Chapter Text
"Lovely"
He muttered to himself, smiling softly, albeit a bit sad.
He looked at the happy pair walking in front of him with so much fondness swirling in his eyes. Although, as much as there was fondness, there was a tsunami of sadness behind them. The pair looked so perfect in his group of friends, no flaws in his eyes. They looked so perfect that it hurts.
He watched as the pair were laughing with each other. The love in their eyes when they looked at each other made the pit in his stomach turn, making it overwhelming to him. Multiple invisible arrows shot through his heart when his eyes zeroed in on their linked hands, fingers lacing with each other. The way the bigger hand was rubbing his thumb over the smaller hand's knuckles. The way that raspy voice spoke in so much softness when talking to her.
It felt just like yesterday when those eyes were directed at him. It felt just like yesterday when he was the one in her place. The one who received such treatments.
It felt just like yesterday.
"Takemicchi" The raven-haired lifted his beautiful blue eyes, immediately meeting those soft black eyes he adored so much. The eyes that once looked at him with so much love. "Are you coming?"
The question made the others turn to him. But Takemichi didn't pay them any mind. He was still lost in those eyes. That pair of eyes were once his favourite thing to look at before starting his day. Every day, every hour, every minute, every second, he loved looking into those windows of the beautiful soul.
Takemichi didn't answer right away, still holding his stare on those black orbs, trying to identify every emotion swirling in those eyes. Trying to find any love for him in those eyes. When the other tilted his head in confusion, Takemichi dropped his stare, looking at his feet before chuckling.
"Silly Takemichi," He said to himself, shaking his head from side to side.
Everyone looked at him confused but one of them, the other pair of black eyes looked at him worried. Takemichi shot him a reassuring smile.
"On another thought, you guys can go without me," Takemichi said, stuffing his hands in his jeans pocket. he turned the other way before walking away from them. "I'm going to search for my gift for the big guy alone"
"You can't-"
"We're all grown up now, including me. I can handle myself just fine." Takemichi stopped walking but still did not turn back to face them. "My bodyguard is somewhere nearby too"
"We can-"
"Nope." They all smiled fondly when Takemichi popped the 'p', sounding so much like a child.
Turning his head to the back to look at the others, Takemichi stuck his tongue out, winking. He turned back to the front while waving to the others over his shoulder. "I'm going alone. I don't want you to see your wedding gift early," Takemichi laughed even though it sounded a little forced.
"It is for you after all, Draken-kun"
All of them looked at Takemichi retreating back, no one dared to follow him. As Takemichi's figure was out of their vision, they looked at each other confused before continuing with their shopping. The atmosphere suddenly turned sully, saddened by Takemichi's departure, but it was not long before they could go back to their own conversation.
A while after, someone spoke up. "Since Takemicchi has gone on his own, I can too, right?" The blonde asked enthusiastically.
"Mikey-"
Before anyone could say anything more, Mikey ran away, waving excitedly to them "Ta ta~! See you at home Emma!"
.
Takemichi walked with his head held down, hands in pockets, looking at the road he walked on. His thoughts were occupying his mind, questioning everything he did so far.
Why was he coming back to past? Why was he keep doing this even if no one knows his efforts? Why didn't he prioritize his happiness and just go on with his life? Why didn't he keep him? Why couldn't he be with him? Why couldn't he be her?
Why? Why? Why?
Although, the questions seemed to be reaching for that one answer.
For everyone to be happy.
He should have known that he was the problem.
Takemichi didn't notice where he was going, too lost in his head to hear people calling out to him. His body was in auto pilot, keep walking with no destination before something yanked him to the back.
"Woah! Are you okay Takemicchi?" Takemichi turned to his side sharply hearing the voice, wincing when the fast turn hurt his neck. He watched as his saviour swiped his face with his hand exasperatedly, sighing in relief. "You almost died, did you realize?"
Takemichi looked at the front again, wide-eyed seeing the road full of cars with a speed that he was sure was too fast. He released the breath he didn't know he was holding before looking at his saviour again, grateful on his face.
"Thanks, Mikey-kun"
"You're okay?"
