Chapter Text
Love… is a strange thing, he decided. Months ago, he was set on saving the love of his life from dying in the future, and he succeed. He should be happy, hug her or something. Yet why is he here, the absence of butterflies and affection looming over him like some sort of wandering ghost? He don’t understand, he really doesn’t.
“Takemitchy,” he jumped when Chifuyu came into his vision, kneeling before him, gently rubbing his knuckles. Hina follows him, hand on his knees, “Buddy, come on. Tell Hina. She’ll understand.”
“Takemichi? Are you okay?”
At that, tears welled up on his big, blue eyes. Chifuyu panics, taking a seat beside him on the bench and slung his arm over the blonde’s shoulder. Hina is calm, still kneeling and patting him on his knees. God, what did he do to deserve this? To receive their kindness? All he does is cries and getting comforted by everyone around him. Don’t they feel tired? Because he is. He is exhausted that he’s easy to let the water works, exhausted that he let people down, exhausted he feels like this…
Exhausted that he is not okay. That he is too easy to fall.
What will Mikey do if he’s him?
‘Again with Mikey… aren’t you ashamed of yourself? Hina is right infront of your eyes,’
If anything, he shrunk further at the voice. He’s right. Mikey here, Mikey there, shouldn’t he just stop? Shouldn’t he just get rid of the feelings and be happy with Hina? That’s the reason he time-leap afterall. That’s what Naoto and Chifuyu risked their life for. That’s why they get shot for, so he can wake the fuck up from evil and return to the Takemitchy that they know. Why couldn’t he just stop being greedy with his feelings? God, Takemichi, you’re the worst.
He does this for others and not him. Not him. He does not deserve it. Why would he? He let Akkun and Hina die in the future, Hina more than once. He ordered his people to kill Hina, cause Chifuyu to be shot right in front of his eyes, cause Naoto to- to-
“Takemichi!”
Why does he have to ruin everything?
“Takemitchy! Pal!”
Why can’t he make one thing right?
Why can’t he stop being so fucking selfish?
“Take!” Hina’s face came into view, closer than before, like how Mikey would invade his personal space. At his side, Chifuyu is still wrapping his arm around him and he can feel how his shoulder trembles against the other’s embrace, “Breathe! Breathe with me. Come on, Take… yes, just like that. Follow me, inhale, exhale…”
Takemichi shakily exhale the breath he didn’t knew he had been holding. He didn’t know that he had fall into a panic attack and his face redden. God, this is embarrassing. The wind blows a little stronger and he shivers. Chifuyu immediately took off his jacket and put it over him. Takemichi refuse to but his partner insist, claiming that he wear a really warm sweater and he needs it more.
“Sorry Chifuyu, Hina,”
Hina cocked her head to her right, blinking. Chifuyu hum in confusion.
“What for? Chifuyu and I don’t mind,”
“Just… for everything.”
The silence stretched for a bit more. Hina continue to help him to breathe and when it evens out, the brunette takes her seat beside Takemichi. She reached to hold his left hand. The blond let her do what she does.
“Is this about Mikey?”
Both boys jolted. How did she…?
“I know, Takemichi. Always have been,” she chuckles. She tries to look strong but can’t stop her eyes from watering. Takemichi feels that the train should have just crash him that day, “I don’t mind,”
…
What?
“What?” It’s not Takemichi that voiced out the confusion, but Chifuyu. Takemichi is too shocked to say anything.
“I already know about it. You know that your eyes are the most honest thing about you right? No matter how hard you try, you can never hide it from me, Takemichi,” Hina stops, taking a few moments to collect herself. She smiles when the other squeeze her hand reassuringly, “At first I can’t accept it because I like you. You teach me how to protect, how to care. And I cannot stop thinking about it. I even talked to Yuzuha-chan and Emma-chan… surprisingly, we had the same thought.
Even if it hurts, even if my heart feels like it breaks into a million pieces, you deserve to choose.”
