"Well, quite the show that was~" A voice taunted, paired with the sound of another lunch tray coming to rest across the table from her. Kaede's eyes snapped up and met with the owner of those mischievous, violet eyes who had tormented the class all morning.

     "Kokichi..." The amnesiac sighed, shoulders slumping back down. She wasn't sure what he wanted, or why he's hopped tables – he'd sounded like he'd been having more than enough fun earlier on this lunch period, at the table with the astronaut, assassin and adventurer, tormenting the two former students relentless – much to his amusement, it seemed,

     The supreme leader stared at the downcast pianist for a few moments, merely taking note of her. Though it wasn't typically to his concern, it was certainly unsettling to see her acting so off. Pretty quickly, Kokichi decided he didn't like the new, clueless Kaede – nor the guilty, downcast Kaede he was watching so closely, across the table from him. Two more lunch trays sat unattended and half-finished where Shuichi had fled the lunch hall with Miu in tow.

     "Ya feel guilty about that little fiasco, huh?" The boy lent his elbow on the table, propping his chin up on his palm as he observed the pianist.

     "Well, of course I do! I- Didn't mean to upset him, I just... Didn't know..." A frown creased her brow – a sight that wouldn't have been common for Kaede of the past, not that she knew that. "If I don't feel it – how am I supposed to know things like that...? No one told me..."

      "I guess you're right, there's no way you could've known if you don't feel it." Kokichi pursed his lips as he thought of what to say in response. There were many routes this conversation could take, many lies he could weave – she would believe just about anything, after all. "But between you and me, I wouldn't worry. I mean... From what I know, you were already loosing feelings for him anyway~"

     "I was? You could tell?" Her eyes snapped back up, naïve and honest as she stared at him thoughtfully. "That's a relief..."

     "Oh, for sure! You were barely acting like a couple at all, anymore!" Kokichi nodded gravely. Had he said that to the Kaede from before, she surely would have laughed in his face.

      "Really? That's kind of a relief... I don't feel so bad about not feeling anything..." She gave a soft exhale, some of the tension in her posture seeming to seep away, and he watched with some degree of surprise as a small, wary smile came across her face.

      "Mhm! Definitely!" He nodded, weaving yet more lies as if he couldn't help himself. Lying was like an urge he just couldn't control, merely weaving more and more cobwebs of confusion, just to see how deep he could ensnare the innocent fly – and watch them struggled to tear the webs apart and be free – work out the truth. Sometimes he didn't even know what the truth was, but it most definitely was not what he was telling the confused blonde girl.

     He knew – as well as anyone else listening in from the other tables nearby – that he was lying through his teeth about this. It wasn't exactly bad, though, was it? He'd made the girl feel better. He supposed it truly wasn't her fault, but simply saying that wouldn't do her any good – the others wouldn't understand that. Sure, what he was saying might not be strictly true, but hell, it was getting the job done better than any of the others could've, wasn't it?

     "Besides! Between you and me, I think he's using this as an opportunity – you know, try and get you back while you're too weak to know better, if you get me." Kokichi whispered to her conspiringly across the table. The way he spoke, he was so sure that she'd realise he wasn't being entirely serious, but those magenta eyes widened and he realised she'd taken the bait, hook, line and sinker.

      "Wait, really?" She asked, tone hushed, though no doubt anyone nearby would still be able to hear. "Is he really the type to do something like that?"

     "Oh, for sure he is! A total creep!" Kokichi nodded quickly.

     He briefly considered backing out on what he was saying, tempted to tear down the lies he was weaving himself, but that would make him a coward, and a coward he was not. He didn't usually feel bad for lying to anyone, but something felt kind of wrong about lying to Kaede. Usually, she was so strong – in many ways – but right now, she was weaker than he'd ever seen her. She didn't really stand a chance at picking out the truth amongst the lies – not that there even was any truth in it, anyway.

     "You know what, that's enough." A harsh voice cut in and two shadows fell over the table. Kaede glanced away from Kokichi to see two girls – Tenko and Angie. "That's enough – degenerate male, trying to poison her mind!"

     "Tenko." Angie said in a weird, sickly sweet tone, with a hand on her arm to soothe the brunette's anger. Then, she turned her oceanic gaze back towards Kaede. "Kaede, I would not trust what he's telling you."

     The small girl, shook her head and quickly took the seat beside her, where Miu had been sat, and looped one arm through the pianist's. She guessed the girl was just handsy, and didn't think much more of her odd demeanour.

     "Why...?" She asked, a confused frown coming to her face, eyes glancing between Angie and Kokichi, mentally weighing up who was most trustworthy. She didn't manage to reach a verdict.

      "The fact that he's a degenerate male should be enough reason not to trust him!" Tenko declared, sinking down into the seat on Kaede's other side, arms folding across her chest, a sharp glare being shot in the direction of the boy.

      "Plus, he's a liar! And Atua hates liars!" Angie smiled – it was probably supposed to come off as wise and knowing, but Kaede couldn't help but feel that Angie gave off a strange vibe – if anything, it made her rather uncomfortable, though she couldn't explain why this was.

      Kokichi remained silent, barley moving, though his face set into an agitated frown – he wasn't best pleased about being interrupted and the needless slander from the two girls was putting a damper on his fun. Not that they were wrong, per se, but still, they were ruining the fun he could have with Kaede now that she was a blank slate.

     "Guys, that's kinda mean..." Keaede pointed out worriedly, holding up one finger in sheepish protest. "I mean... He hasn't done anything to hurt me, if anything, he's been kind of helpful, I don't think you should be so rude to him."

     "Don't worry about it~" Kokichi sighed airily, making a dismissive waving motion with his hand as he stood from his seat, then picked up his tray of food again, and Kaede found she was rather disappointed that he was leaving her alone with these two rude girls – not that she disliked them, exactly, but she definitely had a preference. He leant forwards slightly, and shot the girl a wink. "Let them think what they wanna think, we both know~"

      Then, Kokichi turned his back to the three girls, leaving the amnesiac in the care of their two classmates.

      He couldn't help the spark of delight that fluttered in his chest when Kaede had been so quick to defend him – even if they were right. Previous Kaede would have been used to them saying such things about him, but he found he rather liked having the pianist look at him with fresh eyes.

       Annoyingly enough, there was a spark of guilt alongside it. After all, if she'd had the choice, she surely wouldn't have done that, would she? After all, Kaede wasn't really like this. He couldn't help but feel he was tricking her in some way – well, he was, but that wasn't important, now was it? But he reasoned with himself that he hadn't done her any harm, in order to soothe the faint itch of guilt. 

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