✧ Chapter 36 ✧
[ The Will to Live that Lingers  ]
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"Well if it isn't Shuichi Saihara.." The traitor smiled from where they were sitting on the ground, their magenta eyes glinting. Shuichi stood in front of the purple haired Supreme Leader, shielding him from the smirking figure. No one spoke for awhile, the trio regarding each other with tension in the air.

"It seems like we meet again.." the person picked himself up from the ground, "The library didn't seem to discourage you I see."

"What do you want?" Shuichi asked, his tone serious. "Why do you keep tormenting us like this?"

Kokichi looked up at the detective, his heart fluttering slightly when he heard Shuichi refer to the both of them as 'us'. That couldn't be a coincidence, right? He hoped it wasn't a coincidence.

"Why?" the person laughed, stretching their arms slightly out to their sides, "Well, you'll find out soon. Why not you tend to your little boyfriend's wounds?"

Kokichi's eyes widened at the word, 'boyfriend'. Shuichi immediately glanced down at Ouma, "He's not my boyfriend.. I-I'm not even-. He's my friend."

Hearing it coming out from Shuichi's mouth seemed about a hundred times worse, Kokichi thought. But he called him a friend. The traitor smiled knowingly, reaching up to one of the Monokuma ears on the hoodie and tugging at it.

"Whatever you say. My leader predicted what's going to happen... and I dare say he's 100% accurate most of the time." with that, he turned, "Oh and one more thing.."

The traitor looked back at the two, "Your little friend, Kaito.. he's rather annoying to deal with, so we killed him." he announced it so easily. No sadness, no hint of sarcasm. Just a matter-of-factly. With that said, the traitor walked away.

Shuichi clasped his shaking hands together, trying to steady them. Kaito was dead? How could that be? How was that possible? He would've continued wondering but a loud cough shook him out of his thoughts. "Ouma!" he quickly knelt down when the purple haired boy coughed again.

"Hey gorgeously handsome," the boy smirked weakly, but looked rather pained while doing so, "Glad to hear you actually calling me your friend."

Shuichi waved away his comment, not wanting to look at the other student's eyes. "Where does it hurt?" he asked but Ouma shook his head.

"I can manage on my own. It's not that bad," Kokichi told him, his heart skipping several beats when he realised how close the two of them was. Thank goodness they were in a place where there weren't many students.

But of course, it was dangerous. With the traitor lurking about, cameras at every corner and the possibility of a student walking up to them.. Kokichi's face flushed slightly when he found himself thinking about actually kissing Saihara.

"The wounds doesn't seem very deep," the detective was saying, looking at Ouma's neck. "I need you to remove your bandanna so I can check."

"You- you don't have to fuss over me, Saihara-chan!" the prankster laughed nervously, trying not to dwell too much on what the other boy said, "I can take care of myself!"

"Liar," Shuichi said easily, taking hold of the back of Kokichi's bandanna and untying it. "Wha-hey!" the smaller boy yelped, "Don't do that! This is against my will.. maybe."

Shuichi leaned back, surprised and slightly shocked to see multiple bruises across the pale neck. A whole patch of fingernail scars and a scratch mark leading down to the shirt. It seemed as though he was attacked by feral cats instead of humans.

"What happened?!" Shuichi demanded as the liar stuck out his bottom lip, "I told you that you shouldn't take it off.. I look disgusting. The first ones were by my old schoolmates. Those were fun. The others were by, oh, pirates."

"Pirates," Shuichi repeated, pausing for a moment as if he couldn't tell if Ouma was being sarcastic, "How long has this been going on.? Why didn't you tell anyone, Ouma?" he sounded genuinely concerned as they sat on the concrete floor.

"Because I didn't want them to worry! Duh," Kokichi pressed a hand against his throat, purposely avoiding the first question, "Believe me, if you were in my shoes, you wouldn't wanna tell anyone. Oh, I don't think you can even fit in my shoes."

—

Ouma did have a point and Shuichi could relate to him... if he was getting bullied, he wouldn't want to tell anyone in fear for getting in trouble. But then again, it was horrible to see Kokichi getting injured like this. It actually hurt Shuichi more than he let on.

—

Kokichi looked at the other boy, who was looking at him with so much concern, he felt embarrassed. Since when did Saihara become so... empathetic towards him? He tried not to think too much as Shuichi continued to check the wounds around his neck.

"Is this why you wear that bandanna?" the detective questioned, "To hide your wounds?"

"Wrong again, Mister Detective," Kokichi grinned, lying, "Our schoolmates can do whatever they want to me, after all. Monokuma allowed it." Shuichi mumbled something he couldn't quite catch, but it sounded like a curse. Not the F-word, since that didn't seem like Shuichi's type. Or maybe he wasn't as innocent as he seems. He ought to find out later.

