ShuichixKokichi‼️

Chapter Twelve

A/N: warning! Mention of medication is used in this chapter. Read with this in mind. Thank you!

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Shuichi's POV

About a little over a week had passed since I had last seen my fairly newfound friend. I simply went to return a pair of a shoes Rantaro had lent me from that one stupidly unfortunate day, and there he had been laying on the bottom bunk, maintaining eye contact with me.
With bandages on his neck.
The more I thought about it the more severe the situation appeared. A black eye, some type of sore, and now bandages covering his pale neck. Rantaro had to have known. In fact, I'm pretty sure he was the one who doctored whatever injury Kokichi had faced that time. Ouma seemed so fragile. I'm glad he had someone watching over him.
I wanted to watch over him.
He texted me often, still waved to me whenever we saw each other in the hall, but no sign of him wanting to even dare step foot into my dorm, as he usually had.
A frown made its way on my face. I didn't have time to remain in my surprisingly obsessive thoughts. I was currently on my way to meet up with two of my friends; Himiko Yumeno and Gonta Gokuhara. An unlikely pair, I'd say, but they both wanted to meet up with me during our longest class switch. This was because there were certain upper class students who would have to prepare to board their respective bus to travel not too far away for certain classes our academy didn't have prepared. I always found it odd, since Hopes Peak was acclaimed the most prestigious place to land yourself in.
Those two had told me to meet them by the second floor handicapped elevator to talk about something 'incredibly important'. I suppose it was not the most normal place to choose if you wanted to meet up with someone, but it did the trick. I remembered exactly where and how to get there.
As I paced down the steps from my third floor class, I almost immediately spotted Gokuhara-kun and Yumeno-Chan. It wasn't until Yumeno took notice of me that Gokuhara began to wave to me, shouting his greetings as I walked hastily down the hall. I said it was the longest class switch, but we had next to no time at all to do this.
"Saihara-kun, hello!"
Gonta smiled my way and I offered him the kindest smile I could back. The short girl with red hair wore a pretty much blank expression, but I expected no less from her. She got straight to the point.
"Mm, so, me and Gokuhara really needed to talk to you. We had to choose here to talk about it since barely anybody comes by the handicapped elevator, and neither one of us will be here during the free time hours."
Gonta nodded in confirmation. Admittedly, I was confused, though I pieced together that whatever the two of them had to say should be vital. I didn't want to discount them.
"R-right, okay. What do you need to tell me?"
I couldn't really help my stutter. I had more of a habit of doing so, simply because my speech tended to be a little off most of the time. My uncle used to say it sprung from my medication I used to take.
Yes, medication, that's right.
But I had it switched a few months back before attending the academy.
Gonta cleared his throat while he raised a fist to his mouth. Himiko didn't continue her statement, so he took over.
"Well, we hear that bunches of people involved with the big bullies."
By big bullies, I could figure out who he was talking about. None other than the ultimate gangster and the ultimate swordsman. They made a vicious duo.
However, I raised a brow to them and pursed my lips out while I thought. Why was this so important.
"I guess when you mention it, there's a lot of people who are involved with them, b-but they kind of run the junior level students. What's your point?"
"We think that they're planning to hurt a ton of people! Baaad!"
The way Himiko put it made it seem this was out of the ordinary. Perhaps they were right.
Perhaps it had to do with Kokichi's condition?
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I went without my hat today, but I didn't mind it.
"I suppose if I see anything, I'll let you two know. I gotta get to my next class, I'll have to talk to you guys later."
We exchanged our goodbyes and I was back on my way to class. Kuzuryu and Pekoyama didn't really have anything big in mind,
right?

Skip to after Shuichi's class session, to the next class before their free time hours.

