Chapter Text
“When are you guys going to get over it already? It’s not like any of you enjoyed spending time with Gonta. I mean, look at how the insect meet’n’greet went!”
Maki quirks an eyebrow across the courtroom, but it’s Shuichi who’s close enough to be targeted as Kokichi saunters over.
“Why do you even care? If you’re not the mastermind and you’re not the blackened, you’re still stuck in here just like the rest of us.”
Kokichi frankly seems a little relieved just to have his attention as Kaito approaches them from behind, because he crowds way further into Shuichi’s personal space than he usually would, sneering as he giggles.
“And Miu! Dumb bitch. Aren’t you all relieved at how quiet and non-sexual it is in here finally?”
“They literally just died, Kokichi, can you get it together?” Even Tsumugi is irritated enough to say something, wow. Shuichi is surprised Kiibo hasn’t beaten her to it.
“Don’t worry.” Kokichi says to Shuichi’s shoulder, stepping closer. “I’ve had my fun. I truly want to end this killing—“
In a red flash and a tight shriek, Shuichi finds himself being shoved backwards, not hard, but enough to stagger, and Kokichi chokes.
Maki hoists him nearly over herself with a single hand at his neck, her eyes glowing, her figure steady, like she had once before; but that time her grip was holding his shirt collar far more than his throat, and this time...
“Tell the truth. What are you scheming?”
Her voice is as calm as ever, not a hint of strain, even as Kokichi scrabbles at her grip.
“Fucking bitch!” He manages, his feet kicking uselessly.
Maki makes a show of frowning. Expression like this doesn’t come easy to her; Shuichi feels the air grow cold as what must be the skills that designate her an Ultimate deepen the bend of her arm as she throttles Kokichi tighter, and real words no longer leave his lips.
“If you don’t tell us the truth, I will break you.”
It’s not a threat.
It’s a promise.
She eases her thumb back and he gurgles, but no more noise leaves him.
“Maki Roll, cut it out! You’re going to get killed!”
She doesn’t falter. Himiko covers her eyes with her hat and a whimper.
“I have really truly grown really truly tired of your childish bullshit. You are a man, like all little boys with too much pride, and you will most certainly die as a great many other men have, humiliated, hungry, and at my hands.”
“Maki, please, you have to stop! Monokuma’s going to kill you!”
“He will only kill me if I kill this pathetic excuse for an Ultimate.” She answers Shuichi coolly, never taking her eyes from Kokichi’s. “And while I specialize in quick kills, the interesting thing about learning to kill quickly, is that you implicitly learn how to draw it out, too. How to come very very close, without crossing over the edge.”
Her voice, already seductive by nature, becomes velvety, as if she’s relishing the way Kokichi’s kicking feet have slowly lost energy. “Those are petechial hemorrhages, that you can feel in your eyes. It’s the blood vessels bursting. They mean you don’t have too long. I’m not letting go, but you can tap my thumb if you’re willing to be honest, and we’ll see what you have to say.”
Kokichi tries to spit at Maki’s face. It runs down his chin in a spectacular failure.
“He’s getting a boner!” Tsumugi suddenly screams, pointing, and she’s right; Shuichi takes another step back and tries not to stare.
“Yes, that’s normal for men who die of asphyxia in their last moments. He may even ejaculate.” Maki doesn’t flinch as she narrates.
Kokichi’s eyes start to roll back. His lips have gone blue.
“Maki Roll, you’re only giving Monokuma what he wants like this!” Kaito begs, reaching out for her shoulder, but before they can make contact, Kokichi splutters a high wheeze and Maki releases him. He crumples to the floor, and as soon as he strikes it, he sucks in a sharp breath and screams.
Maki wipes her hand on the back of her skirt like she’d merely handled a garbage bag, and Kokichi rolls onto his side, still spluttering, hacking thick bile onto the floor.
“There. I don’t think you’ll be causing any other problems, if this is the outcome. Maybe you’ll be more inclined to tell the truth after you find a new pair of pants, too.”
So that’s not just Shuichi’s eyes playing tricks on him. There really is a dark stain on the front of Kokichi’s trousers, quickly spreading.
Kaito’s reach withers in the space between them. He stares, open-mouthed, at the aftermath of Maki’s work, arm outstretched between Maki and Shuichi, like he can’t decide who to pull away first.
“M-M-Maki,” Tsumugi stammers out, eyes on Kokichi, one hand on Himiko’s shoulder, “Are you — are you okay? Do you, um, want to lie down for a bit?”
Maki clears her throat huskily.
“Whatever. Somebody has to go clear Miu’s lab for any weapons before this weasel finds his legs again.”
“We’ve got it!” Kaito asserts suddenly, clapping a hand on Shuichi’s shoulder and not shying away from Maki in the least, no matter how her withering gaze shifts to him.
“Fine. Someone get Kokichi to his dorm, I guess, if you’re worried. I’m going to go wash my hands.”