The Cherubic of Kokichi Ouma // Pregame Saiouma Halloween Special 2022

12 - Epilogue

"Baby, I wanted to ask you something..."

"What is it, hun? I'm about to head out."

"What is it that you don't like about Kokichi? You said you'd tell me one day."

"I've said this a million times, Maki. He's weak. Pathetic. He doesn't deserve to be on this planet. He would never be able to fight for his spot."

Maki rolled her eyes. This wasn't the first time she had heard that line. "Yes, yes, I know. But you didn't always feel that way, right?"

"..."

"Tell me the real reason. I'm just curious," the brunette continued. "I don't want anything to do with him. I'm with you no matter what, okay?"

"..."

"Kaito?"

"I never had a good feeling about him." the purple-haired finally responded. "I was..."

"You were what?" Maki asked him impatiently.

"I was... jealous."

Silence filled the room. The thought that Kaito could experience jealousy had never even crossed Maki's mind. He was always so confident in both her and himself. If he had been jealous, he sure was a professional at hiding it.

"Kaito-"

"Oh, sorry. I have to go now." Kaito said, rushing to end the conversation. He pressed a speedy kiss to Maki's lips and headed for the door. "Shuichi invited me out to some place. He said he wanted to show me something."

"...Okay, you can go. I love you."

"I love you more! I'll be back before you know it~!"

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Open your eyes, Ouma. What do you see?

"..."

"Nothing. There's nothing here."

And what do you feel? Where do you feel it?

"I'm in pain, I think. It hurts..." I reach up to where my neck should be. "Right here. It's... wet?"

Don't worry. It'll go away soon. You're healing.

"Healing?! From what?"

Do you really want to know?

"Yes! I need to know if I need help!"

You don't, but alright. Open your eyes.

This time, I can feel my eyes open. A bright light temporarily blinds me, but once my eyes adjust, I can focus on the scene around me. I'm back in the secluded hills. Nobody's here. Nobody alive, anyway.

Kaito lies still on the ground, just as horrifically disfigured as I last remembered. But there's something different... something new. Beside him is another body, which is shredded far beyond recognition. I can only make out bloodstains and scattered body parts as I investigate the situation. Rotting organs, burnt skin, cuts and bruises, dislocated joints, fingernails ripped right off the hand and stabbed into the eyes.

The small, chipped fingernails with the checkerboard paint pattern. Ripped right off the scarred hand and stabbed into the wide, purple eyes.

This is my body. My corpse. But surprisingly, I'm unfazed. That isn't the real me, is it?

You're quick to catch on. You don't need that shell anymore. You're healing! Healing from this cruel, unfair world.

...I can feel a hand in mine. My real hand. The one with the fingernails still perfectly intact. Beside me is Shuichi, who looks just as beautiful as I last remembered.

But there's something different... something new.

His halo and wings... his brilliant, sparkling eyes... they aren't enough to take my attention away from the stunning rings on his fingers. I never asked about them as a human, did I?

"You gave these to me," he says suddenly, smiling to me. "One for friendship, another for promise, and my favorite: commitment. There's one for engagement... and one for marriage." He points to each as he lists their meanings, which leads me to notice something strange.

"Commitment..." I say. "It's a claw ring."

The sharp golden ring fit Shuichi's pointer finger snugly, leaving the feeling of cold metal fresh against my hand. "Of course it is. It's meant to bind our souls together and protect us from those who try to separate us. It ensures that we'll stay together no matter what. You suggested it, remember?"

"...I did." I whisper. I raise my free hand up towards the sun, where I admire my set of rings that match his perfectly. "I remember everything."

Fin.