Chapter Text
Kokichi and Shuichi had just finished cleaning the classroom when Shuichi paused at the door.
“Uh… Kokichi?” he said slowly. “I don’t mean to alarm you, but… I think we’re locked in.”
Kokichi looked up, his smile freezing mid-expression.
“…Could you repeat that, Shumai?”
Shuichi turned back, brows knitting together. “The door. It won’t open.”
So he hadn’t misheard.
They were trapped.
In a room that suddenly felt a little too small.
Kokichi let out a quiet breath, forcing his grin back into place.
“Well, that’s fun.”
The walls felt closer already.
The air heavier.
His fingers twitched at his sides.
…Shit.
At least it was Shuichi.
Kokichi just kept staring at the floor. The room was big. Normal. Totally normal. No shrinking. No shifting walls. Nothing strange at all.
Everything was fine.
Everything was fine.
Everything was fine.
Shuichi noticed Kokichi’s silence and walked over. Kokichi didn’t notice him approaching until he was already close.
His hand lifted, hesitating in mid-air, then dropped again.
“Kokichi…”
There was a flinch. Barely there, but visible to those paying attention. Then as soon as it happened, it was gone. The mask was back in place
“Ah! My beloved Shumai!” He spun slightly, grin back in full force. “To what do I owe the honour of your presence?”
Shuichi looked unsure. “You were quiet. I just… wanted to check on you.”
“Aww,” Kokichi cooed, pressing a hand to his chest dramatically. “You worry about me? How touching. I, Kokichi Ouma, fear nothing!”
Shuichi’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you sure? Your hand is shaking.”
Kokichi froze.
Then, too fast, he shoved both hands behind his back.
“Me? Shaking?” he gasped. “Impossible! I’m just so overwhelmed with joy standing next to my favorite detective that my body simply cannot contain it!”
Shuichi looked at him with something akin to scepticism, but didn’t press further, and for that, Kokichi would be grateful.
But for now, there was something louder than thought.
The room felt wrong.
Like the pressure was becoming heavier.
The walls were pressing in.
Closer.
Closer.
Kokichi swallowed hard.
He needed to leave.
He needed to breathe.
He was breathing.
But he couldn’t feel it
Air caught halfway in his chest like it had nowhere to go. His lungs refused to cooperate, like they’d forgotten how.
Remember what they say.
In. Out. In. Out.
No.
Too fast.
Too shallow.
His fingers curled behind his back, nails digging into his own skin just to anchor himself.
“Kokichi…”
Shuichi’s voice cut through, softer this time.
Nothing.
“Kokichi!”
Still nothing.
Because Kokichi wasn’t in the room anymore.
He was too busy trying not to fall apart in a space that kept getting smaller even if it wasn’t.
His breathing quickened again, sharp, uneven.
He tried breathing again.
In. Out
It was as easy as that. Two simple steps. Steps that he couldn’t seem to follow at that moment.
But, Shuichi was right there.
Of course he was.
Of course he would notice.
“Ko—”
Kokichi’s shoulders jerked slightly.
Shuichi noticed.
Of course, he fucking noticed.
It was one of his most alluring qualities, but now, it was a pain in the ass.
“H-hey Kokichi…” there was a waver in Shuichis voice, like he was trying to help, but barely keeping it together, “W-what’s wrong? I can’t help you if I don’t know…”
Deep down, he knew what was happening, he just didn’t want to face it.
The always happy, Kokichi Ouma, here having a panic attack?
Although he didn’t want to admit it, Shuichi had figured out the problem and now knew the solution.
“Hey, Kokichi, can I please touch you?” The taller asked in the softest voice he could manage.
Shuichi’s voice sounded distant.
Like it was underwater.
But Kokichi still managed a small nod.
A moment later he felt warmth.
A hand around his wrist.
Something solid.
Something real.
Pressed against his palm.
A heartbeat.
Ba-dum.
Ba-dum.
Ba-dum.
Kokichi clung to it immediately.
Felling like if he let go, everything would disappear again.
But it still wasn’t enough.
The room was still wrong.
Still closing in.
No.
No.
No.
Shuichi looked down at him, expression tight with something unreadable. Then he exhaled sharply, as if deciding something he didn’t want to.
And let go.
Kokichi barely had time to react before Shuichi moved.
He crossed the room.
Picked up a chair.
“…Sorry,” Shuichi muttered.
Then he swung it.
CRACK.
The sound split the air.
Kokichi jolted, eyes snapping up.
For a second, he forgot to breathe entirely.
Shuichi swung again.
CRACK.
The lock gave way.
The door shuddered.
Then broke open.
Silence hit the room like a wave.
Kokichi stared at him.
Completely frozen.
That… that wasn’t supposed to happen.
Shuichi Saihara.
Breaking school property.
Voluntarily.
On purpose.
Footsteps rushed from the hallway almost immediately.
Maki and Kaito appeared at the doorway.
Shuichi stood there, chair still in hand, breathing uneven but steady.
Kokichi, meanwhile, sat perfectly still in the wrecked silence.
The room was open now.
The walls weren’t closing in anymore.