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Hanagaki Takemichi had always been a boisterous child. He knew no shame, and as an eleven year old, he kicked some bullies for bullying a girl and proceeded to get beaten up himself.
But it was worth it, little Takemichi decided, and wiping away wet tears, he tried scolding the girl for putting herself in danger.
“Why are you crying?!” He yelled, and the girl sobbed some more.
Maybe he did it out of impulse. Maybe he did it because he was lonely. Perhaps he thought of Kaku-chan, who he could no longer play with. Rather, he understood that it would be hard to see his friend again—at grade two Kaku-chan had moved, he knew what that entailed.
So maybe he did it, while thinking it was the right thing to do, and thought— yeah , he was kind of lonely. Being a hero might fight the loneliness away.
Though, the middle schoolers were still terrifying. He sniffled, forced some words out, and then hopped back onto his feet and ran off. The girl, nodding and sobbing, went back to her quiet friend. They left.
The wind tugged on his makeshift cape as he ran.
Takemichi, as a kid, tried out everything he could think of. Baseball was fun, he actually hit a homerun! Takuya was cheering so loudly when it happened—everyone had fun that day (Masaru was still so mean, though. Just a little older and kept picking on Takemichi…). There was also a fishing rod that Takemichi tried to figure out how to use, and then a few video games that ended up covered in dust. Dad got him tons of stuff because he wasn’t home often. The guitar they got from the music festival was one of Takemichi’s most prized possessions (the first time he went to a festival with his dad!!).
So two years later, when Takemichi came home from Tachibana’s (once again, waking up to his hand shaking Naoto’s, but this time with his left hand stinging in pain) and found the guitar utterly destroyed (along with… Pretty much, everything else—oh gosh, Hayate ), it was pretty easy to expect what happened next.
Pathetically, Takemichi cried, and his mom, awkwardly, patted his back. She had no idea what happened (went out to buy groceries), but apparently, some of his “friends,” longside Akkun, Takuya, and the others, had come by to visit. Takemichi was told to stay home after getting discharged from the hospital—
How and when did I get hospitalized again , Takemichi thought, and he cried some more, burying his heavily bruised self under the covers. Takemichi’s mom suspected that the destruction of his belongings finally hit him. He had acted a bit too calm when she first returned home to that typhoon of a front yard.
Between everything Takemichi tried out before… Music was more like a small, extremely small, interest. At least, Takemichi liked puzzles and bikes more. Piecing things together was kind of like a talent, though of course, kind of pointless. Staring hopelessly at the broken guitar, however, he crossed his sore arms over his chest.
It was still a precious gift. Takemichi had no skill in music, nor did he follow many artists or bands, but…
He counted his allowance. Ignoring the aching scar on his left hand, blue gray eyes squinted. He counted the coins again, and moments later, he sighed. Didn’t dare to ask for more money. He shoved the small lightbulb of an idea away and resigned himself to this pitiful fate.
Mom found out, though, standing behind the door. Lips pursed, she might have slipped in a few more bills in his wallet when her son was sleeping.
The next day, Takemichi spent a few minutes staring at the extra bills.
At the time, the teen didn’t know if it was just the actions of “him” during his “black-outs,” or… Well, any other possibility. How else would money just appear in his possession (did his “black-out-self” steal?!)? Except this time, the blonde had yet to wake up shaking Naoto’s hand. While his black-outs would occur with no warning, he knew at least when they ended .
So with that...
Mom fixed dinner as usual. Takemichi didn’t dare to ask (he was, in truth, a coward) and ate dinner normally.
A little later, he wasn’t sure how Akkun and the others found out (Takemichi forgot that his mom told him that they were there when his stuff got stormed), but they pitched in some money as well. A new gift was brought to his doorstep, and Takemichi stared wide-eyed at the new guitar.
His friends grinned at him.
