Shuichi ran to find Kokichi, leaving Kaede staring in shock and annoyance. He looked at the convenience store where they got their slushie, the woods where he found the squirrel and the arcade where they played DDR together. Shuichi couldn't find him anywhere.
"Oh Koki.. where are you..?"
He could've gone home, Shuichi thought, but he didn't know where he lived so he couldn't look there. Shuichi wasn't going to give up, so he started to walk back to his house to find any clues to where he would've gone. As he approached his house, he found a familiar-looking person sitting in a ball outside, just by his door.
"Koki? What are you doing here..? Or rather, why'd you come here of all places..?" The detective questioned him.
"There's no reason at all actually~! Well, that was a lie.. this place comforts me for some reason. Maybe because it's your place~?" He lifted his head to look up at Shuichi.
"Oh.. but you've only ever been here once though, right..? So how come it comforts you all of a sudden..?"
"I dunno.. it just does.. and it was the first place that popped into my head~!"
"Oh.. anyways.. why'd you hit Kaede..?"
"Well we were arguing. She.. just triggered me.."
"What was she going to say..?"
"That's.. personal. Anyways, why'd you come chasing after me~? If you keep skipping school like this you'll get bad grades! We wouldn't want that, would we Mr. Detective~?"
"Like you're one to talk.. I dunno.. I just.. instinct I guess. I wonder if Kaede's okay, you did hit her pretty hard.."
"Heh.. she should be okay.. do.. do you only hang around with me because you feel bad.. like she said..?"
"No..! Not at all!"
The leaders eyes lit up.
"Then why.. do you hang out with me..?"
"Because you're pretty fun..! And kinda cute..!" Shuichi pinched Kokichi's cheek gently.
The boy giggled and blushed.
"You're kinda cute too, Shumai~!" He smiled.
"I should probably make sure Kaede's okay.." Shuichi stood.
"Oh.. okay~!"
Suddenly Kokichi grabbed his sleeve.
"Wait.. don't leave me.."
"K-koki..!"
"Gahh~! Sorry..!" The leader quickly let go.
"Actually.. I think I'd rather hang out with you..! Besides, Kaede has Maki, Rantaro and everyone."
"Wait, really~?! O-okay then!" The boy smiled at Shuichi, and it was 100% genuine.
"So.. you're the one with all the fun ideas, what should we do, Koki?"
"Heh.. I guess I am~! Besides, I am the ultimate supreme leader after all~! Hmm.. I know~!" Kokichi grabbed Shuichi's arm and started running towards the woods.
He kept running until he found a little cottage in the woods.
"Tadaaa~! I found it while wondering around yesterday!"
"Isn't this trespassing..?"
"Meh.. don't worry! My mom actually owns it~!" Kokichi opened the door and sat down on a little mat on the floor, Shuichi did the same.
"It's pretty cute in here, huh..?"
"Yeah, right~?" Kokichi agreed, before mumbling, "Not as cute as you though.."
"What was that?"
"Oh..! Nothing~! Just humming~!" He lied, his cheeks turning pink.
Meanwhile...
Kaede took out her phone, and quickly texted Rantaro.
K: I need a favour, Asap x
R: Yeah?
K: So Kokichi just slapped me the ran off bc I told him he was being clingy with my Shu. Anyway, the little rat ran off and Shuichi ran after him acting like Cock-itchy was the victim! x
R: You're kidding!
K: Nope! Anyway, I need you to get him away from my Shuichi. I need you to break that little rat, and his trust in my Shu. It shouldn't be hard, it's easy to manipulate and break that brat x
R: Consider it done! Want me to get Kai and Maki roll on it too?
K: If you can, yeah x
R: Okay, I gotcha. See ya l8r.
K: xx
Kaede had a sinister grin plastered on her face. She was going to make Shuichi hers, even if it meant taking him away from everyone he loves.
Back with Shuichi and Kokichi..
"Heh.. I'm gonna go get some drinks from the shop not far from here. I won't be gone too long, is there anything in particular you want?" Shuichi asked, standing.
"Oh, okay~! Hmm.. Grape Panta! It's gonna be lunch soon too, so get something to eat~!" The leader ordered, giving Shuichi some money.
"Hey, where'd you get that-"
Kokichi put his finger to his lips meaning "just accept it, don't ask!" So Shuichi didn't question it.
"I'll be back very soon! Don't wander off too far.." and with that, the detective left.
Kokichi smiled and blushed a bit, thinking of Shuichi. He was so happy he could finally hang around with him, it felt like a dream. All of a sudden there was a knock at the cottage door. Shuichi had only just left.. did he forget something?
"Shui- wha~?" He opened the door to find a grinning Rantaro.
"Heya Kokichi.." He looked somewhat evil.
Kokichi was afraid, but he was the ultimate supreme leader! He just had to be brave like at home.
"Hey Rantaro..!" He greeted him, trying desperately not to show his fear. He didn't feel safe without Shuichi.
"So.. was it true you hit Kaede earlier?"
Surely he just came here to talk.. right?
"Yeah, I guess." The boy was honest for once.
"Ah I see..." Rantaro backed him into a corner as Kaito walked in.
"K-kaito..! Help..!"
"Pfft, as if!" And with that, Kaito swung and punched the boy in the face.
Kaito and Rantaro laughed a sickening laugh.
"Wh-what was that for..?!"
"Oh, was it not clear enough? You hurt Kaede, so we'll hurt you." Rantaro said it right in the little boys face, pushing him onto the floor.
Kokichi tried to fight back, swinging his arms and legs around, but Kaito stopped him by kicking him in the stomach.
"That's enough now. We'll finish another time." He heard Maki say from outside.
The bigger boys obeyed her.
What the hell..?! And did she just say they'll finish another time?! So they're not done?!
Not long after the gang disappeared, Shuichi arrived back.
"Shuichi~!" Kokichi jumped onto him, hugging him tight, nearly pushing him over.
"Was I gone for too long..? Sorry I-"
"You shouldn't have left me~! Don't leave me again~!"
Shuichi saw a huge bruise on the side of Kokichi's face, and his nose bleeding.
"Oh my Atua! Koki, what happened to you..?!"
Kokichi started crying as Shuichi wrapped his arms around him, protecting him.
"Hey.. just calm down and tell me everything.." The detective instructed, lightly rubbing the crying boys head.
"O-okay.. when you left, there was Kaito and Rantaro.. an-and they ba-barged in..! K-kaito punched me, R-ra-rantaro said something ab-about K-kaede.." The leader explained between gasps and tears.
"Hey.. don't worry.. you're safe now.. I'm here.." Shuichi comforted the crying wreck, hugging him tight.
"Shhh.. just calm down.. everything's going to be okay.."
Kokichi rubbed his head against Shuichi's chest, and started to calm down.
"Th-thanks Shuichi.."
"Anyway, I got you some of that Grape Panta you wanted! You must be hungry too, I bought us some Ready-made Ramen and I got you an extra pack of Cookies!"
"Wow~! Thanks Shumai~!" Kokichi looked at everything in awe.
"Heh.. well, let's eat I guess!"
The boys ate their little lunch mainly in silence.
"Wanna cookie, Shumai~?"
"No.. I'll pass."
Kokichi forced the cookie into his mouth.
"Fofishi..!" Shuichi attempted to say through a forced cookie.
"Nishishi~! You didn't think I would let you miss out, did ya~?" Kokichi giggled.
Shuichi swallowed the cookie.
"Heh.. guess not..! Well, we should head back to mine to get you all bandaged up."
"Shushu.." The small boy grabbed at his arm. "Can I stay the night at yours again~?"
"Sure..! I don't see why not..!"