What if it Repeated? (Oumasai/Saiouma)

Chapter 11- Allegations

"So let's start at the beginning, shall we? How much do you know about this game? What secrets are you hiding Shuuichi~?" Kokichi wore a long smirk that reached the corners of his face. He would have compared it to a clown, but he hadn't seen any clown look that sinister, even in horror movies.
"I only know what everyone else does, before I was just stating what we already know." He was not going through this again. If Kokichi knew everything he would be targeted like last time. He was not ever going to let Kokichi go through that again. Not if he had anything to do with it.

"Alright fine, new question since you won't answer truthfully." He pouted, stressing out the last word, earning himself 'points for being a pain'. Putting a finger to his chin he continued, "how do you know so much about me, being some ultimate detective can only take you so far." He was about to respond when Kokichi put up a hand, "I'll rephrase that so you don't make up some bullshit about how it's actually just your 'ultimate detective skills'." Shuuichi watched him sheepishly. That had indeed been his planned answer, "We've obviously known each other before and I don't remember. That Piano girl also said something about us knowing each other so why does she remember and I don't..." Kokichi exclaimed angrily, "did the bears do something to me?" He knocked his head lightly with his fist as if this would knock some form of lost memory into place.

He felt guilt spill through the gaps in his innocent mask he was wearing. He didn't want Kokichi to feel like this. Like he was the only one left out on this predicament. He couldn't allow Kokichi to feel like this is his better judgement.

Shuuichi sighed heavily. Why did Kaede have to bring that up. If only she knew the damage she had caused with those words she had said absentmindedly.
"It's not like that, you haven't forgotten anything." Technically this wasn't a lie, Kokichi just hadn't experienced those memories so there was nothing to forget. Kokichi looked at him quizzically, obviously trying to determine whether what he had said was a lie. "Everyone here is the same we don't know anything or anyone."

"Except you." Kokichi finished. He could tell neither here nor there from Kokichi's expression, it was as though the boy had not learnt what emotions were and had grown up to become this empty shell of a person. "You're different than everyone else, for multiple reasons..." he trailed off, his eyes deviating away from Shuuichi. "Anywho! You don't need to tell me I'll definitely figure it out, although you've already basically given it away Shuuichi~" he chimed, rising from his seat and grinning widely,

"I, myself, being the supreme leader of evil, am pretty good at deducing as well, so your attempt to hide the truth from me was pretty pointless. All of your cues, your behaviour and everything you say simply brings that truth you are hiding further into light." Kokichi moved around his chair smoothly and lent over Shuuichi's shoulder, brushing him gently on the shoulder as he moved, "The only question left is 'what were we'?" He felt Kokichi's hot breath on the back of his neck, causing a shiver to run down his spine, rendering his incapable of movement for a full second.

He whipped around and stared into his deep purple eyes as steadily as he could with his heart rate accelerating at an abnormal pace. Kokichi wore an expression of someone who was rather bemused by an irregularly energetic puppy that had somehow done a somersault.
"I guess I have my answer~" Kokichi simpered, retreating backwards so he could see Shuuichi fully. Shuuichi didn't say anything, was he seriously that easy to read that Kokichi had figured out the general idea of his secret in a single day?! He opened his mouth to retort, to deny Kokichi's allegation, but... was there really a point. There was no way Kokichi would believe him and it would just raise more questions as to why he was being so secretive.

He opened his mouth hesitantly. eyes fixed on a spot just to the right of Kokichi's face,
"So what if you're right... what if I did know you, that's it, isn't it? Case closed." He retorted, finally looking up at Kokichi to find him grinning smugly back,
"No no no Shuuichi dearest~ case not closed!" Shuuichi reddened, 'dearest'?! Kokichi sniggered, waggling a finger nonsensically in front of him, "this simply makes you all the more interesting! I know you're hiding much more from me, and I want specifics!" Stars shone in his eyes, dancing whimsically in the light.

Shuuichi felt his stomach lurch uncomfortably. Why Kokichi of all people. Why had he began to like Kokichi in first place, if he had liked someone like... Gonta for the sake of the comparison, he wouldn't have been found out. Kokichi was far too smart and perceptive for his own good.
"There's nothing to be specific about, I just remember talking to you a few times, but everything else is blank. That's why I came up to you in the first place, I thought you might remember as well." He almost surprised himself. It might not have been the perfect coverup, but he was quite proud nonetheless. Kokichi would be proud.

Kokichi clicked his tongue in disappointment and turned away towards the door,
"Right. Whelp! turns out it was boring in the end, I'm gonna head out. See you later Shuuichi~" he waved his hand and slipped out of sight. He felt drained. Mentally and physically. Did Kokichi believe his lie? Probably not, but there wasn't anything he could really do about that now. If Kokichi chose to believe there was more to Shuuichi's story than that, all he could do was deny it over and over.

When he moved his hands up to move a piece of hair that was obscuring his vision he became consciously aware that he was still holding onto the half full Panta bottle Kokichi had given him to try. He stared at it blankly and then at the spot he had last seen the boy leave. Kokichi hadn't taken it back. Why had he left it with so much drink left? He was now holding the winnings of the life and death game in his hand. This was his victory now. Deciding that Kokichi wasn't going to be wanting the drink back now that he had already left, he took a swig. He could tell why Kokichi loved it so much. The gentle fizz and pop of the bubbles on his tongue, the wonderfully sweet grape taste on his taste buds. He couldn't deny that Kokichi had good taste. Before he knew it the rest of the contents was gone.

He put the bottle down on the wooden table and stood up groggily. He knew what he had to do and it he wasn't looking forward to it. If he was ever going to successfully kill Tsumugi he couldn't have another factor making it harder. He had to keep Kokichi out of this. He couldn't tell Kokichi about the killing game. He was about to leave when something about the bottle caught his eye.

"Huh." He stared into the bottom of the empty bottle and did a double take. Instead of seeing the blank underside of the label he saw reflected words written in small disjointed writing. "How the..." turning the bottle over, he carefully peeled the label off and a thin strip of paper fell from under it. The constriction from the label had been used to keep this in place?
'Good try, but you can't hide the truth!' a frown formed on his face the longer he looked at these words. He couldn't tell the tone of the phrase, but to him it felt extremely mocking and knowing Kokichi, that was most likely meant to be the case. That was at least how it sounded in his head. The only time Kokichi could have written this was before he had given him the bottle. Did this still reflect what Kokichi thought?

"I guess they don't call you the ultimate supreme leader for nothing..." he mumbled under his breath. There was no doubt about it. No matter if the note still reflected Kokichi's assurance that he was lying, he had to be extra wary about what he said in Kokichi's presence. It was either that or avoiding him. If he couldn't keep his mouth shut it would have to come to that.