( ˘▽˘)っ♨

[misleaded]

[ Welcome to hell! Welcome to hell!

Which is to say, welcome to the morning after Ouma and Shuichi's game went a little further than it probably should have. Ouma had ended up killing even more time in the tacky love hotel by giving it another, more thorough investigative sweep -- not that he found anything particularly useful, but it's good to know the layout of the place and what exactly can all be found in there item-wise. Who knows what might end up being useful or relevant in this mutual killing game fiasco. Although he lowkey hopes some of the shit he found never ends up being relevant -- but knowing Miu, it's possible.

So Ouma's a little sleep deprived, between staying out that much later and...the general exhaustion...plus his inability to stop thinking about it. Even though he'll act like he slept like an absolute baby, 'cause he's a liar. He's even dragged himself to the cafeteria for breakfast, because that's how utterly unaffected he is. Plus, he is hungry.

Thankfully (but also annoyingly, because now he's gotta go see what they're up to right now), most of the ~*~student council~*~ of Angie's, aka the brainwashed idiots, aren't really around right now. That leaves...Korekiyo, Maki, Miu, and Kaito. What a wack group. Although one of the others might show up later...or altogether, since they're teaming up. No Shuichi either, which is interesting.

But not unsurprising, he supposes.

He doubts anything would've happened to him, but there's a paranoid part of him that kind of wonders.

He's almost considering just nabbing some snacks and taking them up to his room right now, because this is pretty uninteresting!! No fights breaking out or anything. Plus, the meal quality around here has really taken a nosedive since Kirumi's death. Oh, well...

The Monokubs will probably show up to say something inane, so he should stick around. ]

Comments

[shyhara]

[Unfortunately (or maybe it's fortunately, who knows), the Monokubs are not the ones who make a fashionably late entrance. Nope, that's all Shuichi, looking even less like he got a good night's sleep. Because he didn't, and he's not a liar.

Even having left the hotel a good while earlier than Ouma last night and heading right back to his room, mercifully without runing into anyone on the way, sleep had not come for a while. He's not often one too fall asleep easily to begin with, but his overactive brain had been running wild and getting it to shut up long enough to pass out had been a struggle. He slept straight through the morning announcement and he still doubts he got more than a few hours of sleep.

It'd probably be the best for his mental state to avoid the source of his inner turmoil for a while. But of course, life is never that nice to him, so Ouma is one of the few people actually in the cafeteria.

Awesome.

Not great at smoothly handling awkward social situations on his best days, and especially frazzled right now, Shuichi lingers in the doorway for way too long. Is he supposed to avoid talking to Ouma? Or try to act completely normal like nothing happened? Should he just skip breakfast and ollie outie right now before anyone notices him? Too late for that, a few of the others have already looked up and made eye contact and oh god.

Kaito, hero that he is, comes to the rescue with an enthusiastic greeting and wave, glossing right over Shuichi's probably very obvious hesitation. He gestures to the empty seat beside him and Shuichi gratefully hurries to take it before he seems even weirder. It's only once he's actually seated that he realizes he's seated himself right across from Ouma, and a tinge of pink works its way onto his face as he pointedly keeps his eyes on the table in front of him.

Jesus, it'll be a miracle if he survives this one meal without self-destructing. Any even longer period of time seems like a lost cause.]

[misleaded]

[ Oh boy.

Unfortunately, Ouma is one of the first people to notice Shuichi arriving on the scene -- especially since he was paying attention to whether or not anyone else would show up and make things interesting. This isn't what he had in mind, but it'll do. He stops picking at whatever's in his bowl and blinks at Shuichi just standing there, wondering what's going on in his head (and guessing it's awkward), because Shuichi's presence isn't that subtle, and oh look Kaito's already gesturing for him, having noticed him, too.

Geez.

Ouma stubbornly takes a bite of his food as Shuichi walks over, acting unaffected by everything ever even as Shuichi ends up seated right across from him. He looks up directly at the other just as he finishes chewing and swallowing, instantly noticing his embarrassed demeanor.

There's really only one reason for that.

Ouma grins, pointing his fork at Shuichi. ]

Nee-heehee... You look terrible, Saihara-chan!

[ Of course he's not going to spare Shuichi by leaving him alone.

Of course. ]

[shyhara]

[Wow, Ouma's being a litte shit? What a shocker.

Somehow Shuichi thought for a moment that maybe Ouma would leave him alone. He was the one who'd told Shuichi to leave last night, after all. But no, of course that's not his style.

