ྀི 𝙨𝙝𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙞 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖.

#saiouma #最王 #DRV3

Once he starts chasing after him, it's not with reckless speed, instead his eyes are keeping track of Kokichi's every move. In reality he's not chasing after his wallet,but something much important to him—Kokichi's motivations.
Getting his wallet back would be nice too, though.

He stood there with a dumbfounded look on his face for a few more seconds until he was able to snap out of his thoughts, his eyes widening slightly as he returned to the present moment.

"Kokichi-"

His name leaves Shuichi's mouth with a sharper edge than he intended.

He knows there’s more to Kokichi than the chaos he leaves in his wake—so much more.
Shuichi can’t help but feel a magnetic pull towards him—not towards the mask, but what’s hidden beneath it.
He wants to understand this lonely boy, now running away from him after playing some childish prank.

Was he really becoming too soft? The phrase digs under his skin,the realization hitting him like a wave washing over him.
It was true—he was too quick to embrace and accept the stillness and warmth on his back,wasn't he?
He isn't as wary of him as he used to be,that's for sure.

The sound of his footsteps hitting the ground is clean and deliberate—he's been planning this moment from the very beginning. Shuichi's breath catches in his throat for half a second.

"...My-"

For a brief moment he gets lost in thought, completely forgetting about his stolen wallet.

There's a faint curve to his lips now,and he just hoped Kokichi wouldn't see it because if he did,he'd never let it go.

"You're... impossible to ignore when you want something." His voice gentler now,shifting him a little higher on his back so he wouldn't slip as he began walking to the courtyard.

"..."

Shuichi exhales slowly through his nose. He knows he could shrug Kokichi off. Just a shift of weight,a twist of his shoulder,and the self-proclaimed liar would tumble to the floor. But he doesn't,he adapts. He straightens his back and adjusts his footing.

"Where should we go then?"

His shoulders tense before his conscious mind has a chance to catch up as he staggers forward,barely catching himself from falling.

"K-Kokichi?!"

"...Why?"

His voice is quiet but higher in pitch than usual,betraying his attempts to hide that his heart has yet to return to its original rhythm.

((yes i am i love you