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"Mikey, please. Listen to me."
"NO! I AM NOT GOING WITH YOU. YOU SAW THE FUTURE TAKEMITCHY! YOU SAW WHAT I DID!—"
"Yes, I did! And it doesn't matt—"
"TAKEMITCHY, NO. GO BACK TO THE FUTURE. THAT'S WHERE YOU BELONG. STOP GOING BACK TO THE PAST TO TRY TO SAVE EVERYONE. YOU CAN ONLY SAVE AS MUCH, BUT THAT'S IT. IT'S OVER. YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT YOU CAN NOT SAVE ANYONE JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN, AND YOU WANT TO. THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS! STOP IT WITH YOUR SAVIOR COMPLEX!"
"And what about you? After what you did two years ago after you made your friends—your family—hate you—"
"MY FAMILY ARE ALL DEAD! SHIN'S DEAD, EMMA WAS KILLED BY KISAKI, IZANA WAS SHOT, AND GRAMPS KICKED THE BUCKET! I HAVE NO FAMILY ANYMORE! LISTEN TO YOURSELF!"
"No, you listen to yourself! Listen to whatever the fuck you're saying, Manjiro! Are we not your family? Really? Your friends who stuck with you through thick and thin, through everything, through fights and fun times? The ones who stuck with you even through death? Are we not family? "
"Okay! That's noted! But I don't care, Manjiro. I don't care if you do not think of me as a family or if you don't think of Draken-kun or Mitsuya-kun, Pah-chin, or Chifuyu! I don't care if you don't see us as your family. Because we're not. But that doesn't stop us from caring about you. "
"That doesn't fucking stop me from trying to save you! After everything I've done to save everyone, do you really think I would just give up on you? I promised your future self that I would come back to the past as much as I could just to help you! I don't care if you're trying to make me go away by hurting me with those words!"
"I've seen enough death, failed attempts, cried tons of fucking tears, and been shot multiple times, and I've broken many bones. I've experienced enough pain. I've been through hell and back. And here I am. Your painful words don't scare or hurt me."
"Do you really think I would let you surrender yourself to your dark urges?"
"Do you really think that I would let you die just like that?"
"Abandon you just like how you abandon everyone else just to be the sacrificial lamb?"
"You're underestimating me if you do. I know why you did what you did. I understand. Believe me, I do. Because I would've done the same, but since I have the chance to save everyone without sacrificing myself, I will do just that because I don't want them to be hurt."
"You guys have become my family ever since I came back. I would vouch for you even if you betray me. Call me nuts or stupid. I'm not leaving anyone I care about behind, even if you shot me to death in the previous future. I came back because I want to help you. I care about you, Manjiro. I can't, and I don't want to abandon you."
"… you're a fool … I shot you to death, you say? And you're still here. I may have loose screws up here, but I'm not that stupid."
"That's true. I am stupid. But like I said, I don't care. You've just wandered off the wrong path, and I am here to help you go back. Mikey-kun… Manjiro… we both have some loose screws up there. Let's go fix ourselves together."
Mikey wasn't the kind of person to cry. He would mask the emotion with either passiveness or positivity. But, when Takemitchy held out his hand, inviting Mikey to fix themselves together, his tear ducts betrayed him. He reached for Takemitchy's hand, and the latter hugged him tightly.
This is Takemitchy's last attempt to save everyone.
Mikey knows that.
After everything the younger had furiously told him, Mikey decided not to let Mitchy's efforts go to waste. It's a long time before he gets to see his Mitchy again, but it's still Takemitchy nonetheless.
He'd rather have him by his side than wander off to the underworld again. It might be a long shot, but it's still a shot anyway. Mikey decides he will do his best this time. He will make sure he'll get to spend the rest of his life with Mitchy and his friends.
No more shouldering the pain alone.
Takemitchy was right.
They went through everything together, along with Toman. Mikey decides he's not going to let that go to waste. He wants to appreciate and love his friends just like how he did before everything became a shit show. Thanks to Takemitchy, he's sure he will be able to do that.
Ten years later
"Mitchy! We're out of dorayaki on the shelf. That one customer took eve—Takemitchy? What happened? Why are you on the floor—"
"Mikey-kun…"
"Huh?"
"Did it work?"
"TAKEMITCHY!!!"
