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05/10 Charity Auction

On Monday morning, each glass case in the auditorium has been fitted with a small scanner similar to the one on the vending machines, at which one's PDA can be pressed against to bid a chosen number of merit points. Bidding is open all day, discouraged during class time and so the bidding rush happens at lunch and after school until closing at 5:45 when students are set to start leaving for home. Bids are anonymous while in process— or, as anonymous as can be while staring daggers over your friend's shoulder daring them to outbid you— but the winning bids and bidders are posted at the front of the auditorium at the end of the day.

Among the list are:

Item
One free investigation by the Ultimate Detective
Handmade blanket
One free consultation with the Criminal Consultant
Sick backflip lessons
Self-defense lessons
Studying sessions
Boyfriend with Hajun Yeon for a day
Pair of carved wooden birds
Boyfriend with Natsume Sakasaki for a week
GameBoy Color with Power Quest, Monopoly, and Pokemon TCG
Nerf gun
Cursed chalk
Dinner with the principal
Body-chan (not actually listed as Body-chan)

Winning bid
25
20
20
10
10
10
40
20
40
35
25
15
40
99

Winner
M Arisu
G Tanaka
M Arisu
N Handa
T Sato
Y Ueno
C Kudo
R Arata
C Kudo
S Ishigami
N Yashiro
H Arisu
S Ishigami
K Ouma

Overall, the auction raised over ћ854,000 for the Save A Brain Foundation. Good job! You rock. Winners may pick up with items at any time during the week, after which anything leftover will be donated and the auditorium will be cleaned out by Saturday evening.

Body-chan

Rights to the body belong to Kokichi. The case as a whole cannot physically be moved away from the wall or out of the auditorium, and the lid will not open unless he taps his PDA, screen unlocked via fingerprint, against the sensor. He does not have to open it today, or even after time is up at the end of the week and the body and case will be removed if yet unclaimed— as long as the body has been in the case, it has never changed from appearing to be at the brink of death.

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[It's hard to make sense of what's going on aside from catching snatches of conversation once everyone's returned, but Hinata resolves himself to just having to play catch-up once again. After Cat is taken care of (???) and Hinata has hopefully been bandaged up (??????), he'll wait for whatever seems like the most opportune moment to catch a certain person's attention.]

Hey, Ouma... Can I talk to you for a second?

[Kokichi is not looking great, his very scratched-up hands newly bandaged by one of their medics, the ends up his sleeves still damp with Body-chan's blood. He's taking a moment to breathe as their medical team finishes up, getting their patient hurried off to the nurse's office or something. Leaning against the wall outside the bathroom, Kokichi glances up and immediately affects a smile.]

Hm? What's up, Hinata-chan? Are you done playing with the cat?

Playing with the cat is a word for it, I guess...

[Hinata sighs, taking up a position besides him against the wall. With that stark height difference, the two of them probably make an interesting picture to anybody who happens to be passing by.

He's annoyed - not at Ouma, not even at Saihara, but at the situation. Maybe the cat, a little bit. Hinata would've loved a method to handle this that did not result in him getting carved up badly enough that he needed to be bandaged as much as he is, but it's too late to worry about it now.

There's more important things to worry about now, after all.

He glances at Ouma, eyes searching. He might not be Tsumiki, but he's seen enough wounds to know that whatever the other boy went through, it looks like it wasn't pretty.]

I can see the bandages clear enough, but... [He jerks his head slightly in Ouma's direction.] How badly did you get hurt?

[Can't escape the nosy "nice" guys, huh? Kokichi arches an eyebrow, but then grins and lifts his bandaged hands. It's not terrible, all things considered. Mostly just a scattering of bandaids over a variety of smaller scratches.]

It's horrible! The doctor said I might not make it... Hey, if I die, would you smack Komaeda-chan for me? It's my final wish...

[Yeah, he's fine. Just babbling nonsense.]

[Hinata looks him over with a careful, considering eye.

It's arguable if he even should ask Ouma that, considering he's already owned up to lying all the time. But...

Now that Hinata knows to look for things that are untrue, it becomes a lot easier to read what might be the over-exaggerations. Usually, Hinata would be become frustrated and huff over it once he figured out that's what's happening.

But Hinata has spent a lot of time talking to many different classmates of his. And sometimes, he knows when to stop and just listen.

So he waits for those short moments... and then Hinata speaks, in a very quiet voice.]

I'm sorry... that Saihara and I didn't get here faster.

[Despite the soft sincerity with which Hinata says it, Kokichi's grin doesn't slip a centimeter. There's something cool and thoughtful in his gaze that doesn't quite match up with it, but it's subtle, easy to miss.]

Were you busy making out? I saw you two getting preeeeetty cuddly when I peeked out into the hall earlier!

[And suddenly, teary eyes. Oh lord.]

Jeez, I can't believe you'd swoop in and snatch Saihara-chan away from me like that...

[Hinata sighs, a little long-suffering, but it's not enough to knock him off track. If Ouma looks closely enough, he might see that Hinata's cheeks seem to be a little pinker than they were previously, but that's as far is it seems to go.]

