Childhood Friends!AU
Characters: Shuichi Saihara, Kokichi Ouma
Main Ship: Shuichi Saihara x Kokichi Ouma

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Shuichi was always a quiet kid. He spent his lunches alone, gazing at the others.

He had met his best friend during Kindergarten when he was five.

A ball had just hit him in the head. Shuichi shook it off, assuming it was just an accident. He tossed it back to the two older kids who were playing with it. About a couple seconds later, it slammed into his head again.

Shuichi was too scared and shy to fight back so he simply gave it back to them again. The ball hit him again and again for the next few minutes.

"Hey!"

Shuichi looked over to where the voice came from, ball hitting him immediately afterwards and knocking him to the ground. A purple haired boy with a checkered scarf and cape was standing there.

One of the older kids snickered, "Aw, look, shortie's trying to stand up for someone taller than him."

The same kid had his face smashed in by the same ball they were using to torment Shuichi. The other kid screamed and ran.

The boy reached out a hand to Shuichi, "Hey! You okay?" Shuichi attempted to accept the hand, before the boy yanked it away, "It's a lie!"

Shuichi retracted his hand, sniffling. The boy pulled him up by his hair, "Jeez, grow a pair already! Learn to stand up by yourself!"

Shuichi rubbed his eyes, "S-Sorry."

The boy pouted, "If you really are sorry, you'll join my secret organization!"

"Y-Your what?"

"Stop stuttering!" The boy huffed, "Speak clearly! And my secret organization, dummy!"

"S-Sorry! But, you're only five?"

"Did I stutter?" He crossed his arms.

Shuichi looked down, pulling down the brim of his hat.

The boy stared at him, "So are you joining or not?"

Shuichi looked up slightly, "U-Uh, sure!"

The boy smiled, "Neat! That means I'm your boss now! You may call me Kokichi Ouma, or boss to you!"

Shuichi gulped. What did he get himself into?

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Kokichi led him underneath a bridge, "Here we are!"

Shuichi tilted his head, "W-Where are we?-" He was cut off by a tale male jumping in front of him and yelling.

"BOO!"

"AH!" Shuichi fell backwards onto his back.

Five others walked out from various hiding spots.

"You ruined the surprise man!"

"Sorry!"

"So who's your new friend, boss?" A girl asked Kokichi. He smiled brightly.

"He's our newest member!"

Shuichi lowered his hat again. Someone helped him up, "You get used to it after a while."

He grimaced, "I don't think I want to." Shuichi quickly covered his mouth, squeaking, "S-Sorry! I didn't mean it like that!"

The guy talking to him laughed, "I like you kid."

"You're shorter than me."

"Shush."

Shuichi snickered under his breath.

"What?! You made him laugh first?" Kokichi exclaimed, "I wanted to do that!"

"Ha, get fucked!"

"Language," Another girl muttered.

"Welcome to DICE!" Kokichi cheered.

"What's your name?" The first girl asked.

"S-Shuichi Saihara."

"Saihara?" The last unknown member muttered, "Aren't they the famous actors in America?"

Shuichi flinched.

"You're related to them?!" The first girl shrieked, running up to him and grabbing him by the shoulders, "Oh my god, I love their movies! Tell them-"

"My parents abandoned me to my uncle when I was three," Shuichi cut her off, "I haven't seen them since." He sniffled and wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

She gasped and hugged him, "I'm so sorry! It's gonna be okay, sweetie!" Shuichi could already tell she was the mother of the group. Before he knew it, everyone was group hugging him.

He smiled.

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The ten DICE members, currently, had become somewhat of a second family to Shuichi.

Shuichi, Kokichi, and a couple of the other members were in fifth grade in the present.

Of course, they weren't his only friends.

He had one named Kaito Momota, who was currently having financial issues in his family. Shuichi hoped it worked out for him. Kaito's dad also ran the ice cream truck that traveled down the street every so often.

Kokichi poked Shuichi on the cheek, "Yo, you're spacing out like Momota!"

Shuichi chuckled, "Am I? Whoops." They were walking together towards their homes, which were close to each other.

They came towards the fork in the road. "Want me to walk you home?" Kokichi teased, elbowing Shuichi, "I wouldn't want my beloved Shumai to end up kidnapped!"

Shuichi chuckled, "It's fine Kokichi." They waved bye to each other before Shuichi started walking down his road.

He started to hear the familiar jingle of the ice cream truck. Kaito's dad pulled up to him. "Hey, I've been wondering something. Mind if I ask?"

"Not at all Momota."

"You're last name is Saihara. Are you related to the American actors?"

