Archive of Our Own

With every step she takes, every plate she holds, and every person she waits on, Kirumi Tojo moves with practiced ease and natural contentment. As if she were born to serve, she completes her tasks with a dignity and devotion others could never hope to match. The soft, kind smile on her face never waivers, no matter how ridiculous a request she’s handed. With pride and dignity, everything about her encapsulates the true meaning of the Ultimate Maid. Someone really befitting of her title. 

But even as Kaito watches her, weaving through the tables and serving her fellow classmates their breakfasts, he can’t help but wonder how she keeps herself from losing her mind. 

“Is everything ok, Momota-kun?” 

“Huh?” 

The idle wave of Shuichi’s hand in his face pulls Kaito from his thoughts. He blinks a few times, focusing on the confused look his friend is giving him. “Oh yeah!” He laughs, straightening his posture from where he was slumped over. “I’m just… watching Tojo.”

“Any particular reason why?” To his other side, Maki peers at him from over her coffee mug. Despite her bored tone, she asks the question with curiosity. 

“She’s always doing shit for people.” Kaito shrugs. “Like bringing them food and doing their chores. I’ve even seen her doing other kid’s homework!” He lifts his own coffee to take a sip, cringing at the bitter taste it leaves in his mouth. 

“Well, she is the Ultimate Maid.” Shuichi says. “It’s kind of her talent to serve.”

“And didn’t Tojo make you that coffee this morning?” Maki points out. 

Kaito glances at the mug in his hand. The steadily cooling beverage stares back at him in its barely consumed state. He had asked Tojo for it that morning, though he’s not entirely sure why. He’s never been a fan of coffee, and its overwhelming bitterness, even if it does wonders for waking him up as early as Hope’s Peak requires. 

“Whatever, that’s not the point.” He places the mug back down, making a mental note to find a different source of caffeine, something he doesn’t need to ask Tojo for. “Doesn’t she ever get tired? I mean, when does she even have time for herself?”

Maki shrugs around another sip of coffee. “She seems fine to me.”

The trio’s eyes move to a few tables over, where Tojo bows at an upperclassman, setting his breakfast in front of him with a polite smile. They exchange a few words, drowned out by the layered chatter of the dining hall, and Tojo swiftly turns around to reenter the kitchen. Kaito has to admit, she doesn’t look phased. If anything, she looks pleased with herself and happy to serve. 

“Eh… I dunno.” He says anyway, rubbing the back of his neck. “Imagine having to do all that shit? Someone asks, and without even thinking she’s agreeing to it? Kinda crazy.”

“Maybe Tojo-chan’s just tougher than you!”

“What the fuck?!” Kaito jumps at the sudden, irritating voice way too close to his ear. “Don't do that!” He rises to his feet on instinct, facing the source he knows all too well.

“Oops! I scared you good!” 

Kokichi Ouma stands with his hands latched behind his head, lips twisted in that stupid Cheshire Cat smile of his. Somehow, he was able to sneak up behind Kaito without him noticing, using the sound of the crowded dining hall as an opportunity to pull off his jump scare. Kaito glares at him, his mood quickly shifting to the kind of irritation it's way too early for, from the one person who excels at causing it.

“Sh-shut up!” 

From the table, Maki lets out a sigh. “What do you want?” 

Casually, and as though part of the group, Ouma strolls past Kaito, taking his freshly empty seat. “Oh, I was just eating my breakfast, minding my own business, when I couldn’t help but overhear-”

“More like eavesdrop.” Kaito interjects with a roll of his eyes. 

“ Overhear the conversation you were having.” Ouma spins in his seat, looking up at Kaito. “And it looks like Momota-chan here thinks helping out his classmates is too much work.”

“I didn’t say that!” He can feel the familiar bubble of anger rising in his chest. The kind only Ouma is capable of bringing out. “I just think she’s stretching herself too thin with everything she does.” He glances at Tojo once again as she exits the kitchen, balancing more plates than it looks like she can physically carry. 

“Ooh, I see.” Ouma nods, eyes drifting to the same scene. “So what you’re saying is, you couldn’t handle it.” 

“Of course I could!” Kaito snaps back. “I just wouldn’t let everyone walk all over me like that!” 

“Seriously? And here I thought you’d make a great doormat.” 

“Fuck off.” 

“Ignore him.” Maki says, glaring at Ouma with her icy red eyes. “He’s just trying to annoy you.” 

“Annoy? Me?” Ouma fakes shock, poking a finger to his cheek. “No way.”

Kaito has to remind himself that Maki is right. As far back as he can remember, Ouma’s thrived on pissing others off. And for some reason, pissing Kaito off specifically. When they first started at Hope’s Peak, almost a year ago now, Kaito attempted to make friends with him, like he did everyone else. But instead of reciprocating, Ouma took it as an opportunity to make fun of him, poke at his insecurities, and egg him on any chance he gets. 

