Desperate times call for desperate measures

•Chapter 5•

They got a table outside, under an umbrella, and ordered drinks already. The sunset hit Kokichi just right, so it blended with his shirt well enough.
"Here's to Shumai!" He grinned and raised a glass. Luckily, he wasn't loud enough to attract the attention of other couples and families.
"What? What did I do?"
"For taking up this case!"
"Oh..." He hoped he wouldn't be reminded of the case. Kokichi noticed this and quickly changed the subject.
"And for being such a loveable guy! To Shumai!"
This made Shuichi laugh, and they clinked their glasses.
"So, what's your real job, Kokichi?"
"I work in a bakery. I smell like bread most of the time! It's awesome!"
"I'm sure it is. The office smells of dust and coffee, so not much of a pleasant scent there."
"I digress! I love the smell of dust!"
"Whatever you say, Kokichi."
They sat in silence for a few minutes. The tension was extremely high, but they couldn't think of anything to say, even though they wanted to say everything in their mind. Shuichi decided to break their silence.
"What made you want to call me?"
"Oh, we just called loads of people in Tokyo. Each of us called someone different."
"What was the point of that?"
"To be annoying! That's our whole thing!"
Shuichi sighed, but with a smile this time.
Kokichi grabbed his hand and looked at him with a smile that was too big for words.
He didn't want to bring it up, but his smile said something along the lines of: "Stop being anxious, idiot! Just enjoy the here and now and let's eat!"
This made Shuichi ease up.

"I love food!" Kokichi exclaimed.
"I think most people do. It keeps them alive."
"Don't get sassy with me, Shumai! I could always retaliate with my witty sarcasm!"
"I thought sarcasm was the lowest form of-"
"YADADADA I KNOW THAT."
"Alright, Kokichi." This silly banter went on throughout their entire meal. They would talk about this, that and the other and Shuichi would focus on the here and now. He focused on the little details. Like how his drink bubbled, how the umbrella provided the perfect amount of shadow to keep them cool in this warm evening - unusual for winter, and how the light hit Kokichi's face perfectly. He'd noticed it before, but it stood out to him. Colours of scarlett, gold and apricot flooded his face, and made his smile stand out even more than it did before. Their sudden chemistry had definitely surprised Shuichi, but he didn't hate it. He was actually kind of comforted by it. He hadn't had this good of a connection to someone since Kaede. He recalled what he was thinking earlier, about getting out more, and making the effort to talk to people a lot more. He wouldn't let Kokichi fade away like Kaede, Kaito and Maki did. He wouldn't let Kirumi fade either. And he would make more friends. But maybe - just maybe - he wouldn't meet someone as close to him as Kokichi.
Kokichi always lived in the here and now. He wasn't focused on the possibility of death, or what he ate for lunch yesterday. He just focused on Shuichi and his food. He noticed that Shuichi was like a snail - for the lack of a better analogy. Slow, and unwilling to come out of his shell. Kokichi was more than determined to make him open up to him. Then, maybe he could open up to Shuichi too, about everything that's ever happened to him. When he feels scared or when he feels sad or when he feels angry. When he wants to express his feelings but can't. Shuichi is the only one he can see himself doing that with. He didn't trust anyone nearly enough as he did with this random stranger he met during a prank call. He had been with D.I.C.E for years, and yet THIS is the man he feels he can open up to, a man he met this morning, but he had spoken to for days. THIS is the man he trusted with his emotions. I guess Shuichi just has that trustworthy face, the face of someone who looks like their smile could be full of empathy. A smile that isn't them finding your pain amusing, but a smile that is used as a comfort. He wanted to spill all of his emotions there and then, but Kokichi was living in the here and now, and here and now, he felt at peace.
Dinner was a huge success. They laughed and joked all the way home, enjoying each other's company immensely. Kokichi made a really bad impression and Shuichi laughed way harder than he should've. All that pressure from earlier had seemingly been lifted and wasn't coming back. At least until tomorrow. Kokichi made Shuichi carry him for a little while because he found it very amusing. Shuichi did and didn't; it hurt on one hand, but on the other, it was really funny. At least in that moment. They did this same back-and-forth joke thing until they reached the hotel room. They got changed and even as they were getting into their respective beds, they were laughing like crazy. This is the happiest both of them have been in ages. They weren't even aware about how much they were probably disturbing the people in the other rooms. Kokichi fell asleep almost instantly after he closed his eyes, so there was just a faint giggle leftover from Shuichi as he tried to calm himself down.

It was 3am and Shuichi could still not sleep. He was tired, but he couldn't sleep. He decided to check his phone in case he missed anything while he was out. One message caught his eye and allowed all that pressure he'd just released to come rushing back onto his shoulders.

Oh dear god, Shuichi! You don't know if he can be trusted, and most of all, he could be killed! You've involved a random person in a case that he had no prior involvement in! I won't tell anyone, but if this gets out to the firm, your job will be taken from
you.
Don't let him get hurt.

It was from Kirumi. And she was absolutely correct.