls, messages, or pigeon carried letters -the most urgent form of communication. He would have been worried if- ah who was he kidding. He was super worried. When Spades said that he’ll see them tomorrow Kokichi really hoped he didn’t mean on the news.

Everyone didn't have to know that though. “So you're telling me that your little plan was a complete and utter failure? Who would have thought?”

“You have no right to talk. You didn’t even try to come.” Maki grumbled.

“It’s not my fault I’m too important to watch you guys flounder trying to catch a phantom thief !” Kokichi whined. “I totally would have come to watch you flail around but my schedule was like, super stuffed.”

“Kaede has to practice for the recital she has tonight and she still managed to show up!” Kaito argued.

“Actually, where were you last night, Kokichi?” Shuichi scratched his head.

“At the casino stealing the diamond of course!”

“Ah… that has to be a lie. Doesn’t it?” Kaede held her head in frustration.

Kokichi took another sip of his soda. It was just as sweet as before. “So you can teach an old dog new tricks! If you keep banging them in the skull at least.”

“Don’t talk to my sidekicks like that.” Kaito waved him off. “Besides, the plan wasn’t useless, right Shuichi?”

“Oh umm…” Shuichi mumbled.

“Yeah, we were able to collect those other two accomplices after all!” Kaito bumped his fist together.

——

“This was supposed to be confidential.” Shuichi bemoaned.

Kokichi flipped another card with the two “criminals”. Currently, they were being kept in a holding cell, being caught by Kaede and Shuichi the minute they disconnected apparently.

Hearts and Spades both had their clown-masks snug on their faces. The group giggled amongst themselves. If it wasn’t the cell surrounding them and the super nosy detective looking over his shoulder Kokichi would’ve assumed it was just a normal day.

“Don’t worry, Shuichi! I won’t tell a soul!”

“That’s not exactly how it works.” Shuichi looked absolutely exhausted.

“So it turns out that the elusive phantom thief this whole time was actually two kids standing in a trench court!” Kokichi probed.

“That would have been too tall.” Hearts snickered under her breath until Kokichi gave her a glare.

“No, they’re the thief’s accomplices.” Shuichi spoke as if he’d said this a hundred times before. “Me and Kaede set up a device to interfere with their communications. The thief has no idea where they are.”

“Interesting.” Kokichi took another scan of the cards he had. If only he hadn’t finished his soda earlier.

It seemed he had underestimated the detective. Well, he was looking for a new game…

“Um… Kokichi.” He said after a while. “I don’t exactly see how this is an ‘interrogation…”

“That’s because it isn’t, silly!” The boy chirped. “It's a game of Dou Dizhu!”

“W-What?! Kokichi, My uncle only allowed you in here because we couldn’t get them to stop talking about thief honor and other nonsense! I figured if anyone could-“

“Uno.” Spades interrupted.

“Wait, wasn’t it Dou Dizhu?” Shuichi's eyebrows furrowed.

“It’s not our problem if you can’t understand intricate card games, Shuichi.” Kokichi tutted. “Y’know? I’m starting to like these guys more than you, I’ll just start playing with them from now on.”

“Koi-koi!” Hearts giggled.

“That isn’t even the right deck for-.” Shuichi bit his lip.. “Kokichi, I didn’t bring you to play card games with accomplices.”

“You didn’t!?” By the tone of Spades’ voice, you’d assume his family was just murdered.

Kokichi fingered through the cards, a devious plan stirring in his mind. A plain yet peculiar plot. A simple but spectacular scheme. A modest but-!… The point was clear.

“Though, I don’t think these are simple accomplices, Shuichi.” He grinned. “If you can’t see it, maybe you’re more boring than I thought.”

“… Are you talking about their outfits?” Shuichi decided. “They’re similar to the thief’s.”

“Yep!” Kokichi beamed. “Looks like I don’t have to throw you into the acid vat, yet.”

“What are you trying to imply?” The detective’s eyes glinted with something.

“Matching outfits are a bit much for simple accomplices, don’t you think? Especially ones that aren’t supposed to be seen in public.” Kokichi theorized. “And to have such similar outfits to the leader? It’s disrespectful! Who would never waste their resources on simple minions.”

“Are you trying to say that these aren’t simple ‘simple minions’?”

“Am I?”

Shuichi made a pensive expression. Watching the detective comb through every syllable of his words was always fun. His copper eyes shifted as he tried to solve the riddles Kokichi threw his way.

“Thieves honor…” Shuichi's eyes suddenly lit up. “Thieves honor! Do you think there’s a chance the phantom thief will try and get back his accomplices?”

“What a fun idea!” Hearts giggled. “But just there’s a teeny weeny itsy bitsy problem with it.”

“The phantom thief has no idea where we are.” Spades said dryly. “All of my tracking devices have been destroyed.”

“How is our perplexed phantom going to know where we are without our earpiece?”

“We aren’t doing this again." The detective deadpanned.

“Ah, patootie.” Hearts pouted as she flipped a card in the deck. An awkward silence filled the cell

“You know, at the end of the day: the thief is just a normal guy who lives nearby, no?” Kokichi asked.

“Yep!” Hearts chirped. “He’s just a guy living the same life as everyone else in the day. Hears the same things, sees the same things.”

“Like that annoying recital advert all over the city.” Spades scoffed. “What was her name again? Kayadede?”

“Hmm, don’t think I’ve ever heard of her.” Kokichi placed a king in the pile.

“…” Shuichi sighed. “I’ll call her now…”

——

“It was a challenge, but the agency said yes!” Said the message Kaede sent to the group chat. “The adverts will be modified in half an hour!… though I think the wording could use some work.”

The man looked up at the giant screen billboard. Kaede was painted in gorgeous pastels. Her piano seemed to have an angelic glow next to her. It looked impossible to separate them, as if the girl and the instrument were actually just one being.

He wondered if the pianist he knew would still be able to sit next to a piano like that. If she could even be able to play that simple song without the notes tying around her neck.

There was a small blurb underneath the gorgeous display.

“By the way! The phantom thieves accomplices will be held back stage (Don’t worry about it.)”

The World Destroyer groaned.
——

Music echoed through the concert’s hall. Kaede put her whole body into the performance, slamming her chest into each chord. Her brows furrowed in concentration. Delicate fingers danced across the keys. The dramatic song echoed throughout the starry night, each note oozing of emotion.

It was nice, but a tad too honest for the thief's liking.

Kokichi grinned as he watched from the seat with us the best view, the rafters. Hidden in the prolific crowd were Shuichi and Maki, sitting suspiciously close to the janitor’s closet. They must have thought they were so sneaky.

It definitely didn’t help that Kaito would stick his head out the curtains every ten seconds.

The thief stood up. Even with the dangers of phantom thieves, the theater was still at full capacity. One would have to be a fool to waste tickets to see the amazing Akamatsu Kaede, after all.

The beams shifted unsteadily beneath him. One would think that such a fancy venue would have more stable support. That’s how things were, gilded with blondes in fancy dresses where people could see it, but shifty and unstable where it mattered most. No one even realized that the main spotlight would have fallen off with a simple kick.

The spotlight suddenly fell to the floor. Its wire was just a couple of meters short from letting it smash into the ground.

Whoops! Did he do that?

A waterfall of gasps fell through the seats. Kaede shot up immediately, her frilly dress ruffled up like feathers. The theater was plunged in darkness, in part to the spotlight's new interest in the carpet. Gasps waterfalled through the theater as people stampede out the emergency exits at the sight of danger.

The thief used the wire as a pole, sliding down like a trapeze artist. Kaito, as expected, flew out from behind the curtain, facing the thief with an accusatory stare. The thief felt two similar stares burning the back of his tophat. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who they were from.

“Bravo bravo, what an excellent performance!” Kokichi applauded, looking down at the passionate pair. “Although I will have to take points off for the part where the lights turned off and the song stopped all the sudden, very odd.”

“You-!” Kaito clenched his fist.

“Me!” Kokichi pointed to himself gleefully.. “Are you okay? You look like you’re gonna pop a blood vessel!”

“We’re not going to let you get away this time.” Kaito started to monologue. “Once me and my sidekicks-“ blah ba blah ba blah.

The thief rolled his eyes. He had learned to just stop listening once Kaito mentioned his “sidekicks,” since everything after was almost likely copy and pasted from some kind of shounen manga. Kokichi swung the light from the ceiling, building momentum.

“-and you’re going to be seeing stars with how hard we’re going to kick your ass!”

“That was never the plan, Kaito…” Kaede said.

“It was for me.” Maki twisted her pigtail.

“Wahh! You're all just so mean. You’re going to beat me up just because I broke a few laws!?”

“A-a few-!? Just shut up!”

“Why would I? Don’t you like my cute voice?”

The astronaut’s fists shook with emotion. “I’ll show you something real cute once you get down here.”

“Okay~.” Using his built up momentum, Kokichi flipped onto the stage and slipped past Kaito into the void backstage.

“Argh! You get back here!” The astronaut chased after him.”

“Kaito, stop!” Kaede’s voice rang out. “They’re doing some set building back there, it could be dangerous-!… And he’s gone…“

——

The thief used the copious amount of scaffolding as a ladder. He could hear the soft pitter-patter of Kaito’s slippers growing closer.

It was odd. Kaito had always been the reckless type, but this felt… different. As if there was something else other than pure impulse motivating him.

“Fuck! Stupid table, stupid toe!”

But it was probably mostly impulse.

Kaito stumbled into the area, pushing back the large velvety curtains. His magenta eyes immediately zoned in on the thief. “Hey you! Get down from there!”

Kokichi followed his demands. “If it isn’t the legendary hero, Kaito, is it?”

“Stop it, Kokichi.” Kaito’s voice suddenly went cold. “There’s nowhere to run.”

Just like that, the air dropped like a stone. A deafening silence rippled throughout the stage. The shift in atmosphere made Kokichi’s stomach twist. An electric tingle prickled his skin, ready to burst at Kaito’s next words.

“Really now?” Kokichi slipped off his clown mask. His smile was just as fake anyway.

Kaito seemed just as perturbed by the shift in atmosphere. He fiddled with the bottom of his jacket. Dark shadows casted on his face. Without his friends cheering him or the heroic smile, he almost looked sheepish. The world seemed to warp around the astronaut.

“Shit, if I learned anything about you, it’s that I’ve got to pitch it straight.” Despite his words, Kaito looked around as if the correct words would be written on the corners of the walls, huffing and puffing like he he was about to blow a house down-

“This is a simulation.” He finally said.

Kokichi tilted his head with a blank expression.

“It’s like the virtual world Miu made, except far more realistic.” The astronaut’s fist tightened. “Shit, do you even remember that? What I mean is, this whole world, from the people, to places, to the sky, It’s all just code catered to your fantasy. This place isn’t real… Kokichi-“

“I know.”

“I-…huh..?” Kaito’s mouth hung open like a fish. He blinked dumbly at the boy’s words.

“Ugh, do you need your ears cleaned?” The thief rolled his eyes. “I said: I know.”

“Are you seriously trying to lie to me?! Even now?” Kaito’s face turned red.

“Of course I knew, Kaito! One would have to be a real idiot to wake up from the killing game and think: ‘Oh, what an odd dream! Let me continue with my life that I know basically nothing about for some reason!’” Kokchi started to prod backstage.

“Y-you remember the killing game!?” Kaito stammered, and his expression turned furious. “If you knew this place wasn’t real, then how come you haven’t tried leaving!?

“Because why would I want to leave?” Kokichi barked a laugh. “You said it yourself Kaito, this is a place coded to be my exact fantasy. Why on Earth would I go back to boring old reality?”

“You can’t just stay here forever!”

“Or what, Kaito!?” Kokichi snapped. “Will someone miss me!? Will my body rot outside Or…” Kokichi's smile dripped with malice. “Will Momota Kaito have failed to save someone?”

The astronaut fell deathly quiet.

Kokichi huffed bitterly. Of course.

“Kaito is always so predictable.”

Kokichi tore open a prop closet. Hearts sat inside it in a mannequin-like state.

The sight of the DICE member broke Kaito’s trance. “How did she get there? We kept her in the janitor’s closet…?”

“Don’t you get it, Kaito?” Kokichi’s eyes swirled with something unrecognizable. “You said it yourself. This world was built specifically for me. It bends to my wants and desires. I’m practically a god.”

Kokichi stared at Kaito, right in his wide, starry eyes.

Then, the leader started to laugh. He laughed so hard his throat ached. Before, when he scratched that note on the tablet, it was nothing more than a desperate plea. A sick delusion. A stupid hope that if the words were engraved into the world they would somehow manifest into reality.

“This world is mine.”

