(Complete) Taking Her Place (Saiouma/Oumasai)

Casual Flirting is Ok When You're Not Tied Down

Chapter 13: casual flirting is ok when you're not tied down

Kokichi's POV

The concert was fun but it went on reallllly long. All that swimming really tired me out. Tomorrow though, there was no stop. So I could sleep in as late as I wanted. It didn't matter all that much if I stayed up too late. When Shuichi and I got back to the room I saw my phone flashing. I haven't looked at my phone pretty much the whole time we've been on the ship.

I grabbed my phone and saw Miu was texting me:

Hey hey hey loser! How's it going???? Get any dick yet??

Be quiet, no I haven't and I don't plan on it. This is simply a friend thing, nothing romantic

Damnnnn that sucks.

🙄 I'm not you, I don't need dick to live

Rudeeeeee

Am I wrong?

🙄

Exactly, I'm going to bed, we can talk more tomorrow if you want

Yessss I miss youuuu I wanna know more about how things are going!!!!

Whateverrrr goodnight slut

Night hoe!

Conversations with Miu are always interesting.
"Are you not gonna shower?" Shuichi asked when he noticed me falling asleep.
"Nahhhh I have all day tomorrow to do that. Plus it's too much work, I'm tired."
I could hear Shuichi sigh and walk over to me.
"Come on." He picked me up bridal style and carried me into the bathroom. He set me down in the sink.

"Huh?" I questioned.
Shuichi turned on the water and plugged the drain at the bottom.
"I'm drawing you a bath."
"But I'm like," I counted on my fingers, "twenty four years old, I don't take baths."
"Well you're too tired to stand for a shower and too stinky not to take one."
"I'm not stinky?" I held up one of my arms and noticed I was, in fact, stinky. "Yeah ok."

"But what if I'm too tired to take a bath too?" I yawned.
"You're looking for attention aren't you. Well it would be wrong of me not to give in." Shuichi stood up and walked over to me.
"I'm not looking for attention-" I started before Shuichi started taking my shirt off. "Shuichi!"
"What? I'm not going to fully undress you, just enough to put you in the bath."
"Hmpf, shame on you. Trying to undress me already! We just started hanging out two days ago!"
"Im not-"
"You should be ashamed of yourself!" I crossed my arms. Shuichi tossed my shirt to the ground.

Normally I would would be questioning this more but I'm just far too tired to care.
"In you go." Shuichi lifted me up again and set me into the hot water.
The faster I comply the faster we can be done here so I quickly did as he wanted, brushed my teeth, and made my way to bed.

"There you go! Look at you, no more stinky." Shuichi praised me.
"Hngggggg. It's bedtime now." I dragged myself to flop onto the bed.
"Ok sure. It's bedtime." Shuichi laughed.
"Yayyy." I turned off the light and went to sleep.

💫

"Kichi... kiiiiichiiii. Wake up Kokichiiii."
I slowly opened my eyes to see I was back home.
"Huh?" I looked around, "what's going on?"
"What do you mean what's going on? You're at home." Miu appeared.
"That's exactly why I'm wondering what's a going on-"
"Don't."
"Don't?" I questioned.
"Don't." Miu repeated herself, "actually, you're right. You're not supposed to be here are you?"
"I'm not supposed to be here? Am I? Dead?"

"No dumbass, you're not dead."
"So I don't belong here, I'm not dead, and I don't belong on the ship with Shuichi-"
"Who said that?" Miu got defensive.
"Who said what?"
"Who said you don't belong on the ship with Shuichi?"
"I- you did, in my... dream... is this a dream?"
"I'm just here to tell you that you don't belong here, you belong somewhere else, somewhere constantly moving."

"... like... a ship?"
"Yes yes, like a ship, are you stupid? What are you not getting here?" Miu snapped at me.
"Jeez, dream Miu is so rude."
"You calling me rude is rude!"
"Whatever, can I wake up now, I get it, I belong on the cruise. Can this just be over already?"
"You know, I don't think you're getting this-"

I pinched myself and looked around. My mind is just trying to make up excuses for me being in this wrong situation. I don't belong here, I think the dream was closer when it said I didn't belong anywhere. Don't... belong anywhere... what if I don't belong anywhere? I don't want to think anymore. I'm just... gonna go back to bed.

This time when I opened my eyes I was still in bed next to Shuichi. Even just laying here next to him feel wrong. It's not like we're doing anything. In fact we're pretty far away from each other. As far as we can be in the same bed.

I just... stared at him for a bit. As if that wasn't creepy. I was interrupted by him waking up. I couldn't make it obvious I was staring at him so I quickly adverted my gaze from Shuichi.
"Morning Kokichi." He sat up.
"Morning sleepyhead!" I sprang up.
"Someone's energetic." He chuckled.
"Lots to do to day, I don't think we ever officially got to explore the ship! What kinda old people things do you think there are? Ooo I hope there shuffleboard! I've always liked that game."

I tried to cover up my feelings with excitement. Since I can't really leave, I might as well try to enjoy myself. After all I'm pretty good at suppressing my emotions!

"You're cute you know that." Shuichi yawned.
"Did- did you just call me cute? Im not cute."
"I think you're pretty cute." Shuichi booped my nose.
"Quit it!" I swatted at his hand.
"I can do that now, you know, casual flirting."
"Casual flirting?- Shuichi Saihara! You're on a break, not officially broken up-"
"I said there was no certainty of ever getting back together."
"Still-" I yelled.
"Shhh, if you wanna find out if there shuffleboard then you need to get dressed."
"Fineee."

Today's outfit was jean short shorts and a tucked in band T-shirt for Big Time Rush. Yeah, I went to a BTR concert, you jealous yet. I had my hair pulled back today. Well the back of it was, the front wouldn't reach to the back to fit in the ponytail. Shuichi had on, yet another pair of, black skinny jeans and a plain black shirt.

We already explored most of the top deck of the ship but there were some lower levels to see as well. And now that I think about it we never explored the back of the top deck either. So we had lots to do. I know there were a ton of fancy bars and eating areas inside too that might be fun to check out. Apparently there was an arcade too, small, but an arcade nonetheless.

We went to go see the top deck first. Behind the giant TV we saw before was a whole other area we hadn't checked out yet. And there it was, the glorious thing I had been looking for the whole time. Shuffleboard! Lots of old people playing shuffleboard.
"Shu we have to play!" I looked at him with starry eyes.
"Ok." He smiled.
"You're going down Saihara! You're no match for my skills! And make that skills with a 'z'"

"You just had to specify didn't you?"
"Duh! It's important Shuichi! My gamer skillz have prepared me for this moment!"
"You know I'm sure shuffleboard 'irl' is much different than shuffleboard over iMessage."
"Shush! I'll be great."

Needless to say, I beat Shuichi. I'm a master at this.
"Ha! I told you I would win!"
"Just barley! I was close."
"Okkkk, sore loser much Saihara-Chan."
"You're a sore winner."
"No! I just win so often I get used to it." I flipped the hair that didn't fit in my ponytail.
"Whatever, we can come back later, there's more to see." Shuichi brushed off my rebuttal.