An Older Ouma (Saiouma)

Hospital Visit

It had been a few hours since Kokichi Ouma woke up in a hospital bed. After the doctor informed him of his condition, Kokichi watched as Shuichi Saihara walked into the room and sat down next to him. He took a look outside to see pitch darkness, interspersed with city lights. Shuichi shoved his phone into his pocket.

"Glad to see an old friend is doing well," Shuichi started, tilting his head. After a short while, Kokichi chuckled.

"Didn't know you were so willing to care for me like this, Shumai. If you loved me all this time, you could've just contacted me," he said slyly, giggling to himself.

"Good to see you haven't changed one bit," Shuichi rolled his eyes, humming softly. Whether that hum was a laugh or a scoff, Kokichi couldn't hear well enough to tell.

"You, however, have definitely changed," Kokichi squinted at Shuichi for a solid minute. "If your hair was any messier, you could pass as a J-pop idol. Plus, it seems you got over the whole eye contact thing. Good job!" He clapped his hands lightly, nodding slowly.

On cue, Shuichi glanced off to the side. "I'm just forcing myself to do it. Practice, you could say," he responded.

"So, what's new in your life? Still keep in touch with anyone?" Kokichi sat up and hugged his knees under the hospital blanket. Shuichi looked away for a moment to think.

"Err... only Rantaro and Kaede, but not much else. I don't know what's going on in other's lives..." Shuichi trailed off, waiting for a response from Kokichi.

"...Really?" Kokichi picked up on what Shuichi was doing. He tilted his head curiously. "Some of them became famous y'know. Kaito Momota - remember him? - he ditched being an astronaut to work as a scientist in astronomy," he leaned towards Shuichi.

"I see, I see, I did hear about that," Shuichi nodded, fist on his chin in thought. "About my life... well, not much other than me getting a job as a detective nearby. I recently managed to solve a big case after a few months. We partied hard a few hours ago."

"Wooow, my Shuichi partying? You really have changed," Kokichi hugged his knees tighter.

"Uh huh. 'your' Shuichi?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow. Kokichi shrugged in response. "...Ahem, anyway. How about you? How's your life?"

"Well... it's not much, really. Just more and more petty crimes and whatnot. My D.I.C.E. group disbanded, because of..." Kokichi's smile faltered, and he looked away. He revealed too much! He was smarter than this, come on. He decided not to carry on with that topic.
"I was out on a joyride in a stolen Civic, and then all of a sudden, I took a jump, lost control, and now... well, at least my long lost knight had saved me," Kokichi monologued, giggling cheekily at the end.

Shuichi squinted his eyes. "Stolen?" he clarified.
"No, I'm just lying to you," Kokichi responded, waving a hand dismissively. "It's more of a rental car. I have to pay for damages later."

Truth be told, Kokichi had been crushing on Shuichi since they were in Hope's Peak. He thought he lost interest when he stopped seeing Shuichi for five entire years, but seeing him again in the hospital, with his dyed blue hair, his jawline, his calm smile, his pale green eyes...

...Yup, definitely still in love. Great.

"How's your concussion, by the way?" Shuichi asked, looking at Kokichi more intently. Well, he was looking at his chin instead of his eyes, but...

"Oh, I feel pretty great!" Kokichi answered with a wide grin on his face. "Doctor told me I could be out by this morning, around 9 am. Can't wait to shoplift later!"

"And why would you tell me that?" Shuichi questioned, crossing one leg over the other.

"Because you would think I'm still lying," Kokichi had a flat expression and was staring right into Shuichi's eyes. Shuichi chuckled, not maintaining eye contact anymore.
"...Oh, by the way, do you mind me living in your house for the next few... months-ish?" Kokichi requested suddenly, taking Shuichi off guard. "I can't handle being homeless anymore, it kinda sucks. Especially since I can't sleep in my... headquarters. I was sleeping in that rental Civic before I crashed it. I promise I'll try to find my footing for the time being."

Shuichi thought for a moment. 'Right, he and D.I.C.E. had disbanded.'
"...Fine then, you can stay over. It would be nice catching up with you more anyway," Shuichi accepted, and Kokichi brightened up. He desperately tried to hide his faint blush by looking away, feeling his heart beating faster.

"I appreciate it, chief," Kokichi thanked Shuichi after composing himself, looking back at him. "Are you gonna stay here the whole night or are you gonna head out? I do need my beauty sleep."

Shuichi nodded and stood up, wishing him farewell with a goodbye wave before leaving.
"9 am, don't forget!" He called out to Shuichi, who gave a thumbs up in response. When he left, Kokichi sighed, both dreamily and tiredly. His mind kept thinking of Shuichi, even when he tried to think of anything else. Kokichi felt a mix of eagerness, apprehension, and love as he went to sleep that night.