I edited the Kaito and Shuichi training scene of last chapter, so this chapter will refer to a line in last chapter that original wasn't there. Sorry about that, but the middle of this fic was very convoluted before I straightened it out and an important detail happened to slip through the cracks. Enjoy!

Shuichi blew out seventeen candles on the cake. Everyone clapped.

Kaito clasped Shuichi's back. "It's too bad Tsumugi is at a cosplay event and can't make it to your birthday party, Shuichi." After releasing him, Kaito pulled over a red saucer chair and sat between the detective and Maki.

Shuichi nudged away an errant floating balloon. "It's all right. It's not like Tsumugi knew Kaede was throwing a surprise party two weeks late."

"Well, it would have been nice if every roommate was here. Have the whole gang together. Right?" Kaito turned to Maki. She busied herself with passing out plates. "Hey, what anime character is she cosplaying at the event? Do you know, Maki?"

"No."

"Oh, okay…"

Himiko, the only one sitting on the loveseat in the living room, piped up. "Hey, someone give me cake so I can eat it here."

Kokichi listened to the chatter surrounding him. He looked up at Kaede standing at the kitchen counter. Kaede's smart to have the party at her dorm instead of ours. Now anti-social Maki and lazy Himiko can't hide in their rooms.

Kaede shut the utensil drawer closed with a hip. "Come on, Himiko. Sit with everyone else! We'll pull up a chair for you."

"Nyeeeh… we'll be watching TV, right? I don't wanna move back here from the table if we do."

Kokichi raised a brow. What? Seriously? Every dorm at Hope's Peak had identical layout so the distance between the table and living room couch was a mere three feet. Frowning, Kokichi shot a covert glance at the mage. Pasty face. Sleepy, unfocused gaze. Dark smudges beneath her eyes. She almost looked comatose.

Kokichi swallowed hard.

Sighing, Kaede asked, "Keebo? Do you mind fetching the two foldout chairs from my room? Thanks." Keebo quickly retrieved the chairs and sat down on one of them. Kaede pointed a finger at the empty chair. "Get over here, Himiko, or you're not getting any cake." Grumbling, the mage took a seat next to Kokichi.

Glancing at Kokichi, Kaede poised the knife over the chocolate cake. "How much do you want?"

"That's good."

Although Kaede frowned, she cut out the small slice. "Eat this and then get another. You're too skinny! You, too, Himiko."

Kokichi toyed with his fork. "Does Shuichi like your pushy busybody act?"

Kaede will be upset, Kokichi predicted in his mind. Kaito will get mad. Shuichi will place a hand on Kaito's knee underneath the table like some weird couple.

Kokichi looked up. Tightlipped, Kaede set Kokichi's plate down with more force than necessary. Kaito openly glared at the leader. Shuichi's arm was turned towards Kaito, hand beneath the table.

Then there's going to be awkward silence until someone breaks it. Prolly Keebo.

As Kaede cut everyone else's slices, no one spoke. Keebo made a noise similar to clearing a throat. "So I was thinking of asking Miu about more upgrades. I couldn't decide if she should upgrade my singing voice or making me more tolerant to sun exposure first."

No one will care.

Forks tinged against plates. A chair creaked.

Shuichi said, "So thanks, guys, for doing this. I appreciate it."

And then –

"Hey! What are you doing?" asked Himiko, incredulous.

Kokichi blinked. "Hm?" He looked down. He had been repeatedly smashing the cake with his fork. All that remained was crumbs. Oh. I didn't realize… Huh. Well, that's new. Hmm, what do I say now?

Himiko narrowed her eyes. "If you were just going to ruin it, you should've given it to me."

Laughing, Kokichi leaned in close. His joker grin slid into place. "But, Himi-chan… destroying things is so much more fun."

She'll back down. Then more silence until someone suggests the next activity.

Himiko hung her head. She picked at her slice.

Everyone else chew mechanically. Stared off into space. The a/c hummed.

Kaito proposed, "So who wants to watch a movie?"

Kokichi wanted to scream.

