I'm hidden in a castle of dreams.

A castle of dreams? I never had to deal with many riddles. So I ended up searching the whole letter for any type of clue to give me some sort of hint.

We used to play a game remember? We would build a giant pillow forts and you would bow before me!

I was the king of sleep!

Got it.

It must be at our old daycare. According to his letter we used to play there and make forts out of pillows and he proclaimed himself as a king.

It fits within the context well enough. Which started to make me doubt even more that this was right, Ouma had always been a complicated person.

"Ok class take out your math books and turn to page sixty two" Ms Yukizome called walking in. I sighed feeling disappointed looking at the envelope with the childish drawings.

A part of me just wanted to go now but I held off. I put the letter into my bag and carried on with my day, my mind drifting off towards the liar and his cheeky smile.

-/-/-

Class was quiet and boring as I walked the route to my old daycare, "hey Saihara where are you going?" Akamatsu called looking at me confused.

Me and Akamatsu have lived near each other and walked with each other to school since elementary school.

"I...I'm going to the library to study for our test on Friday" I lied and she nodded, "ok see you later" she said with a smile and left the opposite way.

Why did I just lie? I don't know what came over me to lie about Ouma's note. Maybe because he probably considered it private or I just wanted the challenge of figuring it out for myself.

Whatever it was...it just felt right to be doing this on my own. He asked me to find him after all, not Akamatsu...but if it gets hard I will go to them.

I headed downtown.

-/-/-/-

"Hello?" An old women greeted and I looked down shy, "uh sorry to bother you ma'am...I was wondering if someone left a letter here a while ago?" I asked.

The old women seemed curious for a bit before realizing, "oh yes...some weird child came and asked me if I could give it to someone who asked for it...it was oddly decorated and specific...let me go get it" she said and headed in.

She came back with another letter a little less colorful and decorated as the one I previously had. Nonetheless it had the number two written on it.

I nodded, "t-thank you" I mumbled and she smiled, "have a good day" she told me and headed back in.

I decided to walk to a nearby park and sat down on a bench opening the next letter.

Dear Saihara~

Hey you found me! I knew my beloved detective could do it! Or did I? Maybe I thought you would give up immediately, maybe I thought someone would take it and throw it away, maybe I thought a dog would eat it thinking it's a kids homework? Who knows, I am a liar.

I smirked. I could pratically hear his laughter and see his cheeky grin just by reading this.

You and me used to be friends. But you knew that from the last letter didn't you Saihara chan? You were my first ever friend Saihara!

And even now every time I tease you, you keep on turning red because of how embarrassed you get! It's hilarious!

I groaned and rolled my eyes. Of course he would find it amusing. Wait...I was his first friend?

It made sense and at the same time not. Ever since we were kids Ouma has always been outgoing.

Always the one talking to everyone and I would just read by myself. At the same time though he did gain more enemies than friends.

I really really missed you when I had to go away a lot back then. On the bright side I never went to school back then!

And when I did I got to jump start my career as a phantom thief by stealing Momota's dessert. It was really good, one of the only things I ever ate.

What? Wait now I remember. He's right, he was always out of school in and out so many times and I could never understand why.

He stopped doing that around middle school, occasionally leaving for a couple of days but he still has never exactly been absent free.

I guess he ditched even back then. Honestly knowing him it doesn't make me surprised at all.

That was when other people started talking to you, like Bakamatsu, Guacamole, and Space Idiot.

Then you were gone. They turned you into an idiot with all thier belief stuff!

You're lucky I didn't send my organization on you for missing our tea breaks!

And when you stopped talking to me at all. That hurt.

A lot.

Guilt flooded over me as memories came rushing back of when I was younger. A sad and lonely Ouma came into picture.

I can't believe I forgot about him.

Just kidding! Hah did you fall for that stupid lie Saihara chan? Anyways I got a little secret for you in the next letter and if you tell anyone I'll hang you by your toes to the roof.

That isn't a threat it's a promise, got it? Ok here's your riddle.

Time keeps going forward, look where we can turn backwards.

Good luck Shumai! And if you're a random person...SHOO!

From,
Kokichi Ouma

I laughed at the last part and looked over at some kids playing a game.

When I see Ouma again I'll apologize...and maybe we can be friends again.