KOKICHI OUMA

"This is SunnySide gas station, Maki speaking. How may I help you?"

Fuck, it was Maki. She was the last person I wanted to see right now after Shuichi. Even worse, she would find me out so easily. Best to keep it on the down low... if that was even an option anymore.

"Hello, this is Kokichi. I want to call off for tomorr-,"

"And why is that?"

Her recognizable impatient demeanor everyone complained about. 'Never knew she'd choose to use it on me. Why'd she seem so out of it anyway?

I stared at the screen for longer than usual, not having ample time to think up an excuse she'll condone. But it was hard enough to be smart when confronting Maki. She'd figure you out in a second, and that's why I liked her.

Finally, I thought something up. Hopefully the lie was good enough to chicane her.

"I have to pick up my wife from the airport."

It went silent through the other end, as if she was deep in thought. I can't believe I bamboozled her into my percieving clownery, she was completely dumbstruck across the other end of the line.

"Kokichi...,"

"Huh-,"

"You're fucking gay."

I stared at the phone, realizing what I just said.

Kokichi, you dumbass.

I facepalmed, running a hand down my face in a debacle manner. Why did I have to be so dumb now of all times?

"Oh... I forgot," I mumbled, having a staring contest with the floor in stupidity.

She sighed through the other end of the line, showering me in guilt. I hated every second of the silence as I waited for someone to vindicate me out of this situation.

"Is this about Shuichi?" She asked with a sigh trailing behind the very words.

"Hm-,"

"You don't want to go to work tomorrow because you don't want to see Shuichi, am I right?"

"No-,"

"Kokichi, I need the truth and the truth only..."

I groaned, piecing away my phone and covering my face in shame. Maki probably thought I looked so stupid right now, which made me even more embarrassed than I already was as I blushed a vibrant red.

"Maybe...," I announced with a sigh, lifting my head up hastily.

"Knew it... You have to come to work tomorrow and talk to him. I'm sure he likes you back,"

"And what if I don't want-,"

"I'm making you," She said with a dour sentiment that made me flinch, then laugh in my head almost instantly.

Why did she care so much, anyway? This wasn't her love story, let alone the fact she didn't have one. Of course, I wasn't going to say that to her face. Thats the equivalent of practically just asking to die. Especially since she currently has an eye for Kaito.

"Why have you been on that receptionist phone for so long already?" Said someone, I recognized to be Togami in the background of the call.

"It was Kokichi asking to call off. He didn't even have a reason so he is still coming to work tomorrow."

I groaned, failing to believe Maki could do such a thing. Just to help a boy out was laborious enough for her? I felt betrayed.

I hung up, not daring to say another word to her as I looked up at the ceiling in thought. I'm gonna see Shuichi again tomorrow... the day after unannouncingly kissing him. Such fun. What does he think of me now? He's probably going to reject me so hard I won't even find my heart again. Or he's gonna hate me and I'm never going to see him again. Actually... that option seems nice. Because I don't want to see his pretty face again.

I felt a frown form onto my face as my thoughts ran deeper, exiling me from reality. I never knew I'd fall this hard for a guy that palpably refused to like me back. This is how I get myself in tight situations and ruin all of my relationships.

My eyes began to water, my thoughts running cold in confusion. Suddenly, a pillow hastily hit my face, in the palms of my mother who hovered over me.

"Kokichi! What have you been doing!? I've been calling you to help me with the dishes for five minu- are... have you been crying?"

I hadn't responded, continuing to look up at the ceiling as she looked at me dazingly. She wiped the dry salt off my face with a frown and sat down next to me.

"Come on... you know you can talk to me. I'm not exactly the father figure you wanted but...,"

I rolled to the other side of the bed, averting my eyes from her direction. She tilted her head to the side, rather upset and began her walk towards the entrance of my room.

"Just let me know if you are ready, and we can-,"

"Mom," I interrupted slowly.

She stood in her tracks, turning over to me without the shed of a word, giving me my chance to speak.

"There's this boy...,"

Her eyes lit up to that, a minuscule pep in her step as she began to walk over to me. Covering the blankets over my face in embarrassment, I continued my story in need of advice.

"At my job and I uh- he... *sniff* if I see him for another day I'm gonna go crazy. Y-you know what happened with the last guy...,"

"I didn't even know he was hurting you until I found out he was in jail. And that's because... you never tell me anything."

It went tranquil in the abode, throughout hallways and corridors. And that's when I began to think about it. I really never tell my mom anything. She isn't abusive or neglecting, and I love her so much. So why is it that... I just can't trust her?

She sighed, putting a hand on my lap, ready to break such unecessary silence.

"You like this guy, don't you?" She said with a slight smile, but cornered eyebrows.

I slowly nodded in embarrassment, turning my face away.

"I think you should go talk to hi-,"

"UGH- I hate that advice... I hate that advice so fricking much. First Maki, now you. Why the heck would I talk to him when I fricking kissed him... and he didn't kiss back," I protested, careful not to spill any curse words in front of my mom.

She went silent, most likely in thought. She looked at me with a sigh and got up slowly. Her hands firmly rested onto her hips as her waist moved towards her left.

"We'll continue this conversation some other time. Right now, I made dinner and don't want it to get cold. So come eat, and don't throw it up."

"I... I'm not hungry m-,"

"Oh yes you are, you haven't eaten this whole day. I don't know what your ex did to you... but all I know is that he is not going to stop my son from eating three meals a day."

"Well he did. And it's staying that way, I'm getting fat mom...," I said, turning my head away in anger.

My mom walked over to me and put a firm hand on my shoulder, a frown built upon her face.

"That's what that guy made you to think. But I want you to know that you are better than that. Come on, you were always eating healthily until you started dating that monster. You're barely a eighty pounds Kokichi."

"That's only because I'm short. Seriously, mom look," I said, pinching non-existent belly fat.

Wait... non-existent belly fat. I looked back at my stomach, my mood instantly changing. There was... no fat. What was I starving myself for? What did that guy make me do for so long? Suddenly, my breaths began to get heavier. How is he still impacting my life when I don't even see him anymore?

In all of the silence that occupied the room... my stomach grumbled to ruin it.

"Mom, I -- I think I'm hungry."

I have a cousin, with really, really bad anorexia. This chapter was simply to give awareness to those who starve themselves and I couldn't find any other way to give it attention other than allowing one of the characters to have it, such as, Kokichi. If you're reading this, please just remember to eat today :).

Word Count: 1465

CHAPTER DICTIONARY:

Condone - Accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue.

Chicane - Decieve or trick (someone).

Debacle - A sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco.

Vindicate - Clear (someone) of blame or suspicion.

Laborious - (Especially of a task, process, or journey) requiring considerable effort and time.

Minuscule - Extremely small; tiny.