The hangar was quiet at night. Too quiet. Your footsteps echoed across the metal floor as you stepped inside. The giant machines and Exisals loomed in the dim light, shadows stretching across the room.
And right in the middle of it, was Kokichi. He was sitting on a crate, swinging his legs like he didn’t have a care in the world. He noticed you immediately. Of course he did.
“Nee-heehee… you actually came.”
You crossed your arms. “You left a note.”
“True, but I figured you’d finally decide I’m an evil mastermind and ignore me like everyone else.”
You didn’t answer, and Kokichi watched you for a moment, before sighing.
“Man… you’re no fun tonight.”
“What’s going on, Kokichi?”
“Nothing!” he chirped. “Just hanging out in a suspicious hangar in the middle of the night!”
“Cut it out.”
The words landed heavier than you intended. Kokichi blinked. For a second, the usual grin on his face faltered.
“…See? This is why I didn’t wanna tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
Instead of answering, he hopped off the crate and walked a slow circle around you.
“You ever notice something funny?” he said lightly. “Whenever I say anything, anything, everyone immediately goes, ‘Wow Kokichi, nice lie!’” He mimicked the others in a mocking voice. “‘He’s manipulating us!’ ‘Don’t trust him!’” He shrugged. “Pretty impressive, right? I can say the sky is blue and people still think I’m lying.”
“That’s because you lie constantly.”
“Correction,” he said, raising a finger. “I lie artistically.”
You didn’t smile, and Kokichi lowered his hand.
“…But you’re weird.”
“Weird?”
“You actually listen.”
You shrugged. “Someone has to.”
Kokichi groaned softly. “Yeah… and that’s exactly the problem.”
Your stomach tightened.
“Kokichi… what are you planning?”
For once, he didn’t joke. Instead, he glanced toward the hydraulic press across the hangar.
“…What if I told you there’s a way to break the killing game?”
Your heart skipped a beat.
“If the mastermind can’t figure out who the blackened is,” he continued quietly, “the whole trial system collapses. And if the trials collapse… the killing game ends.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Nee-heehee… that’s what makes it fun.”
But the laugh sounded forced.
“I’m setting up an unsolvable case,” he admitted.
The words hung heavy in the air.
Before you could respond—
“Oi.” A voice echoed from the far side of the hangar.
You turned to see Kaito stepping out from behind one of the Exisals.
“Kaito?” you said.
He crossed his arms, clearly annoyed. “Kokichi, I told you not to drag them into this.”
Kokichi rolled his eyes. “Relax. They were gonna figure it out eventually.”
You looked between them slowly.
“…You two are working together?”
“Don’t get the wrong idea,” Kaito muttered.
“Oh please,” Kokichi said with a grin. “We’re literally planning a murder mystery together.”
Your chest tightened.
“Kokichi… why are you telling me this?”
For the first time that night, he hesitated. Then he shoved his hands in his pockets and looked away.
“…Because you’re my ally.” The words came out casually. Too casually. “Everyone else already decided I’m the villain,” he laughed softly.. “But you didn’t. Even so...if someone’s gotta play the bad guy, it might as well be the person everyone already hates.”
“That’s not a reason.”
“It’s a pretty good one.”
For a brief moment, his expression softened—tired in a way you’d never seen before.
“If this works,” he said quietly, “the killing game ends.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
He shrugged.
“Then I guess the villain dies.”
Your chest tightened, a sharp ache spreading behind your ribs. So many had already died to this killing game; friends, allies, people who should have lived. And sure, everyone hated Kokichi. No one trusted a word he said. But did they really have to take him from you too?