An Hourglass of Seafoam

I was bored at work 😅 Planning to chit-chat about whatever nonsense I happen to be working on at the moment and find some fellow gaming pals; drop in whenever and say hello :)

Question, what was up with that weird globe in the library? It was so wildly out of place that I spent the whole game waiting for it to be important, but it never came up.

He isn’t sorry to see Kiyo gone - putting aside the boy's personal depravity, Kokichi is equally offended by the fact that he wasn’t even trying. The others may be running around like headless chickens, but at least they have the decency to be playing the game, even if he finds their methodology to be an exercise in stupidity. Kokichi plays only enough not to be blindsided during the trials.

Some small part of him feels sorry for Saihara, stumbling around in the dark, but that part is largely overshadowed by annoyance at having to lead the third-rate detective by the nose to every answer. It’s a waste of his time, but the mold was cast long before anyone fell out of a locker; the others will only accept the facts if they come from the one they’ve chosen as an excavator of truth. None of them are ready to hear that, if they continue as they have, they are but checkers on a chessboard.

He can’t complain too much, frustrating as it is; so long as the others keep the audience entertained by playing the game as intended, Kokichi is free to play the metagame at his leisure. He has more important things to do than waste time with dullards; down now to eight pieces, half the original number, they are all rapidly approaching the inevitable endgame.

It’s a game… it’s all a game and someone is watching.

It’s such a bizarrely easy conclusion to come to, yet no one is picking up the clues. He had thought the detective at least would catch on, but Saihara remains bafflingly obtuse, no matter how many arrows he carefully drops to point in the right direction. At this rate, he’s going to have to ditch any pretense at subtlety and outright tell the idiots what’s going on.

Kokichi scoffs to himself and shoves his hands in his pockets. Right, as though anyone would believe the answer if it came from him; he may as well change his name to Cassandra. No, they have to puzzle it out themselves, or all his effort will be worthless. He’s burned too much goodwill building this persona to discard it like an old hat - besides, if the rest of the class can’t see what’s right in front of them, then perhaps they don’t deserve the benefits of his intelligence.

That’s a lie of course - he’ll help however he can. But it will always be on his own terms; Kokichi has a lot of cards in his arsenal, and the horse is already nestled deep into the heart of Troy. He kicks at a loose piece of gravel and smirks, needle-sharp, wondering what the audience will read into his expression.

He hopes it’s something interesting

It’s Kiyo who pulls him aside shortly before the trial, his voice sounding far away as he asks what happened, why is his head bleeding? He tilts his chin and scrunches his nose in Kiyo’s direction when the other attempts to pull him away, but ultimately complies and enters the lab.

Kokichi is pretty sure he knows how this trial will play out, but he’s safe for the moment; another move at this juncture would be far too risky for the culprit. He allows Kiyo to patch the wound on his head with exaggerated patience.

“A moment more of your time, Oma,” Kiyo snips the length of the bandage and ties it off deftly. “What on earth happened?”

“T-Tenko…” Kokichi opens his eyes wide as the tears spring forth. “Her spirit… tried to kill me!”

Kiyo sighs and looks like he’s trying to not pinch the bridge of his nose.

“Must you always play the part of the jester? Even when you’re bleeding from the head?”

“What?” The fake tears dry up in an instant and Kokichi adopts a look of mock offense instead, clenching his fists up to his chest. “You don’t believe me? That’s so mean Kiyo! I thought you of all people would believe in vengeful spirits!”

“Are you saying Tenko would have reason for vengeance?” Kiyo’s eyes narrow. “Are you perhaps her murderer, Oma?”

He nearly laughs; being accused of murder, by the likely murderer? How cliche. He places a hand on his chest as the other dramatically grazes the side of his head.

“Oh, that I had killed beloved Tenko, that I might see her charming visage once again! If only for a moment - before she killed me herself of course.” Kiyo observes his one-act play in silence.

“You are… quite the character, Oma.” Kiyo looks at him levelly, and Kokichi wonders if he can spin this to his advantage. He drops the act immediately, shifting closer to the other boy in a conspiratorial manner. 

“I mean it though! I think I saw her ghost!” He lowers his voice.

“Tenko probably killed herself after she realized how much of a bitch she was in life - or maybe someone killed her to save everyone else the trouble? Doesn’t matter,” he flicks a hand dismissively. 

“Either way, I bet she would totally come back and haunt us all! Well… maybe not Himiko,” he taps a finger against his lips. “You know, since they were friends and all. But definitely me! And you, too, Kiyo, hm?” 

Kiyo takes a step back as Kokichi nears his personal space. The latter pouts after him mockingly. 

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone you were the one who murdered our lovely Tenko - that would be boring after all.”

There's a long silence, and when Kiyo speaks again, he neither confirms nor denies the accusation. 

"You really are something else, Oma." He steps away, turning to one of the many bookshelves and Kokichi allows him to, pretending to be hurt by the lack of trust.

"A true trickster archetype... I've run across many in my travels, but none quite so," he falters a moment, searching for the right word. 

"None quite so... brazen, I think, as you." He studies Kokichi for a long moment. "No doubt you would make an excellent court jester." 

"What can I say? “ Kokichi shrugs, as though he hasn’t been gifted an immense compliment from a murderer. “It's a gift." 

Kiyo nods slowly, as if coming to a decision. "Very well then, Oma. I will humor you.”

He takes a step closer, and Kokichi's heart quickens in anticipation. He’s safe, he’s safe - there’s no way Kiyo would risk anything right now, not while so many of their classmates are within shouting distance. He forces his shoulders to relax, rocks back and forth on the heels of his feet.

"I will believe that you saw Tenko's ghost, for the time being." He extends a hand. "But I must ask for your help in solving this case." 

Kokichi tilts his head thoughtfully, as though actually considering the offer. Just before the silence stretches too long, he takes his hand and shakes it firmly, flashing his brightest, fakest smile.

"Of course! Anything for the cause!"

He doesn't miss the way Kiyo's eyes narrow at his words, but pretends not to notice. If he can keep the other boy off balance, it will only work in his favor.

Kokichi fascinates me because of the nearly fifty participants we've met in Danganronpa, he's the only one playing the metagame.

I think once Kokichi realized the game was being broadcast, he should have started saying things that would piss off the CPC, that would shut it all down real quick.

Good Cop/ Comrade Cop had me in stitches, but I really thought the blow dart was gonna be a Molotov Cocktail 😂

I'd like to see Um, Actually do a Lord of the Rings themed episode and when Brennan walks in Trapp is like, so, yeah, no one here wanted to challenge your authority on this topic so we got a special guest today and Stephen Colbert walks onstage

Since Phineas and Ferb is coming back, I'd like to humbly request a Gravity Falls cameo where Mabel joins in the shenanigans while Dipper teams up with Candace for a headscratching "how the fuck are they doing this" session