royalriii

[royalriii]

Saioumota Week Day 7

I didn't post Day 6 here because I happened upon Tumblr paragraph limits and they suck.

Here it is: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15754950/chapters/36641058

Please, do not hesitate to point out any errors in characterization, grammar, spelling or otherwise. I will do my best to fix it immediately.

(Belief/reality/harmony/free day)

---

His senses were basically assaulted.

The smell of blood, the metallic taste as he smacked his lips together. His hands were so slippery and it was hard to keep his grip on the wand.

Adrenaline ran through him as he weakly dodged whatever kind of hex that was. Not that he wanted to know.

Students dropped like flies. Where the fuck was Potter?

Stupid Potter who was going to be their saviour.

He didn't know who died. He wasn't sure if he'd earlier seen Fujisaki knocked out or dead.

He stepped back and analyzed his opponent. The mask made it hard to read his face. Other factors: He knew a fair amount of duelling spells and was able to reliably return spells earlier. He was panting now and glaring.

Kokichi concluded he was an experienced duellist. Enough to be used to relatively short fights only. Sad.

A hex. A jinx. He finished the duel by petrifying them.

He heard Shuuichi scream and immediately ran to that general direction.

Shuuichi had his wand raised. Standing over a Death Eater's body. Wand knocked astray and mask cast away, the villain had a small smile on his face.

Still golden eyes, messy dark hair streaked with blood.

No, Kokichi thought, staring at the corpse, he didn't. Even when they were on two completely different sides of the war, Shuuichi loved his uncle a lot.

Kaito's already there. The Slytherin tried desperately to pull the raven haired boy away from the heat of the battle.

"Bro! We have to get going! You'll die here!"

"Uncle!" Shuuichi screams desperately trying to resist and falls to his knees. Kaito simply picked him up and ran off.

He races after them and reaches the room they'd secured just in time before the door shuts.

"Ko-Kokichi." Shuuichi hoarsely said, weakly looking up. He and Kaito both looked like shit and Kokichi probably did as well. Torn green and blue robes and various scars.

He pointed his wand towards the door.

"Muffliato." He speaks, remembering when Granger used it once in the DA.

"Ugh, you remember that thing?" Kaito questioned.

Kokichi simply ignored him, "Shuuichi," he whispered as the boy weakly looked up. It takes longer than he'd have liked to admit to gather his thoughts. "What happened out there? All I saw was the corpse. Your uncle-"

"I killed him." Shuuichi cut him off. "I-I don't, I don't know. He step-stepped back and looked at my face. I didn't know who he was so ah- I, I!-" he cut himself off and took a deep breath. "I thought he was planning something. Like analyzing me and my movements. I cast a spell and he didn't block it. Didn't cast anything. Just stood there and-!"

"That was the end." Kokichi said, glad he had the full story now.

Shuuichi nods and curls into himself. "Now you know then. I killed the man who raised me. You, you guys both hate murderers d-don't you? So leave. I'm a monster."

"That is not fucking true." Kaito snapped.

"Huh?"

"Listen up! Your uncle died with a smile didn't he? He was the head of the Duelling Club in his time. You're an amazing duellist and all, but he coulda defeated you. He didn't. Y'know why? Because he loved you. More than the Dark Lord's 'blood purity' shit. You're not a fucking monster. Understand?"

"I guess…" Shuuichi said uncertainly.

"Good."

Kokichi pauses before hugging Shuuichi as he cried again on and off the grief hitting instantly. Kaito wraps his arms around both of them. It is a blissful moment in the midst of the battle.

He treasures it. Who knows if they'd all be alive and together at the very end.

[royalriii]

Saioumota Week Day 5 (late)

Debated on holding back on this because I wasn't sure if it was Saioumota enough... don't think it is but meh.

Prompts were a bit generic and it was difficult for me to come up with something, I'm sorry.

@saioumotaweek

Please, do not hesitate to point out any errors in characterization, grammar, spelling or otherwise. I will do my best to fix it immediately.

(Games/Workout/Studying) if you look closely

---

Before everything had gone to shit, Shuuichi had been an editor.