Shuichi's flush deepens slightly, but he manages to keep more or less a straight face. He stiffens a little, but a surreptious sideways glance at Kaito and the others finds the rest of the group hasn't paid that idle comment any mind, distracted by whatever conversation they were in the middle of. Good, Shuichi might survive this yet.

He doesn't dare actually look at Ouma, though. He doesn't trust himself to maintain that shaky inconspicuousness if he does.]

...I couldn't really sleep last night.

[It's barely more than a murmur in response, but that's not that weird coming from him at least.]

[misleaded]

[ You would think Ouma wouldn't draw attention to incriminating things like how exhausted Shuichi is, or that he didn't get much sleep, or the fact that nobody would've known where he even was last night (but Ouma knows).

Except here's Ouma, doing the exact damn opposite. Playfully, with feigned surprise, he makes a show of acting interested in this detail as he sticks his fork back into his food to prep another bite: ]

Huuuuh? Just what were you up to last night? Nothing shady, I hope!

[ He twists his fork around in his bowl as he speaks. ]

There's that rule about going out, y'know. It's pretty stupid, since nothing interesting will happen if everyone follows it, but I didn't take you for the type to break it. [ A beat. ] You didn't, right?

[ Taking another bite..........

This all too natural pattern he slips into -- attempting to control and lead the conversation while stirring shit around -- might be making him feel more comfortable himself overall. He knows it'd drive him insane to just sit here quietly and eat. Not his style. ]

[shyhara]

[All that does finally get Shuichi to look up at Ouma, and there's probably about twenty different emotions going on on his face at the same time. Bewilderment, frustration, confusion. A hint of irritation over this obvious attempt trip him up when Ouma was the one who swore him to silence in the first place. A bit of hurt, maybe.

His mouth presses together into a thin line in his attempt to battle all that back down and he averts his gaze. He makes himself busy finally reaching to gather himself some breakfast from an assortment of foods someone had set out on the table, pointedly keeping his eyes on his task.]

We already broke it for training.

[He's not that much of a goody-two-shoes. Does Ouma even know about their training sessions? Shuichi hasn't mentioned it himself, and he highly doubts Kaito or Maki have, but Ouma always seems to know more than he should about everything going on.]

[misleaded]

[ The look on Shuichi's face says so much at once, and Ouma can tell he's already having a time with this. But it's best if it's Ouma that's the one interrogating him, right? If he slipped up somewhere else, from someone else, that'd just be terrible. He's kind of curious if Shuichi has even thought about a cover story yet, and how good it is. In a sense, he's also checking that.

So he knows if he needs to fix it or something. So...helpful... Sure.

This whole situation is immediately made more exciting with Kaito's presence right here, and Ouma is speaking to Shuichi as much as he's speaking to him. Although he doubts Kaito will notice. He wants him to notice though, so... ]

Oh? How'd that go?

[ Ouma looks directly at Kaito, and then at Shuichi, making it apparent he pretty much knows who Shuichi trains with.

Like he would miss something like that -- how buddy-buddy Shuichi's been with Kaito and Maki lately. It's interesting. Especially since Maki is kind of an outlier here. ]

casually just adopts a kaito muse because why not

[shyhara]

It was fine.

[It wasn't fine, and there's definitely a bit of lingering tension over the whole thing with some of the "student council". Maybe he'd even be content to talk to Ouma about it normally. That sounds like a potentially decent conversation; a good way to pick Ouma's brain about this recent nonsense and maybe bond a little with someone who's still only sorta-kinda-maybe a friend.

But Ouma's being a dick right now and Shuichi doesn't know why, so forgive him if he's being a little curt. He frowns slightly, filling up his plate and silently willing the subject to die.

Life hates him, though, and the only things that die here are students and Monokubs, so of course Kaito suddenly diverts his attention to his "sidekick", slinging an arm around Shuichi's shoulders.]

So where'd you go last night? You weren't answering your door, we were starting to get worried when you were late for breakfast!

[Kaito's all smiles, clearly not too worried about it anymore, but under his arm Shuichi is stiff, staring hard at his plate and trying to think of a decent excuse quick. He'd already said he couldn't sleep so he can't say he'd passed out early in case Kaito had heard that, but he runs the risk of being caught in a lie if he claims to have been somewhere and someone contradicts him...]

Uh...

[He's hesitating just a bit too long. Fuck, he's too tired for this right now.]

