ShuichixKokichi‼️

Chapter Thirteen

Shuichi's POV

I hadn't thought this through. I definitely didn't think this through.
My confrontation so far hasn't gone the way I imagined at ALL. Currently, my heart sunk from my chest deep to my stomach and creating the feeling of a stone crushing my abdomen. The intensity of that nervousness was slowly but surely consuming me.
I think the shorter boy in front of me knew exactly what I was pointing to before I even said anything more other than wanting to ask him a question.
For the past five minutes he had been avoiding the topic and bringing up anything humanely possible to prevent me from going on.
And now, I was panicking, realizing my huge mistake. I really REALLY didn't think this through.
"..what are you doing, Saihara-Chan?"
Shit.
I looked from my hands to Ouma-kun. At some point during him talking I must have zoned out and did this.
Hands pinned by his wrists, all my force put forth to keep him restrained against the wall. I could spot the slightest flash of fear across his face. Yet, I didn't necessarily mean to land the both of us in such a tense, awkward, and nerve racking scenario. Ouma had barely caused a fuss due to my accusations and this was subconsciously my response.
"I, uh...I-I'm,"
I had to think quickly, but nothing came to mind.
"I'm— I'm sorry."
I ripped myself away from Kokichi almost reluctantly.
Shockingly, we had gotten a bit more close to each other over the few days we only texted. Maybe that gave me more confidence. I didn't do the right thing, however.
"Shumai,"
I looked to him when I heard him spoke. His voice was gentle, almost sounded shook up in a way. His next words proved to me what I feared.
"You could have warned me! Neheehee!"
He did all of this on purpose. It was an act to him, but for what? What did he have to hide?
"Stop that, Ouma-kun."
He backed down from his own confident stance. I backed up until I felt the bed against my leg, then sat down. I had to return to my previous intentions and find out what was going on with Kokichi's injuries, and maybe then find out the truth to other unspoken questions.
I didn't notice Ouma sit down by me. This was progress. I was able to take note of his ripped scarf that was wrapped around his neck in a halfhearted attempt to hide what was underneath the cloth.
"What happened to your neck?"
I managed the courage to look at him, and I wish he hadn't. Tears streamed down Kokichi's pale cheeks, and he put a hand over where his teared scarf was. I think he knew he couldn't come up with a lie this time.
"I don't think I should..."
He coughed to clear his throat. He flinched afterwards, obviously regretting it. It must of hurt him.
"I don't think I should tell tell you, Shumai."
My progress was lost. I let my desperation to know show too much, grabbing his shoulders.
You need to tell me. I need to protect you.
It wasn't the curiosity anymore for me. It was the worry that this would happen again and I wouldn't be there. Weeks had passed and he was not getting any better, and I doubt that he would.
I took a leap of faith.
"Kokichi, please. I want to help you."
Ouma shot me a glare. His bottom lip quivered, showing just how upset he was. It broke my heart to see him like that. Did I go too far?
Just then he let out a quiet cry. I wouldn't have noticed it if it weren't for me already looking at him.
I slowly took my hands away from him and laid them in my lap to give him some space and let him catch his breath. It was pretty much next to useless to do so. Kokichi suddenly flopped his small body against me, breaking out into a full on sobbing fit and knocking me backwards just a tad.
I felt absolutely terrible. Somehow, through all the tears and shoulder-shaking weeping, he was so...cute. I had to bring myself back to reality.
Kokichi was laying against me.
I sighed, adjusting myself under his positioning to be somewhat laying down on the bed. I pulled him into the most secure embrace I could and simply held him while he cried.
"S-Saihara-Chan..Sai—hara, Shu..."
Ouma-kun bawled into my chest, his voice cracking often while he spoke. He grabbed bits of my shirt, simply holding on to the fabric in his fists. All I really could do is hold him until his crying stopped.
I didn't want this to end.
Soon enough, in spite of my wishes, Kokichi's whimpers began to cease. And finally it stopped.
He didn't let go of me.
We laid there in silence, the only thing sounding through the room being our breathing. It wasn't until now that I noticed how hot face face and ears felt from this. There was no way we would be able to get out of talking about this later, and I was worried about when we would have to. There was a chance we wouldn't even speak of this moment again, and possibly put a stain on our friendship. Then again, I doubt Kokichi was that kind of person.
I was brought from my train of thought when I could feel that Ouma's grip loosened on my shirt.
"Ko— um, Ouma?"
I didn't receive a response from him. My anxiousness was slowly wavering at that point. It dawned on me that we had actually been laying there for a while, about half an hour. That left us a little under two hours of free time left. I decided to try again. Dubious, I spoke up.
"Kokichi?"
Still nothing.
I pushed away some of his hair from his face and saw something I never would have expected in a million years; Kokichi had fallen asleep on me. He probably tuckered himself out from all that crying. I huffed our a breath through my nose and rested my head back on my pillow, or what I could of it anyway. I wouldn't be able to sleep like this, but I was glad. I got to stay awake while this precious boy rested on me.
And so I stayed still for him, combing my fingers through his hair with no shame. Only one thing went through my head while we were there.
You're safe, Kokichi.

Skip to when Kokichi begins to wake up, about a little less than an hour later.

I hardly dozed off when I felt small shuffling on top of me, signaling to me that Ouma was beginning to stir. I was dreading this.
"...Saihara?"
"U-uh, yeah?"
It seemed as though Kokichi finally realized where he was. He shot up and backed away from me, eyes wide.
"Sorry! I'm sorry!"
After all of that, he was like a totally different person. The sheer panic on his face even further showed it.
I jumped up to assure him, shaking my head and my hands in front of me.
"No, no! I-it's okay! It's fine!"
I didn't mean to smile at his flustered state. I have never seen him act this way. Of course, it didn't last long until he covered it up.
"Shumai!~ you really like me!"
Right as I had gotten over my heated face, my blush returned again to embarrass me. I covered up some of my face and turned away from him.
"W-well, um, you're my friend, after all."
I wish we were more than that honestly. Ouma's face went from his smirk to a pout.
"Aww, fine, you're no fun anyway."
He looked to my alarm clock on my nightstand, and I knew he was going to leave when he saw the time. About twenty minutes until we had to get ready for our classes.
"It was fun Shumai! We can hang out again later some time!"
I almost reached out for him, because I had realized that he never even answered my question. Well, not straightforward, anyway.
I mumbled a response to him, holding my hands in my lap, the same hands that touched Kokichi Ouma's soft hair.
"And, um,"
I turned my head back to him to see that he was at the door. He had his hand on the knob, ready to leave, but had stopped to say one more thing, I presume.
"I'll be coming back tonight to hang out, and...talk."
He left swiftly without saying goodbye. I didn't mind this though, after everything we both went through today. More like just him, but I experienced a part of him I was sure very little people knew about. I smiled to myself, holding both of my hands to my face, cupping them around my reddened cheeks.
That WAS a lot of progress today, in more than just one thing.

—

A/N: this is just a reminder to admire Kokichi's Japanese voice actor.
Also!! The boys are getting somewhere! 👀
And Kokichi is,, trusting?!