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They sit at the edge of the universe, clouds passing through their legs as they watch the world falling apart, fingers interlocked.
It was strange, Jo thought— how little time had truly passed. And yet he felt like he had been here for an eternity; from when they had first been trapped in this strange virtual reality, up until it was all finally over, the final level defeated.
As he watches the world in which he and Hikaru had lived for the past few months crumble into nothing, he suddenly feels the other rest against his shoulder.
“I’ll miss you, you know?” the younger says quietly, yet matter of fact. It’s so different to the questioning way in which he would’ve spoken months ago, always uncertain about himself and his place in this world.
Yet around Jo, it had never been about that— he had found a kindred spirit in the other, and with that, he had never found a reason to be unsure again.
At the fond squeeze of his hands, Jo suddenly feels his throat tighten up, untrusting of his ability to speak without crying.
Because he doesn’t know how to react— whether to sweep Hikaru up into his arms, or to only quietly return his sentiments, in an attempt not to mark their last few moments with the fear that maybe they really would never see each other again.
So all he does is nod, and squeeze Hikaru’s hand back tightly.
At the response, Hikaru finally raises his head, turning to look at Jo. He searches the taller’s eyes, looking for any sign, before cupping his palm against Jo’s cheek.
Instinctively, Jo leans into it, holding it up against his face.
He wants to close his eyes, pretend like this was just another one of those peaceful days lounging around his beach-side cottage with the other, and not their last moments left in this world, with no real promise of tomorrow.
But he can’t afford to do so— to lose any single precious moment that he might have left with the other. So he only stares back, carving every curve and crevice of the other’s face into the recesses of his mind.
Remember this, Jo thinks.
Remember the way he looked. His eyes, his smile. The way he cared for you.
“You’ll find me again, won’t you?” Hikaru finally asks after a beat of silence.
Already, Jo can feel his resolve crumble.
With a shaky jerk of his head, he nods.
“Promise?” Hikaru asks more urgently, searching his eyes.
He’s scared, Jo realises. For all of his current bravery and conviction, he still couldn’t mask the fact that he felt the same way as Jo.
The fact that they could wake up again the next day and never see each other again.
Quickly, Jo takes Hikaru’s palm and presses it against his lips.
“Whatever it takes,” he promises, before holding both hands in his own.
At the unexpected action, the younger smiles shyly, a beautiful flush spreading across his cheeks. For just a brief moment, Jo wishes that he could live in that smile forever.
“Ever the heart stopper,” the younger comments to himself, to which Jo can only let out a laugh. Even now, the other was trying to put on a light air for his sake.
“That’s you, Hikaru. I’m just the lucky fool who happened to catch your eye,” he says, smiling. Shaking his head, the other only touches his arm lightly.
“You’re definitely more than that— you’re the one who gave me a reason to keep going here,” he says softly, eyes shining.
Swallowing down the lump in his throat, Jo only stares back. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see the rest of the world begin to crumble away, pulling closer and closer at the edges of their plane of existence.
“I’m sorry I only ever had the courage to say this to you once, but you’re my soulmate, Asakura Jo. And...and I love you,” Hikaru says, tears finally rolling down his cheek, despite his smile.
At the sight, Jo feels his own eyes well up.
“I love you too. I promise we’ll meet again, no matter how long it takes,” he says.
As he feels a gust of wind blow through his hair, the edges of the universe curling up like a paper ball, he pulls Hikaru close, pressing their foreheads together.
“I’ll find you,” he promises.
“I’ll be waiting,” the other laughs through tears one last time, as the world disappears.