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It started back when he was still a little girl. Shuichi's parents would return home from their long trips with snacks and souvenirs for him after being away for so long. As if it made up for the time they left him alone. But at that age, he thought his parents were so nice for bringing him all those things back. He didn't like the girlier things they got him, like dolls or cute dresses, but he did like the plushies they would get him. He may have been... a little too isolated when they were gone. He'd set up the plushies around the house and pretend to have conversations with them. Every single one of them would have complex backstories, inspired by the crime dramas that he was definitely too young to be watching. Mr. Frog was an escaped convict who was in a relationship with the widower, Ms. Spider, who secretly ate her husband Mr. Butterfly. He got better at giving them names when he got older.
His parents would usually stock up on food for him when they got back, but he still had to go the grocery store down the street after a week or two. They gave him a credit card and told him it was strictly for groceries and emergencies, but they couldn't track what items he bought from the store so he'd sneak in a few treats or plushies. Eventually he learned to buy himself gift cards to spend money where ever he wanted.
Shuichi would often leave the house and wander around when he was slightly older, investigating every nook and cranny he could find... and maybe do some trespassing. He had bought some boys clothes using the gift cards and he would wear them out and about after school. At the time, he didn't have the words for it, he felt like he was being a bad child for pretending to not be a girl. It didn't stop him though, he felt much happier when people treated him like a boy. He rationalized it as being safer to wander alone in public that way. Sometime he would check the poles or mailboxes for missing posters, he'd look for lost toys or pets and return them to whoever put up them up. Thinking back on it, he was probably starved for the attention and praise he got whenever he successfully returned something back to its rightful owner. Shuichi would get a pat on the back, maybe some cash, but once someone in the community had gotten wind that he liked plushies, there was no going back. The places he frequented started putting up plushie rewards instead of cash. It embarrassed him a little but he couldn't decline the plushie whenever he saw its cute fuzzy face.
Shuichi didn't set up tea parties, he set up investigation committees. If he had to research something he was trying to figure out or find, he'd lay out the evidence on the table and have pretend discussions about it with his plushies. There was also tea but that didn't matter as much.
A few years down the line and some internet diving later, Shuichi realized he was transgender. In what he considers to be one of the stupidest things he's done in his life, he came out to his parents at 14.
A few months later he moved in with his uncle and aunt. Thankfully, Uncle was nice enough to stubbornly stand outside his parents' house and demand they let Shuichi get all of his stuff. Uncle gave him a weird look when he realized half of his belongings were taken up exclusively by plushies. Shuichi explained that he got a lot of them as rewards, not because he liked them or anything. There was no way he liked anything as cringey as plushies. His uncle saw through him though, he would occasionally get him a small plushie whenever he helped them break through a tough case. His aunt on the other hand... she was a huge hoarder of anything related to wolves. They both ended up fueling each other's collecting habits.
“If I'm not buying another wolf figurine, then you are not getting another plushie, young man.” His aunt had said while was he holding the cutest black cat plushie he ever saw. “But what if I showed you... this!“ He pulled out a t-shirt with a wolf riding a skateboard on it. “...Don't tell your uncle.”
“Is that a new set of wolf earrings?” Shuichi had pointed out. Aunt squinted her eyes at him, ”They're the same ones I've always been wearing,” she slid a small wolf plushie towards him, “right, Shuichi?” Shuichi pocketed the plush, “Ah, um, yes, you're right. Don't know what I was thinking.” Uncle put his head in his hands, “You two...”
During his 16th birthday, Aunt and Uncle had gotten him a huge Orca plushie that took up half of his bed. Uncle still says he regrets starting his large plushie trend, but he just says that to tease him.
After transferring from his old highschool to Hope's Peak as the ultimate detective, he didn't exactly try to keep the collection a secret, but he wasn't planning on bringing it up. He used to have a couple hanging off his backpack, sure, but he stopped after Kokichi stole one. He might have... overreacted and got them both sent to the principal's office. Kokichi thought it was hilarious more than anything else afterwards. “Wow, I didn't think you would be so possessive over a little plush dog. Who would have thought that you could be more aggressive than when Miu insulted your emo hat.” Shuichi held his tomato red face in his hands, “Please stop, I'm never going to live this down.” Kokichi laughed at him, “But really Shuichi? I know I was standing in front of the fountain, but I didn't think you'd tackle me into it just to get it back.” Shuichi peaked at him from under his hands, “...I um... A kid took one from me a few years ago and cut it up before I could get it back. N-Not that I'd think you'd do that, but...” “Ah, plushie trauma, I see.” “Don't call it that!”
