Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Akane found himself in an open space with no clear ending, the ground was as pitch black as the walls, (assuming this place even has walls), the only break in the darkness were strange lamps hanging above every door ahead, and there were many, many doors ahead. Each door with a different design, seemingly not leading anywhere, since this dark space had no buildings, just lonely doors, standing in empty space.

…He may have taken a wrong turn.

Something about this place made his supernatural body itch, as if time has ceased to exist, deeming his role as a keeper of the present headache indulging.

So he is lost and alone in a supernatural place that doesn't make any sense, devoid of time or a logical sense of space.

Great. Wonderful even.

He sighed, opening the closest door he found, a bland green one, and freezing at the gigantic eye behind it, its soulless stare giving him the creeps. Akane awkwardly nodded in a mockery of a bow and slammed the door shut in the giant creature's face.

The next door was a fancy one, it led to a sea of flames. Akane closed it to block off the heat, frowning at all the doors spread through this weird dark space.

Well… 

One of them must lead him back home. Probably.

.

He searched.

He searched so many doors but still found nothing. His headache had grown into a mild buzz, the lack of water behind the doors giving him enough hope to keep going. Being out of boundaries must mean he is in the Near Shore, so he must be closer to home! With newfound motivation, he flew through more doors, going from opening every single one to only the ones whose design looked familiar.

He stopped at the sight of a door that looked almost identical to his school doors, heading straight to it. He didn't hesitate to open it, hoping not to interrupt some senpai’s class and smiling at the empty room: It was late afternoon, so the room shone golden, and the blackboard was clean, but it was undeniably a classroom in Kagome, down to the uncleanable stain on the window frame and the lush plants by the window.

He walked inside the unfamiliar classroom, his headache disappearing immediately as his internal clock was able to catch a natural flow of time again, notifying Akane that it was 2pm.

School is over, he got student council work.

Akane sighed, finding something about this class odd, from the number of desks to the class collage in the back, it was plain... unfamiliar. He had been pretty sure he was at least vaguely aware of all of Kagome’s high school classes, but he couldn't say which classroom this was.

“Akane-kun?” Aoi's melodic voice snapped him out of it. Akane froze, caught off guard.

She can see him...?

No, no way! It must be a misunderstanding!

“I thought you were in the library…?” She sounded uncharacteristically unsure,  staring straight at him “Hum…" She blushed a tiny tiny bit, shyly approaching "What are you wearing, Akane-kun?” 

“Ao-chan...? ” He blushed when she held the edge of his cloak, feeling a bit shy himself as he analysed her: She changed hairstyles while he was checking all those doors, her silky hair mostly loose, with side braids that tied on the back. Her entire aesthetic changed a little, wearing a pair of big round glasses and ditching her uniform in favor of a white and red outfit that is very cute, truly adorable, but that felt... Off. Not something she would wear without a reason.

“You shouldn’t be able to see me in this form.” He said, his own confusion mirrored in Aoi’s big eyes “And I didn’t go to the library today... Are you okay?”

“But I have seen you studying…” She said slowly, also sensing something off about the situation. “I am sure..." She shook her head, smiling "And I am okay, Akane-kun, just a little confused. What do you mean by ‘in this form’?”

Well, shit.

“'This form' is a figure of speech!! Haha, I j-just...” Akane gave her a hopeless smile, feeling sweat on the back of his neck. 

He doesn't want to scare her by claiming every ghost story she is happy to gossip about is real, and that she has been in danger many times, but what excuse can he use to be dressed like this? He would wear this out of his own volition and she knows it!

“It's hard to explain it.” He fidgets under her full attention, waving his hand in dismissal “It's silly! So silly... Er...” 

Aoi frowned, putting a hand on her chin “It feels magical…”

“Magical?” He perked up, needing to learn if a new rumor got popular.

Aoi startled, blinking twice. “Oh no, no, no!” She sounded nervous, her usual excitement to share spooky stories nowhere to be seen “No m-magic.” 

She seems to be hiding something, but as cute as she is when she is overflowing with nerves, he doesn’t like her distress, so he turned a blind eye to it “Of course, no magic. I must have misheard it.” 

Aoi broke eye contact, still nervous.

“Hey,” He smiled sweetly, something about her today felt more fragile than usual, maybe she was having a bad day? He unconsciously lowered his voice to put her at ease “Don’t worry, we’ll figure out what is going on.”

She relaxed, nodding shyly “Right… Can you follow me Akane-kun? I just want to check something.”

“Of course, I’ll follow you anywhere Ao-chan!”

Aoi blushed all the way to her ears, caught off guard by his enthusiasm. She looked at the ground, hiding her face, but her voice got softer “Thank you, Akane-kun.”

He followed her closely, the feeling that something is wrong growing overwhelming when he hit the main school hallway: The uniforms were all wrong, Kagome's usual dresses with big bows turning into shirts with small neck bows. Every boy had blue pants, every girl had black or checkered skirts.

Akane frowned but kept following Aoi, realizing his clock keeper form wasn’t malfunctioning, every students clearly couldn’t see him, Aoi was an exception. 

As for Aoi… People could clearly see her, getting out of the way or casually greeting her, but no one paid much attention to her. There wasn’t a single guy who threw himself at her feet begging for a date, no awed peer or any kind of lingering eyes.

It was a conflicting thing to realize. On one hand, it solidified the feeling this place was wrong , but on the other hand… He is happy for her, Aoi deserves to walk without fear of being harassed or bullied. Safe without the need for a bodyguard.

Akane unconsciously slowed down when they passed by a big board advertising the school clubs. The board was not how he and Teru had regulated, with clear favoritism for soccer events and propaganda for clubs that are not part of the school, such as ‘robotics’ and ‘digital music’. The poster for the art club was way more beautiful than the one he is used to see as well, the propaganda illustration was credited to Shijima Mei, the fourth school mystery, who he is pretty sure does not lure people to be part of the art club to spread her rumor.

‘This is wrong’

“Akane-kun?” Aoi called, her voice making him smile, trying to ignore the increasing sense of everything being wrong in his soul.

‘This isn’t my school’ He thought ‘This is nothing like my school.’

Aoi sent him a worried look, and even though she was way different than usual, as 'wrong' as the entire school feels, he still didn't want to worry her, speeding up to her side. Soon they stopped in front of the school library. Aoi was careful not to disturb the silence, opening the door slowly and freezing “...Oh my.”

Akane followed her gaze, freezing at the sight of what seemed to be himself asleep on a table filled with books. The sleepy clone? doppelganger?? boy was wearing the same pants most students wore, his vest black.

The sirens that indicate when something isn't right were blasting in his brain.

“What the fuck…?” Akane mumbled, walking closer to the boy himself? and frowning at the way he breathed peacefully. 

He never watched himself sleep. This is weird. He doesn't like it.

Akane tried to touch the sleeping boy, morbidly curious about him, but his hand went right through his head. The boy frowned in his sleep, mindlessly swatting at him and mumbling "Twins…” something unintelligible “Fuck off Tsu…" 

Ah.

“I am sorry." Aoi frowned, eyes switching between Akane and his clone, blushing a little but looking mostly troubled "...I am not sure what is happening.”

“Me neither,” Akane admitted, failing to poke his clone again “But this settles it. I am definitively in the wrong place.”

“Wrong place?”

“This isn’t my school.” Akane admitted, “It's similar to it but...” He trailed off, not sure how to explain without sounding insane. "It just isn't."

Aoi abruptly got twice as nervous, she looked left and right to make sure no one was hearing and whispered “It must be related to magic.”

“I figured.”

There is always some magic supernatural bullshit behind most of his problems nowadays.

Aoi blinked slowly at his tone, looking at the ground and making an effort to sound neutral “...Do you not like magic, Akane-kun?”

Akane swallowed the “I hate magic.” on the tip of his tongue, giving her mood swing some thought, connecting the change in attitude, to the way only she could see him, speaking of magic despite not having any rumor to share.

So Aoi, this strange Aoi who doesn’t feel right, but doesn’t feel wrong either, is magical?

“I don’t like it when it's used to make my life hard.” He admitted, thinking about Teru’s enchanted bracelet, Mokke’s attempts to kill him to steal his school mystery seat, and Mirai’s determination to test his patience.

(Loose glass falling off a truck, staged and timed, so that it would kill his best friend. Their orientation day had nearly gotten bloody because of a cruel recruitment plan-)

...And many more incidents where interacting with the supernatural was unpleasant at best and nightmare-inducing at worst.

“Make your life hard…?” Aoi seemed worried, “Do you get hurt by magic a lot?”

Akane felt a switch be flipped at her worry, smiling sweetly.  It's always nice when she fret about him, sweet as she is, but he should never make her worry. “No, no, it’s nothing I can’t handle, Ao-chan.” He said, “You don’t have to worry about it.”

She gave him a strange look, covering her mouth, a mannerism of when she is worried. “...Are you sure, Akane-kun?”

Akane's smile softened, more easy to wear “Yes, I’m fine.”

Aoi seemed reluctant to move on, but chose to trust his smile “...Alright.” She paused, changing subjects “So… You’re magical?”

“Somewhat.”

She seemed excited, her purple eyes sparkling, but she didn’t let it out, twisting her skirt to tone down her excitement. She is so cute.

Aoi looked around again, moving to the corner of the library to really make sure no one was eavesdropping before whispering “I am too, I’ve been an apprentice witch for the past five months.” 

“You’re a witch?” His eyes widened “That’s amazing Ao-chan! I’m sure you’ll be the greatest witch in no time!”

Aoi blushed, putting a finger on her lip and avoiding eye contact “I-It’s a secret Akane-kun.”

Oh

“People can’t hear me in this form.” He reassured, still sensing some nervous energy on her and promising “But I won’t say a word about it to be safe.” 

“...Thank you.”

“Does no one else know?” He asked, knowing from experience it can be alienating to be alone. 

Even in his shit situation, Akane had Teru to vent to. No matter how awful the president could be, at least he was someone who can see them too, he made Akane feel less crazy about supernaturals and ghosts, especially in his first months as a clockkeeper.

“Nene-chan is a witch too." Aoi softened "We have each other’s back when anything happens.”

So she has a friend by her side. That's good.

He smiled, relieved “I am glad.”

"Hum…" She was still blushing "For how long have you been a wizard Akane-kun? Your uniform is far different than the ones I have seem."

"...I am not a wizard Ao-chan" Since she was letting him know something so private he decided to be honest too “I'm a half supernatural.”

Her smile fell, tilting her head “Supernatural?”

The concept seems new to her.

“Kind of like a magic ghost?”

Aoi eyes lit up, pushing her glasses up “You’re half ghost?”

Akane resisted the urge to chuckle, Aoi has always been interested in ghost stories and horror movies, it seems like being born in a world without school rumors didn’t change that.

He offered her his hand “You can touch me, if you’re curious. It doesn’t really change much, since I’m only half supernatural.”

Aoi blushed, but very shyly held his pulse. He half feared Aoi would go right through him,  like the sleeping boy did, but the witch could touch him. He shivered at how warm and soft her hand feels.

“You’re cold." She seemed surprised, concentrating, "But you do have a pulse... A very quiet one."

She cupped her cheek, intrigued “...How do you use magic? ” She picked up an object the same size as a saltshaker with a blue gem on top. “Do you have a wand? Or anything with magic properties?"

“I have a clock.” He picked up his clock keeper watch.

“A clock?” She frowned, paying close attention to it “...It does seem magic, but I am not sure? I’m only an apprentice.”

“It makes me stop time for 15 minutes a day.” It felt strange to open up about this to Aoi. He associates supernaturals with everything he hates, so talking about it with Aoi of all people is… an experience “And when I’m in this form I am treated as a ghost to normal people, but I’m still human. It's only the power that is inhuman" He made sure to clarify "Is that magic?”

“It sounds like it.” Aoi frowned, thinking hard “My teacher is out of town but she may be able to explain what is happening.”

Aoi picked up her phone, hesitating for a moment before clicking on a saved contact.

“Good evening Nanamine-senpai, s-sorry to bother you.” She mumbled “But there are two Akane-kun’s, I don’t understand what is happening. Hum? Oh no, he isn’t malicious!” Aoi reassured, going on to explain their situation as best as she could, reassuring Sakura that Akane isn’t dead or a curse.

Akane ignored the itch he felt when Aoi gave him a once-over to relay his appearance to her teacher, and gave her a thumbs-up when they made eye contact again.

She blushed hard, giving him a shy thumbs up back, and quickly looking away, the tip of her ears rosy. It’s as if she isn't used to it, the constant attention.

Ah… Maybe he should tone it down.

(but he likes her so much…)

Akane let her do the talking with her teacher, mindlessly taking in all the colorful books in this library. He can appreciate a nice place but he was never a bookworm, reading books can be very insightful, and he doea appreciates a good read, but just looking at their covers and designs can’t entertain him.

His eyes eventually landed on his sleeping clone, half curious about him, half wanting to pretend he never saw the guy.

(Even staring at the mirror isn’t something Akane does much, so seeing himself from the back, wearing an outfit he does not own, feels unreal, kind of freaky.)

“Thank you Nanamine-senpai.” Aoi finished the call with a strange look.

"So?"

"You're from an alternative universe."

Alternative universe? That sounds so far-fetched, he has no doubts it’s true.

From ghosts and their rumors, to time travel and endless boundaries, nothing about his life makes sense, so he might as well add ‘other dimensions exist’ to the list.

"A 'what if' reality," Aoi explained "I'm guessing instead of magic your world has supernaturals." She smiled, uncharacteristically humble. "But I don't have much info on your world, it's just a guess."

That explains why everything feels somewhat off.

"But Nanamine senpai knows a lot. <3” Aoi said “She will open a portal to your home as soon as she is back!"

“Great" Akane smiled "When is that?”

“Four days.”

…That's a lot of time.

"I can’t wait this long." Akane frowned "I have school, and council work." 

“...I am sorry,” Aoi said, her big worried eyes making him weak, nearly melting on the spot. “I am still a novice so I am not confident I can do it myself...”

“Nonsense, I’m sure you will do great Aoi, you’re amazing.”

“Maybe your Aoi is amazing...” She looked down in shame “But I am not a good witch, last Halloween I messed up a simple candy spell.”

“Hey," He softened his voice, resisting the urge to hold her shoulder to comfort her "If you truly don't believe you can do it, I won’t force you. Don't worry.”

He tried to come off as calm, make sure she understand nothing is her fault, but the situation still troubled him. Will he have to stay in this form the whole time while he waits? It would be impossible to hide magic from people if there were two Akanes, and that could lead to people being more likely to uncover Aoi’s secret.