Takemichi shrugged Chifuyu arm off him and turn to Hina, now embracing the sobbing teen. She does not mind, even returning it, holding onto him like she will not have the chance again. He feels the pang in his heart, the way it tightens and give him bad feelings. Hina should not shed any tears, and she already has, because of him.
“I don’t want to ruin this. I’m supposed to give you a chocolate on White Day and it escalate to this…”
“No Takemichi, stop. Stop prioritizing others before yourself,”
“But Hina, I don’t want to hurt you. This is why I came back to the past, to save- “
“I know. I know the very reason why you came back and why you risked yourself just to prevent everyone from dying. But Take,” there it is, the neverending kindness in her eyes. When Hina cupped both of his cheeks, he realized he has start crying again, “You get hurt more than any of us do. You take the hit for Baji-san, take the hit for Hakkai-kun, Yuzuha-chan, Izana-san. You take more than you can and I think. I really think that you deserve the chance to be happy too. Naoto in the future will understand. His motive is to save me and, and I know him. He may look cold but he has the biggest heart. He will gladly accept your choice, Take-chan.”
“Take-chan huh? Just like back in the days,” Hina giggled at that. Chifuyu sighed, then his lips quirk into a big grin. It went fine than what he had expected.
“Even if we broke up, we will still be bestfriends, you hear me?! And call me Hina-chan! Geez, why did you stopped calling me that.”
“O-of course Hina! I mean Hina-chan!”
“You’re both dumb”
“Hey!”
“Not nice, Chifuyu!”
The three of them stare at each other and then burst into laughter. Just for a moment, they stay still, leaning onto the warmth each of them provided. It’s quiet. The storm inside Takemichi subsiding to a small snowy rain, mirroring the current weather. Slipping his hand into his friends’, he gripped it tightly. Every inch of their comfort and strength seep into him like how a sponge would absorb liquid, and slowly, he thinks that maybe Hina is right. He should give a chance to himself.
In the midst of them chilling, it starts getting more windy. The three of them shivers at the sudden increase of coldness and decide to walk home. Chifuyu went home first, not before giving a light squeeze on Takemichi’s shoulder. The blonde-haired boy gave his partner a smile and volunteered to accompany Hina home. At her doorstep, the girl pulls him into a tight hug.
“Remember, okay? I don’t blame you for choosing your happiness. And we will always be friends,”
“Got it, Hina-chan… thankyou,”
“Come on, it’s nothing… So, when do you plan to confess to Mikey?”
Hina snickers when the other turn crimson. Takemichi hide his face in his hands, peeking onto his friend and see her giggling at him. He crossed his arm, pouting.
“I don’t even know if he is gay, less like me back, y’know,”
“Did you even see how he sees you? It’s like you hung the moon!”
Takemichi shook his head, a small smile adorn his face, “Nah… I don’t think so. I will probably confess soon, but I’m not ready… Can you teach me how too, though? I don’t have that much experience,”
“Sure thing!” she grins. The faint sound of sizzling and her mom calling for dinner can be heard. Hina give her a brief hug before parting ways, “Coming mom! Gotta go now, Take-chan. See you tomorrow. Clear your schedule after school and come with me to meet Yuzuha-chan and Emma-chan! They will be delighted to help you to seduce your way to Mikey-kun’s heart~”
He sputtered at her bluntness, but nevertheless is grateful for her. Bless her and her kind heart.
“Okay! See you tomorrow then”
With few more goodbyes, he finally went home.
Along the walk to his bed, Takemichi think about what Hina said earlier and Chifuyu’s encouragement. Then the memories just came crashing onto him like a sudden snowstorm during winter. When he take the hit for Baji-kun, defend Yuzuha and Hakkai from their abusive brother, became a barrier so Izana didn’t get the bullet, and Kisaki dying infront of him. Maybe… maybe Hina is right, maybe it is time that he give way to himself.
‘Takemitchy’
Mikey face appeared in his thought. His handsome smile and void filled eyes that start getting livelier as days passed by. Mikey is his saviour, and he have a special place in his heart. Takemichi smile.
Love… is strange.