"Thank goodness you didn't join them...!" Kokichi sighed in relief; you could practically hear the smile in his voice. After everyone had split up in the gym, the boy had followed you out until the two of you decided to just hang out in your dorm. You found yourself actually enjoying your time with him. "I don't know what I would have done without my best friend to mess around with!"

"You're talking about the 'brainwashing,' right?" You shrugged your shoulders humbly. "You've got others to be your friend. I'm no one special."

"Nuh-uh! True...I do see everyone here as a friend! But it's not like a lot of them are kind to me, y'know."

You furrowed your brows at what he just said. "You say that last part...so casually... It's kind of sad."

"Eh, whatever. You don't strangle me or yell at me, so that's why...you're my best...friend!"

"Some of them don't strangle or yell at y—"

"Hey. Take that thing off for a moment and look at me." Kokichi pulled the checkered scarf off of your eyes, allowing you to see once more. "You've put up with me, and now you're stuck with me! Nishishi~! You're different from some of the others, which is why I've kept coming back to you. Don't be so dense as to not believe that, okay?" He shot you an innocent and hopeful smile.

"Uhm..." You glanced away for a moment. "I...guess?"

Kokichi sighed. "Man are you stubborn. Oh well. All it means is that I'll have to work harder!" He instantly brightened up at that. "You've earned my respect from not joining the council. I really do; it's not a lie. I mean, I bet you were tempted to join considering the circumstances you're in, right? But you broke past the illusion and saw Angie's trick, right? Only another reason why you're an amazing...friend!"

Shouldn't respect come before friendship...?? You mentally sighed.

Kokichi hummed a bit, glancing around the room before averting his gaze back to you. "Nishishi! With my scarf around your neck... Just change your outfit to white and then you'll fit in perfectly in my organization!"

"Oh really, now?" you humored him.

"Mmhm! Buuut...I would like to get rid of that bandage."

"Huh...? You mean...this?" You pointed at the bandage you still had on your face. You remembered playing the knife game and accidentally cutting yourself there.

"Yeah. Surely the cut is healed by now, right?"

"Uh... I guess it might be..."

"Geez...! Stop being so awkward about everything!" The boy in front of you just huffed. "Now go! I don't wanna see that thing on you anymore!"

"Alright, alright." You stood up from the bed that you two had been sitting on. Walking over to the bathroom, you parked yourself right in front of the mirror. You pulled the bandage back a bit, and sure enough the cut had healed. There was a small scar, but it was just barely visible. You disposed of the bandage after taking it entirely off and walked back to your bed.

"Wow! You look even better than how I remembered!" Kokichi told you, eyes wide. "You know, with your face being hidden most of the time... And now, without that stupid bandage, I can see even more of your pretty face during those rare times where you take the scarf off!"

"Oh, I feel so flattered," you deadpanned. However, you did feel your face flush up a bit. You didn't know why, though. It should be normal for friends to compliment each other, right? So this wasn't any different...right?

"But really, what are you going to do with the scarf now?"

"Hm..." You actually hadn't thought about that. "If I can trust you then...I'll tell you this. I think I want to keep wearing this to cover my eyes."

Kokichi tilted his head at you. "'Cause of your eyes changing color?"

"Yes... I'm afraid that at one point, I'll be in a situation where my eyes might screw me over... I believe that sometimes they change color and I don't even notice."

"Tch. That's some pretty weak reasoning...!" He stopped himself, letting out a sigh before continuing. "But if you really don't wanna let anyone see then...you could always get contacts."

"Oh yeah, I could do that...! And I could get some from Tsumugi once her lab opens up. I doubt she'll have any contacts on her at the moment."

"Alrighty then! Soooo...do you want me to take the scarf, or...?"

"I...uh..." You looked up at Kokichi, who seemed to be growing just as awkward as you were. "C-Can I... W-Would you mind it if I...k-kept it...?" Dammit, I'm not supposed to stutter...! How could this have happened!? I bet he's just going to—

"I don't mind!" the boy rushed in an excited manner.

