ShuichixKokichi‼️

Chapter Ten

Kokichi's POV

I spent the night at Saihara-Chan's dorm last night.
I got endless teasing from my roommate Rantaro Amami, and plenty of warning from him as well.
"Be gentle with him Kokichi, Saihara is a bit sensitive."
"Don't tease him too much, he gets embarrassed easily."
"Don't you dare lead him on or give him any wrong impressions!"
"Did you even ask?"
I only did one out of all of those. Kind of. However, if I wanted to try and actually be Shuichi's friend, I had to do friend things with him. What better than a sleepover!
But now, I lay on the top bunk of the bunk bed in Shuichi's dorm, listening to his gentle snores from below. But I couldn't quite focus on that.
I stared up at the ceiling, which was surprisingly close to my body. It was almost taunting me in a way, knowingly, but it was a damn object. It was all because of a odd dream last night. A nightmare, if you will.
I was strapped down against a cold metal surface in this dream. I couldn't speak, though nothing covered my mouth, and simply looked at a metal press above me. It would come down and stop right at my nose, lift back up, then back down just as quickly as before. I woke up before the hydraulic press had actually crushed my body. Flat like a pancake!
...
Childish humor wasn't helping me get out of this one.
And now I'm here, awake, fearing that the ceiling would come down on me hard and quick. I let out a small whimper while cowering away from the ceiling the best I could, pressing my body against the mattress until I was sure the wooden support under it was going to break. It was either my pathetic whine or the creaking of the bed that woke up the boy beneath me.
"Mm..Oum'-kun, is'at you?"
I heard him speak to me in an exhausted slur. Somehow hearing his voice eased my nerves and calmed my breathing, perhaps because it reminded me that this was real life and no longer a dream. I caught my breath and nodded as if he could see me, speaking in a chipper tone.
"Yup! It's me! I'm so sorry to wake ya, Shumai!"
I heard his groan and his shifting on the bed. Man, what a grumpy pants.
There was silence for about ten minutes and I was sure that Shuichi had went back to sleep. I couldn't stay up there on the bed, the anxiety was crushing me terribly. What irony! I swallowed my pride and spoke up again.
"Are you awake Saihara-Chan?"
"Mmhm."
"M'kay! Good!"
I scooted over to where the ladder was and quickly climbed down. I caught a glimpse of Shuichi's peaceful expression, even though he wasn't asleep, merely very tired. I allowed my mind wander at that sight, thinking of how pretty he looked. I can admit when someone is pretty. It dawned on me that he might feel my gaze on him, so I had to stop and cut off those strange thoughts.
I awkwardly contemplated what to do now. I wasn't going to crawl in bed with him to find comfort. Instead, I sat myself on the floor beside his bed and rested my head on the frame. I suppose it was nice, sitting with someone like this to keep myself distracted and calm. I would have to do this more often. I turned to look at the nightstand to check the time on the alarm clock that set on the near side. It was just a couple minutes past seven, and I couldn't get back to sleep. I pouted and mentally whined to myself, refusing to wake Shuichi up just to prevent my boredom.
I suddenly felt cold skin touch my left cheek and looked to Saihara. He was positioned with his head nearly hanging off the bed, but his arm sure was, resting against my head and draped down my face. For the first time in a while I felt a tad flustered. I thought to myself, I don't get touched like this...
This moment would be perfect for me to return to sleep if it weren't for one annoyance. My lower neck ached and throbbed, the pain from my cigarette burn irritated as hell from my scarf getting all over it. I loosened the scarf, but nothing came of it. I really didn't have a choice. Pulling the scarf over my head and dropping it to my side on the floor relieved a lot of the pain from the red sore and I allowed a thankful sigh to pass my lips. It felt amazing.
Before I knew it my eyelids felt heavy and droopy. I allowed my eyes to close and ended up falling back asleep by Shuichi's bed, his arm shielding me from those awful dreams. He wasn't aware of it, but he was being the greatest friend I could ask for. I slipped away from consciousness and fell into a dreamless sleep.
...
...
"Ouma-kun...Ouma!"
I snapped awake to my name being called right in my ear. I looked around to examine my surroundings and immediately turned my attention to Saihara's alarm clock. It was 8:54 AM. Well good, I slept a whole other hour!
I looked up to Shuichi to find that he was looking at me with worried eyes and rosy cheeks.
"How come you're not in bed?"
He asked me, with more of a curiosity than a worried sense. I smiled at him and shrugged.
"Didn't want to be up there anymore. You took up the entire bed, I couldn't even get a leg on your mattress!"
I was pleased with his dumbfounded expression and overall reaction. Rantaro was very right, poor Shumai got so easily flustered that it wasn't even funny. He cleared his throat and continued awkwardly.
"O-oh, I didn't know you- I didn't figure you'd want to lay here— I'm sorry,"
"Relax, Saihara! It was just a lie!"
I frowned at him and puffed out my cheeks at him, making him clearly confused.
"Remember, don't stutter so damn much. Not the first thing I want to hear when I wake up."
"Sorry.."
I dismissed his hurt expression and stretched my arms out above me and yawned, going to adjust my scarf. My scarf — I didn't have it on. Just what I was afraid of happened right before my eyes, watching Shuichi's horrified expression peer down at my lower neck.
"O-Ouma! What did you do?"
He sat up in his bed and leaned forward, I'm guessing to get a better look at my burn sore. I sat there a bit too long looking at the floor with wide, fearful eyes. I didn't want or need to reveal anything to him, not one bit of the truth, but his pleading eyes begged me to. It was as if Shuichi could easily bring out these obligations to just let it all out. I couldn't, however, that was my drama!
"Tell you what, Shumai,"
Oh god, what was I saying?
"I don't think you deserve to know what happened. Not yet, anyway. Maybe I'll tell you in the future!"
I had to wing it. I grinned at him and giggled, quickly grabbing my scarf from the floor beside of me and hopping up, sliding it over my head. I had previously loosened it up enough that I could just do that.
I could observe his concern and disappointment like he was an open book. From what I've discovered about him, he's fairly respectful. He better put that respect to good use. I was assured by his defeated attitude when he nodded, understanding my privacy.
"Okay, just um, you're okay right?"
I glared and groaned. Saihara was too much of a detective.
"Ugh, I'm fine, okay? Stop digging!"
I had no choice but to snap at him, but I didn't want to. Just by glancing at Shuichi I got an urge to tell him everything, vent to him, give up everything I've done so far and abandon my personality. For some reason, I just really wanted to trust him.
I hated hurting him.
"Don't be such a worrywart, 'kay?"
He nodded at me as he removed the covers from his body and stood up. I hummed happily, appreciating his compliance.
One of these days Shuichi, I'll let you know. I think I trust you.
I ended up changing my clothes in the bathroom, slipping on my outfit from yesterday since I didn't bring another change of clothes, and returning Saihara's clothes that he had let me borrow for the night in his dresser drawer. I don't think he minded that.
"Weird question Shumai, do you have an extra hair tie?"
I was shocked when I watched him stand a moment puzzled, then realized, and nodded.
"Yeah, actually, I think I do have a hair tie."
I could feel my smile grow as he went to his nightstand and bent over, pulling on a small drawer that was high up on it. I could see a bunch of random junk in there, like clutter, chilling in the drawer waiting for a use. He pulled out a hair tie and I happily walked over to retrieve it.
I thanked him while I pulled my hair back into a low ponytail, a hairstyle I did often to keep my hair out of my way. I didn't want to cut it though!
I think I caught Shuichi staring for just a single moment. A short second he stared at me, and because of that short second my heart felt light.
What was that?
I cleared my throat and began to speak, but paused. I had no idea what I was going to say to him, but we'd both went without saying anything for a few minutes now. Shuichi stood in the middle of his room on his phone, staring intently at the screen. It didn't look like he was texting anybody or just browsing the web, piquing my curiosity. He then averted his gaze and attention on me, raising an eyebrow expectantly. He must have known I wanted to say something.
When Saihara-Chan looked at me I thought I was gonna fall over and perish.
I had to get out of there.
"Well Shumai, I had a totally not boring sleepover with you! I should sleep over more often!"
I bent down to the floor and began gathering my things I had left on the floor the previous day. I threw them into my backpack then swung it over my shoulder.
"I gotta go now, but don't be a stranger!"
"W-wait,"
I heard him barely mumble and watched him fidget with his phone. He seriously did have a stuttering problem, but I didn't find it annoying more than I found it somewhat endearing. That was a weird thought.
"Uh, I was gonna ask if I could get your number in my phone, so we can talk, maybe plan stuff like this?"
Shuichi...wanted my number?
I grinned devilishly and took and walked towards him, triumph in each of my steps. It felt like a victory.
"How sweet, you're totally nervous to ask me for my number! We're friends Shumai, of course!"
Was that honestly what I thought of him?
It turns out he was already on the create a contact screen on his phone, meaning he was already planning on asking me for my number. I tried to hide the fact that my hands shook with anticipation and excitement.
I typed in my number and created a contact name for myself,