He sweated at the sight of this world’s Akane moving a little in his sleep.

Right... He is an intruder in this reality, which means…

“I don’t have a house,” Akane thought out loud, feeling a growing sense of dread “I can’t just take this Akane’s place for four days.”

He doesn’t think this version of himself did anything bad, Aoi seems fond of him at least, and if this Akane had nearly as much school work as he does, then the guy really doesn’t deserve to have his work piled up.

(The idea of taking someone’s place, even if this someone was technically himself, also didn’t sit well with him. At all. It's plain cruel.)

“Can I stay at your house?” He asked, already resigning himself to stay in school if she says no.

(like a ghost haunting the place, what a fucking joke.)

“...My house?” Aoi eyes widened, blushing so hard he wondered if they were neighbors in this universe. Surely they would have had childhood sleepovers here too, right...? “I can’t, what would my mom-” She abruptly paused, remembering Akane just said he doesn’t have a home here. “Hum… Where would you stay if I don't let you stay at my house...?”

“Right here.” Akane vaguely gestured at his surroundings, smiling to abate her worry “There are gym mats and blankets in this school too, I’m sure!”

“You’re not sleeping in the school!” She protested, biting her lip and clenching her delicate hands into fists.

Akane blinked, a bit in love surprised by her passion for his situation "...Okay.”

“Maybe if I study hard I can send you back?” She mumbled, “I mixed up the quantity of an ingredient when enchanting the candies, but if I double check everything it should be good…” 

“I am sure you can do it.” Akane encouraged, well aware once Aoi does something with confidence, she always nails it. “And you can ask your teacher, Nanamine-senpai, if you have any questions.”

Aoi blushed.

“...Okay, I’ll do my best. I am sure Nanamine-senpai must have a book on it...” Aoi rambled “I’ll ask her to let me borrow it."

.

After more calls, Aoi dragged Akane to a big old house, which he was told was Nanamine’s witch coven.

Aoi seemed embarrassed by his existence ever since they stepped outside of school, but she took a deep breath when they got in front of the house gates and shook her wand: There was a bright flash of light as Aoi transformed, her wardrobe change was far flashier than his clock keeper transformation, with light blue lights that looked like hearts and a cute ‘pop’ sound that reminded him of gum. 

When the lights disappeared her glasses disappeared with it: she was wearing a witch hat tied to her chin by a ribbon with a heart in it, she gained light blue nail polish and a dot of magical blue in her irises, both the same shade as her wand gem.

Aoi seemed flustered once the transformation was done, clasping her hands together and keeping them low, so they covered her front, which did the contrary of what she must have wanted and brought attention to how her cute witch shirt wasn’t nearly as long as her sleeves, showing her midriff.

Akane felt a bit flustered at the realization, but did what she was silently asking of him and kept his eyes on her face, focusing on her long eyelashes instead.

“It’s… a bit much.” She mumbled, playing with the bow on her chin, but keeping one of her hands down.

“It looks cute on you, Ao-chan.” Akane was honest, smiling a little at the way she blushed again. 

She opened and closed her mouth, looking away but mustering a quiet “T-Thank you...” 

She really is so cute! Akane could feel his mood improve just by being near her. She took a deep breath, cupping her own cheek “Anyways, let’s get going, shall we <3”

“Alright!”

She led him to a room with strange but pleasant smells and suspicious potions of various colors, every step she took made a clicking sound.

He sneaked a look down. She was wearing tiny heels.

(But she was still short. Cute.)

.

Aoi asked him to pick a book on the high shelf as she arranged strange bottles, keeping them near a black cauldron.

It’s been forty minutes since she started reading and rereading instructions on how to open portals. Aoi looked stressed. He couldn’t do much, not understand half of the things in her books, but he was quick to grab anything she asked of him, eventually asking her to take a break.

Aoi frowned but agreed, going to the kitchen to drink some water.

“Are you okay?”

“I am okay Akane-kun” She said slowly.

He nodded, watching her sigh at her drink and asking “...Do you like being a witch?”

Aoi paused, surprised by the question, but she gave it serious thought “...Yes. It’s frustrating to feel like such a novice, but magic can be beautiful, and I do feel… special for wielding it.” She looked at him with a bit of sadness “You don’t like being a supernatural do you?”

Akane froze at her open expression, considering his next move and admitting “No, I don’t. I was forced to be one.”

“...I see. I'm sorry.”

Akane shook his head "Don't worry about it."

Silence.

"I wish we could do this sometimes... Be magic together." She seemed pensive, almost wishful, putting her empty cup down “If you were a wizard, so we could do this kind of thing.” She paused, blushing a little at the ground “By you I mean, my Akane. I wish he was magical too.”

Akane ignored the tiny hint of envy, feeling at peace at the reminder he had his Aoi too.

“If you tell him about it, I am sure he wouldn’t mind.” Akane admitted, remembering how everything felt insane when he first learned about supernaturals “Magic will blow his mind, I’m sure, but yours isn’t a cruel power. You’re Ao-chan first, a witch second. You’re so kind, he'll fall in love with that part of you as easily as all the others.”

Aoi's ears got super red, looking down again but visibly smiling "If he truly doesn’t mind this part of me… It would be lovely.” Aoi smiled sadly “But I fear if he embraces magic he would be in danger. He can’t protect himself from spells, I am the one who needs to keep him safe.”

Akane nodded, understanding completely.

“For all that’s worth it”. She blushed “I doubt your Aoi will care you can be a ghost. It’s…” She avoided eye contact, playing with the edge of her miniskirt “kind of cool.”

Akane melted, blushing a little “Thank you.”

.

After another hour of work, the portal was finished, it sparkled purple and blue.

Aoi re-read Nanamine’s book one last time to be really sure she did everything right and nodded “This is it.”

“Yeah,” He said in awe. He had so much he could tell her, but he chose a more toned down approach “You did great, Ao-chan.”

“Thank you.” She smiled, hesitating for a moment before saying “Wait a moment please” and running off.

Akane was a little confused but he obeyed, waiting for her. For as long as she want.

She came back with a tupperware with four slices of the prettiest of raspberry pies, not looking at him in the eye.

Akane felt his heart skip a beat. "Ao-chan?”

“I am not sure if you like raspberry like the Akane I know does.” She sounded embarrassed “But I wanted to give you something so you remember me, it was nice to meet you Akane-kun.”

“There is no way I would every forget you” Akane admitted, gladly accepting the gift “But thank you, you’re the sweetest” Akane smiled warmly, holding the pie and swearing to eat it in his human body, so he could taste food properly.

("Don't switch to your human form when you're not on the Near Shore. Is dangerous."  An old advice Teru had given him rung on his ear, making him fight the urge to switch right now.)

…He isn't sure how safe a near shore that doesn't belong to him is, so he’ll eat at home.

“Don’t worry about it.”

She blushed, looking down and messing with her skirt. She is so shy, truly adorable.

She smiled as he walked into the portal. As his vision got blurry, body tingling from her magic, he swears he heard a quiet “Have a safe trip, Akane-kun.”

.

Akane was teleported to the back of a packed auditorium. The place was huge, fancier than any building he had ever been to.

(his internal clock jumped to midnight.)

Akane looked back, half expecting to see her portal still open, but there was only a wall.

…There is no turning back.

He straightened his back and walked through rows of people in old-fashioned clothes, worried Aoi sent him somewhere farther away from home but not blaming the witch for it. Honestly, it was incredible she was able to teleport him all, without a single side effect to his body to boost! She is amazing.

Akane took a look at the lustrous chandelier on the top of this rich opera, slowing down when the lights dimmed, some of the candle lights in the walls being snuffed out. The stage light turned on. 

The crowd ceased its chatter, and a gentle classical song filled the place, in the center, the most beautiful ballerina in the world walked the stage, her hair flowing gently with her movements, glowing a faint lavender under the lights.

“Aoi...” He mumbled in awe, stopping in his tracks. She looked older here, more elegant, no longer a young girl, but a professional ballerina, effortlessly stealing the show.

“Lovely, isn’t she? The second beauty of the opera house.” A deep voice said from behind him. Akane startled, turning around and facing an older version of Teru, he was even taller and more handsome than usual, wearing a long old fashioned coat and light brown gloves. His top hat made him look even taller. 

Akane frowned, uneasy. “President.”

“That’s a peculiar way to refer to the manager.” Teru’s pale eyes crinkled, unnaturally bright in the dim lightning. “Are you enjoying the show, young man?”

Akane ignored his comment, his attention gravitating towards Aoi’s impeccable performance. He blushed a little when Aoi moved to the center of the stage, her smile serene, aware she owns the stage.

She really is amazing in all universes.

“I would introduce you to her but I doubt she would be able to see you, Aoi.”

Right, only people involved in the supernatural and magical can see him.

This version of Teru feels similar to the mysterious bastard he knows. It’s as reassuring as it is unsettling. “You know I’m not from here.”

“You’re a decade too young to be my Aoi.” He stared him down, likely noticing Akane raise his brow at the way he referred to this dimension’s Akane and not caring. “Besides, no one enters this opera house without me knowing.”

“Right,” He looked back at Aoi, much preferring her beautiful dance over staring at his creepy eyes “Do you know how to leave too?”

“I have good guesses,” Teru said, his voice a bit hard to concentrate on, when Aoi danced on the stage, effortlessly raised her leg far higher than he would ever be able to, her posture perfect “We can leave whenever you desire.”

Aoi leaped in the air, spinning and landing on her tiptoes, as graceful as an angel. Akane heart speed up at the sight, already mesmerized when she wasn’t going out of her way to grab people’s attention.

“...Can I wait until her performance is over?” 

“You did not pay for the show, young man.” Teru reprimanded, making him frown. “My tickets are expensive rarities, I’ll have you know.”

Akane could see where he was coming from but he wants to watch her so bad.

“However, I’m feeling generous, it’s not every day a familiar stranger pays me a visit.” rested his hands on his walking cane. An oddity for someone who seems to be in his late twenties, too healthy to require support.  “I owe lots to your counterpart, as well.”

“Thank you.” Akane said, a bit suspicious of his charity but willing to trust him.

Tery just smiled, his eyes glowing in the dim crowd. Akane couldn't tell if that was because he had a hidden agenda or if it just looked like that, creepy by default. Maybe Teru got nicer with age.

(Right, as if)

The show went on and Teru seemed happy to watch with him.

“I am curious.” Teru commented “What are you? You seem to identify as my assistant, and you do feel like Aoi. But you’re not him.”

“Do you believe in alternative universes?” He asked without looking away from the stage. He want to appreciate Aoi's show, not chat.

“That’s not an unfamiliar concept to me.” He mumbled, sounding intrigued “Do you deal with this kind of travel a lot young man? I am surprised you're not curious about yourself here.”

Himself? More or less.

It’s still strange to think about it, but he couldn’t help a hint of curiosity now that Teru mentioned it. He doesn’t like the idea of being Teru’s assistant, but he does wonder how he would look older. “Where am I?”

“Backstage I presume,” Teru said “You’re always close when she performs.”

He leaned over the empty seat in front of him, able to picture himself behind those curtains and smiling a little “Are we…” He blushed, “...lovers?”

Teru seemed amused by the question “No.”

Oh…

So even after a decade, he wouldn’t be able…

(That’s fine. She seems happy. It’s fine.)

“You’re her fiance.”

Akane’s heart skipped a beat, “I am?”

“For now.” Teru smiled politely.

Oh.

Akane blushed harder, high on this giggly feeling “When is the wedding?”

The manager laughed, something about it felt unkind “Oh Aoi, I doubt this marriage will happen.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He narrowed his eyes, offended on behalf of this Akane.

The room exploded with applauses and cheers, making Akane look back at the stage, where Aoi’s performance was over, the ballerina smiled, and bowed to the audience.

“Over so soon.” The manager said with an unreadable smile “You inquired about leaving, have you not? Please follow me.”

.

They walked through a dark hallway, the only source of light being candles on the wall. Teru's pace was on the slower side with his cane, the echo of their footsteps and the muffled sound of the crowd outside was all you could hear. It was somewhat eerie.

After taking a corner the place grew livier, the muffled crowd now an easy to filter sound, and lights coming from under closed doors. He could hear faint talking from some of the doors, but wasn’t interested in eavesdropping.

Not until they were near the end, and he heard a young man chatting with someone. 

"I knew it would pay off, Ao-chan!" 

Was that himself?

Akane slowed down, it was strange to hear himself "You've been working so hard on that jump! But don’t work too hard, dear...”

A feminine voice, far too soft to discern words comes through the door.

“I know, sorry. Do you want to… Oh yes of course. Maybe tomorrow."

Teru shook his head at the faint voices “Of course he would already be here.”

As if summoned, one of the doors opened up, and a man with brown hair got out, his outfit as old-fashioned as everyone else in this universe. There was a faint lipstick mark on his cheek.

Akane paused when the older version of himself turned their way, the man’s good mood immediately died when he noticed Teru, the lack of smiles making his fatigue obvious: there were eyebags under his eyes, a few stray hair strands already gray. Jesus Christ, compared to Aoi and Teru's otherworldly beauty, he sure aged like milk out of the fridge. 

“Aoi.” Teru smiled at the tired man, seemingly oblivious to the way this Akane was wary in his presence “I have a guest, so if you don’t mind” He smiled at Akane, gesturing to this opera version of himself “This is Aoi Akane, my assistant manager and treasurer.”

“A guest.” The assistant deadpaned, sparing the hallway a half hearted inspection, clearly unable to see Akane. “Right. You haven’t had a ‘guest’ in a while, maybe you should go to the doctor.” He mumbled with some spite “Or the cemetery.”

“You’re the only one working yourself to an early grave.” Teru said, his voice almost fond…? It was strange coming from the creepy man, Akane gave him a weird look. This older version of himself agreed with the sentiment, looking at his boss weirdly too.

“But I won’t stop you from working after hours,” Teru pat his shoulder, ignoring how his assistant tensed up “You know where my room key is,”

“Eat shit and die.” His older counterpart snarled, walking ahead with rushed steps, mumbling curses under his breath, and holding on tight to his engagement ring.

“Works every time~” Teru chuckled, looking fondly at his tense college’s back.

Akane frowned at the strange exchange, it felt off. He didn’t like it. “What is that all about?”

“Nothing you should worry about, young man.”

“I am 16,” Akane frowned at his condescending tone. “I’m not a kid.”

“My mistake.” Teru smiled politely, stopping by a dark wood door and unlocking it. “If you must know, we are old friends.”

Right.

That's bullshit and they both know it.