It's nothing like that. Saihara and I are close from the memories we both have, and I depend on him a lot... More than I probably should. But considering the kind of friendship we had... something like that would probably be weird for both of us. There's probably other people I would consider first... and I'm sure he has others, too.

[Part of him has to wonder... how much is real, how much is an act? He really can't read Ouma that well yet, so the only thing he can do is take everything with a grain of salt, yet try to respond as best he can.]

[Aaaand the tears instantly vanish as Hinata fails to engage with his nonsense. Boooo.]

I wouldn't worry about it. Everyone always relies on Saihara-chan too much! So you're not doing anything he's not already used to.

[That...still sounds like something to worry about.

But Kokichi just smirks, straightening up a bit from his slouch against the wall and giving Hinata a calculating look. Despite his shrimpy stature, he somehow has a way of seeming like he's looking down on everyone.]

So what do you want? No way you approached a Supreme Leader of Evil like me just to make small talk.

[Hinata's expression shifts into something sadder.]

Just because everyone does doesn't mean they should. If you put too much pressure on somebody, they'll break.

[It almost sounds like he's talking from experience. Probably because Hinata hasn't gotten to that point yet, but he's felt close to it plenty of times.]

Do I have to want something, though? [He shrugs, hands sliding into his pockets. He feels a little intimidated by the way Ouma seems to have a larger presence than his stature, but not anymore than if it were Togami or Sonia exuding that commanding air they both have.] There's not really any big mystery to it. I wanted to check on you, and to apologize too... So that's what I came to do.

[Despite his impish expression, those eyes are piercing. It's like he's searching, digging deep for any hints of insincerity or ulterior motive. He looks Hinata over for a moment before arching an eyebrow.]

Apologize for what, showing up a lil late? Most of the transfers didn't show up at all and they're not rushing over to apologize for it. Do you have a guilty conscience or something?

[He swallows a little nervously as those eyes look him over, but Hinata forces himself not to flinch. He knows he doesn't have anything to hide, so he lets himself relax. It's fine.]

I don't know if I'd consider that a "little"... It seems like a lot happened between your message and us getting here. But...

[For a moment, he considers. If his suspicions are correct, Saihara will probably kill him for this, but he'll deal with the consequences if it comes to that.]

A guilty conscience is probably putting it a little strongly, but I guess you're not off the mark. The other transfer students that didn't show up might not be tripping over themselves to apologize, but it probably takes me longer to move up and down floors in this school than any of us. And more importantly... [Even if some of the nerves are still there, Hinata looks him directly in the eye.] I don't know if the others are as invested in you being okay.

[A lot did go down out there. But in his defense, he pretty much sent that message and then sat in the bathroom keeping pressure on Bodychan's wound until their medics showed up, so it was a lot less eventful from his perspective.

He looks Hinata up and down again, looking for some reason for that stairs trouble. He doesn't see anything, and he'd probably dig into that immediately had Hinata not followed it up with a much worse can of worms that Kokichi cannot resist cracking open. He adopts a shocked face, but there's still a grin breaking through.]

W-woah, how bold! Is this a confession, Hinata-chan?

[That finally gets Hinata to break and fluster.]

H-hey, it isn't like that...! Isn't it a big jump to be assuming that?! [He can't get the red to leave his face, so the only thing he can really do is fold his arms and shut his eyes. Might as well shut out the world if he can't hide himself.] Caring about someone doesn't necessarily have to be... like that, you know?

[Like what, romantic??? You can say it, Hinata, really.]

[The dam is broken. Now he really wants to tease Hinata more...]

But you literally said you're more invested than anyone else. Are you just trying to say no one else cares that much...?

[Sad face, eyes quickly tearing up. How could you hurt him like this, Hinata-chan...?]

[Hinata huffs!! still a little red, but he forces himself to settle down a little. He feels like there's something important here that hasn't quite been said yet... Maybe that's his fault for not being clearer about it, so he will now.]

I said compared to the people who didn't show up. [Even if the embarrassment hasn't left his face, he still manages to shoot Ouma a Look.] There's one other person who cares about you more, still... I don't need to spell it out for you who it is, do I?

[He was just fucking around with Hinata – a welcome reprieve from Serious Shit after the mess in the bathroom – but his grin falls away at that. Not to anger or anything, just...blankness. His expression is totally unreadable for a few moments, before he frowns and slightly arches his eyebrows at Hinata, aiming instead for something like boredom.]

I've had a rough night, y'know. So don't waste my time just hinting at things.

[Maybe you do need to spell it out. Because as smart as he is, that's not something he lets himself think about. It's an express lane to disappointment.]

[His eyes widen in surprise for two reasons - the first is because he sees the way Ouma’s face changes, and he starts to wonder if this is the real Ouma Kokichi, without the lies that he shows the world.

The second reason is that in that moment he realizes Ouma doesn’t know, and all Hinata can think is, Oh.]

...Alright, then.