And now they were as true as the stars.

———

“And after that the thief disappeared without a trace, taking his accomplice with him,” Shuichi pinned a photo in his whiteboard. “We didn’t gain any information-“

The conversation continued to drag. Shuichi’s uncle grumbled in the background at the people conglomerating in his nephew’s office.

Bored, Kokichi focused on his drink, a lychee soda. The subtle flavor along with the lack of carbonation made for a boring combination. It was more like tea than soda. It was as if it was pretending to be healthy with the simple fact it had a fruit in it. If he was going to drink bubbly, pink, sugar juice, he wanted it to be as bubbly, pink, and sugary as possible, thank you very much.

Kaito sat across from him. The words he’d said last night rang in his mind.

Kokichi always knew this world was fake. It was all too good to be true. His mistakes forgotten and erased? DICE being the exact wacky and supportive group he remembered? A city skyline filled with stars?

Pshh, as if.

Before Kaito told him, he had a few theories on what this world could be. Whether it be a sick dream his poisoned mind brewed up or some kind of purgatory ready to turn on him at any second. Even so, the last thing he was going to do was look a gift horse in the mouth. If this was some strange purgatory, enjoying it would be the ultimate revenge.

Well, that's what he told himself anyway.

The boy closed his eyes. Once he opened them again the muted drink was replaced by a neon purple soda.

Just as the times before, reality bent to his will. And just as the times before, despite it happening right in front of them everyone else ignored the miracle Kokichi performed.

Everyone except Kaito, who glared at him with poorly concealed contempt. Kokichi playfully stuck his tongue out.

A part of him knew he should have questioned his ability more, but after spending so long being paranoid didn’t he deserve to take something at face value for once?

“So what you're saying is that we ruined Kaede’s concert and lost one of our only links to the thief.” Maki put it plainly.

Shuichi didn't look the slightest surprised with Maki’s bluntness. “A-Actually, the concert venue contacted me last night.”

“They actually really appreciated the Phantom thief’s appearance!” Kaede butted in. “My ticket sales skyrocketed after the adjusted advert went up! The phantom thief is practically a local celebrity, everyone wants to catch a glimpse.”

“And, I actually was contacted by a restaurant last night. They’re willing to pay good money if I’m able to stage the thief’s appearance.”

“I don’t like how this guy is being treated like a local superhero.” Kaito pouted, although he probably wouldn’t like it to be called that. “They should totally invite me instead. A real local hero!”

Despite his knowledge, Kaito still decided to play the role of the oblivious hero. Kokichi wondered what his objectives were.

“Yeah! You'd be such a great standup artist, you wouldn’t even need a script.” Kokichi pointed out. “Although your ugliness would probably ruin a lot of dates…”

“I’m just going to ignore that last part and agree with you anyway.” Kaito smirked victoriously. It was always kinda hard to tell if Kaito was being sarcastic or not. Did Kaito still act like that, wherever he was? Did he still wear only one sleeve and take half an hour to gel up his hair, or did he stop once there was no one to perform to?

Or was he still performing? Kokichi wondered if his sidekicks still saw him as a hero? Was killing him seen as something that tainted the hero, or was it Kaito’s last triumph? Something that only made him shine brighter.

He wasn’t sure which he preferred.

Kokichi quickly snuffed those thoughts before they could weave themselves into something bigger.

“If it’s not a problem, I’ll need someone to help set up for the phantom thief this week.” Shuichi suddenly spoke. Part of Kokichi wondered if it was in part due to his subconscious.

“Sorry Shuichi. Me and Maki agreed to tidy up the concert venue today.” Kaede held her head down. “They have a pretty nasty clean up fine.”

“I have nothing else to do!” Kaito plastered a smile on his face.

“I think you did enough for this thief.” Maki said.

“Yeah Kaito I’m impressed! You’ve been putting your all into catching this guy.” Kaede brightened. “When you ran backstage to catch him, that was pretty-“

“Stupid.” Maki sliced.

“I was thinking more, heroic.” The pianist remedied.

“Heroic.” Kaito said plainly. There was an odd crease in his expression.

“Well, I really need someone to help.” Shuichi fiddled with his collar. “I can’t do it alone.”

“Well there’s someone here in particular who hasn’t been picking up the slack.”

Kokichi could feel red eyes staring at him. “Hmm…” He tapped his chin. “I’m sure I could squeeze something in for my beloved~.”

“Really?”

“Yup, so you better really catch him this time.” Kokichi said. “Just so you know I’m gonna have to drop a very important meeting with the current prime minister because of this. It’ll be all your fault when the country falls to shambles without me!”

Kokichi had more to say, but Shuichi also looked like he was one remark away from retracting his offer, so he stopped.

——

“I’m sorta glad you were the one that came.” Shuichi admitted after a long deal of walking.

Kokichi perked up at the detective’s voice. They had been walking to the restaurant. The journey there… wasn’t ideal. Turns out the only things that could go against Kokichi in this world were Kaito and stupidly long sidewalks. They passed several arcades, gacha machines, a few hole in the wall restaurants, and they got to jump over a fence!- but that was the only real highlight.

Their conversion was plain at best. They talked about the thief, the weather, Keade’s joke of a recital, Shuichi had even pointed out that a new planetarium had popped up. Real riveting stuff.

Though, the walk had mostly consisted of the leader rambling Shuichi's ears off with nonsense. Hearing him actually say something was surprising.

“Is this Shuichi’s way of telling me this is a date?” Kokichi teased. “You should have just said so! I would have totally arranged something better.”

“I didn’t mean it like that.” Shuichi stammered. “I just appreciate that you agreed to work with me out of everyone.”

“Really~”. The leader tilted his head. He’s assumed that the detective would rather work with Keade, or his best friend. “And why’s that?”

Shuichi looked surprised, for whatever reason. He tilted his bronze eyes away. “It’s just… you’re really good at solving mysteries.”

The leader tilted his head.

“Kaito, Keade, and Maki all have their own good qualities, but...” Shucihi thought over his words card. “You’re able to think like the phantom thief. A mind like yours is vital in a case like this.”

Kokichi fought to keep his face blank. In the game, he had tried so hard to get Shuichi to see how useful he could be in the trials, how his philosophy was the only way to beat the mastermind.

His heart raced. This was a moment he worked so hard for. Now that it was here, it felt just as amazing as he had dreamed.

The detective was still hiding his face away. If he had his hat the brim would most likely be pushed all the way down. Even with his nervous demeanor, his bronze eyes were still tracked on Kokichi’s face, always looking for clues.

Kokichi smiled softly as he remembered one of the many reasons he was staying.

“Is this an accusation, Shuichi?” He bounced back.

“No, not at all!” Shuichi raised his hands. “I actually think it’s pretty amazing…” Shuichi suddenly stopped in his tracks. His bangs fell over his face. “Kokichi… look, I-“

“Is this the place?” Kokichi jabbed his thumb towards a fancy tall building dressed in colorful lights and signs, ignoring Shuichi’s pause. .

“Oh.. yeah it is…” Shucihi confirmed the inquiry and the duo went inside. The staff let them in after Shuichi showed them some vague detective-police bullshit and read their rights or something... Did it look like Kokichi knew how the law worked? It was his fantasy, whatever needed to happen would happen.

The restaurant looked like something straight from a castle. Why such a fancy place would need publicity from a phantom thief was lost on him.

The centerpiece was clearly the giant grandfather clock. String lights were hung as if they radiated off the clock. It towered above everything. standing like a pillar in the middle of the restaurant. Watching the customers feast, like a god sitting in the clouds.

The place was furnished with plush chairs and dark wood tables. Lush tangled vines hugged the stone walls, perfect for climbing. The open ceiling was cross stitched with rafters, making easy bridges across the restaurant. They were high and shrouded with shadows, they would be a perfect place to hide…

“Shuichi, it’s like you don’t want to catch this thief at all.” Kokichi pouted.

The investigator jumped at the sudden comment. “W-What do you mean?”

“I thought you hand picked this as the perfect place, but it has open rafters!” Kokichi lectured. “That’s the thief’s known favorite spot.”

“Well I was requested…” the detective trailed off.

“Not only that but the high ceiling, the vines.” Kokichi sighed. “You only have one more chance to catch this guy, and you decide to do it in his domain. It’s like you want the thief to win.”

Shuichi looked at him with wide eyes, looking like a kid just caught with a cookie jar.

“I-it’s not like that. I just had to accept this place since they gave a good offer.” Shuichi mumbled out a lie, looking away.

Shuichi lied.

Shuichi lied right in front of his face.

Kokichi would have said something if he wasn’t completely baffled.

Shuichi didn’t lie like that. The leader remembered how the detective lied in the trials to protect his friends, or to get closer to the truth, but never for his own personal benefit.

No, the Shuichi he knew would face the truth no matter what. He would look it right in the eye and swallow it no matter how bitter it tasted.The Shuichi in the killing game would never lie for something as silly as an awkward conversation. The Shuichi in the simulation, however?

The detective was inspecting the vines. There was a curious glint that Kokichi never got the chance to see in the killing game. The heavy bags under his eyes were gone. His hands weren’t in a constant tight fist, as if he was holding an invisible gavel.

It was a reminder that all of this was a fantasy. While not bitter, it still had an odd flavor.

Kokichi shook his head. He didn’t care. It didn’t matter what the Shuichi from the killing game was doing, this was his Shuichi now. This was his world now. He couldn’t give a shit about what happened in reality.

——

…

Okay, so maybe he cared a little bit about what happened in reality.

The astronaut freeloading on the couch only compelled his interest. Apparently, his grandparents lived where he was supposed to stay, and Kaito couldn’t bring himself to talk to them.

Kokichi had tried everything in the books, from calling him a bad grandson to saying his jacket was stupid. Low blows, he knew, but he was just kind enough to not start threatening Kaito’s goatee with scissors.

Nevertheless, Kaito Momota was still sitting on his couch in the middle of the night watching what looked to be a documentary on belugas… of all things.

Much to Kokichi's dismay, millions of questions swarmed in his mind. Did his plan work? Was everyone able to escape the killing game safely? Did the mastermind see through it? Was his sacrifice worth it? Was his plan over before it even began?

Despite everything Kaito looked relatively healthy. He hadn’t coughed once and there were no visible scars on body. Was Kaito also able to escape? What happened to his illness? Did they find a cure?

Not only that, but Kokichi was alive? Fully conscious and formed. How was he put into a simulation at all?

See, he was under the -in his opinion quite reasonable- assumption that death was, y’know, permanent. Clearly, that wasn't the case. Seeing how he was here. Really, it was his fault, he should’ve known everything was fair-game when Monokuma lost all his fur and the Monokubs took over.

But that still didn’t change the fact it had no explanation. He was shot, poisoned, and crushed in a hydraulic press. There was no reason he should still be alive. So what was he doing in a “simulation” that catered to his fancy?

Of course, he asked none of this. Instead he stared at an empty cup, wondering what to drink.

All the answers were so close, but they were also in the form of an idiot astronaut with a hero complex.

… Why did it have to be Kaito…?

Out of all his classmates to try and pull him into reality, why was it one of few that could match him in stubbornness? He was already vulnerable once with Kaito, did he have to do it again?

He figured the chances of him seeing Kaito again was slimmer than a green bean. So he treated Kaito as if. But now he was stuck here with him. Standing in the same area as the guy who turned you to a pancake, and being the only person to witness you cry, wasn't exactly a recommended experience.

It didn’t help that Kaito was doing a horrible job pretending to be relaxed. Despite looking like he was in his own little beluga world he would shoot a few incredibly not subtle glances. His teeth were clenched tight, and he kept wiping his hands on his pant leg. There was nothing a beluga whale could do that could cause that reaction… well, except maybe climbing out a window. Kaito clearly wanted to say something but just watched his stupid documentary as Kokichi internally swarmed.

…Asshole.

“Hey, do you want dinner?”

Kaito immediately narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “Dinner? But it’s like… midnight.”

“Yeah? We still haven’t eaten anything!” Kokichi pouted. “Aren’t you the one always going on about healthy habits and whatnot?”

“We don’t have to eat here!” Kaito yelled as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s way too late, anyway! And even if it wasn’t, I’m not eating anything you touched and there’s no way anything goodis open at this time-“

“There is now.”

Kaito stopped short. “…what..?”

——

“Shit, you weren’t kidding about the whole ‘this world is mine’ thing.”

“Nehee! I would never lie!”

The restaurant was small, barely wider than a hallway. Various spices filled the air. All kinds of soups and curries were boiling on the rickety stove. The grandparents behind the counter worked in like two mysterious wizards, serving their meals with no extra fanfare. They were also the most superstitious people in existence, seeing how the restaurant was decorated with various charms.