“I doubt any version of me would fear an old friend.” Akane called him out, eying the polite way the manager held the door for him with wariness. “...Did you steal his soul or something?” 

Akane had no where else to go though, so he took a look at what seem to be a studio, and followed the  guy inside.

“How rude, I am no demon.” Teru said, letting the door close behind them. The candles lit up on their own when the door clicked shut. “I am as human as you, young man.”

“I am human.” Akane frowned, watching him open drawers with unease.

“I said as much, have I not?” Teru smiled, paying more attention to his papers than Akane “So, how is your world, young man? It seems you are familiar with me.”

“Did you not know your ‘old friend’ at sixteen?”

“No, I did not.” Teru laughed at his judgemental tone, taking a blank page from his drawer “I met you when you were twenty-one.”

That’s… way later than he expected. It feels strange to imagine he had a peaceful school life in this world “For how long have you known each other then?”

“Seven years, but we are talking about you. How long have you known each other? Are you two classmates?”

“He is a grade above me, I met him three years ago.” Akane frowned “How did you two meet?”

“He wanted a job, I gave him one.” Teru said, casually wanking a strand from Akane’s hair, ignoring his yelp.

“Hey!”

“I need something to find your home” He explained “A hair over your blood, no?”

Akane glared, rubbing the back of his head “A little warning would have still been nice.” 

“Are you two friends?” The manager smiled pleasantly, ignoring Akane’s complaints.

“No.” He glared. 

They are coworkers. Kind of? Acquaintances, at most.

(Akane actually isn’t sure what they are, but he doesn’t care, happy to keep their interactions restricted to the student council.)

“A shame." The manager mumbled, but didn’t seem particularly troubled “I thought if we met earlier we would be closer…”

Akane watched him burn the blank paper and the hair strand on one of his candles. The flame flickered, going from yellow to orange, which seems to be a good thing, considering the manager smiled, giving him the candle. “This lantern has your essence” that sounds ominous “It should only reveal the door of where you belong.”

“Should?”

“I am not entirely sure how you got here.” The manager admitted, smile growing more dim “Many of my guests are not from this realm, but this is the first time I've seen a familiar stranger such as yourself.”

So he doesn’t understand how alternative dimensions work either. 

Wonderful.

Akane looked at the oppressive darkness ahead with unease, not feeling nearly as optimistic as when the adorable witch had opened a portal for him.

“Here, take this on your journey.” The manager gave him a fancy water canteen, which Akane guarded, neatly tucked near Aoi’s pie.

“Thank you, Manager.”

Teru’s face softened, “A word of advice: Don’t destroy your soul while away from home.”

“Wasn’t planning to.” Akane deadpaned, finding ‘don’t die’ to be a pretty shit advice.

Teru chuckled “I wish you luck, young man. Have a safe trip.”

He gently closed the door, leaving Akane in the dark with a flickering lantern.

Akane took a deep breath and marched into the unknown, he wasn’t sure how long he spent walking, his sense of time unbalanced here, but his lantern didn’t take long to reveal a dirty and rusty door.

…That wasn’t a door to his world.

He tried to find another door, but the area was empty, the lantern only showed him this rusty thing, not even allowing Akane to get back to the opera house.

“Something went wrong!” He yelled into the endless darkness, hoping the man would miraculously hear him anyways “Give me a different lantern!”

There was no reply.

.

With nothing else to do inside the void, Akane cracked the rusty door open, the scent of decay hitting him before he could see much of anything. 

Akane frowned, fully opening the door and wrinkling his nose at the awful smell. He expected a dead animal ahead, but was met with an empty corridor. His flame flickered out and the candle wax started to melt even while unlit, as if retiring from its job. 

His internal clock told him it was 6 pm in this world.

He looked around the barren corridor, its walls a bit stained and moldy in the corners but not that old… Outside the occasional buzz of mosquitos, he could only hear his own footsteps. 

Akane found some doors in this hallway but they were all locked, the clanking when he tested each knob was too loud in the quiet building, and the smell seemed to just get worse.

Fuck the manager, this place is awful. Did he send him here on purpose?

Akane’s eye twitched at the mental image of Teru’s creepy eyes and suspicious smile.

“Bastard.” He cursed, less inclined to believe he was being nice when he had said ‘I wish you luck, have a safe trip’.

Maybe he really is a demon, he knew there was a reason the man gave him the creeps.

His annoyed curses ceased at the sight of blood stains.

“...It might be mud.” He mumbled to himself as he followed the increase of hopefully dried mud and filth on the ground, needing to cover his nose with his shirt at the vile smell.

Akane knew he would eventually find something dead inside this building, but he still froze when his path was blocked by a corpse in the middle of the hall. The man’s head had been smashed completely, and part of his shoulders were bitten off, as if mauled by a wild animal. The bones, and muscles looked too human.

This isn’t a ghost, this isn’t a supernatural danger. Someone died here.

Akane shivered, feeling cold sweat on the back of his neck as he looked away. He got past the corpse at a rushed pace, feeling sick at the squishy sound under his feet, the remains of another body just around the corner.

(No wonder this building is empty. It’s a murder scene.)

He turned his back on the corpses and walked faster, feeling on edge when he heard a rusty door open, followed by the sound of footsteps. He doubts the murderer is still here, but he can’t discard the possibility.

Akane was alarmed when the footsteps abruptly picked up speed, approaching fast.

Whoever the person or beast is, they can hear Akane.

This is an attack.

Akane grabbed his pocket watch, ready to give his attacker a fight, and freezing at the sight of blond hair and blue eyes.

“...President?”

Despite knowing only Teru has such pale eyes and long lashes, the boy didn’t really look like the president: He was a little shorter than the Teru he is used to, with no sparkling charm to him, just an aura of exhaustion, his eyes wide and vulnerable in a way he had never seen Teru before, holding on to a rusty crowbar instead of a fancy sword. Half of his left hand was missing, and his body was dirty with mud and dried blood.

He looked thin as well. Too thin.

A survivor, not a student.

“Akane…?” He whispered slowly. It felt wrong to be called by his first name, Teru’s dry voice full of an emotion Akane couldn’t pinpoint.

Chapter Text

It was worrying strange, how lost this Teru looked.

Akane took a step closer and the boy’s attitude immediately flipped, holding on tighter to his crowbar and raising it as a shield “No.” His voice went cold, uncharacteristically aggressive “What are you?!”

Akane eyes widened at the way his face twisted with hatred.

“I am human-” He jumped back when Teru aimed a swing at his shoulder, yelping “Wait, wait, wait!” he raised his hands in surrender, his adrenaline skyrocketing at the dent where Teru’s crowbar had met the wall. Fucking hell, he was not holding back. “Calm down, and listen! I am not your enemy! I don't want to fight! This place is a shithole as it is, it’s stupid to pick a fight.” Akane sweated when he raised his crowbar again, starting to get annoyed “Don’t make me punch you. Please, I have-”

“-supplies you are willing to share. There is no need to act like animals.” Teru finished with a shaky voice, staring from Akane to his bag with a nervous energy.

It wasn’t exactly what Akane wanted to say but it got the ‘I don’t want to fight’ message across, so he nodded. He planned on sharing his supplies anyways, this Teru clearly needs it.

Teru didn’t jump at the idea of food like he had expected, looking at him as if gauging the danger. Slowly calming down.

Akane awkwardly lowered his hands, staring at him too. It was strange to be perceived as a possible threat, but from the little he had glimpsed of this world, he couldn’t blame Teru for being cautious.

He doesn’t know how long they stayed in silence, hesitating to move, but he noticed when the tense atmosphere was broken: Hesitant footsteps came from the hallway, and soon, a small girl peeked from behind the wall, her hair was as short as Akane’s, her curly fringe barely hit her chin. Despite the new haircut and how weird it was to see her caked with dirt, wearing an old long-sleeved shirt and pants instead of frilly and cutesy clothes, he would never mistake those big purple eyes.

“Ao-chan,” He whispered, in shock. 

He knew this wasn’t his childhood friend, not really, but he still felt his heart clench at the way she froze, acting as panicked as Teru had.

“Akane…?” She whispered, holding on tight to what seems to be a knife and growing even more tense when Akane got closer. 

He stopped when she took a scared step back and Teru got in between them, Aoi’s presence making the older boy lose that frenetic edge, eerily compossed. Akane's worry skyrocketed when she closed her eyes, whispering “No...”

Teru put his damaged hand on her shoulder, saying in a strange tone “Ponytail. Blue cloak.”

Aoi froze, staring at Teru with wide eyes before looking back at Akane “… W-White vest. White… Gloves.”

Teru's weapon dropped with a loud clank. He covered his face with his arm and laughed, the sound sharp, near hysterical. It caught Akane off guard.

Aoi was eerily silent, not moving a muscle.

Something about her wide eyes and Teru's instability broke Akane’s heart. 

There was a voice in the back of his head that told him approaching wasn’t a good idea, that the lack of Akane by their side was a bad omen, that these two may have familiar faces but they are still strangers, but he simply couldn’t turn his back on Aoi when she was so visibly in pain “Hey... It’s okay.”

“Akane?” Teru asked calmly, raising his arm to create a stronger barrier between him and Aoi.

Yes.

No. 

Not the one they want.

“Not your Akane,”  He admitted, not needing to tilt his head up as much as usual to keep eye contact when Teru closed the distance, those pale eyes searching for something.

“Not mine.” Teru said in a humorless tone, gently caressing his forehead with his healthy hand, staring far too intensely at every inch of his face.

Akane felt uncomfortable when Teru's eyes melted with fondness and he left his forehead to cup his cheek. 

Something strange flashed through Teru's eyes at his discomfort. Akane took a step back when he leaned closer, surprised to have him hold on tight to his shoulder, the feeling of being grabbed by a hand with a missing thumb was odd, but not as odd as the way Teru dragged Akane into his arms, circling his back in a tight hug.

“Akane…”

Akane's eyes widened at the soft way he said his name, hesitantly patting his back with one hand, a bit worried by the outline of ribs under the thick shirt, the stink of sweat and rust clinging to Teru. Akane had  no idea what to do when Teru snuggled his neck, holding on tighter but still being careful, as if afraid to let go, but even more of hurting Akane.

“I kept my promises,” Teru said quietly. Akane shivered at how private this felt, unsure if he wanted to hold the boy tighter, offer him some comfort, or push him away. 

Akane was still processing the situation when something wet fell on his shoulder.

Ah...

Akane hesitantly tried to catch a glimpse of the older boy’s face, hoping it was just sweat and feeling a lump in his throat at the tear tracks on his cheeks “Are you... crying?” 

Teru flinched, letting go of him and blinking fast, likely only realizing now that he was crying. It was unnatural.

Whatever face Akane made was enough to set Teru into a giggling fit, covering his eyes and cleaning his tears. “Ha, right… We shouldn’t waste water like this.”

“That’s not it.” He felt awkward under his warm gaze, but did not dare to turn his back on it “I just… I’m not used to seeing you cry.”

Seeing a face identical to the president’s being so vulnerable and welcoming felt like a violation of privacy.

Everything about this felt like a violation in some way.

“You...” Aoi said, still frozen in place, barely breathing. Despite only saying one word, her voice immediately caught their attention.

Teru’s face softened, walking to her side and lowering himself to her height, his smile was uncharacteristically sweet as he held Aoi’s small hands in both of his. After a moment where they stared at each other's eyes, seemingly able to communicate without words, Teru gave her hands a reassuring squeeze, guiding her to touch Akane. She flinched when they made contact but held on tight when Akane chased her, carefully holding her scratched palm, and letting her cracked nails sink into his gloves. 

She looked so scared, so hopeful.

It hurt his very soul.

“...Ao-chan.”

Aoi shivered, abandoning any uncertainty and hugging him tight, Akane hugged her back, gently sliding his arm down her thin back and softening at how wet her eyes looked. He cleaned a small stain on her cheek, pausing before he could clean her tears when she held on to his cheek too.

He smiled sweetly when she leaned closer, freezing when she closed the distance, dragging him into a kiss.

Oh

Akane's eyes widened at the feeling of her dry lips on his, too shocked to react. To breathe. Aoi didn’t seem to mind, letting her lips linger and burying her face in his chest right after, clinging to his vest. “...Akane.”

Akane brushed her matted hair to comfort her on autopilot, but there was a rock on his stomach, conflicted about the situation. He isn’t the boy she wants, and it feels wrong to have her cling to him like this just because he looks like her boyfriend. 

Her dead boyfriend.

(He really didn’t want to think about Akane's absence in this world, or why they started crying in his arms, but he needs to face it: Their Akane is dead.

Their friend, her lover, is dead and they think he is back.) 

He looked down at Aoi, who was clinging to him as if she was five again, scared to be alone. It made his heart ache, not forgiving this version of himself for leaving her alone, for not being able to live for her, but he forced himself to do something that will hurt her. Something that will hurt them both.

"I am sorry,” He was honest, looking at the two strangers with an apologetic look. “...I am not your Akane, this is the first time I’ve ever seen you.”

Both froze.

Akane didn’t look away while they processed the news, carefully taking Aoi’s hand off him, and trying not to feel too guilty for being so slow to process the situation, accidentally toying with their feelings. 

Aoi and Teru shared a look, the light left their eyes, but they didn’t seem surprised. They must have realized, deep down, he isn’t who they want, for they accepted his word without arguing.

“I know.” Teru looked down, one of his eyes being covered by his fringe “Akane is dead.”

Aoi winced, voice quiet “You are…wrong…in ways that are hard to ignore.” Aoi avoided eye contact. “From the start really… B-but you feel so…" 

“...Familiar." Teru finished for her, "You’re not as warm as him, and your eyes…” Teru shared a sad look with Aoi that made Akane feel out of the loop, trapped by the overwhelming amount of grief in the way they looked at him “It's like staring at the past. An uncanny version of it."

"Your voice-” She shook her head “Your attitude, is the same. I just…”

They trailed into silence, but Akane has known Aoi for long enough to hear the unsaid ‘I wanted to believe he would come back to me’ loud and clear. 

Akane wasn’t sure what to do, sweating at the way Aoi tentatively held his cloak, looking at him differently than when she was trying to cling to any trace of her dead boyfriend but still visibly interested “...Who are you? Where did you come from?”

“I am Akane, but from an alternative universe. It's a long story.” He said, putting his hand over Aoi’s shaky one on instinct. She is so small, even more fragile than usual. He can’t help but want to protect her. “...I am a little lost.”

Teru frowned “That’s what you meant by not ‘your Akane’...” 

“I should have been more clear about it. I’m sorry.”

