(may catch-all) the cool kids table, but rika's the only cool kid

[unsurely]

‣ WHO: Shuichi Saihara & a bunch of people!
‣ WHEN: All throughout May.
‣ WHERE: Various locations.
‣ WHAT: Catch-all for May starters.
‣ WARNINGS: Just mild NDRV3 & SDR2 spoilers so far, subject to change.

◦ ◦ ◦

Tfw neither you nor like half of everyone you have plans with top-level, so this happens. I'm using this to write starters for people based on stuff we discussed beforehand. No open prompts, but if you want something specific with me or Saihara during May, I'm still up for that and you're free to throw a starter in here!

Alternately, hit me up via Plurk at garlemald or contact me on Discord at Rina#8760 whenever to discuss.

Comments

[trialbyliar]

Somewhere a bit more private!

[He smirks as he says it, his voice singsong and the wink he gives Shuichi more than a little suggestive. Just teasing, of course. Or maybe it's to throw off anyone that might overhear as they leave the room, still milling with a few lingering transfer students.

He really doesn't want anyone eavesdropping on this, after all.

Dragging Shuichi along, Kokichi doesn't look like he's got a specific destination in mind, in no particular rush as he glances into classrooms to check for an empty one. Maybe he should break them into the nurse's office so they can have a locking door...? No, that'd definitely seem suspicious if anyone's watching.

As they walk, he pipes up in a conversational tone, not even bothering to look at Shuichi.]

Hey, Saihara-chan... Are we friends?

[Oof. One hell of a question, where they're concerned. Still gripping Shuichi's sleeve, he swings their arms between them playfully, idly.]

I know I can trust the Ultimate Detective of Truth and Justice to be honest with me.

[He snickers to himself, but the sideways glance he shoots Shuichi is...challenging, almost. Like he's reminding Shuichi of every trial, every time Shuichi's ever tried lying to him. "Tried" being the operative word there.]

[unsurely]

[ What...?

If the first thing Ouma said was just standard, barely worth the time or trouble, this one gives him pause. He'd been looking around, since it became pretty clear from the initial antics that they're looking for somewhere quiet, a place they can talk about something where no one can hear. He knew what to make of that part at least. But his eyes get drawn back by this as if magnetized almost, and it takes all the presence of mind he still has not to skip a step.

Unfortunately, even now his first impulse is to want to pull his arm free, like that question alone is enough to set off every alarm bell in his mind. What does Ouma want from him? He wouldn't be asking this without something more practical in mind, an ulterior motive behind it. Or would he...?

It's pretty clear from the way Saihara frowns, they sure lack the trust that a pair of friends would have had. ]

...Do you even want us to be?

[ Two people can play at this scrutiny game, so if the question sounds a little pointed or accusing do excuse him. The issue was pretty followed by bullshit after all -- he's none of those things and they both know. He side-eyes Ouma for a moment, trying to get a read on his face, before going back to being mindful of where they go. They've gone down one floor... so if with Saihara guiding them they end up in front of the music room like by reflex, then oh well.

:) ]

[trialbyliar]

No fair. You can't answer a question with another question!

[He looks back at Shuichi, but it's only to pout.]

Besides, what have I done to make you think I don't?

[What kind of a question is that, Kokichi??

Well.

Maybe it's a fair question. He's certainly done plenty to keep Shuichi on his toes, but hasn't Shuichi always seen through his shit more than anyone else? They've clashed plenty, but in the end he thought Shuichi did a decent job of making sense of it all. And hasn't Kokichi helped him repeatedly, if subtly, through two different murderschools now?

Maybe it's too much to hope Shuichi can understand him. It's probably foolish and self-indulgent to wish that he would in the first place. But...well, here he is. At the very least, he surely can't be blamed for being just as cautious as Shuichi. Who wants to give themselves away only to get it thrown back in their face?

At some point, heading down the stairs, Shuichi took the lead, and Kokichi's eyebrows raised but he allowed it. And then they end up in front of that door, and Kokichi scoffs and rolls his eyes but pushes the door open anyway. Fine, they can do this in Shuichi's wallowing room.]

[unsurely]

I suppose... you did say you thought of us as your friends... once before. I remember that.

[ In the gym of the Ultimate Academy, parting words that at the time had felt like only another detail in the dramatics, a little cog in the scheme designed to make them use the items Iruma had made and set themselves up for despair. And for Ouma's mastermind reveal. But with the knowledge he has now... after everything that happened and how that plan fell apart, it might have just been a truth said on purpose to look like a lie. An assessment he doesn't share with Ouma and keeps to himself.

He only follows the other into the music room, barely now becoming aware of the fact he just kind of... made his way here, himself. It throws him off for a second, enough to have him glancing awkwardly to the side as they enter, but this isn't the time to get flustered about his own subconscious betraying him.

It's pretty clear they have something to talk about. ]

But, Ouma-kun... you're just not the type to have a conversation like that for the sake of having it. Case in point... there's probably somewhere else you're going with this, too.

[ So is it really about being friends then? Can Ouma say, with his hand over his heart, that that's all it was? Saihara's giving him the closest compromise he can muster in light of that aspect, too. ]

[trialbyliar]

[Kokichi makes sure to close the door behind them before he leads Shuichi further inside. He moves almost automatically, like his actions have a different goal, completely separated from the pout on his face or the nonsense he's babbling.]

Saihara-chan's so suspicious of me! After all I've done for you, too...

[That's...definitely debatable. Not in the sense that it's definitely wrong, but in the more literal sense that people could definitely have very different interpretations of how valid that is and have a healthy debate about it. But Kokichi drops the theatrics a moment later anyway, shrugging.]

But I guess you're right. I mean, I do wanna know, but it's important too! After all, what I wanna talk about, well...it's not something I should be sharing with anyone I can't 100% trust.

[This whole time, he's kept his grip on Shuichi's sleeve. And as they reach the far corner of the room, less likely to be heard by anyone trying to eavesdrop from the hall, he finally stops and turns to Shuichi. He looks down at that link between the two of them, almost thoughtful, and takes Shuichi's hand there with his free one.

And then his hand gripping the end of the sleeve abruptly tugs it up, the other hand angling Shuichi's wrist so he can look at the tally marks there.]