bakerstreet | dialogue prompt!

[Oh shit. Is Shuichi actually upset? The thought niggles at the back of his mind, but he simply smiles and gives a cheery wave as Shuichi turns his back on him.

As soon as Shuichi's gone, though, he makes his way back down. It's easier on this side – there's a dumpster just close enough to hop down onto it to cut the drop to ground level in half. And then he hurries to the side of the building, peeking around the corning to wait for Shuichi to leave again. He doesn't want to risk any trouble by waiting in sight of the front door, of course.]

[ To be honest, by the time he's done with everything he wanted to do -- looking around the premises one more time, checking the places they've been to make sure no one can tell what they tampered with, returning the wristband to front desk and so on -- most of that initial frustration's worn off. It only takes a few minutes, but with all of that on his mind, it turns out difficult to hold a grudge.

...Well. Okay, he's kind of bad at that in the first place. And he hates to admit it, but the matter never really leaves the back of his head, which gives him ample chances to overthink it and feel a little bad. A couple of times, he finds himself almost reaching into his pocket, before he remembers he doesn't... actually have a way to contact Ouma. ]

...

[ He's barely taken a few steps outside the building, when he can't help but stop after all. He casts an apprehensive glance to one side, then the other, but of course he can't see Ouma anywhere. Did the other really leave...? He hates he's more worried about that somehow than the loiterers who still seem present. ]

[One second Kokichi's nowhere to be seen, and the next he's suddenly there. Which is to say, he deliberately waited for Shuichi to be looking the other way before he darted over to join him. For dramatic effect.

He doesn't give Shuichi a chance to react, just hooking their arms together and immediately dragging the other boy back towards the street, whining loudly as he does so.]

Jeez, you took forever! I've been waiting for hours!!

[Is that his usual compulsive lying exaggeration, or is it a slightly less exaggerated display of having been waiting outside the whole time in case any of those loiterers have been paying attention? Who fuckin' knows, honestly.]

[ In a different context, Saihara might have been more surprised, but given the situation they're in, he does have the presence of mind to interpret it as the latter. So he simply cuts back on the impulse to pull himself free, accepting his fate for now after only a couple of stumbled steps.

His acting might not be the best on such short notice, but he still makes do. ]

S-Sorry...? I, um... ran into someone and we ended up talking longer than I thought...

[ Embarrassing, thank you. And he isn't sure how he feels about the note of relief he experiences, knowing that Ouma did wait for him after all. ]

Ah... Ouma-kun?

[ Saved by remembering the issue he was just in the middle of experiencing earlier, he finds his voice again by the time they turn over into the more crowded main street. ]

I-I mean, this is only if you don't mind, but... could you give me your number? I realized I don't have it.

[Shuichi already seems less upset. Did he get over it at fast, or is he just simmering or something? Kokichi can't help but think about it. He didn't hate it – there's something a bit exciting about it whenever Shuichi stands up for himself, surprising and challenging at the same time. It's like beating a game only to discover a secret extra stage, and he does like to play on hard mode.

Still, he doesn't want Shuichi to just ditch him, so...maybe it's something to keep in mind.

Will that save Shuichi from the inevitable teasing here? Of course not.]

Ehhh? Aren't you supposed to ask someone for their number before you take them out to dinner?

[Well. Technically he is...]

[ Neither of those... is entirely wrong. He'd be lying if he said there's zero lingering frustration from the stunt Ouma pulled, but at the same time... lecturing the other might be pointless. And besides, believe it or not, what he's doing right now is a little related. It's the better way of dealing with it that he thought of while mulling things over during his few minutes alone.

That said -- this is actually pretty low-level teasing compared to some other things he's been put through today. ]

We haven't... exactly gotten to dinner yet, though. So wouldn't this still count?

[ Ignoring the implications there for a second. We're not about to think of this as a date. ]

It's fine if you don't want to. It's just... I can't really ask you to trust me when we don't even have each other's contact.