Teru changes subject “Do you have food with you?”

“I have a pie.” He admitted, opening his bag and showing his supplies to them “And water.”

The two zoomed on the food. Hungry.

“That's good,” Teru said, picking up his crowbar from the ground. Now that he is calm he is acting more like the Teru he knows. “We are going back to the safe room.” He turned towards Akane, his interest seemingly detached. “Come with us, we don’t have plates but we have a table.”

Akane considered his options, following them.

Their footsteps echoed in the room but it felt less creepy now that he has company.

“I am not sure what to call you.” Aoi admitted “What do you want to be called?”

“You decide Ao-chan,” He said on autopilot, pausing once he properly processed the question, “Is Ao-chan okay for you?”

“Yes,” She smiled, audibly tired “Akane used to call me Aoi.”

So no honorifics.

Akane nodded “My condolences.”

She didn’t reply, but she grabbed his hand, leading him back to the hallway they had come from.

(It was strange, how he had his first kiss, which he had hoped to be special, but he couldn’t focus on it. Does it even count? Since he wasn't the one she wanted to kiss?)

.

They passed by the dead body again.

Akane frowned, covering his nose with his shirt. He was going to cover the sight from Aoi, sure she would react badly, like she does when she find dead birds, instead of fascinated, like when she finds a cool horror movie, but Teru had naturally drifted to her side, blocking the corpse as best his body could.

Aoi wasn’t interested in staring at the dead, nor did she didn’t seem bothered by the smell.

"It’s a zombie," Teru explained when he noticed Akane's unease “The brain is destroyed, it won’t get up again.”

Oh

The feral bite marks on the body suddenly made sense.

... He truly does not like this world.

"You seem surprised by it," Teru said, tone hard to read “Is your world still clean?”

“Of zombies," Akane frowned, "We have ghosts and supernaturals instead.”

If this place is anything like the cheap zombie movies he used to watch with Aoi, where people turn into mindless monsters after death and attack their loved ones or get attacked by them, it sounds even worse than supernaturals.

"Ghosts.” Teru's smile didn’t reach his eyes, saying the words as one would say ‘magic’ or ‘fairies’, "Make sense, Akane-kun."

Akane sweated at his playful tone, it was strange to have Teru call him Akane-kun.

(Only the girls that have been his classmates for ages call him that.)

“Akane-kun.” Aoi mumbled. “I like it, what do you think?”

She gave him a tired smile, so he nodded.

.

Teru and Aoi ate half of a slice of pie each, careful not to spill anything, clearly fighting between devouring it all in one bite and chewing slowly, saving for later. 

The way their eyes glinted like a predator after the first bite was scary, but after swallowing five small bites, they got used to the baked treat, content.

“Aren’t you going to eat, Akane-kun?”

Akane gave Aoi a weak smile, gently turning down her offer, “Not hungry.”

“You don’t look hungry.” Teru agreed, tilting his head and cracking a smile that felt tired, but genuine.

Aoi smiled as well, happy for him.

Akane nodded, self-conscious under their warm attention. 

He is so spoiled compared to them, he expected resentment, envy, but the food seems to have raised their spirits, their cheeks even gaining some color as they shared his water canteen.

Akane frowned a little at the sight, feeling odd.

…He had planned to keep a slice for himself, so he could at least get a taste of the witch’s pie later, having craved to eat Aoi’s cooking for a while, but his wish has grown weaker, sure they would appreciate the baked good more.

The witch would agree is better like this, kind as she is.

“Do you want it?”

“I’m not hungry,” Akane repeated, surprised when Teru sighed fondly.

“I asked if you want it, not if you’re hungry.”

Akane felt weird at the twinkle in his eyes, as if Teru knows, but his smile was different from his usual ‘I will use this against you’ smile.

(Like he wants Akane to get what he wants.)

Akane felt an instinctive urge to look for a catch to his kindness, but the amount of fondness in his eyes made Akane’s wariness deflate.

He looked down at the offered pie instead of those uncanny eyes, and awkwardly accepted the offer. Kind of. He still couldn’t bring himself to take a whole slice, using Aoi’s knife (which was dirtier than he would have liked but was what was available) to cut the tip, saving it for later.

“The rest is yours.” He declared. They did not argue. 

.

“I like your ponytail.” Aoi commented once she finished her slice, looking at him for any signs of discomfort before touching his hair, cracking a smile “So silky <3”

Akane was caught off guard when she started brushing his hair. 

“...Ao-chan?” Akane blushed at the careful way Aoi paid attention to his hair, fingers very close to his scalp. It made his body shiver, he had to make a conscious effort not to follow her touch. 

(She isn’t Aoi. Not his Aoi.)

His Aoi isn’t this touchy. His Aoi is safe at home, with her frilly dresses, and long flowy curls she loves to stylize. His Aoi never had short hair, not even when mean kids put gum on her hair.

Her Aoi loves long hair more than anything. She is proud of it.

Very proud of it...

“Your hair…” Akane mumbled, hoping it was just a personal preference of this Aoi.

“It's just hair.” Aoi eyed her short fringe but didn’t let go of Akane’s ponytail, mindlessly twirling it on her fingers “You worry about such silly things Akane-kun.” She put her free hand on her cheek, closing her eyes “It’s cute like this too, isn’t it?”

‘But you prefer it long, don’t you?’ 

“It looks adorable Ao-chan, I love it.” He said instead, liking how it framed her face. He doesn’t think any haircut will ever look bad on Aoi.

“Thank you <3”

Akane felt an itch at the way she sounded identical to his Aoi when she used this cutesy tone, but didn’t do anything as she dragged her chair to stay behind him and play with his hair.

Teru stared at him while Aoi had fun, his presence impossible to ignore. He wasn’t sure how to deal with this Teru yet, trying to only focus on Aoi’s small hands on his hair but unable to block out Teru’s piercing stare.

He hates how this Teru seems… sweet underneath the fatigue, more likely to comfort him than to kick him.

“Stop staring,” Akane said.

“No.” Teru denied, resting his chin on his damaged hand and staring even harder, getting comfortable. 

Guess the bastard does whatever he pleases in all universes.

Fine, whatever.

“Is there anyone else in this building?” Akane changed subjects.

“I don’t know,” Teru said, "But this floor is deserted."

“Because of the zombies? ” Akane frowned, not wanting to think about the dead bodies but a bit worried “...Why are you two here if it’s dangerous?”

Aoi hummed instead of answering, casually moving her grooming to the rest of his hair, which was too short for brushing, he could feel her nails gently scratching his scalp.

It made him blush, brain briefly short-circuiting.

It’s been a while since someone had lovingly massaged his head. The sensation was nice.

"Aoi doesn’t like crowds." Teru smiled as if telling an inside joke, “So, how was your Teru?”

“Right…? But she doesn’t like being alone either.”

“I like crowds less than being alone.” Aoi's answer made him frown. That's another difference between her and his Aoi.

“Don’t ignore my question.” Teru pouted, playfully poking his forehead “Come on, you must have a Teru too, tell me about him!”

Akane huffed at his trademark ‘perfect smile’, it looked so weird with his eye bags, and dry skin, but the core feeling he gets from seeing it is the same.

“You’re so annoying.” Akane sighed “Yes, I have a Teru at home.” It was weird to call him by his first name, so he threw that idea far away “The president was a dick.”

“Really?”

“He beat me up and tied me to the ceiling at least thrice a week, a two faced sadistic demon.” The way Aoi froze behind him, and Teru’s eyes darkened, taking his words to heart, was a nice surprise, people always dismissed his complaints. Their dark mood was a bit much though, he felt the need to throw the president a bone, less they think he is as bad as supernaturals “but he is hard working and competent? And nice to everyone outside me.” 

They relaxed, albeit not fully.

“Everyone outside you?” Aoi sounded amused, he could picture her smiling at Teru.

Teru blushed, “I wasn’t that bad.” 

Akane narrowed his eyes “...What did you do to your Akane?”

“I used to drag him to investigate with me, and I made him poke a dead bird once…” Teru said slowly, leaning back on his chair. “But I didn’t go too far. I only pushed him in a river once.”

“That’s still bad.” Akane pointed out, raising a judgemental eyebrow. "You know that, right?"

“...But I wouldn’t call it bullying,” Aoi chimed in, dragging her chair from behind Akane so they could see each other. Akane inwardly mourned the stop of head scratches, consolating himself with being able to see her again.

“I brought him drinks.” Teru agreed, blushing a little. “Do you like tea?”

“Some are nice.” He answered, “It’s-”

“Soothing after a long day?” Teru finished for him, his eyes sparkling with interest at Akane’s annoyed look. “Is your favorite Jasmin tea?”

What..?

“No.” 

Their eyes widened, sparkling with curiousity. 

“Oh my,” Aoi put a hand on her chin “What is it?”

“Ginger tea.”

When he is sick, Aoi makes him ginger tea, and before her, his mom used to do it. 

(He hasn't gotten sick since his clock keeper contract, and it doesn’t quite taste like being loved when he makes it himself, but he has a soft spot for it.)

Aoi tilted her head.

Teru blinked “That’s an old man’s tea.”

“It's not.” Akane wrinkled his nose, looking away from Teru’s small smile.

Underneath the ever-present feeling of this world being ‘off’, he doesn’t mind how sweet this Teru is, liking how he looked less tired when his eyes softened, the pretty blue not sharp enough to put him on edge. 

He inwardly shook his head, trying to keep focused “You mentioned dragging your Akane to investigations? Are you a detective?”

“...I was part of the junior journaling club.” He seemed distracted, “Was yours not?”

“No. He is the president of the student council,” He did not miss the longing in Aoi’s eyes at his present tense, but he tried not to think too hard about it “And an exorcist.”

“An exorcist?” Aoi sounded baffled.

“Sounds fun.” Teru seemed amused “And what are you? Some kind of noble?”

Akane huffed, he is more of a glorified unpaid maid than anything, but he was vaguely amused by his assumption. He has to agree his short gloves and cuffed sleeves are overkill, even for supernaturals and their dramatic standards.

“There are no nobles around anymore.” Akane deadpaned, sweating at the way their amusement increased “...Do I really look like a noble?”

"You do." Teru flickered the golden button of his vest “It's the textbook look of an old-fashioned rich brat.”

“Hey!” He frowned, lightly slapping his hand away.

“It’s cute.” Aoi leaned over his shoulder, offering a sweet smile as she played with the golden cord of his clock keeper coat. "I like it."

Akane blushed at her flirty tone, rarely getting to hear it, much less while she was in his personal space like this, so he panicked a little, already taking off his cloak “You can have it-”

Aoi giggled, the sound tired, out of practice, but her smile was genuine. “No need.” She shook her head, “Keep it, Akane-kun.”

Akane nodded slowly, willing to do whatever she asks of him.

He was snapped out of his daze when Teru held his hand, analyzing his now dirty glove and taking it off.

“What are you doing?” He frowned, not sensing any malice but still suspicious, itching to snatch his hand out of his hold.

“Your hand is so soft...” Teru mumbled to himself, his bony and callused fingers poking his palm. Akane stared, weirded out by the childish awe in his eyes. 

Teru never looked at him like that, almost as if Akane was an otherworldly beauty in the room, something that needs to be handled carefully.

“I wouldn’t call it that…” Akane’s voice trailed off, eyes lingering on Teru’s damaged hand: Three of his fingers, including his thumb, were gone. 

Half of his hand, just gone.

“What happened?” Akane asked, letting Teru play with his fingers for now. 

(It feels awkward but not necessarily uncomfortable.)

“Scouting accident,” Teru said, more focused on playing than talking. His small smile intact “People can be very protective of their food, Akane-kun.”

Aoi's face closed off, clenching her pant leg.

“Right…” Akane mumbled, shivering when Teru held his wrist, feeling self-conscious of his hunt for a pulse.

Akane did his best to ignore the boy, tempted to ask how a person could ‘accidentally’ destroy half of his hand, but forcing himself not to. Even if Teru seems to have no trauma about this injury, Aoi is visibly troubled by it. 

So he went back to his previous question “Why are you two still here?”

“It’s safe,” Teru said “Not many zombies. The ones in the hall were the only ones this week.”

So there are usually more… He wonders how many people died like this…

A pressure on his hand made Akane focus on Teru again, frowning at the way he gently intertwined their fingers.

(While being treated with kindness is nice, this Teru is far more clingy than Akane would have liked.)

He tried to shake him off, but let him be when Teru pouted, holding on tighter.

Fine, whatever.

Better to hold hands than to be tied up.

“How is your Aoi?” Aoi asked, her melodic voice making his mood improve, able to ignore Teru’s clingy behavior.

“She is beautiful, and smart, and sweet. The prettiest girl you’ll ever see!” Akane gushed, sensing bitterness in the survivor's smile and feeling a hint of fondness as he reassured the insecure girl “You remind me of her.”

Aoi eyes crinkled.

Something about it made her look even more tired.

“What about your Teru?” She asked, tilting her head  “He seems… unkind, but you never mentioned if he is beautiful and smart like mine.”

Teru seemed pleased by the compliment. Akane deflated a little, mostly annoyed for understanding why she would say that.

“The president is handsome.” Akane sighed, making sure to sound as unimpressed as possible “Too handsome, it gets to his head.” 

At their expectant faces, Akane reluctantly added “...And he is very smart,” He sighed “...The smartest boy in school. It’s a nightmare.”

Teru gave Aoi a strange look. Aoi seemed hesitant, but she nodded. It was a little confusing, but they both seemed happy, so Akane wasn’t wary.

Teru pointed at himself with his damaged hand “What about me? Am I handsome too?”

Akane looked at him weird, taking in how he playfully fluttered his eyelashes. 

…He can’t compare to the school prince, his charming smile unable to hide how much this eery world has beaten him down, but many traces of his natural beauty persisted, as stubborn as the boy himself.

“Your eyes are pretty.” He offered, resisting the urge to snort at the way he lit up. “Are you fishing for compliments?”

“Should I not?”

“If you had any shame.” Akane deadpaned, snatching his hand away when Teru got too comfortable and ignoring his pout "Tell me more about your Akane.”

“He likes windows.” Teru said.

Aoi cracked a small smile that felt oddly bitter “And helping others...”

“People in general.” Teru seemed distracted.

Aoi looked at Akane strangely, lightly resting her palm on his arm. “...Why are you alone Akane-kun?”

“Got lost, usually there is a little brat I’m in charge of babysitting.” He said, resisting the urge to play with his pocket watch.

Teru froze, his body becoming tense.

Aoi wordlessly rubbed his thigh, frowning.