"I...was sure that you were going to laugh at my stuttering..." you mumbled. "Why so enthusiastic?" you asked him in a louder tone.

"Since you're my best friend, I guess I won't bombard you with too many lies. Instead, I'll be quick to get to the truth...!" Kokichi spread his arms out proudly. "Truth be told, I think you look cute with my scarf on!"

"Now that's a lie!" you called out shakily, taken aback by what he just said and how he said it.

"Yeah, that was a lie. But I could've been lying about lying, y'know? I could be lying and lying and lying! Or lying about lying about lying about lying!?"

"Stop, please, my head hurts..."

"Nishishi~!" His cheeks were dusted with the lightest shade of pink possible.

"Geez... You said that you wouldn't bombard me with lies, Kokichi...!"

"Lie-ception!" Kokichi smirked. "I dunno about you, but I'd say lie-ception is different than a bombardment of lies. And besides! I said I wouldn't lie as much to you, not stop lying altogether." You let out an exhausted sigh at this, to which the boy just laughed at.

Ding dong!

...Huh? Is that my intercom...? "I'm going to go get the door." You walked over and opened your door. You jumped a little when you saw the huge teenager on the other side. "Ah...! Er, Gonta, hey. I'm...honestly surprised that you're here."

"Huh? What? Gonta's here?" Kokichi skipped over to you, peeking his head out of the doorframe.

"Morning (Y/N)! Morning Kokichi!" Gonta greeted the two of you.

You raised a brow at him. "What are you doing here?"

"Gonta was asked to see if you changed your mind about student council."

"Sorry, but...my answer is still 'no thanks.' It's very sweet of you to ask again, though." You chuckled nervously. Gonta stayed at the door, not saying a word. "...Uhm...are you panning to leave or are you just going to stand there?"

"Leave? As in, we all leave to see bug friends!?"

"Maybe not now...!" you rushed. "Don't...take me the wrong way. I mean, that sounds very fun. Kokichi and I would just love to see your bug friends some time later."

"Oh, alright... But what happened to your eyes?"

You felt a jab at your side. "Great going. Even someone as oblivious as Gonta spotted that...!" Kokichi quietly hissed.

Damn it, that's right. I have to be careful... "My eyes? What's wrong with them?" You tilted your head, hoping that it would add onto your act.

"They change color! Maybe you are sick! Don't worry! Gonta go find help!"

"Heyyy Gonta...! Why don't we all hang out together, hm?" Kokichi had a firm grip on Gonta's hand, keeping him from leaving and spreading the word. You shot him a thankful glance. "(Y/N) isn't sick, don't worry."

"Yeah...I'm not sick. You can trust Kokichi on this one."

"Huh...? Gonta was told not to trust Kokichi from Insect Meet and Greet, but if you say he's right...then it must be true!" Gonta beamed. "Weather is nice today... If we all hang out together, why not go outside?"

"Alright."

"Both of you!" Kokichi clapped. "Follooooow me!! The Ultimate Supreme Leader!" He slipped past you through the door, appearing behind Gonta. A big smirk plastered on his face, he proudly started to march away from your dorm. Gonta followed the small boy. You let out a small breath, lips curving upwards in the slightest hint of a smile, before walking after them.

"Man are you two lousy bums!" Kokichi yelled at the two of you, still marching forward. "That's not how you're supposed to move! You need to march! This is especially important for you (Y/N). Considering your role in my organization, you'll most likely have to march into battle with me and the others."

"Like...this?" Gonta started marching.

The supreme leader turned around to look. "Yeah! See? Just like that! If someone like Gonta can do this, then you should too!"

"We'll look really stupid though..." You rubbed the back of your neck, eyes landing on the floor.

"Who cares? March like an idiot with me!"

"Uhm... Maybe we not call ourselves idiots. But Kokichi is right!" Gonta smiled innocently. "We no should care about how other people think of us."

Life Lessons with Gonta... I wonder how much business he'd have if that became a thing. You sighed. You sort of marched in place—you weren't very enthusiastic about it, as one could tell just by how little your arms and legs were moving. "This good?"