Would’ve thought they’d get him a puzzle instead. Were they mind readers?! Takemichi held the guitar close to his chest. A sheepish smile had bubbled onto his face.
During the short intervals before he faded and woke up to Naoto’s hand, Takemichi made sure to maintain the instrument well. A thought did come by, though. Something curious and fleeting. He kept the warm feelings that were brought about by his friends, but…
He wondered.
How would his dad feel once he learned that his present(s) for his son was broken and replaced?
Sometimes, he checked the call history. No calls from Dad, even during Takemichi’s black-outs.
…
Oh well.
Takemichi wouldn’t consider himself mellow. Not quite, really. As a growing teen, second year in Mizo Middle and second in command of their Mizo gang, Takemichi retained his boisterous self. Yet starting from the time he began waking up to himself beaten black and blue, holding no memory of how his friends and him ended up as Kiyomasa’s slaves (and then, no longer his slaves), Takemichi…
Began to think. He used to not think that much, just jumping into action and crying and whatever. But now… Maybe it was just that he felt it was necessary.
He thought for a bit.
No one ever acted like anything was out of place, so Takemichi tried his best to appear as normal as he could be. That was maybe the start of it. He felt guilty distancing himself from HIna during the beginnings of his memory gaps, but in all honesty, it would probably be a better idea to…
(Let go.)
Hina was smiling, a four leaf clover necklace on her neck. Takemichi found himself frozen, and eventually, slowly, he returned the smile. Tried to be a good boyfriend. He loved her, alright? He laughed weakly to himself. Man.
Hopelessly in love with her.
Time passed. It moved much quicker now that there would be times when he would wake up months into the future, the weather turning colder and colder. He woke up to Naoto again, the younger and himself on the same wavelength. A small chat later, “how’s school and how’s stuff been going,” Takemichi turned back and wondered what “he” was doing earlier. If Takemichi was going to keep blacking out like that, then…
He walked Hina home, his body aching from bruises he could not recall getting as usual. If Takemichi wasn’t going to be himself for periods of time he could not control, then he’d spend more time with Hina, with his friends. He stole a glance at the girl, a small, soft smile on her face. He blushed, and then—
And then he woke up, shaking Naoto’s hand again, days passed since then. It was November, Hanagaki Takemichi, “Takemitchy,” was now First Division Captain of Toman, the uniform in his closet weighing heavy.
That was a huge development. He rubbed the side of his head and flinched at the sharp pain—ow.
One thing, though. He never considered trying to… Actually like, interact with his “other self,” because, well.
He stared at the four leaf clover dangling around his neck. A matching thing with Hina’s… Had no idea where it came from.
His eyes drooped.
Returning home, Takemichi strummed the guitar a bit, a few books on the instrument placed around his bed. He began thinking. Takemichi wondered if his “other self” was... Aware. Of himself . Like, kind of like the whole duo personality thing he once read about in a manga. He skimmed through the story so he long forgot what it was called, but the teen did remember something about that.
… Maybe I should check the library.
But he was kind of dumb, so the library made him freak out. He tried to find the right book where the answers he wanted could be, something about the brain, right? He looked at the psychology section—he, at the very least, had some common sense. Fiction stories probably wouldn’t help him out—but then again, was this something that happened to other people as well?
A few hours later, Takemichi sighed.
He was terrible at research. All these words made his head hurt.
Giving up, he turned around and returned home. Matsuno Chifuyu started popping up more often. As the First Division Vice Captain, he… Knew a lot more about the whole gang life way.
“... Is it okay if I invite people in…?”
Chifuyu blinked. He was spinning around on Takemichi’s revolving chair.
“Sure.”
To gain some sort of consistency in his life, Takemichi invited Akkun and the others to Toman. They were all dumb middle schoolers and for sure he knew not to tell any adult about this (the whole black-out, memory gap thing), because they’d—they’d look at him funny. Or think that he was lying.
For attention.
He shivered. A pause later, he almost wanted to laugh.