[misleaded]

[ Ouma's about to take another bite, clearly just minding his own business (sure) as Kaito starts speaking to Shuichi, anticipating whatever Shuichi's response is going to be here.

Except he doesn't have one. That's...not surprising, unfortunately. Ouma would sigh or something at how bad Shuichi is at this, but with Kaito right there he just smiles amicably, lowering his fork again as he answers Shuichi's question for him without blinking: ]

Saihara-chan was with me last night!

[ He wonders what Kaito will think of that, honestly.

Ouma might be legitimately having a little fun with this situation, oops. ]

[shyhara]

[ give him a break he is a good honest boy!!

Shuichi nearly chokes on his first bite of breakfast over Ouma's interruption, but luckily the sound is drowned out by Kaito's disbeliving scoff. Jesus christ, is Ouma trying to make his life harder?

What kind of question is that? Of course he is.

Shuichi shoot Ouma an uneasy look, but for once maybe it's easy to sorta go along with it than throw him under the bus. It'd probably be easy and believeable to brush it off as a lie, but Ouma has definitely proven to be a bit spiteful sometimes when pissed off.]

We, uh...we were watching a movie from the A/V room in Ouma's dorm. I didn't realize how late it had gotten...

[He couldn't risk claiming to be somewhere in the school, but the chances of anyone stopping by Ouma's room seems pretty low. That's a little sad to consider, but he'll take advantage of it right now.

Kaito, at least, looks skeptical but not disbelieving. Probably more doubtful over the "why" than the truthfulness of that claim.]

[shyhara]

[True to his word, Shuichi went straight to sleep once Ouma left. And this time he actually got some decent rest. Huh. It's almost like leaving off on a more positive note is way less stressful or something. That said, he sleeps through the better part of the afternoon as a result. His sleeping schedule will definitely be fucked for a while, but he supposes it's fine for now. As least he's rested enough for the evening's sudden new plans.

Yeah, this definitely isn't how he imagined the day would go when he got up this morning. But he could have said the same thing about yesterday, so apparently that's just the theme of his life right now.

But with some actual sleep under his belt and mood improved by that and a few other factors, he's content enough as he knocks on Ouma's dorm door. Hopefully he's actually in and Shuichi doesn't have to go hunting for him. But he wouldn't put a spontaneous game like that past Ouma either.]

[misleaded]

[ His life theme is just Ouma invading his free times. Ouma is completely fine with this, because he'd otherwise be off by himself, anyway. He's probably sitting on his bed chewing on the end of a marker right now as he scribbles on some documents. He has quite a few of them stockpiled in his room by this point...not that he intends to let anyone look.

So when he hears the knocking all of a sudden, he can only assume it's one person. Ouma will end up scrambling off his bed and making his way to his door. Just opening it an inch confirms it's Shuichi -- which quickly brings a smile to his face, because it means Shuichi didn't forget about their promise.

Not the type to open his room door and talk, Ouma simply slides out from his room and shuts the door behind him, bouncing on his heels in place slightly to make a show of how ready to go for this he is. ]

You look a whole lot better, Saihara-chan. Did you just wake up?

[shyhara]

[It doesn't escape his notice that Ouma doesn't give him even a glimpse of his room, but Shuichi tries not to overthink that one. It doesn't have to be something suspicious. Lots of people are very private about their bedrooms. He certainly wouldn't think twice if any of the girls did the same, so he should be fair.]

Ah...yeah. But I guess I'll probably be up late tonight, now.

[He smiles, just a little awkward, and inclines his head vaguely towards the dormitory entrance. Most of their time spent together so far was all Ouma taking charge and dragging him into it, so it's almost a little odd to be doing something this normal.]

I thought we could go down to the A/V room and pick something out together...?

[By which he means to see what Ouma's interested in and just...go along with that, so he can't be accused of picking something boring. Besides, he's not sure his own tastes in fiction would be very appreciated in the middle of a killing game anyway.]

[misleaded]

[ He has endgame spoilers in there, you can't engage yet!! Plus, his motive video, which he has no interest in letting anyone see...even though he's already seen everyone else's. But y'know.

Ouma brightens at the suggestion. ]

Good, because conking out during a movie with someone else is the absolute worst!

[ Ouma's just going to go ahead and grab the railing to the stairs that lead down to the foyer so he can hop down the steps and make his way toward the entrance. ]

But that works for me! I'll probably fall asleep if it's just you picking it, anyway.

[ Even though he just said that was the worst...smh. ]

[shyhara]

[Shuichi has to scramble to follow after Ouma. And true to his word, he doesn't seem particularly bothered by the unsubtle jabs with certain subjects not on the table. He really is used to being the group punching bag, after all.