He'd spend hours on his phone switching between 5 different apps and screen his favorite Danganronpa characters in front of various backgrounds, use various sprites, overlays and textures to make a wide variety of new images of profile pictures, wallpapers, backgrounds and whatever else.

He'd take into account things that mattered like space and colour and anything that didn't suit this specific view he'd have planned would be scrapped.

Post-game he found he still applied this in real life as well, both studying the relationship of those two important things and scrapping anything that didn't work.

An example: when Maki had come back with a certain cosplayer mastermind who miraculously survived neither Shuuichi nor Himiko could find it in their hearts to forgive the girl. Let alone stand the site of her for everything that she'd done.

Maki had yelled at them about this, but they refused to budge. Like she could talk to them about anything relating to maturity while still refusing to take responsibility for the deaths of Kaito and Kokichi that she'd caused.

Her face had darkened, red eyes seemingly wanting to murder them as she clenched her fists. Instead she'd stormed out of the room to find the unapologetic bitch.

She'd packed her and Tsumugi's bags and left overnight. They hadn't seen her since and the hostile note she'd left them with was seared into their minds.

So now there was a rift separating the survivors. Like the ripped paper texture he had liked to use a lot in his edits. And on either side were two sides of red and blue and red and blue.

There used to be some variety, he laments. Shades of avocado green and royal purple and cheerful yellow that were no longer with them.

There wasn't really any point in dwelling upon that now.

It's hard not to though. There is a clear divide between his and Yumeno's rooms. Some similarities, wide beds made of cherry wood large enough for three they'd brought from their old homes and the way that both of them really liked the faint yellow glow of fairy lights.

The differences were vaster though. While Himiko's was a creamy white with so many martial arts robes and paint brushes shoved in the back of her cabinet, Shuuichi's was painted a light blue and held so many polaroids of his two boyfriends.

Pictures in Disneyland, during their graduations, on a regular food date.

Most furniture in his room came from his old house, actually. A house meant for three that was way too huge for just Himiko and himself. That had way too many memories attached to even walk to the kitchen for a snack without collapsing.

The time when people like Kaede had come over to their kitchen to bake Kaito a rainbow sprinkle cake which he'd cried when seeing. And then as soon as everyone was full Kokichi shooed them out and grabbed their warm coats to surprise Kaito with a stargazing trip they'd planned.

Or when Kokichi had riled up Kaito to distract him after a failed exam in the living room painted the color of blue koi. The living room where they'd also discussed joining Danganronpa.

It was all too much to handle. Too much white space with nothing possible to fill it with.

He had to move out and Himiko who had been in a similar dilemma had tagged along.

And now they were in his room painted a dull purple reflecting on everything the past year.

"I wish… I wish I could go back and change everything." Shuuichi said wistfully, lying flat on the fluffy chestnut duvet.

"Nyehh…I don't." Himiko said as she lay beside him, her hair falling in front of her face.

"Hm?"

"I think… this sounds weird, but well, wishing that… isn't going to change anything, will it?“ She annoyedly blew the cherry red locks away. ”I'll just keep moving forward, and hope Tenko and Angie are proud of me."

Shuuichi smiled as he turns to face the younger girl, "Himiko, that's…" He pauses, trying to search for the right words. "You've gotten stronger."

"Nyeh?" Himiko brightened. "So have you, Shuuichi."

She turned around and grabbed a small box underneath the bed. "By the way… September 9th is your birthday, right? Not the in-game one."

"Does it matter?" Shuuichi said, surprised at the sudden change of topic. "If it is, then Team Danganronpa were only off by two days."

"Of course it does!" Himiko raised her voice, clearly upset.

"Fine, fine… It is, why?"

"I got you a present," she said, offering him the box with both hands. "It used a lot of my mana to look for so I didn't wanna be wrong about the date."

He unwraps the box slowly, careful to not break the blue chevron wrapper and takes the two gifts individually wrapped in teal tissue paper out.

Pale green glow in the dark stars and paint is in the first.

And in the second… a milky white picture frame of the night sky, clearly labelled as a specific time on the date they'd gotten out of that hell.