A few months later, Kaede was asking him about presents. She had been trying to figure out what type of things everyone would like before the holidays. “I don't really want anything, really.” Shuichi said while fidgeting with the eraser in his hands. “Come on, you have to want something!” Kaede exclaimed. “No, it's fine. I don't need anything.” Kaede huffed at his response, “Everyone is just going to get you things you don't like. Just tell me something, anything you like.” Shuichi hummed before answering, “Well... I guess I like plushies.” Kaede looked at him a little surpised, “Huh, I didn't expect you to be the type. But I guess you are a softie. Plushies it is then!” “O-okay.”
Shuichi had invited, or well, his friends had invited themselves over to his Aunt and Uncle's place for movie night. He was showing Kaede where the bathroom was when they passed by his room, he had left his door open. Shuichi didn't notice it until Kaede spoke up, “Shuichi... is that your room?” “Y-yes?” She stopped outside his door and looked inside, “I think... you need help.” Kaede said sounding concerned. “I-It's fine! H-How about we go start the popcorn for everyone?” Shuichi said while closing the door off to his room and locking it. Kaede gave him a weird look before opening her phone, they both walked back down the hall.
Kaede: Change in wishlists, do NOT give Shuichi more plushies. He has an addiction.
Kaito: Shuichi? He can't be that bad can he?
Kokichi: kaede's just being sexist, she doesn't think boys should have plushies :P
Tsumugi: There's nothing with having a collection Kaede!
Kaede: You have not seen the things I have seen.
Shuichi felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and checked the chat when they entered the kitchen.
Shuichi: I don't have an addiction :<
Kaede: This man is a liar. >:O
Himiko: nyeh, i don't know who to believe here
Shuichi took out the popcorn bowls and Kaede placed a bag in the microwave.
Kokichi: there's only one way to find out! >:3c
Shuichi heard his door unlock down the hallway. He rushed over to see his friends peering into his room. Kaito, Maki, Kokichi, and Rantaro were hovering outside his door. Kaito looked back towards him, “Dude... I think Kaede's right.” “How did you even get this many?” Maki was still staring into his room when she asked. “A-Ah, um. I just- people found out I liked them I guess? And I ended up getting m-more over the years.” Shuichi didn't meet his friend's gazes, which was a mistake because he didn't catch Kokichi taking a picture of his room before it was too late.
Kokichi: our detective's room everybody [plushiehoard.png]
Tsumugi: oh my god
Korekiyo: That is... concerning.
Kaede: I told you, but you guys didn't listen.
Tenko: God damn!
Himiko: woah
His social life as over, he was going to go live in a cave (with his plushies) from now on. “C-Can we go back and start the movie now?” Shuichi pleaded. Rantaro amusedly pointed to his room, “How many you got in there bud?” 317, but he wasn't going to admit that the number was so high or that he had counted. “R-Rantaro please.” “Alright alright, we can head back.” Rantaro relented, he was mostly teasing Shuichi.
They sat all sat around the TV and played the movie. Shuichi checked his phone again
Ryoma: the cat plushies are cute
Miu: Is pooichi some sort of plushophile????
Kirumi: Please don't say that ever again.
Kirumi: Shuichi, if you ever need assistance in purging your room lmk.
Shuichi: guys...
K1-B0: there's at least 203 in the photo alone...
Shuichi: pls don't analyize my room Kiibo!
Kokichi: someone isn't watching the movie :o
Shuichi glanced over at Kokichi who had been watching him type in his phone. He sighed and put it down to actually pay attention to TV. When the movie ended his Aunt offered to drive everyone back. Shuichi went to his room and passed out on top of the plushies littering his bed.
The next morning Shuichi got up and went about his morning routine. He grabbed his change of clothes when he looked up and saw that Mr. Frog was gone from his dresser. He looked on the floor in case he had knocked it over by accident. When he went to get his morning coffee he asked his Aunt and Uncle if they moved him. Neither of them had been in his room since he last saw Mr. Frog...
Shuichi: who stole mr. frog
Himiko: wuh oh
Miu: You noticed a missing plushie that fast??? Obsessed much??
Shuichi: I just want to talk
K1-B0: I think you could do without one plushie...
