The Loveliest of Lies (Oumota)

That cliché?

Someone knocked on his door.

Kokichi looked up from his papers and braced himself.

It was time.

He hurried out, slamming his door shut behind him.

Kaito gave him an inquisitive look.

"I changed my mind. Let's talk out here." He explained.

"Kokichi, this isn't really private." Kaito said.

"I don't trust you enough to let you in, Momota-chan." Kokichi muttered. "Let's go to your room."

"Okay. I don't mind. C'mon." Kaito beckoned him over.

"What do you want out of this meeting exactly?" Kokichi said, unable to move.

"I want to continue our alliance."

"And you want to force me to be your friend?"

"No, Kokichi. I understand your hesitation. If you really don't want to be my friend, then let's be just be allies of convenience and work together to end this killing game." Kaito said, sounding sad, but resolute.

Kokichi frowned.

"You can't beat Monokuma by yourself. Not after Shuichi's death...the trial showed me."

"..." Kokichi's jaw dropped for a moment. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Let's just go to my room." Kaito sighed and stepped away from him.

Kokichi hesitated.

He didn't want Kaito to leave-

"Stop!"

"What's wrong?"

"Momota-chan..."

"Kokichi, if you need a moment...it's okay. If you want to do this tomorrow.... that's also okay. Take all the time you need." Kaito smiled softly at him.

Kokichi stared at him, analysing his expression.

There was no malice in it.

Can I really trust him? Really accept his help? He thought, sick hope curling in his belly.

He hated being alone. Every second of it. Bottling up his emotions without anyone to confide in. Suffering and despairing as the bodies piled up and his paranoia increased.

He missed D.I.C.E desperately. His fake family.

In contrast, Kaito was real.

Kokichi could mock him, make him laugh, enjoy his company.

He'd never be able to do that with his clowns. Not that he'd ever done that with them in the first place.

His eyes fell to the floor.

He'd failed. Completely and utterly failed. To stay aloof from his classmates.

He should've never opened up to Kaito, not even a little bit.

He took a deep breath

You can't change the past. So why worry about it?

He grabbed Kaito and dragged him back to his room.

The astronaut didn't put up a fight. He just accepted it. Grinning his dumb grin.

"Momota-chan, I'm not showing you this because I trust you, but because I have no other choice." Kokichi babbled as they entered his room.

"Of course."

Kokichi rolled his eyes and released him.

Kaito's eyes went wide as he took in his surroundings; the board of suspects, the overflowing stacks of paper, the piles of boxes, the dartboard, and all the other assorted crap.