“What’s wrong?” Akane frowned, not expecting them to have any connection to her “Does Mirai exist here?”

“Mirai…?” Aoi asked, and Teru relaxed.

“Yeah?” He got curious, a bit wary “...Did he babysit anyone here?”

Aoi bit her lip, wanting to say something but staying quiet.  She looked at Teru, who petted her head.

“You-” Teru paused, correcting himself “Akane looked after Tiara a lot.”

“Your younger sister…?”

“The one and only,” He gave him a closed eyed smiled, changing topics “So Mirai… Who is she? Tell me about her.”

“She is a ghost, remind me of a hamster, all she does is eat, preem herself, and make my life hard.” He shared a very short resume of their relationship, focusing on Teru’s mood swing “Why was your Akane babysitting Tiara? Why... Why are you so shaken about her?” He softened, uneasy “...Where is she now?”

(‘She could be dead’ a part of him suggested, not liking this place.

Akane ignored that part, not wanting to believe it.)

“She's with Kou.” Teru said, looking at Aoi’s hand on his leg and putting his own on top of hers.

Akane tried not to let his eyes linger on the casual intimacy, killing the hint of jealousy that was unnecessary, and stupid, and forcing himself to focus on how Teru still had a gloomy vibe. He doubts any version of Teru is keen on showing vulnerability, so this must be killing him inside. 

Akane tapped the back of his head, waiting until he looked at him to ask “Are you worried about them?”

“...”

Akane didn’t like how he avoided eye contact again, but he understood why he was worried, what he knows about this world not painting a nice picture.

“They’ll be fine. Your brother can be naive but he is dependable.”

Teru got gloomier, voice colder “...I should be dependable.”

Akane frowned, well aware Teru is dependable. Personality problem aside he works on all his tasks flawlessly, there is a reason he is everyone's first choice in basically everything.

Unless this wasn’t about his skills.

“...Did they go with Hanako instead of you?” He felt a hint of exasperation at the way Teru froze, called out. Akane gets his protectiveness, he does, but this isn’t about their safety is it? If it was, he wouldn’t had let Kou out of his sight.

This is about being abandoned.

“Kids grow up, Teru. It’s not the end of the world.” He tried to cheer him up, much less happy to witness this exhausted version of Teru having a hard time than if it was the president, though still unable to see the guy as delicate. “Just because you aren’t his first choice doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you, you’re-”

“Akane-kun. Stop.” 

Akane snapped his mouth shut at Aoi’s order, unused to her glare  “Ao-chan…?”

She shook her head, and Akane deflated, not sure what he said wrong.

He looked back at Teru's curled up form, frowning.

(He got too comfortable.

At the end of the day, they are still strangers, he doesn't know them nearly as well as he knows their faces.

...Teru's relationship with his siblings could be distant and unstable here. There is no way to know.)

Akane isn’t good at comforting others, he isn't exactly a warm and sweet presence people seek to feel better, but he can tell these two value him a lot. An unbelievable amount even.

(This Teru takes his words far more seriously than the president, his mood easy to change depending on what Akane does.)

Akane didn't want to leave it like this, since he was the one that brought up this topic in the first place, so he offered Teru his hand, hoping his intention was clearer this way. 

Teru didn’t say anything, but he accepted his hand.

Akane resigned himself to another session of handholding, yelping when he was pushed into a hug with Teru and Aoi. Akane blushed the tiniest bit at what could be classified as cuddling, inwardly sighing when Aoi half hugged him and Teru, clinging to their sleeves. 

Their clingy tendencies will be the death of him, but he'll let Teru have hugging privileges too. 

For now. 

Chapter Text

The hug was awkward, the angle odd, but the two effortlessly shifted into better positions, their bodies slotting together. Akane stared at the way Aoi was practically on Teru’s lap, his arm snuggly on her waist, acting as if this sort of intimacy was common.

Teru caught him glaring at their closeness, so Akane awkwardly patted his back, trying his best not to overthink their hopefully platonic relationship and focus on making Teru feel better, as the hug was intended to do. 

Teru leaned on him, his tense body slowly going more lax. Aoi smiled a little, calmer as well. The change in their mood made Akane relax too, glad he didn’t fuck up enough to ruin their whole day.

“...Are you feeling better?” Akane asked.

Teru smiled, it was hard to say if it was genuine. He mostly looked tired  “Very much.”

Akane let Teru cling, dragging Aoi with him. Their hug made his outfit dirtier but he didn't mind, he was getting used to the rotten smell of this decaying universe.

Their urge to hold him was a bit strange, people usually aren’t super touchy with him, but as long as their knees and elbows didn’t poke him, he couldn’t say it was a bother, slowly getting used to the way Aoi held his vest and Teru’s arm supported his back, their actions very gentle, keeping his comfort in mind.

After his wrong assumption regarding Terus's relationship with his family, he has been trying to further disconnect the two from ‘the president Teru' and 'his childhood friend Aoi'.

His Aoi wouldn’t be happy about sharing her loved ones. His Teru wouldn’t want a hug in the first place. These people aren’t the same, just vaguely familiar.

“You got warmer.” Teru said, growing limp on his shoulder, his arm falling so it lazily curled on his lower back “Is comfy.”

“I’m not a pillow.” Akane huffed, though he was happy to keep their heat in this form, colder than his normal body but still not a fucking ghost.

“You’re soft like one.” Aoi teased with a pretty smile, Akane got a tiny blush despite trying not to treat her as her childhood friend, her dry lips forming the same mischievous curve as his Aoi.

“You blush so easily with Aoi.” Teru commented on his neck, “Were you two dating in your universe?”

“Not yet,” Akane lightly adjusted Teru so the bastard wasn’t that close to his throat.

“Yet?” Aoi seemed interested.

“I need a proper confession to date her.” Akane admitted, still trying to decipher what she wants. 

His Aoi doesn’t give him many hints… All he knows for sure is that she wants him to make her ‘heart flutter’ and that a normal confession is boring, but even after all those years he still doesn’t know what exactly she is looking for.

He has never gotten zero points so he must not be doing something wrong…

He has never gotten ten points. Haven’t gotten more than six this year… So he is still missing something…

“Your Aoi said that?” Aoi tilted her head, her fringe poking his face. She is very close.

“...Yes?” Akane blushed, reminded of his Aoi cheeky smile on their orientation day, the way she had placed a soft finger on his mouth.

“She likes you.” Aoi smiled with a tiny blush “I wouldn’t say that to someone I don’t like.”

Oh

Akane's eyes sparkled, aware they weren’t the same person but they are similar. Extremely similar.

Every Aoi he has met seems fond of him, the ballerina is even his fiance! They are getting married! The manager’s prediction of no wedding happening is nonsense, the ominous bastard is just jealous so surely his Aoi won't be an exception!

“Somebody is happy,” Teru teased, dragging him closer. Akane huffed, practically snuggling the bastard.

It was hard to take him seriously when he clung to his arm like a toddler, so Akane was a bit more playful than he would be with the sadistic president when he pushed Teru off. “Space!” 

“But you're my only pillow!”

“I am not.” Akane frowned once Teru put his whole weight on him. He is way too dedicated to treating Akane as a pillow.

Akane huffed, glaring at him and the way his eyes were only half open. Maybe it isn’t just that he is clingy, maybe he isn’t fully here...? “Are you tired, Teru?” 

“Want to keep talking.” Teru whined but didn’t deny it, snuggling his shoulder. He is like a cat.

“We should rest,” Aoi said.

Come to think of it, it has gotten darker, his internal clock telling him it was 7:28 pm now.

It’s too early for sleep, though he can’t exactly tell when was the last time this Teru slept.

“Come on.” Aoi smiled at Akane, grabbing his arm and leading him to a mattress in the corner.

“I'll pass. I'm not tired yet," He lied, this hectic day getting to him "but you two need it, you can go ahead.” Akane shook Teru off him and got up, smiling a little at the kind strangers “It was nice meeting you two," he went to get the small slice of pie he had separated for himself when Teru grabbed his water canteen.

Teru narrowed his eyes, that sleepy daze in his eyes nowhere to be found. The change in mood made Akane raise his brows.

"You can keep the water.” He said, not feeling hunger or thirst in his supernatural form.

(Which is creepy but he won't think about it)

Teru put the water back on the table with a frown, clearly disappointed by the lack of protest "You should stay." 

"Please?" Aoi gave him big doe eyes, grabbing the edge of his cloak just as the sweet witch had when approaching him but with no hint of shyness in her firm grip.

Oh.

Akane’s smile dimmed, grabbing her hand and gently trying to pry her fingers off him "...I am sorry but I need to go back home."

"No, you don't." She only sunk her nails deeper into the fabric.

"I do."

“You can’t.” Aoi insisted, pretty eyes full of worry.

Akane melted a little, wanting to cup her cheek but holding back the urge, she is not his Aoi, instead patting her head “Don’t worry about me, Ao-chan." He slowly caressed her coarse hair "You already have a lot on your plate.”

He turned towards Teru so her beautiful eyes didn’t make him hesitate, and smiled at his clenched fists, at how he still looked concerned even when he was trying to keep his cool. 

He is kind here. Akane trusts him. 

“Take care, Teru.” He grabbed the witch’s pie slice “Keep her safe for me.”

Teru’s eyes widened. 

He felt Aoi grab his arm, surprised to catch her face twisted with anger.

“No.” Aoi glared. “Y-you’ll die.” Teru put a calming hand on her shoulder. Aoi bit her lip, her voice more confident this time. “If you leave. You’ll die.”

Akane stared, the understanding this world’s Akane is dead makes it hard not to soften his voice for them. “I won’t. I can handle myself.”

(He wonders if ‘keep Aoi safe’ was one of Akane's last words in this world…

His Aoi would be angry about it too. Hah…)

“You can’t,” Teru denied, his confidence hitting like a slap in the face. Akane tried not to take it personally. “You’ll stay here until it’s safe. ”

“And when is that?” He asked, sure whatever they have here is the closest to ‘safe’ it gets.

They didn’t answer, just as Akane expected.

There is nothing in the world that can make him abandon his life and all the people in it, so he won’t give the two false hope that he’ll stay. Leading them on again would just be cruel “Sorry, I can’t. I need to leave now.”

“How?”

He doesn't have an answer. Not yet.

“Do you know how to get back to your world?” Teru pressed him, getting between Akane and the door.

“Not yet,” He reluctantly admitted, disliking the way Teru’s eyes went blank, his concern no longer visible, all his feelings masked with an apathetic expression “But if I explore-”

“For how long do you plan to explore? Do you have any leads to follow? Any allies near?” Teru cut him off, voice far too calm for his intense eyes “Do you know what zones to avoid? What food not to eat? Have you killed something that looks human before?"

Akane sweated, feeling stupid and uninformed "I can recognize a monster that looks human.”

“And kill it?”

He never exorcised a supernatural that looks human. But he has been attacked many times, he can handle himself. He'll be fine. “If I have to.”

“You won’t last a week.” 

“You don’t know that.”

“I do.”

Akane narrowed his eyes at Teru’s tone, his attitude was starting to annoy him.

(It stung. 

Akane wasn’t aware of how much he valued the trust the president had given him until that trust was stripped away, everything about the survivor's actions screaming that he doesn’t trust Akane.)

“You don’t know what I’m capable of, Teru.” 

“You don’t know what this world is capable of.”

"So let me learn it-"

"No."

Akane clenched his fists.

“You can’t make this choice for me!” He snapped, trying to sidestep Teru and growing frustrated at the way Teru followed him, stubbornly blocking the way. “Stop that! If you don’t move I’ll-”

“I am not letting you go out there to die. ” Teru hissed, grabbing his arm “Think Akane!”

Akane's eyes widened, caught off guard by his rise in volume.

Aoi held Teru’s sleeve. The older boy wordlessly passed his crowbar to her, keeping a firm hold on his arm. Akane’s frustration bubbled just under the surface, surprised to see Aoi carry the weapon with some difficulty, getting it jammed on the door.

The message was clear ‘You’re not leaving.’

Akane tried to shove Teru aside with more vigor, raising his voice to match his aggressive tone “You can’t trap me here!”

“You can’t throw your life away.” Aoi argued, holding her pants with nervous energy, but still glaring at him, real heat in her purple eyes “Don’t be reckless, Akane-kun!”

Akane felt his stomach twist, his anger calming down in the face of their distress “I am ‘magical’, I’ll be fine. I promise.” He stopped struggling against Teru’s hold and grabbed his watch, showing them his supernatural relic “If anything goes wrong I can stop time.”

“...Does your magic watch work here?” Teru did not look very reassured by his weapon of choice “What happens if you break it? Do you become defenseless?”

“The clock is enough.” Akane said, “I’ll be fine even without it.”

“Can you guarantee it?” Teru narrowed his eyes. 

‘Don’t destroy your soul while away from home’ The Opera Manager's voice rang in his ear.

“Yes.” He sounded less sure than he would have liked, uncomfortable with the way Aoi held his hand, trapping him. “Stop doing this.” He lightly shook her off, trying not to feel like the worst human on earth at her hurt look.

‘I’m sorry.’ He thought.

“I am not your Akane,” He said, “There is no need to-”

“I like you as you are,” Aoi cut him off, and he hated how honest she sounded, her eyes kind “Come on... It's late. We can talk tomorrow.”

The idea was tempting.

“No.” He snatched his hand off both of their hold, taking a step back. 

He is starting to understand why he had gotten an itch when he met them, a warning that getting closer wouldn’t be wise.

(They can make him lower his guard way too easily.

and he needs to go home.)

He marched to the door, glaring when Teru held his cloak. Stubborn bastard. “Let me go.”

“What will you even do out?!”

“I’ll find someone that can help me, there is always one person aware of these dimension hops.” He challenged, feeling a hint of dread at who might be able to help in this situation “Maybe Kako or No.7 knows something.”

He hasn’t seen either of them on the previous dimensions, but those bastards must know a lot.  Kako may be too much of an ominous bitch to cooperate. And No.7 is arguably worse, but at least he knows No.7’s weakness "If I get Yashiro-san to help, he will follow."

Aoi tensed up. Rigid.

...That's not good.

She is not his Aoi, maybe she and Nene aren't friends here. He can't keep assuming things. But the way they immediately covered up any hint of sadness or hurt made him uneasy.

Something was being kept from him, he was able to tell that much for a while now.

He hadn’t been very keen on getting answers before, to poke his nose into a world that wasn't his, but they were right. This isn't a silly trip he can ignore, he needs any information he can to be safe.

“Where is she?” Akane held his head high, trying to ignore the sweat on his neck “Where is everyone? You are keeping something from me.”