Hmm...well, I guess. But y'know, not just anyone can get the number of the Ultimate Supreme Leader! Even my highest ranked minions don't have that kind of access.

[That makes it sound an awful lot like a no. So it's probably more of a surprise when Kokichi suddenly reaches over with his free arm to dig into Shuichi's pocket and snag his phone. The lock doesn't slow him down for even a moment. Just as smoothly, the arm hooked around Shuichi's tightens and the hand grabs Shuichi's and holds the thumb out so he can press it to the phone for the fingerprint ID.

Boom. Access granted. And Kokichi carries right on, brightly.]

Soooo you'd better appreciate this!

[He's already opening Shuichi's contacts and seems to be inputing something. There's a chance he could be fucking with a different person's info, or putting in a fake number or something. But hey, wasn't Shuichi just talking about trust?]

[ I mean... it's not like he can't see what the other is doing on the screen, given how closely in each other's personal space they are and everything. So honestly once he gets past the initial second of almost-protest he doesn't quite manage to give because Ouma's much quicker, he's fine. ]

That sounds... pretty inconvenient. Wouldn't you need to at least have a dummy phone that you'd still have to check from time to time?

[ He's feeling skeptical, to say the least. ]

Ah, but... I do appreciate it.

[ Which still doesn't mean he won't test it, though. Trust is a two-sided road, and besides he already said that himself from the start. They're both exchanging contact info. As soon as his phone gets returned to his hand, he takes a moment to thumb through it, pulling up the most recently added entry. Although, as he appears lost in thought for a second over what exactly to do with it, he ends up holding it a little higher, and angling the display in such manner that it might be difficult for someone shorter, like Ouma, to really follow what he's doing.

A few more touches later and... It looks like the other might like to have given him his real number if he wants to find out what it was.

Which, in all honesty, is a very simple text message: ]

Thank you.

[The name on the newest contact was input as "my beloved ouma-kun ♥" so...do with that what you will.]

Nah. I actually don't even have a phone!

[Kokichi makes a show of craning his neck and walking on his tiptoes for a few steps, trying to see what Shuichi is doing. ~~Better not be changing the name!!~~ He can probably guess, though. Shuichi's smart enough to doubt him. But after a moment, there's a muted buzzing, and Kokichi grins as he pulls his own phone from his back pocket to check the message. Don't look at him, he's smiling at his phone like an idiot.

One handed, he shoots a quick response.]

kyaaaaa!! a text from my darling saiharachan???
(≧◡≦) ♡

Edited 2021-01-27 07:56 (UTC)

[ So much for not having a phone. He contemplates stopping now that he's gotten his confirmation, but...

Just one more. ]

Figured it was the least I could do for "my beloved Ouma-kun."

[ In translation: don't think he hasn't noticed. He does have the full intention to change it later, but for some reason... he can't quite bring himself to do it with Ouma still there. The other does look like he's having fun... and there's such a thing as not having the heart to put an end to that, even though he probably really should.

But texting each other in the middle of the street while they're less than a meter apart is still pretty embarrassing, so enough of that. (Yes, it's just that and not the fact that he really went and typed what he did. Shut up.) If Ouma sends anything else, he does still read it, but the phone goes back to his pocket after that. ]

Alright... we should go. If we stall any longer, we might end up missing dinner hours.

[No additional response comes. And it's a good thing he's shorter than Shuichi. When he's got his head down like this, Shuichi can't see his face. And that's a good thing, because he has absolutely no idea what kind of expression he's got going on right now.

Obviously, the text is teasing. The use of quotations makes it obvious. And it's not like Shuichi's a flirty sort anyway. But it's so borderline that Kokichi feels like his soul may have just left his body. And this while they're walking down the street together, arms still hooked (because Kokichi of course has not let Shuichi go)?

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

He takes a few seconds to respond. Just a slight bit longer than feels natural, but it's time needed to get his shit back under control so he can look back up at Shuichi with a careless grin plastered across his face.]

