Purpose (Oumasai)

Chapter 22: Meeting

- Kokichi POV -

A soft knocking came from outside the door. I got up and tiptoed to the door, peering out only to see Rantaro before me.

"Hey Kokichi" He scanned my room, his expression mellowed as he saw Shuichi on my bed

"Oh hi Avocado" I stuffed the room key into my pocket discretely, closed the door behind us and grinned widely as he stepped backwards to give me space

"I have to talk to you about something" There went the cursed line

"Okayy!" My grin was as mischievous as ever as I practiced my character

We walked, the silence hanging over us like a chandelier on a thin thread. About to be broken by his word. We reached a secluded part of the garden.

"Have you figured out the next motive yet?" The words dropped and shattered

"Yeah" I pushed the corners of mouth up

"So what are we gonna do? I don't wanna panic everyone, we need to figure out a way to inform them" He worried

"I don't know Avocado, I was planning on rationing the food out and trying to get everyone to move less and drink more water to survive. It's not that little food and after a week I think it'll be okay" I danced around the main part concerning me

"You thought this through already?" He looked through me

"Mhm" The childish cheerful smile came back

"Okay, we'll have to get everyone in the dining hall and discuss this" He returned a faint smile

"Okie" I rushed past him and hurried to gather everyone

"Gather everyone" as in wake Shuichi up and tell him what's going on. I stifled a giggle. I reached my room and opened the door and immediately my expression softened when I saw Shuichi. Safe, soundly sleeping. His face resembled a warm blend of colour: oranges, yellows and pinks melting into eachother.

"Wake upppp" I rocked him back and forth

"Kichii" He yawned and rose

"Get dressed, we have to go to the dining hall" I threw on an optimistic smile and he looked at me, puzzled

"Uh okay?" He went to the bathroom and dressed quickly, getting himself ready for the conversation which was about to happen

The motive was a meteor, approaching us quickly and everyone was blindfolded, except me and Rantaro. We had to untie everyone's blindfolds and work together to keep our spaceship from being destroyed. All we need is to work together.

I wilted against the wall, consumed by my thoughts. As soon as I saw Shuichi though, I immediately bounced back.

"Koki?" The look of concern on his face forced the lie out of me

"I'm okay Shumai! Let's go!" My restless hands took his and I grinned as we semi-ran to the dining hall

"You're a ball of energy" He smiled

His gaze was directed forward and his glazed eyes lay unblinking. His smile slowly relaxed into a thin line on his face. I matched his pace and tried my best not to bother him in his pensive moods. As badly as I wanted to know what he was thinking, I shouldn't bother him. I chewed on my lip, trying to swallow my thoughts.

"Hm?" Slipped from my mouth, I stopped myself from slamming my hand over my mouth

"Kichi?" His sweet tone drizzled into my ears, I bit my lip

"What are you thinking?" I allowed him to know what I really wanted to ask

"Ah, nothing" He forced the corners of his mouth up once more as he averted his gaze

Feeling dejected, I shut up.

- Shuichi POV -

We came to the kitchen and he glanced over the room, maintaing his expression. His eyes narrowed and then relaxed after noticing my worry.

"Hello hello! Atua welcomes you to the table!" Angie stood up and waved, a sinister grin on her face

"Ooh, I wonder what this meeting will be about!" Kokichi started the topic and his wide smile persisted

I sat quietly, my gaze wafted from person to person. Angie, Himiko, Tenko, Iruma, Maki, Tsumugi, Gonta, Korekiyo, Kiibo, Kaito, Rantaro and of course Kokichi.

An air of uneasiness settled like dust on an untouched piano. I let my mind rest as I listened.

"I believe we have to welcome someone back, do we not?" Korekiyos eyes stabbed into Rantaro

"Nyahaha! We do! Everyone welcome back Rantaro!" Angies pupils seemed to shake as her eyes darted across the room

Timid greetings were heard, until Kaito began his usual roar which caused the rest of the population of this small school to become louder.

"Now that that's settled, let's cut to the chase" Kokichi's voice penetrated the hall

You could hear a pin drop.

"The new motive! As you may or may not have noticed, the storage and fridges have had the electricity cut off. Obviously, a ton of things spoiled. And monokuma looks like he's not giving us another crumb. What is saved is everything we have left" Kokichi spoke blankly, his grin leveling

He left the room as silent as it was after his second sentence. Everyone was deep in thought and their gazes jumped over every bit of the room. Searching for salvation.

Panic resounded through the room, quiet whispers rose to screaming and crying. Their fear collapsed into an infinite abyss of despair because of the gravity of the situation. The black hole swallowed everyone, painting every bit of them in pain and alarm. The room was the storm and Kokichi's speech was the calm before it.

"EVERYONE!" My voice burst out of my throat and an ocean of silence washed over us

"Everyone, we can't afford to panic right now" Rantaro stepped in, taking control

"Are you crazy? We-" Kaito started but Rantaro swiftly cut him off

"Panic does not solve out current problem. Rationing is the best course of action. Monokuma will likely stop this after a week of no murders occuring. Please, calm down, as we have enough food for a week if we ration" Rantaro logically explained

"I'm sure we can do it!" Angie's ever light voice caused the other cult members to agree

"I believe, it is very possible" Korekiyos piercing gaze stayed as sharp as a razor even as he added his hopeful statement

"Y-yeah, right Maki roll?" Kaito stammered, hoping to get her to smile

"Yeah" Coldness radiated off of her like a harsh winter

"The student council shall do the rationing!" Angie added

"For Atua!" Tsumugi chimed in, her eyes wide, slightly shaking

The student council filed out and into the kitchen they went, Angie leading them.

Korekiyo, Maki, Kaito, Rantaro, Kokichi and I exchanged looks. Some more worried than others.

"For Atua..." Kaito began, opening the doors for conversation

"My my, how religion can captivate the hearts of mortal souls in despair" Korekiyo stated, you could hear his tone change to one of concern

"They're crazy" Maki stated bluntly, causing my expression to contort into one of surprise

"Yeah, tootally nuts!" Kokichi coughed out an uncomfortable laugh, his throat seeming dry as ever

Chatter then engulfed the table. Everyone decided the student council was harmless but, they all knew that wasn't true.

They're dangerous but, we couldn't trust eachother enough to say that out loud.

One thing engulfed my mind, Rantaro. The far away look in his eyes was obvious and I knew what he was thinking.

There was a rift in the group. A large one at that and no one seemed to be fighting it. A house divided by itself cannot stand, and Monokuma would watch us crumble, fight after fight, as the student council would drift away further from us. Then more bickering and on one fateful night:

Murder.