"That's what I'd like to say, but my heart belongs to Miss Sonia," Kazuichi said, crossing his arms. He turned to glare at Kokichi. "I know what you're trying to do, Kokichi!"
"Oh?" Kokichi asked. "What am I trying to do, then?"
"You're trying to get me to like Miu so you can nab Miss Sonia for yourself!" Kazuichi said. "That's seriously messed up, man!"
"Yeah, you're right. I'm trying to nab Sonia for myself," Kokichi replied.
"WH-WHA? Wait!" Kazuichi gave Kokichi a skeptical look. "H-How do I know you're not lying?" Kokichi turned to Kazuichi with a serious expression.
"I'm not lying, Kazuichi," he said. "I'm trying to do you a favor. To save you from heartache."
"Huh? Wh-Whaddya mean?" Kazuichi asked.
"Sonia doesn't like you, Kazuichi," Kokichi answered. "She's appalled and disgusted by you. Do you really want someone who treats you worse than dirt? Like someone who, in her eyes, doesn't even exist?"
"But, I...I do exist in her eyes," Kazuichi mumbled. "She acknowledges me. Maybe not how I'd like her to, but she does notice me."
"But why waste your time going after someone who you'll never even have a chance with?" Kokichi asked. "Wouldn't you rather have a girl who shares your interests? The more you chase after Sonia, the worse it'll be in the end for you. You'll only experience heartache, frustration, sadness, and loneliness. But you're better than that, right? You deserve better, right?"
"I...I don't know," Kazuichi mumbled.
"The answer is that you do, Kazuichi," Kokichi replied. "Trust me, Miu is a way better choice for you!"
"Mmm...maybe," Kazuichi replied with uncertainty. "But Miu is kinda annoying. She's got an ego bigger than her boobs, y'know?"
"That's how she appears, but looks are deceiving, y'know," Kokichi replied with a devious grin.
"Whaddya mean?" Kazuichi asked.
"Go on a date with Miu, and find out for yourself," Kokichi replied. Kazuichi thought about it for a while.
"Well, okay, I'll do it, but you gotta stay away from Miss Sonia!" Kazuichi demanded. Kokichi shrugged nonchalantly.
"You got it!" he replied.
"And, heeey! Aren't you going out with Himiko, anyways?" Kazuichi asked.
"I never said I wanted to nab Sonia for myself to go out with her," Kokichi said with a sneaky grin.
"Well...what else do you nab girls for?!" Kazuichi asked.
"Well, she's a prominent figure, right?" Kokichi said. "She'd be a valuable asset for my organization."
"Don't involve her in your nefarious organization!" Kazuichi said. "She's too pure for that!"
"Mmm...okay! If you really care about Sonia, go out with Miu. If you do, I won't invite Sonia to join my organization," Kokichi promised. Then, he grinned evilly at Kazuichi. "But if you don't go out with Miu, I'll make sure Sonia joins my organization without your interference."
"What'll happen if I try to stop you?" Kazuichi asked in a small voice.
"Hahahahaha...you'll wake up to the smell of your cooked intestines!" Kokichi replied, laughing wickedly.
"Th-Th-That's a lie!" Kazuichi stuttered fearfully.
"IS IT?!" Kokichi asked with a creepy, maniacal grin, shoving his face into Kazuichi's. "Do you reeaaallly wanna bet on that?" he asked in a low, threatening voice.
"N-No..." Kazuichi gulped.
"That's what I thought," Kokichi murmured sinisterly. "Remember...the only way to save Sonia from my clutches...is for you to go out with Miu. Are we clear?"
"C-C-Crystal!" Kazuichi stammered.
"Excellent," Kokichi replied with an evil grin. The bell rang to signal the beginning of class. "Now, you'll meet Miu tonight at 7:00 at a fancy restaurant called 'Chez La Vie.' Don't be late." Kazuichi nodded hesitantly.
"Um...do you want me to ask Miu out right now?" he asked.
"No. Don't tell her about it," Kokichi replied.
"Huh? But how will she-" Kazuichi began.
"I'll take care of that," Kokichi said. "You just do what I say, get it?" Kazuichi nodded sheepishly. With one last sinister grin at Kazuichi, Kokichi left the table to go get Himiko, who had just finished talking to Miu. They both headed out of the cafeteria hand in hand as Kokichi began walking Himiko to her first class. "Sooo...how'd it go with Miu, Monkey Buns? Did she tell you what type of guy she's into?"
"Mmmm..." Himiko mumbled. Kokichi turned to look at her.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I can't tell you..." Himiko replied.
"Why not?"
"Because...if I do, I'm afraid that you'll think I'm...I'm...u-useless," Himiko muttered.
"Well, tell me what Miu said," Kokichi replied patiently.
"She didn't really say anything helpful," Himiko replied. "She kept bragging how she usually does about how great she is and that no guy is too good for her. She was completely different from when I spoke to her yesterday about having a boyfriend."
"What did she say to you then?" Kokichi asked.
"Well...some things I can't really tell you because she wanted to keep things between me and her," Himiko explained. "But, basically she was sad that the kids from her previous school would make fun of her for not having a boyfriend. And when I told her about my relationship with you, she seemed kinda...mmm...not jealous, but..."
"Wistful?" Kokichi asked.
"Nyeh...yeah, that's right," Himiko replied.
"I see," Kokichi said thoughtfully. "I think because Miu didn't have friends or a boyfriend in her previous high school, she spent most of her time with her inventions. That's probably why she doesn't know how to act around other people. And because nobody from her previous school acknowledged or even appreciated her inventions, she had to convince herself that her inventions are great. I think Miu is looking for acceptance and appreciation, but instead of being honest with herself, she puts up this front to seem confident, outspoken, and self-assured because she doesn't want to face the fact that she's lonely."
"Nyeh...you lost me," Himiko mumbled. "What was the first thing you said?"
"Well, long story short: Miu fears being lonely and unacknowledged," Kokichi explained. "But, she doesn't want to admit that, so she puts on a bold and brash exterior to make her appear better than what she is."
"So, when she gets yelled at, and starts whimpering, that's her true self?" Himiko asked.
"Yeah, basically, Miu is really a weak, lonely little wimp," Kokichi replied. "But who wants to be called a weak, lonely little wimp with no friends? Nobody does, especially not Miu. That's why she acts the way she does, not even realizing that her rude and obnoxious behavior is actually making things worse for her. She thinks that being her true self will make her lonely, since that was what happened in her previous high school, but that might not be the case everywhere. She could in fact wind up with friends if she wouldn't lie to herself all the time."
"I think I see what you mean," Himiko replied. "It's a bit too complicated for me to fully understand, though."
"Don't worry about it, Himiko," Kokichi replied, kissing her on the cheek. "The important thing is that Kazuichi and Miu are going on a date tonight, and we'll see if our plan to get them together will actually work."
"Yeah, you're right," Himiko replied. They stopped at Himiko's classroom, but before Himiko entered her class, she turned to Kokichi. "Nyeh...Kokichi? About what you said earlier about Miu having friends if she didn't lie to herself so much?"
"Hm? What about it?" Kokichi asked, putting his hands behind his head.
"Well...I think you could also have friends, too, if you didn't lie to yourself so much," Himiko replied timidly. Kokichi stared at her for a few seconds as if pondering her words, then flashed her a cheeky grin.
"Ooo...good point, HimiCocoa Bean!" he replied. "But I think it's more fun messing with people than to try and make friends, haha! Welp, see you later, Himiko!" He gave her a quick smooch, and sauntered off to his class as Himiko watched him in sadness.
"I hope you really feel that way," she whispered softly to herself before heading into her classroom.