Hm? You have somewhere in mind, huh?

[ It's long enough, that he was actually just considering calling out to the other again, a tinge of worry back up in his expression. There's something... off, he can tell that much. And even if he couldn't, the question his companion asks next tips him off more than anything else ever could have. ]

Ah... No? We talked about going to the dining hall at school, remember?

[ Seriously, what is wrong with Ouma? Is he messing with him again in some weird, convoluted way? But it doesn't feel like it this time, so just in case... he still patiently explains. ]

It has time slots assigned for each meal through the day... so if we go too late, we'll miss the right hours and there probably won't be any food on display. Though I guess... we could still use the kitchen to cook for ourselves.

[ Not that he expects Ouma to have any interest in doing that; and frankly, he skips it too if he can. He can make simple dishes, but... why bother when it's a lot easier to just conform to a given schedule? Besides, the whole point was to make sure Ouma eats a healthy meal for once; that's better achieved if they get actual food that was prepared with that in mind.

...Damn it. That still doesn't help his worries. Give him a minute maybe, he's thinking about what to ask. ]

[ oh fuck he forgot

(jfc get ur shit together kokichi)

The grin doesn't slip. If anything, it's a bit too stiff as he determinedly refuses to give any indication of how fucked up he is right now.]

Aww, here I was thinking I could trick Saihara-chan into taking me somewhere fancy. Too bad!

[Maybe next time.]

[ Unfortunately for Ouma though, with the way things are right now, that just ends up giving Saihara the chance he needed. ]

No... you weren't. I think you're lying, Ouma-kun.

[ But... why? Just saying that probably isn't going to magically make the other reveal the reason to him, even if by some chance he admits it was only a pretext. ]

You're probably... just avoiding what's actually on your mind. Are you still thinking about earlier?

[ Personally, he means the bathroom and the whole window thing and their little argument, but hey. He doesn't think to specify right now. ]

[Immediately seizing on that opening to distract from his current disastrous state. He gasps dramatically, looking up at Shuichi with a mix of shock and awe.]

Ah...you could tell? Is Saihara-chan secretly the Ultimate Psychic?? Quick, tell me what I'm thinking!

[There we go. A solid redirect, and some insight into what
Shuichi is thinking. He's pretty proud of himself.]

[ It's... not an outright refusal, though. Does that mean Ouma might be willing to talk to him about it if he says the right thing? He thought about it quite a bit while he was still in the building on his own, and there were a few avenues he'd explored with regards to what his companion might have tried to do. Mostly, he just thought he might have been tested due to lack of actual trust.

But... wait. It feels too convenient, and nothing ever is with the other, at least not without a catch. ]

...No. I don't want to assume anymore. I want you to actually talk to me for once.

[ With a sigh, it's like he's really given up and his fullest honest thoughts just spill out on their own. ]

It doesn't exactly... feel nice for me either when I start to doubt you. Because... we're not quite strangers, Ouma-kun. I can't just make myself not care.

[Damn. So close.

The smile shrinks a bit and he eyes Shuichi thoughtfully. What is he supposed to take from that? Is this the moment where Shuichi gets tired of him if he doesn't act more straightforward, or the opposite? Maybe he gives the game up now and then Shuichi gets bored because there's no more walking mystery to puzzle over endlessly.

For all that he's a meek disaster, Shuichi's pretty brave. He can look someone in the eye and ask for the truth. What does it say about Kokichi that he just wants to avoid it?]

You don't think I've been talking to you all along? Everything I say is pointless, is that it?

[It might seem like a dodge, but there's just a hint less to it than normal. Less...exaggerated? Dramatic? The smile is still there, but it just feels different, somehow.

Maybe he's never straightforward, but he's still always said things for a reason. And he's always like Shuichi because Shuichi actually tries to figure out what that reason is. Does the meaning matter less if one has to work harder to find it?]