He's silent for a minute then turns to the girl and raises an eyebrow.

"I had a stupid idea… but I thought... we could honor their memory… Angie and Tenko and Kaito and Kokichi and everyone. That's the night sky right after Kiibo opened the wall for us. We could put it on the living room ceiling…celebrate that we survived, and we're still surviving. Because of them and their sacrifices."

"Nyeh, that was tiring." Himiko said embarrased as her face burned red and she looked anywhere but the birthday celebrant. “We don't have to, if you don't want to.”

“No,” Shuuichi quickly reassured her. “I think it's a brilliant idea. I'd be happy to help."

It was the truth, after all. They were survivors and the reason for that was definitely because of their friends' sacrifices.

[royalriii]

reminder that shuichi’s specialty was solving cases for infidelity and missing pets.

reminder that shuichi has only ever solved One homicide case and it caused him so much anxiety that he doubted every case he solved afterwards.

reminder that shuichi was thrown into a killing game with multiple homicide cases and had a lot of pressure from all his classmates and his environment to get the correct verdict or else they would all be killed.

reminder that shuichi was in no way experienced at solving homicide cases the way that kirigiri was and Still he solved everything like a champ and saved everyone.

reminder that shuichi’s anxiety and helplessness was completely justified in the game considering his background.

[royalriii]

this is the offical ‘i care’ symbol this is how it works: basically you reblog this and your followers know that you care and that they can message you about anything anon or not and you will reply back or at least look at there message. if you care about your followers please reblog

[royalriii]

Saioumota Week Day 4

Please, do not hesitate to point out any errors in characterization, grammar, spelling or otherwise. I will do my best to fix it immediately.

@saioumotaweek

(Secrets/Blood/Jealousy)

Stupid… his own stupidity led him here. He should've known better that the lead had been a trap.

And now all he could do was wait for the Grim Reaper as warm red liquid seeped into his clothes, and left him with a headache as he looked down at it.

Just breathe, Shuuichi.

He called the emergency number. He'd informed Kokichi and Kaito of his whereabouts through a call.

The knife was still in his stomach blocking the blood as he calmly lay flat on the cement and looked at the stars he and his boyfriends had shared many happy memories with.

It would be all over the news. Saihara Shuuichi, the protagonist and Ultimate Detective of the last ever Danganronpa 53 was dead.

Another victim to the notorious Kibou Kiraa who had also taken the life of Akamatsu Kaede six months prior.

Kaito and Kokichi… he didn't know how they'd handle it. He'd seen them deal with hardships, sure. But losing a loved one as he knew he was to them could not compare to debt or sickness.

But they were strong and they'd make it through, he knew that too.

---

“Hey… you're a Gemini aren't you, Kokichi?” Kaito asked.

"Yup! My starsign fits me to a T! It's perfect for a two- faced liar such as me. Hey… that rhymed, I'm a poet, didn't know it."

Kaito simply ignored that and pointed to the sky. "It's visible tonight. Look here."

"Ehh?! That's it?! The supreme leader of evil, aka me deserves something much more extravagant!"

"Ah, um…" Shuuichi began. "Well… I don't know what extravagant is by your standards but… it's gorgeous. Like you."

“…” He didn't need to look at Kokichi's face to know that he was blushing.

Kaito laughed. "Nice job, Shuu. Now, let's see… over here this constellation is…"

---

It was that time of the year again, Shuuichi's breath was labored but he couldn't forget how Gemini looked. Not after that wonderful night.

It felt like Kokichi was with him in a way. And after the autopsy on his body had been completed…

He and Kaito would at least be pleased to know he didn't go down without a fight. He'd scratched the culprit's face and drew blood. He'd made sure not to disturb the knife's fingerprints.

Along with the evidence he had gathered so far it was only a matter of time before the culprit would be caught and charged for the serial murders of all the Danganronpa protagonists who were simply trying to live out normal lives and recover from that hell.

"Shuu! Shuu! Where are you?!"

…Was someone looking for him?