Tsumugi: Himiko what are you doing up so early??
Himiko: I work on weekends duh
Kaede: Shuichi, I don't think this is healthy.
Shuichi: where is mr. frog
Kaito: I think Kaede's right
Shuichi: I'm not fucking around, where is he
Kaito: woah dude calm down.
Tsumugi: woah, angry shuichi moment.
Shuichi slowly breathed in and out
Shuichi: he's my oldest plushie, he's of high sentimental value to me
Tenko: Not an excuse to swear around the girls!
Himiko: Miu swears all the time tho...
Miu: Fuck yeah I do!
Rantaro: sorry, just woke up, I saw Kokichi take it but I wasn't aware it was that important to you.
Of course it was Kokichi. Shuichi finished his coffee, “I'm going to go visit a friend today, see you later.” ”Have fun.” Uncle replied while looking over the newspaper.
Tsumugi: rip Kokichi
Miu: HA! that twerp is dead
Kaede: Shuichi wouldn't hurt Kokichi!... Even if he's addicted to plushies.
Himiko: he tackled kokichi into the fountain to get one back during the first month though?
Kaede: He WHAT
Miu: LMAO I thought the little shit was lying about it when that happened
Ryoma: deserved tbh
Kaito: Shuichi we're going to have to talk about this later
Shuichi opened the dorm's window and he climbed into Kokichi's room. He looked towards the door and saw a bucket propped up on top, Kokichi likely planned for it to fall on him. It sounded like Kokichi was in the bathroom, this was his chance. He quietly stepped around and found mr. frog sitting next to a purple fox plushie. Stealing was wrong, it was wrong, do not steal, even in revenge, it is wrong. Shuichi heard the sink run, his time was up. He grabbed the plushies and booked it to the window. He got out and closed it just before Kokichi left the bathroom.
He climbed down the three story wall, thankfully he had experience from sneaking out as a child and climbing fences into places he should not have been, and beelined towards the exit of the school. He felt giddy, he hadn't trespassed like that in years since joining his uncle's detective agency. And now he was holding an additional plushie.
Kokichi: SHUICHI
Rantaro: what happened
Kokichi: I DONT KNWO
Himiko: did he kill you?
Kaito: he could not text if he was dead
Korekiyo: We don't know if his ghost is texting us
Kaito: Do NOT joke about that
Kaede: Kokichi what happened??
Shuichi had ran to the bus stop, he was out of breath. He got on the bus and laughed when he opened his phone.
Kokichi: I went to the bathroom for one second and the plushies were gone!! I set a trap and everything!!
Kaede: You set a trap?!?
Kokichi: YES but it didn't go off???
Kokichi: AND he stole MY OWN plushie, the thief
Kokichi: I'm looking in the dorms for him
Himiko: you stole from him first? aren't you the real theif
Miu: you won't find him
Kokichi: WHERE IS HE
Shuichi watched the school as the bus drove off.
Miu: god. damn. lizard. man climbed the side of the building, I watched his ass run outta here. he's long gone by now.
Tsumugi: LMAO WHAT
Kaito: Shuichi?!?!!
Kaede: HELLO?!
Korekiyo: This has been quite entertaining to read.
Kokichi: MY LIFE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY TO YOU
Kokichi: SHUICHI ARE U READING THIS
Kokichi: FUKC U
Shuichi: hi
Tsumugi: he's online again...
Kaede: Shuichi, I know he stole your plushie but come on, isn't this a little much?
Shuichi: no
Kaito: dude...
Ryoma: I think Shuichi's in the right here
Shuichi: thank u
Kokichi: DO NOT ENCOURAGE HIM
K1-B0: How did he climb three stories???
Kaito: wait, yeah, how did you do that man? there's barely anything to hold onto up there??
Shuichi chuckled and got off the bus, he walked back to the apartment while holding the plushies and reading his phone.
Miu: he was like a fucking goat
Rantaro: Shuichi we should go mountain climbing together sometime
Maki: Just checked chat. Shuichi, you should do that to him again. I fully support your endeavors.
Kokichi: FUCK YOU GUYS
Shuichi got back into the apartment, he went to his room and placed Mr. Frog back in his spot. He needed to find a home for the purple fox and give it a name. He looked around and found an open spot on one of his shelves. The plushie was placed up high, where someone would have trouble reaching if they invaded his room, “I think I'll name you Koko.”