Exposing Names

Death By Flowers

Shuichi woke the next day, feeling more sure of his feelings. As he sits up, someone throws open his door.

"Kaede? What-" She cuts him off before he can finish.

"It's Kokichi. Monokuma did something, and... Kirumi says she thinks he's dying." With Kaede's words, Shuichi leaps out of bed. He throws on his jacket.

"Take me to him, please." He begs. The pianist nods, and leads him through the school to where Kokichi is lying on a bed. The boy's skin is extra pale, and flowers are growing out of nearly everywhere. He appears to be struggling to stay conscious. The detective sits down next to him, putting his hand on top of the others. The supreme leader opens his eyes, and gives a small smile, before closing them again. Shuichi turns to the others.

"Can you please leave for a second?" He asks. The two in the room nod, and exit. The detective turns back to the sick boy.

"I'm sorry I put you in this situation... I don't know if I can make it better anymore but... I love you, Kokichi. I... I'm sorry if I said that too late to save you, but I do love you." He admits, his face red, feeling embarrassed.

"Shumai, I... I love y-" The other boy starts, before he begins to violently cough. The detective leaps up, knocking a chair over. The crash of it hitting the ground, he's scared for the other boy.

The door smacks open, and Kirumi and Kaede run in. Shuichi is standing there, confused. He sees the blood on the ultimate supreme leader's bedsheets. He stares at them.

"I promise, I didn't do anyth-" Kirumi cuts him off by shoving him.

"YOU, THE REASON HE'S IN THIS SITUATION, GOT TO BE THE LAST PERSON HE TALKS TO, EVER?! YOU'RE CRUEL AND-!" Kaede places a comforting hand on the maid's shoulder. The detective is sitting on the ground, dazed. A flower flutters down between them, and the only sound is Kokichi's coughing.

"You should probably leave, Shuichi. I'll call you in when we know what's going on." Kaede says.

***

And so, Shuichi is left sitting outside, worried and crying, while inside, the two girls fuss over his love. He hides his face in his arms, furious with himself, confused to why it didn't work, grieving over his dead, or soon-to-be dead love, and so much more. The pressure had been too much for him over the past week, and now, he was just sobbing out his emotions. He felt so, so, guilty, because it was his fault, wasn't it? And how could he cry when Kokichi is dying? It's not fair on the other boy, and his stomach twists in its nauseating way of guilt.

"Shuichi? Are you okay?" It's Miu, standing next to him. He knows he must look like such a wreck, but looks up anyway. The pity on her face is enough to confirm his theory.

"I'm sorry, I just... I can't." He hides his face in his knees again.

"Shuichi? We have news." Kaede's head pokes out of the door, looking solemn.