---

“Hey, could I tell you two something?” Shuuichi asked flopping on to the ground after his final sit up.

“Yeah, sure.” Kaito responded.

“Something to tell me? Well, what is it? Say it right away and maybe I won't send my organization after you."

“I don't... nn… I don't know exactly when it happened. Or how even. But… I think, at some point I fell in love. With both of you.”

“I love you too, Shuuichi. And I hate to admit it but Kokichi as well. Though… it might be hard to pull this off.”

Kokichi's face was an unreadable blank slate. He looked at both of them and met their eyes. “Kaito's right, y'know? If all three of us date it might be reeaallly hard to pull off. People can't mind their own beeswax sometimes. Even if no one's hurting them.”

“I'm aware of that. I just, I just…fell in love, you know? If you don't want to, I'm sorry. I won't-”

“But.” Kokichi cut him off. “If you realllly wanna date the supreme leader of evil then I'm willing to try.” His expression suddenly turned soft. “For my beloved Shuumai and Momo of course.”

“Yeah, I do. And I'm willing to as well." Shuuichi said, relieved that it had gone smoothly.

“So, boyfriends?" Kaito asked.

“Yeah. I'd love that.” Shuuichi affirmed, smiling as he quickly kissed Kaito and Kokichi.

---

"He's here! He's here!" His vision was blurry as he tried to focus on who'd found him.

Warm purple eyes… ridiculously curly hair…

As he tries to speak he chokes on his own blood. "Ko…ki…ch-chi?"

“I'm here. Momo too.” The voice sounds like it's about to cry. He smiles and weakly tries to move something, a hand or whatever. But all he has the strength to do is blink.

“Hey! You! Get him on a stretcher! Now! He has to make it!” A brash voice sounded. He'd know it anywhere. Kaito…

He feels himself being carefully lifted up and placed back down. And then he's higher up, closer to the sky.

Make it? That'd be a dream come true. He badly wanted to live. Get married to Kaito and Kokichi, adopt a baby maybe…

A girl? Kaito would insist on naming her something after space. Like… Miya or Ayahi were pretty names, Shuuichi thought.

Well, that would happen in their next life, Shuuichi decided. He'd find them again and they'd live out the happy endings they all deserved. A family life with Kaede and Maki next door, their kids having a really close cousin relationship.

But for now, in this life, this was enough. He was with the two people who had always made him happy including in his final moments.

He looks up at the sky and easily finds Gemini again. This was enough. He lets himself be lulled by the running of the paramedics and closes his eyes.

He remembers Kaito's loud laugh and the way he was so expressive with hand gestures he may as well have been a foreigner. The way he always encouraged Shuuichi through hard times with such a firey spirit. The spiky purple hair and the tan skin and the ever-lasting smile.

He remembers Kokichi's nishishis. His cleverness and the way he'd always have a goal whenever he did anything. How he always perfectly timed a game, joke, or prank to distract them from frustrations such as a failed exam or being seen as only fiction after all they'd worked for. worked for and replace that frustation with annoyance or most commonly laughter. Creepy faces and adorable smiles.

He 'd find them again, someday. He swore that, and willingly grabbed the Grim Reaper's hand.

[royalriii]

Saioumota Week Day 3

Please, do not hesitate to point out any errors in characterization, grammar, spelling or otherwise. I will do my best to fix it immediately.

Set during Ultimate Talent Development Plan (3rd year- Last Winter Event)

(nicknames/sweets/pets)

---

Sitting outside to talk after training was becoming a regular occurrence for the three of you. A way to cool off from the heat of the day, let your bodies take a well-deserved rest, and most importantly, get to know each other was always appreciated.

"So, graduation already, huh what are you guys returning to? Y'know family or friends? Pets? A girl?" Kaito asked, nibbling on some of the freeze-dried cake he was eating.

"Uhmm... Yeah, my uncle, aunt and cousins are waiting for me, I guess. Ah, and my cat, Mii." Shuuichi responded slowly.

"Mii? Really?" Kokichi teased him.

"I-I was really young, okay? It's not an uncommon cat name either..."