[This is probably a situation that calls for a lot more delicacy than Hinata is about to use. But he doesn’t even give himself the chance to overthink it.]

The one that cares about you the most is Saihara. And because he cares about what happens to you, I care about you, too.

[There's no hint of a reaction, but maybe that's significant in itself. Kokichi's typically a whirlwind of expressions, exaggerated and theatrical. This careful control, in contrast, is...well, it's something.

A beat, like he's giving Hinata a chance to say something else – a qualifier or a denial or whatever – and then his response is cool and unimpressed.]

What makes you think that, huh? Has he actually said that to you, or are you just interpreting things however makes you feel better? Hinata-chan's a nice guy, so I bet you want everyone to get along, riiight?

[The silence is almost worse than if Ouma had hurled insults at him - it's really only experience with his other classmates and their rapidly changing emotions that helps him brace himself a little. Hinata still feels wildly unequipped to handle things even when Ouma does speak, but...

If he's reacting in this way, it has to mean something, right? It's something too important to ignore.]

Everyone getting along is nice, but thinking that everyone will is naive. [For a second, he wonders if what he's about to say is enough - what if he doesn't believe Hinata, or finds it lacking? But it was enough to give him the conviction to talk to Ouma, so maybe it'll be enough for him too.] As for Saihara... he's a person that runs on logic. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that. And maybe you do know him better than I do, knowing him from before this place. [His voice gets a little quieter with his next words.] But I've never seen him drop everything as fast as he did when he saw that message. Not for anybody.

[He's a person who runs on logic, too. They're similar like that. Which is why there's maybe the slightest twitch in his flat expression, jaw tensing just slightly.

Unfortunately, they're also similar in their mental blocks when it comes to things like this, even if the causes are different. Sure, he can tease and flirt and joke endlessly, but ultimately it's all harmless because it'll never go anywhere. He's plenty aware of how much people dislike him. The best he can hope for is being memorable.

Another brief pause, and then he heaves a sigh, wearing a bored, almost annoyed face.]

Sooo you're just interpreting things however you like. Jeez, I shouldn't have told you that lie back at the meeting. I didn't think it'd turn you into a shipper...

[ can't believe hinata ships saiou smh ]

[His face scrunches up a bit at being called a shipper, Jesus Christ, Ouma. But Hinata does his best to recover and regain his footing... such as it is, anyway.]

Aren't you the one interpreting things how you like, now? That's twice already that you've assumed romantic feelings, you know.

[Kind of might say something, maybe.

His argument feels shakier now that Ouma's tried to strike it down... But he's held onto less for far worse circumstances. He's never seen Saihara move that fast before; the image of him jumping up is still burned into his brain, and Hinata lets that give him strength now.]

It feels like you're insisting pretty hard about something that I'm apparently just reading too much into.

[ bro don't call him out like this

However off-balance he was before, it seems like he's gotten back into his groove. He affects a surprised expression, poking one of his own cheeks.]

Ehh? Of course I'd assume romantic feelings with this cute face! I'm super popular, y'know!

[Yeah, right. He doesn't even bother waiting for a reaction before giving up on that one, dropping the cute schtick and rolling his eyes.]

But that's a lie. You're just easy to mess with. Seems like you read too much into everything, huh?

[He can't help but huff at that, a little affronted. Not again.]

It's not the first time somebody's said I'm easy to mess with... I guess there might be something to it.

[There is. He just hates it.]

Sometimes I wonder if you aren't lying when you say something's a lie. [It's something he says offhandedly, sighing as he rubs the back of his neck, but part of him wonders if it's possible. It's not the first time he's thought about it.] How the hell am I even supposed to tell?

[It kind of drives him up the wall sometimes, but... He supposes he should expect that sort of eccentric behavior out of an Ultimate; it's the reason he's cat-herding his class half of the time.]

That aside... would it really be such an awful thing if I were right?

[He's prepared now. There isn't a hint of reaction in his expression, not even the slightest twitch. He just watches Hinata for a moment as if bored and vaguely amused.

(And maybe there's some tiny part of him, detached from the current conversation, that genuinely is. This guy is more perceptive than Kokichi had given him credit for. It'd be interesting...y'know, if he weren't using it to prod at giant raw spots.)]

So stubborn... [ gosh shippers sure are determined ] Fineee. It'd be sooo nice! Who wouldn't want a loser like that clinging to them? That's just what I need in a place like this!

[The sarcasm is heavy and biting. At least, that's what it sounds like. We don't need to be second-guessing the truthfulness of every little thing he says.

Kokichi shrugs grandly, bloodied hands spread wide.]

So what about it?

Not anything about it in particular. [He shrugs, all casual.] It's just that in a place like this... having someone like that can carry you a long way. Sometimes you just need to know someone cares about you, even if you can't trust them... Even if you don't think that you need it. Sometimes it'll be enough to get you through some of the worst things you'll ever go through.

[Up until that point, his voice has been something somber - but then he shoots Ouma a half-grin, part snark and part self-deprication.]

But that's just some lame advice from the guy who looks into everything too much, right?

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05/10 Charity Auction

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