"Hey, Shuichi! Wait up!"
I spun around to meet the feminine voice who called out my name. It was a pleasant sight to see my friend Kaede Akamatsu chasing after me through the crowded hall. She caught up to me fairly fast after I gradually slowed my pace.
"Hey Kaede."
I greeted with a warm smile. We were on a first name basis, no formalities needed. We also had our next class together.
"You didn't happen to hear that rumor about me yet, right? Please say you didn't!"
She laughed nervously, fiddling with the straps of her small backpack she wore everywhere she went. A rumor? I had no idea what she was talking about. I could see the relief in her features just from me being confused.
"I don't think I have. What is it?"
"Whew, good deal! I didn't want anybody else to get to you before I got to say something about it myself."
I awaited her explanation still, and she saw this. She sighed, shaking her head to me.
"Yeah, I didn't think I'd get out of telling you either, it's just embarrassing. A lot of people are starting to assume that me and the girl from our class we're heading to right now are, um, together?"
She laughed at the last part, not knowing how to put it. Once she gave me a name, my eyes went wide.
Miu Iruma?
She was known as the cowardly mythic bitch of our freshmen year at the college course. All I knew is that Kaede and her were friends, and getting a little closer as time went on. I never would imagine the both of them in a romantic relationship.
"O-oh, really? I didn't even notice anything going on between you two that would hint to that. You- er, you don't seem too bothered by it."
That's when an angry look overtook Kaede's face. She had moments like this, and it was always right before she was about to scold someone for something. I sighed, expecting what was to come.
"You have been taking your meds, right Shuichi? Your talking is getting bad, your face is completely flushed out."
Oh, it was, I'm sure. That could be because of anything really. But I didn't take only one pill this morning since I was in a hurry. I only had two prescriptions I was required to take, so not all that many. I was getting better.
I struggled to give Kaede an answer. I didn't want to tell her that she was right, but I also didn't want to admit to a couple other things. Like Kokichi, I'm sure she didn't even know the boy. He flooded my thoughts and swelled me up with so much worry I could pop. I decided to fib to her this one time.
"I did, d-don't worry. I've just been in a rush today, I woke up late this morning."
I had a feeling her suspicion never left, but her accusations did. A smile returned to her cheeks.
"Good!"
We spent the rest of the walk to our class talking about random things and whatnots. We made it to our classroom a couple minutes before the teacher appeared, giving us plenty of time to settle down at our own desks.
I spotted Miu talking to Kaede after a minute had passed, looking distressed and scared. I was sure they'd both be alright.
The teacher walked in, and we began our talk for the day. The near hour went by in a hasty blur. I couldn't pay attention to anything that was said, instead focusing on my own concerns.
After an impulsive moment in thought, I decided. I was going to confront Kokichi with the evidence I currently had to prove me right!
Maybe. I might end up doing it over text.
Suddenly, we were told that class was no longer in session. I really missed ALL of that somehow. I'd have to catch up later, right now I was speed walking to my dorm to prepare myself for the confrontation. The pit in my stomach grew when I spotted a familiar figure positioned by my door.
I felt fuzzy and dizzy. It was Ouma-kun. He tilted his little head up and caught my eye, and I swore I saw the immediate change from worry to glee in his face. He was clearly waiting for me.
"Afternoon to you, Shumai! I was waiting for you!"
I approached both him and my dorm, nervously letting out an airy laugh.
"Y-yeah, I see that."
I fished for my key from my jacket pocket and retrieved it, unlocking my door and opening it. Ouma went right in as if he belonged there.
He did.
"I'm so sorry I haven't hung out in a while, Saihara-Chan, but I'm here now! We can spend allll free time together!"
I shut my door and flinched from his words. This was going to be a lot harder than I anticipated.
I clenched my jaw in a tense matter and turned to face him. I unintentionally towered over him. This seemed to almost intimidate Kokichi.
"Ouma-kun, I have a question."

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A/N: dun dun duuun. Cliffhanger hee hee. What do you think, is Pooichi gonna get kokichi to admit anything? Hmm, I'm not sure! We'll just have to see!
I tried to make this chapter shorter so I don't fit too much into one chapter, as well as include more interactions with Shuichi so this isn't too bland. Himiko and Gonta really do be building up my plot though.
Make sure to answer my question I asked ya 😉