"I have two dogs back home, Yuzu and Anko. If you wanna hear about the other three, I require a level 4 friendship/trust stat." Kokichi said, cheekily crossing his arms behind his head.

"A level 4... what?-" Shuuichi said in a bewildered manner.

"A friendship/trust stat! Right now I'd consider you two like... level 1.5. Maybe."

''I see... well, I'll work hard to reach that level 4 then. With names like Yuzu and Anko, I'm sure they're very cute." Shuuichi said.

"Eh?! Of course they're not! The supreme leader of evil should only have the fiercest guard dogs to protect him! Geez!"

"Ah... I see," Shuuichi said awkwardly, flinching away from the volume.

"You don't gotta yell, y'know? Geez, man. Ignoring that, can you tell us about Mii, Shuuichi?"

"Ah, yeah, sure. I'd be happy to..." Shuuichi paused seemingly looking for the right words. "Mii is... well, she's a cat. The ruler of our house, basically. But I love her anyway, especially since she's been with me since I was nine. Oh, and, um, she's a maine coon. And, um, and you, Kaito-kun?"

"Nah, no pets. They're adorable and all but I don't think I could prioritize them over space."

"Yeah, with how passionate you are, that might be difficult." Shuuichi giggled.

"Nothing's too difficult for the Luminary of the Stars! I just have common sense to not overdo my workload. I could handle it but it'd be difficult without help, y'know? Pets need to be smothered with affection. Well, my grandparents' pets anyway. So... I'm not sure if I want one."

"Common sense, sure." Kokichi taunted nitpicking one part of everything Kaito had said.

"What's that supposed to mean you little-" Kaito exclaimed rising to the bait.

"Hey, what about this?" Shuuichi butted in. "Maybe you can meet our pets, I mean after we graduate and meet Kokichi's friendship status thing. If you want one after that, then you can always leave it with someone during your future missions."

"Hm? Oh, yeah, sounds good." Kaito scratched his head. "Never thought of that, actually. Leaving them with someone, I mean."

"Can I add a clause? That someone you leave your future maybe-pets with has to be us!" Kokichi proposed.

"But a lot of other people are good candidates too..." Shuuichi trailed off.

The three of you made a plan for the future!

[royalriii]

Saioumota Week Day 2

(comfort/make believe/growth)

The pizza was gooey and gross. Kokichi thought that the two people in front of him were the exact same way. Gooey. And gross.

Shuuichi grabbed a napkin and wiped some grease off of the back of his mouth. He and Kaito seemed to be enjoying it alot. Kokichi can't fathom that, it's way too cheesy and went cold a long, long time ago.

"My turn?" Shuuichi asked and he and Kaito gave equal noises of affirmation. "Never have I ever tried something I saw on Pinterest."

Shuuichi gave the cutest half-smirk as both he and Kaito drank some apple juice and following the twist he was pretty sure Shuuichi had just made up he kisses Kaito for a half-second.

Kaito's lips were so warm and Kokichi wanted to savor that.

"Hmm... Never have I ever... ever doubted my sexuality." As both Shuuichi and Kaito drink and kiss each other he kinda wishes he was lying so he could just down a glass and kiss them both. But nope. Always knew he was gay.

He could just lie but games weren't fun that way. Especially Never Have I Ever.

He quickly dispelled that thought. This wasn't the kind of moment he liked to ruin.

---

"It's late, I think we should go to bed." Shuuichi paused and yawned cutely. Kokichi would liken it to a kitten, even.

"Ah, yeah, s'ppose you're right." Kaito quickly affirmed. "'Kichi?"

"Hmm...?" He responded, tilting his head and pointing a finger at it as his mind returned from wandering off.

"Do you wanna go to bed? We could keep playing if you don't." Shuuichi asked softly, always making sure all parties were okay with anything.

Kokichi loved how much Shuuichi and Kaito valued his opinion on things.

"You two can go. I'll follow."

And as expected Shuuichi hesitated.

"Are you sure?"

"Yup!"

"Okay, goodnight, Ko." Shuuichi kissed him and goes to the room, Kaito following suit.