The boys sat at the bar. Kokichi had wanted to order soda, but the owners looked like they would have an on-spot heart attack at the idea of serving him something unhealthy, so he just got a green tea with potato curry. Kaito was devouring into his kopun as if he hadn’t touched food in days. Red hot broth dripped from his chin. The mix of spices could be smelt from a mile away. Contrarily, Kokichi had barely touched his food.

“You don’t know how good you have it.” Kaito said around his noodles. “I swear if they serve us miso soup at the hospital again I’m going to lose it.”

Hospital?

“Kaito’s a messy eater.” Kokichi said instead.

“Shut up…” Kaito slurped on a piece of bone marrow. “I’ve never seen this being served in a restaurant. This is just like how my grandma used to make it.”

“Interesting…” Kokichi poked his tea, deciding to bite the bullet. “Well fun’s over, it’s time you start fessing up!”

“Huh?!” A blood cube dropped out of Kaito’s mouth and fell back into the broth… gross.

“Did you think I took you to dinner out of the kindness of my heart?” The leader slammed the table. “Nope! This is an integration! What happened the day of the crime?”

As if on cue, the lights suddenly dimmed, only leaving a single spotlight on Kaito. Wait- it was on cue. Kokichi had a flair for the dramatics, what could he say?

“Crime..? Do you mean…the trial?” Kaito’s face fell at the word. He looked as if he’d been dreading the question. “Look, it uh…“ he sighed. “Shuichi figured it out.”

Kokichi bit his tongue. Disappointing but expected. “I’m guessing that means Monokuma found out too.”

So it was a failure. Kokichi didn’t know how to feel. The plan he spent his whole mind on crumbled like chalk.

“Look I-….” But Kaito trailed off, clearly having nothing else to say.

Except actually he did. The astronaut continued to go on a half an hour rant explaining everything that Kokichi had missed.

The truth was that the killing game took place in a simulation, kinda like the one Miu made. But unlike her’s, once someone ‘died’, they were immediately disconnected and kept to recover in a hospital. Currently, everyone was awake, suffering from medical consequences stemming from their deaths and getting treatment. Everyone except…

“I don’t know what they said exactly but I think it has something to do with the Electrobomb.” Kaito admitted. “Since they couldn’t tell who was dead, they didn’t know who to pull out of the simulation, making you think you were dead way longer than anyone else. That and the fact your death was…” Kaito's face turned pale as he looked for the words. “… intense…”

“So what exactly is...” Kokichi gestured vaguely around him. “This.”

“The simulation? Basically, it was made to make your brain used to being alive again. Once you're ready to return the world will end and your conscience will be sent to the hospital with everyone else. It’s supposed to be a healthy transition, but you got stuck since you're a brat.”

“It’s not my fault when given the option between boring reality and a fun fantasyland there’s clearly a better option.” Kokichi rolled his eyes. “Well, you sorta spoil the fun.”

“I was actually trying to be your friend, but god do you make it difficult.” Kaito twiched. “And I thought you said I wasn’t boring.”

Kokichi bit the insides of his mouth. His saliva suddenly hardened like tar.

The idea felt disconnected. That he, Kokichi Ouma, was honest. Everything after Gonta's trial felt like a dream. It was like he wasn’t even connected to his own actions, just the villain persona he spent so long crafting taking him over. His mask had morphed into his flesh, and he couldn’t even bring himself to care.

But… in the hangar, the cameras turned off. The porcelain mask -the one that had been protecting him, saving him, killing him,- was violently ripped off. Leaving nothing but bloody raw flesh.

He had tried to keep it on, wanting to die with some dignity left. Forcing the shards of his mask onto his face with bloodied hands. But the poison and slow march to the press slowly closing on him had unraveled him.

And of course the one that had to see it was Kaito. …But, didn’t Kaito feel it too? The Kaito in the hanger didn’t have stars in his eyes. He coughed blood freely. He had cried…raw, desperate, honest tears

And now Kaito was here, trying to pull him into a world that hated him. Where he would be sick and despised. Using the words secretly shared in the hangar against him.

Kokichi gritted his teeth. He’d allowed himself to be honest before he died, and somehow still lived to regret it.

“Well you can forget about that, it was a lie.” Kokichi pushed the memory of the hanger to the back of his mind. Pulling his expression to its limits. “So why are you here, Kaito?”

“It-“

“Wait let me guess!” A malicious smile cut across his face. “Did you feel pity for me?”

“No-“

“Did you want to learn more about me?”

“Kokichi, let me-“

“Did you think you could save me this time?”

“It wasn’t for you.” Kaito hissed. It was a quiet anger that was foreign to the boy's face. There was a small glint that signaled Kaito wasn’t being completely honest. “It-… It was for Shuichi.”

“Believe it or not, not everything revolves around you outside of here…” Kaito looked away, looking ashamed.

“Shuichi?” Kokichi said with no emotion. “What does he have to do with this?”

“I had to help him.” Kaito siad, not ominously at all.

“Do what?” The leader's brows furrowed.

“…to destroy the world..”

…

“Kaito…” Kokichi said plainly. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“I’m just using the words they used, Okay?!” Kaito huffed indignantly. “The doctor originally wanted Shuichi to be the one to pull you out of the simulation. But the strategy they gave…”

Kaito looked as if the very idea sickened him. “They wanted him to destroy it. Bit by bit. They wanted him to destroy everything that brought you joy. Kill everyone you were close to. Until there was nothing left and you had no choice but to go back to reality.”

“And he couldn’t do it.” Kokichi assumed.

“Shuichi…” Kaito stared at his hand regretfully. “He carried us on his goddamn spine the entire game. Over and over again he sentenced people to their death and… he cried to me because he couldn’t do it again.”

“Then you swooped in to save him from the grief.” Kokichi finished.

It was fitting. Kaito was so obviously jealous of the detective. It was only a matter of time he would jump at a role originally meant for Shuichi.

“I took the role of the World Destroyer from him.” Kaito opened his palm. Bloody pixels swarmed around it. Violent and angry. Just looking at them gave the leader a feeling of unease. “Anything these pixels touch will be gone in an instant.

It was strange. In the game Kaito was known for building up pride and bonds between classmates, while Kokichi was known for tearing it all down. Here, Kokichi could create anything in a blink while Kaito could destroy it in a second.

“When I heard I was going into your fantasy I thought it would be like, you as a dictator and everyone being your slaves or something.” Kaito stared up at the fluorescent lights. “This isn’t that bad in comparison, the stars are nice, you only cause problems occasionally, and here everyone…”

’is happy’ goes unsaid, but is heard nothless.

The two fell quiet. Ominous humming from the air conditioner took over the restaurant.

Kaito’s expression was oddly soft. Eyebrows hung low on his face like his seams were loosened. His tan skin absorbed the warm lights. Purple eyes were glued to the ceiling, unable to look at the leader. There were no bags underneath his eyes like before.

Kaito scraped the remaining vegetables from his kopun, a dish Kokichi was completely unfamiliar with. Cogs started turning in Kokichi’s mind.

“You know… the stars didn’t start showing up until a few days ago.” Kokichi said suddenly.

“… Really?” Kaito squinted.

“And the Little Assassin didn’t start showing up till recently either.” Kokichi examined his nails, looking as uninterested as possible. “And everyone was practically sucking your dick today. Calling you a hero and whatnot.”

“Kokichi… are you trying to say?” Kaito swallowed, his eyes wide.

“I’m starting to think the simulation is hosting for two.”

—

The restaurant seemed even fancier than last time. Golden lace was embroidered on the edges of the ceiling. Sheen white curtains covered the giant windows, casting fuzzy shadows on the velvet carpet. The clock still watched over them.

Watching Shuichi work was always fun. It was a game he always played back in the killing game. Simple too, just say something outlandish and watch as the detective's face screwed up for two seconds before he gave up. Quality entertainment!

Now it was no different. Shuichi’s eyes flickered as he tried to come up with a perfect trap for the thief. Calling back on their patterns, unraveling them, unraveling him. He always did it in a way that made Kokichi excited.

“Kokichi you mentioned that the thief always hides in open rafters, maybe we can use that to our advantage.” Shuichi said.

“Oh! An idea that isn’t completely baleony for once!” Kokichi laughed. “I knew I could trust you, Mister Detective.”

“T-trust?” Shuchi stammered. “Anyway, that’s a lot coming from you, you never even show up for our stake-outs. Including tonight.”

“Really? That’s so suspicious!” Kokichi prodded. “Notice how the thief and I are never in the same room? That has to make me a primary suspect.”

Shuichi's eyes narrowed before he shook his head. “Can you just check how Maki and Kaede are doing on the traps so we can see if we can put on the rafters?”

Kokichi skipped past Kaito who was lugging another heavy box. Kokichi wondered when the astronaut would find out they were just half filled with concrete. Whatever, it left him with plenty of time to mess around. Kokichi leaped onto a table and loomed over the two girls, trying to set up an electronic trap on the floor.

Keade was struggling, holding two wires. She seemed to be treating it as if it were a bomb. Maki looked up at him, clearly unimpressed.

“Boo!”

“Kokichi!” Kaede dropped the wires. “I didn’t see you there.”

“What do you want?” Maki asked. Although her tone made it a statement.

“I just wanted to see my favorite people fail at basic instructions.” Kokichi sat on top of the table, crossing his legs innocently.

“Of course, brats like you have nothing else to do but annoy us.”

“Well I also had this excellent idea on how to catch the thief!”

“No. Shuichi did.” The girl glanced over to Shuichi, who was literally drowning in his clue-board. “We can hear you two from here.”

“Well mostly you…” Kaede mumbled.

“Exactly! Tomorrow Shuichi will finally get his hands on that thief.” Kokichi ignored the girls. “All thanks to moi.”

The girls blinked at him, not deigning to give a response.

“And no thanks from you guys for sure.” Kokichi rolled his eyes. “How long have you two been sticking wires in that thing?”

“Over half an hour.” Kaede admitted. “I-… I don’t think I’m cut out for this.”

She was clearly upset about being bossed around, but something was stopping her from airing her grievances.

“Are guys all good?” Kaito spawned. Kaede yelped so suddenly she almost jumped out of her skin. Maki… was oddly still…

“Ack! Those slippers make you too quiet!” The pianist pouted.

“Aha, my bad for sneaking up on you.” Kaito laughed it off. “You need help with that?”

“Get back to bathroom duty, Kaito.” Kokichi ordered.

“Shut up! The janitor told me that the reason the counter was so sticky in the first place was because someone switched the cleaner with apple juice.”

“And it took you this long to notice?” Kaede smiled wobbly. Her shoulders shook, clearly trying to hold back a laugh.

“Just ignore him, Kaede.” Kaito swiftly changed the topic. “So what’s this about wires?”

The astronaut sat down to examine the problem. His large hands were surprisingly dexterous when working with machines. Kaede and Kaito bantered back and forth about various topics. Kaede talked about her recital and all the stuff she had to deal with backstage. While Kaito raved about the time he fought a kraken -which totally happened and definitely wasn’t made up.

Maki, however, was silent. Not in her usual way either. There wasn’t a short snippy remark at Kaito's story. There was no nod of agreement at Kaede’s complaints. There wasn’t even a deathly glare once Kokichi spoke.

Her silence caused Kokichi’s nerves to go on edge. Not even her breathing could be heard. She was completely still and lifeless, in an almost mannequin like state… like the one Hearts was in two nights ago…

Kokichi mulled over the thought. Maki always had something to say with Kaito, even if it was usually an insult. Now that he thought about it, Shuichi wasn’t talking to Kaito much either. The more he thought about it, he couldn’t remember a time Kaito talked to his sidekicks in this world. Sure, they would participate in group discussions but never directly.

For his sidekicks to not talk to him in a world made to conform to their desires… could that mean…

… Did Kaito not want to talk to his sidekicks…?

It seemed downright impossible, given the fact they were practically glued together. However, the leader hadn’t missed the way Kaito looked at his sidekicks recently. The glint of silent contempt felt so out of place in the astronaut's eyes, but looked so right. That anger was always directed at Kokichi after all.

Of course, Kokichi had no idea why. As easy as it was to read Kaito’s emotions, his motivations were never clear. Sometimes he wasn’t sure if Kaito knew his own ideals.

“-And… there!” Kaito flicked a switch and the modified bear trap snapped in place.

“Thank you so much. You're a lifesaver.” Despite the chipper remark, Kaede looked rather upset.

“Hey? What’s wrong?” Kaito asked.

“Oh, it’s dumb. It’s just…” Kaede looked around the restaurant. “I guess you guys are doing so much to help the thief, and I’m not able to help at all.”

