Dare to Dream

Chapter Five: The Absence

The next day arrived, and Kokichi had to work all day if he wanted to pay his rent for his apartment.  Meanwhile, Shuichi was waiting for Kokichi to make his big entrance, but it was never made. Maybe Kokichi was just running late? Or perhaps he's sick? Still, Shuichi waited for the small boy to run into the classroom. Hours passed by. "Earth to Shuichi!" Kaito kept waving his hand in front of Shuichi's face, he zoned out without realizing it. "Hey, sidekick, it's lunchtime!" "Oh! Sorry!" Shuichi got up and looked at Kaito. "So, me and Maki were gonna head to the cafeteria now, and you should sit with us! Ever since you met that.. New Student, we haven't seen you much!" "Alright then," and just like that, Maki, Kaito and Shuichi were eating lunch together. Shuichi's mind was somewhere else during this time, he really wanted to know where Kokichi was. He was worried something had happened. Meanwhile, Kokichi was dealing with a Karen at Starfucks. "Your French fries were cold when I received them!" "Ma'am, this is Starfucks, we don't serve French fries you dumb bitch!" The Karen threatened to call the manager, but eventually left to complain about this to the local Burger King. "What a dumbass," Kokichi thought to himself, he really didn't get paid enough to care. If it were up to him, he would've quit a long time ago, but the rent wouldn't just pay itself. Many exhausting hours passed for Kokichi, working at Starfucks sucked ass. Shuichi knew Kokichi wouldn't show up at any point of the day, but he kept waiting. When the school bell rang, signifying it was time to go home, the tall male decided to go to a café. He never really went to cafés, but he thought it'd be fun to try one out, and he knew Kokichi would encourage him to. It just so happened that Shuichi selected the very café a certain liar was working at... "Ah- Kokichi?" Shuichi walked in and saw Kokichi at the cash register. A few awkward moments passed before the question was finally asked. "What are you doing here?" "Working, isn't it obvious?" Was this the reason Kokichi wasn't at school? He was at work? "You had to work all day?" Shuichi questioned. "Welllllll, rent doesn't pay itself and I don't think slipping Monopoly money as rent works on landlords anymore!" Shuichi just stared at Kokichi. "You've...You've used Monopoly money to pay rent before?" "Of course not, it was mostly a joke. Lighten up!" The purple haired male teased. Shuichi eventually made his order because some angry customers were getting inpatient in the line. Shuichi got something called the "Emo Blueberry Shake". Not by choice, but because Kokichi just gave it to him. It was in a benti sized cup... Starfucks really was just a shittier version of Starbucks. "So... when's your break?" Shuichi wanted to go to the spot with Kokichi, and Kokichi knew that. "Unfortunately, Shumai has terrible timing and I just got off break! My next one isn't for another two hours!" Wait, did Kokichi just call Shuichi Shumai? The tall boy couldn't  help but go pink from the nickname. "Sh-Shumai?" Kokichi laughed at how flustered Shuichi was. "So, in two hours, we meet?" Kokichi held his hand out as if waiting to shake on it. "Deal," Shuichi shook his hand. The tall boy decided to just wait at the café for the shorter boy to go on break. Time seemed to pass slowly. But eventually, two hours passed and both boys headed to the park. "How long is your break?" "Hm, it'll be over in 8 minutes!" Kokichi was disappointed by that. He wanted to spend more time with Shuichi, but he couldn't afford to get kicked out of his apartment. They arrived at the spot, lied down and looked at the clouds. Then, Shuichi's curiosity took over and asked Kokichi something... Something personal to the short male... "Hey Kokichi, what's a dream you have?" "A dream I have? Why so personal all of a sudden?" Kokichi chuckled. "Come on, you know my dream, it's only fair that you tell me yours!" Shuichi insisted. But could Kokichi really trust someone with something so personal? Could he really risk letting someone get a glimpse into who he really is?