But despite the antagonisms, and against his better judgement, Kaito continues to get pulled in. He doesn’t mean to, really. Both Maki and Shuichi have warned him countless times not to react, to just leave him be. But no matter how hard he tries, it almost always fails. And whenever he thinks he’s got it mastered, that he’s finally found the armor against his taunts, Ouma shatters it in an instant. As if he’s an expert at finding brand new ways of getting under his skin. 

“Why don’t you go bother someone else?” With his arms crossed, Kaito looks off to the side. He tries to keep Maki’s advice in mind. “What we’re talking about’s got nothing to do with you.”

“But I’m so disappointed to hear how selfish Momota-chan is being!” Ouma jumps up from his seat, dancing around Kaito and forcing himself back into his field of vision. “What if your sidekicks needed you for something? What if they were dying and asked you to save them?” He throws his arms up, fake dramatics bleeding through his every move. “You’d say no? Just like that?! That’s not very hero-like of you.”

“What?!” And there he goes again. The perfect words, said in the perfect way. “Of course not! A hero never leaves his sidekicks behind!” 

“Ouma-kun, is there a point to this?” Shuichi asks. His concerned eyes move between the two of them.

Ouma flashes him a smile. “Of course there’s a point, my dear, sweet, Saihara-chan.” He turns back towards Kaito. “Momota-chan is selfish.” 

“I am not!” Kaito leans down, glaring as he matches his eye level. 

“Oh yeah?” Ouma doesn’t flinch, looking up to meet the challenge with one of his own. “Then prove it.” 

“I don’t have to prove shit to you.”

“So you don’t think you could go a full day doing what Tojo-chan does?” He backs up, checking his nails like they’re far more interesting than Kaito. “Fulfilling any request asked of you?”

“I so could!” The small voice in the back of his head telling him not to take the bait shrinks as Ouma’s taunts grow. Kaito knows he should reel it in, or else suffer the consequences of whatever scheme he’s being pulled into. “But I know your game. You’d just try to make me do weird shit. So no way am I falling for it.”

“Aw, he’s saying no again.” 

“Drop it, Ouma.” Maki cuts through with a warning. “Even Momota isn’t stupid enough to fall for your trick.” 

“Hey!”

“Well, whatever.” Ouma shrugs. “It was worth a shot.” He takes a few steps away, towards the exit of the dining hall, before stopping short and glancing over his shoulder at Kaito. His grin spreads wide enough to narrow his eyes and Kaito feels his stomach drop at that look. 

“But I should’ve known Momota-chan’s not man enough to handle whatever I ask.”

Whatever little resolve Kaito is holding onto drops the instant the words leave Ouma’s mouth. “Oh hell no!” He shouts, the familiar flame of rivalry burning in his chest. “I’m plenty man enough! I can take whatever you throw at me!” 

He knows it’s dumb, and he knows he’s only giving Ouma what he wants. But this isn’t just about Ouma’s opinion of him anymore. This is about his pride as a man! And he’s not about to prove Ouma right by backing down from this challenge. 

Ouma remains unfazed, handling his control over Kaito as effortlessly as he always has. “Alright then, what do you say?” He asks, a glint of mischief shining in his eyes. “Until the end of the school day, no matter what anyone asks you to do, you have to say yes. And of course, actually follow through.”

“You’re on!” 

“Momota-kun…” Shuichi speaks up from his spot at the table. “Maybe you should think about-”

“But when I win,” Kaito cuts him off, too far off the deep end in this game of chicken to listen to reason. “You better be ready to admit just how wrong you are!” 

“Oh, sure. But when I win…” Ouma taps his chin in thought. “You have to become my underling, and serve under me for the rest of your life.” 

The harrowing thought of having to do Ouma’s bidding forever is a hit on its own, but not enough for him to back down. There’s no way Kaito is gonna lose anyway. He has no problem helping out his friends and classmates, and it’s not like any of them will ask much of him to begin with. This challenge is gonna be easy, and he’ll have Ouma eating his words by the end of the day. 

“Deal!" 

It’s then the bell rings, signaling the start of the school day, and the start of their bet. The students in the dining hall shuffle around, collecting their things in preparation for the day. Kaito can’t help but notice the way none of them move to clean up their trays and mugs from breakfast, knowing Tojo will pick up after them. He never paid much attention to it before, but it’s rubbing him the wrong way now, after taking on Ouma’s challenge. 

He grabs his still mostly full coffee mug, gathering his friends’ empty ones as well. Maki and Shuichi stand as he does, the latter swinging his backpack over his shoulder and giving Kaito a nervous glance. Kaito beams back at him; his way of assuring his friends that it's ok, as he starts walking towards the kitchen to dispose of their mess. 

“Oh wait! One more thing!” 

He doesn’t get very far, though, before Ouma is calling out to him, and he turns on his heels to face him with a scowl. 

“What now?”

“I think it’s important I keep an eye on you.” He rocks back and forth on his feet, like an excited child. “I have to be sure you’re following through on everyone’s requests.”

“No way! I don’t need a babysitter!” Kaito argues. “When I say I’m gonna do something, I’m gonna do it. I don’t need you checking up on me.”