… Since when do I think this way?
Just spend more time with Hina, he told himself. They went to the bowling rink, and on his next strike, he woke up to Naoto again. This time, they were at the park, and Naoto looked up to Takemichi. There was always something about Naoto’s eyes that told Takemichi that the kid knew more about this whole thing than he did, but body tensing up and light on his feet, Takemichi decided to hold back his questions.
Inupi emerged like a loyal subordinate. Hakkai, the Second Division Vice Captain, was suddenly very buddy-buddy with him. After a little prodding, Takemichi found out that he was now a Black Dragon commander, who had gotten beaten up by the former commander Taiju and—
Takemichi wheezed weakly.
At least he got a cool bike, now.
And—and Chifuyu, who no longer looked at him strangely.
“I’ll teach you how to ride the bike!” Chifuyu said with a thumbs up. Takemichi nearly teared up, and tearing up, the thrill from learning how to maneuver the bike blew all the stressful feelings away. The middle schooler threw his head up and laughed.
Through the ride, as if reminiscing (Takemichi had a feeling that it wasn’t quite that), Chifuyu talked about all the things they (Chifuyu and the other Takemichi) went through. From the festival to Baji, to the Black Dragons and Hakkai and Mitsuya.
For once, Takemichi was no longer out of the loop.
And apparently, (the other) Takemichi had broke up with Hina and made up with her, all during Christmas time—
Chifuyu quickly explained what happened and calmed Takemichi down.
Takemichi woke up to his hands in great pain. As a matter of fact, his entire body hurt. Looked like his “other self” got himself in trouble again. Exchanging greetings and see-you-laters with Naoto (because meetings like this became quite normal for them), Takemichi went back home with simple steps. Closing the bedroom door behind him, the teen pulled off the bandages and stared at his hands. There were wounds only beginning to scar over his knuckles. They stung—very red.
Chifuyu came by. He noticed, and lips pursed, he sat down beside Takemichi and reminisced.
“You were… Under the rain,” Chifuyu said. “Hood up and everything, punching a tire like a kid. Man, you gave me the scare of a lifetime!”
Glancing at the wounds, Chifuyu tried smiling. Reassurance.
“Don’t worry, though. It’ll heal, they ain’t infected. Your knuckles weren’t too bad—I think. It’s only the skin.”
“... Mm,” Takemichi responded. His gaze never left the wounds.
Perhaps he was being petty. He was still a kid, after all. A teenager. Hands busted, he couldn’t even strum the guitar anymore without getting stabbed by the excruciating pain. It wasn’t exactly a big loss, since Takemichi had only just recently gotten into music, but still.
But… Still.
Maybe he was being petty.
Takemichi grabbed the guitar and strummed it some more. It was a small fight against the “himself” during his memory-gaps, leaving his body constantly wounded and tired.
He kept strumming it, carefully, glancing at the music books, and tried playing some chords.
He winced again. Blue gray eyes lowered, he put the guitar away and changed into his pajamas. Threw the covers over himself.
The next time Takemichi woke up, it was like a dream. But with his hand holding Naoto’s under a bright, blue sky, he knew. This was real. Hina and Chifuyu were there, too. They were… At the park.
Hina beamed at him. A kind, happy smile… Her eyes were a little bit red. She had been crying, earlier.
“Let’s go on a date, Takemichi!”
Since then, he never had a memory gap again.
In an alternate timeline, Hanagaki Takemichi would have run away from his life after graduation, cutting ties with his old friends and running farther at the memory of Tachibana breaking up with him. He would keep running, head down and everything, and then keep apologizing.
“I’m sorry,” he would have said. “I’m sorry.”
There would be a dry look in his eyes, and throughout high school, Takemichi was very alone. Moving out, consequently leaving behind all of his beloved possessions, the teen worked part time everywhere and failed to do a good job each and every time. His dad wasn’t home a lot so he probably never knew. He didn’t talk a lot with his parents since becoming Kiyomasa’s slave. They tried asking questions, but he never answered. They eventually gave up. Third year middle school was like that.