No... That's not the case either. I know that much.

[ At least the fact that he doesn't need to hesitate in the slightest before answering here should speak volumes. But... he still doesn't know how exactly to word his issue. It's like they're back to square one. ...Except they aren't, are they? He can tell that there's something different -- that maybe, just maybe, Ouma might be taking this seriously in his own way too.

And it's not like Saihara's asking him to lay out every card on the table, in order, in plain sight. He knows he's not gonna get that, it wouldn't be Ouma anymore if he did and he'd worry that someone replaced him. It's just... ]

But... is that really alright with you? You can say what you want, but I doubt you're so heartless that you don't feel anything.

[ And, damn it, neither is he?? Though he leaves that part out. ]

If it's something important to you and I get it wrong... you're the one who'll end up getting hurt.

[This is beginning to feel extremely Real. Too Real for a stroll down a crowded street. Kokichi's grin is icy, solid and slippery, his returned stare equally icicle sharp. His bright, easy tone seems so out of place in comparison.]

Wow, no one's ever accused me of being sensitive before. You really think I'd get my feewings hurt that easy?

[Of course not. He's the Ultimate Supreme Leader, he'd never let something so twee get to him. He's above it all, feelings are for chumps, etc etc.]

Besides, that doesn't seem very fair. You want me to spill all my deepest feelings, but I still don't know how Saihara-chan feels at all!

[It's...not a lie. Not entirely, anyway. From a pragmatic standpoint, Shuichi isn't too hard to read. Shuichi's pretty plain and simple. It's obvious enough that he struggles with low self-esteem and he's so painfully sincere sometimes that it makes Kokichi uncomfortable on his behalf. Even now, he stupidly worries about the feelings of a guy who's been fucking with him all evening. If this was just some rando classmate restricted to the shallowest of interactions, Kokichi would dance circles around him without a second thought.

But the truth is that Shuichi's most complicated than anyone really gives him credit for. He's defied Kokichi's expectations more than once. He's interesting and clever and genuine and despite himself, Kokichi does care what's going in beneath the surface. At times it feels like the most important thing in the world, so critical he's afraid to get it wrong. Even his best guesses don't feel secure enough to take any real risks. It's easier and safer to just play around where it won't matter if he gets something wrong.

If he knew how Shuichi felt about anything for sure, maybe he'd feel secure enough to push the boundaries of that comfort zone.]

W-Wait. That's not-- I don't--

[ He doesn't... what, exactly? Under that type of scrutiny, it's easy for someone like him to feel a bit like squirming -- maybe even like freeing himself from that hold so he can take some distance. It's also impossible to mask it from his body language completely but... what matters is that, in the end, he doesn't.

Still, he was hardly asking for all of Ouma's feelings. That's a ridiculous accusation, he knows all too well how difficult it would be for just about anyone in the world to be that open. Even his loudest, most daring friends still have things that they hide beneath, guarding them carefully to avoid getting hurt or embarrassed, or looking weak in some way that might even be subjective in their minds. That's... simply how people are.

What in the world does Ouma even think he's asking? ...That's what he'd wanted to say at first, but as he stops himself and pauses the way he has, he only ends up taking a deep breath. It's true that... he can't well ask for honesty if he isn't offering any himself. He's aware of that.

It does feel unwise, but... ]

What... do you want to know?

[He was being facetious, of course. But it's funny that Shuichi takes him so seriously.

And in a way, this is just as precarious. The sort of question one chooses to ask can say a lot about what they consider important, and Shuichi might be sharp enough to pick up on that. There's plenty he'd like to hear Shuichi's honest, unfiltered thoughts about, but does he necessarily want Shuichi to know that he wants to know?

The arm hooked around Shuichi's slides down so he can grab the other's hand instead, swinging their hands between them childishly. How To Distract Someone From The Fact That You Are Holding Hands: Kokichi Edition.]

Well... [That doesn't sound ominous at all.] You totally trust me, right? Soooo tell me something you haven't told anyone else before!