“What do you mean?” Kaito blanched. “You got us the concert hall.”

“But I haven’t been able to help at all.” Kaede rubbed her arm. “Just my connections.”

“Well, not everything is about being the most useful.” Kaito gave a smile ripped straight from a superhero comic. “You don’t need to aim to be useful or helpful to others. You need to focus on being the best you you can be with help from your friends! The rest will come naturally.”

Kokichi caught Kaito’s eyes and almost sneered at the lie. It was a speech similar to the ones he gave in the killing game. Blindingly bright; overly optimistic, and completely hypocritical. Kaito didn’t really believe in all that. If he did, he wouldn’t have hid his illness. He wouldn’t have been mad at Shuichi for opposing him. Hell, he wouldn’t even be in the simulation right now.

For someone who was so determined and desperate for Kokichi to face reality, he seemed quite content in indulging. Silencing his sidekicks and slipping back into the role of the hero, swiping the damsel out of her distress.

Kaito was just a cowardly, lying, hypocrite.

But Kaito would never come to that conclusion on his own.

——

So Kokichi just told him.

“You're a cowardly, lying, hypocrite.”

“What are you talking about now?” Kaito asked, setting two teacups on the kotatsu.

Kaito had refused to leave Kokichi’s place, so the leader forced him to do useless chores as a way to ‘pay rent’. Kokichi sat patiently on the recently vacuumed couch, waiting for Kaito to finish preparing for the impromptu tea party he had demanded.

It was a mystery to him why Kaito didn’t just manifest his own place to stay...Could he manifest his own place to stay? Or could things only manifest from Kaito’s subconscious? Was Kaito able to manifest things the same way Kokichi could, or could he only alter thing’s already in the simulation. Kokichi shook his head. What was even the point of wondering. You never see anyone pondering over gravity or particle physics.

Well, maybe Kaito did, but he was always an outlier.

“You lied to Kaede this morning.” Kokichi clarified. “It was so obvious.”

“Ugh.” The astronaut opted for more traditional looking cups. Kokichi smiled when he realized he had no choice but to use a clown teapot to actually brew the tea. “Yeah, I knew you would say something eventually. You’re not nearly as discreet as you think.”

Kokichi could have rolled his eyes, what a hilariously bad attempt to change the topic. “It’s just funny. You're always complaining about me lying, but you have no qualms lying to your friend's face.”

“At least my lies don’t hurt anyone.” Kaito grumbled, setting the tea on the coffee table .

“They don’t hurt anyone.” Kokichi scoffed. “Who was the one who ended up on the floor coughing up blood because no one knew about their ”cold”?”
Kaito bristled at Kokichi’s words. “Don’t act as if you never lie.”

“I might be a liar, but at least I’m honest about it.”

Kokichi took a sip of the tea, cringing at the bitter taste. To rectify this, Kokichi added one, two… six spoons of sugar. Kaito’s nose wrinkled as Kokichi poured what was essentially syrup down his throat.

“You gave Himiko so much shit about lying to herself, which isn’t a bad thing. But-“ Kaito swallowed. “You lie to yourself all the time.”

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that it’s completely different.” Kokichi rolled his eyes. “I had to do it to survive. You and everyone else in that stupid game lied simply because it was easier for you, and then you all yelled at me for it.”

The hypocrisy was something Kokichi never understood. Kaito wasn’t lying when he said he trusted his sidekicks, but he still hid from them? Kokichi didn’t get the luxury of being so naive. He knew that if he let his walls down for a second he would get stabbed in the back. That risk was higher than the reward for Kokichi.

Kaito didn’t believe that though. The astronaut was willing to get torn apart if it meant he could tie the pieces of himself into a bond. Despite that, he would never show his true self to his sidekicks. How come Kaito trusted his sidekicks with his life, but not his vulnerabilities? Was it to protect his friends? Did Kaito think his problems would only burden them? He saw himself as a pillar, a leader, a hero. Maybe he thought without him, everything would crumble to dust. Was it that he saw that lowly of his friends, or that highly of himself. Did he see himself as benevolent when he swiped blood from his chin? After all, a story couldn't continue without the hero! …What a ridiculous mindset.

Kokichi ignored how similar it all felt.

“But you’re still doing it. You’re still refusing to face reality and choosing to live in Lala Land.” Kaito countered. “You keep acting like you’re better than everyone, but unlike everyone else you refuse to even try.”

“That’s because I’m tired, Kaito.” Kokichi snapped. “I’m done with pretending to be strong or a villain, or whatever the fuck is needed.”

Kaito’s brow creased in concern. Kokichi quickly reeled his emotions in. A part of him wanted to smack his hand over his mouth and start a tantrum like a toddler. Luckily, he still had sense.
“ I’m done with dealing with consequences. I want to sit in my fantasy and have fun with people who call me their friends. And there’s nothing you can do about it!” Kokichi put on the creepiest face he could muster.

He hated vulnerability, and he especially hated how Kaito could bring it out so easily. But it also felt nice, for the whole world to know that he was truly just a horrible piece of shit.
The leader knew he overstayed his welcome. This was an ending he had no right to. Living with friends in a perfect paradise was the kind of fairy-tale ending the hero deserved. Yet he still indulged in it as a shameless coward.

Kaito’s eyes widened. Half his expression was covered by his mug, but his eyebrows shot underneath his bangs. They’re was a small glint in his eyes. One that sparkled like a star. His expression was unexpected. He looked…inspired..?

Kaito’s expression of wonder fell away as quick as it came. He smacked Kokichi on the back of his head. “Shut up, you don’t really think that.”
It was the same look Kaito gave Kaede and Shuichi. Though his expression was melancholy, it held the same fiery passion Kokichi had sworn burnt out the second he traded jackets with Kaito.

“I… I get it, though.” Kaito admitted softer than a feather. “But that’s not a reason to hide.”

A beat of silence washed over the two. Kokcihi used it to drop another sugar cube in his tea. Curls of steam rose from their cups.

“As if you can talk about hiding.” Kokichi said. He was sort of dizzy with the way the conversation kept circling back.

“Yeah yeah, I know .” Kaito had the audacity to roll his eyes. “I’m a goddamn liar. I would never have found out without you.”

“I’m talking about your sidekicks.” Kokichi’s voice chimed like a bell. “You're hiding from them, aren’t you?”

“I-“ Kaito’s voice broke. “How did you know..?”

“Tell me Kaito. When was the last time you talked to your beloved sidekicks?” Kaito froze, and Kokichi immediately honed in. “What did they do? What did they do? Tell me, tell me! I’m so~ curious.”

“It’s not nearly as interesting as you think it is. It’s not even their fault.” Kaito pushed him away, staring listlessly into his mug. “I just… can't be with them.”
There was a glint of contempt in Kaito’s eyes.

Kaito had an odd relationship with his sidekicks. Anyone could see how it was laced with codependency. It was practically a key part of their relationships.
It was easy to see Kaito as the sun. He sure tried his best to be seen like that, with his blazing personality and blinding optimism. But Kaito was more like the moon. One side of him left completely hidden and unexplored. He relied on the talents of his sidekicks to truly shine, otherwise he was hidden amongst his own blazing performance. His shining persona was just to hide how pathetic he was.

It was all so.. terribly… familiar…

“I just… I’m so mad at them.” Kaito’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t expected to say it, but he didn’t stop. It was as if a dam had broken. “Shuichi was so focused on being right that he completely ignored the hints I was giving. I just wanted to-!...” He trailed off. “I get I was talking with your voice, but it was like he hated you more than the mastermind! And Maki…” Kaito’s face shifted “…S-she swore to me that she wouldn’t kill anymore. But then-“

“The hanger?”

“Not only that. Shit…I feel horrible for it. But seeing a professional killer actually do her job. Watching her lie in the trial. Willing to let her friends die, just for a vendetta. It…changed my perspective of her.” Kaito looked down shamefully. “It made me wonder…how much I really know them, how much shit did I just make up and pretend was true? ...It’s stupid isn’t it? She poured her heart out and…all I could only think of was the blood on all our hands. And in my lungs. And on the floor…”
The leader wondered how long Kaito was keeping this all in.

“Poured her heart out…?” Kokichi said before the astronaut started to spiral.

Kaito flushed, though whether it was out of embarrassment or anger was unclear. “Maki…um… confessed to me before I was executed.” he spat out.

Kokcihi almost burst out laughing at the tragic absurdity. What tragic romance anime was this!? Maki was never good with emotions, but what brought that out? Despite his thoughts, Kokichi kept his lips sealed and urged Kaito to continue.

“Before my execution she said that she had fallen for me‘. She acted as if I was better than having blood on my hands, and I thought I was- but…” Kaito set down his cup with unnecessary force. “I killed you… ”

Kaito started at the pixels swarming on his palms. Red, angry, and violent. There was an odd expression on his face that made Kokichi sick.

“…Gross.” Kokichi rolled his eyes. “You don’t feel guilty, do you?” Judging by the way Kaito flinched, Kokichi nailed it on the head. “I literally told you to, remember? It basically doesn’t count-”

“Yes it does!” Kaito yelled suddenly. “I’m so tired of hearing that I’m not a murder because the person I killed was only you. I-it's like I’m not even allowed to feel fucking guilty because the person I killed was a liar! But-…” he turned to the side and huffed.

Kaito huffed from his outburst. His lips were pressed shut. His eyes were tracked on Kokichi, waiting anxiously for a reaction. Kokichi wanted to tell Kaito he was wrong. Remind him that the person he killed was Kokichi Ouma. There was nothing morally reprehensible about putting down a monster, especially one that had been eating your sheep for weeks. He wanted it. He needed to be alone, and if anyone thought otherwise that meant he failed.

But that wasn’t what Kaito needed right now.

…Since when did he care about that?

“So, what did you say?” Kokcihi asked instead, ignoring his thoughts.

“… I just… I don't know.” Kaito looked down shamefully. “I tried my best not to hurt her. Said something about loving yourself. I meant it, but I also couldn’t really focus on anything.”
It would be admirable how Kaito could plaster a smile in the face of death if it wasn’t so stupid. It was an act even Kokichi couldn’t bring himself to perform.
The key to any relationship was vulnerability, and it couldn't be replaced by pins. Kokichi knew everything about DICE, each spot on their face, every buckle on their uniforms, every fear and insecurity. He was bound to know them well, seeing how well they worked together.

Kaito could probably point out each thing about his sidekicks despite the short amount of time they knew each other. But…
Kaito’s comic book crew was a horrible, one sided, mess. Maki and Shuichi were willing to pour everything out to Kaito, their backstories and weaknesses put out on full display. It was ridiculous how quickly they were able to break down their walls because of a sunny smile. Kaito wasn’t nearly as open. Everyone, including Kaito, seemed to think his heart was hung on his sleeve, but that was far from the truth. No, it was hidden beneath the rays of pride and fear. Like the night sky in the day. The sun Kaito had pretended to be, only hid the stars and moon. His sidekicks pranced in the daylight, soaking in the sunlight that might as well be from the Ark’s screened ceiling.

Kokichi had seen that part of Kaito though, hadn’t he? The dark side of the moon. The shadows that only appeared when the spotlight shut off, and the sun was long set. The Kaito that spat blood on the tiles, who couldn’t bring himself to spout meaningless optimism, who chuckled at a meaningless remark against Shuichi, the one that was truly and utterly dying.
Would it be weird to admit he preferred that version of Kaito?

… Yeah. It definitely was.

“They try to talk to me in the hospital. I talk to them too. I help them with their worries and try to encourage them but…” Kaito gritted his teeth. “I feel like they’re expecting something out of me, and I can’t tell what it is. And I’m scared that once I find out I won’t be able to give it to them. And they’ll…”

Despite it all, his sidekicks still relied on Kaito. Kokichi could imagine them flocking to him like seagulls when they realized they were alive. And they still wanted Kaito to comfort them? Even after he admitted lying to their faces and the blood on his hands. It was like they were expecting a wet jacket to keep them warm.

Somehow their tea party had turned into a Kaito pity party, his emotions on display next to the sugar cubes. Yet, Kaito still sat there, brave.

Kaito had changed, hadn’t he? The inevitably of death was no longer breathing down his neck yet he still stood unguarded, no longer afraid of his own feelings… his own reality.

…Interesting…

“Shit. I shouldn’t be telling you all of this.” Kaito suddenly sobered.

“Why wouldn’t you?” Kokichi asked plainly.

“I’m supposed to be trying to.” He flushed. “I-I got a bit distracted…”

“Who cares what we’re supposed to do?” Kokichi finished his last drops of tea. “I’m supposed to be being chased by a handsome detective, yet here I am.”

