"Oh, I thought you said something." Shuichi shrugged.

"Nope, you must be hearing things."

A part of Kokichi was begging himself to leave but that part was being smothered by what his heart was telling him. He wanted to stay with Shuichi like this forever.

Where they were now.. together, gazing at the sunrise was absolutely perfect.

"I might go."

Kokichi's thoughts were interrupted by a voice coming from the navy-haired boy who was standing next to him. His mind went into overdrive. He didn't want this moment to end.. it hadn't lasted long enough!

No. He couldn't let it end. "Wait! Don't go!" Kokichi cringed at how desperate his voice sounded. Shuichi turned back to look at the purple-haired liar with a slightly curious but alarmed facial expression spread across his face. "Do you want me to stay?"

Kokichi tried his best not to let his true feelings show so instead, he displayed his usual 'blank face' expression. "I don't care."

Shuichi took a deep sigh, "That's a lie, isn't it Kokichi?"

Kokichi sensed the annoyance in Shuichi's tone. It was like it physically pained him to say the words, 'lie'.. it was like he was sick of lies for some reason.

Kokichi noticed that the way Shuichi had said "That's a lie, isn't it Kokichi?" was almost like he had said it before..

Shuichi noticed that Kokichi hadn't replied so he decided to walk away from him. Kokichi snapped out of his thoughts and when he turned to search for Shuichi, he wasn't standing next to him anymore. He spun around to see Shuichi just to go out of view. "Wait! Shuichi!"

At the sound of his name, the detective stopped and looked back at the liar.

"It was a lie. You're actually.. not boring." Kokichi explained, crossing his arms "same time tommorow? I'll be at your door."

Shuichi took a moment to think. He knew he probably wouldn't be able sleep anyway.. so why not? "Same time tommorow."

Before Kokichi had a chance to shout a witty comeback, the navy-haired boy was gone.

Shuichi had made his way back into his room and had made sure that his door was locked. He was lying on his bed thinking through what had just happened. "I'm.. not boring? That's a complement coming from him isn't it?"

It was weird. In the last game, Shuichi felt unnerved by Kokichi but this time.. they were almost friends... Almost.

No. He couldn't concentrate on that. He had to solely focus on preventing the murders. That was the only thing he could concern himself with.

If he focused on something or someone else.. someone would die.

................................................................................................................................................................................................

This was the day of the motive videos.

Shuichi woke up to find a motive video next to his bed. Everything had worked out perfectly.. he hoped at least.

He touched the video and it started playing. 'Kokichi Ouma's motive video'.

It was exactly the same as the one he saw last time.. after Kokichi was dead.

Shuichi laid down the video and took a relieved sigh. He fell back onto his bed and looked up at his ceiling.

Something caught his eye. A surveillance camera.. "Oh.. crap.. I thought I got rid of all the cameras.."

The camera was carefully placed so he couldn't reach it to pull it off the wall or destroy it. As soon as Shuichi had first found his room, one of the first things he did was get rid of the cameras in the room to stop Tsumugi from monitoring him.

He had missed one camera.. if Tsumugi had seen him with the motive videos.. she would of seen that he was preventing the murders.. he was screwed.

He needed to get rid of that camera.

No matter how much he tried, he couldn't reach it. "If only I could shoot it down.."

Shuichi's eyes widened. "Maki will have one in her lab.. I could find her and ask her for a crossbow."

Shuichi picked up his key, went out of his room, locked it after him and started to make his way towards Maki's ultimate lab.

When he saw her, it was almost like she was standing guard in front of the door. Shuichi walked towards her and waved friendlily. "Hey Maki."

"What do want?" She rebutted sharply.

"I was wondering if I could get a crossbow from your lab?"

Art by the talented @glass3s who did this amazing artwork of this scene. I love Shuichi's face so freaking much. I love it so much. Go follow her Instagram : oiisho

And comment if you like it!
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Maki reacted as if a jolt of electricity had been shot down her spine. Almost instantly, she had held Shuichi against the wall next to her lab with her knife held up close against his neck. "How did you know that!"

Shuichi had no idea what he had done.. but then it hit him. Kokichi hadn't revealed her as the Ultimate Assassin yet.. everyone still thought that she was the Ultimate child caregiver..

"Uhgh.. I.." Shuichi could hardly speak due to the knife being held up against his throat.

"Tell me now or I'll slit your throat."

"Maki.. please..." Shuichi pleaded.

Maki held the knife closer to his throat making him gasp for breath. Shuichi closed his eyes. Maki noticed the expression on the detective's face.. it wasn't of fear.. it was of something else.

She slowly started to lower the knife. Shuichi opened his eyes and took a deep breath.

Maki grabbed him by the arm and dragged him inside her lab, barricading them in by locking a knife across the handle. She pointed at Shuichi, "You'll tell me right now how you knew about my lab."

"You won't believe me."

Maki stared at him intensely showing that she wasn't one to be messed with. Shuichi stirred uncomfortably, "F-Fine.."

"I've already done this game. This exact one. I managed to escape the school but a pink rabbit gave me an opportunity to go back in time to do the game all over again. So, that's how I know about your talent.."

Maki was staring at him like he was insane, "I understood you until you started talking about a pink rabbit and time travel."

"I know it sounds.." Shuichi attempted to interject but was cut off by Maki, "It sounds like bullshit. I won't believe you unless you can prove it."

"Ask me anything about yourself."

Maki took a moment to think before firing back a question. "What's my greatest failure?"

"They mistook you for a cosplayer and almost found that your katana was real. You were labelled as a failure."

Maki was taken back.. only she knew that. Maybe he found out in some way? She asked him another question. "Was I an assassin by choice?"

"No. You were forced to otherwise your orphanage wouldn't get funding." Shuichi fired back another quick answer.

Maki froze. "How did you know that.."

"I've already told you." Shuichi replied, smiling gently, "I've been in this killing game before.. this exact one.. and we were friends.. you told me all that stuff about yourself because the other you trusted me."

Shuichi paused. "Can you trust me now?"