A Drawing of Me and You (An OuMota Fanfic)

Chapter 12: Hiding Something?

[Kokichi's POV]

I stared up at him.
I'm skeptical him out of all people would even dare to say I'm their best friend in the first place.
But, he only stared at me with that same glimmer in his eyes.
He was really telling the truth? This can't be right.
It didn't feel right in fact. I've never believed someone was being this trustworthy with me before.
Can I truly trust him or are my eyes playing tricks on me?

"Well of course we're best friends!-" He tried to respond at first but I cut him off in frustration, yet tried to hide it the best I could. Words are something I can manipulate at my fingertips of course.
"What do you mean "of course?" Silly, it's obvious you like me more than that!" I giggled, even though I was lying about it being obvious.
In fact, I'm only assuming shit! If he really does just think of us as friends, I'll let it be with some solid evidence.

"What?! No I do not! We're just best friends, alright?" He gets really defensive over something he wants to have pride in believing.
He's barely changed a bit, hasn't he? But in a way I cannot describe, he also has changed. Sometimes, things are best left without words.

"I'm being serious though, Kaito. I know there's something going on inside that I don't know."  I examined him closely as if looking for signs of weakness or something I could get by and use as a scapegoat to this conversation.
I noticed something behind his back. He was holding something in his hands, keeping it away from my sight. That could just be the scapegoat I was looking for.

"Heyyy whatcha got there?" I asked, trying to point behind his back in order to get his attention to the correct thing.
He either didn't get the signal or is lying about it.
"Hm? What do you mean?" He asked with the most dumbfound face.

"Don't play dumb! Whatever you're holding in your hands! I can see it behind your back! Nishishi,"
I went to grab it but Kaito seemed keen on evading me and keeping whatever was there a secret.

"Whatever's there is for me! Obviously! Besides, you'd probably laugh at me for what it is!" Kaito complained, trying his best to keep whatever was there concealed from me.
There had to be someway to get it, right? Somehow I would be able to know what secrets he was hiding.

"Why would I laugh at you when I don't even know what it is? It could be something we need for all the hell I know! Though I doubt it since you're trying to keep it away from me." I sighed. This was just going to be a long argument.. I had to end it quickly. Bad thing is that he's taller, so he can keep it above my hand reach.

"It's nothing that'll help us get out. I wouldn't try to hide that from you!" Kaito reasoned, clenching that piece of paper he had with an even more tight grip than before. He was hard to convince, everybody in Danganronpa knew that. That was also one of the flaws he had; too determined in his beliefs. That's the one thing I think will never change about him actually. But, I've seen a different side of him inside that bunker. When he was helpless.. He still tried to make me believe that it would all be okay sometimes and give me one of his cheesy smiles and another casual thumbs up, even when he knew himself we would both die. It was nice to say the least, rather comforting in all honesty. Though, he was just trying to hide the pain like he usually did and even does now. The one time I have seen his weakness..
A whole new world opened up to me.
He is truly not boring.

"Please, I want to help you for once and you're rejecting it! I know you're "supposed" to be the hero in your mind but it needs to stop! I'm NOT allowing you to tear yourself apart to help me in any way, shape, or form. I was scared half to fucking death when you fainted saving us from being trapped in that rusted as hell room! So let me help you for once!” I took a few deep breaths. It's like I have to shatter this illusion he's having or else nothing will be accomplished.

I want him to see for the better, even if he doesn't see any good in what I have to say or what I'm doing. 
I just want to help him.
But, he's begun a war against himself he can't possibly win! What does he gain from arguing with me over some dumb shit? His pride?

Kaito just stared at me for a few moments, his face turning really blank.
Once the life was back in his eyes he cleared his throat, waiting for himself to even speak.
Air blew through the curtains to the outside world that seemed to cover for the silence right now.

“.. You? Help me? Heh.” He chuckled. “Ah, if only,” He stared, a small smile spreading across his face now. But it wasn't one of the usual ones he gave. It was rather a sad smile you'd see in those with more sympathetic looks than what he was doing. Though, he was laughing at the idea of me being able to help him.
Is it because he didn't believe he could be helped? Or what is cause he didn't think he was deserving of it?
This was.. His weakness. Self deprecating and self sacrificial.
I've hardly even known it because he never shows his own weak side.

I slowly walked over to him, he was my main focus so much that I had hardly noticed that the paper he was holding onto before had dropped to the ground, laying on the cold floor.
“Momota-Chan..” I looked up at him, hesitating before giving him a hug to hopefully cheer him up.
After all, it's what he would do, right? He'd give me a hug and tell me it's all going to be okay.

I felt his hand softly lay on top of my head, then shaking it around and messing around strands of black to purple ombre hair.

“Thank you, Kokichi. This was probably what I needed,” Kaito chuckled, that hopeful gleam in his eyes somewhat back to how it had originally been before, but not exactly quite there. “But, I feel better now! You can let go!” He reassured me with one of his usual smiles.
Though, I don't believe that. I can't believe he's already fine.
“Nope, not letting go!” I responded with a grin. “I'm not leaving your side until I'm fully sure you're better! As you would say, I'd like to see my own best friend at his very best!”
Shit that sounded so sappy. But for once, it's the truth.

Kaito wrapped his arms around me in return with a small nod. “Alright alright. I suppose it would be hard to convince you soo you can have it your way, haha. Sorry for lying to you,” He apologized, letting out a small sigh.
“I should be more truthful if I'm supposed to also trust you with my emotions, shouldn't I?” He asked shortly after, pausing to leave a minute for me to answer.

“Yeah, and I should as well to be honest. But you know how hard it is sometimes, especially when trusting people is hard enough already,” Why am I suddenly saying all of this?
It's like.. Being in his arms makes me feel safe enough to say anything. It's a weird thing for me to be experiencing.

Suddenly, I looked back up into his eyes again, but what I saw gave me a bit of a shock. Tears rolled down his face and he simply smiled while doing so.

What? Why was he crying? Am I not doing good enough to fully cheer him up?

A/N: sorry for not posting in a while! my mental health hasn't been the greatest i must admit but not going into details. this all just comes from improv and no script so i guess that adds to it. hopefully i won't take months to release another chapter! /lh