A/N: Merry Christmas everyone! It is the 25th December 2018 and whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or any other holiday, I truly wish you the best!

Sidenote and update to that: some artists have been in contact and have already sent stuff~ But if you see an opening, please do go for it. Also, I am looking for the first ten or so chapters which don't have any original art to be illustrated, so please do some of that! Would be greatly appreciated.

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The first hour flew by, then the second, then the third! It was perfectly, simply and easy. Super easy. Nothing stressful about the entire thing. He was just a claustrophobic guy trapped in a small, enclosed space with little air and completely no way out.

It may not have been that many hours had gone by, either Maki was lying about visiting him and had decided to betray him.. or that he was going even more insane and paranoid. The time in the cupboard was dreadful for him, absolute terror and horror.. he had given up however on scraping out of the door as his hand had started to bleed and his beautifully painted, purple nails had begun to crack and upturn quite dramatically.

MoaThorup drew this and I do really really like it. I should have added it into the chapter earlier so I am quite sorry for letting it slip through my mind like this, my apologies for that. But please do comment and follow them; their art is extremely good and it looks adorable in the chibli style.

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Shuichi had to wake up before the trial. He had no idea how they were going to complete a trial without him.. the others would be lost without him in the trial; but that wasn't the truth. He'd gone round and round in circles about Shuichi's whole situation.. but after Tsumugi had revealed himself to him and he had tried to stab her, things had become almost crystal clear.

He needed Shuichi alive again to support him and to love him. He needed to hear his voice, he needed to be reassured that everything was going to be alright again. Kokichi needed his detective back to end the game and rush him into the sunset. Falling in love in a killing game.. how stupid, how unlikely, how emotionally traumatising.

This person doesn't want a shout out so I'm just going to show you how amazing this is! What is it with everyone nailing Kokichi's ruined expressions lately, it's insane! Please say how I have you love this in the comments and I'm sure that the artist will read them!

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He wanted a hug, a kiss and definitely more when he woke up. The purple haired male closed his eyes and slumped back onto the floor, pulling his legs up against his chest in some sort of order to keep himself warm and safe all the whilst being enclosed within a small space which was his worst nightmare. Finding comfort in a nightmare was something that he had had to learn ever since his beloved had left him.

Kokichi heard a few gentle taps on the door, and he perked his ears up at the sound, he scrambled up as he didn't want to be caught in a vulnerable ball on the floor. The door slowly creaked open and the girl assassin stood in front of the door, peering her eye through the crack; a few more moments passed as she glanced around beside and behind her, before she opened the door further and stepped inside, making sure that she was out of sight from anyone else that may have been walking by that she could have missed from her first glance.

The way she spoke was formal, but it was informative. "A few things have happened that I think you should be aware of so listen to me, I'm only going to say this one time, do you understand?"

He'd heard that line come from her mouth so many times that it was most definitely one of her catchphrases... nethertheless, he nodded anyway.

She got the confirmation and opened her mouth to speak, only to pause as she noticed the other's abnormally pale complexion and damaged nails that seemed to be dripping blood onto the floor. "I'm leaving this door open, don't abuse the freedom. I'll be back as soon as I am able to be."

Kokichi opened his mouth to question, but she had already left and the faint sounds of footprints could only be heard echoing around. Still, he couldn't obey the instructions completely.. surely one little grasp of freedom would be fine, just to help calm his nerves..

He closed his eyes, only for a few seconds and took a deep breath. He hadn't exactly promised or swore on his life that he wouldn't, so bending the rules wouldn't hurt if he was quick. With that, his body moved completely on its own as he pushed open the door and took a single step out.

The liar set his pale and shaking hand down against the edge of the wall and took his other hand to wipe his eyes from the tears. The air of the hallway wasn't the freshest or cleanest, god knows how the academy was ventilated, but yet it was still enough to help calm him down.

Maki returned at the corridor with a few bandages in hand and a small plastic cup of water. She walked slowly with almost silent footsteps as if she truly was a predator stalking her precious and vulnerable prey. There was a hunger in her eyes, but there was also a small volume of concern and worry along with it. Ultimate Child caregiver, it wasn't the talent that she was assigned.. but maybe there was some truth deep down within it.