"..." Kokichi crossed his arms and pouted at you; his foot was tapping the ground impatiently. Then he sighed. "It's a start, at least. I guess I'll have to do some personal, one-on-one training with you so you're ready to work in my organization! Now come on, the both of you!"

The boy led all of you behind the school building, outside of the boiler room.

"Why are we here, of all places?" you inquired. "This looks like a place where teenagers sneak out of class to go smoke." You casually leaned on the wall, tilting your head.

"Smoke...?" Gonta repeated quizzically. "Smoke...!? No! Smoking bad for us!"

"You sure about that?" Kokichi spread his arms out dramatically. "I've already went through one hundred packs."

"H-Huh!?"

"He's just lying. If he smoked that much then he should be dead by now."

"O-Oh...okay then."

"Nishishi! You got me!" He put his hands behind his head. "O-kay then! What do you all want to do?"

Gonta tilted his head. "Huh? But you suggested we all go hang out in first place..."

"...Huh? Oh, yeah. That's right......"

"Mmm... How about we all go to sleep?" you wondered, only half-jokingly. You let out a yawn. "Maybe we don't have to sleep...but we can just...rest, you know?" You slid down to the ground, curling up into a ball and laying your head sideways.

"Are you alright, (Y/N)?" Gonta asked you, concerned.

"Yeah yeah. I'm doing just fine. I just didn't get a lot of sleep last night." You glanced up, finding Kokichi crouching down in front of you.

"Hey...! Stay strong! You're gonna have to if you wanna stay in the organization, y'know."

You sighed. "I'm sorry..."

"Ah!! Don't take it the wrong way!" Kokichi rushed his words. "I'd never kick you out! Besides...you're too useful to let you free, anyway! I'll always like you, okay?"

"Oh really?" You rolled your eyes. "I honestly have a hard time believing that."

"Aww, don't be that negative! You're my favorite!"

"You two seem very close," Gonta chirped.

"Mhm. We are great friends," Kokichi responded. "Really great friends... Really amazing friends! Really amazing and fantabulous friends! Really really really, super duper, awesomely amazingly fantabulous best of the best, best friends!"

"Woah! That mean you two are more close than Gonta thought!"

"Yeah...! I'd say that our relationship exceeds that of normal friendship..." The boy put extra emphasis on the last part...for some reason. "Wouldn't you agree, sweetheart?"

You lifted your head up to show an annoyed yet embarrassed face. "Agh, again with calling me that! Stop it...i-it's embarrassing me and ruining my already low reputation."

"Aww~ But it's so amusing when you're all flustered like this! It's cute, too...~"

"Shut it, or I'll... I'll torture you!"

"My type of torture? Ooh, now that sounds fun~!!"

"Huh!?" Gonta looked terrified and confused all at the same time. "Wh-What you mean, torture!? You no gonna hurt anyone, right!?"

"Relax, Gonta," Kokichi reassured him. "We're just joking around, you know, like what friends do. But we're taking it to the next level...because we are really really really, super duper awesomely amazingly fantabulous best of the best, best friends!"

"Ohh... Gonta thinks he kinda understand now. May Gonta become another really really really, super duper awe...best friends?" He had a hopeful look on his face.

"Alri—"

"But I don't wanna share my really really really, super duper awesomely amazingly fantabulous best of the best, best friend...!"

"Kokichi, don't be like that. Hey Gonta, we can be friends. We'll see about best friends later, okay?"

"Gonta understand. That is perfectly fine with him!"

"Aww, that's so sweet of you!" Kokichi chirped. "A true gentleman." He turned to you with a smirk on his face.

"What are you doing?" you deadpanned.

"DOG PILE!"

"The fu—!?" Kokichi pulled you away from the wall and set you down on the ground before jumping on top of you. "Ack—!? What the hell!?"

"Oh come onnn. I'm not too heavy, so I couldn't have hurt you!"

"Umm... Gonta is confused about what is happening. Can someone explain?"