Kaito squinted “…Are you talking about Shuichi?”

“What? You don’t consider your sidekick handsome?”

“I mean, he’s not bad looking… but handsome? Shuichi?” Kaito mumbled. Suddenly, his eyes clicked. “You’re not going to twist this and try to use this as blackmail? Are you?”

Would he do that? Kaito was running under the assumption Kokichi wanted to see anyone else in the first place.

“Eh, It’s not like it will go anywhere!” Kokichi chirped. “After all, the words from a liar's mouth will never be believed.”

Was that why they became so honest in the hangar? Their true selves squirming out like worms in a rainstorm once the curtains closed. Since they knew whatever happened would only be between them. Every account would be sewn and worn like an ancient legend until it didn’t even resemble the original events.

Was that what was happening in the hospital with Kaito’s sidekicks? Did their memories of him become misconstrued ideas stuck with glitter glue? Did he become someone as blinding and unreachable as the stars?

However, Kokichi doubted the tales Kaito told of his sidekicks. While nuggets of the truth may be hidden in there, the idea that his sidekick would kick him to the curb once they realized he wasn’t the perfect luminary of the stars he sold himself as was… dumb. It was really dumb.

Kaito was never known to be a good narrator, and Kokichi didn’t need him to be. Truth or not, Kaito’s feelings were still real. His view on his sidekicks had twisted the same way their view on him did. His own insecurities and guilt painted his friends to be reliant, and also simultaneously willing to throw him out at any second, and also also would be disappointed at him at any mistake.

Again, horrible narrator.

“… I guess?” Kaito said. “You’re really pretentious.”

“It shouldn’t be my dilemma that Kaito Momota is too fatuous and brainless to comprehend my complex speech.” Kokichi raved. “… prechance.”

“You can’t just say-! Ugh” Kaito rubbed his temple, looking like a tired middle aged grandfather. “I hate you so much. Should have just destroyed this whole place the second I came.”
Kokichi tilted his head. “Why don’t you right now?”

Kiato stared at the empty cups. The pixels that tainted his fingertips. Then stars twinkling outside. The vast night sky was as clear as day. A strange oxymoron. He sighed, a wind of regrets escaping his once diseased lungs.

“I can’t anymore…” he admitted. “Only you can.”

How ironic, to leave the fate of the world to the villain.

———

The World Destroyer watched the crime play out on the TV screen.

It was impossible to miss, playing on practically every screen in the city. Kaito wasn’t even surprised at the lengths of Kokichi’s atrocious attention seeking at this point.

Kaito sucked on one of the grape candies Kokichi left on the counter. Overly sweet syrup coated his tongue, almost making him feel sick. How Kokichi ate this stuff everyday was a mystery.

The busy crowd was reduced to mere pixels, but he could still make out every detail. Security was tighter than a knot, with guards and officers standing at every nook and cranny. The rafters were laced with traps, making it impossible for the thief to navigate through them.

In order for Kokichi to get to him, he would have to climb up to the face of the clock, and endure the volley of photos and videos. And without a way to get back to the ceiling rafters he’d be trapped in the middle of the restaurants, like a rat.

Shuichi stood at the clock tower’s base, waiting to be crowned the one to finally unmask the thief. He was already getting bombarded by ravenous reporters, praising him for his genius. As Keade tried to entertain them, Maki simply chased them away with a bloody glare. Despite the compliments that would usually paint his face pink, Shuichi didn’t pay them any mind. The detective’s sight was solely focused on a maintenance trapdoor on the clock tower.

Journalists from across the city eagerly waited in anticipation, scribbling down the tiniest of movements. Noon sunlight bathed the restaurant in golden light, perfect for the photographers. The World Destroyer was sure he saw people get less excited about New Years.

Visitors, customers, and staff alike waited eagerly in anticipation to catch a glimpse of the thief. The live jazz band billowed a suspenseful tune. Every second that ticked away was a second closer to the thief's inevitable appearance.

And finally, the second came.

So small, it wouldn't even be noticed if everyone wasn’t already on high alert. A tiny piece of paper fell from the tell rafters like a single snowflake. A candy wrapper.
——

The thief sucked on the hard candy, overly sweet fruity flavoring blasted through his mouth. He watched as the crowd fought over the silvery trash like ravens.

Shuichi was suddenly nowhere to be seen. Lame.

The thief looked at the minefield he’d have to cross, and immediately cringed. He might’ve gone a tad overboard with the traps. Laser beams flashed like some kind of Christmas show. None of it was lethal but… It looked like a custom made platformer where the creator had fallen asleep on the screen. Similar to the overdone traps on the Death Road to Despair.

Shaking away the memory of being hit by a mono-bomb twice (Thanks Keade, real leader-y of you), Kokichi twirled the candy in his mouth. While the boy had great trust in his abilities as a thief, this crime was downright impossible. It was bound to happen, he had overestimated his own skills, put the difficulty too high, and now had to deal with the consequences.

Or did he?

The thief crawled into through an opening and lowered himself directly into a modified bear trap. Immediately, the jaws of the trap snapped shut, hungry for its prey. The second the teeth touched his legs however, the trap glitched away with no fanfare.

The candy felt numb in his mouth as Kokichi looked back at the rafters. As expected, all the traps had dissipated into thin air.

A slight sense of disappointment washed over him. For a moment, Kokichi wondered why he ever even tried. It was impossible for a thief like him to be caught. He couldn’t get hurt in this world. His lies were no longer just sounds, the very fabric of reality would bend to his words. But, it didn’t make him feel like a god. Just a spoiled brat who kept changing the rules every time they lost.

“There!” A voice rang out.

His feelings were tucked away the moment they manifested. The band burst into an exciting rhythm, their booming trumpets jump-starting his heart as if they were pistols. Filled with bubbles, Kokichi leaped to the clock towers. He slid down string lights as if they were a tightrope. The baubles jingled behind him like sleigh bells.

With the sun almost hidden away in the horizon, the clock's face took its place as the primary source of light. Kokichi maneuvered himself on the hour hand. Spades brightened at the sight of his leader. Before Spades could say something, Kokichi untied the bindings around him. Spades gracefully fell to the clock’s platform.

The thief joined him. “Quite an audience, no?”

To say that was an understatement. It was no wonder the restaurant paid Shuichi to lure him here, the seats were packed. People were practically sitting on top of each other to get a peak at the thief, rippling like boiling water. Police and journalists stood at the ground, with no way to get up to the top of the clock tower. But that also meant the thieves had no way down.

It would be impossible to sneak away with everyone's eyes on him. There was no way to climb up back to the rafters. The only possible hole was the open ceiling, but they would have to climb up the roof of the tower to get there.

Kokichi stared at the clock’s hands, then Spades. A plan started to unfold in his mind.

“Any ideas, Joker?”

“One,” he bit his lip. “But I think this calls for Operation: Times up. You think you can fix it up?”

Spade’s eyes widened behind the mask, immediately comprehending. He nodded.

“Pretty sure I can sneak away. Everyone’s looking at you anyway.” Spades examined the clock. “I’ll pick you in at… hmm…How does 8 sound?”

“Perfect!” The thief beamed. “Catch you later!”

Spades left with a flourish. Kokichi watched the sun slowly sink into the horizon, painting the sky orange. The sun fell lazily like it was about to fall asleep, melting into the horizon like a glob of caramel. Though, it was still too bright to see the stars.

Suddenly, he felt a tight grip on his wrist. Shuichi stared at him with gold eyes.

Kokichi’s heart skipped a beat. He glanced at the clock. No escape until the next half-minute.

In other words, he was caught.

Admittedly, this was always the climax of his fantasy. The heart pumping moment when the detective finally outsmarted the thief, signifying how the detective had reached his full potential. That he knew every trick, every plan, that he understood the thief completely. The detective would unravel the mystery and reveal the true identity of the thief. It was a moment Kokichi found himself coming back to embarrassingly often, imagining what the detective would say.

Yet despite it being served on a silver platter, Kokichi couldn't find a way to enjoy it.

He always managed to beat Shuichi. Everytime he was able to avoid the detective’s eyes. But now, their fun game of cat and mouse was done. No more late night planning. No more eye catching performances and sleight of hands. No more jewels that shone with the stars. Once Shuichi took off his mask, it was done. Roll credits. Final bow. Wave goodnight.

He knew it would happen eventually, but so soon?

It didn't feel right. Shucihi didn't understand him. The fact he caught him relied on pure luck. Did Kokichi even have a right to complain? This was his fantasy, afterall.

Kokichi could feel his hand going numb underneath the surprisingly strong grip. Half of the detective's face was illuminated by the clock's faces. The dark shadows cast on his face contrasted so much he almost looked as if he was drawn with ink. Sweat beaded underneath his bangs.

His eyebrows furrowed in an odd mix of nerves and determination. Despite the fact it was Shuichi’s job, Kokichi had somewhat deluded himself into thinking the detective enjoyed the mystery. The glint in while looking for clues had to be true. Was he truly so eager to throw him and jail and never think of him again?

Kokichi smothered the thought that this Shuichi couldn’t enjoy anything.

The boy glanced back at the clock. Somehow, only thirty seconds had passed. There was nothing stopping Shuichi from taking off his mask. Kokichi couldn’t think of anything to distract him, not with the detective this close. A lump stabbed through his throat.

Shuichi’s hand reached up to take his mask off. His pale hands shook, yet were somehow still so steady. Kokichi felt the tips of his fingers brush against his skin.

Then he stopped.

Shuichi's eyes ticked back and forth like a clock. In the right light it almost looked like his bronze eyes were buffering. The sight left the thief with temor down to his bones. Kokichi tried to look away but the sun glared in his eye. Silence filled the air, but it wasn’t the kind where everyone was holding their breaths in anticipation, No, it was like there was no one there at all.

And in a way, there wasn’t.

Kokichi swallowed the candy. It felt like glass cutting down his throat.

The clock struck eight, and the world came back with it. A chime reverberated across the restaurant, sending tremors through the ground. Because of the sudden noise, Shuichi accidently let go in order to cover his ears.

Thanks to Spade’s tinkering, the clock suddenly sped up like a top. Its continuous ticking boomed across the restaurant like a machine gun. Kokichi grabbed onto the hand, letting it carry him away. Planting himself at the top of the clock tower at just the right time, the crowd below bellowed helplessly. The thief gave a peace sign to the detective, and with a swipe of his cape, he had escaped again.

The victory felt more bitter than usual.

——

“Alleyoop!” Kokichi jumped over a railing.

“Ugh!” Spades cringed as he trailed close behind. “Don’t say that, it makes my skin crawl.”

The police sirens slowly faded into the normal city ambiance. When Kokichi realized they had finally lost the police he slowed to a stop. Exhaustion claimed his body and he wanted nothing more than to curl up to sleep… Or not, seeing how he manifested wasn’t in his bed at that very moment.

“Maybe it will help if you put on lotion once in a while.”

“H-hey! I put lotion on!”

It made sense though, spending time with DICE was nice. Being the leader was a position Kokichi had sorely missed.

He knew DICE ever since he could remember. Every one of his memories were filled with people he knew and understood him. He was never alone with them.

“Shit. Something got in my eye!” Spade pulled him back to reality. The boy reeled back and pressed his palm against his brown eyes.

“That language isn’t fitting for a-“ Kokcihi paused. All the air left his lungs in an instant.

Spade’s eyes were green… right?

No… they were brown. He knew Spade ever since middle school. He knew for a fact his eyes were blue because…. because

Thinking about it made the colors blended together like one of Angie’s ruined paint palettes. Not just his eyes, his whole face swirled together like a wet photo. The memory felt as if it was just in his peripheral vision, but the image dissolved the second he looked towards it.

“Spade… take off your mask.” The words slipped out before he could stop them.

“What?” Spade continued to rub his eye- not eye, his mask. The sight made Kokichi feel sick.

“Just do it.” Kokichi’s tone was deathly serious.

Why couldn’t he remember whether Spade’s mole was under his eye or about his lip? If he even had a mole at all.

“No!” Spade's voice trembled. “W-what are you even talking about?”

There had to be some kind of explanation. Kokichi stretched his mind like putty. There was someone behind the mask he knew. Once Spade took off his mask, it would all click back into place. Every second Kokichi couldn’t see his face felt like his organs were being blended.

Spade. Spade wasn’t his name either. No parent would ever choose that name in their right mind. It was just a code name, only used when they had the masks on. Then why couldn’t he remember his full name?

“Just do it.” Kokchi sneered. The fear and confusion in his chest only came out as anger.
“It will all make sense once you do.”