[This works. Easy enough to pass off as his standard boundary-pushing, with the potential to be pretty revealing.

(And maybe a small part of him likes the idea of knowing something about Shuichi that no one else does.)]

[ He's not as successfully distracted as Ouma thinks. Darting quickly, his eyes cast a stray glance to their two linked hands, as if trying to say on purpose he's noticed. He has, but he's... either too spineless to pull himself free, or he just... actually doesn't mind. Mostly to be honest, it's a mixture of both.

The constant movement feels distracting though, so after a second of thought, he subtly tugs Ouma closer to actually walk by his side. if they're going to have a conversation, he can't focus if the other won't let his hand sit still. ]

That's... a really broad topic.

[ Something -- he assumes related to his feelings -- that he hasn't shared with anyone else. Not with Momota-kun... not with Akamatsu-san... At first glance, one might feel like it's difficult to find such a topic, but the truth is... it's not at all. And he's certain the reverse would have to be true for them as well. People hide and protect their emotions all the time.

It takes him a little, but eventually, a thought does seem to occur. Something that's neither disproportionately trivial, nor so important that it would be too much. ]

Ah... I've ignored a few messages from my parents before? When I was younger, I even... um, deleted some and pretended I never got them.

[ It wasn't really out of anger or maliciousness... he thinks? He just didn't know what to say and doing that had felt easier in many ways. But his tone of voice should more or less convey that, so he doesn't really add any details for now; would Ouma even care if he over-explained? He just said to tell him something, not to write an essay on the topic. This should have met his requirements. ]

[Careful, Shuichi. You'll make him BSOD again. He manages to keep his shit together for the moment as Shuichi pulls him closer, mostly because he won't be able to pay attention to any spilled secrets if he totally shuts down.

All things considered, it's a pretty mild secret. But Kokichi of course reacts like Shuichi just dropped a bombshell on him.]

Whaaat?!

[The shock is clearly exaggerated, a smile slipping through the mask. To be honest, it's not like he's trying all that hard to be believable.]

But Saihara-chan's such a boy scout! You're telling me you've secretly been a rebellious teen all along?

[The words and the way he tugs gently on Shuichi's arm certainly seem to suggest he's open to details.]

[ Is it... really that interesting or exciting as a topic? No, of course it's not, this is just Ouma being Ouma. Still, in the context it kind of makes him smile too. Maybe the other is right in some ways -- maybe talking about something isn't as difficult if they can change its tone just a little. ]

No... I wouldn't say that. It's just...

[ ...Alright. He can't really describe it without at least one more detail about the situation, so Ouma's getting that. But only one. ]

They're often abroad, so we rarely talk. Whenever they did send me something, it was just... difficult to think about a response.

[ In other words, he's a coward and he just often gave up. Look, he was little, leave him alone. ]

But... ah, my uncle figured out I was lying after a while anyway, so that was the end of that.

[Two details. The uncle was new information too. And Kokichi is absolutely eating up every detail he can.]

So even the honest Mr. Detective lies sometimes, huh? I bet no one would even believe me if I told them!

[Because it's about Shuichi, or because he's the one saying it? Could go either way, really.

Still. It's a pretty mundane secret, yet it warms him in a way. Because Shuichi is sharing it with him alone? It seems insignificant on the surface, but if he really hasn't told anyone else...does that relationship with his parents maybe bother Shuichi more than he'd say? It certainly sounds like he's downplaying it, but parental shit is pretty formative, isn't it?

And even if it's a sore spot, he still made Shuichi smile a teeeensy bit. That totally counts as a win.]

But those are some pretty crappy parents, huh? They're missing out! I could never leave Saihara-chan alone for so long.

the rare Angry Saihara

he's great at this

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CRITICAL HIT

rest in pieces ouma u will be missed (maybe)

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oops

go to sleep!!!!

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tl;dr gay

as they deserve

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