The insinuation pisses him off. He’s nothing if not a man of his word. However, more pressingly, the last thing he wants is Ouma on his tail, making the whole thing difficult on purpose. 

“Momta-chan, can I follow you around all day to make sure you don’t chicken out on our bet?” 

“Huh? No-!”

He stops, the question sinking in as Ouma’s smile grows wider. 

“Fuck.” That bastard. “Fine.”

“Yay!” Ouma cheers, skipping to Kaito’s side and latching onto his arm. The force is almost enough to knock the various coffee mugs out of his hands. “This is gonna be so much fun!”

“This is gonna be a disaster.” Shuichi mutters.

“What is it with men and their stupid pride?” Maki adds with an eye roll. 

Kaito tears his glare away from Ouma long enough to flash them both a confident smile. “Aw, hey guys, don’t worry about it. It’s only a few hours, I’ll be fine.” He tries to quell the small spike of anxiety growing in his stomach by assuring them, hoping it's enough to hype himself up as well. 

“And besides, whatever Ouma’s got planned, I can definitely handle it! Just watch!”

“Hey Momo-chan.” Ouma looks up at him with a false sweetness. “Would you leave those dirty dishes behind and carry my bag to class for me?” 

Kaito doesn’t miss the matching looks his friends give him as he’s faced with his second request of the day. He doesn’t hesitate though, placing the mugs on the table closest to him before taking Ouma’s bag from his shoulder and slinging it over his own. It isn’t all that heavy, and with the amount of training he’s done in preparation for his astronaut exam, carrying the extra weight is no sweat. If the worst Ouma’s gonna do is make him his personal pack mule, this challenge is gonna be a walk in the park. 

“To class!” Ouma giggles, tugging Kaito’s sleeve and marching towards the dining hall’s exit. 

With one last parting glance over his shoulder, Kaito is matching Ouma's pace. A few hours of petty tasks from an insufferable brat is nothing, and totally worth it just to prove him wrong. He's confident he can pull it off, determined to face this challenge with as much commitment as any other. 

Ouma is nothing more than a troublesome child, whose teases and taunts become more predictable the longer Kaito knows him. All he has to do is stick it out until the last bell of the day.

What could possibly go wrong?

—

“I’m boooooored! ” 

Laying on the grass by his side, Ouma whines, the sound piercing through Kaito’s ears and knocking his concentration off center. Again. 

“Too bad.” He sighs. “I’m busy right now.” 

He taps the pen against the notebook in his lap. Yumeno’s homework stares up at him, far less complete than it should be with the amount of time he’s spent on it. He blames Ouma. Usually, he’s good at math, so when Yumeno had heard about the bet, and subsequently demanded he do her homework, he didn’t hesitate, even with Ouma’s obnoxious snickers taunting him in the background. He figured he’d be done with it in no time. 

However…

“Momo-chaaaaan!” Ouma kicks his feet in a childish tantrum. Kaito can almost ignore it, until his foot hits the notebook, causing a stray line to draw across the paper. 

“Would you knock it off?!” Kaito snaps.

Immediately, Ouma’s stopped flailing around. “You seem stressed.” In one quick motion he’s sitting up, legs crossed. 

“I wonder why.” He grabs the notebook, bringing his knees to his chest and turning away. 

“You know, you need to learn to take responsibility for your choices.” Ouma giggles, leaning closer into Kaito’s space. “No one is making you do anything.” 

“Oh come on.” Kaito barely holds back the rolling of his eyes. “You roped me into this shit just so you could embarrass me.” 

“Hmm, partly.” Ouma hums, jutting out his lower lip. “Is Momota-chan not having fun?” 

Fun?

The past few hours have been anything but. Yumeno’s homework is the least of his worries when he looks back on the other things he’s been forced to do so far. Since leaving the dining hall this morning, Ouma’s told just about everyone they’ve encountered about the bet, promising them Kaito’s agreement to anything they ask. Most of them ignored him, and some gave simple requests, like a high-five, or to borrow a pen. Victory seemed so easily in reach back then. 

However, Ouma must have gotten bored with how uninterested and uncreative their classmates were, and took it upon himself to implement his own brand of torture. Walking him to class and holding his things turned into buying him snacks and carrying him on his back. And when Kaito met each task without protest, he upped his game even further, dragging Kaito into his world of pranks. 

He can still feel their upperclassman Saionji’s fists banging into his back after she caught him slipping those fake bugs down the back of her kimono. Or the sounds of Kuzuryu’s threats when he tried to tie Pekoyama’s shoelaces together during lunch. And of course, the weight of the detention slip in his pocket after Ouma demanded he play a one sided game of hide and seek with Ishimaru in the hallway during class. 

Kaito should have seen it coming, knowing Ouma and the trouble he likes to get into. But the allure of the challenge was just too tempting to ignore.

“Shut up.” He says, putting the notebook down and getting to his feet. He pulls out his phone, opening it to the timer he set when the bet started. Three hours to go. He really should have tried to negotiate a better deal. 

