✧ Chapter 11 ✧
[ And While They Lie in Bed ]
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A week passed.

With one week without Keebo or Miu, the entire class was quiet.

After all, Miu was the one who could entertain people with her weird jokes, and Keebo could easily whip out robots like it was nobody's business. They were the life of the class, along with Kaito..

Kokichi lazily looked at his math textbook, not bothering to complete any of the sums. How could he? After seeing his best and closest friend get dragged away like a rag doll, how could he get a good night's rest?

Was this what Shuichi felt when Kaito was dragged away from him? That feeling of emptiness and longing.

Kokichi loved Keebo as a friend, not that he wanted to admit it. But even the closest friendships were also something the government were strict with..

He leaned back in his chair, running his hand through his messy hair. Man, he was bored out of his mind, and worst of all, he had no idea how to cheer Saihara up. The poor guy looked shell shocked.

In fact, he seemed to be thinner and had bags under his eyes. Kokichi knew Saihara had reduced from his usual three meals to just one per day. If this kept going on, that stupid sushi would waste away to skin and bones. Jeez.

Kokichi stared out at the window. Maybe he should just try talking to Saihara, or maybe try the pity tactic. God, he hated the pity tactic, but he had no choice.. things were getting out of hand, after all.

The bell rang, signalling the end of the lesson. Kokichi reached down and picked up his backpack, grabbing the items on his desk and shoving them into the bag. He hated being organised.. since it was too serious for his taste.

"Alright class," he heard his music teacher say, "Just review the questions again and tomorrow, we can have a little pop quiz."

Great. Another thing for Kokichi to worry about. But oh well, he always did his best for his tests and always scored As without meaning to. He looked at Shuichi, who was still sleeping.

Kokichi sighed, standing up and leaning over the sleeping boy. "Saihara." he called, tapping the boy's head.

The other boy didn't reply, his eyes still closed and his skin looking a little too pale. Kokichi frowned, hesitating before resting the back of his hand against Shuichi's forehead.

Did he have a fever?! He was too pale, and looked a little malnourished. "Oh come on, Saihara-chan... wake up!" Kokichi exclaimed, a little too loudly.

"What is wrong, Ouma-san?" Gonta spoke up when he heard Kokichi's exclaimation, "Gonta can help you if you want!"

"Ouma, what's wrong?" Kaede asked worriedly, walking over to the two.

"Shuichi's not waking up." Kokichi gestured to the unconscious boy, who wasn't moving despite the commotion around him.

"Gokuhara. You should carry him to the medical room," Ryoma spoke up in his serious voice, his arms folded, "And make it fast. Saihara looks dehydrated and very sick."

"Oh yes, Hoshi-san!" Gonta nodded, looking happy to help, "Anything to help Gonta's classmates."

Before anyone could protest, Gonta scooped Shuichi up as easily as carrying a tray of food and marched off to the medical office. "Please excuse Gonta, Gonta has a sick Saihara in his arms!" they heard him tell the other bewildered students.

"Ouma, you better follow him, and bring Saihara's belongings." Rantaro started to say but Kokichi was already making his way to the door, his arms loaded with Shuichi's things.

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Miss Chisa was in the medical room, having just patched up a student with red hair, who had been playing a rough game of baseball.

Kokichi made way for the guy, who was walking away with the help of another boy with brown hair, and a girl with long, straight lavender hair. She seemed to be listening to the two boy's argument.

"You need to be more careful, Kuwata." the boy with brown hair advised as Kokichi followed Gonta and Shuichi.

"It's just a baseball, Makoto.."

"But.."

"You hurt a fifth year student the other time, Leon." the girl with purple hair spoke up, "I heard the baseball smashed into the cabinet and the glass.."

Kuwata sighed heavily. "It was just that one time.."

Their voices faded away as Gonta set Shuichi on the white bed, Kokichi watching worriedly.

Why was he even worried?

He shouldn't be... right?

"Oh hello.. what seems to be the problem?" Miss Chisa asked, looking over at the three. "Oh.. oh dear, he looks really sick." her expression changed to mild concern when Gonta gestured to Shuichi wordlessly.

"But.. Miss, you aren't a nurse, are you?" Kokichi asked with a slight frown, tilting his head as Miss Yukizome rested a hand against Shuichi's forehead.

"But I'm a teacher," she smiled, standing up from her chair and making her way to a cabinet, where there were rows of glass bottles and bottles of pills. "And it's a teacher's job to take care of their students."

Kokichi was about to reply with a witty comment but he was interrupted.