Walking into the separate closet, he pulls out a duffel bag and stuffed two weeks of clothes and a good handful of money plus his card.

He grabs some utensils, chips, canned food, crackers to place there as well. Surely Shuuichi wouldn’t mind if he grabbed a tupperware of his creamy mac n’ cheese as well?

He's surprised to see Kaito back in the kitchen when he goes to get water bottles. He quickly kicks the bag under the sofa just before Kaito noticed him.

"Hey,"

"Huh... I thought Kai-chan already went to bed by now. I was just about to follow." Not really but he had to get Kaito out unless he wanted him to find the bag. Which he didn't.

"Yeah, well, when I was in bed I kinda felt like I wasn't sleepy anymore. Now I'm gonna watch some of these astrology docs with the boring narrators and fall asleep that way, I guess. Wanna join? I can renarrate if you want."

"Ehhh... sounds boring, but I don’t have anything better to do." At least Kaito wouldn't see the bag if he was too busy watching Kokichi's face to make sure he was reacting correctly.

Not that he needed to, Kaito always put his passion into everything and could make anything sound interesting.

He wondered why such a man thought he was in love with Kokichi of all the people in the world.

---

Kaito really loved potted plants and Shuuichi enjoyed scented candles. This made their room look and smell really nice.

Sunlight streamed in through the windows... hadn't it been Kaito's turn to draw the curtains before bed last night?

At 7:15 in the morning he usually would have woken up too late to see Shuuichi before he left his job but a citrusy floral-scented candle entitled "Dreaming of You" was still burning on the bedside.

Shuuichi was a responsible burner and as such was probably still in the house. Eating breakfast maybe, or finishing up some paperwork.

He stretched, blew out the candle and decided to look for him.

The latter it is, Kokichi confirmed as he peeked into Shuuichi's office.

"How long have you been here?" He asked.

"Uu!" Shuuichi exclaimed, startled. "Ummm.... Four a.m? Maybe? I was awake when Kaito carried you to bed..."

"So sleep at 11, work at 4?" Kokichi said. "Y'know, that's really not healthy! You gotta take better care of yourself, I wouldn't know what to do if my beloved Shuumai died!"

"Yeah, I promise I will. Hey, Kokichi?"

"Hmm...?"

"Thanks for caring about me." He gave a small smile and Kokichi is reminded about all of the reasons why he fell for Shuuichi.

Breakfast is already on the table. Crunchy hashbrowns and some of Kaito's failed scrambled eggs.

Adding the food and water he had been unable to obtain last night and he was ready to go.

He didn’t feel like waiting forever for the elevator so he quietly slipped out the fire-exit door and heads to the street.

Pulling out his phone, he sent Shuuichi a message.

"Going for a sleepover at An-chan's! Don't die without me~"

He'd head there first. Leave his bag outside in a bush, knock, have some tea and gossip with her and continue on his way.

If Shuuichi, ever the endearing worrywart called to make sure he'd gotten to Angie's safely his answer would be yes.

He'd have a day to run before Shuuichi and Kaito would find out he hadn't slept over at Angie's. Before they realized what was happening.

Before all 15 of his former classmates would be actively searching for him. Some out of genuine worry like Kaede and Rantaro. Others like Himiko and Maki would search just to confirm he was okay and ease Kaito and Shuuichi's worries.

Kaito and Shuuichi would worry, Kokichi realized all of a sudden and looked back at the towering apartment complex.

That was fine. That was fine. It'd be a short time and in the long run, they'd be better off without him. Without an annoying midget hindering their recovery from the games.

In this way he'd be doing them a favor right? They'd be happier without him and they'd realize it soon enough.

And most importantly, they'd stop playing this game of make-believe with themselves. Tricking themselves into thinking they cared about him.

Yeah, they would, and with that in mind he set on his way, endured the heat wave, and left the beautiful life of lies and love as far behind his back as possible.

And he didn't look back once.

[royalriii]

Saioumota Week Day 1

I am new to posting on this app, and do not know how to make a readmore. I'm sorry.

