Chapter Text
Koushiro was shocked by her words, but quickly understood where he went wrong and what may have lead to her thoughts. He knew he had to explain, even if it meant everything had been more or less a dream. He took one last breath of her and tightened his hold just before letting her go.
"Mimi," he started, while he steadied her with his hands, "I'm not going to die."
Her tears stopped and all that remained were staggered breaths and trembling lips. She searched his eyes desperate to know what to believe. "Really?"
"Yes- well, not anytime soon- or at least not that I'm aware of." He smiled awkwardly, but her gaze wouldn't leave him. "My- my goal for the new year was to learn more. Although there will never be a day I choose to stop learning, you made me realize something important-"
Mimi looked on with invested eyes.
"there will be a day when the choice won't be mine."
The same eyes began to tear up.
"Thank you Mimi. I- I wanted to come here to tell you, that from now until that fateful day, my goal is to choose happiness."
Her watery eyes lit up upon hearing his good news. "That's wonderful Koushiro!" She smiled and took his hands into hers. "There's actually something I want to ask you..."
"Go ahead."
"Umm... Well... It's just..." She struggled to choose the right words, which was almost unheard of for Mimi. "How is that different from the last one?"
Koushiro looked at Mimi, perplexed by her question. "The difference?" When he saw how solemn her face was, he couldn't help but chuckle. "I guess most of what I've told you today has been far from perspicuous." His observation prompted a puzzled look from Mimi and once he caught sight of it, he burst out laughing from the irony.
Mimi joined Koushiro in his fit of laughter, but she was actually laughing at herself. She thought she must have said something funny, stupid, or both. Either way it didn't matter to her if she could make her friend laugh.
After the laughter died down and their sides began to hurt, it was Koushiro who took Mimi's hand this time.
"The difference from the last one Mimi, is that now- it includes you." Slowly, he pulled her closer toward him. "To choose happiness, is to also choose you."