"Oh Gonta~ I'm just doing this to claim ownership," the purple-haired boy told him.

"Ownership...? As in, you (Y/N)'s friend?"

Kokichi let out a long sigh before answering. "You're so innocent—but yeah, if that's how you see it then go ahead."

"So...if Gonta wanna become friend, he gotta 'dog pile' too?"

"Gonta, no!" you snapped from underneath the small leader. "If you merely step on us then we'll get crushed."

"Ding dong, dong ding! A body has been discovered!"

"Shut it."

He smirked. "Make me...~ You're smart enough, you can figure out something. But just as a warning, though, if you try to cover my mouth with your hand then I'll probably just lick your hand. If you try to quiet me with a kiss then I will most definitely lick your lips...!"

You grumbled softly, averting your gaze away from him while he continued to look at you.

"Uhm..." Gonta piped up. "Should Gonta leave you two alone?"

"Ah! No, you're fine. Kokichi is just acting immature...as always."

"Nishishi! You know it!"

You rolled your eyes at the comment before speaking to Gonta once more. "You can just lie down beside us...and we can all look up at the sky...and it'd be peaceful."

Gonta stayed silent, but you did see him drop to the ground. "...Sun is pretty. Sky is clear... Gonta wonders if he'll escape with his remaining friends. Gonta wonders...if others think this way, too?"

"..."

"..."

"...We can only hope."

"Mhm."

"...Gonta...likes daytime. Sun make him feel happy! But Gonta also like nighttime... He thinks it is very pretty."

"Yeah."

Silence... The clouds were moving ever so slowly; the sun was still shining bright. You never really stopped to admire the setting, and be thankful that although you were trapped, you were at least trapped in a healthy environment. Trapped... You realized how much that you had been trying to avoid thinking about it. A wave of anxiety washed over you, and your heart started to beat faster.

Kokichi, who had flipped his body sideways so he could kind of see the sky, flipped back to where he could see your face. He groaned a bit. "This is already boring," he whined. "It's so boring that...I think I'm gonna fall asleep!"

"We could get up if you like," Gonta offered.

"It's too late! I'm already in the process of going to sleep...!"

"Really, Kokichi?" you asked the boy, sounding annoyed. Your heart was still dancing around in your chest, making it hard for you to focus or calm down.

"Nishishi! Yep! You better get used to it, (Y/N)~ You know...since I'll always be here." Kokichi's tone was teasing until it grew into something more soft near the end. "Anyways...! I'll be going to sleep now. Admire my peacefulness and cuteness to your heart's content." He yawned and closed his eyes.

"Huh...? Is Kokichi really asleep?" Gonta asked you, lowering down his voice into a whisper.

"I don't think that anyone can go to sleep that quickly unless they blacked out, which Kokichi obviously didn't." You looked down at the small boy. "We could test him. You know, by saying something funny?"

"Hmm... What would make him laugh...?"

What would make him laugh? Easy. That he's acting like we're more than friends...which we obviously aren't... It's most likely just nothing, but he is really touchy.

"(Y/N), Gonta think he see your eyes change color...?"

"You're just seeing things again, Gonta," you quickly responded.

"Oh...Gonta see. Well, Gonta have joke for Kokichi! Ahem... Why did bug cross road?"

"..." You kept a close eye on Kokichi's face. His eyes were actually closed, and his lips weren't threatening to curve up into a full smile. His soft-looking lips... I'm just checking to see if he's still awake...! Yeah...and then I just so happened notice that while doing my inspection... Mhm.

"Kokichi...! You need to answer in order for Gonta to make you laugh!"

"Uhm, Gonta..." You gave him a moment to figure it out.

"...Oh."

"Yeah..." You looked back at Kokichi. There's still a chance that he's faking it...but if he is then he's a good actor. "What am I going to do now? I'd...feel bad if I moved and woke him up. It's almost like that feeling you get when your pet falls asleep near you, and so you don't want to wake them up."