After some more encouragement, everyone shuffled over to the living room. Kaito squatted by the DVD player beneath the TV stand. He went to reach for Kaede's CD case, but then paused. "What are we watching?"

Six blank faces stared back at him.

"O-kay! We should watch a comedy. Laughter is the best medicine, after all!"

Kokichi smirked. "Living with you is like watching a comedy already."

Kaito tsked. "Little shit…" Following a somewhat heated debate, a movie was chosen and played. The astronaut reclined on the couch next to Maki. She scooted away a smidge. Crossed the leg nearest to Kaito over the other. She just needs more room, that's all. She's not mad at me. I mean, why would she be? I'm the awe-inspiring Luminary of the Stars.

Kaito drummed his fingers on the couch's arm. He looked around. Instead of a wall of pictures like in their dorm, a large banner hung which read "You're amazing!". Fall leaves decals decorated the window. The pianist and Himiko sat on the loveseat to the left while Maki, then Shuichi and Keebo sat on the couch. Kokichi claimed the comfortable saucer chair on the right. Dozing, Kokichi's head bobbed.

Kaito slung his arm on the couch's back, reaching behind Maki. She stiffened. Glaring, Maki mumbled something about the bathroom and left.

Kaito frowned. I was just… He shook his head. Why the hell is she treating me like this? I only want to help. If I was the one instead of Kokichi, she would have seen how awesome I am. Sighing, Kaito tapped Shuichi's shoulder. He nodded at the sleeping Kokichi.

Shuichi whispered, "Should we take him back to the dorm?"

Kaito rose from his seat, exhaling. "Yeah, I got it."

A ten-year-old Kokichi tried to rise. Grimacing, he hugged his stomach. On his hands and knees, Kokichi's tears and sweat plipped onto the floor. This is way worse than Daddy ever did.

His brother towered over him, pacing around the boy. "You're weak. Slow. Your form is sloppy." He crouched down. Kokichi flinched away. "Is this a game to you?"

Kokichi froze.

"This another one of your chess matches? See how many people and pawns you can keep alive? This is real world. If people discover what you've done… if it ever gets leaked that you're the one masterminding it all, people will hunt you down and kill you. You have to be stronger."

After a long moment, he stood and began pacing again.

"I… I haven't done anything wrong." The walking stopped. Trembling, Kokichi kept his eyes on the wood floor. "I'm just protecting you. And you're acting in self-defense."

A laugh. Kokichi blinked. Eyes wide, he risked a glance over his shoulder. His brother was laughing. In all of Kokichi's life, he had never heard his brother laugh or smile. A chuckle, a smirk. But never throw his head back and laughing. Never.

Kokichi's stomach clenched. "A… ah…"

A swift kick to the ribs.

Snap!

Crying out, Kokichi curled into a ball. He bit his lip to keep from whimpering. His brother's voice sharpened like a blade. "If that's the lie you want to tell yourself, go ahead. But you'll only end up dead." His brother's sneer stretched across his face. "I might as well kill you now."

Kokichi's jaw clenched. "No…" Growling, Kokichi balled his hands to fists. "No, you won't, Oni-chan!" Roaring, Kokichi jumped off the floor, fist reeled back.

"No, you won't, Oni-chan!" Kokichi's fist shot out. Something blocked it. A hand.

"Whoa!"

That didn't sound like… Frowning, Kokichi blinked awake. A tall, large male was stooped over him. Kokichi squinted. Same dark purple hair, but…

"You were dreaming."

Kaito. He smiled down at the leader. "Dude, it's okay."

"Wha…?" Kokichi blearily looked around. His and Kaede's roommates all stared at him, eyes wide. Balloons bobbed. "Shit," Kokichi mumbled. "I, uh…" He held his head. "Ugh…"

Kaito glanced over at Himiko. Pulling down her hat, the mage shrank back. Kaito sighed. Voice quiet, he suggested, "Let's get you back to bed, okay?"

Kokichi didn't fight him.

His bedroom door closed quietly. Biting a lip, Kokichi sat at the edge of his bed. The short walk down the hall from Kaede's dorm left his body aching. He glanced at the bedside table. Various pill bottles stood waiting. Kokichi reached for the pain reliever.