“I’m sorry.”
Eventually, Takemichi would have ended up working at a CD store. It was easy to get accepted (in turn always getting talked down to by his manager who was younger than him), and for once, he got to stay at one place for a little bit longer. Thin-walled apartment room filled with trash bags and porn mags, Takemichi watched some news and wasted his life away. The boisterous child was no more, beaten away by reality, reality, and some more reality.
And then his life would end, getting pushed off the train platform.
But this time, it was different.
Waking up to a handshake with Naoto, Takemichi still had his friends, and he and Hina got closer. His friends and him were no longer Kiyomasa’s slaves, instead already on the Toman leader’s, Invincible Mikey’s, good side. Life was good, right?
Aside from the fact that most of his middle school life consisted of months-wide gaps. Takemichi ended up becoming somewhat withdrawn either way. But it wasn’t like anyone would notice, he wasn’t even present most of the time, hanging out with everyone.
Maybe Takemichi was just fated to be like that, mellowed out and lonely. Though of course, the teen wouldn’t know. Takemichi was not aware of his could-have-been future. He somehow became good friends with Chifuyu despite not recalling how they met in the first place.
So when Takemichi learned of what happened to Emma, finally, he realized. Hina and him were on a date. Takemichi could see in Hina’s eyes that she was looking ahead for someone else, a certain future that Takemichi couldn’t figure out.
But now, he finally figured it out.
There was a hesitant sound in Chifuyu’s voice when he explained it to him, telling Takemichi what happened .
The future-you from twelve years later came back from the past to save us all. It sounds insane, but… As you might figure. It’s all real.
They were in high school.
Sitting on his bed, Takemichi grabbed his guitar. He stared at every string, the texture and everything.
“... Something tangible, huh,” he guessed that the four leaf clover around Hina’s neck was a gift from the future Takemitchy.
“What a hero.”
He recalled the time Hina confessed to him. Thought about her smiles and tears.
In ten more years, Takemichi would disappear, and the time leaping Takemitchy would return. Hina was waiting for that future.
… Perhaps he was really being petty.
Strumming the guitar, something wet ran down his face. He continued to strum it, the broken chords slowly becoming a somewhat decent tune.
He still wasn’t that good with music, but it wasn’t like anyone would be there to listen.
In another timeline, Toman still existed. Takemitchy was a Toman admin, and one day, his Vice Captain Chifuyu, told him about it. The time leaps.
Because we’re partners , Chifuyu said, a sad look that was hidden well in his eyes. He felt that it wasn’t right if Takemitchy didn’t know. When Chifuyu explained the story, Takemichi understood why Chifuyu felt that way.
Chifuyu was brave. Takemichi was glad to have him as a friend.
But then… As Chifuyu feared.
Perhaps he was fated to become mellow and withdrawn. Thoughts began to tumble and Takemichi… He couldn’t look at anyone in the eyes. Not anymore. Since the day Emma got killed and Toman joined with Tenjiku, that Izana guy just terrifying —
Kaku…
I’ll beat up all of your enemies!
He said that once, proudly. A little, boisterous kid.
Takemichi was weak.
“I… I think,” he said, face pressed into his hands. “I should leave.”
Takemichi stayed still. Eyes closed, he tried not to think what kind of expression Chifuyu might be wearing right then and now.
Chifuyu remained silent.
The two of them sat side by side, a yakisoba cup in Chifuyu’s hands.
Chifuyu offered Takemichi half. The younger smiled, understanding.
“I’ll still be your partner.”
(“I’m getting Takemitchy back,” Mikey said, grim ire dyeing his bitter tone. He promised. He promised.
And yet.
Chifuyu did not know about Mikey’s conversation with Takemitchy that Christmas day, so naturally, Takemichi didn’t know.
