different | pregame saiouma

2

that night

i heard my phone buzz. i paused the episode of danganronpa i was watching and got off my bed to pick it up.

kaede: shuichi
kaede: shuichi
kaede: SHUICHI!!
shuichi: sorry. what's up?
kaede: where were you today? keebo and i were waiting for you at the canteen but you never arrived

i questioned whether i should lie or not. i was kinda tired of doing that today, so i decided to tell her the truth.

shuichi: i went to introduce myself to kokichi
kaede: 🤦‍♀️
kaede: keebo and i already warned you to not be friends with him, ok? so just be careful
shuichi: i will, don't worry. he seems nice so far and i could help with his depression
kaede: hmm, maybe. just BE CAREFUL
shuichi: I WILL.

it was getting a little annoying how much they both cared, but they were just being good friends. i wondered how they even found out ouma was depressed...

i'd think about that later. for now, i needed to go to bed. i turned off my phone and got under the covers, falling asleep a few minutes later.

that morning

i woke up and did my daily routine. this time, my mother was home. 'how was your day yesterday?' she asked, putting dough in the waffle maker.

'it was good.' i said, actually meaning it. usually, my first days were just "fine", nothing good nor bad happened, but since i had talked to someone i liked it was great.

'oh, you never say that. that's amazing.' she smiled, putting a waffle on a plate and handing it to me. i drizzled syrup on the top and ate it.

'well, i've gotta go to work now.' she got her keys and left. i threw the few remains of my food away and washed a few dishes before heading to school.

keebo and kaede were in the same spot as yesterday. they both said hello to me. i realised i had never gotten the chance to ask about keebo's day-

'how was yesterday for you?' i asked, turning to him. 'well... it was fine. maybe you were right about the robophobia.' he crossed his arms, upset that i was correct.

i chuckled. 'well at least you aren't being bullied.' kaede nodded. the bell rang and it was time for class again.

class pretty much breezed by, but i could feel kokichi's eyes on me every once in a while. every time i looked over at him, though, he'd look away.

must be playing hard to get.

near the end of class, though, i felt something thin brush up against my arm as i looked out the classroom window.

it was a paper, and ouma was holding it. i grabbed it and it said, 'classroom today? :)' with a tiny "yes" and "no" on opposite sides. i smiled looking back at the smiley face. cute.

i took a pen, circled the "yes" option, and gave it back. i watched him smile and look away. soon enough, class was over.

i went to the canteen to quickly get a meal. today they had yakitori; perfect. i then headed to the classroom i had entered yesterday and the boy was in the same spot as before.

i sat next to him and he only had the drink with him again. maybe next time i'll get him food from the canteen? 'hey kokichi..' he turned towards me.

'what's your favourite food?' maybe if, one day, they had a food he really liked, i could get it for kokichi. 'don't have one.' nevermind.

'are you sure?' i pried. 'yes.' ouma made the statement official. 'what's this drink of yours that you love so much?' i asked, pointing to it with my chopsticks.

'it's panta... i like it a lot.' i could tell. i could get a lot of that for him one day; i'm sure he'd want that. 'can you.. uh-...' the purple-haired boy trailed off.

i tilted my head. 'can you come over today?' i was taken aback by the request. this relationship- or friendship- was moving quickly.

'if you want, that is.' i quickly nodded, excited already. 'alright. 5 pm, today after school?' that sounded great. 'yeah, of course!'

it was official. we were gonna be on a date- or a hangout- and it was perfect. he gave me his phone number and texted me his address.

i left a few minutes later, after telling kokichi that i'd see him tonight, to which he replied with a nod.