"You're weak."

Kokichi flinched. "No…" No, I'm not! Growling, he seized all of the bottles. Hobbled to the bathroom across from his room. Slammed the door behind him. Teeth clenched, Kokichi tore off the bottles' lids, pills flying everywhere. He dumped the medicine into the toilet. Then he grabbed another bottle and flushed them. And another and another and another. Every last one.

The sound of flushing water echoed in the small space. Kokichi breathed heavily. Sweat coated his face. "Urgk!" Kokichi covered his mouth with a hand. His stomach seized.

Kokichi retched.

After knocking, Keebo slowly opened the bathroom door. "Kokichi…?" He looked around. A few errant pills had rolled to all corners of the floor. Discarded bottles lay by the trash can. The sick, heavy smell of vomit hung in the air.

Kokichi, sat on the floor with his knees to his chest, leaning against the wall. Eyes closed, Kokichi mumbled in his sleep. "I'm strong…"

Exhaling, Keebo knelt by his side. He smiled. "Yes, you are."

"You can't hurt me anymore… No one can…"

"No one is hurting you," soothed Keebo. Frowning, he looked back at the empty pill bottles. "No one except yourself."

Kokichi awoke with a pounding headache the morning after Kaede's party, so he stayed in bed, missing class. He scrolled through his phone, checking Hope's Peak social media website. When new ultimates were scouted into HPA, people all over Japan spammed their online accounts. Thus, all ultimates had their own Hope's Peak social media source, which only ultimates and – Kokichi highly suspected – the faculty had access to.

Kokichi skimmed the Facebook-like posts. The results of the fashion show Sayaka had thrown. Teruteru announcing his partnership with a nearby restaurant. Smiling pictures from the sports festival he missed. Kokichi sighed.

A text message from Kaito appeared. "Shuichi and I are heading to the cafeteria. If you need anything, ask Keebo."

Kokichi replied, "Going out on a date with Shuichi because you can't score Maki? Talk about suuuper pathetic."

Kaito immediately volleyed back a series of texts. "Look, this tirade is getting really old. We both went through the same crap when we were kidnapped so what's the deal? Do everyone a favor: stop freaking out about every little thing like a baby and dial it the hell down."

White-faced, Kokichi deleted the entire conversation with Kaito. A year and a half's worth of messages gone in an instant. And then Shuichi's texts. And Keebo's and Kaede's and Maki's and everyone else in his class. Only Himiko remained. The last text was "You'll see…!" Brow raised, Kokichi tapped it.

He had texted, "Can't wait til you're back here at HPA. I got a surprise for youuuuuu!"

Himiko answered, "Nyeh, it's just a kiss."

"You'll see…!"

It was, in fact, a surprise bear hug from behind and a peck on the cheek.

Kokichi bit his thumb nail. He scrolled through old texts with her before stopping at random. He had said, "How could you be so cruel to me?! You're my favorite person, you know!"

Himiko replied, "That's a lie. There's no way you like me more than yourself."

"You got me! Buuuut… you could be my fav if you kiss me." Himiko sent a blowing a kiss emote. "O-kay! You are officially my favorite person – for today. Tomorrow you hafta kiss me again."

"Okay. I'll kiss you tomorrow and every day after."

"Get real now. Stop joking."

"I wasn't joking. I mean where else am I gonna find an evil supreme leader whose as funny and crazy and sweet like you?"

Kokichi's breath hitched. Grimacing, Kokichi exited and swiped left on their conversation. His thumb hovered over the delete button. His whole hand trembled. Face twisting, Kokichi gripped the phone with both hands. His thumb wouldn't budge.

"Rrgh!" Kokichi threw the phone across the room. The device scuffed the wall.

Kokichi sat up, hitting the pinata hanging over his bed. Kokichi remembered his roommates presenting the birthday pinata to him. Shuichi had apologized, "Sorry we missed it last year, so we went all out this year. I hope you like it!"

Teeth bared, Kokichi wrenched it from the ceiling and hurled it at the wall.

Kokichi's hands shot out, digging through his video games. He found Mario Kart.

