What if it Repeated? (Oumasai/Saiouma)

Chapter 26- Kokichi

"We could try going further this time, maybe a couple of spins." Shuuichi suggested shortly. He had been edging to do this since the moment he had found out that the invention worked, but Miu had been reluctant to continue since the first time. He had managed to convince her only this morning to give the invention another try.
"Do what you want." She groaned.

He had no idea what was up with her. Ever since that encounter the afternoon of getting their tasks, her personality seemed more off than usual. Something didn't feel right. She had been avoiding him until he had cornered her the day prior to confront her about using the invention again. Even then she had been reluctant to help him. He threw a glare at her when she turned away to fix something on the control panel.

It was only him and Miu as none of them had seen Kokichi all morning and it made the whole lab feel all the more unwelcoming. He took a step up onto the machine landing for the second time,nerves creeping up on him once again. He should just push all that business to the back of his mind for now. He was going to have to trust Miu.
"Ready?" He asked as her eyes flickered up to meet his,
"Just about." she answered shortly, breaking eye contact as soon as she saw Shuuichi was looking back at her.

He sighed and waited patiently. He didn't want to push her to be any faster, especially when she seemed to be in some kind of mood. It wasn't like he could blame her. She was probably stressing about the task she had been given.
"Right it's ready, just don't be long." Shuuichi nodded and turned the dial. This time he would go a lot farther. He needed to explore how different the realities played out if he was going to find a perfect one. 10 spins should do it.
"I'll see you soon," with a small wave, he let the dial go and let it spin. The last image he saw before he was engulfed in light was Miu's gaunt expression staring back at him. It seemed to be imprinted in his mind as he soared through the light. Blacked eyes and tight expression.

He had been ready this time. As soon as he felt his feet hit solid ground he was up and out the door. He could hardly hear the voice calling after him as he ducked around the side of the building. That time he had only heard 1 voice, female sounding, meaning it was most likely Miu. If he was right about her being alone in there, that meant he was going to need to be careful of his other self walking around.

When he was sure the person inside wasn't coming out to follow him he snuck back around the lab and made his way up the path.
"Shuuichi?" Shuuichi jumped and span around to face where he had heard the voice come from, "no..." There was a boy standing a little off the path, his eyes making rounds over Shuuichi's entire appearance. "How are you...?"
"Kokichi...?" He made to step forward and the boy's eyes only grew wider.
"I thought... there was a malfunction, but I guess not."
"A malfunction? What are you talking about?"

Kokichi laughed and closed the distance between them, grabbing his hand in his and dragging him along with him.
"Cos you're dead stupid head." Shuuichi stopped in his tracks to Kokichi's displeasure.
"Keep moving, you can't be out in the open."
"You can't just spring that on me and don't expect me to react!" He was dead? In this reality? How closely related was this to his? When had he died? He felt Kokichi pull him extra hard and he stumbled forward into a steady pace again. Kokichi stopped and opened the door in front of them, not breaking eye contact with him,

"Get in." He was about to obey when he realised where they were,
"Wait what if Tenko is in there?"
"She's not now get in." Not knowing whether he should believe Kokichi, he stepped in and scanned the dojo. As Kokichi had said, there was no Tenko, or anyone else for that matter. The door snapped shut behind them.
"So you're alive, that's pretty wacky." The last word was harsher than the rest. Shuuichi gulped. "How exactly have you managed this feat."

"Is there an... you know... invention I had Miu work on you know of?" If Kokichi said no, he could easily backtrack the whole sentence and if he said yes, he would be able to share some information, maybe get some in return.
"Yes, I know what you're talking about." So it still existed in this reality too. That made explaining a whole lot easier.
"Well I'm not the Shuuichi Saihara you know to be..." he hesitated for a moment, "dead. I used that machine to come here."