Chapter Text
"So, are you coming or not?"
It seemed like such a stupid question, of course he would. What reason did he have not to go? It had been years, 7, if he recalled correctly. It just scared him, so horribly.
"Obviously. I'm not just gonna leave it to Taro to keep you in check." This comment was quickly proceeded by an elbow, thrust right into his ribs.
Kokichi Oma was sat in his small apartment with his roommates and closest friends Miu Iruma and Rantaro Amami, planning their next excursion. They went on small trips together all the time, Kokichi getting used to having to third wheel the unlikely couple he set up in the first place. The only thing stopping him? One word; childhood. This hangout had been in planning for a few weeks by this point, and, only last minute was he informed of more people tagging along. The two trying to pull him along were forcing him to go with both people he hated and someone that just hurt to think about. His good old friend, Shuichi Saihara. Now, did our protagonist find it fair that Miu and Rantaro only told him of Shuichi and his friends tagging along when he was already dressed and ready to go? No. Did he go out anyways? Yes, yes he did.
"If you get uncomfortable," Rantaro stepped forward, placing something in the palm of Kokichi’s hand. "just bite this. I bought it so you have something to do instead of biting your lips and nails.” It was a rubber chew toy strung like a necklace. Seriously? Did he think his friend was a goddamn animal? Kokichi accepted the strange gift, albeit with some hostility, and placed it around his neck.
"...And where did you get this?" The grape-scented male asked, secretly wanting to buy one for the absolute unit of a rabbit, Angel, that thundered around the small apartment, so she'd stop eating everyone's chargers.
"Who cares!" Miu interrupted, dragging both of them out into the fresh summer air, greatly anticipating the golden shores they would soon be arriving at. "We have to go now or we'll be late!" A poor excuse, but it worked all the same. Kokichi sprawled himself across the backseats, already arguing with Rantaro about seatbelts. This was going to be a fun trip.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finally, after almost an hour, the trio arrived at the beach. Miu immediately ran to the shoreline, squealing as the cold ocean water rolled around her ankles. That left Kokichi alone, as Rantaro went to go find the other three that had texted him their whereabouts in the parking lot. He sat on his checkered towel, raking his fingers over the sand. It was a good texture, but it got in his nails, and he stopped right away. He sat there for a few minutes, looking around the beach and all of the families splashing around in the waves, or having ice cream under parasols, or couples sunbathing. He attempted to recall childhood memories, thinking that he had one like this. Him and his sister Tsuyoi, splashing each other and laughing until their stomachs hurt, and his parents watched from some shade, talking about how happy they were to have met. All that came to mind, however, was the distasteful memory of his mother's cold hand and the deafening ringing of her heart monitor flat-lining. It hurt so bitterly to think about, and he couldn't help the tears that streamed down his face. He hadn't even realized he was crying until he felt a hand over his own. Least to say, seeing Miu as he craned his neck up wasn't even on the list of things he expected to see, but he greatly appreciated her being there.
"Stop crying, you look stupid."
"Whatever, dude."
They talked for a while, joking around and throwing sand at one another, until their conversation was cut short by the obnoxious voice that cut through the air, despite all the distance. The voice of Kokichi's sworn mortal enemy, Kaito Momota. He groaned, knowing that the group would be down to the beach in a minute or two, given how quick they walked. Kokichi turned to Miu, a wide, mischievous smirk spreading across his face.
"Wanna see how long it takes for us to drown each other for Taro to notice?"
Miu's face lit up, already standing up and racing to the water. "You are so on kid!"
It turns out, including distractions, it takes Rantaro Amami 10 thrilling minutes to notice that his beloved and his best friend are actively attempting to unleash egregious acts of homicide upon each other. Meaning that they had to forcefully be dragged out of the ocean by someone else Kokichi loathed as equally as Kaito, Maki fucking Harukawa. To be fair, she was a great friend when she wanted to be and was quite skilled with... with, a lot, but she tried to kill him multiple times. That shit sucked. Probably gave him trauma, but who cares! The past is the past! Surely she's changed, right?
"What were you guys even doing? That looked horribly stupid and now Rantaro doesn't want you guys going in the water, which I'll have to be the one to monitor." Her monotone voice scratched at Kokichi's brain, making him frown without even realizing.
"Ah, jeez, how boring." Kokichi whined. He punched Miu on the arm, wordlessly scolding her, despite it being his idea almost entirely.
"Shut it, nitwit, at least you don't have three disturbances to deal with now." Both Kokichi and Miu glanced at each other with a puzzled expression. Was she calling Kaito a disturbance?
"Can we go now or are you and your flat chest gonna keep scolding us?" Miu cut in quite brashly, followed by Kokichi bursting out laughing.
They were allowed to go. Well, more like Maki chased Miu away from the shoreline, and Kokichi ran too, not wanting to risk anything. The girl hid behind Rantaro, leaving them to talk like no one else was there. Kokichi wanted to join them and pester them, he really did, but he was out of energy and social battery, he just needed to rest. He sat on his beach towel, humming whatever song was stuck in his head quietly, until he heard a yell of his name.
"Kichi! Want some ice cream?" He looked over, seeing Kaito's cheesy smile and the nervous fidgeting of his old friend which he refused to name. It hurt too much. What the hell? Why was he asking Kokichi?
He smiled widely and shook his head, shouting back. "No, not right now!"
He watched cautiously as he went to everyone else in their small group, probably asking them about ice cream too, before leaving. Of course he’d be buying everyone stuff.
A few minutes passed without the realization of anyone, or even any hints from the weather. It was a really good day to be out, and Kokichi was suddenly grateful that his friends had convinced him to go out. His train of thought was distracted by a figure in front of him, holding out an ice cream. He didn't even need to look up to recognize the voice.
"They- uh, didn't have grape, so I got you lavender and vanilla."
His heart pounded against his chest. Why was he talking to him? Why did he even bother buying anything for him? Why did he completely ignore him saying no-
"Oma?" Kokichi was snapped out of his thoughts. His old friend was now crouching in front of him, looking panicked. It hurt to be called by his last name, but he couldn't blame the man in front of him.
"I said I didn't want any."
"But you never say no to ice cream."
“So? You have it, I’m not hungry.”
He died inside slightly as he saw Shuichi’s face fall, searching the sand for words to say.
“I just… I know you don’t wanna talk about this, I get it. I know the way you think. You don’t want to ruin the trip by letting me upset you, so you’ve been trying to ignore me. But, I can assure you, that’s the only reason that Miu and Rantaro even tried to help plan this. They wanted us to talk, and I’m not leaving until you give me a proper response other than just ‘So?’.”
“Jeez, you’re annoyingly stubborn. Where was this when I started ignoring you?” Kokichi went into instant defense mode, trying to get the other presence away from him as quickly as possible. A smirk creeped onto his face, finally meeting the other’s gaze. “Wait, I’m remembering events wrong, aren’t I? I fucking waited for you. You kept ignoring me and leaving me for those two idiots. I don’t want to talk right now, don’t make me.”
Out of things to say, and genuinely shocked by Kokichi’s outburst, Shuichi sighed, tilting his head. “...At least take your ice cream?” Kokichi snatched it from his hand, quietly scoffing when their fingers grazed against each other.
“Okay, thanks, you can go now, byeeeeee~!” And he did. Shuichi quickly retreated, leaving the grape-scented male alone with his thoughts.
Finally. Inner peace. Right?