Himiko had pouted, "Why you always hit me with a blue shell?"

Kokichi ripped the CD into two. Super Smash Bros. Torn down the middle. Streets of Rage II. Ripped. Every CD he owned smashed, cracked, shattered.

Blood roared in Kokichi's ears. Pounding to the rhythm of too slow, too slow. Not enough, not enough. Kokichi reached for his baseball bat.

Kaito asked, "Hey, wanna hit the batting cages?"

Kokichi smashed the TV, glass shattering.

More, more, more!

He slugged his collection of vintage action figures. Swiped the papers off the desktop. Flung his desk chair aside. He seized the edge of his bookcase. Pulled. "Hrngh!" The bookcase crashed onto the floor.

Panting hard, Kokichi snatched up his phone. He reached the delete button of Himiko's texts. His thumb hovered over it.

"Kokichi!" His door burst open. "I heard banging…"

Kokichi's head lulled over his shoulder. Keebo stood in the doorway.

"Why are you crying…?"

After retrieving the first aid kit, Keebo reentered Kokichi's room. He gasped again. Broken pinata and books on the floor. Shredded remains of posters. Glass shards from the broken CDs and TV. Shaking his head, Keebo picked his way over to the bed. Kokichi sat on the edge of the mattress.

Sighing, Keebo knelt before the leader and grabbed his hand. With tweezers, Keebo picked out the glass shards from his various cuts. He dropped the shards into his other hand with a plip, plip, plip. The a/c hummed.

Keebo whispered, "Have you heard of the Wizard of Oz?" The robot glanced up at Kokichi. Head bowed, Kokichi's errant bangs covered his eyes. Traces of tear tracks still clung to his cheeks. "There's Dorthey who wants to go home, the Scarecrow who wants a brain, the Cowardly Lion who wants courage, and…" Keebo faintly smiled. "The tin man who wants a heart. They journey to meet the magical Wizard of Oz. In the end their wishes are granted, but…" Keebo unconsciously squeezed Kokichi's injured hand. "There's no way a robot can gain a heart. It's just a fairytale."

The only sound in the room was Kokichi breathing. Keebo reached for a roll of bandages. He began gently wrapping Kokichi's hand.

"I hate the story, too," a raw voice spoke. "Not everyone has a home…"

"No," retorted Keebo. His steel eyes glowed blue. "Having a home is the one we have in common." Keebo held Kokichi's hand with both of his. "So hold onto your heart, Kokichi. Don't throw it away. Stop trying to feel as much pain as possible until you feel nothing at all. Even a hurting heart is a beautiful gift. Cherish it."

Sighing, Keebo looked down. "I mean, I'll never be able to truly understand what my friends are going through, but… that's what I think."

Silence. Only Kokichi's haggard breathing. Frowning, Keebo lifted his head. Kokichi's face was as white as a sheet. He swayed. Falling unconscious, Kokichi started to fall over sideways.

"Kokichi!"

Himiko lay in bed, the covers pulled up over her head. Squinted, Himiko studied at her crushed barrette. Gaito, one of the Reserve course students, had crushed it when they were kidnapped. The barrette's gold frame was bent and warped. Turquoise gemstone cracked. Her master's gift: destroyed.

Kokichi's voice echoed in her head. "But, Himi-chan… destroying things is so much more fun."

Eyes screwed shut, Himiko hugged her pillow. Just let me sleep… sleep and drift away and I won't have to feel anything…

The door burst open. "Himiko!" cried Kaede. "I just heard from Keebo! Kokichi destroyed his room and set off his internal bleeding again. Keebo just rushed him to the infirmary!"

Himiko froze. She looked at the broken barrette. But… Sighing, Himiko burrowed deeper into the sheets. She mumbled, "…doesn't wanna see me… I'm the last person…"

"Get the hell up."

Fists balled, Kaede stamped over to bed. Ripped off the covers. Jabbed a finger at her. "I don't care what Kokichi said to you, I don't care how lazy you are. If you still care the slightest bit for Kokichi, then get up, get dressed, and meet me at the lobby in ten minutes." She slammed the door behind her.

