The New Motive

The Library

"The truth is," the smaller whispered softly, glancing around to make sure no one else would hear him before continuing, "you're actually my favorite person here. I'm glad I got paired with you."

"Wait, really?" He was shocked that Kokichi actually cared about anyone there, especially him.

"Well, that might've been a lie, but I'll leave that for you to find out Mr. Detective the violet haired boy teased, getting close to Shuichi's face and sticking out his tongue before standing up and heading for the door, hands clasped behind his head again.

"Wh- where are you going?" Shuichi stuttered.

"Hmm? Oh, I was just gonna go walk around for a bit. Why, does Saihara-chan want me to stay?"

"O- oh, well, uh, it's not like that- I was just- you can go if you want. Sorry. It's none of my business."

"Well, I wouldn't mind having you along, if that's what you want." He suggested genuinely.

"Really?"

"Yeah, come on," he motioned towards the exit, "Let's go."

. . .

"Really?" This time, however, it was Kokichi's turn to ask, "three days of nothing to do and you wait 'till now, when I'm here, to find it."

"Come on, Ouma. I took you to the kitchen and waited while you drank probably six Panta's, this is the least you could do. Plus, it wasn't intentional. I didn't even know this place had a library and I thought this area was closed off."

"I guess it's not that bad. But still. And it was six and a half, alright?"

"You know doing that can kill you, right?"

He just shrugged in response, "Well, we're trapped in a killing game ran by a build-a-bear wannabe and we're being told that becoming roommates will make us want to kill each other more than we already do. First off, the second part's BS, and secondly, if I'm gonna die anyways, might as well be doing something that makes me happy."

"I suppose," the room was average sized, but it's walls were covered entirely by books. From the floor to the ceiling. Those plus the shelves all around the room that stood taller than either of the two males  could reach without a ladder of some sort. "It seems like years since I've been in one of these."

"That long?" Kokichi questioned curiously.

"Feels like it."

"So, . . . did you have any favorites?"

"Of course! Where do I even start. There's-" He stopped himself abruptly and stood still, his stance showed that he'd prepared to list them all off on his fingers, but he was looking away, up at the seamingly endless shelves so Kokichi couldn't tell.

"What's wrong?" Kokichi questioned.

"I . . . I can't remember," the taller's golden eyes glossed over and his nose began to sting suddenly, "I . . . can't . . . remember." He repeated more slowly, letting the realization sink in.

"Are you alright?" The smaller grabbed Shuichi's arm carefully and shifted him towards him. "Saihara?"

"Ouma, I can't remember," his eyes widened as tears began to escape them, racing down his cheeks, "Oh, God. How long've we all been in here? How long's it really been?"

The truth was, no one had any idea how long they'd been there or how long they'd be there. Only that they had to escape.

Then Shuichi hugged the shorter tightly and started crying softly into his neck, grasping onto his shirt, "I'm sorry, Ouma."

"No, it's alright. It's all going to be alright," he said softly petting Shuichi's hair, "That's not really a bad thing, though."

Shuichi looked down to meet Kokichi's eyes as he stood back up and the smaller responded in a chipper and uplifting voice, "That just means we can start over and read them all. Then they can be relived again and it'll be like the memories were never missing."

"We?"

"Well, you would be more accurate. I don't do books, but I'll be in the same room for the rest of the week so it kinda works, right?"

"Suppose so."

A short silence was broken by Kokichi's voice, "So, any movies you know are books? We could start there."

"Uh, there's this one called, um, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I can't remember the author, though."

"That's fine. How 'bout we just start with the A's and go from there."

He nodded quietly in agreement. "Thank you, Ouma."

"No, problem." He smiled brightly.