Too many things were getting to him all at once.. what was the truth..? There had to be a solution to figure out but even his logical mind was letting him down now, he couldn't differentiate between his current situation and what had happened in the other timeline that he was remembering..

Here Maki had brought Kokichi into a room and treated him with respect, even protecting him or trying to warn him; the other Maki, the one who hated Kokichi with her entire being would never have done that, she would have been more than happy to watch him be in the same amount of pain that he had inflicted on her when he condemned her Kaito to his execution, with no possible chance of escape.

"Maki.." His voice broke the silence as he pulled his hand away to place it back on his own lap, "I need to ask you a question."

Kokichi choked back a surprised exclamation when he felt the detective move his hand away.. it was like they were strangers now. In his mind, there seemed to be so much distance between them now. But.. if Shuichi had forgotten everything and had reverted back, then he he would be exactly like the boy that the liar had met just as the game had started..

Just like when he stole his hat, "Why are you always like this..?"

Or when he was first introduced.. "Leave me alone."

They were the thoughts that were flooding through Shuichi's head, weren't they?

His past self was a monster, he was positive about that, but Shuichi had been very careful so far about avoiding telling him what the version of him from the other game was like despite letting a few things slip earlier. Before they had flown over his head but now he was recalling everything, he realised it.

"But in the end, this was all a game to you, wasn't it? So tell me Kokichi, Kaito died for nothing, didn't he? You sacrificed him without a strain on your conscience like a pawn, just like you did with Gonta."

Before he could stop himself, the words had already tumbled out fo his mouth. "Shuichi, did I kill Kaito? B-Because then I'd understand if you were mad at me, I mean, he was probably your best friend or something!~"

Man, he shouldn't have said that.

Shuichi slowly craned his head around to redirect his attention from Maki and onto the liar. His eyes were glistening now with anger and sadness, both beautifully juxtaposing one another within his expression. "Mad at you..?" He stood up from his bed and walked over to a wall which was as far away from Kokichi as humanly possible, "They way you say that, it's exactly like he would. Mad isn't the word that could possibly sum up all the emotions I feel for you right now, it's too minimal. He was my best friend and you killed him in order to create your perfect unsolvable murder.. Kaito helped me overcome Kaede's death.. if he wasn't there, if he wasn't there to support me, then I.. probably would have been the cause of another one of those body discovery announcements!"

Kokichi stood up but was quickly ordered not to move by the detective himself. "Don't move another step towards me, get out, I don't want you here."

"But Shuichi! Come on I-"

"Maki get him out! Make him leave!" It was completely obvious that he was losing control now.. he was screaming and shouting; he was desperate.

Maki opened her mouth but made the judgement that she shouldn't attempt to protest Shuichi's commands because she needed to remain on his good side, to make sure that she could complete her own little agenda. She proceeded to march slowly over to Kokichi, reaching her hand over to grab ahold of his shoulder in order to push him towards the exit.

@Dododominos drew this fantastical masterpiece of angst! I love Kokichi's extremely hurt face. Ahaha, beautiful! So please comment and follow them if you want to!
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The smaller male attempted to wriggle out of her grasp but it seemed that he was too weak against her supreme strength. He was dragged out the room but turned to the assassin just as she was about to re enter.

"Nishishi.. looks like you've got him all to yourself now. Well played little miss assassin, you even fooled me~" He grimaced down at her, a bitter and salty look to his face, "There's nothing stopping you now! Go claim your prize."

She couldn't think of a single comeback to what he had simply accused her of doing, and left him alone in the corridor without another word.

Shuichi gave her a look as he noted that his fellow survivor had joined him in the room once again. "Maki.. I have a question to ask you.."

"Anything." Her reply was too quick, it sounded desperate.

"I've noticed that Kokichi has been acting strangely around me, he's not normally like that, well.. he wasn't in my game or whatever my memories are.." he let out an exhausted exhale before running a hand down his face and continuing, "I don't want to jump to assumptions but did me and him have something.. r-romantic?"

"...." Maki remained silent, for weeks she had been imagining the moment where Shuichi could second guess his emotions and run to her instead.. this is what she wanted, right?

"Yes. You did, you're his boyfriend Shuichi." She bit her tongue after she finished that sentence; she'd ruined her own chances but truth be told, she could never bring herself to do that.. as much for herself as for Kokichi.. and you know how the saying goes, 'If you love them, let them go.'

@dead_inside_tm drew this! Maki just looks soooo shook. And that pissed of face in the last panel is absolutely perfect. Well done Shuichi, you done did it, you pissed her off. So please go follow and comment!
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"W-What..? You can't be serious.." Shuichi's eyes widened as he stuttered over a few of his words, "Did I.. feel the same way? No.. he can't actually genuinely have feeling for me, did I get myself intertwined in one of his lies?"

She slammed her fist against the wall.. this was hard enough for her already and now he was making her fight Kokichi's corner.. "Shuichi. Ever since you've been in his hospital bed, Kokichi has been the only one trying to get to the bottom of what really happened.. I didn't do that, Kaito didn't do that, Kokichi was the only one who wouldn't give up; he's the only one who deserves you.." She panted, knowing that she needed to gather herself after exploding at him like that, "From what I've heard from you, your current boyfriend, isn't like the Kokichi you're describing. I know you're injured but don't think for a moment that I won't kick your ass if you say another negative word about him."