Rubbing her eyes, Himiko rolled onto her back. She cast her gaze over her room. The trays of uneaten food. Her dusty magic trophies on a high shelf. Photos of their dates taped to her vanity. Himiko bit her lip.

She reached for her dresser's drawer.

Shoulders tense, Kaito strode down the infirmary hallway. Shuichi, Kaede, and Himiko trailed in his wake, crying for him to slow down. Keebo, who was standing out outside a room, jumped when spying Kaito. "You're finally here. Kokichi –"

Kaito drew a halt before the robot. He gestured to the door with his chin. "He in there?"

"U-uh, yes."

"Did you say anything to him? You two get in a fight?"

"No, not at all! I have no idea what set him off."

Then my texts… Kaito fisted his hands. "This shit ends now." He barged into the room.

Kokichi sat in bed, a nurse checking his blood transfusion IV line. Both started at Kaito's entrance. The astronaut gave Kokichi the once-over. Nasal canal instead of an oxygen mask. Yukata hospital gown. Bandaged hands.

The nurse began, "I'm sorry, but no visit–"

Kokichi cut in, "I'm awake. The bleeding's slowing. The transfusion's going. I'm fine, so beat it." Tightlipped, the nurse left.

Shuichi, Kaede, and Keebo slipped in behind the astronaut. Kaito glanced over his shoulder. Himiko lingered farther down the hall, out of Kokichi's sight. She shook her head. Shrank back. Exhaling, Kaito closed the door.

Kokichi deadpanned, "Yay, the training trio arrived. Except, oh wait, Maki never joined and Kaede's just tagging along."

"I am here as well, Kokichi," Keebo spoke quietly. "Just as I have always been." The leader's eyes flickered to him before looking away.

Brows furrowed, Shuichi shook his head. "Why would you destroy everything?"

Kokichi shrugged. "I didn't like the décor. Reminded me of garbage."

"Never mind that," cried Kaede. "Are you okay? How do you feel?"

Kokichi crossed his arms. "Since when do you care about other people's feelings? I mean, only a complete asshole uses their boyfriend's birthday for their own means."

Kaede paled. "I-I just wanted everyone to get along. To do something…!"

"Instead of nothing like you've been doing all along? If you're going to keep screwing up, why don't you just butt out? Like Maki. We're all better off without her."

Shuichi's jaw clenched. "Kokichi, I understand you're upset, but –"

Kokichi spat, "You don't understand anything. You may be hatless and looking at things directly with your eyes, but you must be blind. Or maybe you don't have the balls, I don't know. But there's a greater institution at work here and if no one acts, it'll only happen again."

Shuichi stiffened. He dipped his head.

Kaito sneered, "For someone who wants to be alone, you're crying out for help really loudly."

Kokichi blinked. Then he leaned forward, holding his forehead. His shoulders shook. "Nee-heehee…" He threw his head back and laughed. "Ahahahahaha!" Grinning, he pointed to himself. "So what? You're gonna try to save me? You, the machoistic hero?"

Kaito gasped. He doesn't mean…?

Shuichi's eyes cut to the astronaut. "Kaito. What is he talking about?"

Voice raw, Kokichi declared, "Oh, I'll tell you, Mr. Detective! Kaito, here, is very jealous of me. In part cuz I had a girl I could ditch, but also because…" Kokichi parted the front of his yukata gown. "He wants some of this."

Kaito's jaw dropped. Kaede covered her mouth with a hand. Yellow and purple and blue bruises covered his chest. Closer examination revealed some bruises in the shape of shoes. Kaito felt sick.

"You see, Kaito wanted to be the one to save the day when we were kidnapped. He wanted to reason with them, to participate in their video, to be the one lying half-dead in the hospital… But I stole the spotlight from him." A joker grin overtook Kokichi's face. "If you want to get beat up, well, that can be arranged. But nothing can salvage your broken pride."

Shuichi slowly turned to the astronaut. "Bro…? What is he talking about? To want to be hurt like that… That's so messed up. Kokichi's just lying, right? I mean, that's crazy talk." Shuichi chuckled. "Yeah, that's it. He's just messing with you."

