"A Love Story" Kaede and Shuichi

Chapter 19

Kaede's POV

"I'm waiting for that robot bear to pop up. Why is he hiding in the shadows, being so quiet?" Rantaro asked loudly during the multiple conversations bouncing around the dining hall. Everyone paused and turned to him.

"I dunno, it's weird," Kirumi stated.

"Very," Maki chimed in.

"Do you think he is plotting something? Ugh, degenerate males are the worst!" Tenko exploded.

"Not all males are plotting against you, Tenko!" Kaito exploded back.

"He's probably just waiting for the perfect opportunity to make this game more interesting, it's been soooooo boring," Kokichi commented with a nonchalant sigh.

"All males are degenerates! Both of you-"

"Okay guys calm down! Fighting doesn't get us anywhere," I put my hand on the table firmly and commanded as loud as I could. Silence filled the room.

"She's right, fighting is pointless. We have to work together," Shuichi agreed. I turned to him and he gave me a reassuring smile, which caused me to grin.

Kokichi sighed and placed his hands behind his head, sitting back in his chair. "Okay lovebirds, have fun trusting each other until one of you goes right behind your back and... BAM! Kills you."

"Knock it off, Kokichi! Nobody is killing anyone!" Kaito said, hands as fists.

"Yeah! I'll protect everyone with my magic!" Himiko said, courageously.

"I believe her! She will!" Tenko insisted, praising Himiko.

Kokichi laughed, which turned into a snicker, and all eyes were on him as awkwardness filled the room. "You guys trust each other? Believe in each other? We are all strangers here, riiight? How can you trust someone you barely know?"

"Interesting point. We have been here for a few weeks and many relationships have grown tremendously between our peers. These scenarios are so... beautiful to watch unfold," Kiyo put his hand up to his cheek, his eyes becoming hazy as if clouded with his thoughts.

"Okay calm down you freakin creep! Nobody wants to hear that crap!" Miu attacked.

"They are right though.." I thought to myself. "We all have barely been here for a month, or maybe more than a month. The days and weeks are blending together in my head. I think I might.. love.. no, too strong of a word. I know I really really like Shuichi, but he is just a stranger. What if this is what Monokuma wants? Us to be distracted, develop close relationships, and then slaughter each other." It felt as if the whole world was on my shoulders, and the burden of this killing game began to come back to haunt me. "I can't push away the truth, not forever."

"Maybe.. they have a point," I admitted quietly, shocking some of my peers around me. "We just need to be careful. Monokuma listens to every word." I looked at Shuichi, his wide eyes hiding behind his hat. I turned away, deep in thought, feeling a pang in my heart.

"Neeheehee! I'm aaaalways right!" Kokichi cheered childishly. I sighed, looking at the table.

"Awww, don't look so sad, Kaede. Did it just now occur to you you can't trust every person you meet?" Kokichi provoked with his fake, sad voice. I met his childlike gaze.

"I know I can't trust anyone. None of you. But I believe we can still work together, since we all want to live and escape." I said quickly.

"Are you sure?" Kokichi leaned over the table, staring straight into my violet eyes with his cold ones. "Are you sure there isn't anyone here who wants to play this game?" He grinned evilly, sending chills down my spine and I'm guessing a few others in the room too, and then he stood up. "Welp, I'm leaving. Byee!" The boy gave me a playful grin and strutted away. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

The room now had an eerie feel to it, and as I looked around at my peers faces, they felt it too. Pondering on a lot on my mind, I stood up and pushed in my chair. "See you guys around, thank you again Kirumi for the wonderful dinner," I gave her a sincere smile and left.

"Ah- you're welcome," A surprised Kirumi said. "I haven't shown this side to them before.. they are probably surprised. Hah- what am I saying? They are all strangers!" I grimaced from my thoughts, tightening my hands into fists and quickening my pace. "Am I this dumb? To really think I.. I was home here?! No, I will never be home in this place."

I began to hear footsteps behind me, but I didn't turn back to see. I was filled with a drive I hadn't felt before, my heart was coated with ice, though I wasn't like me at all.

"Kaede," I heard Shuichi behind me. I kept walking.

"Kaede!"

Silence.

The walking footsteps turned heavier and louder. Finally, I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"Kae-"

"Stop." I turned around to see Shuichi, hiding behind his hat, an expression on his face I had never seen before. He had jerked his hand back in surprise.

"Wh-What's wrong?" Shuichi asked sincerely, shock on his face.

"Everything. Everything is wrong," I told him, fighting tears from bubbling in my eyes. When my lip wanted to quiver, I turned my back to him and continued walking.

"I know," he said, walking in step behind me. "I know. There has gotta be a way out of here, somehow," Shuichi thought aloud. The tears were sliding down my cheek, trickling down my neck, giving me a cold chill. I didn't sniff or say a word. We walked in silence until I had reached my room. I grabbed the door handle after unlocking the room.

"Kaede, is there anything I can do?" He lovingly asked, and I couldn't resist turning toward him once more. I didn't hide my tears and he didn't seem that surprised to see my eyes start to swell, and the liquid glittering on my cheeks. His eyes softened, and he had a small frown.

I stared at him for what felt like the longest moment of my life. My shaky hand made its way up to his cheek, and he pressed his face into the palm of my hand with a sigh. He looked at my arm then back at me.

I took his hat off, revealing his messy, silky hair underneath. I observed his face, all the small wrinkles, his light green eyes, pale complexion, small lips. I didn't know if I would let myself ever be this vulnerable in front of him again.

I put his hat back on and removed my hand, and with no emotion I stated, "We can't be close. I don't want you to grieve if I end up dead."

I turned around, opened my door, and after walking inside I shut it without turning around to see him. Shuichi. The only person I knew that could make me fall apart in his arms and be so fragile.

Shuichi's POV

I stared at the closed door in front of me, almost expecting a crying Kaede to burst through and hug me tight, but instead there was silence. Nothing but a door that she had shut. Nothing but the feelings of hurt, loss, and fear.

I took a step back, then another, then slowly walked to my room, fighting back my tears. "Don't you get it, Kaede? I'm already grieving you and you are still alive! If we are destined to die in this place, I would rather die in your arms, in love, than sinking into depression and isolation." I turned my head and looked at her picture by her dorm room.

"I want you, Kaede. I'm sorry we had to meet under these circumstances. Maybe in a different life, we would have had our happily ever after."

Dullness filled my eyes and thoughts, and I went into my room in silence, the sound of the door's thud ringing in my ears.

1334 words