"I was aware that I told you to stay in the closet." She crossed her arms and looked down at him, furrowing her eyebrows as if to come across as angry and cold, despite secretly caring about his condition.

@Nekonaj drew this and it honestly made me laugh.. awh.. Kokichi looks so freaking cute! So please go follow them and check out their art book as well.
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"I've been out the closet since kindergarten, so no real shock that I can't stay in a closet, is there?~" He smirked back in a friendly fashion; if she wasn't giving him any grief, there wasn't any reason to give her any in return.

Maki smiled back, before glancing side to side, and then to the floor. "Something's happened." With that, she indicated with her head in the direction of the secretly hidden hospital room and began to walk..

Kokichi could only follow with dread of what was to come. Everything had been building up to this moment, all of his impulse decisions and meltdowns.. his inner conflicts and true fears. Everything was down to that detective that he loved with his entire heart.

~

The door creaked open and Maki held the door open for Kokichi who galoped towards the bedside towards those perfect yellow and gold eyes that were there, staring at him.

"Kokichi!" Maki let out a scream and ran forward to attempt to grab him, but it was too late, the smaller boy was too close to Shuichi now.

Awhhhh, Little Kokichi's face.. breaks my pile of black sludge that I call a heart. Everything about this is perfect, from the scenery to the expressions. Oh boy.

the-frenchiest-fries (tumblr) did this and y'all need to follow them! Tumble isn't dead just yet! Plus they're gonna have a ton of new amazing art!

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He ran up to the navy haired detective and hugged him, gripping onto his torso and wrapping his arms around him with so much strength that it seemed that he wouldn't be able to ever let him out of his grasp ever again. He was exactly like he remembered, those beautiful eyes, that alarmingly pale complexion, his thin figure and navy hair..

Kokichi took a moment to realise that this was actually happening.. this was completely real.. he moved his face away and planted a sweet, small kiss on Shuichi's cheek and buried his face into his face in his chest, starting to cry into the other's shirt, muttering out the old odd word or two.

maxisntsatan was the artist behind this! Again, the feels are really striking.. god this angst is going to kill me.. GO FOLLOW THEM AND COMMENT

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Shuichi simply shot a panicked glare towards the female assassin who was looking back at him with an expression of empathy and surprise. Maki knew that something was wrong ever since he woke up.. the way he reacted with Kirumi, the screaming and the shouting, the pure fear on his face.. it was going to be the exact same with Kokichi wasn't it? She didn't want to see his heart break right in front of her eyes as, regrettably, they had created a small friendship between them.

Shuichi let out a shout and gathered all of his strength and grabbed onto Kokichi's shoulders, tearing his arms away from his shirt and pushing him onto the floor with all of his might.

"AH.. ahhh! G-Get away from m.. GET AWAY FROM ME!"

Kokichi hit the floor with a bang and Maki rushed to his side, quickly restraining him from making any sudden movements by tucking her arms underneath the liar's armpits. Kokichi began to scramble towards his beloved, but Maki sharply said in a tone that he would never forget, "Kokichi.. something's happened.. you didn't listen to me. Shuichi's.. woken up, but he isn't the same."

He stopped struggling for a few moments to question and listen to her words. He was confused right now; this wasn't the truth, was it? This wasn't how his fairytale was meant to go..

"Isn't the same, what'dya mean..?" He sharply kneed Maki in the stomach and wriggled out of her snake-like grip, stumbling back up to Shuichi who had pressed himself towards the very back of the wall, his entire body shaking.

"What does she mean, Shuichi? You remember me, don't you?! Come on! It's me, nishishi!~" He begged, forcing out a chuckle.

TheSavageSkittle did this piece of artwork and I really do love how well they drew Shuichi's distress and Kokichi's alarm.. seriously, it's all amazing. Go follow them please!
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Shuichi continued to shake as he said the single two words that broke the liar's heart, that caused him to crumble to the floor as he legs and body went completely limp.

"You're dead!"

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If you skipped the author note, READ IT!