Reeling, Kaito stepped back. Is that true…? Do I…?

Memories flashed through Kaito's mind. Him punching the hospital wall. Muttering, "It should of been me…"

Him complaining when Shuichi wanted to train. "I shouldn't have to be dealing with this. If things had worked out differently, if I was the one…"

At Kaede's party when Maki left after Kaito sat next to her. He had thought, "If I was the one instead of Kokichi, she would have seen how awesome I am."

"Ngh!" Kaito clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. Then he exhaled, deflating. "No, Shuichi, he's right. Kokichi's right. I did want to be this brave martyr who sacrificed himself for his friends. The school would have lauded me as a hero. My sidekick Shuichi would respect me more. Annoying Kokichi would be indebted to me. Maybe Maki would admit to liking me."

Keebo frowned. "I don't understand. The important thing would have been to escape and Kokichi to have lived through his injuries."

"That's right, Keebo." Kaito's balled fists shook at his side. Teeth gritted, he stared at the ground. "And that's why it's so horrible. I'm selfish. I'm a selfish bastard who cares more about himself than others."

Shuichi pressed a hand to his chest. "Kaito, that's not true –"

"It is true!" shouted Kaito. He looked up. Met Kokichi's quiet, even gaze. "I'm some… whatever you call it."

"Attention whore."

Kaito bristled. "I got this hero complex. But even so, what's the problem with that? Who cares if I want to save people? To help people?" Growling, Kaito thrust a finger at Kokichi. "It's better than you who just sits back and lies and hurts and destroys."

Kokichi examined his nails. "Are we done now?"

Kaito stepped up to the bedside. He challenged, "Himiko's been crying herself to sleep every night since, you know."

Everyone stiffened. Shuichi narrowed his eyes at Kaito. Muttered, "That's really low…"

Sighing, Kokichi rested his chin on a hand and looked away. "That's a lie."

"Then why don't you look me in the eye and see if I'm lying?"

Kokichi didn't move. The leader only lowered his head slightly, bangs hiding his eyes from view.

Kaito hissed, "You're a coward. You shove everyone away with insults and lies so you don't have to show your real feelings, is that it? Yeah, that's why you lie! So you don't get hurt!"

White-faced, Kokichi snapped his head up. His eyes flashed. "You don't know what I've done, what I'm capable of, or what I'm willing to do."

"You sacrificed yourself, now you're isolating yourself, and you're willing to forever break off all relationships and you don't care. You don't feel anything at all. You're heartless." Shouting, Kaito threw out a hand to the side. "And idiot that I am, I'm still way better than you!"

Kokichi snarled, "You –!"

Kaito leaned forward, spitting as he spoke. "Behind your every lie is nothing! Just an empty husk of a person, whose too cowardly to face reality!"

Teeth bared, Kokichi climbed out of bed and lunged. Wincing, he misstepped. "Y-you…!" Bending over, Kokichi erupted into a coughing fit. He pulled a hand away from his mouth. Blood. "Ulp!" Kokichi vomited blood onto the floor.

Everyone gasped. Stepped back.

Grimacing, Kokichi wiped his mouth. "S-shit…" Coughing violently, Kokichi sunk to the ground. Between coughs, he wheezed, "I'm… I'm strong…"

Eyes narrowed, Kaito stood, looking down at the leader. "No, you're not."

Kokichi raised a trembling hand. He blabbered, "Wait, no. I am. P-please, onii-chan…!"

Shaking his head, Kaito turned his back on Kokichi. He strode out the room. "Shuichi, go get him a nurse."

Himiko ducked into the infirmary's therapy gym. She sat down at a chair by the door. Pulling down her hat's bill, she gazed across the gym. Beyond the plinths and exercise equipment, two physical therapists were working with Kokichi. The leader was walking with a rolling walker, a therapist following with a wheelchair. The therapist at Kokichi's side asked, "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Sweat slid down his face. His legs trembled beneath him.

Himiko held her breath. Kokichi… She hadn't seen him in weeks.