Shuichi groaned and looked away, "Yes, but I barely-"

Kaito's dad parked the truck. Shuichi blinked, "Well, I have to get going..."

He walked away. Although, he did hear footsteps behind him.

Wait, what?

He turned around. Kaito's dad was walking towards him.

"Sir, don't you have to work?"

"I need money."

"...Yes, and you need to work to do that."

"Or your parents can pay ransom."

...Shit.

Shuichi turned and sprinted.

Arms quickly wrapped around his waist and own arms.

Shuichi screamed before a cloth was placed over his mouth.

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Kokichi lingered at the fork in the road after Shuichi left. He fiddled with the love letter in his pocket.

The DICE members had been pushing him to confess, but he was still scared.

Kokichi sighed. 'Guess I'll just pine uselessly for the rest of time.'

He turned to walk towards his house when a scream pierced the air.

Shuichi's scream.

Kokichi didn't even think. He just spun around and ran.

He got there in time to see Kaito's dad shoving Shuichi into the ice cream truck.

"Hey, stop!" Kaito's dad turned.

"Shit," He scrambled into the truck and started to drive away.

Now, Kokichi was in no way fast enough to catch up with around moving vehicle. However, he was smart enough to take out his phone, almost dropping it, and taking a picture of the license plate before it drove away.

He immediately dialed DICE.

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Shuichi blinked his eyes open. Seemed whatever Kaito's dad used to knock him out wasn't very strong. He attempted to rub his eyes, but something was keeping his arms behind his back. The material felt rough on his wrists every time he moved them so it was probably rope. Glancing down, he figured out his legs were also bound.

"When I get the money, Kaito can finally have a good future," His dad muttered, "That's the only reason you're doing this."

Shuichi cleared his throat, "Uh, I-I hope you realize my parents don't care about me."

Kaito's dad stiffened, "What?"

"T-T-They, uh, abandoned me when I was three. I doubt they'll pay a ransom for a son they barely know," Shuichi whispered, a small amount of venom in his voice.

"Fuck. Shit. Shit. Shit," Kaito's dad muttered.

He screamed suddenly, "KID IN THE ROAD MOVE!"

He swerved to the right, throwing Shuichi across the small space. His head hit one of the ice cream containers.

Shuichi groaned as the truck slid to a stop.

He heard the door being forced open, and curled up into a ball.

"Shumai, holy shit!"

There was only one person who called him Shumai. Shuichi looked up to see Kokichi with one of the stronger DICE members behind him.

"K-Kokichi?" The boy in question ran over, quickly untying his restraints. Shuichi sat up, quickly tackling Kokichi with a hug.

"I-I thought I'd never see- He said he was going to get ransom from my parents, but," Shuichi interrupted himself with a sob, "They don't care about me. I-I thought I was gonna die."

Kokichi hugged him back, rubbing his head, "You're fine Shumai. You're safe now." Shuichi buried his face into his shoulder.

Kokichi turned to the DICE member, "Is the man tied up?"

"Boss! His license says his name is XXXX Momota!"

"Momota?" Kokichi murmured.

"They're having financial issues," Shuichi whispered. Kokichi huffed.

"And this guy thought it would be a good idea to kidnap a child to try and fix that?" Kokichi deadpanned. Shuichi nodded. "What an idiot. Just like his son."

Shuichi tightened his hold on Kokichi, "I wanna go home."

Kokichi nodded, "Let's get you back. Guys, call the police."

"Already on it."

Kokichi helped Shuichi up, "I'll walk you home. C'mon."

Shuichi nodded, grasping onto Kokichi like his life depended on it.

On their way home, Shuichi paused.

Kokichi turned, "What is it?"

Shuichi bit his lip, before grabbing Kokichi face and bringing him into a kiss.

After Kokichi was released, he froze.

"I-I'm sorry, that was an impulse, I-"

Kokichi yanked him back down and brought him into another one.

"Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for that?"

Shuichi shook his head.

"A while!"

Shuichi chuckled, "Same. We're oblivious."

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Kaito ran up to Shuichi after school the next day.

"Saihara, I heard about my dad! I'm so sorry."

Shuichi shrugged, "I-It's not your fault, so you're fine."

Kaito grasped his hands, "Can I can make it up to you?"

"Um-"

"Hey, Kaidiot!" Kokichi ran up, "Get your hands off my boyfriend!"

Kaito stepped, stuttering, "Boyfriend?!"

Kokichi nodded sharply, "Now, if you don't mind, we have a date!" He started to drag Shuichi away, who merely finger gunned at Kaito.

(A/N: HI YES MY FINALS ARE FINALLY OVER WHOOP)