Please, do not hesitate to point out any grammatical, misspellings or characterization errors. I will do my best to fix it immediately.

@saioumotaweek

(pregame/postgame/afterlife)

7:30

"Glad you two caught me," Shuuichi smiled as he entered the room with Kokichi. "I was about to head out."

"Ehh?!" Kokichi complained. "But it's New Year's, Shuumai! Stay here!"

Shuuichi simply giggled, "New Year's Eve. And it's a private detective office Ko. I'm vice-head. I can't very well skip when Uncle's making everyone else report."

"No one'll be mad! You overwork yourself anyway! Today's the perfect time to stay in and cuddle with your boyfriends."

"Still unfair. The office is flooded with adultery cases at this time of the year. Next time tell me earlier and I'll be sure to schedule a leave, okay? Ah, I'm gonna be late-" Shuuichi quickly made his way towards the door and shoved his shoes and coat on.

"Be safe." Kaito kissed his forehead. "Don't forget to pull your hood up."

"Mhm. Bye, love you!"

3:00 pm

"Ugh!" Kokichi exclaimed.

"What's going on?!" Kaito immediately yelled back taking the stairs two at a time to get to where Kokichi was.

What he expects to find that Kokichi had stubbed his door into a dresser and was gonna over-dramatise it and make Kaito kiss it better.

Instead what he sees is Kokichi simply sitting on the floor with gift wrapper scattered everywhere.

"Huh?"

Kokichi turned towards his direction and pouted.

"Remember when Nanami-chan texted and she said that we'd celebrate Hinata-chan's birthday with Kuwata-chans's on the third rather than tomorrow since everyone would be with their families on New Year?"

"Yeah?"

Kokichi pointed towards the mess on the floor.

"Well, I already got the gifts but I haven't wrapped them yet, so, yeah."

Kaito looked around at all the torn gift wrap, tape, and ribbons around the floor.

"...Kokichi? Do you not know how to wrap gifts?"

The answer was clear by the looks of the room. It had taken an extremely long time but Kaito had learned to see the slight change of expression as Kokichi weighed the pros and cons of either lying and shooing him away or telling the truth and getting his help.

"... Yeah. I don't. Never needed to before."

"Okay, I'll help you." Kaito kneeled down and grabbed one of the gifts. "...Really? A DIY grow-your-own-girlfriend kit?"

Kokichi giggled. "Some Danganronpees-" Now Kaito laughed at that fanbase name Kokichi coined. "-recognized me so I quickly went into the nearest store- which happened to be a prank shop, bought two of the same thing, and then bailed. They'll be grateful I didn't just lump it in with their Christmas gifts. But since I half-assed the gift so much, I at least wanna make the presentation look nice. So..." Kokichi waved a scrap of gift wrap around.

Kaito laughed again. "Okay, so, first you need to actually measure the amount of giftwrap to the gift itself. Unlike Shuu, I really just, y'know, eyeball this."

Kaito quickly laid the gift in the center of some wrapping paper and cut an amount of space around it then waited for Kokichi to do the same.

"Then, you fold this side over the gift, and this other side over that, then secure it with tape." Kaito quickly made a circle with the tape around his fingers then put it on the box.

"You fold this side down- tape. And then, the small triangles go inward. And then the bottom flap goes up- tape. Other side's the same way. Easy, right?"

"Huh?" Kokichi complained looking over. "Your tape is barely visible at all!"

"Takes practice. I always helped Grandma wrap the gifts for family. Yours is pretty damn good for a first timer though." Kaito complimented, turning his gift over. "Now, just put the ribbon under. Make it so it's this sorta cross then-" Kaito turned the gift over again. "Let them meet and seal with a bow!"

"This was easier than I thought." Kokichi happily hummed. "Hey- do you think Shuumai will be proud of me?"

"Dunno. But all that's left to do now is label it."

"Done!"

"Great! Lemme see! ... Oh." Kaito said as he realized that both of their gifts have been labelled as being for Hinata.

"Okay..." Kaito sighed and stretched his arms. "I'll redo mine. You go do whatever."

"Really? Yay! Thank you Kai-chan!"