“You can always say no to something.” Ouma stands with him, brushing the dirt from his pants. “There’s no shame in losing. As long as you’re willing to admit I’m the bigger man than you.”

Kaito scoffs. “Hard to be the bigger man when you’re only five feet tall.” 

“That’s so m-mean!” Like clockwork, the fake tears spring to Ouma’s eyes. “You should apologize.”

“Give it a rest, we both know it’s bullshi-”

“Are you saying no?”

The tears are gone and Ouma smiles at him like he’s innocent. Kaito shoots him a glare back. 

“You’re an asshole.”

“I’m waiting.”

Sighing, Kaito crosses his arms. “Whatever. I’m sorry.” He doesn't care how disingenuous it sounds.

“Hmm, not good enough.” Ouma catches onto it too. He taps his finger to his chin, eyes scanning the courtyard for something Kaito can’t decipher. That is, until he seemingly finds it, and his face lights up. “You know what would really make me forgive you?” 

Kaito doesn't like that tone. Leading and sinister as it is. He follows his line of sight, stomach dropping when he spots it.

“If you jumped into that fountain over there!” 

“You’re out of your fucking mind!” He shouts, suddenly tuned into the bubbling sounds of the large fountain in the center of the courtyard. “I’ll get soaked!”

Ouma sighs, switching his attention to the floor. “Well then, I guess Momota-chan is ready to serve under me for the rest of his miserable life.”

He should stop giving into it. There’s nothing Ouma can really do to ensure he keeps his end of the deal. But something inside Kaito tells him he can’t stop now. Maybe it is his stupid pride, like Maki says, or maybe it's the way Ouma looks at him like his compliance is almost guaranteed. Like he knows his next move before he can even think through his options. It’s unsettling. Annoying. It pisses him off more than anything. 

How Ouma seems to know him more than he knows himself. 

He could back down, and save himself the embarrassment and potential pain, but if he does, he feels like he might lose more than just his pride. 

“Fuck you.” He says, coming to the decision they both already predicted. He slips his jacket off his shoulder and tosses it in Ouma’s direction. “Hold this.” It drapes over his face for a second before he pulls it down. “It’s too nice to get wet.” 

Without another word, and before he can regret this, Kaito marches towards the fountain, Ouma not far behind him. Once he’s there, he looks it over. It’s much larger up close, and Kaito can feel the mist brush against his face, making him shiver in anticipation of the plunge. He questions one more time if he should do this. There’s so many people around, mingling with their friends, mostly unaware of their presence or what he’s about to do. That will change the moment he goes through with this. 

He glances over his shoulder, catching the wide smirk Ouma gives him with his jacket bunched in his arms. That look is the last bit of encouragement he needs. 

Stupid pride. 

Before he can think any better of it, Kaito takes a deep breath and jumps straight into the fountain. 

The water is even colder than the mist, like the first jump into a pool on a warm summer day. He can’t hear anything past the rushing in his ears, but he must have an audience by now. There’s no way they could ignore someone taking a bath in the fountain. He knows he couldn’t. 

Less than a few seconds later and he’s thoroughly soaked, so he stumbles out onto the pavement. The air strikes freezing against his skin and through his clothes that now stick to his body. His hair has fallen out of place from its usual gelled up style, cascading down the sides of his face and dripping more water down his body. He ignores the looks, laughter, and quiet whispers from the people around him, opting to take a few steps closer to Ouma, his shoes squelching on the ground below. 

He doesn’t expect anything different than the smile Ouma gives him. “Wow, Momo-chan looks good with his hair all messed up.” He forces out through his giggles. “You should wear it like that more often.”

The jab isn’t lost on Kaito, and in lieu of a response, he exacts his own mini revenge. He tosses his head back and forth, shaking out the water like a dog coming in from the rain. Ouma squeaks in surprise, pulling Kaito’s jacket over his face to shield from the droplets.

“Hey, come on! I told you I didn’t want it getting wet!” Kaito makes a grab for it, but he’s too slow, and Ouma takes a step back.

He hugs the maroon fabric close to his chest. “You should probably think about that before assaulting me.” 

“Shut up. You’re the one who made me jump into the fountain!” Kaito tries to shout, but it’s drowned out by even more of Ouma’s giggling. 

Giving up for now, he focuses instead on the state he’s in. He runs a hand through his hair, closing his eyes as his fingers catch onto the tangles in it. 

“Jeez, all that hard work this morning for nothing.”

When there’s no biting comeback, Kaito opens his eyes, tilting his head at what he sees. Replacing the teasing grin he’s been met with all day, Ouma’s face is blank. He looks at Kaito, as if studying a piece of art in a gallery, eyes trailing from his chest back up to his face. It’s hard to tell, maybe just a trick of the light or the heat from the sun, but there’s something strange there. Something so impossibly vulnerable that lays on Ouma’s skin. 

Is he… blushing?

“Ouma?” Kaito tries a question, blinking away the water that still drips across his vision. Maybe then, he’ll be able to see clearly. “What’s-?”

