Kokichi laid down on his bed in somber silence, leaning against his pillows and sighing every now and again. Suddenly, he heard the door to his and Gonta's room swing open. He turned around with excitement, hoping to see Himiko. Instead, it was just Gonta. 

   "Good morning, Kokichi!" Gonta said cheerfully.

   "Hey," Kokichi muttered, turning back around. He heard Gonta sifting through his desk. He turned around to see what exactly he was doing. Gonta was gathering his bug catchers and carefully placing them into a large bag. "Hey, Gonta?" Kokichi asked. Gonta looked up at him.

   "Hm? What wrong, Kokichi?" he asked. 

   "What are you gonna do with all those bug catchers?" Kokichi asked. "Er, well...what I mean is...are you gonna be outside...in the front yard...collecting bugs?" As he spoke, his voice became more hopeful.

   "Oh, no! Gonta take these to bug museum," Gonta replied. "Gonta going to teach younger kids about bugs, and we gonna spend all day catching butterflies, and soon...fireflies!"

   "Oh...I see," Kokichi replied, his shoulders drooping.

  "Why? You wanna go, Kokichi?" Gonta asked.

   "Um...naaah, I gotta do...other things," Kokichi mumbled, waving his hand dismissively. The truth was he didn't want Gonta to go to the museum where he felt like he'd be a bother to Gonta and the younger kids. He'd rather spend time with Gonta alone.

   "Well, okay! But if you change your mind, tell Gonta, okay?" Gonta said.

   "'Kay," Kokichi said with a small nod. After waving goodbye to Kokichi, Gonta left the room. Kokichi sighed some more. He lifted his pillow and pulled out his stuffed horse, Mr. Uma. "I miss Himiko," Kokichi said.

   "Well, if ya miss her so much, why don't ya just tell her?" Kokichi asked as Mr. Uma in a Brooklyn accent.

   "Well, she was having so much fun with Sonia," Kokichi explained. "I didn't wanna take that away from her. And, now, I don't know what to do."

   "You could try hangin' out with the other dopes around here," Mr. Uma suggested. 

   "I dunno," Kokichi replied with a shrug. "They wouldn't wanna hang out with me. That's why I like Himiko so much. She always wants to hang out with me...at least, until she started hanging out with Sonia."

   "Look, pal, either you let Himiko know how you feel, or go hang out with one of the other chumps," Mr. Uma said. "Sittin' around sulkin' ain't gonna help ya."

   "Yeah...I guess you're right, Uma-chan," Kokichi said, patting Mr. Uma's head. 

  "Ha! Ain't I always?" Mr. Uma replied. Kokichi smiled before placing Mr. Uma back under the pillow. Then, he stood up from his bed. He still didn't want to tell Himiko how he felt; he'd rather her have a good time with Sonia, instead of listening to him complain about his feelings. He decided to see what everyone else was doing. He took a stroll around the house, hoping to find someone, anyone, who he could talk to. He spied Maki in the living room, watching TV. He groaned to himself, but at least she was somebody. 

  "Hey, Maki!" Kokichi said with a small smile. Maki stared at him in bewilderment. Her bewilderment soon turned into annoyance. 

   "What do you want?" she asked testily.

   "Just wanted to see what you were watching," Kokichi said, plopping onto the couch right next to her. Maki glared at him with suspicion and disgust. 

   "Why?" she demanded, scooching away from him.

   "Haha, what? I can't ask what you're watching on TV?" Kokichi asked. "It's just a simple question."

   "Well, here's a simple answer: none of your business," Maki replied, narrowing her eyes at him. Kokichi turned to the TV. 

   "Oh, you're watching Titanic! " Kokichi exclaimed. "Nee-heehee...I can't believe that entire ship sinks at the end!" Maki scoffed in annoyance and frustration and stood up.

   "Thanks for spoiling it," she growled, stomping off.

   "How could I have spoiled it?! History already did that!" Kokichi called after her. Then, he sighed in exasperation as he turned the TV off and searched for someone else. In the dining hall, he saw Kaito. "Hey, Kaito!" Kaito looked up from his food and stared at Kokichi with caution.

  "Why did you say hi to me like that?!" he asked.

   "Hm? Like what?" Kokichi replied. 

   "Like you were excited to see me," Kaito responded.

    "Well...I just wanted to see what you were doing," Kokichi answered with a shrug. 

    "Oh...well, I'm eating, so go away!" Kaito said. He turned back to his meal and continued eating. Kokichi sighed, but he decided to try again. He sat down next to Kaito.

   "How about we talk about space?" he asked. Kaito stared at him in utter shock.

   "You wanna talk about space?!" he asked. Kokichi nodded and shrugged.

   "Sure, why not?" he said. 

   "I dunno, man, you're not the type of person who'd care about space," Kaito replied, lifting his eyebrow in suspicion. "Somethin' about this feels wrong!"

   "I'm serious! I wanna talk about space!" Kokichi insisted. "So, just tell me about space, already!"

   "Hey, you don't get to boss me around!" Kaito said. "Why don't you go and bother someone else, Kokichi?"

   "Fine," Kokichi pouted, standing up. "Space is for losers, anyway." 

