Chapter 1: Secret

Shuichi gulped nervously, his body tense with anticipation. Sweat rolled down his pale face as he remembered what he was doing at a coffee shop known as a popular LGBTQ+ hangout spot at 12pm on a Thursday.

That's right he thought, The assassin I've been tracking...according to my investigation, they should strike today...

Contrary to his friends' beliefs after he told them he would be spending the afternoon there, Shuichi was not gay. Although he had been selected to attend Hope's Peak as the Ultimate Detective, he viewed himself as anything but talented, and this was his first major case. Exposing this assassin would be a huge breakthrough, and he as nervous as he was excited. He watched the intended target, a minor politician, intently.

I wonder what I'll get for exposing the assassin. he thought eagerly, his mind turning to his imagined rewards: respect, some self-confidence, and maybe, just maybe, a certain blonde, pink-eyed pianist looking in his direction. He blushed and smiled to himself. When he had finally finished indulging in his fantasies and looked up, he beheld, to his horror, the politician face down on the ground, oozing blood like a tightly-squeezed sponge. Panicking, he surveyed the area, until he saw a hooded figure dashing out of the building.

*Aha! Gotcha!*

Taking out a pair of handcuffs from his pocket, Shuichi immediately gave chase, making sure to keep distance so the culprit wouldn't notice him. He followed them out of the building throughout the city, stalking them across winding alleys and through crowded streets. It wasn't until they suddenly went into a dilapidated building called Hotel Kumasutra that he hesitated. That place was...sketchy, to say the least, but had already come this far. There was no turning back. Keeping his distance, Shuichi waited until they had checked in, then followed them and waited until they had entered their room. Breathing heavily with excitement, Shuichi sneaked across the hallway, the only indication of his presence being the drops of sweat had escaped his face.

This is it. Shuichi thought. It's now or never.

As he approached the door to apprehend the assassin, the door suddenly swung open violently, as if it had been kicked, and a quick hand reached out from the darkness like a snake and dragged him in by the collar. He had no time to react as he was thrown onto a crusty bed, straddled, and handcuffed to the bedpost. And now, on top of him with a knife to his throat, he beheld none other than-

"Maki?!"

His classmate froze as he spoke her name. Surprise flickered on her face for an instant as she recognized him, but she dismissed it just as quickly. She brought the knife closer to her throat, her face now completely emotionless.

What? Shuichi's head filled with questions. What's Maki doing here? She's the Ultimate Child Caretaker, not an assassin! And she's my friend...she wouldn't kill me, right?

That weak assurance disappeared as she pressed the blade against his throat, the cold steel biting his skin. She closed her eyes, and, tightening her jaw, raised the knife above her head-

"Wait" Shuichi croaked. "Wait, Maki."

At the mention of her name once more, she froze. Then, after what seemed like an hour, the knife was thrown to the ground.

Shuichi sighed in relief. Now that his life wasn't in danger, he could ask her the questions facing through his head.

"M-maki? You're the assassin?! That can't be true, right? What would Kaito do if he found out, or Kokichi, or the rest of our friends-"

As his stream of anxious questions surrounded her, a shadow covered her face.

"I'm sorry you think less of me." She said.

"So it's true...but I wouldn't think less of you for it Maki! You must have a good reason! And I won't reveal who you are...so can you tell me?"

Shuichi said these words from the bottom of his heart. Maki, his cool, intelligent, poised friend, his classmate at Hope's Peak, was clearly distressed. Seeing her this way almost reminded him that she, despite her normally placid composure, was human. She had secrets. The cold shock at the realization splashed him in the face. He had to help her. As he surveyed her guilt-ridden face, he couldn't help but notice something for the first time.

She really is beautiful... he realized as he beheld her soft cheeks, the blush that occupied them, and the birthmark on her left side.

Following Shuichi's realization, Maki, who was still on top of him, felt something poking her from below.

"Y-you!"

She jumped off of him, and with the agility of a cat, alighted onto a chair nearby, her face now as red as her eyes.

"M-Maki! Wait! I-it's a natural reaction, I swear-"

"You...really want to die, don't you!"

She jumped on him again, choking him. As her fingers closed around his throat, she noticed what looked like a brochure peeking out from under the covers. A brochure that, when looked at, clearly displayed the same position they were in, with hearts surrounding the image.

Embarrassed, she let go, and sat at the edge of the bed, steam coming out of her ears. Shuichi, now sure she was no longer trying to kill him, unlocked the handcuffs and scooted over next to her, his face full of concern.

"Maki."

"I'm sorry."

Her face still red, she turned toward him.

"I'm sorry for deceiving you. I'm sorry about everything."

She looked down in shame. Instinctively, he cupped her face in his hands and brought it up toward his eyes. Surprised, her eyes widened and met his, her soft, warm breath brushing against his face.

"Maki, if there's anything troubling you, you can tell me. Even if you're an assassin, you're still my friend!" Filled with hope and determination, Shuichi now looked down and played off his friend's well-known crush.

"You can tell me...or Kaito, or anyone! We won't judge you...so don't fight by yourself!"

"O-ok." Her eyes welled with tears as she summoned her memories. "I'll tell you everything."

Once she had finished the story with the orphanage, Shuichi looked at her in shock. He had always known that Maki was strong, but this...this was unprecedented. He caressed her face gently, saying,

"I'm a bad friend... I never knew what you were going through. But now, you don't have to hide it anymore! I'll support you, no matter what it takes,"

"T-thank you..." Maki sniffed. Her eyes met his once more, and both their faces became red as they realized the situation they were in.

"So..."

"Get off me."

"R-right!" Shuichi hurriedly rose from the bed and dusted himself off. Maki gave him an icy glare.

"Not a word. Got it?" Her eyes drilled a hole into his chest.

"G-got it."

"And Shuichi?" Maki played with her hair in one hand as she looked downward. Shuichi looked back at her with his hand on the doorknob. Her eyes rose and met his gaze slowly.

"Thank you."

A/N: Hey guys, thank you much for reading! This is just something I wrote at 5 am, but I'm going continue the story! Be sure to check out my other story, Dauntless Beyond Despair, and leave a review! Until the next update!