“Oops!” Suddenly, Ouma is alert. “It’s almost time for my next class!” 

And just like that, the matter is dropped. Before Kaito can even think to respond, Ouma is turning around completely, hiding the small glimpse of emotion before it can be deciphered. It bothers him. He's never seen a reaction like that from Ouma before. He finds himself wanting to know what caused it, and why he covered it up so quickly. Kaito almost thinks he’s embarrassed. But what does Ouma have to be embarrassed about? 

It’s not like he just jumped into a fountain in front of the whole school. 

The train of thought is cut off though, the minute he sees Ouma on his way towards the school entrance and draping his jacket over his shoulders. 

“Hey, wait!” Kaito calls after him. “That’s my jacket!” 

Ouma looks over his shoulder, then down at himself, and the jacket that practically swallows him whole. “It is?” He shrugs. “I’m kinda cold though, so you should totally let me wear it for the rest of the day!”

“H-huh?! What are you-?!” 

“Besides,” He cuts him off, taking a few overly cheerful strides closer. “You’re all wet. And we wouldn’t want it getting ruined now, would we?”  

Fighting it is useless, as Kaito has been reminded of so many times already. It’s not like he can say no anyway. He may as well accept it, and hope whatever Ouma does doesn’t destroy it. 

“Yeah, sure, whatever.” 

Ouma’s face lights up in something like childish wonder. “Glad that’s settled.” He says, once again making his way towards the school. “Now come, grab my things. If we don’t hurry, I’ll be late to class!” 

It’s all happening too quickly and Kaito can’t keep up. “Hold up, Ouma!” He starts to gather their things, trying his best to avoid getting them wet against his body. An impossible task it seems, as the pen from Yumeno’s homework bleeds onto his shirt. God, he’s a mess. But Ouma doesn’t seem to care, and it takes a half run to catch up to him at the door. 

“Will you at least let me change first?” 

— 

As the day draws to a close, Kaito can feel his victory approaching around the corner. 

After getting the chance to change into something dry, he was able to convince Ouma to let him finish Yumeno’s homework in the library –it wouldn’t be fair if he didn’t complete her request!– which seemed to limit some of the harsher demands Ouma wanted to make of him. It was a cheap move, to try to run out the clock, but the only thing he could think to do to avoid a repeat of the fountain fiasco. Technically, he hasn’t broken any rules, making sure to still do the things Ouma asks of him, as tame as they are. 

Now, with just fifteen minutes to go, Kaito is feeling confident. Ouma still trails behind him, annoyingly not showing the least bit of fear that he might lose, as they make their way through the courtyard once again. Shuichi and Maki should be in the usual training spot, both having their free period as the last one of the day. Ordinarily, Kaito wouldn’t be able to meet them before school lets out, but with the earlier request of skipping the rest of his classes, he figures he may as well have a couple of witnesses to Ouma’s defeat. 

He spots them under the tree they always meet at and he waves, breaking into a grin and a run. Maki is looking down at what seems to be her homework, but when Shuichi catches his appearance, his eyes widen. 

“Momota-kun! Your hair!” 

It’s enough to pull Maki’s attention from her homework. She gives Kaito the briefest of shocked looks before fixing her gaze on Ouma behind him. 

“Why does Ouma have your jacket?”

“Huh?” Kaito had nearly forgotten about that, looking over his shoulder at the cheeky smile Ouma wears. His jacket hangs loosely off his shoulders, nearly touching the ground as it drapes against his small frame.

Rolling his eyes, Kaito focuses back on his friends. “It’s nothing.” He assures them, running a hand through his now dry hair. “And I’m just trying something new, I guess.” 

The lie isn’t all that convincing, he knows. And it doesn’t help when Ouma finally speaks up to expose it. 

“Momota-chan jumped in the fountain!”

“You did what?!” Shuichi asks, looking past the two of them at the fountain in the center of the courtyard. 

“Don’t worry about it.” Kaito dismisses his concern with a wave of his hand. It’s a lot to explain, and honestly, the more he sits with it, the less it bothers him. “More importantly, are you ready to see Ouma eat his words when I prove him wrong?” 

“You’re still on about that stupid bet?” Maki sighs. She picks up her homework, apparently deciding it’s much more interesting than what they’re talking about. 

“It’s not stupid! Especially when I’m totally winning!” 

“I wouldn’t call it yet.” Ouma says, bouncing in his step to land at Kaito’s side. “There’s still time left for you to crack.” 

“Don’t count on it.” Kaito leans down, matching Ouma’s height to meet his eyes. “I’ve put up with every embarrassing and dangerous thing you’ve made me do today. I’m not about to give up at the last minute.” He straightens back up, the fire steadily rising in him with his assurance of victory. “So throw whatever you want at me! I’ll prove to you I can take it!” 

“Oh, don’t worry. I plan on it.” His smile reads confidence, and control. It doesn’t bother Kaito though. At this point, he can’t imagine anything pushing him over the edge. 

“Ouma-kun, maybe you should take it easy.” Shuichi tries to reason. “Haven’t you made him do enough?” 