   "You take that back!" Kaito shouted, shaking his fist at Kokichi, but Kokichi ignored him and walked away. On the way back to his room, he ran into Angie.

  "Angie! Hey!" Kokichi said, brightening. "You're not busy, are you?"

   "Actually I was on my way to Hope House!" Angie chirped. 

   "Oh...why?" Kokichi asked with a lot less enthusiasm. 

   "Byakuya wanted me to sculpt a wax effigy of him!" Angie replied. "He said that he wanted to put it in the Museum of The Greats! Would you like to come and watch?"

   "No, thanks," Kokichi replied, shaking his head. "Maaan, is there someone here who isn't busy?!"

   "Awwww, do you miss Himiko, Kokichi?" Angie asked. 

   "No..." Kokichi lied. "I just need someone to hang out with while she's gone,"

   "I see, I see!" Angie replied cheerfully. "Well...I saw Shuichi sitting under the gazebo earlier. Maybe check on him?"

   "Mmmm...okay!" Kokichi replied. "Thanks, Angie!"

   "Bye-onara!" Angie said, waving goodbye to Kokichi as she headed out the door. Kokichi peeked outside the backyard window to see Shuichi under the gazebo, just like Angie said. However, she left out the fact that he was reading, much to Kokichi's dismay. Nevertheless, he went outside to see if Shuichi would hang out with him.

   "Shuichi!" he said, sitting across from Shuichi under the gazebo. 

  "Oh! Um...hey, Kokichi," Shuichi said, looking up from his book. "What's the matter?"

   "Aw, you know, I was just in the neighborhood, and I wanted to know...what book are you reading?" Kokichi asked. Shuichi stared at him in surprise.

  "You want to know about my book?" he asked quizzically. "Why?"

   "Uuugghhhh...it doesn't matter why!" Kokichi whined, tossing his head back in frustration. "Just tell me what the book is about, dammit!" 

   "O-Okay! Calm down," Shuichi said. "Um...it's basically about this girl, who's a detective. She solves mysteries with her friend and her cousin, and sometimes her boyfriend, and sometimes, she-"

   "You read Nancy Drew books?!" Kokichi asked incredulously, taking a glance at the cover of Shuichi's book. Shuichi blushed with embarrassment. 

   "S-So?" he said in a small voice.

   "Nancy Drew books are for girls!" Kokichi said, laughing and pointing at Shuichi.

   "N-No, they're not! They're for anybody!" Shuichi stammered, which made Kokichi laugh harder. "Ugh! Kokichi, if all you're going to do is be annoying, can you please do it somewhere else?"

   "Okay, okay...gosh! I was only joking!" Kokichi said, ceasing his laughter. Shuichi still looked annoyed.

   "Whatever! Can you please go, now?" he said. 

   "I'll be quiet from now on, I promise!" Kokichi said. 

   "No, I'd rather be alone when I read," Shuichi sighed. "Please...just go?" 

   "'Kay...'" Kokichi mumbled as he silently stood up and trudged back into the house and to his room. He sighed as he sat forlornly on his bed and sifted through the pictures of Himiko and himself on his phone. His heart wrenched the more he scrolled through them. He then put his phone down and stood up from his bed, shuffling to the large window. He opened the window and leaned over the sill, looking up at the blue sky with the occasional cloud passing by. As he stared at the clouds, he noticed one that was the exact shape of Himiko's head. He closed his eyes, feeling the stinging pain of loneliness as he leaned his head against the window frame. A melancholy melody began to fill his heart as he looked back up at the Himiko-shaped cloud:

  "What...What am I to do

   When I'm feeling blue?

   When I'm without you?

   When my loneliness is true?

   Why...Why do I feel pain?

   And my blue skies turn to rain?

  It's driving me insaaaane!

  If I could go back in time

  I'd let you know how I feel

   I'd show you what's inside

  I'll give to you what's real!

  I'd tell you all my fears

  My world would be yours, too

 I wish you could be heeeeeere

 Cuz, baby, I love yooouuuuu!

  Do...Do you feel the same?

  When I call your name?

  Is my heart your aim?

  Girl, you're drivin' me insane!

  How...How do I reach to your heart? 

  I wouldn't know where to sta-aart!

  I thought I played it smart!

  I'll tell you, baby, this lonelineeeessss...is tearin' me apaaaaaaart!

  I said it's tearin' me apaaaaart!

 If I could go back in time

I'd let you know how I feel

I'd show you what's inside

I'll give to you what's real!

I'd tell you all my fears

My world would be yours, too

I wish you could be heeeeeere

Cuz, baby, dont'cha know, dont'cha know that...

 If I could go back in time

I'd let you know how I feel

I'd show you what's inside

I'll give to you what's real!

I'd tell you all my fears

My world would be yours, too

I wish you could be heeeeeere

Cuz, baby, I-"

  COUGH..."Oh, God!" COUGH, COUGH! "...I choked on my own spit!" COUGH, COUGH, WHEEEEZE! Kokichi crouched to the ground, trying to control his coughing fit. Finally, it was over, and he took a couple of deep breaths. "Pheeew, that was crazy!" he said. Suddenly, he heard giggling, and looked up to see Kaede standing in his doorway.