“Why?!” There was something adamantly in his voice that made Kokichi teeter off the edge.

The leader suddenly lunged at Spades like a fox, his fingers curling like claws underneath the boy’s mask. Sure it was a random request, but there was nothing wrong with what Kokichi was asking. He saw Spades face hundreds of times before, right? Right

“What the heck!” Spades cried, and his voice sounded so familiar that Kokichi was tempted to stop. He knew that voice from game nights and shared classes. But when he tried to hold onto one memory, it slipped away as if he was trying to catch a fish with his hands. The idea ignited his fury.

It wasn’t Spade's fault and Kokichi regretted treating him like this. Kokichi just had a problem, even he could admit that. But, once his mask was off it would all slot back into place. He would realize that his mind was just foggy and he needed it to be dusted a little. It would all be okay, all he had to do was to take this stupid mask off-

“I don’t know why-“ Kokichi tugged particularly hard. “-you want to keep it on so much-“ Kokichi tried to twist the mask off, but accidentally turned over his ankle. A sickening snap of bones crunched the air.

“Shit!” a lightning of pain shot through his ankle. The leader was dragged to the ground, the mask with it. His ankle throbbed with uncomfortable warmth. Kokichi expected Spade's worried voice to ask if he was okay, but heard nothing. Spade’s shoes were planted on the floor, still as a statue. The boy's silence frayed his nerves. Kokichi looked up to see what was wrong.

And saw nothing.

Underneath Spade’s mask was nothing. Not a face void of any features. Not a face glitched out. And definitely not a kind speckled one who pouted after a card game. There was just nothing. Such a basic concept that was impossible to explain. There wasn’t anything to see, to hold, to remember. Because there wasn’t anything in the first place.

There was nothing. No one.

Kokichi stared. His mind stuttered like an old VHS, unable to comprehend the sight. His lungs shriveled. The sky distorted around the Spade’s lack of a face. An incessant ringing invaded his ear as the caramel sky suddenly flashed a blinding royal blue.

Kokichi didn’t even notice. He needed to tear his eyes away, feeling his mind crash into itself trying to explain the sight. But he couldn’t, his eyes were tied to it like the threads in a friendship bracelet.

Kokichi sat on the patchy couch watching DICE play video games. The scent of over-spiced popcorn wafted through the air. Queen screamed in his ear as the two kids battled to the death on the screen.

The leader almost flinched at the sudden change of scenery. His eyes darted around the room. He recognized DICE’s headquarters, or at least this world's version of it. His heart leapt into his throat. DICE surrounded him, brightened by the fighting game on screen.

Everyone’s masks were on.

Kokichi watched with a strange disattachment. Watching their lively bodies play with stoic expressions glued onto their non-existent faces. His ankle throbbed under fluffy socks he didn’t remember putting on. His senses started to fizzle away like shaken soda, leaving only one thought.

DICE wasn’t real.

It rang in his head like a gong, echoing through his skull. Clear, loud, and undeniable. The people who loved and cherished his every word was just another one of the hodgepodge of memories Monokuma stuffed in his head.

Ten loyal goons surrounded him. His best friends, his family. The most important people in his life.

He was completely alone.

——

“Where are you going?”

Kokichi looked back, halfway through the window with his ankle wrapped tightly in gauze. “…Out.”

“Not with a fucking torn ligament!" The astronaut flared. Kaito guided him back into the couch and plopped Kokichi's injured leg back on top of a pillow on the coffee table. “Even in the simulation, you’ll seriously fuck up the nerves around your ankle in reality if you start jumping around buildings like a dumbass.”

By the time Kokichi had made his way back to the apartment he was limping, his ankle sending sharp jolts of pain with the slightest amount of pressure. Kaito had immediately noticed this and, after fondling his foot like a weirdo, diagnosed him with a torn ligament. He had wrapped his foot tightly with a dove-like touch. Despite the annoyance clearly on his face, he still handled Kokichi with the utmost care.

Why the Neo World Program wouldn’t just fix Kokichi's ankle immediately was beyond them. Kaito suggested that it was because Kokichi’s subconscious wanted to be helped, which was ridiculous.

“Who are you? My mom.” Kokichi whined, “You're basically controlling me like a poor puppet on a string. Is this what you do with people in wheelchairs?”

“Maybe I wouldn’t be so ‘controlling’ if you used the door like a normal person instead of crawling out the goddamn window like a rat.

“You don’t have to keep comparing me to rats. I’ll have you know many animals crawl out windows. Like belugas!”

“Tell me one time a beluga crawled out a window!”

“Tell me one time you didn’t see a beluga climb out a window?“

“Almost every time I saw a window.”He squinted.

“Aha! Almost!”

“Well you're not a beluga or a rat so we’re staying here!” Kaito plopped down on the couch, reaching his hand around Kokichi like they were good pals.

While Kaito wasn’t touching Kokichi, the gesture made him feel odd. It was sort of hard to keep up fun-rivalry banter with your killer. Despite Kokichi’s taunting, Kaito wasn’t an idiot. Hopelessly naive? Maybe, but stupid? Definitely not. So it wasn’t a surprise to see that Kaito had his own unease. His face was cagey in a very un-Kaito-like manner.

Kokichi paid no mind to it. “But it’s so boring in here. I feel like I’m going to die of boredom.”

“Then what do you wanna do that's not ‘boring’?” The astronaut deadpanned.

“Hmm… ” Kokichi pondered long and hard. “How about-“

“No crimes.”

Kokichi brought his hand to his chest in mock offense. “No crimes!? How are we supposed to do anything fun without-“

“I saw a planetarium open up.” Kaito suddenly suggested. “We could go there.”

“Do you really think sitting under a curved screen is fun?” Kokichi raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you think we did enough of that?”

“D-don’t say shit like that, man.” Kaito hissed, though he didn’t look nearly as angry as Kokichi expected. “-And space is cool as fuck!”

“Is being an astronaut too hard?” Kokichi quired. “Did you fail an exam and decide seeing a bunch of pixels is just as good as the real thing?”

“As if you can talk, you’ve been spending the past weeks talking to NPC’s.”

“Wow, you actually learned what it meant!” Kokichi’s eyes sparkled.

“Yeah... They told me while they were preparing Shuichi to be the World Destroyer” Kaito explained. “Everyone except us is just a modified copy of our memories put in an avatar, so a NPC.”

“Shit... I really fucked up that mission didn’t I?” Kaito gritted his teeth. “We were supposed to be out days ago… Shuichi trusted me to do this job for him…”

“So? Just do it now?” Kokichi asked.

Kaito flexed his palm. Cold sweat ran down his brow. “I-...I can’t.”

“You keep saying that but to the average person it doesn’t mean anything y’know.”

The astronaut sighed. His eyes flitted around the apartment, as if he’d find the answer somewhere on the walls. “I-I can’t do that to you. I know it’s just a simulation, even if it’s not real, it means something to you.”

Did it…?

“Why do you look so confused? That’s what you wanted all of us to learn… wasn’t it? Lies and truths all hold the same power. And…maybe lies are necessary to face the truth.” Kaito looked out the window, the vast night sky shining behind it. “Tearing it all away when you're not ready just doesn’t seem right.”

The way Kaito described him made Kokichi’s stomach twist in disgust. His story sounded like one of a lost boy, trapped in his own delusions. Not that of a lazy scum, who was too cowardly to face the real world.

“Lair.” Kokichi spat a bitter truth. “You play the hero all you want with your sidekicks, but you have some nerves trying that with me.” He huffed. Poison seeped into his seams. “You just want to take the easy way out. You don’t want to be the one to destroy the only place where your friends are happy, so you're passing that responsibility to me.”

Kokichi should have felt more victorious than he did when Kaito turned away in shame. His brows furrowed in anger, for himself? For Kokichi? Who knows.

“I don’t really know, anymore…” Kaito finally said. “Can’t it be both? Isn’t that the point?”

Kokichi deadpanned. “Do you hear yourself?”

“See! That’s your problem, you're always so black and white.”

“I’m the black and white one?” Kokichi scoffed.

“Yes! It’s always so clear cut with you. Kaede is a failure because she tried to kill the mastermind.” Kaito twirled his head and raised his voice in a cheap imitation. Kokichi really hoped this wasn’t the ”5-star performance” Kaito gave at the trial. “Kirumi is selfish because she manipulated us to try and live. Maki’s a bad person because she was forced to be an assassin. God do you even hear yourself sometimes?” Kaito paused, a strange haze fell over his eyes, before it was replaced by a look of grim resignation. “I killed someone. I killed you. Do you hate me?”

“Yep!” The word slipped off his tongue easily. “Absolutely despise you.”

“You hate me, but you're still here, talking to me?” Kaito tilted his head. “Sounds like two truths to me.”

The astronaut looked stupidly smug, grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

Kokichi gritted his teeth. Kaito had the control over the conversation and Kokichi did not like the destination. “That’s because that was a lie.” He pouted. “You're pretty entertaining, so I can’t completely hate you. I’m just bored and want to see how I can meddle in peasant affairs. Also because I’m literally forced to be here and you won’t leave.”

Kaito went on as if he didn’t say a thing. “You say the reason you like lies is that there's no definitive answer… but maybe that’s the same for the truth. Just like how there’s layers of lies, there’s layers of truth.” The astronaut looked so wistful at the revelation. ”Something beyond the truth”

Maybe that was true for an emotional guy like Kaito. His feelings were so large they were bound to eclipse like galaxies.

“I think.” Kokichi breathed. “Kaito’s stupid.”

“Yeah yea. Tell me something you haven’t said yet..” Kaito rolled his eyes.

“How about: Kaito’s upset that his true intentions were caught and now he’s making up a stupid excuse about how it didn’t matter in the first place?”

“Isn’t that your whole thing?” Kaito asked. “You did all this horrible shit but it was all for a good reason.”

“And so suddenly that erases everything I did and makes me a role model?”

“I think it all being a simulation erased everything you did.” Kaito said ’“Not saying that there’s no consequences for any of that. But while you might not be a role model to most but maybe to some. I know Gonta looks up to you in a weird way and Shuichi used your philosophy in the final trial, so both things are true.” Kaito smirked, looking far too proud of himself for the leader’s comfort.

“Do you realize how stupid you sound right now? Kokichi asked, ignoring the comments about Shuichi and Gonta. “The world isn't Shrödingers truth.”

“What was it you said in the script? The truth is in the eye of the beholder?”

“Despite his grin, Kokichi internally seethed. Teaching Kaito to talk like him was probably the worst decision in his life.

——

They eventually went to the stupid planetarium.

Boredom had seeped into the apartment and the note the conversation left a mysterious twang in the air. It was odd being curious for once. The lack of answers didn’t make him feel lost or useless like before. Instead it finally felt like he was searching for something possible, that maybe he could hold the stars if he reached far enough.

God, he was starting to think like Kaito, though it was not nearly as bad as Kokichi thought it would be.

And that scared him. But it was also fun, exciting even. It made his heart jump and made his limbs feel lighter than air. It was a feeling he was chasing since-… Nevermind

Kaito sat giddy in his seat. Kokichi didn’t think he’d ever seen anyone so excited for a glorified light show. Where Kaito was pulling his excitement from was a mystery. The planetarium was mostly empty. Surprisingly, not many people wanted to look at screen-stars while the real ones shone just as brightly outside.

Darkness surrounded them. The faded dark outline of Kaito looked up at the dome with awe and wonder.

“Hasn’t Kaito seen this show a hundred times before?” Kokichi inspected his nails. “I don’t get why he’s so excited.”

“Because it’s a planetarium?!” Kaito hissed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Ohh~ Space. How unique. I bet you’ve never seen it before.!”

“I mean I totally have but it’s cool to make poke fun of all the little mistakes they make about it.” Kaito admitted.

“Woah, I can’t believe Kaito would go so far as to make fun of someone’s hard work, there was a hard-working, underpaid animator who did all of that!”

“It’s not like I’m saying to their face! Anyway shush, it’s starting.”

A tiny pinprick of light poked through the darkness. Then more flickered to life, like spotlights opening a show.

Kaitos snarky smirk softened to one of amazement as the show went on.

“It’s… actually pretty accurate…” Kaito said

“No duh.” Kokichi rolled his eyes. “It’s based on your conscience.”

“…yeah…”

Hundreds if not thousands of stars spun around them. A man whose voice was colored with an accent talked over them, but Kokichi couldn’t care less. The leader never thought he would let himself be so amazed as something so… mundane. However, as the universe spun around him his breath was taken away. Stars zoomed past them so fast it looked like rain.

The show went on. Kaito’s face was shrouded in darkness. Kokichi could just barely make out the shape of his dropped jaw and wide eyes. It was rare to see an expression from the astronauts that was so soft and unguarded.