“It’s never enough, Saihara-chan.” Ouma says it like a lecture. “And unlike Momota-chan, I don’t have to do anything you say.”

Maki shoots him a glare over her notebook. “Do you wanna die?”

“It’s a good thing you’re not asking Momota-chan that question!” 

Before tensions can rise further, or Maki takes it upon herself to kick Ouma’s ass, Kaito moves between them. “Hey guys, it’s ok.” He says. “There’s less than ten minutes until time is up, so no need to worry.” He hits his fists together. “There’s nothing Ouma can do in that amount of time that could be all that bad.” 

Shuichi and Maki don’t look convinced. But Kaito can’t bring himself to care, too busy riding the high of his all-but win. Ouma glances around the courtyard, no doubt scrambling for some fresh way to raise the stakes. Too bad for him, he won’t find it. Like he said, there’s no way he can-

“You’re sooo right Momo-chan, there’s nothing I can do.” 

Something about the way he says it turns Kaito’s stomach in knots. The confidence he held so tightly just seconds before starts to trickle through his fingers and into Ouma’s hands. “What are you-?”

“Hey, Iruma-chan!” 

Oh no.

Miu Iruma stops short as she crosses their paths. She looks the group over, her irritated and judgemental stare scanning them one by one. Kaito feels his heart start to beat faster. Only ten minutes left. He can do this. It’s no problem. He can still win this. 

… Right?

“What d’ya want, you shitty little twink?” 

Ouma rocks on his feet, hands latched behind his head. “Just wondering if you’d be interested in playing a game.”

“Ouma-kun,” Shuichi starts, hoping to placate things before they blow. “I don’t think you should-”

“What kinda game?” Iruma cuts him off though. Her hands rest on her hips, and even though she seems annoyed, she’s interested enough to listen. “You guys having an orgy or something?”

“Nope!” Ouma’s grating laugh pierces Kaito’s ears. “But Momota-chan will certainly do it… all you gotta do is ask.” He lowers his voice at the end there, leading Iruma in the expert way only he knows how. 

“Huh?” She replies. “The fuck is that supposed to mean?” 

“N-nothing!” Kaito quickly intercepts. He needs to put a stop to this, or at least stall long enough for time to run out. If he lets Iruma in on what’s going on, there’s no telling what she’ll make him do. “He’s just messing around!” 

“Awww, that’s not nice.” Ouma pouts. It’s short lived though, as he smiles again, facing Kaito fully with a challenge in his eyes. “Momota-chan, could you tell Iruma-chan exactly what I’m talking about?” 

Dammit.

There’s still time left in the bet. And with how close he is, giving in now would be a waste. He wants to fight it, find a way to circumvent the rules and lead Iruma on until its over. But he knows he can’t. Even if he tries, Ouma will probably just spill it himself. Which means, he has no choice. 

Sighing, Kaito turns his head to the side. “Ouma challenged me to say yes to whatever anyone asks me to do.” He mutters. 

“And he’s actually gotta do it!” Ouma finishes for him with a flourish of his arms. 

It doesn’t take long for Iruma to bark out a laugh. “No fucking way!” She nearly shouts. “That’s gotta be the stupidest thing you’ve ever done. And that’s saying a lot.”

“It's not stupid, it’s a challenge!” Kaito argues.

Behind him, Maki sighs. “No, it’s definitely stupid.”

“Hey!”  

“So anything I ask, huh?” Iruma seems to be studying him, leaning close with her hand to her chin. Instinctively, Kaito backs up. 

“Yep!” Ouma says. “Whatever your heart desires, Momota-chan will fulfill.”

“I have a bad feeling about this.” Shuichi mumbles.

“Alright, Homota!” It’s like a lightbulb goes off in Iruma’s head, and she pulls herself back and out of Kaito’s space. “Get on your knees!” She points to the ground in front of her with a satisfied smile. 

“H-huh?” Kaito knew whatever she asked would be suggestive, but hearing it out loud throws him, and paints his cheeks a few shades of pink. “Why do I gotta-?”

“Hey!” Iruma’s firm tone shocks him into silence. “You’re supposed to do whatever I tell you, and I’m telling you to get on your fucking knees!” 

With a roll of his eyes, Kaito does as she says. The heat has now settled on his face, and he can hear Ouma giggling behind him. He didn’t think it could get worse than jumping into the fountain. But here he is, being proven wrong. He should really consider thinking twice before getting involved with Ouma again. 

“Oh wow, you’re actually doing it?” Iruma laughs again, this time in satisfied disbelief. “What a good mutt!” 

“I’m not a fucking dog!” He fires back. He might be on his knees in an open courtyard in front of dozens of his classmates, but he still has his pride. 

“I don’t remember saying you could talk!” 

“It’s not ‘only do what you say’ , it’s ‘do whatever you ask’ !” 

“Oh, he’s defending it…” Shuichi sounds almost disappointed when he says it.