He catches up as they duck out of the dorms into the early evening air, oddly still and quiet in this weather- and bug-free cage. Despite his longer legs, he has to hurry a little to keep up. But he smiles upon falling into step with the shorter boy.]

What kind of movies do you like?

[How...ordinary. Wow. He half expects Ouma to give him shit for being boring before they've even picked out something to watch, but fuck it, he'll risk that. He wants to do normal stuff too. Not everything has to be life-or-death investigations and impromptu love hotel encounters (shit his brain really needs to stop jumping back to that). Even trapped in a killing game, they can still just spend some ordinary, peaceful time together. This could be nice.]

[misleaded]

[ Stop the presses ladies and gentlemen because Shuichi Saihara is small-talking...

Ouma seems perpetually carefree as he walks through the courtyard, idly wondering what everyone else is up to (granted, a good portion of them are confining themselves to curfew right now) but not too concerned with that kind of thing right now. Mostly because he's with Shuichi. Shuichi's not exactly bodyguard material out here, but it's reassuring nonetheless just to have someone else around. He's not really used to getting that privilege!

Ouma hums thoughtfully at Shuichi's question, bringing a finger to his lips. ]

Well, my tastes are pretty varied...but I don't like kiddie stuff. Gorey movies are kind of gross to watch, too... But I bet you're into those, huh? The ones with the dead bodies and stuff? ...Naaasty!

[ He's just going to run his mouth about this dumb topic as they make their way into the school. ]

[shyhara]

[He can totally do small talk! He's not that much of a socially awkward loser. Usually. But he is kinda looking it right now, having been somewhat called the fuck out on his taste in movies. He frowns, maybe just faintly defensive.]

I mean...I don't mind that kind of stuff in a drama or thriller or something.

[He won't outright say he likes mysteries. He will not openly be that much of a stereotype.]

But I don't really like it in horror movies and the like when it's just for shock value or whatever.

[He can't help but notice, as they reach the school doors and he holds on open because je's just a polite kid like that, that Ouma only really specificed what he doesn't like. Which...yeah. Unsurprising. If there's an indirect way to answer a question, Ouma will apparently always find it.]

[misleaded]

[ Ouma looks pretty amused by Shuichi's reaction to that, and it's already painfully obvious where his tastes run now. ]

Haha. You like crime films, don't you? ...That's so you.

[ Ouma can't help making a comment about this as he waltzes inside the school, courtesy of Shuichi holding the door open for him. ]

Well, I don't think those are boring, at least!

[ So they might be able to find a movie they both like at this rate? Amazing.

He's already heading down the hallway. ]

[misleaded]

[ ding dong the bitch is dead

Which is to say, it is the night and subsequent events following Korekiyo's trial for his orchestrated double-murder and following punishment. Three more of them are dead now, and Himiko (along with everyone else) has had a pretty good cry tonight. At least now Himiko is sleeping instead of crying, and Gonta's in the midst of carrying her to her room while everyone else is gearing up to return to theirs. If he were feeling more up to it, Ouma might be pseudo-salty or something about the fact that Gonta is carrying Himiko to her room instead of carrying him, since Gonta usually is gullibly at Ouma's beck and call and Ouma's the one with the concussion right now --

But oh yeah, he's been ignoring that since the trial started. Thankfully his hair is already a mess, because Ouma's lackluster job of rinsing everything off and slapping a bandaid over the head injury is at least obscured by said hair. There's probably still some blood matted in there, but it's not obvious to the eye -- it's fucking obvious to Ouma though, because he's noticed if he moves too fast or gets too excited (like during the trial) he becomes lightheaded all over again. He can't think of anything that might've been worse than passing out in the middle of a class trial, so he's glad he was able to persevere that long.

Still, he doesn't feel that great, so while everyone else is still high on emotions and having a bonding Moment, Ouma only finds himself eager to dismiss himself from the group as his steps become increasingly less steady. It's not uncommon for him to ditch the conglomerate anyway, so... ]

Weeell, I think I've had enough craziness for one night! Hopefully Monokuma really did kill Shinguji-chan's soul too... Y'know, so he doesn't come back to haunt anyone. Serial killers sure are scary!!

