Kokichi Oma, of all people

While Shuichi struggled over his decision, another young man dressed in black and white walked up next to him, unnoticed. Realizing he was still undetected, Kokichi decided to helpfully announce himself. "Shuichi! Whatcha up to?"

"Gah!!" The detective almost dropped the key, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. What if he'd dropped it? Could Kokichi have picked it up to use it?! Monokuma had probably said something about that, but Shuichi, feeling like he'd just been caught leafing through a porno mag, didn't have the presence of mind to realize it. "What are you doing here? Nevermind that, how long have you been there, Kokichi? What'd you hear?"

The purple-haired Ultimate Supreme Leader smiled knowingly and said nothing, a gesture which meant nothing at all to Shuichi. The two had known each other long enough now that Shuichi would understand that kind of reaction could be genuine or could be just to screw with him. Still, Kokichi enjoyed seeing Shuichi sweat in the pause. "I just got here! I didn't overhear much of what you were mumbling about at all. Anything I can help you with?"

"No way, I don't want you anywhere near this!" Shuichi shouted honestly, trying to think of how he could even give Kokichi the slip. "I'm in the middle of something important, okay?"

"Hmm... Tell me what you're in the middle of that's so important, and I promise I'll leave if you want. How's that?" Kokichi asked, wearing a smile that looked reasonable even if it wasn't trustworthy.

Kokichi tended to twist words a little more creatively than simply outright breaking his promises. Which probably meant he had something even worse planned, but Shuichi chose not to think about that. "Look, uh... Monokuma gave me a key that will let me invite someone to a secret room for a night of passion, and... transform us into perfect lovers, or something. I know it sounds crazy. But I'm not looking for your advice on it, Kokichi. Now that you know, leave me alone."

The young man looked shocked, an ostensibly genuine expression. "Wow! That's incredible! So you're gonna use it on someone you really like, right?"

Shuichi hadn't intended to take Kokichi's counsel, but he felt a chill run through him when it was offered. What Kokichi had just said was, in fact, exactly what Shuichi was thinking of doing. Now that he knew it was also what Kokichi suggested, it felt like he was walking into a trap. He felt like even revealing that to the other student would be dangerous... "Look, will you just leave? Unless you're offering to join me, I need space to think-"

"Oh, is that on the table?" Kokichi crossed his arms behind the back of his head casually. "Sure, I'd join. Am I invited?"

"Ha ha," the detective chuckled dryly, tapping his foot impatiently. "You said you'd leave, right?"

"C'mooon!" Kokichi shifted from casual to excited, his eyes lighting up as he pumped his fists in a way thst made him look younger than his age. "Think about it! The person you pick is going to be transformed, right? So why not pick a piece of shit like me? You'd be doing the world a favor, and you can avoid changing anyone you really care about! It's a win-win for a goodie-goodie like you!"

Shuichi stared at his classmate, starting to feel that Kokichi's begging was more than just a prank. "Wait... Wait! Oh crap!" Shuichi covered his mouth with his hand, breaking into a sweat and trying to hide his shock as his thoughts raced._ _"Did the key count that snark I gave earlier as an offer? Does it think I was offering Kokichi the chance to join me in the Love Suite?! What a mess! Dammit, Monokuma!"

"You're looking at me so intensely... You're that interested, huh? Y-you can at least wait until we get to the room, can't you, Shuichi?" Kokichi teased the other boy, fluttering his eyelashes in a fake coquettish gesture.

Somehow, knowing he'd been locked into this choice made Shuichi consider the young man's fair features anew. He thought... "What a jerk! He's taking advantage of this situation to mess with me, right?! Yeah, if it's gonna be like that, I'll do it! The idea of... a night with Kokichi, it's... it's nuts, but if I can change him into someone who'll be less of a pain in the neck, it's worth it!"

"You're really considering it," Kokichi noted, now wearing a taunting, belittling smile that goaded the other man further.

"No, I'm not considering it," Shuichi told him. The detective grabbed his classmate's wrist as if cuffing him to drag him along. "I'm demanding it!" Shuichi wore a goofy smile that didn't look as confident as he was trying to project, but one that suggested he thought he was turning the tables. "You're gonna join me, Kokichi, and I'm gonna wipe that smile off your face."

Even Kokichi seemed a little embarrassed by this declaration, like he'd lost his footing, although even that could have been an act. He gave Shuichi a smirk. "What are you saying? You're gonna wipe the smile off my face... in the bedroom?"

"You'll see!" Shuichi barked in response, his face glowing red. He hadn't meant it like that, and he definitely didn't want to think of it that way, but yes, it was true. Whatever adrenaline he was feeling was certainly anticipation at finally getting one over on the persistent thorn in his side. Shuichi didn't know what his "perfect partner" was going to look like, but at the very least, he knew it wouldn't be Kokichi Oma like he was now. That was something, right?