✧ 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕕𝕠 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣? ✧ 𝕊𝕒𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕞𝕒 ✧

✧ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙 ✧

"Hey, sidekick. Doing alright? You seem.. out of it." Kaito said.

Saihara broke from his trance and sighed, looking down at his half-eaten plate. "I'm fine. Just..

worried, I guess."

"About what?"

"Ouma.." Shuichi whispered.

"What? I didn't hear you, sorry, Shuichi," Kaito whined.

Saihara sighed once again. "Just Ouma. He was acting strange when the motive was being presented, and then when he was picked the way he just stumbled and around and fell.."

Momota flashed him a sympathetic look.

"I think that brat deserved it."

The boys turned to look at Maki Harukawa. She had her arms crossed and her feet propped up on the table. 

"He was a bitch, so a personality change might as well be for the better," Miu scoffed.

Saihara was surprisingly offended by the remarks. 

Almost as if he was stung by them. Like when you catch a family member being bullied. 

It made his heart ache.

But..

Why?

Suddenly, a laugh was heard from the dining hall entrance.

"Puhuhuhu! Hello, everyone! I am here to present, your new Kokichi Ouma!"

Everyone watched as Monokuma forcefully dragged Ouma into the room.

After standing there, Saihara noted some differences in his behavior.

Twiddling of thumbs.

Nervous glances around the room, his eyes always returning to his feet.

He was extremely shaky.

He looked cold.

Slight tears peeked through the corner of his eyes.

He looked as if he was sweating.

Saihara ran up to Ouma.

"K-Kokichi..? Are you okay!?" 

The sudden change of volume made Ouma visibly flinch, catching everyone but Monokuma off guard.

Kokichi Ouma?

Flinched?

No..

Well they knew one thing for sure.

Pregme Ouma was very different.

Very.