(Complete) Taking Her Place (Saiouma/Oumasai)

To Run Away Or To Not Run Away

Chapter 2: to run away or to not run away

Kokichi's POV

The hotel room Miu and I were sharing had two beds . This was the first time god know how long that I've slept in my own bed. I have to admit it felt pretty nice. The morning was oddly normal. Miu woke me up like she normally did, she forced me to get dressed and eat and we headed to the wedding. Soon after walking in I realized that this was far too much for me and I didn't want to be here. Miu ran to go hug Kaede immediately and I was greeted by a familiar face.

"Well well well if it isn't the former supreme leader himself." A tall astronaut walked over to me.
"If I recall correctly you still haven't made it to space mr ultimate astronaut." I shot back.
"Hey I'm still trying!" Kaito scratched the back of his neck.
"And I'm already making more money than you too! You really have no room to be talking Momota. How's the assassin doing?"
"Hmpf. Good." He didn't seem to have a rebuttal.

"Good to hear. Is she here?"
"Yeah she's somewhere, I know her, Yumeno and Shuichi were going to meet up for a bit before the wedding officially started."

Great Harukawa and Himiko get to go see Shuichi but I still haven't. Even just a minute alone with him would make this whole experience better.

"Well I'm gonna go get some fresh air, you enjoy yourself." I waved goodbye and walked outside. I have a bad habit of smoking now, I blame Miu. I pulled out the box I had stuffed away in my suit pocket and lit it. I liked seeing the puff of smoke and wishing I could fade away like it did so soon.

"Ouma?" I heard the door behind me open and another familiar voice make it's way towards me, "you shouldn't smoke, it's bad for your health." A hand appeared and took the cigarette out of my hand. The bud soon fell to the ground and was covered up by a foot.

"Hey I paid good money for that-" I looked up to meet eyes with who I was talking to, "Saihara!"
"Hello!" He replied in an equally shocked tone.
"Your wedding starts soon what are you doing out here?"
"I saw you walk outside, I wanted to make sure you weren't leaving."
"I'm not leaving I just didn't want to be in there so I went outside. I'll probably stay out here until it's over."
"Why? I invited you so you could be inside silly."
"I know but if we're being honest, which I'm often not, I only came because Miu made me."
"Oh." Shuichi sounded a bit disappointed.

"I heard you were talking with Harukawa and Yumeno, where are they?"
"We're done already. Can I ask why you really came?"
"What do you mean Saihara-Chan?"
"I can't help but notice that you sounded like you were lying when you said you only came because Miu made you."
"Nope nope, that's where you're wrong mr detective. But if we're asking questions, how come you're getting married so suddenly?"
"It's not very suddenly, you and I just haven't talked since the game." Shuichi looked a bit sad.
"That brings up a whole other question, why am I even invited, last time I remember talking to you, you told me I was alone and always will be."
"We talked after that, right?"

"Nope, wrong again mr detective."
"I'm sorry Ouma."
"You look awfully sad for it being your wedding day Saihara-Chan."
"Well you weren't completely wrong when you said it was a sudden wedding. She's getting older and wants to save herself for marriage so she wanted to get married and have children."
"Ooo Saihara is getting married to an older woman." As I said that he looked away from me, "do you want to get married?"
"Yeah! I think, I don't know."

"Why are you getting married then? The Saihara I know would only do things if he knew it was right."
"Well the Saihara you know was from 6 years ago. Things are different now."
"Here!" I reached my hand out to him. "Let's run away together then! If you don't want this then let's make a break for it, leave everything behind."
"Are you insane?! I'm not leaving my fiancé alone at the alter!" Shuichi backed away from me a bit.

"Ok! Suit yourself. But it seems like you're running out of time." I reacher out and held up his wrist to show him the time.
"Oh shit I'm running late. I better get going." Shuichi turned around fast and put his hand on the door. For some reason he paused for a bit with his hand in the door knob. I saw him look back at me as I pulled out the box of cigarettes, getting ready to light a second one.

"Hey, stop that." This time Shuichi snatched the whole box and lighter from me.
"Hey! Quit holding my cigarettes hostage!" I jumped up to reach his hand that held my box but he held it up too high for me to reach. He looked at me closely as I jumped up and down trying to reach his height. I looked him in the eyes. For the first time in so long I felt my stomach full with butterflies as he looked straight back at me. He slipped the box into his pocket.

"Come back into the wedding and I'll give them back."
"No fair, if you don't even want to be at your own wedding then why should I!" I could see Shuichi hesitate and look back at his watch. He held his hand out to me like I had done to him before as I looked at him with a confused look. He used his other hand to put my hand in his.
"Where are we going?"
"Wha- are you the insane one now?! I wasn't being serious!" I shouted back at him.
"You gave me the option. Where are we going?"

"I- yeah, ok sure, I'll entertain you. I'm going to go and buy some more cigarettes while you go and get married." I pushed him towards the door.
"I can drive you anywhere you want to go, my car is just over there and I have my keys on me." He took his keys out of his pocket and dangled them in my face.

"You're lucky I can't drive or I'd take those keys right out of your hand and run." I moved my eyes back and forth has the keys swung them close. I could see the Tesla logo on the keys. He had money and he spent it.
"You can't drive?"
"That wasn't the important thing to take out of that comment Saihara- you have a wedding to go to! Quit stalling! I didn't come here to break up your marriage!"

Even if I thought the idea was a nice one, I didn't actually intend on messing things up for him.
"No but you're right Ouma, I don't want this. I'm doing this for her and I shouldn't be. I'm still young, I have dreams I want to accomplish! So let me leave."
"You paid money for this! Weddings are really fucking expensive Saihara! You can't break this girls heart!"
"My mind is already set Ouma. The question now is if you're coming with me." Shuichi checked his pockets to make sure he had his wallet on him, "yep all set." Shuichi started to walk to his car.

"Saihara!" I reached out for him but he's stronger than me. He continued walking. I stopped and looked around for a bit before deciding that I wasn't about to let him leave alone. Whether or not I meant for this to happen, I did want this. In fact this is like the dream you know is never going to happen but it did. It did happen. This is happening. Dream for me though, not for his girlfriend that's for sure.

"Well where do you want to go?" He looked at me as I hopped into his passengers seat.
"Just drive." I said as I face palmed my face into his glove department.