6:00 pm

"I'm home!" Shuuichi shouted, instantly making Kaito's day.

"Welcome home, Shuumai!!!" Kokichi launched himself into Shuuichi's arms making the bluehead stumble back.

"How have you been? I've missed you terribly! Kai-chan gave me the most horrible day today! Wanna know what happened?!"

"I'll drop you."

"WAAA!! AND NOW YOU'RE BEING MEAN TO ME TOO!"

Despite all their training, Kaito could see that Shuuichi was already tired and carrying their midget boyfriend wasn't exactly helping.

Standing up, he carefully transferred Kokichi to his own arms and carefully angling himself as to not hit the purplette anywhere he kissed Shuuichi's forehead.

"Welcome home, Shuu." He said, and set Kokichi down.

Smiling warmly, Shuuichi hugged them both, "I'm glad to be back."

7:30 pm

"You think that's done?" Kaito asked uncertainly as he looked at the creamy yellow sauce.

"Yeah, good job! Just pour it into the pasta and done." Shuuichi grinned before reaching into the cabinet and pulling out plates and cutlery.

"Smells yummy! Oooh, mac n' cheese!" Kokichi poked his head into the kitchen. "Y'know, thank goodness that even if it's Kai-chan's turn, Shuumai decided to help him. Otherwise, our last dinner of the year would be sooooo gross."

"Hey, you little shit!-"

"Have a seat at the bar. Dinner will be ready soon," Shuuichi smiled. "I made Kaito cook chicken as well and you are not complaining."

10:00 pm

Kaito sighed as he heard the familiar high-energy music bounce through the living room while waiting for the pot to boil.

He carefully transferred the hot water to mugs and dropped the tea bags Amami had gotten for them on one of his travels. After waiting for them to infuse he quickly took them out and threw it in the bin.

"I don't understand why you do this," Kaito mentions as he carried the two mugs to his boyfriends.

"Apple Cinnamon?" Shuuichi asked not bothering to look at Kaito or answer the question.

"Yeah," Kaito handed him a mug and Kokichi the other.

"It's cuz they're sick fucks." Kokichi snapped, answering Kaito's earlier question. He jabbed a finger at the screen as if it would stop Sonia refuting Hinata identifying Nanami as the traitor. "Of course they'd do this. Of course. On the eve of the protag's birthday. Of course."

"I see..." Deciding to be blunt, Kaito continued, "I don't think this was a good idea though, tonight was supposed to be happy but all you two are doing is giving those asses a higher viewership revenue."

"Yeah..." Shuuichi said staring somewhere else.

Kaito simply sighed, picking up the remote and changing the channel.

"I love you both, you know that? Please stop doing this to yourself."

Shuuichi hummed. "Yeah, love you too."

He set his mug down and hugged Kaito. After a while Kokichi decided to simply slip between their arms and they stay like that for a while

11:59 pm

"10!" The TV screamed.

"9!" Kokichi shouted at the top of his lungs as he ran into the room.

"Ko..." Shuuichi trailed off.

"Whaaat? Everyone's still awake by now. Only losers aren't."

"5." Kaito interrupted, smiling.

"4." Shuuichi continued.

"3! 2! 1! Happy New Years!!!!" Kokichi screamed. After hugging them one at a time, Kokichi bounced around.

Giggling, Shuuichi pulled out a wreath from behind the TV and hung it on their door.

"To a better year for everyone and our families?" Shuuichi asked uncertainly.

"Absolutely."

"Anyway... we should go to bed. We're going to a shrine tomorrow and then Kai-chan's grandparents! I'm excited for cookies and mochi!" Kokichi exclaimed.

"Weren't you the one who said only losers are asleep by now?" Shuuichi wondered.

"Yeah! Before the countdown! Duh..."

Laughing, as he remembered how much Kokichi loved his grandparent's mochi last year, he quickly agreed. "Fine, but we're cuddling some more, got that?"

"Yup! Did I ever say we weren't gonna?" Kokichi grinned, crossing his arms behind his head.

Yeah... it'd be a better year for everyone. Kaito was certain of that.