They exchanged glances. Aoi bit her lip, not looking at him in the eye. “It’s j-just...”

“Everyone is dead.” Teru said, “And so will you if you keep this up."

“I am serious.” Akane narrowed his eyes.

“Akane-kun.” Teru squeezed his hand, trying to provide a comfort that did not reach his empty eyes “So am I.”

Akane's frustration died out as he stared at his haunted gaze, trying to process how detached he sounded.

No.

It has to be a lie, one of his attempts to play with him! Literally anything else. There is no way everyone is dead.

But he couldn’t get over how exhausted Teru looked.

Akane's body buzzed with something unpleasant, barely listening to his own question “...What about our classmates?”

Teru didn’t reply, caging his hands with both his own, his damaged hand only serving to further drive home how dangerous this place is.

Aoi seemed hesitant when she approached, but she held on tight to his sleeve, not looking at him in the eye.

Akane sweated, cold to the bone “Your families…?”

“...I don’t know.” Aoi sounded frustrated. Scared. “I broke my phone, I have no idea where mom is.”

Teru just looked down, his hair covering his eyes. The silence was suffocating.

“But you said your sister was with Minamoto-kouhai-” 

“She is.” Teru cracked a mockery of a smile.

Akane stared, feeling an emptiness in his chest, a growing static in his head, at the loss, at the lie of omission, at the context behind their desperation to keep him here. At everything.

“...Why didn’t you tell me?” His question was a weak whisper, he feel so stupid but he didn't know what else to ask. The looming weight of ‘everyone is dead’ and all it implies makes him… Not want to know.

“We didn’t want to hurt you. ”

“Ignorance can be sweet,” Teru smiled, not looking at Akane “Or so I have noticed.”

Ignorance…?

…Right.

This world is just as alien as the familiar strangers in front of him, like a distorted dream, as detached from his life as the opera house. Once he leaves, it won’t affect his day to day life.

Nothing here has anything to do with him, his friends and family are alive. This isn’t something worth grieving for.

(For them, it is real. Their friends, their family, they died. Everyone is dead. )

He knows Aoi’s mom, he has greeted her at sleepovers and exchanged short but pleasant talk with her. He doubts this version of Aoi's mom is any less pleasant than the one he knows. He has interacted with Kou a few times, he is a good kid, and he has listened to hours of the president gushing about his siblings. He can tell this Teru cares just as deeply about his family.

He can’t imagine what losing them would do to the two.)

Are their classmates the same in this world? Is Lemon, dead too? How do they know that? Have they heard it on the news? 

(Does the news still work in this world?)

…Have they seen the corpses themselves? Are any of their loved ones zombies now? Roaming the streets, ready to kill a friend?

(The idea everyone they know, acquaintances and loved ones alike, ending like the smashed corpse in this building made him sick-)

“Akane-kun. Breathe.” Teru snapped him out of his dark thoughts, caressing his head in a way that was far too gentle, too calm for this kind of news. Aoi pat his shoulder, silent, but gentle as well.

Are they trying to calm him down...?

Why were they comforting him? That makes him sick no sense.

He obeyed Teru's orders and took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

“O-okay" He closed his eyes and breathed as best he could "I'm okay now.” He lied “...Sorry.”

Aoi’s hands moved to his chest, hugging him from behind. He tensed up, not feeling her warmth through his thick cloak but feeling her weight on his back and a light pressure on his chest as she wrapped her arms around him. It did provide him some comfort.

“You apologize too much.” She leaned on the crook of his neck, her lips so close he could feel her breath “Just stay with us, and it will be okay.”

‘It won’t. Once someone dies they never come back.’ Akane thought, weighed down by the hint of hope in her eyes. ‘I can’t make it okay no matter how you try to spin it.’

“I c-can’t Ao-chan” He said, looking away from her but feeling just as awful at the way Teru looked at him, his emotions hard to distinguish, hidden behind a certain detachment, but his fatigue plain to see.

‘Everyone is dead’, ‘Aoi is so close’ ‘she’s not your Aoi, you need to leave’ Stop looking at me like this Teru’ ‘Everyone is dead, they are alone.’ ‘Don’t come closer Teru’ ‘This feels too tight, is she squeezing my ribs-’

He wants to stay with them.

He wants to help.

He can’t. He has student council duties at home and Aoi would be sad if he didn’t walk with her to school, and he wants to get back home;

(It all feels so small compared to this. Non issues. It makes him choke, unsure in a way that tastes dangerous.)

He needs to get out.

Now.

.

Akane found himself sitting on top of an old and dirty mattress with a big gash at the bottom left. Teru was lying on his side with his legs dangling off the mattress and his head resting on his lap, staring up at Akane with an unreadable expression. Aoi was curled up on his other side, getting under his cloak and using it as a makeshift blanket.

Akane gently petted her hair, frowning down at Teru, at the way he got visibly less guarded when he was leaning on him or touching Akane in any way.

He wonders what relationship Teru had with this world Akane but he is… reluctant… to ask, already feel sick enough without the details. If he learns this world’s Akane was his childhood friend, or the pillar that kept Teru above water when he found out about his siblings’ death, it will make Akane feel even guiltier about leaving.

(Which he will do. Call him selfish, but he needs to leave.)

He just needs some kind of destination first. Teru had a point when he reprimanded Akane for wanting to march into danger blindly.

.

Despite visibly being tired, the two survivors didn’t rest.

Teru mindlessly played with Akane's yellow tie, lost in thought. He tilted his head up so he could look at Aoi on the other side “Come here.”

Aoi leaned down and Teru softened when they made eye contact, keeping her there to wrap the stolen tie around her head, giving her an improvised headband: the bright yellow was beautiful in her frizzly purple hair.

“Ah” She patted her new accessory, smoothing out Teru’s crooked attempt to make a bow and smiling, her face still achingly pale and dirty, but nothing could make her joy not look stunning.

Akane stared at them, feeling something heavy in his belly. It wasn’t unpleasant but it wasn’t familiar. Wasn't comfortable either.

Aoi and Teru's eyes crinkled at whatever face he was making “Doesn’t she look great?”

“Stunning.” Akane agreed, noticing how she raised her hand, clearly going to cup his cheek, perhaps to kiss him, but changing her mind and leaning on him instead.

He was hesitant to pat her head again, still making an effort to separate them from the Aoi and Teru he knew, unable to say with confidence if he liked them from the little time they spent together or if he was just attached to their familiar faces.

Teru grabbed his hair tie, sliding it off until his ponytail came undone.

Akane frowned, feeling lighter at the way Aoi played with his hair again. “Can I braid it, Akane-kun?”

He forced himself to calm down at the sight of her sweet smile, wanting to keep it alive “Okay.”

.

He tried to think of a possible way out while Aoi braided his hair, but he couldn’t come up with anything. 

Aoi and Teru have no understanding of alternative dimensions, supernaturals, or any ‘magic’, claiming the zombie virus was biological in nature and started in farm animals.

He’ll need to explore the place to find hints of how to go back home, which they won’t approve of. He’ll have to sneak out when they are asleep.

…He doesn’t like the idea of leaving without a word, but disappearing while they sleep and making them believe his visit was all a lucid dream may be for the best.

(They’ll know from the water cantain and the pie that it wasn’t a dream, but he can’t bring himself to take the supplies from them.)

“Something in your mind Akane-kun?”

“I guess.” He said, reprimanding himself again for feeling his heart skip a beat when Aoi brushed his fringe, gently tucking it behind his ear.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

He can’t exactly reveal that he wants to run off, “No.”

They nodded, understanding the sentiment.

“...Tell us more about your world.” Teru tried to distract him, poking his forehead with his damaged hand and smiling “How did you gain magic powers?”

Akane found the way his smile reached his eyes admirable after gaining more insight into their situation. He stared at him for a moment, allowing himself to slow his mind down and talk while he wasted time, appreciating the careful way Aoi braided his hair and letting Teru mindlessly play with the golden ropes on his vest.

.

“Can you tell me more about Akane?” He asked after realizing he hadn’t been receiving much information, too caught up on the unusual experience of being asked about his life "...If that's okay."

“It’s fine <3” Aoi said with a cutesy smile “Akane was kind and attentive <3” Her smile dimmed, holding on to her pants, “He was smart, and good with first aid. People always went to him for help and he always… Helped.” She softened her voice “He was a dummy, so smart about survival, so… competent… but too eager to help, he trusted others too easily, gave his supplies too easily. If it wasn’t for Teru he would have died way sooner.”

So helping was his downfall. That doesn’t seem like something that should be a problem, isn’t it common sense to help when others are in a tough situation? Find strength in numbers?

(Maybe he was betrayed...? He had been assuming this Akane was caught by zombies but it might not be that simple…)

“Did a human kill him?” He thought out loud, glancing at Teru’s damaged hand. Destroyed by a fellow human.

He expected them to not answer, which he would be fine with.

He got two answers instead.

“Yes.” Teru said at the same time Aoi said “No.”

Aoi frowned at Teru, who ignored her.

“He believed there was a cure. A way to heal those that turned into zombies. He was searching for it.” Teru said, “Fools like him weren't meant for a world like this.”

“I don’t think searching for a solution is foolish.” Akane frowned, “If nothing is done, nothing will get better.”

“But it won’t get worse.”

‘Isn’t the virus spreading regardless of what you are doing? Things are getting worse.’

“Maybe,” Akane said instead. He doesn’t know enough about this world to have his usual confidence, but the pieces he did get are… Concerning “But that’s still... Not right. If no one even tries you’ll just be waiting for the world to end.”

Aoi and Teru didn't argue, their silence sent a shiver down his spine “Oi…” He felt his heart drop, hating how they avoided eye contact “Say something.”

“...I don’t want to die.” Aoi reassured with a lackluster smile. She was similar enough to his childhood friend for him to hear the quiet ‘but I don’t want to live either’

“Ao-chan.” He frowned, grabbing her shoulder.

“I won’t let her die,” Teru reassured.

Which is good, great even, but does leave a glaring issue “And you?”

Teru blinked “I’ll be fine.”

“You better.”

“...You better.” Aoi repeated, making Teru's hand curl into a loose fist.

.

Akane's internal clock informed him it was 10pm, but the room remained somewhat bright on this full moon night. When they finally closed their eyes Akane could still see his surroundings, gently poking their cheeks to make sure they are asleep.

They are.

...It’s strange. His Aoi never sleeps this early.

Akane got up as quietly as possible, freezing at the feeling of his cape being pulled.

“Knew it.” Teru hissed, narrowing his eyes “You gave up too easily. It’s not like you.”

“You don’t know me.” Akane pointed out, switching plans and bolting to the door, leaving his cloak behind.

He was able to move the crowbar jamming the door but not take it off before Teru caught up to him, grabbing the back of his vest and dragging him away from the exit.

“I won’t stay, there is nothing you can do to change it.” Akane said, trying to shake Teru's hold off his damn vest “Let go! I don’t want to fight.”

He can use his watch to stop time, it would grant him a successful escape with no fight involved, but this world is dangerous, he would rather guard his time for emergencies, and he refuses to consider these two an emergency.

“Nothing?” Teru's face closed off, still holding on tight. He didn’t look surprised. 

“Nothing.” Akane stayed firm, glancing at their beaten-up mattress and noticing Aoi was awoken by the commotion, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.

Teru considered his options, sweating as he reached a hand towards him, his moves awkward. Hesitant. Almost nervous. It was uncharacteristic of him but Akane took his faltering as an opportunity to continue his escape, already so close to getting this door open-

Teru grabbed his shoulder, holding on tight. “Wait…”

Akane seems to be an idiot who never learns, for he paused at how quiet Teru sounded, a bit surprised to turn around and see him in his personal space. Teru didn’t look nervous anymore, not at all, carefully holding Akane’s face, as he had done when they first met, bringing back that itch of discomfort.

“Are you scared of me?” Teru asked.

“No.” Akane frowned at the question, his differences from the Teru he is used to could get awkward, but he didn’t feel endangered by this boy, not since their first meeting. He wasn’t sure if he was looking for an answer to his behavior or being confrontational when he added “Should I?”

“No,” Teru's hold got looser, “We won’t hurt you. Relax.”

Relax...?

Akane felt something strange yet oddly familiar at his soft gaze. A buzz in the back of his head told him this wasn’t right, but his belief in Teru was stronger: Teru wouldn’t hurt him. Not this Teru.

Teru’s damaged hand slid to the back of his neck, the other lingering on his chin in an alarmingly intimate way, his thumb brushed his lips, gentle and lingering, and most definitively not friendly.

Oh

All the instances where Teru acted weird suddenly clicked.

This world's Akane was dating him too, wasn’t he?

The boy had gotten closer, taking in Akane’s wide eyes with a look that felt dangerous. Akane grabbed his wrist, not scared per se but still panicking. "Wait-"

Teru’s mouth was on his before he could say much of anything, his lips noticeably more cracked than Aoi's but less dry thanks to the water canteen.

(Less shy too.)

Akane froze, blushing when Teru made an approving sound that went straight to his mouth, only needing three fingers to tilt his head to a better angle and deepen the kiss, using his healthy hand to caress his thigh, touching him in a way no one ever had, but that felt weirdly good.

That doesn’t make sense, something is wrong-

Akane held on tighter to his wrist when his back was pressed on the jammed door, pretty sure Teru was gauging his reaction, pulling himself closer the second Akane blushed, fully leaning over him. 

Akane held on to his shoulder for better balance and shoved Teru away with all of his strength, his blush quickly dying out. “I told you to wait!” Akane snapped, stumbling away from him and the room's exit. “What is wrong with you?!” He shivered at his disappointed look, the realization Teru knew so much about what he liked because he was intimate with his Akane made the clock keeper feel jumpy. “Damn it,” He cleaned his mouth with his dirty sleeve, trying to erase the phantom feeling “You can’t do that! I don’t even like the president.”

“I am not the president of anything.”

Akane froze at his neutral tone.

Teru sighed. “It's okay if you don’t like me, but I am not your president, Akane-kun.”

“I’m not your Akane.” He narrowed his eyes “I owe you nothing.”

“I know.” Something in his eyes felt weird, it didn't seem malicious but it still made him uncomfortable “But I like you.”

“You like the parts of me that remind you of your Akane.” He called him out, unconsciously taking a step back, farther away from the survivor and the jammed door.

“I love that too.” Teru admitted, taking a step forward “But you’re not as similar to Akane as you think, Akane-kun.” His eyes crinkled but he did not sound playful “You can’t replace him.”

“And you can’t kiss me.” 

