Partners In Crime ~ Oumasai smut --DISCONTINUED--

Rehabilitation

(Hey, you! This chapter doesn't condone smoking! Don't do it, you lil' idiot! Those who take the puff, die in the rough. You should get the gist by now. bruhmoment's words of wisdom!)

I spent a few months visiting weekly therapy sessions. I would have been isolated in a mental hospital for my offences, but due to the circumstances of the killing game I was let off of the hook... kind of.

I stayed away from the others for a few days - once I had gotten back from my time at a hotel near the hospital - and they accepted my decision. At first, I blamed myself for everything. The regret of murdering someone made me feel genuinely sick for the first day. But every few hours or so, Kaede would talk to me through the door - and grab me snacks and water to keep myself alive, of course.

She was a great person to talk to since she was nearly in the same situation as me. She tried to reassure me that I wasn't a bad person. It didn't work very well, but the mere fact that someone was there for me made everything much easier to deal with.

"Shuichi, I know just how you feel."
"Your detective work saved us all!"
"I wish I could play you some piano right now, if only I could drag my grand piano here, ahaha..."
"I've been planning ways for us to end Danganronpa for good! Maybe if we show the world the pain we went through while trapped in that cruel show, we can change everyone's opinions on it! I know we can do it, together."
"I believe in you, Shuichi."
"It's all gonna be okay."

All in one ear and out the other. But, nonetheless, it was nice to hear someone's calming voice and reassurance.

One night I came out of my room to get some fresh air.

Ryoma Hoshi, the Ultimate Tennis Pro, noticed me as he puffed on a cigarette under the glimmering night sky.


"Whatever are you out here for?" The shorter raised an eyebrow at my disheveled appearance.

"I just wanted some fresh air. It's been about 2 days..." I collapsed on the grass beside him, which just made him more curious about my mental state. "I... killed someone..." I continued to dwell on my actions, shaking my head mindlessly as I did so.

"I already know that much... I have, too."

My dry, tired eyes immediately met his.

"How did you cope with it?"

I needed to know. I couldn't go on like I was. I felt like I was going to kill myself at any given point.

"I didn't..." He fixed his hat as he gazed up at the stars. "I don't think I ever will. Taking someone's - many people's - lives is something the human mind can't erase from memory, let alone forgive."

"Ah, I see..."

How stupid of me to think it was ever possible to feel better for what I've done. I don't even deserve to. Even if Tsumugi was a bad person... I bludgeoned her to death with a shot put ball. I don't deserve forgiveness for something like that at all. I'm nothing but a lowly criminal.

"You can go, Ryoma..." I curled up into a ball on the cold grass, feeling the urge to cry myself to sleep, like I had been for the past few days.

"Was just about to. Here, take this."

He handed me a cigarette with a blank expression. "It might take the edge off."


I felt nervous at even the thought of smoking, but the emotion quickly melted away. With a sigh, I thanked him and signaled him for the lighter.

Upon igniting it, I watched as the flame burned a bright orange. I sucked in the smoke without a single ounce of hesitation and inhaled. I coughed a bunch and thought I was gonna suffocate, but I warmed up to the feeling of uncertain death.


Ryoma left wordlessly.


"Hey, bro! Nice to see you out of your shell! I hope you're doin' okay."
 

Kaito.

Shit - I couldn't let him see... uhhh, think, think -

"The hell... are you smokin'?! That's totally uncool, dude!!" Kaito snatched it from me, pegged it on the ground and stomped on it angrily. "You don't know how bad those are for you!!"

"I'm sorry, Kaito. I thought it would take the edge off..." I hollowly repeated Ryoma's words, sitting up and picking at the grass in front of me.

"Hey..." He sat down next to me quietly.
"I know things have been tough lately. But I forgive you for what you did, alright? You really saved all of our skin back there."

"..."

"Tsumugi was a bad person. If you hadn't done what you did sooner, she may have really messed things up. Kaede was going to kill Rantaro. Luckily it  missed - but I believe that you had somethin' to do with it! Your determination to end the killing game... Maybe the stars aligned in that moment to spare Rantaro another day!!" He patted me on the back with a smile.

"You sure do believe in some crazy things, Kaito..." I chuckled nonchalantly.

"Well, I believe because I choose to believe! And that's how I feel about you, Shuichi. I want to believe that you're a good person. And I want to believe that what you did was justified. You got us all out of the killing game, which means that what you did can't be all bad, right?"

His words of confidence and encouragement sparked something in me. The urge to burst into tears overcame me in that moment. Under the stars, I cried. I talked to Kaito about my feelings in full honestly and he sympathised with me. It felt like I had a true shoulder to lean on.

"From now on, you're my sidekick!" He said with a hearty smile.

"...Sidekick..?"  I choked through my remaining tears. 

"Yeah! I heard what Kaede was sayin' about ending Danganronpa for good, before the next season starts. So, let's work together as hero and sidekick." 

I smiled in response, sucking up my tears. It didn't sound like too bad of an idea. 


"Heeeeeeeeyyyy!  What are you two up to?!" A familiar voice rung throughout the yard.

"Ah, Kokichi..." Kaito looked at the boy with a slightly disappointed glare.

"It's nearly midnight, and Shuichi's pathetic sobbing kept me up... you guys are sooooo obnoxious." He rolled his eyes, then quickly grinned as he sat down beside me.


"We were about to sweat our worries away!" Kaito proudly declared, to which I had no idea what he was talking about.

"Sweat..? What are you talking about..?" My puzzled expression met the Astronaut's happy face.

"100 Push ups! Now!" Kaito got to his hands and feet and started counting. "The best way to clear your head is to break a sweat! Move your body a little!"


...Huh. Fine, I guess I have nothing better to do - and I guess I'm his 'sidekick' now.

"This is my cue to leave. Welp, see you two stupid heads tomorrow --" Kaito stopped in his tracks, jumped up and yanked Kokichi to the ground.

"Don't be giving up so soon!! You needa train with us as well! Sweat away your cocky and ignorant attitude!"

Kokichi raised an eyebrow at the energetic Astronaut.

"Hey, maybe if I'm doing it, even in my current state... you should be able to, too..." I suggested, discreetly placing my hand on his.

"U-Uh... Fine! The Ultimate Supreme Leader is super strong!! I'll prove you dumber than Kii-boy, Kaito!" He put on a facade through his flustered state.

We spent some time doing push ups in the yard.
It didn't take long before Kokichi was constantly being caught trying to leave, and by the tenth time we had dragged him back to continue exercising, he was nearly hissing at us to leave him alone.

"Krrrrgh... If you make me do one more push-up... I swear you'll be 6 feet under!!"
And so, our laughter reverberated throughout the apartment block.