For some reason, it made Kokichi irrationally curious. The feeling clawed at him like a desperate kitten. A part of him knew that it wasn’t the full extent of Kaito’s wonder. After all, only so much could satisfy an adventurous spirit like Kaito’s.

Maybe only a god could.

All at once, Kokichi realized why Kaito wanted to go to the stars. To explore where no one went before, enduring all the mysteries and hardships that came with it. See the part of the moon shrouded in shadows that everyone else was too scared to venture too.

It was a feeling he was familiar with. Whenever he found a hard puzzle or conquered an exciting heist. The excitement of doing something few have dreamed of was addictive.

It was also a dumb feeling, so Kokichi immediately pushed away.

Eventually the lights faded back on, chasing away the stars. The lights were so bright, it felt warm against his skin. Despite the lights turning back on, Kaito’s face looked dimmer. His eyebrows creased as if he was realizing something. The few people in the theater left their seats. Kaito tried to follow, but Kokichi grabbed onto his hanging coat sleeve.

“Where are you going?.”

“What-?” Kaito sputtered as he was dragged back into his seat. “I’m leaving? the show's over.”

“But it was so boring!” Kokichi bemoaned. “I can’t leave this seat unsatisfied.”

“Well what do you want me to do about it here?”

“Complain to the staff and force them to make a new show entirely by scratch.” Kokichi rolled his eyes.

“Weren’t you the one talking about the hard work of animators.”

“It can’t be that hard, look!”

The dome of the planetarium blossomed open like a rose. Cool air rushed in, playing with their hair. The night sky spilled into the room like black ink. It dripped down the walls until it seemed like the world was pitch black.

“I keep forgetting you can do that…” Kaito whispered, as if his voice could shatter the void around them.

Surrounded by pure darkness, Kokichi breathed. The rest of the world had been vacuumed away. It felt somewhat like death. The crushing atmosphere and infinite darkness was a feeling Kokichi was oddly familiar and at peace with. It was lonely, as if the darkness had stolen Kaito away. For a moment, it was as if there was nothing here except Kokichi.

And then, a tiny speckle of light flickered to life.

Kaito’s face suddenly appeared in the darkness, his eyes wide in delight. The star was just smaller than a ping pong ball yet it seemed to light the entire world.

More and more stars lit up. They roamed through the dark like fireflies. Vague city lights shone underneath their feet, speckled like a dropped collection of coins.

The astronaut looked enamored as more and more stars lit up. His smile was so wide his eyes threatened to disappear behind his flushed cheeks.

Kokichi felt a sense of pride at the sight, knowing he was the one to paint the expression on the astronaut’s face.

“Kokichi, this is-.”

“Amazing? I know.” The leader smirked.

“Why would you do this for me?” Kaito asked wistfully.

“You think this was for you?” Kokichi scoffed. “Kaito thinks this whole world revolves around him. When actually it-“

“Yeah yeah, this world is yours or whatever.”

“Actually, I was going to say the sun.” Kokichi looked at his nails. “Sheesh, No wonder you settled for the planetarium. Your space stuff has gotten pretty rusty.”

“Shut up!” Kaito pushed out his fist. Despite the remark, he looked rather… fond? “A-and what do you mean settled? Just because I can’t go to space now doesn’t mean I gave up! I’m still trying.”

“Sure you are.”

Lit by gentle starlight, Kaito reached his hand out to let one land on his finger as if it were a flake of snow. The star gently rolled into his palm.

The stars seemed to dim at the moment. Kaito didn’t look nearly as excited as Kokichi expected him to be. In fact, the astronaut looked almost melancholy.

“Your face is going to get stuck if you keep frowning like that.” Kokichi teased.

Kaito sucked in a breath. “Listen Kokichi… ”

The astronaut looked away, then back at Kokichi, then away again. His eyes flicked like a metronome. Finally he spat it out.

“I’m going to ask Alter Ego to let me out of the simulation, tomorrow.”

…What?

For a second Kokichi was confused. This was Kaito’s dream, wasn’t it? Why would he turn it away? Turn him away?

Clarity washed over Kokichi like a gentle stream. It was all so… silly. This place wasn’t real. The sunsets that painted the sky and the inky black nights were nothing more than a screen. If the night sky was nothing more than another planetarium, why would he ever expect Kaito to be impressed with stars that were nothing more than pixels?

It was just another birdcage trapping him in a teenage fantasy. But, instead of robotic gorillas and sadistic teddybears trapping him, it was his own fear of reality.

He’d given so much to the killing game. Kokichi hated the game so much that in the end, he was probably just as obsessed as the freaks who watched it as entertainment. He gave his everything, his blood, morals, and life. And now, he had nothing left.

He didn’t want to be sent to a world where all his classmates hated him. Where the world saw him as a piece of meat. Where his body would be trying to destroy itself. Where he’d be alone.

Was he any less alone here?

“So you.. admit defeat?!” Kokichi feigns amusement. “What an honor! It seems like my sick twisted fantasy was too much for you. I already knew that though.”

“Call it a defeat if it makes you feel better. I’m not going to try to save you anymore. I don’t have the right. Sometimes people can only save themselves…But-“ Kaito looked at him with a fiery passion that rivaled the sun. “Just know I’ll always be thinking of you, whether you choose to stay in the simulation or not. You can deny or lie all you want but the reality is that we’re stronger and more exciting together… and we made a pretty good team…” Kaito looked towards the infinite sky. Somewhere beyond it was the reality the astronaut would disappear to. A new frontier he would get to explore. “I’ll miss it…”

Kaito, the only other real person in this whole simulation, the only person to see Kokichi with his mask off, was leaving the simulation the next night. Kokichi would be left alone, tricking detectives with colorless eyes and playing games with permanently masked faces.

And that’s what he wanted, right? Ever since the astronaut revealed himself, Kokichi wanted nothing more than to cut him out of his fantasy. After all, Kaito was an unpredictable variable in a world that belonged to Kokichi.

Kokichi was so tired of things being unpredictable. Getting trapped in a killing game, getting concussed right before a trial, the secret of the outside world being thrusted on his shoulders alone, getting hunted by an assassin with poisoned arrows. In this world he didn’t have to face unpredictably. Every thread was tied to his fingers. Everyone and every moment was just a puppet made for his own comfort.

Everyone except Kaito. Kaito had changed, he wasn’t like the man Kokichi met in the killing game, not even the man Kokichi left in the hangar. It was weird for Kaito, someone so traditional and set in his ways, to change. Kokichi didn’t expect it.

But, the unpredictably was what also made it…exciting.

“Such a typical Kaito-like speech.” Kokichi said. “So, which manga was that from?”

“None! You were just served a pure speech straight from the heart!” Kaito seemed way too proud of that.

“What a surprise, I wasn’t aware you were capable of being anything but a repressed walnut.” The leader mocked.

“Repressed walnut?” Kaito repeated incredulously. “That’s not true, anyhow! I talk about feelings all the time!”

“Correction: you tell other people to talk about their feelings, so you could use their weaknesses to your advantage.” Kokichi scoffed “What a manipulative bastard!”

“And the crow calls the raven dark.”

“So you admit your guilt!”

“What!? No!?” Kaito stammered. “How does that correlate at all!”

Kokichi discarded the knowledge of Kaito’s departure to the cityscape underneath their feet. It was much easier to bicker and tease with Katio, much more fun too. Much better than choosing between fantasy and reality.

———

A part of Kokichi was a little grateful that the virtual world was so cartoony.

Sure, part of it was because it made everyone look a whole lot funnier. Watching everyone's chubby little chibi bodies wobble around reminded him of a fun-room mirror, but it also made watching Gonta kill Miu a lot easier. Her tiny little chibi body scrambled for a single breath, fingerless spheres grasping at a roll of toilet paper. It was almost funny, despite how morbid it all was. Gonta’s sphere tears falling down his frictionless face was just horrifically hilarious.

Gonta’s execution was harder. Kokichi told himself that the drops of tears and snot rolling down the entomologist’s face were pathetic. As were his apologies. Then, he was thankful that Gonta’s corpse was burnt. It was easier to smile and betray a face charred beyond recognition.

Despite all of that, Kokichi didn’t recognize himself when looked in the mirror that night.

And he loved it.

A human was only the things they felt after all, but Kokichi had stuffed and repressed those feelings so far down that he wasn’t even sure he could feel them anymore. And he didn’t want to ethier. Writing your own murder was no different than writing a postcard when it felt as if you died weeks ago.

Kokichi Ouma had nothing to lose. DICE would never accept him, and he certainly didn’t have anyone else. Anything that was left of his humanity was burned with Gonta’s corpse. The only things he had left was the script, small snacks from the gachapon, and the red light in the Exsial cockpit that made the few things visible look like they was washed in blood. It was fitting.

He put everything into that notebook, scooping out his very essence and spreading it across lined pages. He didn’t allow himself to think of anything, because the moment he let himself pause guilt would eat at his mind like maggots.

The only thing Kokichi Ouma was made of was spite and hatred. His ‘true self’ -whoever that was- was crushed underneath layers of deceit and malice. He casted himself as whoever was needed to be to end the game, where it be a mystery or the mastermind. He was an actor who was only defined by their character. Nothing but a machine whose only purpose was to end the killing game in any way necessary.

…But now the killing game was over and Kokichi Ouma was still alive. His purpose was gone, leaving him like a puppet without strings. Finally free, but with no way to enjoy it. And now he was saddled with an impossible decision.

Should he get soda or peach tea?

The overly cutesy mascots stared at him from inside their glass prison. It seemed like the obvious choice. He liked carbonated drinks more than tea. Even if it wasn’t, he could just get both. Money was practically the same as pocket-lint in this world.

But Kokichi found himself watching the single peach tea roll to the ground. The stupid little winky face the fruit had on mocked him. The brat, he should have. all mascots skinned and eaten in a feast.

Kokichi twisted the cap, listening to the soft hiss of the can. The taste was soft and mature. It wasn’t something he’d typically enjoy. Somehow, the tea was still cold, despite sitting in a vending machine for who knows how long.

Actually he knew, approximately a month. Give or take.

The fake sun shone over the nameless city. The fake birds soared through the air, going nowhere. Dumb fake cars and buses passed by him with engines too quiet. Kokichi noted the perfectly fake sunny weather, as always.

Despite the perfect weather, there wasn’t a bug in sight. No cicadas singing in the night or caterpillars munching on leaves.

He watched as the fake strangers passed by. The second he acknowledged them, their features swirled into oblivion, leaving nothing but a blue void. Nothing but people meant to fade away. The leader wondered what would happen if he talked to them. Would they have pre-programmed dialogue or would the world simply drag him to a new, more manageable, spot as if he was a doll in a playroom.

He walked into the fake detective's office. Shuichi’s uncle greeted him with a grumble, just like Kokichi knew he would.

Said detective was gripping a mug of black coffee with a grip that rivaled death. Books were strewn across the room. A whiteboard, one that was similar to one belonging to a conspiracy theorist, sat in the corner of the room; Red string hung around it like the cobwebs in Kruimi’s execution.

Kokichi would have found it funny if it wasn’t so clearly fake. As the winner of the ”Messiest-Dorm-During-the-Killing-Game” challenge -that was totally real and not made up, by the way- Kokichi was familiar with what a true messy room looked like. The detective’s office was anything but. All the trash was spread out in unnatural places and positions. Irrelevant books that were clearly never opened hanging over random cabinets. It was as if Shuichi purposely made his room look messy to make it look like he was doing something all night. As entertaining as the idea was, Kokichi knew the real reason the office looked like that.

Keade sat on the ground, doodling musical-looking nonsense on a piece of paper. Perched on the desk like a hawk was Maki. Kokichi felt a wave of relief realizing that meant Kaito was still in the simulation, but quickly shook the feeling away.

“Kokichi, You're here.” Keade grinned with a smile that looked taped onto her face.

“Great.” Maki grouched with blood red eyes.

“The one and only!” Kokichi grinned. “Did you really think I would leave all my friends out in the cold, especially at such a big moment in Shuichi’s career!”

“You're um… a bit late if that’s the case.” Kaede giggled. All Kokichi could do was stare at her neck.

At the mention of last night, Shuichi’s head swiveled around. Kokichi almost jumped. His eyes were dark, makeup running down his face. He looked like he’d been crying for the last few days, as if he was forced to find out his friends were killers for the past weeks.

“Oooh, Someone had a rough night.” Kokichi teased.

“Sorry… I’ve just been thinking all night…” Shuichi bit against his pen. “We’ve wasted all our chances to catch him.”