“But Aoi can?”

Akane froze, the usual giggly energy that comes just from thinking about kissing her not present. She was charming, and kind, and pretty, but she wasn’t his Aoi.

She was a stranger.

Akane narrowed his eyes, he was weak to any form of those purple eyes, but he would only ever kiss his Aoi. He needs to get his shit together. He needs to get back to her.

“...No.” He frowned, clenching his fists and trying to stay focused, no more of this nonsense “No, she can’t.” He said more firmly “Akane-chan was confused at the time, but she didn’t kiss me after. She understands.”

In a way, it didn’t feel like Aoi had kissed him, she clearly had a ghost in mind when she hugged him. So it's easy to chalk up her advances as a grief reaction.

(This time it actually felt like his second first kiss was taken from him)

Aoi tensed up at the use of her surname. Teru frowned, acting just as upset by it.

“Sorry,” Teru did not seem apologetic, but he was visibly troubled. “I won’t do it again, I just wanted to be sure.” 

Akane narrowed his eyes.

He wasn’t able to read his expression all that well, but he knows how careful and smart the president is, and how intimately familiar Teru had been with this world's Akane. He can sense this is bullshit."

“No, you didn’t. You just wanted to kiss me.” Akane accused, confused and frustrated by the idea that Teru kissed him because he wanted but not shying away from reality “You knew it since we met that I didn’t like you.”

Teru seemed hurt by his word choice.

“I didn’t know what els-” He swallowed his words, switching to a far colder tone “And you want to leave!” 

“I need to.” Akane felt like a broken record, narrowing his eyes at their stubbornness. He is not sure how to feel about Teru’s… Attachment to him here, so he tried not to focus on it.

He shouldn’t focus on any of their issues.

Hell, he was supposed to be out by now! Not freaking out about a kiss!!

“But not now.” Aoi offered with a tentative smile, trying to do damage control “We want to know more about you.”

No.

“...We can tell you more about Akane too, if you want.” Aoi added in a soothing tone. “We will be on our best behavior.”

A part of him was tempted to sit down and hear them out, feeling their tired yet gentle gaze tug at his heartstrings, not quite able to ignore that they are alone in a world merciless enough to kill everyone. 

(Even if they aren’t the sweet people he had imagined, he still doesn’t think their kindness is false, he truly doesn’t.)

But this time he paid attention to the itch in his throat warning him they are a bad idea. They are as dangerous as the world itself, their actions unpredictable, off, like they aren’t being fully honest about their reasons for wanting him. Similarities to their own Akane be damned.

(Still, he doesn’t want to fight them.)

“Sorry.” Akane said, picking up his clock keeper watch, willing to deal with the consequences of his careless time use later “I need to go.”

He activated his powers-

Teru grabbed a knife on the table and threw it at his hand with astonishing precision, cutting Akane's knuckles. The pain made Akane drop the watch before it arrows could hit the right time to activate his power. Aoi dashed for it, grabbing the watch chains the second it hit the ground and hugging it close to her chest. Akane held his injured knuckles, not prepared in the slightest for an attack.

“You-” He spluttered, unsure if he was more surprised by Aoi's quick steal or Teru attacking him.

“Stay.” Aoi said coldly, holding on tighter to his watch, “Stay or we will break it.” 

No!

Akane jumped on her, not having the time for this. Teru grabbed his ponytail, which hurt, and kicked his back, forcing Akane to slam on the ground “Don’t struggle, Akane-kun.”

Akane snarled, twisting his waist to face him and trying to grab his leg, get a firm grip to throw him on the ground too. Teru put more pressure on his shoulder blades at his wiggling, keeping his chest clued to the dirty ground, unable to reach anything.

It hurt.

Akane got angrier when Teru sat on his back.

(he felt a hint of betrayal too but he ignored that. He should have known they wouldn’t stay still when he tried to escape.)

“Let me go Minamoto!” He trashed, focusing on the knife that had been thrown at him and stretching his arm for it, tensing up when Aoi kicked it out of his reach and Teru grabbed his wrists, his voice far too close.

“You are not leaving.”

Akane froze at the finality in his tone. Teru wasn't asking, it was an order. “I can’t-”

“You’re not leaving.” Aoi sounded just as cold, getting a detached look in her eyes.

The air felt thick, the smell of decay making him clench his jaw.

“...Fine.” He hissed, anger bubbling under his skin as he clenched his fists “Fine, I’ll stay! Happy?!”

“Very.” Teru’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. They mostly looked relieved, which was far worse than if they were smug about it.

Akane rubbed his wrist when Teru let him go. He got up, sweating at the way Teru confiscated the watch from Aoi, putting it in his pants pocket, where he could always keep an eye on it.

.

“Why did you kiss him?” Aoi reprimanded Teru, trying to be quiet but it’s hard not to be heard in this empty building, “You’re scaring him.”

“He liked the hand holding and the cuddling after the surprise wore off.” Teru explained, the look in his eyes strange, simply not comparable to any of the president’s moods Akane is familiar with “I thought he would get used to it too. I still think he can.”

“Like hell I can.” Akane frowned, jumpy at the mere idea.

“Teru…” She sounded tired.

They stared at each other in silence, lost in their own little world.

“...Akane also never thought about us until you said it.” He frowned, more bothered now that he was talking to someone that seems to see right through him “…Why is it always me that’s so hard to imagine lovin-”

“I am still here, stop talking about me as if I wasn’t here!” Akane yelled, not going to spend his forced house arrest being a delightful company “And don’t use your Akane to assume my feelings.” He gave them a judgemental look “I know you for less than a day Minamoto. Get a grip!”

Teru glared, clenching his fists at being called out and walking off to sulk on the old mattress.

Aoi frowned, her big eyes still making him feel like a horrible human being, but he forced himself to stay stern “You too Akane-chan.” Though he unconsciously softened his voice at the way she tensed up. “You’re lovely, but you’re not my Aoi. I am not going to stay with you.”

She frowned, looking extremely sad and jealous and familiar.

Great, he gets his kiss stolen, gets kidnapped, and yet, he is the only one here who seems to be feeling guilty.

Urgh.

Does he really feel guilty...? 

...Is that what's been choking him?

That’s stupid. It’s not his fault this world went to shit. He doesn’t owe them anything. This isn’t even his world!

‘They lost everyone, you can lose some time. Let them grief.’

His frustration disappeared at the reminder, still confident this doesn't give them the right to do this, be it trapping him here or treating him as some… lover replacement or whatever they want from him… But he can’t resent them for attaching so many hopes to his presence, for wanting so badly to gain something after losing and losing and losing, be it friends, food, family, lovers, homes…

Akane frowned at a stain on the wall, unable to tell if it was dirt or dried blood. 

Does he forgive them for this? He doesn’t know. Maybe...? He still doesn’t want to hurt them, but he doesn’t want to be here either. At all.

He got up, unable to stay still when his mind was such a mess. He needs to do something. He sweated at the immediate way they went into alert mode, eyes on him like a hawk.

…Maybe, just maybe, he could invite them to his world. 

Can they leave this world without dying? Akane is a special case, he comes from a universe where life and death can coexist, getting stuck with a contract that makes him able to visit places where time and space don’t exist, but these two are not ‘magical’, they are normal. 

(But they can see him. Why can they see him? Maybe they are near death Maybe they have some sort of magic power they aren't aware of?)

He could always lie about taking them with him, that hint of hope might make them want to leave this room, but that was… Cruel.

(He can’t offer them a place where their families are alive only to realize at the crossing line that they can't follow him.)

“Akane-kun.”

He looked at Aoi, something on his face must be colder than usual, for she stopped a meter away from him, cupping her cheek in that painfully familiar way and hiding behind a cute smile

“It's late <3” Aoi chirped, trying to hide how nervous she was. “Come rest with us.”

“If I figure a way out, will you give me my watch back?”

Aoi and Teru exchanged looks “Yes.”

“Promise.” He narrowed his eyes, focusing on Aoi.  She has enough similarities to the Aoi he grew up with for him to know when she lies.

“...Promise.” She said quietly, a bit sad.

Akane stared down at her, relaxing a little at the hints of regret in her eyes “Okay.”

.

Akane grabbed his cloak from the ground and went to the corner, wanting some alone time (or as alone as you can be, locked in a room together). He blocked out their whispers and ate his slice of raspberry pie to feel better, the piece so small it was more of a bite than a meal.

One bite proved to be enough. Akane smiled a little at the flavor, the fruity taste lingering on his tongue, the sweetness of it not too high. It fit his preferences.

(It reminds him of his Aoi.

…He wonders how his best friend is doing.)

How much time has gone by in his world since he got lost?

Has it been a day? A week? No time at all?

…Would his Aoi even notice? People’s presence disappears when they reach a boundary, maybe it’s the same when they change dimensions.

Maybe that’s for the best, he doesn’t want her to worry.

...Would his Teru notice?

…Would he care? 

This Teru cares a lot about his Akane, and with this… less platonic door open he is getting a suspicious feeling about the opera manager as well, sure when he called Aoi “the second beauty of the opera house” he wasn't being a narcissistic bastard, referring to that exhausted version of Akane as a “beauty of the opera” instead of himself.

Teru lightly poked his forehead making Akane snap out of it and glare up, still angry about being manhandled and having his pocket watch stolen.

“You can have a proper slice, Akane-kun.” Teru offered, and Akane deflated at the offer. It was things like this that made it hard to hate them.

“I am good. Save it for later.”

Teru nodded, hesitating a little but leaving Akane alone again.

.

“We decided to look for supplies tomorrow. You can come with us." Aoi announced with a cute smile "See if there is anything magic near.”

Akane raised a brow, suspicious “...You're okay with me going out now?”

“It’s better to go out with our protection than to have you sneak out alone.” Teru explained “But you need to promise to stay near.”

“Okay.”

“I am serious,” Teru insisted “You’ll listen to everything we say and under no circumstance run ahead.”

“Okay.” Akane frowned, still greatly disliking the lack of trust this Teru has in him “I promise I won’t run off without my clock in an unfamiliar world.”

“Wonderful!” Aoi said, her smile growing more tired “Can we sleep now? We need energy for tomorrow. <3”

Akane nodded, mostly because they really needed to get some rest.

He wasn’t sure if he was comfortable sharing a mattress with them again after what he learned, tempted to rest on the dirty floor, alone, but Teru didn’t care about his preferences, taking his lack of explicit hatred as permission to grab his vest and physically drag him to their makeshift bed.

Akane groaned and protested but he still found himself by their side in the end. Aoi only held on to his arm and wrist instead of cuddling his side, but Teru laid his head on his lap, as if to challenge Akane.

It put him on edge, not wanting to stare at him and think about the kiss. Or the way this world's Akane was dating them both.

(Is it normal for them to kiss? How close are they? When did they start dating? Are Teru and Aoi dating each other too? Is this even dating…? What made this Akane want to date Teru?)

Teru poked his forehead. Akane startled, hating Teru’s small smile.

“What’s on your pretty little head?”

“Don’t flirt with me, Minamoto.” Akane reprimanded.

Teru paused, tilting his head as if curious, but he didn’t look curious.

“I won’t kiss you again. I promise.” Teru's open expression was ironically hard to read. Was he amused? Charmed? Nostalgic? “If that's what you're scared about."

"Don’t pretend to be respectful now," He shoved him off and put a hand on Teru’s chest when he tried to climb on his lap again “Stay here.”

Teru frowned, but he did surprisingly obey, staying by his side.

He didn’t climb on Akane again even after he took his hand off his chest but he did cling to his arm like Aoi, keeping a firm hold on his pulse wrist.

.

Akane could not fall asleep.

He mindlessly took his arm out of their grasps and brushed Aoi’s matted hair, having adjusted her so she rested more comfortably on his lap, and staring at Teru, unsure if he should touch him in any way. Comfort him in any way.

This Teru is not the president, and Akane doesn’t like him in that way he just feels weird because it is weird. But he has been taking care of Aoi (and his own Akane too), and his eyes can be so tired, so cold, yet still be kind, even after losing so much…

Akane hesitantly brushed his dirty hair, and looked away when Teru leaned on the touch, curling up like a cat and letting a happy sigh once Akane tentatively scratched his head.

Well… That’s unfortunately very cute.

Akane held them closer when they frowned in their sleep, watching Aoi curl up and Teru hold him tighter, and sighing at the sight, allowing himself to close his eyes. 

He will find a way home tomorrow, when they go out for supplies. For now, he can sleep.

.

Akane yelped, his sleep interrupted by Teru and Aoi abruptly getting up, alert within seconds.

He got up as well, their sense of urgency shaking him awake. He watched they reach for their respective weapons with dread“What is going on-”

“Shuush” Aoi put a finger on his mouth, holding on tight to her knife with the other. She sounded grumpy, not liking her nap being disturbed, and definitively not in the mood for questions.

Akane shut up, the silence made him aware of approaching footsteps, very quiet footsteps. He sweated at their hyperfocus on the door and tried to take advantage of it, use it as a distraction to retrieve his pocket watch.

Teru blocked his attempt with his crowbar, narrowing his eyes.

‘I need a weapon’ he mouthed, really hoping Teru found it more important that Akane was able to defend himself than that he was unable to escape.

Teru held on tighter to his weapon, growing more tense the closer the footsteps approached but he did not give him the watch.

Akane was hurt by this, catching Teru’s message for him to stay out of it and ignoring it. He will not let Teru fight for him, his fists are more than enough to prove he can be of help.

knock knock knock.

Akane wasn't sure what to expect, but the calm knock on the locked door was unsettling, not sure he could trust humans after what he was told.

“Aoi?” A very familiar voice asked. “Are you in there?”

“President…?” Akane's eyes widened, sure he is mishearing it. What would the president be doing in a place like this??

Aoi and Teru froze, confused and panicked.

“You made me look all over the place for you!” The president complained, "Can you open the door, Aoi?"

"May take a while." Akane admitted, eyeing the two survivors.

"No time to wait~" His Teru said, slashing the door in half.

The Aoi and Teru from this world froze, staring at the president with shock and fear. Akane was a little startled too, but he was used enough to the exorcist's raw power to not be surprised he could cut through doors.

“...You came searching for me?” Akane said slowly, staring at his friendly smile with a buzz in his head, having been sure even the opera manager would be more likely to save him than the one that goes out of his way to make his life harder. “You? ”

The president didn't react to his disbelief, eyes lingering on his braided hair and on how Aoi was using his tie as a headband before Teru, the one with a crowbar and dried blood on his clothes, got in between them, forcing the president to switch his focus. When the survivor spoke it was with the same cold voice he had used to pin Akane to the ground, not a hint of kindness to be found “You want to take Akane?”