Draken and Mitsuya stood in Mikey’s way.
A sad smile, from Mitsuya. Both of them bowed down, and...
“Don’t mix him up in our mess,” Draken said, conviction in his voice that Mikey found so revolting —
All is well when you kill whoever gets in your way.)
Before the letters came in, years ago, Takemichi received a message.
Leave Toman, in red, written on that flimsy film. Five years had passed since the time leaping stopped.
Takemichi, on the other hand, felt all the blood in him stop .
He wasn’t smart. He didn’t know what to do. This wasn’t a prank—he had a feeling. It wasn’t. So full of terror and this sickening nausea, Takemichi ended up looking for Draken, because Izana, that terrifying person, was always near Mikey. Mitsuya was there, too, and examining the note, the two immediately understood . A lot of threats were delivered to his doorstep. Once, his home—where him and his mom lived, because he had yet moved out, had every window destroyed. Seeing that in person was a horrifying nightmare—and then—when his mom came home, she talked about how a car accident happened at the store she usually went to. She was lucky that she had decided to shop next door.
Dad, who finally called, said his flight was on hold. There was a concern of a bomb threat, and the continuation of these events eventually pulled the last straw.
Takemichi, head heavy, recalled the time Chifuyu told him about the story of Pah-chin, who was released a few years ago. Takemichi remembered what happened to Pah-chin’s friend’s family, and the reality struck him. As his mom frowned, thinking about insurance and this is dangerous , the thought echoed in the First Division Captain’s head.
It could happen to anyone.
Hina.
“Don’t worry,” Draken said, steady hands holding Takemichi’s shaking shoulders. “Takemitchy. Don’t worry.”
We’ll protect you.
Takemichi squeezed his eyes shut. He thought about Chifuyu’s words, about his future self who time leaped.
I’m so weak.
But if he died now, Takemichi knew.
His future self wouldn’t be able to fix anything.
Hanagaki Takemichi rented out a small apartment. It had thin walls, and over the months, it quickly became messy. Takemichi didn’t have a good living habit. Looking around, he smiled wryly. Oh well. He rubbed his eyes.
It has been seven years since then. No black-outs for twelve years. Very soon, he’d finally disappear. The Takemitchy of the future would return in his shoes.
“... Yeah,” he murmured. “It’s for the best.”
There had been a lot of funerals.
Hakkai’s. Draken’s. Hina’s.
Takemichi knew what was going on. Toman admins—the original Captains—were being culled. Chifuyu was murdered, shot in the head. Takemichi stared at the letter in his hand. Hina was killed in a car "accident" again.
He closed his eyes. Waited.
Fingers prying the thin sheet, Takemichi opened the letter.
An address, he saw. And then an image.
The twenty seven year old stared at the photo he had no memory taking of, his own eyes staring back at him. A photo of (future) Takemitchy and everyone. Everyone, aside from Takemitchy, who was rushing to get in the frame, looked so happy.
Wearing a black suit, Takemichi stepped forth, dragging his feet behind him. His body felt light, and it was just… Surreal . Eventually he arrived at Mitsuya’s funeral, the air cool and stale. Standing outside the venue, the adult breathed in. Almost choked.
The weather was good. What a blue sky.
“... Crybaby Hero,” a soft, broken whisper, “come back already.”
In this timeline, everyone lived. His parents were never targets of crime, and with Toman disbanded, various dreams free of blood blossomed.
A few weeks after Chifuyu told him about the time leaps, Takemichi made a resolve to never get himself involved in delinquency again. Even if it was delinquency that let him meet all these amazing people, the risk… He knew. Gang life ended the moment Toman ended. (Though he also understood—it was actually because of his future self that he got to meet them in the first place, so delinquency… Yeah, he’d leave it behind.)
