Staying for days in the base got boring. I was glad Kokichi was there with me. He was always so good at making anything seem more interesting than it is.

Rantaro, Kaede, and Maki went to go looking for the others. She wanted us to stay in the base because my mental state wasn't in the best place. The thing they used to knock him out made my anxiety go through the roof.

Kokichi wanted to go with them but he refused to let me stay at the base by myself...it was really endearing and sweet of him to do. I know more than anyone that not being able to help breaks him. So, seeing as he still stayed behind to stay with me and make sure I was alright made me remember how much I love him...

I was having a lot of trouble sleeping. Maki wanted Kokichi to have his own room like Kaede and Rantaro...but she noticed how badly my anxiety was when he wasn't around me during the day...so she let us share a room.

The new room had a bigger bed for both of us and dressers for the both of us. They were the same as the other rooms but this one was built bigger and had slightly more space than the others. The bed had light purple sheets because Kokichi insisted on having them in the room...well, he really just whined until Rantaro convinced Maki to give him what he wanted. I really didn't mind either way although it was a little annoying...but I was used to it by now.

I felt nervous having to stay in the base knowing other things were going on outside and I couldn't help. Kokichi always tried to soothe me when I broke down crying because I couldn't help and I felt so helpless.

Anxiety has always been a big part of my life and having to live with it is hard...especially after this virus broke out. After Kaito died...and many others died soon after...and having to see and smell all of the corpses and blood that littered the street...

Kokichi was trying to keep our minds occupied by playing loads of little games. We were always running around and trying to distract ourselves from the anxiety that being in our situation brought to us. After a ton of rounds of hide and seek they finally came back. 

"We got some supplies...but we didn't find that much out about the group..." Maki whispered as they all walked in looking defeated. I tried to look Kaede in the eyes to possibly get a better answer. She just gave me a sad smile and looked down at her feet after sitting down in one of the chairs in the room.

The base main room consisted of a large table and multiple desks with gear cluttered all over them. Then there were multiple doors to the rooms. There were bedrooms, training rooms, and shower rooms. It was very well put together and I was surprised how well organized this was knowing we are in an apocalypse...

"Sorry about that...We can come and help next time! Shushu is feeling much better after all!" He smiled giving me a supportive squeeze to my shoulders. Rantaro smiled over at me. Kokichi wasn't wrong. I have been improving with my attacks and Kokichi has this way of calming me down when I wake up from a nightmare so I can go back to sleep. 

He slowly taps my hands in a rhythm. Right left...right left. My mind would soon focus on the taps from his hands and my mind would calm down. Thoughts that were racing all came to a halt as he held me as my eyes slid closed as I fell back asleep. Then while I was sleeping the feeling stayed with me. The rhythm of his heart and his hands rubbing my back.

I love patterns and they always help to calm me down. Whenever I was stressed before any of this would happen I would look for patterns and analyze them so I could calm down. Something about focusing on the patterns and clues just helped me to calm down. Making my mind have to focus on the situation to be able to figure it out and see everything that needed to be found. This made it nearly impossible for my mind to stray into my intrusive and dangerous thoughts that made me worry and feel sick almost constantly. This must be why I was always drawn to detective work and solving cases because I loved seeing how everything just fit and connected together.

"Yeah, I am," I said with a proud smile. Maki looked over at me concerned before she gave me a small smile calming me down. I can go to help them next time. I just need to remember to stay calm and pay attention to all the things I can see and to any clues we may find about the group...they are dangerous and from what I have heard is they loved to torture and harm others...they also blew up our house after we left it...so they like to make noise that's for sure.

This is all very important to be able to find them. "We talked to Nagito's group and they didn't have any clue where the group could have gone or what they could be doing...so no luck there..." Kaede said with a frown. "Hajime suggested that we let them help. They were going to move down the south side of town so he told us he would give us an update when we met again...I'm just worried that they may find his group before they even get a chance to make it back to us to give us the word..." Rantaro slid a frustrated hand through his hair with a groan. 

This group could hurt a lot of people...and probably already has...making sure Kokichi is safe is my top priority at all times...I can't lose him to them...he can't get hurt again...he can't get hurt...I just can't live without him...

-Here you go another half-assed chapter...I'm sorry I had to make myself write this. Halfway through I started to enjoy that I was writing so it wasn't a pain but getting myself to write was a pain in my ass...I'm having problems with my friend again...but I'm sure I'll figure something out. Thank you all so much for reading!!-

-ShuichiOuma010-