“Ok then, I’m asking you to shut up and do what I say!” Iruma corrects herself, crossing her arms over her chest. If Kaito didn’t know any better, he’d think she’s getting off on it or something.

On second thought, he probably doesn’t know any better. 

Ouma seems to be loving it though, if his laughter is anything to go by. “This is fun!” He says. Kaito wants to punch him in the jaw. 

“Ouma, knock it off.” Maki’s words are like venom as she stands up. “You’ve done enough.” 

“Momota-chan is free to say no whenever he wants.” Ouma reminds them. As if it’s an easy thing to do. “As long as he’s ready to admit defeat.”

“Momota-kun, there really is no shame in losing.” Shuichi says, coming up on his side. “Especially for something as unfair as this.”

“No way!” Even with his friends pleading and coming to his defense, Kaito can’t bring himself to give up. “Iruma and Ouma can make me do whatever embarrassing shit they want, but I’m not backing down just to give Ouma the satisfaction of winning.”

He’s so close. He only has to endure it a little longer. Just a few more minutes of minor torture and he’ll be home free. And once he is, he’ll be the one throwing it in Ouma’s face. 

“Damn, buzz lightyear, you really are a bitch.” Iruma comments. “Ouma’s got you by the balls.”

“It’s not about that!” Kaito shouts. “This is about my pride as a man. Ouma would never let me live it down if I gave up now.” 

“It’s true, I wouldn’t” He can see the shit-eating grin from behind him. 

“Pfft, whatever.” Iruma huffs. “Fucking weird way of flirting if you ask me.” Her hands rest on her hips again, her earlier amusement turning back to annoyance. “Will ya just get it over with and make out with him already? The rest of us are sick of looking at it.” 

Time stops the moment the words are out of her mouth. While Iruma herself doesn’t seem to be aware of what she’s said, Kaito’s eyes widen. He can feel his heartbeat pounding in his ears, trying to confirm in his mind that he’s heard her correctly. 

There’s still time left in the bet. The alarm he’s set for himself still hasn’t rung. And Iruma just asked him to do something. Which means…

Oh no…

He looks behind him at his friends, the desperation and shock no doubt showing on his face. Shuichi’s head is buried in his hands. Maki looks like she’s seconds from exploding. Kaito knows he must be as red as a tomato himself. And Ouma is-

Ouma?

When he focuses on the boy in question, he finds he can’t quite place his expression, actually. His eyes are wide and his smile has been wiped completely from his face. That’s strange. Wouldn’t this be the perfect time for him to get in a dig about Kaito’s lack of love life? Or joke about how he has secret feelings for him or whatever? Instead, there’s nothing. Only silence. 

“What?” Iruma breaks that silence with her confusion. “Why’d everyone go quiet all of a sudden?” 

It’s Shuichi that takes the burden, stuttering his way through an explanation the best he can. “U-uh, well, you just asked Momota-kun to do something, and-”

“Oh shit! You’re right!” Iruma’s face lights up as it finally dawns on her. Kaito doesn't think he's seen her this excited, and the laughter from before finds its way back. “That means you gotta do it, closet case!”

“He doesn’t have to do anything.” Maki snaps.

“No way, rules are rules.” Iruma argues. “Can’t bitch out now.”

“Don’t listen to her Momota-kun.” Shuichi says. “There has to be some kind of an exception.”

Kaito barely listens as they bicker around him, his eyes still locked on Ouma. He’s not sure what it is, but something about his expression is off. He’s never seen him like this before, so caught off guard. He’s reminded of earlier in the day, after he jumped into the fountain, the similar vulnerability he showed. Maybe it's the same thing. Or maybe he just didn't expect his prank to backfire on him, pulling him into the mess right alongside Kaito. But, either way, he’s here now, and he must be wondering what the next step is. 

It’s then, Kaito gets an idea. Maybe it’s stupid. And maybe he shouldn’t. But he can’t let this opportunity slip past him. The chance to not only prove he’s a man of his word, but to teach Ouma a lesson in the severity of his pranks. 

Mind made up, Kaito gets to his feet with a sigh. “Iruma’s right.” He says with a simple wave of his hand. “A bet’s a bet.” He takes the few steps needed to reach Ouma, hands on his hips and a determined smile. 

“Momota, you’re not actually-” Maki starts.

“Oh, he’s actually.” Iruma finishes with a laugh.

Ouma doesn’t seem to move, despite no doubt knowing where this is going. He has the chance to run, to call off the bet and make an excuse to put a stop to this. But he doesn’t. Instead, he remains frozen. Kaito leans down to meet his eyes properly. He still has no idea what’s going through his mind, but he gently grips his chin to angle him up. He waits one more second, granting Ouma one final chance to back out. But instead of taking it, his breath hitches ever so slightly, and Kaito can’t help the smirk that rises in response. 

Without another thought, he’s closing the distance between them, softly pressing his lips against Ouma’s. There’s a surprised noise that comes from the smaller boy, and maybe it’s unconscious, but he leans into it, his hand coming up to grip Kaito’s sleeve tightly. From behind them, Kaito can hear Iruma cheer loudly. Everything else though, melts away around him, as he finds - to his surprise- kissing Ouma isn’t all that bad. 