Mikey ran and hugged Takemitchy, who was still on the floor. The latter had arrived from his time leap ten years ago, and Mikey didn't want to let go. He missed his Mitchy.
This Mitchy.
Although, he's the same person, and Mikey loves whatever timeline Takemitchy is on.
The past Takemitchy, before the future Mikey asked future Takemitchy to save him, was harboring newborn feelings for him. Past Takemitchy wasn't aware, though. They both just found out two years later. Hina and past Takemitchy were already broken up a year before that realization. So there were no hard feelings between the three.
Some months later, after several gruesome lecturing from Draken and Mitsuya, Mikey finally confessed. Clear-cut confession and asked Takemitchy to go out with him. The latter gladly agreed (Mikey cried that time but don't mention it).
So years later, after finishing high school, Mikey decided to move in with Takemitchy while the latter pursued his degree in the university. They both agreed to work to pay for the bills, Mikey full-time and Takemitchy as part-time.
After Takemitchy graduated, he and Mikey decided to establish a business. Something that they both enjoy, and everyone knows that aside from Takemitchy and Toman, Mikey dearly loves food, especially dorayaki.
It's a good thing because Takemitchy's a great cook. Having been taught by his mother and grandma, even if he's a delinquent, he sure comes all-around with household chores and is great about it. Mikey, however, was decent, but Takemitchy wouldn't trust Mikey in the kitchen. Especially not when he's cooking or their business' going to take a hit. Hence, the birth of Babu's Bakery & Confectioneries.
Babu, as in, is the name of their twin CB250T that are still working up to this day (thanks to Draken, and Mikey who had been pestering him to work on their bikes).
Their shop sometimes becomes a cafe too, for those who wanted to eat more of their products and were too shy to buy bulk for themselves (ahem, Pah-chin, Peh-yan, Hakkai, and Chifuyu). They also have some specials for specific hours, like breakfast, lunch, and dinner if you want. Babu's Bakery and Confectioneries/Cafe/Diner (sometimes) is a hit.
With Mikey's charisma and upbeat personality, paired with Takemitchy's great cooking and friendly demeanor, both of them were able to expand their shop. At age 29, Mikey and Takemitchy already have three branches of their shop in Tokyo. They have hired former Toman members to handle the other two shops while both Mikey and Takemitchy manage the main branch near the shrine they used to hold their gang meetings.
They'll admit that it's tough to manage their own business while also being the ones who make them. But it's okay. As long as they're together and making things work, Mikey won't wish for anything else. This is everything he wanted. Though he sometimes wishes his family had been alive to witness him get back on his feet with Takemitchy's help, and Baji's too.
Well, all done is done. Mikey can't continue to dwell in the past when his present is so much better than he'd ever imagined. Mikey could only look forward to a promising future as he held the red velvet box in his pocket nervously. He hopes Takemitchy's going to agree. Man, he wouldn't be able to take it if he doesn't. But he's willing to wait if that's the case. He won't force Takemitchy into anything if the younger doesn't want to. But man, would it make him the happiest man alive if he does.
"Are you going to ask me, or should I wait a bit longer?"
"Huh?"
"You've been holding that red velvet box for quite some time. I'm scared that it'll break because of how strong you're holding it."
"What?"
Takemitchy only laughs.
"Yes, Mikey-kun. I will marry you."
Draken was happy to hear that his dumbass best friend finally gets his happiness. But boy, his ears are burning. He's been on a call with Mikey for hours now, and the latter just couldn't contain his happiness. Draken then suggests they meet. Mikey was over the moon, to say the least. Mitsuya's currently in town, so Draken thought he should invite him.
Shin, Emma, Gramps, Baji, err Izana… Mikey’s happiness is finally secured. We all are happy now too. Please continue watching over us. Make Takemitchy the waking call just in case we went to the deep end again. I pray that you’re all in peace.
"Oy, Mikey! Just wait, you literal man-child! Takemitchy's going to kill me if you drink too much!"
"KEN-CHIN, THE LOVE OF MY LIFE SAID YES! I'M MARRYING TAKEMITCHY! WE'LL BE TOGETHER FOREVER NOW!"
Draken and Mitsuya laugh.
"God, I wish Takemitchy doesn't get tired of his whims."
"Me too. Poor Takemitchy."
"Hn."
"They're good together, though. They're like soulmates."
"Couldn't agree more."
fin.