“I am merely retrieving him.” The exorcist said, his smile pleasant but strange, likely surprised he used his first name.

"No," Aoi held on too tight to Akane, glaring at the exorcist “He is staying.”

Akane tensed up, “Akane-chan I am not staying.” He tried to shake her off, not being as gentle as usual “Let me go, now. You promised-”

“Get out.” The Teru from this apocalyptic world demanded, raising his rusty crowbar.

“I cannot.” The exorcist smiled apologetically “I’m afraid Aoi does not belong here.”

The survivor immediately swung his crowbar at the exorcist. It was so fast and sudden, that it startled Akane, who took a moment to realize he was aiming for the president’s head.

( Just like the headless corpse in the next room )

“Are you trying to kill him?!” Akane protested, yelping when Aoi used all of her strength to drag him down, but focusing on this world’s Teru, glaring at him. “He isn’t a zombie, you bastard-”

Akane was pushed again. He tried to pry Aoi off him with more urgency, not wanting to hurt her but needing to leave, to stop them “Akane-chan, get off me!” but she wasn’t budging, she kept clinging, sinking her chipped nails deep enough to hurt when she realized she isn’t strong enough to stop him.

“Please.” She begged when he just dragged her “Stay! PLeaSe.”

Akane felt his heart sink at the way her voice cracked. He had never seen Aoi make such a desperate face, had never seen her try so hard to get something. 

She is not Aoi. She is not Aoi. She is. She is not Aoi. She is. She is not. She is. She is. She is.

She is not his Aoi.

He can't grant her wish. Not at the cost of abandoning his Aoi.

Guilt is useless, so he focused on any anger he could find within himself. On the way she had promised to let him go once he found a way.

“You know I’m not from here, Akane-chan!” He tried to sound stern but he still mostly sounded distressed, weak in the face of her pain “I was always going to leav-”

“No.” She held on tighter, not looking at him in the eye “You’re not leaving again!”

The sound of something falling made them look at the Terus. The exorcist had a stain on his pants and a bruise on his hand that wasn’t there before, but he didn’t seem to care about his injuries, his bracelet trapping his tired opponent, keeping him out of the way.

His clock keeper watch had fallen on the ground somewhere along the fight. The president lightly kicked it his way the second they made eye contact.

“Teru!” Aoi paled, wide eyes fixated on her fallen friend. It must have triggered bad memories, for when Akane lowered himself to grab his watch she grabbed his shoulder and pointed her knife to his throat with an expertise Akane would rather not think about.

Both Terus froze.

Akane was startled, though for some reason, he didn’t feel any alarm.

Aoi pressed her knife closer to his neck “Don’t touch him.” She ordered, and he could see the slightest of trembling on her hold despite her palpable determination “Or I’ll kill Akane-kun.”

Aoi…

Teru did take a step back from his fallen clone.

Akane gave her a sad look, certain she wouldn’t kill him. “The president won’t hurt him.” He said softly, ignoring how the blade dug uncomfortably into his neck every time he opened his mouth “The bracelet isn't a weapon, is a restrain. Teru will be fine.” He stretched his arm towards his watch and softened his voice at the way Aoi loosened her grip once Akane leaned too far down her blade, at risk of cutting himself “The president won’t hurt him. I promise.”

She got angry, so she must believe him. 

Akane activated his pocket watch without looking away from Aoi, who opened her mouth but said nothing, always needing time to gather her thoughts. She froze in time before anything could be said, her tears stopped falling, small hands hopelessly holding on to the knife.

Akane hesitated, but cleaned up her tears, feeling strange at the idea of leaving her behind. He spared the tied ex journalist a look as well, not liking the situation.

“We don’t have much time,” The president flickered his hand, ordering his beads to wrap themselves around his wrist again.

Akane nodded, taking off his clock keeper cape and wrapping it around Aoi’s thin shoulders. He spared her despair one last look before turning his back on her, his eyes unconsciously going to the defeated Teru, whose snarl was frozen in time. 

(He felt something ugly and unpleasant at the sight)

His hand twitched, but the idea of patting his shoulder didn’t feel right, much less with the president looking at him, patiently waiting by the entrance of a pitch black tunnel.

This place really messed with his head. He needs to get out.

Akane clenched his fists and followed the president, being plunged into darkness once he closed the entrance. In the distance, he could see doors with lights hung above each, back to where he had started.

They were quiet.

It gave him time to think. More time than he would have wanted.

“..President?”

Teru spared him a glance to show he was listening.

“Do those two have any supernatural connections or magic powers?”

“No. That entire world is devoid of it. It was hard to find a way in.”

Akane bit his lips, feeling cold inside “So the reason they can see me…”

Teru looked away but still answered what Akane had feared “It’s because they’ll die very soon.” 

“...In a year?” He asked, thinking about Yashiro’s situation and the empty look in their eyes.

“A week.”

What.

Akane stopped walking.

“...A week?” 

That can’t be right. That's too little time.

“They could touch you,” Teru explained while Akane was still processing the information.“Only those very close to the dead can touch supernaturals.” 

Akane didn’t reply, feeling empty at the realization they will die soon. He is leaving them to die.

They will die this week.

‘Can we take the two with us?’ he wanted to ask, but the question was heavy and stupid in his tongue.

There is already a Teru and an Aoi in his reality, and he has seen the primal desperation in their eyes, he could tell that the survivor was willing to kill his exorcist counterpart for Akane, all while not considering him the ‘real’ Akane.

(He doesn’t want to know what the survivors would be willing to do to be part of a world where their family and friends are alive, and zombies do not exist.)

Teru squeezed his shoulder, snapping him out of it.

He was beautiful, his blue eyes and golden hair shiny compared to the bleak world of zombies, but he wasn’t warm. He did not offer Akane a smile like the Teru of the zombie world would, nor did he let the touch linger, eyes devoid of that overwhelming love for him.

“There is nothing you can do about it. Fate does not change.” Teru said, “Whatever accident will take their lives isn’t one you can control. That entire world will die soon.”

…Perhaps Teru was trying to comfort him.

(It didn’t work)

“Right…”  Akane looked back at the darkness, where their time must have already started running again.

Teru said there is nothing to do but he can’t leave them to… die. It’s not right.

“Akane-san is doing well.” Teru said, turning his back on him, walking ahead  “Let’s get you back to her.”

Right, Aoi-chan.

…He misses her.

Akane stared at Teru's back, at the way he led the way with confidence, fully trusting Akane to follow him, to keep up.

There was a lump in his throat, an urge to turn his back on Teru and go find the two survivors anyways, to at least try to help and keep them safe, but he forced himself to march on, his legs heavy as he walked away from the people that tried to trap him and murder the president who looked at him as if he was precious, heading back home with Teru

Chapter Text

Akane was silent on their trip back home. He walked slower than usual, making an effort to never look back but not quite registering what was ahead either, not glancing at any of the doors they passed by.

Teru slowed down to match his pace, certain that leaving those strangers to die was killing Akane inside. Teru didn’t say anything but he noticed the dirty fingerprints on Akane’s sleeves, the braid on his hair, the rotten smell, and the hint of dirt all over his body, as if that decaying world was still clinging to him, his tie and cloak absent, leaving a piece of himself with the dying strangers.

Teru can’t understand his grief. 

He hadn’t been happy to learn what kind of universe Akane got himself trapped in, but when he saw Akane, unharmed and confused, clearly out of place in the bleak surroundings, he was mostly glad this was the Akane he had been looking for, safe from the dangers of that zombie infested world.

… But he can’t say his visit, short as it was, didn’t affect him.

There was a sense of wrongness that lingered in his heart after hearing Akane reassure Aoi that “Teru” would be alright, understanding Akane wasn’t talking about him, already on a first name basis with a stranger but keeping a certain distance with Teru even after years of knowing each other.

Teru did not like this version of himself, it was strange to raise his sword against someone with the same eyes as him: A thin and injured reflection of who he is, too pale, too short, too eager to play dirty, visibly defeated underneath his anger, but still recognizable as himself.

The exorcist wonders if he looks as cold and violent in the eyes of his peers as this cracked mirror image does when he is fighting.

(He knows he does, having caught sight of his blood-stained face reflected in the puddles on the street, supernatural extermination making his destructive urges comfortable.)

Aoi, the short haired one with fire in her eyes and dirt under her nails, had looked cold as well, and that did surprise him, understanding what kind of world he was visiting and easily chalking the Teru with a crowbar as a danger to be dealt with, but unable to do the same with Aoi, unable to fully separate the one with a knife under Akane’s throat to the mysterious yet delicate and sweet girl he has been trying to befriend.

Teru looked back at Akane, sure if he was having problems processing someone with Aoi’s face acting so violent, Akane would have twice the issue with it, his childhood friend meaning the world to him.

Teru let the trip remain silent, pausing by a familiar door and knocking on it, feeling the distinctly supernatural energy behind it.

This is the one.

He opened the door for Akane, following him out of this void where time and space does not exist.

It was still afternoon back home, his classroom empty, with only three backpacks in their desks, from students that stay up late doing club activities.

Akane took it all in with an unreadable expression, his eyes tired “...President, how much work do we have today?”

 “I already finished our council duties.”

Akane nodded, staring at him. Something about his stare felt different than usual, more focused, as if Teru was a document he hadn’t paid enough attention to, trying to read between the lines.

Teru tilted his head, used to being scrutinized, but rarely by Akane “Something wrong, Aoi?”

Akane seemed hesitant but he blurted out “...President, do you like me?”

“Of course,” He said “You’re my friend.”

His only friend, but Akane doesn’t need to know that.

(He doesn’t need to know how muddy the nature of his feelings are either)

“Friend.” Akane frowned, it was hard to say if he expected less or more. “Right.”

“Was the Teru of that world not friends with his Akane?”

“No.” Akane said, clearly unsure how to explain “I mean, yes. He was.” He sweated “He was good friends with his Akane.” Akane avoided eye contact. “...His Akane is dead.”

Teru had a feeling, but he stayed quiet.

“I don’t know if we are friends, me and them…” Akane licked his lips, his voice growing quieter, though Teru wouldn’t call it softer “But calling them acquaintances doesn’t feel right either.” 

“You don’t have to put a label on it. It’s in the past.” Teru advised, simply not thinking about the dead. It sometimes helps.

Akane stared at Teru, that hint of sadness in his eyes still there but mixing with a familiar passion that follows his every move, the dying sunset bathing him in gold and orange “I’ll build them a grave.” 

“That’s a good idea” Teru hummed, not sure how to help. Akane doesn’t feel like he is grieving, the loss of those strangers is likely not comparable to when he lost his mom, but he does seem sad. Genuinely sad.

He supposes leaving someone to die just isn’t in his nature, it sticks. 

“President,” Akane said, softening a little when he gave him his full attention “Thank you for saving me.”  

Teru tilted his head, not used to this kind of gentle sincerity from Akane.

It’s different from his usual gratitude, from the little nods he is given when he helps with budgets and tricky documents.  Akane always treated him with respect despite cursing him out, but there is a difference between knowing underneath his frustrations that Akane respects him and having him look at him with warm eyes, focusing on the good, visibly appreciating his existence. 

Teru cracked a small smile, feeling a pleasant warmth in his cheeks “Stay safe, Aoi.” 

“You too, I’m glad you-” Akane started, but didn’t finish, blushing a little and changing the subject “See you tomorrow president.” 

“See you tomorrow, Aoi.” 

“I’ll write their names.” Akane warned, his teasing smile tired but reaching his eyes “...So don’t freak out if you see your own grave.” 

“Ha... that feels like you’re cursing me, Aoi.”

“Cry about it.”

.

Aoi stared at the empty school gates, slowing down her steps. 

Akane wasn’t waiting for her like usual. 

Aoi resisted the urge to frown, sure he had said he would today. 

(As he had done every day) 

“Ao-chan!” He ran toward her, not smiling. “Sorry for being late.” 

“No worries, I wasn’t waiting long <3” 

Akane stared at her instead of blushing and squealing about how she was a forgiving angel, the warmth in his eyes making her look away. 

She always had problems looking at him in the eye for too long, sure despite how full of love his gaze feels, he wasn’t truly seeing her. It was much easier to watch his back as he worked in class or admire him from her balcony, keeping a safe distance between them.

(His big brown eyes are beautiful, she has always loved them the most) 

Their walk was quiet. He asked her about her day, which is normal, and how her garden is doing, which is rarer but not out of the norm.

After some time of asking her questions, he stopped. He didn’t fill the silence with talks about his student council days or his plans for the week as usual, simply smiling and letting their chat fizzle into peaceful silence.

She caught him staring at the streets and the trees from the corner of her eyes, sometimes at her face and her uniform. Pensive. 

…Sometimes he looked sad.

It made Aoi worried, having been his friend since childhood, well aware very few things make him sad. Much less for long enough for the feeling to linger.

When kids forced him to do school project alone he got angry, not sad. When he gets hurt he brushes it off. When his favorite show was canceled he pouted but he didn’t get sad. Not for long.

(The last time he stared at her as if it was the first time he had ever seen her, was on their orientation day, after she had an accident she couldn’t quite remember the details of, but that made her faint in the streets, right in front of the school.

Akane had been very sad that day, fretting and fretting over her. He had been distracted and distressed that whole week.)

…Something must have happened.

“It’s something wrong?” She cupped her cheek, wondering if he would hide behind an awkward smile and lie to her face that everything was fine again “You seem distracted Akane-kun.”

“Do I? I'm sorry." He rubbed his cheek "I am good just, thinking... I have so much. We have so much...” He admitted with a very small but pretty honest smile, as if it was a normal thing to say, mindlessly twirling the very edge of her hair as he spoke, his smile softening, making her heart skip a beat, flustered by his sudden boldness “I’m so happy we’re alive, Ao-chan.”

Aoi's blush died out immediately, keeping a smile plastered on her face but feeling her grip on her schoolbag tighten.

What is he talking about?

...Does he know?

Is that why he is sad? Because he was able to see through her dazed smile? Somehow realized there are days where she doesn't pay attention to anyone, too tired to keep on going, fantasizing about simply... Disappearing.

Akane frowned at how rigid she has gotten, letting go of her hair and taking a slight step back, as if apologizing for touching her, but not voicing it, letting his statements hang in the air, suffocating her slowly.

He didn’t elaborate on it. So Aoi didn’t say anything, both silent in the street. Still hiding things from each other.

And yet... His presence is warm, as if a smidge of her wanted to agree with his foolish words, influenced by his energy.