[ Back at it again with the bad timing and bad jokes -- Ouma gives a small wave (even though he knows with his comments nobody's going to miss his presence, anyway) as he starts his process of impromptu ditching. ]

[shyhara]

[Post-trial, Shuichi is just...feeling a lot, honestly. Too much to sum up neatly. The loss of any of their classmates is a heavy blow each time, one that eats at him long afterwards with guilt and regrets. Three at once was almost overwhelming, even if they weren't necessarily people he was very close with. Angie had been trying to help keep everyone safe in her own way, even if he disagreed with her methods. Tenko had died right in front of him and he'd failed to notice anything that could have saved her. He'd talked a fair amount with Korekiyo and he should have realized something was off, should have paid more attention and asked more about that sister. The guilt there is tempered with a sense of betrayal, the knowledge that someone he'd trusted had done something so awful without remorse or good reason. He couldn't forgive Korekiyo like he could Kaede or Kirumi.

And murders aside, the group remaining is such a mess he doesn't even know what to do. He couldn't say anything to console Himiko, or help carry her back like Gonta can. He has no words to keep up morale like Kaito probably might have -- almost no words left at all, so drained of them by his once-again starring role in the trial. He's barely keeping himself together, honestly, and it's only the reluctance to burden the others with his own emotional breakdown that's propping him up right now.

And of course, Ouma doesn't stay quiet long enough to let Shuichi forget about that whole mess either. Their whole...whatever it is, impossible for him to ignore yet apparently not giving Ouma any trouble at all. What progress Shuichi felt like he'd made in understanding seemed to slip back a few steps when he woke up after their last encounter to find Ouma missing.

He should have done something earlier, when they found Ouma covered in blood before the trial. The shock and horror certainly hadn't helped on top of the clusterfuck of other awful emotions he'd been trying to work through, and at least Ouma had revealed the joke before he'd done anything completely humiliating. But that had been real blood and a real injury, and there had been a real wobble in Ouma's steps as he wandered off. Shuichi should have stopped him, should have made sure he was alright or that someone else looked after him. But everything was too overwhelming, and the pressure of the investigation and its time limit was too much, and Maki's complete lack of concern had made speaking up too intimidating, and Ouma had brushed them off himself, hadn't he?

(That last one was definitely a poor excuse. If there's anything Shuichi is sure of, it's that Ouma would never be so straightforward as to ask for help if he was hurt.)

But now Ouma's just wandering off alone again. His blunt and careless manner gets a variety of reactions from the others -- a lot of exasperation, a glare from Maki, a sincere goodnight from Gonta -- but Shuichi just feels the guilt he'd been tramping down the whole trial come rushing back in like a wave.]

H-hold on...

[He manages to make the words happen despite the doubtful looks from the others. And with an apologetic glance shot their way, he follows after Ouma. There's probably no point in trying to make him stay with the group, not when it would almost certainly guaranteed he'd just deflect any concern in front of them.]

[misleaded]

[ In all honestly, Ouma's not really expecting anyone to stop him -- especially when most of the reactions seem to be on the "really..." side of things. But as he's in the process of tossing his hands behind his head and wandering off with a careless demeanor, Shuichi's voice gives him pause.

Ouma blinks, not expecting as much, stopping in his stride if only to look back (still keeping the lackadaisical demeanor about him) to just make sure that Shuichi did indeed call after him and he's not hallucinating this or whatever. But sure enough, Shuichi's stride has increased to catch up with Ouma, and Ouma feels his heart skip a beat as he's unable to decide whether the even wants this or not. He does probably, but...it sure is something to have Shuichi follow after him rather than stick with the others, especially with emotions this high. But maybe he wants to ask something or whatever -- he is the detective here, after all.

Ouma puts on a bright grin at Shuichi, both for the audience in question's sake as well as his own. ]

Huuuh? Did you need something from me, Saihara-chan?

[ Ouma thinks it's kind of funny, the level that their relationship itself has become imbedded in lies -- the necessity to speak with such obviously fake airs when talking to Shuichi with other people present.

Although they certainly don't seem to be following after Shuichi, and they definitely won't follow after Ouma, so...he can already see the others dispersing following their break-off from the group. Thank god. ]

[shyhara]

[It's a deep relief to see the group dispersing when he glances back over his shoulder. He barely knows how to handle Ouma as it is, let alone with an audience. Kaito lingers a moment with a confused, mildly curious look, Maki just behind him looking distinctly more sour, but they both mercifully move along when Shuichi shoots them a hopefully-reassuring smile and waves them on.

The smile fades as he looks back to Ouma, though. Whether that's because he feels bad or because Ouma usually seems to go out of his way to make his life harder, well...]