"Hmm..." Gonta sat up and hovered above you two. "Is Kokichi deep or light sleeper?"

"I'm...not sure." You poked the boy on the head.

"..."

"..." You poked him again, but still no response. You just barely shook him, but it was enough that it could wake up a light sleeper. You let out a soft sigh, and realized that you had calmed down a bit. Your heart finally went back to its normal beat.

"How long does he sleep?"

"I don't know... Why are you asking me these types of questions...!? I haven't slept with Kokichi!"

"Gonta is sorry! Gonta...stop talking now."

You gave the gentle giant a sympathetic look. "I'm not saying that you can't speak. Sorry for acting up like that... I guess I'm just a bit...confused...flustered? You get the point."

"It is alright!" Gonta smiled.

You just lied there on the ground while Gonta looked up at the sky. You ran your hand through Kokichi's hair a bit. He shifted a bit, but it wasn't enough to decide whether or not he was actually sleeping. I wonder how long we're going to stay like this. The sky was growing darker as nighttime approached.

"Gonta have idea!" Gonta suddenly piped up.

"Hm? What is it?"

"Gonta go to his lab. Gonta bring back lightning bugs to let them free!"

"Would you be able to catch them and bring them back to your lab? I don't think the others..." You cut yourself off at that point, not wanting to anger Gonta. "...Sure...! You can do that, as long as we can catch them so we can...put them back in your lab. You know, where they're safer and you can keep a better watch on them."

Gonta gasped. "Gonta didn't think you'd say yes! Gonta be right back with his bug friends!!" He shot up from the ground and stomped away.

"Ngh..." Kokichi stirred from his sleep. His rubbed his eyes and fluttered them open. "What's going on?" His amethyst eyes looked into your grey ones.

"Oh, s...sorry, Kokichi. Did...Gonta wake you up?"

"Nah!"

"...Huh?" You tilted your head to the best of your capabilities.

"I wasn't asleep in the first place."

"So you were acting."

Kokichi smirked at you. "Sooo...am I as precious as a pet to you?" he teased. You narrowed your eyes at him before averting your gaze. "Nya~"

You groaned, heat rising to your cheeks from embarrassment.

"Ah-hahaha! You know, you act so cold, yet somehow this effects you! Or maybe it's just me who flusters you?"

"...Stop it."

"Hmph. Fine! We'll touch up on this subject...later~" Kokichi rolled off of you, finding himself in a setting position next to you. You sat up as well. "You know, for the most part, I don't really like bugs. But as for the ones that Gonta's gonna bring over here...they should be good."

"I mean, yeah. They can't hurt you...and they're cool, I guess..." I can only imagine how the Insect Meet and Greet was for him, though...

As if on cue, stomping could be heard as Gonta ran over to you all. "Gonta bring bug friends!!" he shouted. He had a bug container in his hands that had small flickers of light going off every few seconds.

"How many did you get?" you wondered.

"Gonta...not know. But we should release them now, right?"

"Sure."

"Okay! Gonta releasing lightning bugs now!" He detached the lid from the container and a bunch of small lights flew out. The gentle giant's eyes sparkled as the area was lit by the lightning bugs.

"There are so many..." Kokichi remarked.

"Isn't it amazing!?" Gonta exclaimed. "Gonta is so happy that he could do this with you guys!"

"It's no problem," you told him. You watched the small lights fly around. Everything just seemed...so peaceful. So peaceful...that you wanted it to end. Bad things come right after happy things, you told yourself. What if someone is getting killed while we're over here, oblivious to it all? We could have save someone from being killed, and saved someone from becoming the blackened just to get killed. Everything ends...in death. So...is there really any end to all this? The victims and killers will end up dead; whoever survives...they would have been scarred, for sure.

You sighed, looking up into the darkening sky. You smiled a bittersweet smile. Rantaro, Kaede, Ryoma, Kirumi... Haha, I wonder who's next...? You hit your head, as if trying to knock out the thought. Geez... Why am I getting emotional out of nowhere? How pathetic...

"Eww, it's crawling on me!" Kokichi yelled out.