It’s certainly a nice way to shut him up. 

It lasts no more than a few seconds, and when he pulls away, he takes his time studying Ouma. His hand still loosely grips his sleeve, and his eyes take their time to flutter open. They focus briefly on Kaito’s lips before making their way up to meet his own. He looks sort of breathless, and Kaito finds it sort of cute. That same vulnerability that seemed to only start showing up today, since the beginning of their bet. He couldn’t make sense of it before. He still doesn’t know if he can now. But, for some reason, he finds himself wanting to kiss him again. 

That thought is broken though, by the steady beeping of his phone in his pocket. 

Ouma’s eyes widen just the slightest bit, his hand dropping its grip as Kaito lets go of his chin. He keeps their eyes locked and pulls out his phone with the alarm still ringing. He faces it towards Ouma’s shell-shocked expression and silences it. His smirk from before returns. 

“I win.” 

Before Ouma has a chance to respond, Kaito is turning on his heels to face his friends. “Told ya I could do it!” He gives them all a thumbs up.

Each of them is some degree of embarrassed. Except for Iruma, who’s laughing so hard she’s clutching her stomach. Kaito knows they think he’s an idiot, if Shuichi’s blush and Maki’s disappointed head shake are anything to go by, but he doesn’t care. Because he won! And as a bonus, he got Ouma to shut up. 

When he turns back to the boy in question, he notices the bright blush that paints his cheeks. His hand is raised tentatively, fingers just barely pressed against his lips, with the ghost of a smile laying underneath. Kaito still can’t place his thoughts, or what exactly he’s doing, and he doubts he’ll get an answer no matter how hard he presses. But he finds himself smiling too. He decides for now, he'll file it away for later, choosing instead to focus on taking his rightful prize.

“Well, Ouma? What do you say?” He boasts. “Ready to admit I was right?”

Finally, reality comes back to Ouma. He blinks a few times, dropping his hand to the side. In an instant, it’s like the earlier confusion is gone, replaced with the same confident smile he’s been wearing since their bet started.

“I don’t think so Momota-chan.” He hits right back, hands behind his head. “Actually, I think you’re the one who needs to admit defeat.”

What?

“What are you talking about?” It’s Kaito’s turn to be confused now. Sure, he knew Ouma would be stubborn, and getting him to concede would be a challenge on his own. But he knows he’s wrong. He knows he won. “I did everything everyone asked me to do!” 

Ouma hums, his finger back to his lip. This time though, it’s pointed, posed as if he’s deep in thought. “Are you sure you really did everything ?”

Huh?!

“You were there the whole time!” He’s not sure if he’s messing with him, or really means what he says. “I even fucking kissed you!” 

“Iruma-chan did tell you to do that, that’s true.” Rocking on his feet, Ouma giggles in his usual way. “But, Saihara-chan told you not to. So, by double negative, you said no.”

“Huh?” Kaito tries to piece the logic together in his head, but finds himself coming up empty on an explanation. “Wait! That doesn’t count!” 

Taking a few steps forward, Ouma shortens the gap between them. “Did Momo-chan just wanna kiss me that badly?” The blush from before is absent. The wide-eyed confusion is no more. “All you had to do was ask.” He makes himself as tall as he can, using his tip toes to try to rise to Kaito’s height, as he lowers his voice to a whisper.

“I would’ve said yes.”

Maybe it’s the proximity, or maybe just the confidence in Ouma’s words, but his face heats up at the implication. It’s so far removed from how he was before, it knocks Kaito off balance. 

“H-hold on, that’s not-!” 

And just as quickly, Ouma’s pulling away. “This was fun, but too bad, you lose.” He sticks his tongue out as he takes a few backwards steps away. “Better luck next time!” 

Before Kaito can react, he’s running towards the school building, Kaito’s jacket floating behind him like a cape. 

“Wha- Hey! Ouma, wait!” 

He finds himself breaking into a run behind him, chasing Ouma through the courtyard in the cat and mouse way they always do. Shuichi tries to call after him, but Kaito doesn't listen, he barely even registers the hysterical laughter still coming from Iruma. He'll owe them an explanation later, when he's no longer occupied with a certain annoying brat who refuses to admit defeat. 

The events of the day unfold in rapid pieces as he tries to put together the puzzle of what just happened. The allure of the challenge, the small cracks of vulnerability in Ouma’s eyes, the taunts and teases laid out perfectly along the way. All culminating in Iruma’s slip of the tongue, and a kiss that still lingers on his lips. He wonders how much of it was Ouma’s plan all along, and how much he never could have seen coming, as he keeps up the chase, now circling the fountain he jumped into only a few hours ago.

There are so many questions, so much he doesn't understand, and so much he wants to know. But if Ouma has his way, he'll never find the answers he seeks. Kaito won’t let him get away with it that easily, though, not after everything he’s been through. 

He’ll chase after him all day if he has to.