Hiding In Plain Sight

Mission Failed, We'll Get 'Em Next Time

Glancing around the barren office, Shuichi felt defeated, he'd failed the group, he'd failed the Ultimates. "I tried to warn you," Kokichi grinned, teasing the boy who he helped off the floor.

"I'm sorry, I should've listened to you. Sorry Kokichi," Shuichi mumbled, looking at his feet in guilt.

"You should be!" Kokichi's grin downgraded the attitude he released. "Let's get out of here before we're caught, Harukawa and Rantaro will be wondering where we are." Shuichi nodded, leaning out the windowsill and looking down at the alleyway underneath him. This reminds me of the day before Uncle died when he pulled me back. That's so far down though, if I fall then I'll die, no question about it. "I'll help you, just hurry up."

"Did I say that out loud?" Shuichi asked, slowly crawling through the window and clutching the wall for dear life, anything that would keep him from falling.

"No, I have telepathy, nishishi!~" Kokichi grinned, pretending to clutch the wall. After all, it'd be easier to see a floating boy rather than one scaling a wall in the shadows.

"Do you? I didn't know that," Shuichi frowned in shock, slipping down a drainpipe. 

"It's because I'm lying!~" Kokichi teased, helping Shuichi slowly slip to another windowsill. I should've known he'd be lying, but I wonder if it's possible to have multiple powers as an Ultimate. The two found it easier to descend the wall, jumping down and slipping down a drainpipe until Shuichi jumped to the broken concrete. 

Slipping out of the alleyway, Kokichi and Shuichi blended in with the crowd, making their way across the street. "There they are, how do we get their attention?" Shuichi mumbled, nodding towards Harukawa and Rantaro. The girl was teleporting everywhere, with Rantaro running around to avoid the civilians attempting to capture them.

"Over here, more Ultimates!" Someone shouted from nearby the two males, sending chills down their spines.

"That's how. Run!" Kokichi shouted, running towards the nearby construction site. Shuichi followed close behind, latching onto the mesh fence and launching himself into the danger zone. Glancing behind him, the Ultimate glimpsed Harukawa and Rantaro sprinting away from the construction zone, maneuvering another way home. Harukawa knows what she's doing, they'll be safe. Observing civilians begin climbing the fence into the construction zone, Shuichi sprinted as fast as he could into the nearby, almost-finished building. Vaulting over planks of wood and other supplies, Shuichi weaved in and out of buildings, unable to locate Kokichi anywhere.

Shuichi's body lurched to a stop, flying to the side as a hand clamped over his mouth. Looking at his captor, the male noticed Kokichi peeking around the corner, holding Shuichi close to the wall. "They can't have gone far! Look around."

"We need to get to the other side, it'll lead to our town," Kokichi whispered. Shuichi nodded, removing the hand from his mouth. Kokichi held up a hand, peeking around the corner again for a minute, the two in pure silence, hearts pumping adrenaline through their bodies. "Now," the other Ultimate whispered, launching himself forward and running away opposite of their hiding spot.

Shuichi rushed after him, his legs carrying him as fast as he could, still unable to keep up with the smaller boy. Lucky for him, the border of the construction site lay closer than he realised. Clambering over the fence, Shuichi continued to run through the street, following the flash of familiar grey and purple hair into the closest alleyway.

No longer being chased, the adrenaline started wearing off for the male. His vision blurred, turning upside down as he stumbled over his feet, unable to see where he was going. Shuichi's body felt like it was falling as he swayed in place, stumbling around as he stopped running. This is it, I'm going to die here. I don't know where I am, I can't see anyone coming after me. Feeling someone grab his arm, the boy allowed his attacker to pull him in any direction they desired. "Shuichi what's wrong? We need to go," Kokichi stated, sitting the male in a corner for support.

"I thought... You left..." Shuichi mumbled, unable to speak clearly.

"I'd never leave you behind, now tell me what's going on." Shuichi faintly noticed a figure crouch in front of him, his vision too blurred to distinguish any details.

"I'm just not built for this, I can't handle it," Shuichi stuttered. That's one of the stupidest lies I've ever told, but I can't tell him it's because I'm throwing up my food.

"We're out of the way here, let's just rest up for a bit until you can walk." Kokichi sat next to the boy, leaning against him as the two caught their breath.

<--o--🩸--o-->

"We've been here too long, do you think you can make it?" Kokichi asked the boy. They'd only been there for ten minutes, but Shuichi's vision hadn't fully restored. "You can rest properly at home."

"I can try. Help me up?" Shuichi mumbled, attempting to push his heavy body off the ground, fighting against gravity. Kokichi grabbed the male and wrapped Shuichi's arm around his shoulder, using his body as support. "Sorry if I'm too heavy."

"You aren't, you're pretty light. Let's stick to the shadows, that way we can take our time." Shuichi mumbled incoherently, an attempt to agree with the smaller boy as they took off, starting to travel through the shadows.

<--o--🩸--o-->

Kokichi and Shuichi reached the shopping centre, stumbling through the entrance to find the rest of the Ultimates. "What happened? Are you two okay?!" Akamatsu asked, frantically rushing to the boys' sides.

"Yeah," Shuichi sighed, stumbling to his makeshift bed and, with Kokichi and Akamatsu's help, sitting down against the wall.

"He's really tired, I'm sure Harukawa and Rantaro told you what happened." Kokichi looked at his fingernails, his other hand on his hip.

"What did you find at the office?" Shirogane questioned the two, getting straight to the point.

"There was nothing in there, at all. The place was cleared out," Kokichi explained, knowing Shuichi was in no state to talk about the failed mission.

"Yet you didn't tell us when you went up there to check? We could've saved a lot of time, and Amami and I wouldn't have had to risk our lives." Harukawa's face darkened with anger, glaring daggers into Kokichi's eyes. It's not his fault.

"Saihara wouldn't be in this situation if you'd told them Ouma," Kiibo added, even though he hadn't been present during the mission. It's not his fault.

"Please... Stop," Shuichi mumbled, closing his eyes. "He tried to tell us, but we didn't listen, it's not his fault. It's ours. Don't blame him." The feeling of speaking in his current state remained foreign to him, Shuichi wasn't aware of the remarks leaving his mouth but knew what he was saying. No one said another word, leaving the room mostly silent aside from the wind whistling through holes in the walls. They must be mad at me, that's why they're quiet. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude."

"No, it's warranted," Maki broke the silence. Thank God, I thought they'd hate me for what I said.

"Back on topic, you said the laptop had two possible locations, right Saihara?" Akamatsu asked, sitting next to the boy.

"Yeah, and this time it should be easy to get to."