"I think that's far enough for today. Have a seat." Sighing, Kokichi collapsed into the wheelchair behind him. "Listen, I know you want to leave, but don't push yourself. You'll only trigger your bleeding again."

Face wiped of expression, Kokichi dully gazed off into the distance. "Don'tcha need a heart for that? Bleeding, I mean."

Himiko's eyes burned. Sniffing, she held her face with a hand. Went to brush aside her bangs. But her fingers didn't feel Master's barrette. Oh, that's right. It's gone.

She froze.

Himiko stood, chair clattering. She strode out the door, chin held high.

Shuichi pushed a shopping cart through the store. Kaede walked besides him, a list in hand. Electronics like Blu-ray players and video games lined the shelves. A soft pop track played on overhead speakers. The few other customers chatted around them. Kaede consulted her pad. "Let's see… so we have a toy helicopter, two water guns, and we just picked up those nice headphones. You found that one puzzle he really likes."

Shuichi picked up a game case. "Now we just need the video games. We should get Darkest Dungeon. He's the only one who plays it and we have a Switch already to play Super Smash Ultimate."

Frowning, Kaede selected a copy of Mario Kart. "What the heck? Why is this still 4,500 yen? This has been out for years."

"Oh, don't get that. Kokichi's the only one with a Wii. We'll have to get the Switch version and he play it in the living room."

"Well, how much is it to buy a new Wii?"

"13,000 yen."

Kaede swallowed. Sighing, she returned it to the shelf. The pianist spun around and smiled. "Well, let's tackle this list! Kokichi will be so happy to see his room stocked when he leaves the infirmary." Kaede scanned the writing pad. "I think we have just about everything on the first page. And the second…" A list of things too expensive buy or rare. Video game consoles. Desk chair. Pinata. TV. Bookcase. DC and Marvel posters.

"D-do you think Maki or Himiko would help pay?"

"No."

Her smile faltered. "Well, what about Kaito? Have you talked to him since yesterday? Wait, what am I saying? Of course you have. I mean, you're best friends. Soul bros."

Shuichi scoffed. "You mean sidekick?" He dipped his head. His eyes narrowed. "To desire praise so badly to only care about being a hero during the kidnapping, to use Himiko to make Kokichi feel guilty, and then to have the audacity to still say he's better than Kokichi…" Shuichi slowly shook his head. "I believed in him."

"Aw, don't be like that, Shuichi. I'm sure things will… things will work out between you and Kaito. Himiko and Maki will come back. And Kokichi will be happy when we… he won't care, will he?"

Shuichi glanced up. Tears were running down Kaede's face. Hiccupping, Kaede wiped her eyes, but only more fell. "No one cares… No one!"

Shuichi stepped forward, hand raised. "Kaede…"

She smacked his hand away. "Leave me alone!"

Shuichi flinched.

Kaede winced. Exhaling, she rubbed her eyes then strode down the aisle. She snatched up the Switch Mario Kart, consulted the list, and then disappeared down the next aisle.

Elbows resting against the cart handle, Shuichi hung his head.

Grocery bags in hand, Shuichi and Kaede entered his dorm. He paused, listening. No noise; Kaito and Keebo weren't here. Kaede walked towards the leader's room. "Do you know when Kokichi's coming back?"

Shuichi passed her to open the door. "I heard in about two days or –" He gasped.

Kokichi's room wasn't destroyed. The wreckage remains had been swept up. His books and comics straightened on the bookshelf. A brand new pinata hung above his bed. A large TV with game consoles and controllers gleamed in the light.

Dropping her bags, Kaede covered her mouth with a hand. Tears welled in her eyes. "No way… who did…?"

On the center of his desk was a deck of cards. Shuichi held it up for Kaede to see. A post it note on it read, "You better be practicing or else I'll place a curse on you."

Credit goes to my pals, Milkbonez and Yawnmeno for coming up with Kokichi's retort to Kaito suggesting a comedy movie. For those of you who read my fic on Kokichi's backstory, Never Bow Low - that fic ended when Kokichi was 9; the flashback in this chapter was when Kokichi was 10. Take that as you will ;)