Kokichi was once again, struck by how much he actually liked the guy. Not because of his looks- okay, he was a perfect 10- but his personality. He was the first person in a long time to be polite to him.. to actually try to understand him.

He loved the other student's gentleness and his rather innocent demeanour. The way his hair fell in front of his golden-yellow eyes and when he took off his hat. He was even hotter. Kokichi blushed, hiding his face with the shadows of his hair and playing around with some strands. He hardly ever blushed...

"Anyway," Shuichi cleared his throat, looking away from him as if he were lost in his own thoughts, "We should probably go back to the dorms. It's getting late."

Shuichi stood up, looking down at Ouma for awhile, hesitating. He then sighed and extended a hand out for the liar to take.

Kokichi immediately took the other boy's hand, pulling himself up to stand. The two stood by the wall, the leader staring up into the eyes of the taller male. "..." He felt breathless and extremely shy all of a sudden. They were so close, Ouma could actually see how beautiful the other student's eyes were. With shades of gold and grey like autumn leaves and greyed snow.

The height difference didn't seem to bother the two students. Even as Shuichi's mesmerising yellow eyes stared into Ouma's purple ones. They couldn't look away, as if someone had paused the world. And it was beautiful. Kokichi wanted to kiss him so badly...

To pull him close. To confess his feelings for the detective. To do anything for the boy who was holding his hands. "Saihara.." he muttered as the other student suddenly sighed, dropping his hands.

"We can't get in trouble, Ouma." he looked away, towards the sun which was starting to dip below the horizon. The yellow hues matched the colour of the detective's eyes. Kokichi expected him to look serious, but to his surprise, he looked frustrated and slightly hurt.

"We have to keep our distance or we'll get in trouble." he repeated, turning his attention back to the shorter boy. Kokichi stared up at him, before breaking into a smug smile. "Sure thing, Mister Detective, anything you say!" he winked.

Shuichi blinked, as if he didn't hear him correctly, "You're okay with us keeping our distance?"

Kokichi forced down the truth, and instead weaved more lies, "Sure I do. In fact..." he took a deep breath, "I have an idea on how to end it all, Saihara-chan."

"You have an idea? I'm not sure if I should believe that.." the other boy stated, starting to sound suspicious as Ouma nodded enthusiastically. "Insulting~. But you're smart to be wary! Nee-heehee! I'll need all the help I can get. You're the man for this!"

Shuichi turned a slight shade of red, which Kokichi found adorable. "Um.. okay." he stammered as he instinctively rubbed his nose.

"Yep! So anywayyyy~!" he dragged out the 'y' to sound childish, "It's getting late as you said, so see you around, Saihara-chan!"

Without even missing a beat, the boy smiled, "Bye Ouma-kun."

The purple haired boy nearly tripped over, surprised to hear the navy haired boy call him that.

"You didn't see anything." Kokichi told him seriously as he scampered away, his face burning with happiness and embarrassment.

"Ouma-kun."

Was Shuichi finally warming up to him? He sure hoped so. If he was, the next part of his plan was going to most difficult one yet.

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[ Monokuma Theatre ]

Hey hey kiddos! Look what we have here! Another Monokuma Theatre! First of all, I've got lots of people to thank so.. *checks list* I should probably get through this speedy heedy.

So first of all, a big thank ya to shuweetchi , Shuichi_Saihara_ , _tooManyKiwis_ and NekoNikoNee for commenting and voting. I'm *sniff* grateful! I ought to give you guys more attention ya know. *Boo*

Whoa- I suddenly turned into my anime form! How strange. Anyway, more shoutouts —who calls 'em shoutouts anyway?— goes to DarkAngeloid686 , Isabelxeditz and candyships . Thank you guys for voting and readin'! Many thanks!

And more special thanks goes to you readers! Those who are from this strange app they call Amino. Where'd you come from? Psh, anyway, there's no need to fret! Welcome to the party and thank ya for readin'!

And sincere apologies if I miss out anyone else though. Author-chan is a rather forgetful person.. as some might know. *whispers* she's currently sleeping. I'mma go wake her and make her continue writin'. Upupupu..

Anyway. That's enough for now. No more till next Monokuma Theatre , cuz it's time for me to go! Bye bye!

[ Sidenote: The drawing of Rantaro has nothing to do with the chapter, I just wanted to post it here too. - 'A sleepy Author' ]  And sorry if I sometimes switch in between characters all of a sudden. I'm not very good at writing that sorta stuff so.. if it keeps switching, I'm sorry X'D :) }

♥ End of Chapter Thirty-Six ♥