The Boy With The Blank Stare: The Promise

Chapter Forty Three: Protector

'You know getting up is the hardest right?' He asked and I quickly grabbed his hand and gently helped him up.

His legs shaked a bit as he quickly reached for the railing, he glanced back where his chair was.

"You're...you're gonna have to..." he started, "want me to help you up first or the chair?" I quickly asked surprised at how balanced he was right now.

"Chair, I'll wait down here" he assured me as he helped himself sit down.

As I dragged the chair up the steps I couldn't help but glance down at him.

If someone were to look at him right now with no context he would look like any average teenager, he wasnt wearing his school uniform, for once he seemed to have taken care into what he was wearing a black hoodied jacket and white pants, there was a bit of checkered cloth hanging from the pocket which he occasionally held onto when he seemed especially stressed.

He didn't look stressed though, tired if anything, and wondered what he would look like ten years from now.

I left the chair against the wall next to the door and hurried back to Kokichi and with some minor difficulties and some breaks when Kokichi's leg nearly gave out, we managed to get to the top and I could see him smile with pride.

"Apparently I'm not the only one who is facing the wrath of leg day" I joked, 'shut up! My physical therapist is going to be proud of me!' Kokichi told me pouting.

"He better not! You're getting heavy" I complained but hoped he could tell I was joking, 'how dare you! Never letting you take me to the beach again now" Kokichi said laughing. I realized then he wasn't asking for his chair, he just sat with his back against the railing.

"Is that a punishment?" I asked, "yes because according to Kiibo everything romantic happens on a beach" Kokichi answered with a joking tone as he got back up this time without my help as I watched amazed.

"Aren't you going to knock?" Kokichi asked keeping a firm grip on the rail, "sorry" I quickly apologized and knocked on the doorm

It opened within minutes and a petite man with curly red hair opened the door.

"Hi I'm Saihara Shuichi we talked over email?" I greeted feeling a bit of nerves chipping at me. "Yes it's nice to..." the man started before he trailed off.

"O-Oh wow..." he mumbled as he glanced behind me at Kokichi.

Kokichi seemed to have guessed and gave an awkward wave, I then went to help him over keeping a good hand around his waist to make sure he wouldn't fall.

Or at least he'll take me down with him.

"You've...sorry just...Shiro's room is down the hall" the man said giving up as he led us down the hall, he even helped bring the chair inside.

Kokichi seemed nervous but I was just surprised to see him walking this much.

At this rate my new resting face will be smiling.

The room he led us into was a small bedroom with a bookcase filled with abandoned figurines and some lego creations that had gone horribly wrong.

The bed was neatly made, and the room had a thin level of dust as if it had long been abandoned.

The man said nothing more when he let us in instead he made a motion suggesting he was moving to the living room.

I helped Kokichi sit on the bed, and he sighed in relief massaging his leg a little, cramps I suppose this was the most I've ever seen him walk.

'Is the dragon still here?' Kokichi asked as I took a look around. I paused confused, "what?" I asked.

Kokichi had a small smile, "he had this dragon plushie...it was like this tall and he wanted it to be our mascot...Mirai used to chuck it at his head" Kokichi told me and used his hands to try and show me what size it was.

I glanced around the room and found the old worn down toy on a shelf, it seemed to be front and center and...

Next to it was a small journal, and I picked it up curious, most of what was written down seemed to align with a grocery list until...

The journal had marked down things for each of the DICE members, such as allergies and things they're afraid of, even a mini scale system on that fear along with things they hated or loved.

Some were just notes on how one member might've been hiding a secret and plans to get it out of them, or how to tell if a member was sad and how to make them feel better.

It was almost like a manual for how to be a member of the DICE group as I flipped through the pages.

'What is it?' Kokichi asked, 'you found something right?' He asked. "It's almost like a cross between a friendship guide and a to-do list" I told him, one of the things caught me off guard though.

Help Genkei Move Out

-Get bed situated ●
-Ask parents for permission ○
-Get proof of abuse ●
-Convince Genkei to leave ○
-Snacks for comfort ●
-Find a way to make sure Genkei stays here in town ○

I was a bit shocked reading that over but as I then turned to the closet I saw a little makeshift area and peered inside. There was a small comforter crammed inside, along with a pillow. Taped on the walls were some pictures of Danuja and Fujioka, the closet door on the inside even had a little note saying Genkei's House.

"Hey Kokichi...did your friend Fujioka run away from home?" I asked, 'what? No but Takura and Shiro wanted him to' Kokichi told me he seemed confused.

"I think he did in the end, or at least planned to" I admitted, Kokichi took that in.

'Shiro was an idiot, a stupid loving idiot' Kokichi finally told me, it dawned on me this room and set up while unknown to him wasn't a surprise either.

'He always wanted to help and protect us, even when he's super clumsy and can't even help someone scale down a building' he joked.

But his face was covered in a nostalgiac look of sadness.