Bandaged with Lies

A somewhat happy resolution

Kokichi's POV:

Mikan and I finally got off the bus, its stop being right outside of hope's peak academy. I waited at the gates for a bit while Mikan thanked the bus driver, thinking about what had just happened. In truth, ever since the run in with those two assholes, it was all that had truly been on my mind. Which meant that, of course, I was just feigning a sense of closure back when we were at the bus stop.

I put those thoughts aside however, as Mikan had finally come back. "S-Sorry for keeping you w-waiting!" she says, that signature anxious look on her face. I smile wide and fold my arms behind my head "It's fine- Let's just get back to the dorm already! My legs are tired after all that walking around" I say, feigning a look of complacency. Mikan nodded frantically, and we began heading back towards our dorm.

About two thirds of the way there, Mikan stops. I stop too, looking back at her with a puzzled expression. She was looking down at the floor, fidgeting with her hands- somehow, it seemed like she was more anxious than usual. "What's up?" I ask, since she was taking forever to get the words out. Mikan jumps a bit, but finally looks up from the floor. "I... j-just wanted to thank you... for t-today. F-For how fun it was and- ...a-and what you did for me" she says, her last few words barely above a whisper.

I chuckle a bit, and smile wide- "It's whatever! Just means that you owe me even more now, nishishi" I lie. Mikan's eyes widen a bit, seemingly in thought, before she nods. "R-Right" she says, her tone a bit lighter than before, and a hint of a smile on her face. As I turn around and we begin walking again, I couldn't help but wonder what it was she was thinking about.

I talk Mikan's ear off about random stuff for the rest of the way there, a kind of light feeling in the air as we do so. But before long, the mazes of hallways eventually lead us to our dorm. Since I was in front, I take out my key and open the door. We both enter, and I immediately plop onto my bed and open up my laptop. I compulsively go to click on the bookmark to the chatroom D.I.C.E. uses, but then stop myself when I remember why I asked Mikan to hang out in the first place.

I sigh in irritation, and open up a puzzle game instead. The cheesy music pops up, and I mute the laptop. Selecting the hardest difficulty there is, I hit play. While the game loads, I take the time to look around- Mikan had nestled up in her bed with a book like usual. Taking note of this, I return my attention to the puzzle game, which had finally loaded.

The hardest difficulty wasn't even that hard for me. I had had this game for a while, and the puzzles in it didn't even phase me anymore. This gave me time to think about other things- and that included what had happened at the mall.

Those two who were pulling Mikan along left a sour taste in my mouth- I've known my fair share of entitled assholes who abuse their power, and in just those few moments of meeting them those two had checked all the boxes for that title. And the person who they were using probably didn't even think to fight back.

We hadn't spoken all that much, but it didn't take a detective to notice how Mikan behaved. Not to mention the type of reputation she had gotten. Obviously it wasn't as bad as mine, but even I had heard of the types of "offers" she would make. Drawing on her, embarrassing imitations, even stripping- whenever she got too freaked out, which didn't take much, she would offer these types of things. It had made quite the impression on others.

And things fit just a bit too nicely if those two were somehow involved. Once more, it didn't take a detective to figure out the kind of people they were. My interest was piqued, and I couldn't help but ask her.

"So how long?"

Mikan jumps a bit surprise, and I see her look up from her book out of my peripherals. "W-What... are you t-talking about?" she asks softly, her voice confused and somewhat panicked- though that wasn't really anything new. Still keeping my eyes on my laptop, I clarify a bit "How long have you known those two" I ask blankly.