"Gonta needs to go to class now, Miss." the taller boy said meekly, pressing his two pointer fingers together, "May Gonta leave?"

"Oh, sure. Go ahead Gonta, and don't forget to complete the history homework." Miss Chisa smiled sweetly, patting Gonta's hand.

"Of course Miss. Gonta thanks you for your help. Ouma-san. Are you going to follow Gonta?" he asked.

Kokichi shook his head, "I'll be waiting here till Saihara-chan wakes up. So you go ahead Gonta, I'll be fine."

The door closed behind the taller boy, making Kokichi relax and look over at Miss Chisa and Shuichi. Everything was silent as the adult checked Shuichi's pulse and took his temperature. Unsurprisingly, the unconscious boy didn't wake from his deep sleep.

"How is he?" Kokichi asked, frowning a little after fifteen minutes of waiting.

Miss Chisa sighed, "He's just malnourished, dehydrated and clearly stressed about something.. if I'm not wrong, this is one of the signs of depression.. how long has this been going on?"

Kokichi frowned harder, "I.. don't know.. Saihara-chan never seems to want to show his true feelings. He was close to Momota-chan, you see. And after he was accused, Saihara was upset."

"I see.." Miss Chisa looked at Shuichi again, looking as if she wanted to say something, but thought against it.

And Kokichi knew that look. He was too familiar with it. That was the look of someone who was withholding information. Kokichi had to find out..

"Miss? Is there something you need to say?" he asked, leaning forward on the chair he was sitting on. "If you can, please say it. If it concerns Saihara's health.."

"This.." she looked around, before gesturing Kokichi to approach her, which he did so, rather impatiently. He had to find out what was wrong with Saihara-chan after all.

He didn't care how bad the news was. He just needed to know how to make the boy alright.

"If I'm not wrong," Miss Chisa whispered softly, looking at Shuichi closely. "This.. this is a side effect of the Reverse Serum.."

Kokichi moved away from her, his eyes widening. "Wait.. what?!"

"Shhh.." she held his hands with her own, "I know it's a lot to take in right now, but I'm just guessing."

"But.." he lowered his volume, "If he has the Reverse Serum.. why is it only taking effect now? This didn't happen before Momota was taken away."

Miss Chisa shook her head, "I have no idea as well, but as I have been a teacher for years.. I have seen what some students go through after they had been injected with the serum."

Kokichi shook his head, "There.. has to be another reason. Maybe it's heartache. He just misses Momota."

The teacher just looked at Shuichi, who was pale and looking extremely exhausted. "Maybe I could be overanalysing the symptoms, and he could be having a mild fever. That's all."

"Whatever it is," she handed Kokichi a bottle of pink liquid and a couple of capsules, "I trust that you'll take care of him. Seeing that you're his next closest friend, yes?"

Kokichi shook his head, "Saihara never called me a friend. I'm just being a classmate. That's all he is to me." he lied.

Saihara was more than just a classmate, Kokichi realised that now. He was a friend..

"It's alright Ouma, just take care of him for me, alright? Make sure he eats, have plenty of rest and please, try to cheer him up. We don't need to send him to the hospital.. do we?" she looked at him seriously.

Kokichi nodded, holding the medication in his hands. Shuichi needed him.. even though they weren't friends..

"And-."Miss Chisa glanced at the camera, hanging at the corner of the room, "-Don't mention anything about the Reverse Serum effects Saihara has to anyone else, alright? I have a feeling.." she looked at the unconscious boy.

"I understand, Miss." Kokichi slipped the medication into his backpack and standing up. "Thank you so much, you're a big help."

She smiled faintly, "You have a tendency to lie, don't you Ouma? So, are you lying?"

Kokichi relaxed, knowing she was just teasing him, "Definitely not. That was sincere gratitude.."

Miss Chisa stood, smoothing her skirt and pulling at the bow tie behind her dress. "Alright, I will watch over Saihara for you for the time being and I will bring him to his dorm room after he's woken up."

"Are you sure, Miss?" Kokichi asked with hesitation. "You don't look like you can carry him all by yourself."

Miss Chisa just gave him a confident smile. "Of course. Each and every one of my students are precious to me... now go on ahead. Check in Saihara's dorm room when you've finished your classes, I'm positive he will be right there. Then, you can drop off his things."

Kokichi nodded, turning around and leaving the room. He heard the door of the medical room shut behind him with a soft click. At least there was one decent adult he could trust in the entire school..

However..

Kokichi reached into his bag, pulling out the medication for fever and nausea.

What did Miss Chisa mean by Shuichi having the Reverse Serum effects within him?

♥ End of Chapter Eleven ♥