Shuichi had walked over to a single chair where his uniform had been placed and reached out to put his jacket on. He was half listening to what the assassin was saying, but the other half of him was concentrating on something.. something that he couldn't quite remember. It was if his mind and memories were being obstructed by a impenetrable wall.

"Right.. sorry. Excuse me for a moment.." He smiled gently at her, before slowly getting to his feet and making his way outside the room.

Kokichi glanced to the side when he saw the door start to swing open. He was slouching on the floor in a ball, wrapping his arms around his legs to tuck them underneath his chin. His purple hair was drooping in a depressed fashion over his face and he just looked defeated, "Shuichi, whatdyawant? To tell me I'm going to die alone?~"

Shuichi hung his head as he lowered himself down to sit on the floor with the supreme leader.

'You're alone Kokichi and you always will be.'

Shuichi shook his head, he hated himself for even saying that.. Kokichi must have been scared and yet he.. pushed him past redemption. "Don't talk Kokichi, just let me explain, I'd appreciate if you heard me out.."

Sea-Salt-Saihara How does every person who sends me art perfectly capture Shuichi's expression, even the smaller details around his eyes or his ahoge, they're all perfect, same with Kokichi of course. I may have said this before but I have a weakness for hand drawn rough sketches, not sure why, I just love them.
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"What I know is that you're a liar.. and I can't forget that. I want to forgive you but you've done so much to make me hate you, or push me away at least," The detective fiddled with his hands, staring down at the floor, "I, no.. Maki told me that I'm your boyfriend; that I was able to forgive you and fall in love all over again.. when you died, I was too filled up with hate and loathing but most of all, pain that I was never able to understand you. I'll give you this, you were truly a complex case.." He took a moment to break off from his sentence before continuing, "I want to ask you one favour.. help me remember you."

Kokichi simply stared at him in return. "You've got to be kidding me. That's impossible, how'd you know that I'm not lying, I'm a liar, you've even said that yourself. Come on, you don't want to fight for me."

"I'm going to remember whatever it takes, can you please help m.. wait.. wait! What are you doing?!" Shuichi's eyes widened as he felt the sensation of a cold hand on his neck and focused on the other male's face that was slowly moving closer and closer to his own.

maxisntsatan Cute, cute, cute, cute ahhhhh. Although the colour scheme is very simple, it works perfectly with this, doesn't it just? It makes the whole thing look so much cuter! The blushes on their faces really add more adorable-ness to the art!
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"I'm making you remember dumbass!~" He let out a little 'nishishi' before whispering on single sentence before connecting their lips together, "If you want me to stop, just say."

Sea-Salt-Saihara Did this one as well, ahh thank you thank you, I really don't give you enough credit. So please go follow them and comment here or on the one above!
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Kokichi only let the kiss linger for a few seconds before pulling away, a faint flush of pink lacing his pale cheeks, afterwards he coughed awkwardly and attempted to stand up. Shuichi on the other hand was completely transfixed, those words.. before they kissed, they held a place in his memory.. how did he recognise them..? "Kokichi, what did you say j-just now..?"

"Huh? Oh?~ you're remembering something! Well then, I said those words before we made out heavily outside on the grass, you were taking off your jacket and really getting into it!" Kokichi flashed a smirk as he spoke, covering up his excitement with his usual jokey tone.

"You were.. looking for me. You tackled me to the ground.. I was annoyed because you were flirting with someone else and I was getting really jealous, I had just realised my feelings for you but then.." The words were on the tip of his tongue but he couldn't remember them, no matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn't.

Kokichi's eyes were gleaming with excitement and joy and he was even clapping his hands, which Shuichi laughed slightly at because he had never seen him do anything like that before, "Kokichi c-calm down! This isn't a big moment.. maybe I just guessed some facts?"

"Don't take this away from me! Nishishi, I made you remember with the power of love, the most pointless power of all time! Isn't that even slightly funny to you? All this build up and you remember because of love?~" He burst out laughing, even though the timing was completely wrong, "If I keep reminding you of things with no interruptions and no sudden surprises then you'll remember in no time at all."

Shuichi took a deep breath in and nodded. Things were looking up, all thanks to his ultimate supreme leader..

*bing bong*

"Alright! It's time for what you've all been waiting for- the class trial! Please assemble in front of the Shrine of Judgement in the courtyard! See you all there! Phuhuhu!"

Shuichi's face instantly paled. He instantly spun around to Kokichi and posed him a question as if they were strangers once more. "What was that sound..? Don't tell me it's for a class trial.."

The liar regretfully nodded.

What's better than a detective who everyone will be relying on who can't remember anything about the current game that he's in, or even who's dead in the first place, leading the rest of them through a class trial that he didn't even know was happening?

Nothing could have been any more perfect.

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An artist for the ending scenes might be appreciated because it's 11:36pm on Monday at night at the moment and I've literally just finished writing this.