[He most certainly always thought of Shuichi as his friend, even when it seemed like he didn't. And he valued that friendship a great deal. He still does, despite how careful and cautious he's being about it. It likely means more to him than Shuichi will probably ever know...
It's not really that he doesn't believe the detective though, but more that...he's scared of making a mistake. Out of everyone who hated him by the end of his time in the killing game, it was Shuichi who drew a clear, crisp line between himself and the leader. They were all obvious in how much they didn't like him, but none of the others made it quite as obvious that he'd ruined his chances of being even part of their group and that there'd be no going back like he did.
So now it's hard...despite the fact that Shuichi accepted his apology and obviously doesn't hate him anymore, it's hard to fully trust that just yet. Even now, when it's stated so plainly...there's a part of him that finds it hard to accept that as fact still.
Which is why he smiles and laughs it off again.]
That's true, it does sound like that doesn't it? I guess it's not very fair of me to assume things like that. But it's pretty easy to think that way for me, you know? I'm a liar, after all~ Even when people around me do and say worse things, opinions of me still tend to be lower. And then you have- [Kokichi stops and goes quiet, brows furrowing a little as he gives what he was about to say a little more thought. And then he shakes his head.]
Ah, no, I shouldn't say that. I've already said enough, and it doesn't really matter anyway, right? I just shouldn't assume things like that. So I'm sorry I did, Saihara-chan~
[While it's said with a sort of carefree tone of voice, he does still give him a slight bow in apology.]
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It's not really that he doesn't believe the detective though, but more that...he's scared of making a mistake. Out of everyone who hated him by the end of his time in the killing game, it was Shuichi who drew a clear, crisp line between himself and the leader. They were all obvious in how much they didn't like him, but none of the others made it quite as obvious that he'd ruined his chances of being even part of their group and that there'd be no going back like he did.
So now it's hard...despite the fact that Shuichi accepted his apology and obviously doesn't hate him anymore, it's hard to fully trust that just yet. Even now, when it's stated so plainly...there's a part of him that finds it hard to accept that as fact still.
Which is why he smiles and laughs it off again.]
That's true, it does sound like that doesn't it? I guess it's not very fair of me to assume things like that. But it's pretty easy to think that way for me, you know? I'm a liar, after all~ Even when people around me do and say worse things, opinions of me still tend to be lower. And then you have- [Kokichi stops and goes quiet, brows furrowing a little as he gives what he was about to say a little more thought. And then he shakes his head.]
Ah, no, I shouldn't say that. I've already said enough, and it doesn't really matter anyway, right? I just shouldn't assume things like that. So I'm sorry I did, Saihara-chan~
[While it's said with a sort of carefree tone of voice, he does still give him a slight bow in apology.]