Takemichi hummed and smiled slightly, continuing to walk to wherever.
Mikey quickly fell into steps beside Takemichi with his hands behind his head.
"Want to search for the gifts together?" Mikey asked, not even looking at Takemichi. He decided to change the topic seeing as how takemichi didn't want to talk about his well-being.
Takemichi didn't want to search for the gift. He didn't want to. Searching for the gift was only an excuse to get away from the couple. He knew that the more he stayed close to them, the more he burned himself.
"It's-"
"Alright, let's go!" Mikey enthusiastically pulled Takemichi along with him by his hand, laughing loudly. Takemichi looked at the back of Mikey's head wide-eyed before smiling and shaking his head fondly.
"Alright alright"
Takemichi and Mikey were spending their time searching the gifts for Draken and Emma. Takemichi didn't know why Mikey came with him but he was grateful for it. It made him forget. About whatever that was in his clever mind.
Somewhere in between their shopping, Takemichi didn't know how they ended up in an arcade, forgetting the gifts they were supposed to get. He was having fun. Playing together. Laughing together. It made him forget all the pain for a while. At some point, they were kicked out because Mikey was having a fight with a kid over the game.
Nonetheless, it made Takemichi laugh.
Mikey loved it when Takemichi laugh. He looked glowing as if the smile belong to his face. Takemichi's eyes shone brighter when he laughed. And have you heard those laughs? Mikey thought it should be illegal to have that beautiful sound emitted from a beautiful person.
As the night was approaching, both of them were walking home with some shopping bags in their hands, laughing together over some jokes they made.
"How was business?" Mikey suddenly asked, but Takemichi didn't mind. Anything was better than talking about him.
Mikey knew it too so that was why he talked about Takemichi's business and not their friend, especially those two. It would make Takemichi sad and Mikey didn't want to see such emotion on Takemichi.
A smile suit Takemichi better.
Moreover, Mikey was curious. Couldn't blame him when Takemichi was the heir to some famous company. Couldn't blame him when Takemichi always got busy to hang out with him like old times. He missed Takemichi and he wanted to know how Takemichi's life was going.
"Pretty much like usual. Tiring" Takemichi shrugged his shoulder, putting one of his hand in his pants pocket as the other hand held the shopping bags. "I got used to it though."
Mikey laughed, nudging Takemichi's side playfully. "Who would have thought that our crybaby would be the CEO of some famous company? The Sunflower Company? The one that made such great sports stuffs or equipments including e-sports? Definitely not us in the past"
Takemichi laughed along, punching Mikey's arm playfully. "I also didn't expect this timeline to be so different. It was too sudden. Suddenly, you got a call from your father who you didn't hear from for a long time just to hear that 'you will be appearing on the news as my successor'. I definitely didn't expect that. I didn't even know what his job was."
They laughed as they remembered how Takemichi freaked out. How he was forced to go to a salon and boutique just to get his hair done and a suit. The day his hair was officially permanently black. Starting then, their friends just made fun of Takemichi, saying how he looked so soft with his black hair.
They were walking, talking, teasing and laughing when they were occupied with the memories of the past timeline only they knew.
As their laughter died down, they just continued to walk down the street in comfortable silence.
The silence was interrupted as Takemichi's phone was ringing. Takemichi and Mikey looked at each other for a while, halting in their steps. Takemichi broke eye contact first and reached for his phone in his jeans pocket.
"Speak of the devil" Takemichi showed the screen of his phone to Mikey, grinning. There, on the phone screen was Takemichi's father's name.
Mikey grinned back, holding his laughter in. "And he shall appear"
Takemichi accepted the call and lifted the phone to his ear. The Takemichi he knew was gone, replaced by a professional looking businessman.
"Hello, Hanagaki Takemichi speaking," Takemichi spoke into the phone with so much authority that Mikey thought how well Takemichi aged in this timeline.
Mikey watched as Takemichi was having a conversation with his father on the phone. He didn't hear what Takemichi's father was saying but he watched as Takemichi's confused expression turned into a frown, biting his bottom lip harder.
"What?"
Mikey made eye contact with Takemichi. He held the eye contact as he watched Takemichi's face hardened, blood draining from his face.