Over the course of time, Takemichi got along with everyone well. Everyone, except for Mikey, who quickly became a quiet memory. But the thing was, Mikey was Mikey, an individual who was so impressionable to all. It didn’t matter how long you knew him, his silhouette would stubbornly stay, pouting and demanding, like Mikey . Takemichi remembered him.
Eating at the twin’s ramen shop, Takemichi laughed with the others. They talked about their day; all the little things that happened. Draken and Inupi opening a bike shop was quite emotional, considering what Chifuyu told Takemichi about Shinichiro. On that note, a pet shop… That was pretty nice. Hakkai was popular in high school, Takemichi often snickered whenever he got chased down by his fans. Since he was a model of all things now… Heh.
Sometimes, Takemichi could forget. Forget that the time leaping thing ever happened—during high school, that was hard, because he was pretty much going through his teenage angst. But now, as an adult...
Downing his tea, he looked up to the photo of Toman. Smiley and Angry were busy serving meals. The ramen was good.
It was nice being able to live at the moment, with no worries hanging around your head.
Hina and him walked out together. Hands linked, a silly smile formed on Takemichi’s face. Hina giggled. They chatted some more.
… He thought back to a conversation they had, the both of them just entering adulthood.
Back then, Takemichi was anxious. For a split second Chifuyu had this look of regret, the consequences of telling him about the time leaps settling in, but even as Takemichi feel extremely sorry (he wanted to tell Chifuyu that it was okay—that he was fine—but at the time…), he really didn’t have the ability to do so. Not the way he was then.
Hina eventually figured out that he learned of the truth, but she still treated him as usual. Kind, smiling, and Takemichi wondered if she thought of him and “Takemitchy” as the same person.
Probably not. The thoughts continue to writhe.
It was truly anxiety that was amplified by teenage angst. Takemichi during high school was pitifully miserable, and—
“Takemichi?” Hina started. Takemichi jolted at her voice.
Glancing nervously at Hina, who was standing next to him, he saw how her eyes were gazing ahead… How her gaze turned to meet his.
There was a somber look on her face. One that was gentle, held back… In consideration of Takemichi. This Takemichi.
“... Takemichi, I… I hope that you will stay, as well. When Takemichi of the future returns.”
Takemichi, jaw locked, could do nothing but listen. A wavering beat later, Hina continued. He could see her shaking.
“Because, because if you don’t,” a small sob. She smiled, sadly. “I’ll miss you, too.”
… Takemichi, who was just twenty, felt his quick heartbeat slow down. He stood there, took Hina’s hand into his own, and a tear or two (or three) might have rolled down.
At that moment, he felt silly.
“I hope so, too.”
All the cloudy dread from years of pondering eased from his shoulders. Goofily, he grinned. A remnant of his boisterous self as a kid.
“But Hina, I want you to be happy.”
He felt silly, feeling so concerned and stressed over such a thing.
“I love you, Hina.”
When Kazutora was released, Chifuyu picked him up and the old Toman, sans Mikey and Baji, was together again.
Because Chifuyu told Takemichi about Kazutora, he wasn’t surprised when the older came to look for him. There was a hesitant look on his face, but after a little, it seemed that Kazutora decided to give up—whatever he was wanting to ask about. At least for now.
Takemichi pursed his lips. He considered the possibilities, what could be on Kazutora’s mind, and after a little...
“Naoto?” He called the younger. Naoto hummed in response. They became good friends over the years, occasionally hanging out when they had free time.
“You know about the time leaps, right?”
“... Yeah. I theorized.”
“Mm. You were my trigger, and my future self leapt by shaking your hand. You two worked together to fix the future.”
“... I didn’t know that, but that sounds about right.”
“Yeah. But from the way Chifuyu put it, it seems like your future self retains your memories, regardless of which future it is.”
“Is it the same with you?”
“... Probably not.”
“Ah.”
A beat. Takemichi squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again.
“Naoto, I have a favor. Even though Hina is safe, you still became an officer.”