Chi-Chi ❣️

Perfect! I handed his phone back over to him then pivoted on my heel to head to the door. I spotted a glimpse of sadness overcome Saihara's features. I almost felt bad for unexpectedly going, I had no idea what got into me. Actually, this entire time I haven't known what has gotten into me. All I really knew was that I had to go. I had some things to take care of today, after all.
"I'll see you later Shumai, text me bunches and bunches okay?"
I pretty much threw myself out the door and closed it shut behind me. I hurriedly located the stairs and went to the very top floor. Maybe he could help.
About ten minutes of knocking on a door later, the door I had arrived at finally began to open up. It was about time! This guy was so fucking lazy.
"I wasn't expecting ya today Kokichi, you got some updates for me?"
"N-no, actually,"
The taller boy glared at me, trying to read me and figure me out. It was creepy.
"I came here for some...advice? I guess."
I practically cowered when he shook his head. Yet he stepped inside anyway to let me in.
"Thank you."
I spoke gently. I looked up to the boy in front of me, Nagito Komaeda. You could say we were friends, but it was more of a boss to worker kind of relation. But I looked up to him anyway, and around him I didn't have to put on some ridiculous mask. He really was similar to me.
Nagito sighed and sat down in a chair in front of his work desk. A smile plastered over his face and he continued cheerfully.
"Okay, Kokichi! Tell me what's bothering you, I'm hoping I can help."
Here goes nothing.
I sat down in a chair across from Nagito and looked down to my hands, which were tightly clasped together. The nervous feeling rising in me was making this pretty much impossible to even speak. It's not like I haven't felt such a way before, it was simply more intense than I was used to.
"Okay. To put it bluntly, I'm feeling really weird around this one kid and whenever he looks at me I feel like I'm drowning. I thought I was having a heart attack earlier!"
I dramatically threw my hands in the air, then brought them down and crossed my arms. Saying it doesn't actually made me feel worse.
My friend moved a lock of his messy hair out of his eyes and hummed. It almost looked like he knew something. The glimmer in his eyes screamed intrigued.
"It sounds like you're nervous, but is that really all?"
He looked me up and down. I turned away from him and directed my gaze on the floor. Suddenly, he yelled.
"Oh, I know,"
My eyes began to widen.
"You're in love, Kokichi!"

—

A/N: I'm gonna live, til' I die
I'm gonna laugh, 'stead of cry