“No, you wasted the chance.” Maki snapped, clicking a pen like a trigger on a crossbow.

“Eh?” Shuichi seemed befuddled.

“Don't act dumb, everyone saw you hesitate.”

“Ah…” Shuichi clenched his fist and looked away, his cheeks flushed feverishly. “You noticed…”

“Of course we did! It was airing all over the city in perfect quality, y’know?” Kokichi added. Though, it was nice to have confirmation that Shuichi’s hesitation had actually happened, and not just a figment -of a figment- of his imagination.

“It wasn’t that bad.” Keade said bashfully.

“Yes, it was.” Maki shot. Shuichi's face turned redder. “You should have had me up there. I would’ve had your thief’s identity plastered across the world by now”

“There’s no point in focusing on What ifs” Keade piped. “What’s done is done. All we can do now is focus on what’s next, right Shuichi?”

Shuichi perked up at the mention of his name. “Y-yeah, I guess so.”

“So Shuichi? What’s the plan now?” Her voice echoed into silence, like the cover of a piano being slamed against the keys.

“…Yes, I’ve been thinking about it all night.” The detective finally said.

Shuichi went over his plan, detailing every step and carefully making theories. It was a perfect plan. Unlike before the detective left nothing for the imagination.

And it was so …boring…

What was the point of a life without risk? To live was to improvise, adapt, bask in the consequences. Why do anything if you already knew the outcome?

In the end though, that was the biggest difference between Kokichi and Kaito, wasn’t it? While Kokichi planned every word out, Kaito was known for jumping in with just his fist. Tonight, Kaito was going to leave the safe nest of the simulation with no protection from the outside world. A feat so reckless and brave, a part of Kokichi found it more admirable than stupid…Kokichi had really fallen hadn’t he?

“This doesn’t find the identity of the thief.” Maki mentioned when Shuichi was finally finished.

“Yeah but it gets us closer, which is all we can hope for now,” Shuchi said. Behind him, dazzling photos of the phantom thief morphed into images of sixteen teenagers. Red thread dripped with blood and he could feel Rantaro’s blank yet judging gaze burn into him.

Kokichi grit his teeth and blinked. In no time, it was completely normal. Just another figment -of a figment- of his imagination.

“Why are you hesitating?” Maki shot the words like a poisoned arrow. “First, you didn’t take his mask off and now you refuse to fully solve the case.” Suddenly she turned cold “… You're not working with him? Are you?”

“Of course not!” The detective stammered.

“As much as I hate to admit it, Maki has a point.”

“Ohhh” Kokichi challenged. “It’s not looking too hot, I might just vote for you.”

“What…” Kaede looked befuddled.

“It’s just…” Shuichi sighted as if he was admitting an embarrassing secret. “I actually do like solving cases and… I enjoy this case. It’s nice to solve a mystery and to have a case that doesn’t hurt anyone.”

“That’s so sweet~” The pianist cooed. “And also definitely not a good trait for a detective…” She trailed off.

“Nepotism is a real lifesaver! Who else calls someone so soft the best detective in the country?” Kokichi teased.

“… you know mystery novels exist , right?” Maki deadpanned.

“I-...” Shuichi's expression twitched. For a second, Kokichi swore he saw the soft spoken detective glareing at her.

But then he blinked, and the look melted away.
——

Kokichi had gotten a note, telling him to go to the roof above Shuichi’s detective agency. Just to say some final words, it said. Weirdly ominous words for the cruddy handwriting.

As expected, Kaito swung his legs off the edge of the building. His starry jacket splayed out behind him. The stars shone behind the city’s skyline, an impossible sight.

“So you actually came?” Kaito said with raised eyebrows. “I was half expecting you to eat the paper or something weird.”

“Of course I came!” Kokichi sat next to Kaito. “There's no way I’d miss Kaito swan diving off a building!”

“I-I’m not dying, just leaving!” The astronaut sputtered.

“So basically leaving this plane of existence? Sounds kinda like suicide to me.” Kokichi examined his nails.

Kaito examined Kokichi, his face immediately souring. “Why are you wearing that?”

Kokichi looked at his phantom thief suit. “Wearing what?”

“Never mind. As long as you don’t have that creepy clown mask. “

Kokichi sat down next to Kaito, feigning offense. “Excuse me!? I’ll have you know I have an extremely important heist after this. Shuichi thinks I’m going to rob a museum tonight, so now I have to rob a library next to it. Just to deflate his ego a little bit. He needs it, don’t you think?”

“Shuichi? Out of everyone- Shit!” Kaito yelped the second he looked back up.

Kaito flinched, smaking off the clown mask that had suddenly appeared on Kokichi’s face. It fell to the ground behind them.

“Kaito! I really needed that.” Kokichi bemoaned. “Do you want me to get arrested!?”

“Just conjure one back up or whatever, I know you can.” Kaito sighed. “… you sure you don’t want to come with me?”

“Absolutely positive. I don’t need to be anywhere near stinky-ol-Kaito.”

“Stinky!? Old!?” Kaito gritted his teeth. “We're the same age! And you're one to talk about hygiene, you locked me in a bathroom!”

“And I never heard you use that sink once.” Kokichi tutted.

“That’s because you weren’t listening in the first place, you shit!” Kaito’s face was red. “Why was I even trying to drag you back into reality? I’m ninety-nine percent sure everyone is going to go back insane just by talking to you.”

“Ohh! I’m a medical hazard now! Always wanted to put that on a resume.”

“…But… You’re a hundred percent sure about this being your new reality, right ?”

”Jeez, do you think the third time will be the charm or something?!” Kokichi pouted. “Yesiree! Actually, I've never been so sure about anything in my life!” He lied.

“Sorry.” Kaito suddenly sobered. “Actually no I’m not.”

“Whaaaat! H-how could Kaito say that!” Kokichi started to tear up. “Why this is so upsetting I might just cr-“

“Shut up!” Kaito pinched the leader’s lips shut, preventing him from ever licking his hand. Rude. “I’m not even going to explain myself because I know you know exactly what I mean!”

He did… and he hated it.

“Listen, you may be annoying, an asshole, and possibly evil.” Kaito let go of his lips. “And no one really wants to confront you because you go out of your way to make people miserable-“

“Wow, really buttering me up here! Have you ever considered getting into marketing?”

“But you deserve better than this!” The astronaut suddenly blazed.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

Once Kaito was gone, Kokichi would be left with nothing but the AI remnants. Maybe Kaito really did destroy this world? By showing Kokichi something so much better than a sweet lie. Becoming the best thing in this world and then simply leaving.

Kokichi had truly thought this world was a blessing. A fate never meant for him. What a joke. A world of pure lies where he puppeteered as a false king, forever dissatisfied but never knowing why. It was the only ending a liar like him could have.

“You convinced me to make amends with my sidekick, it’s only fair you did too.” Kaito continued.
“You might be shitty now but I want to be able to figure things out and grow with you. Being stuck here forever? Even you can admit this is a pathetic ending. I know you never like to pick the easy way out.”

Did Kaito really believe that?

“Since when did you know so much about me?”

“It’s not that hard. If I can understand astrophysics, I can understand that you're just an idiot.”

“Oh! Kaito thinks I’m the dumb one here.” Kokichi smirked.

“I mean, it’s kinda obvious. What kinda dweeb plans to talk to fictional AI bots for the rest of their lives.” The astronaut rolls his eyes.

“Ohh! You better hope Kiibo’s super sonic hearing didn’t catch that.”

“I don’t have to worry about that, ‘cause Kiibo is chillaxing in reality right now.” Kaito glanced at him. “Can you believe it? Kiibo is beating you in social skills right now?”

“If this is your way of trying to advertise the real world to me, it’s absolutely failing.”

Kokichi was going to miss things like this. Simple banter with Katio. Not having to walk on eggshells about the reality of this world.

Was Kaito telling the truth? Did he truly deserve to be in reality and make amends? The cynical part of him wanted to chalk it up to Kaito being naive as always, but a part of Kokichi knew that Kaito knew him better than himself sometimes. The same way Kokichi knew more about Kaito.

“Kokichi…!?” A befuddled voice rang out.

The boys twisted at the sound. Behind them was Shuchi, eyes blown wide. Kokichi’s heart sank.

“What are you guys doing up here? Why is Kokichi wearing the phantom thief’s-“ Shuichi’s voice suddenly dropped. Kokichi could see the gears in his mind turning. His eyes widened as it all clicked.

“...The traps…the card games… the odd absences… it’s unlikely but it all makes sense… ” the detective looked… solemn. As if he finished a good novel and no longer knows what to do with himself. The ghostly look returned to his face. “The build, the similar styles.” Shuichi's voice softened to a whisper. “The phantom thief can only be you, Kokichi Ouma.”

“Whoopsie daisy.” Kokichi said, strangely satisfied. This whole world was surrounded by their game of cat and mouse. The whole city was invested in the chase, and the dead end just… came. Despite being so anticlimactic, Kokichi easily accepted the ending.

Shuichi looked like he didn’t. A pensive expression morphed onto his face. A dozen emotions flashed onto him at once until he settled on one that was oddly unreadable.

“It doesn’t have to end like this.” Shuichi finally said, his soft voice ringing like a bell. His colorless eyes were tracked on the mask abandoned on the ceiling tiles.

“Shuichi? Why are you acting so goddamn weird?” Kaito’s face screwed up, but Shuichi paid no mind. The detective took the mask with slow robotic movement and walked up to the thief.

Kokichi’s heart pounded as Shuichi got closer and closer. Traffic roared beneath him. Shuichi twitched slightly as he got closer to the thief, breathing heavily.

“What’s the point of this, Mister Detective?” Kokichi kept his voice taunt. “Trying to rough me up before taking me to the cell?”

“We don’t have to let it end.” Shuichi looked oddly pleased at Kokichi’s quip. He inched closer and closer with the mask in hands. “This whole system is a sham. I’ll just pretend this never happened, then we can do this…play this game for as long as we need to…”

Kokichi felt the detective's cold fingertips brush against his face. He suppressed a shiver at the touch. As he stared into his crazed colorless eyes it became increasingly obvious that this wasn’t the Shuichi he knew. This Shuichi was a manifestation of his desire and fear to be hidden forever-

“Ack!”

Shuichi was suddenly wretched away.

The sight of Kaito standing above Shuichi with reddened fists was familiar, what wasn’t was the red and black pixels swarming at the detective's faces.

The detective suddenly stiffened like a board. Squares ate away at his skin like termites. His face was eerily blank as the pixels chewed him away. A gargled crunchy noise came from his mouth, whether he was begging, laughing, or crying was unclear.

And then he was gone. The pixels floating to the clouds as if he was never there.

Kaito stumbled back, his hand twitching. His face was white as a sheet.

“…Shit... well you didn’t need him… right…?-” Kaito stammered as the last bits of the detective faded away.

“Wow!” Kokichi blinked “I never thought you’d actually do something like that. To your own sidekick, too!”

“I mean, I did it before…” Kaito laughed with a twinge of hysteria, shaking off his knuckles. “And well… it's not like I killed him. Though i doubt you’ll be able to see him… sorry”

“That’s too bad for him then, since I’m leaving with you.” Kokichi said.

“Huh?” Kaito looked at him with utter bewilderment

“What! Who said that?” Kokichi said, suddenly regretting every decision.

“Don’t mess around! You’re the only one who could have said that!” Kaito yelled.

Kokichi looked around surprised. “Huh? Would you look at that”

“Kokichi, please don’t joke around with me, not about this.” Kokichi was surprised with the sincerity in Kaito’s voice. “I-I really want you to come with me to reality. I promise I’m not trying to manipulate you, or abandon you the second you leave, or whatever stupid thing you think will happen.”

The stars watched as Kokichi's face shifted. He watched the astronauts face for any hint of a lie, and chance that his decision could be a mistake.

“I…” Kokichi swallowed the lump in his throat. “I do too.”

“Really?” The astronaut's serious face cracked, revealing a smile of pure joy.

“I have to admit, you really stank this place up.” Kokichi said. “It’s so boring now, there’s no way I could ever stay here.”

“Of course you would say it like that.” Kaito rolled his eyes.

Despite his teasing tone, it was clear from the glint in Kaito’s eye he knew exactly what Kokichi meant.

Reality was a new frontier. A place with hundreds of unpredictable variables. He was no god in reality. After missing so much, there was no way he’d be able to fall back on his calculations and predictions. He'd be forced to live his life with only belief fueling him.

But there was nothing wrong with upping the difficulty level, was there?

“Hey, Alter Ego!” Kokichi called out “Mind letting us out of this dump?”

.

..

…

[WORLD DESTRUCTION COMPLETE.]