[ He extracts himself from the couch slowly, rolling his shoulders back before making his away around, towards the hall.
Kokichi is... he doesn't know what Kokichi is. He felt like he had a clear view of him, for once, before the trial, before the end of both of their lives, but he seems so different here. Kaito doesn't know if it's the circumstances that have changed him, or if one persona is another one of Kokichi's lies. He doesn't want to believe the latter - he wants to toss everything aside and believe in Kokichi whole-heartedly, but...
But he's been burned one too many times. Not only that, but it's easier this way, isn't it? Forgiveness involves acknowledgement. Forgiveness involves sitting down and talking through their feelings. Forgiveness involves a whole lot of vulnerability that Kaito knows he's not ready for yet. They might as well take it easy for now.
There's a part of him that cares. There's a stubborn part of him that still wants Kokichi around, despite it all.
He takes a deep breath and faces him head-on. Puts on his best smile. Because Kokichi may know how to lie, but Kaito knows how to pretend, which is a skill all on its own. ]
Okay. Cool.
[ They're cool. Or, they will be. And as he passes by Kokichi, heading towards the hallway, he reaches down and ruffles his hair. A reassurance. They're not where they were before, clinging to each other for life in the Exisal Hangar, both each other's last hope. Kaito hasn't forgiven... but he can act like he's forgotten.
Because that's what Kokichi needs right now, he tells himself. It sure looks like it, anyways. And it's simpler to believe in that than to over-analyze every word he said back in the hangar, again and again and again and again -
(It plays on repeat in his head.)
He musses up Kokichi's hair and gives him a playful smile. ]
I'll go find a room. When Ryoma gets home, tell him I'm here. And... I'll see you in the morning, alright?
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Kokichi is... he doesn't know what Kokichi is. He felt like he had a clear view of him, for once, before the trial, before the end of both of their lives, but he seems so different here. Kaito doesn't know if it's the circumstances that have changed him, or if one persona is another one of Kokichi's lies. He doesn't want to believe the latter - he wants to toss everything aside and believe in Kokichi whole-heartedly, but...
But he's been burned one too many times. Not only that, but it's easier this way, isn't it? Forgiveness involves acknowledgement. Forgiveness involves sitting down and talking through their feelings. Forgiveness involves a whole lot of vulnerability that Kaito knows he's not ready for yet. They might as well take it easy for now.
There's a part of him that cares. There's a stubborn part of him that still wants Kokichi around, despite it all.
He takes a deep breath and faces him head-on. Puts on his best smile. Because Kokichi may know how to lie, but Kaito knows how to pretend, which is a skill all on its own. ]
Okay. Cool.
[ They're cool. Or, they will be. And as he passes by Kokichi, heading towards the hallway, he reaches down and ruffles his hair. A reassurance. They're not where they were before, clinging to each other for life in the Exisal Hangar, both each other's last hope. Kaito hasn't forgiven... but he can act like he's forgotten.
Because that's what Kokichi needs right now, he tells himself. It sure looks like it, anyways. And it's simpler to believe in that than to over-analyze every word he said back in the hangar, again and again and again and again -
(It plays on repeat in his head.)
He musses up Kokichi's hair and gives him a playful smile. ]
I'll go find a room. When Ryoma gets home, tell him I'm here. And... I'll see you in the morning, alright?