“... Yeah.”
Takemichi’s voice became more serious.
“Once the future-me returns and you regain your memories, if this is the future that you two were looking for, keep the future-me from doing anything stupid and get himself hurt.
“Don’t tell him that I know, too. He doesn’t need to think about that,” a small pause later, he continued. “Just make sure that he’ll be happy. Sorry for asking you for such a favor.”
A pause later, he could hear Naoto shake his head.
“Yeah,” his friend answered quietly. “It’s okay. Of course.”
Takemichi smiled.
“Thank you, Naoto.”
Calling Draken and Chifuyu, he left a similar message with them. Reluctantly, he asked the same favor to Hina.
Hina held his hand tightly. They were walking down Tokyo’s night streets together, the world around them quiet and gentle.
“Takemichi?”
He hummed.
“I love you.”
Returning home to his messy apartment, Takemichi yawned and took out his guitar. He strummed it again, tired eyes eventually landing on the fading scars marring his knuckles. There wasn’t any lasting damage, which was surprising considering how often future Takemichi got beaten up in a few days in a row.
Takemichi regretted a lot of things. One of them was the fact that he never got to talk to his future self—like writing an exchange journal, or something. Stupid future-him, too. Why hadn’t he thought of contacting his confused, younger self?
Well, considering how Takemichi saw himself, he could see why. Chifuyu talked about how tunnel visioned future-michi was, especially when it came to changing the future. He probably didn’t even stop to consider his teen-michi, who was, like, having an existential crisis.
… Probably didn’t even stop to consider their parents, as well. Dad and Mom.
But he still saved Akkun, Draken, Hina, Chifuyu, and the others. Tried to save those he could have saved, too.
Takemichi leaned back and sighed.
“I’m really an idiot, aren’t I? No matter what time.”
Glancing to the side, he reached for the CDs he rented from the store he was managing and listened to a few tracks. The CD store was a low-ambition job and all, but well. It was convenient.
Strummed the guitar some more. Recording some notes, Takemichi made a thoughtful hum.
He could only wonder how his future-self would react upon having the same low-pay job again.
Snickering to himself, quietly, he fell backwards and gazed up to the ceiling.
It was about time. When was the date, exactly? Pah-chin’s wedding… And in another three months, it would be his and Hina’s turn.
Finishing the tune, Takemichi smiled.
And then he cried, hiding his face despite the fact that there was no one there to see.
“One thing for sure, now that it’s like I’m in my deathbed—”
Chifuyu blanched.
“Don’t say that, pal…”
Takemichi cackled. A light punch on the shoulder from the younger later, Takemichi smiled smally.
Hands scarred, he fiddled with his fingers.
“If this is the cost for a world where you all get to live, where we all get to meet, then it’s worth it.”
Chifuyu lowered his fist.
“... Mm.”
He laughed.
“Hopefully I’ll still be like, around, though. Like, my memories. I dunno. It’ll suck if these twelve years just poof and disappear,” looking up, he hummed. “Though, regardless... I’m satisfied with where I am. I don’t regret my choices until now.”
“... Yeah.”
Takemichi grinned.
“You’re making it seem like I’m gonna die, Chifuyu~”
Chifuyu rolled his eyes. Punched his shoulder again.
Wearing a tuxedo, Takemichi strided forward with quick and steady steps. His body felt light, excitement bubbling for a friend’s happiness. Eventually he arrived at Pah-chin’s wedding, and standing outside the venue, the adult breathed in.
The weather was good. What a blue sky.
People began entering the venue. A busy day, everyone was running around. Flashing a smile at Hina, he excused himself to the restrooms. Hina had paused for a moment, almost as if afraid to leave him alone for even one short second—but she smiled. Nodded.
“Be quick!”
One thing Takemichi loved about Hina was the cheerful way she always said “bye-bye.”
Turning away, he laughed and returned the nod.
“Yeah!!”