"Tiny bug friend must like you!"

"I don't like the feeling of its tiny little feet crawling on my hand...!" He outstretched his arm, presenting the palm of his hand to Gonta. "Can you get it off!?"

"You...no like bug hug?" Gonta seemed to become a bit agitated. "Bug...is only trying to be your friend!"

Hearing the quarrel, you snapped out of your thoughts. "Take it easy, you two..."

"Hmm... Well, if it's what you say, (Y/N), then I think we should cooperate~ Isn't that right, Gonta?"

"Oh, uh... Sure...?"

Kokichi turned to you. "But really, can you get this thing off?"

"Sure..." You tried to nudge the small bug that was on his hand but it stayed still. I wonder if it died there, you joked. You held the boy's wrist to keep his hand still. "Go on..." you mumbled to it. You tilted Kokichi's hand sideways so you could gently push the bug off of his hand and into yours.

"Uh... You can definitely tell that bugs have something extra on their feet to keep their grip..." Even you were slightly freaked out.

"Hand bug over to Gonta! Gonta not mind extra bug hug!"

"Gonta, you're covered in bugs at this point!" Kokichi remarked.

"Oh me, oh my! Why, that voice can only belong to the one and only Gonta!" Out of nowhere Angie had appeared.

You tilted your head at the girl. "Eh...? Why are you here?"

"Nyahaha! Gonta, would you mind coming with me? I want to talk to you about some things with the student council!"

"Oh, okay then! Sorry, but Gonta must leave now and take bug friends with him."

Angie looked over at you. "Oh! Hey Gonta, did (Y/N) finally decide to join?"

"No, no they didn't," Kokichi answered hastily.

"Whaaat? But I had Atua bestow extra good luck on you, Gonta...!"

"Gonta is sorry! Gonta is so sorry! Gonta will do anything to make it up to Atua!"

"Atua wishes for you to come with me! And be quick with it!"

"Gonta see... Let him gather bug friends and he be on his way!"

"Very well then, Gonta." Angie smiled sweetly at him while he began to catch the bugs. You were surprised that he wasn't crushing them. The girl turned back to you. "Say... Why are you holding Kokichi's wrist, hm? Don't bother trying to deceive me, as Atua knows everything so...he could easily tell me if you're lying."

"I was just trying to get a bug off of him," you answered simply.

"Yuppers! You're real life saver." Kokichi put his hands behind his head while smiling childishly.

"Okay. Gonta is ready to go," Gonta suddenly chirped.

"Byeonara you two!" Angie pulled Gonta away, leaving only you and Kokichi there.

"Sorry..." You let go of the boy's wrist. "Ahem... Anyways, I think we should head to the dorms. I'm sure that it's almost nighttime."

"Yeah. You really need the sleep since bags are forming under your eyes."

"Bags...? What bags? I don't know what you're talking about, but you're probably seeing things." You tried to laugh it off but it only made things awkward. You just knew that your eyes were turning to their signature purple color.

"Come on, let's go." Kokichi stood up, pulling you up off the ground with him. Locking your hand in his, he led you back to the dormitory.

Word Count: 4377
~~~

By the time this is published, school is back in session. Oh geez, I wonder how that's gonna play out... Uhm... Sorry if any chapters get posted later. I can only assume that homework is gonna be harder this year, soo...yeah. The investigations and trials are gonna be an even bigger pain in the a** to me now, huh? Just wish me good luck that I can stay on my normal schedule and that the chapters aren't lackluster in quality.

((Edit: It's Friday by the time I'm writing this, the day before this gets published and eHHHHHIDON'THAVEMUCHOFTHENEXTCHAPTERDONE—
i'm scared that i'm gonna fall completely behind on my schedule T_T It sucks because when I prolong/procrastinate working on my story, I get stressed. But of course, I also do get stressed if I try to choke down all of the work I've given myself to try and complete in one day, sooo I guess it's kinda a double-edged sword... ._.))

((PS: I already think I hate this chapter... T-T))