✧ Chapter 4 ✧
[ By the IV of Love ]
✧༺♥༻∞　　∞༺♥༻✧

She stood there by the doors everyday, thinking about what he said. And each day, she felt lost and strangely longing for something she couldn't see.

Maki Harukawa had hug up her knives a long time ago after the incident and shut them away, locking the cupboard.

Because of her impulsive actions, she caused Kaito Momota to get arrested. If only she didn't lash out at him.

If only she had accepted him.

But then again, this was a society where love was forbidden. A place where people were caged within themselves and unable to be who they wanted to be.

A place where they can't love another.

It was a disease. Worse than despair. And they called it falling in love.

Each day, she was reminded of him. His empty seat in front of her. His cheerful smile and eagerness to help. His jokes and even his annoying qualities.

"Will he be okay?" Rantaro asked with a slight frown.

Kaede sighed, not looking up from her notebook. "He's been gone for a year."

"Now now class," Mr Koizumi rapped his knuckles against the table, "Worrying about Mr Momota will not bring us any closer to an education would it? He wouldn't want that.. so let's continue with our lesson."

Ryoma sighed with disappointment, glancing at Gonta while Miu played around with a gadget which she had invented.

Everyone did their own thing, not really paying attention to their lessons. After all, there was nothing to do after they graduated from Hope's Peak. Everything was provided for them...

And Kokichi hated it.

He folded paper airplanes and launched them around the classrooms, occasionally hitting the other students.

He was bored as hell after all.

Kokichi watched with a slight frown as Shuichi slept on his desk, his hat pulled low over his eyes to block the light. He looked so peaceful when he slept and Kokichi wanted him to sleep forever.

Just to see the worry lines disappear from Shuichi's face when he relaxed. The other boy had not talked to him at all ever since their fight a year ago, leaving Kokichi a little hurt.

That memory was still as fresh as ever in Kokichi's mind. Each night, he could remember Shuichi's distraught expression as he cried for Kaito.

He knew Shuichi always went out to the rooftop garden to stare at the dark sky. The purple haired boy could see him from his dorm room, which was located just a few rooms away. It has been going on for awhile now..

Shuichi leaving his dorm room at exactly eight in the evening, always grabbing the same food and then making his way to the garden. And then he waits around till it gets dark to watch the stars.

Kokichi was used to his strange routine by then, since it has been a year.. almost a year and a half since Kaito had been taken away.

A year and a half for Kokichi to fight his own feelings down for the pitiful guy.

He had to make Shuichi see some sense. Before he got reckless.

✧༺♥༻∞　　∞༺♥༻✧

Shuichi was in the library, obviously studying for a test as Kokichi watched him from a distance.

Judging by the amount of books on the table, and Shuichi's sleepy expression, he's been there for hours. Kokichi darted away when Shuichi rubbed his eyes, nearly catching sight of him.

The purple haired boy was always praised for being stealthy, and had a reputation for popping up randomly... Kokichi had to use that to his advantage.

But how does one make Shuichi snap out of his 'emo' phase? Kaito was great at that, but maybe not Kokichi, since he barely knew the guy..

He sighed. Maybe acting like a stalker wouldn't be a good call. Which meant he had to be obvious about it.

"This is because of Momota-chan." he kept repeating to himself as he grabbed a few books from the shelf. "Since he's not here, I'll try to cheer Saihara up.."

Not because he had a crush or anything.. duh. Because there was no way he liked the strange emo kid.. right?

Kokichi glanced at Shuichi from behind the shelves, making sure he didn't notice before purposely making his way over to him.

The other boy looked up when Kokichi placed the huge stacks of books on the seat opposite his.

Play it cool, Ouma. Kokichi told himself and as he sat in front of Shuichi. You're just keeping him company while he griefs over Kaito.

"What.. are you doing?"

Kokichi looked up when he heard Shuichi's whisper.

"Studying for Math. Duh."

Shuichi raised an eyebrow, before using his pen and tapping a English book that he had picked up. "Right.. unless Math is the same as English, I don't think that's right."

Damnit Ouma.. that was a really stupid lie. Why was he so careless lately?

Maybe because all he could think of were Shuichi's dull, stupidly beautiful eyes.

"Just let me study in peace, thanks." Shuichi continued, taking his pen away and looking at the pages of his textbook.

Kokichi sighed to himself, looking at the small letters on his books. "..." he was hoping for Shuichi to ask more questions, but that seemed to be all for today.

An hour passed.. and then another.

And Kokichi continued to wait for Shuichi to say something..

By the time the purple haired boy looked up again was when the bell chimed. It was nearly seven in the evening.. and Shuichi hasn't said a word.

As if on cue, the boy stood up and started packing his things. Kokichi watched as he put book after book into his bag before walking away, not waiting for Kokichi or even saying goodbye.

"Well Saihara-chan," Kokichi muttered to himself, watching the retreating figure, "If you wanna be stubborn, two can play at that game."

✧༺♥༻∞　　∞༺♥༻✧

The next day, Kokichi waited around by the bookshelves again, watching as Shuichi sat down at the same seat, and taking out the same books.

Man, this guy sure was boring as hell. Oh well, it can't be helped..

Kokichi walked out from behind the shelves and meticulously taking out a Math book and sitting in front of Shuichi.

Kokichi also grabbed a notebook he kept with him and flipped to a page, which was clearly blank.

The other pages had drawings of spaceships and doodles he mindlessly thought about in class.

He doodled for awhile, sketching out a box. And another. And another.

The friends in his little group often commented on his childish drawings, but it was all for the fun of it, of course.

He wondered how were they doing. Maybe he should check up on them someday. But first, he had to help Saihara out of this phase.

Kokichi stared at the boxes he drew, before narrowing his eyes. When he had let the first person join his group, they had to prove that they were 'worthy'.

So Kokichi had challenged them to a tic-tac-toe tournament.

If they won against him, they could become a member of DICE... and so far, nine people had beaten him. Mostly because Kokichi let them.

Each member had a unique backstory, and all of them were equally... troubled. Their pasts were so full of hopelessness that Kokichi had felt sorry for them.

So that's why he created DICE. To give them a family when their own families couldn't provide for them.

Anyway, he was getting off track.

Kokichi drew the usual four lines, and slid the paper towards Shuichi, who looked up at him in surprise. "Surely you know how to play tic-tac-toe."

Shuichi narrowed his eyes, shoving the paper away and going back to his book. Clearly, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

Kokichi shrugged to himself, taking the paper back and drawing smiley faces all over it. Oh well, maybe the plan failed today, but there was always tomorrow!

He watched as Shuichi turned a page, clearly focused as he solved the math questions.

His head was bent low over the book, the hat blocking the light from overhead. Kokichi wondered how could he actually see.

One thing he noticed about Saihara, was that he always wore that hat, even when he was indoors. And miraculously, it always stayed on even when they were playing sports or running around.

Kokichi reached up to his own head and tugged at the strands of purple hair which fell over his eyes. He ought to get a haircut soon.. but he was feeling lazy. Maybe he could grow his hair and soon, maybe tie it up.

Soon, the evening bell chimed, and Shuichi started to pack up. When he was done, he, once again, left Kokichi behind.

One day, Saihara.. Kokichi thought glumly, you'll soon get over Kaito Momota.

♥ End of Chapter Four ♥