I just...wanted to make sure you were okay. You looked a little unsteady on your feet earlier, and there was a lot of blood...

[Saying it only makes him feel guiltier, and he wilts a little, gaze dropping to his feet.]

...I should have made sure back then, there just wasn't time, and...I mean, I'm sorry.

[misleaded]

[ ........................Oh.

Well of all the things Ouma expected from Shuichi right now, a genuine apology for not making sure Ouma, of all people, was okay is...not among them. Ouma blinks for a second, slightly dumbfounded by this. He's already established this whole messed up outlook that doubts other people actually caring about him, thereby making it easier to step into the role of being hated, which is convenient, albeit lonely. This is something he will die before admitting, however. But he's also really fucking good at being able to discern when the other is lying to him or not, and Shuichi is being far too sincere and good like he almost always is, and Ouma feels like he could implode on the spot right now dealing with this.

It doesn't help that his head actually is spinning a bit from how dizzy he feels, as one does when they crack open their head and bleed out a fair amount. He can't tell if he's starting to break a sweat from his current physical condition or from Shuichi laying this on him so earnestly. Probably both. Fuck.

Despite his heartrate turning into something erratic, Ouma responds with a short laugh before throwing a candid, toothy grin at Shuichi only seconds after processing that (even though it somehow feels like he was unresponding like an idiot for way longer). ]

Oh, that? It was totally a lie!! I was actually in tip-top form all along.

[ How many lies can he just layer up here. ]

But yeah, you're the worst! Taking my super helpful clue I risked my safety on and kicking me to the side... I'm gonna cry a whole lot of ugly tears like Yumeno-chan if you don't make it up to me!

[ Nevermind the fact that he accidentally smashed his face stepping through the floorboards and actually made no conscious decision regarding that whole fiasco. ]

[shyhara]

[He fails to notice the just slightly too-long pause in Ouma's response there, distracted by his own mess of complicated emotions about...well, everything.

The grin Ouma gives him should be reassuring. Maybe it would be on anyone else. But the only thing he's absolutely sure about regarding Ouma -- aside from a few more personal details he's deduced -- is that Ouma is never so straightforward about anything. Saying he was fine with one breath and then playing up his own "suffering" the next certainly fits the bill. None of it is very comforting.

Drawing a breath, he tries to make himself relax. Ouma's acting like his usual self, cheery and lying and immediately going for the guilt trip, so he probably doesn't hate him. Right?]

...What did you have in mind?

[Ouma always has something in mind. Sometimes it feels like he's always (and unfairly) twenty steps ahead of the rest of them in every regard.]

[misleaded]

[ ... Man he is probably setting himself up here for a longer conversation than this was meant to be. He really needs to go lie down, or...something. The longer he's standing up, the more unsteady he feels. Maybe if he just...doesn't walk.

Still, there's also the fact that Shuichi is flat-out letting him pick whatever he wants here (even though he already knows Shuichi won't do anything outrageous). Ouma shifts his weight onto the foot further behind him to keep his knees steady, tossing his hands back behind his head to give off his usual aloof appearance -- although he's definitely grabbing at the back of his head almost tightly with those hands in an effort to ignore the impending nausea here. ]

Oh, you're gonna let me choose? What if I wanted you to stab your stomach or something in penance--?

[ He can't not banter at all, because that would just make things look worse (plus he wants to banter anyway, even though he doesn't feel too hot).

But he probably shouldn't let this drag on?? ]

Hmmm, how about I come up with a fun game for us after breakfast tomorrow? Then I'll totally forgive you!

[shyhara]

[Shuichi doesn't even wince at Ouma's nonsensical suggestions. It's feeling like a trend now, and he's heard it enough to know it's bullshit. Whether it's meant to freak him out or whether Ouma just thinks saying it at all is funny, that's harder to judge. Either way, he doesn't react, simply brushing off the vague threats and focusing in on the latter part.]]

Okay.

[Blindly agreeing to any of Ouma's shenanigans feels a little foolish. But he doesn't think Ouma would do anything to really hurt him, probably, and it helps assuage his guilt, so that's a problem for future Shuichi.

But forgiveness is only part of what he wanted here, and with that out of the way he leans in a little, eyebrows knitting together with concern.]

...Are you sure you're alright? Did anyone help you patch up that cut before the trial?

[His eyes flick up to Ouma's forehead, but he can't tell where any bandages might be beneath the mess of bangs hanging in Ouma's face, let alone where the injury itself was.]