Takemichi approached Mikey and the latter didn't make any move. Mikey just let Takemichi put his forehead on his shoulder, rubbing Takemichi's back comfortingly.
"Ah no, I heard you well" Takemichi pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep his composure in. "I'll think about it"
After exchanging a few words with his father, Takemichi turned off the call, letting his arm fall back and hanging on his side.
Mikey let the silence envelop them, letting Takemichi sort his mind. He wanted to ask but he wouldn't want to intrude. If Takemichi wanted to tell him, he was glad but if he didn't want to, it was fine.
After a while, Takemichi took a step back before looking at Mikey blankly. Mikey just waited patiently without saying anything, only a soft smile plastered on his lips.
"I..."
The winds around them suddenly blew through them. The wind was strong enough to make their hairs and clothes flipping dramatically. Mikey's eyes widened when he registered what had came out of Takemichi's pink lips.
The sweet voice suddenly heard to be so empty that evening.
"I do"
The clapping, cheering for the newlyweds echoed in the venue as the pair of a man and a woman officially married. It got louder as both of them were approaching each other, closing their eyes as their lips touched with one another. Various emotions were going through each of the guests, either happiness, joy, touched, excited, in love, contentment, awe and... sorrow.
Sorrow. Sadness. Among the guests, one of them was smiling at the newlyweds brightly, clapping for them happily. Although, his tears was streming down his cheeks. People might think that he was crying because of the overwhelmed feeling of happiness for the bride and the groom as the newlyweds were his friends.
But Mikey, the one who sat beside the man, knew better. He looked at his raven-haired friend with sadness swarming in his eyes. He watched as the others around his friend were complimenting the man for crying out of happiness for his friends at the altar. Mikey knew better. Those were not happy tears.
His friend was sad. No. Takemichi's heart was breaking. It was still an understatement of an understatement.
Mikey could only watch as Takemichi was wiping his tears aggressively, trying to stop the tears as best as he could. He heard the forced, the broken laugh Takemichi let out. However, Mikey's heart was clenching painfully when he saw the genuine happiness in Takemichi's eyes. Mikey was not surprised that Takemichi was happy that the love of his life got to be with someone he loved.
That was just the kind of person Takemichi was. Selfless.
As the groom of the day walked closer to Mikey, along with his bride, Mikey saw how Takemichi tensed at the decreasing distance between them. Mikey closed the gap between him and Takemichi, his hand behind Takemichi's shoulder blades to calm him down.
However, they both smiled their sweetest when Draken and Emma offered their own smile.
"I'm glad you could make it, Takemicchi" Draken said, ruffling Takemichi's well-presented hair.
Takemichi grumbled, swatting Draken's hand away from him with a little "don't mess my hair". No one needed to know that he just didn't any kind of physical contact with the groom, or else he will be addicted to the touch and cry again.
"Why shouldn't I come to your wedding?" Takemichi pouted, crossing his arms in front of his chest with narrowed eyes. "Do you think so lowly of me?"
The people around them laughed heartily at Takemichi's teasing while Draken spluttered trying to explain what he really mean.
"N-no! I- I mean you just so busy that you showing up just surprise me!" Draken hovered over Takemichi, hands frantically waving around trying to explain "B-but! I really am glad you show up! we missed you"
Takemichi softened his look, playfully punching Draken's arm. "I'm just teasing you, dummy. I'm glad to be here too" He shot Draken and Emma a soft smile but neither noticed the pain behind the smile.
"Am I being ignored right now?"
Three of them looked at Mikey who looked at them with scrunched up nose, playful irritation plastered on his face.
"Well, you never go away in the first place so it's hard to miss you" Draken and Emma said the same thing at the same time. They looked at each other surprised before smiling wide at each other, laughing.
Takemichi, who watched it, unconsciously smiled too, his eyes burning. Although, Mikey just looked so much more irritated that Takemichi chuckled. Takemichi rub his thumb over Mikey's scowl, easing him.
"Smile, silly"
Mikey rolled his eyes, smiling. He took Takemichi's hand, holding onto it, not letting go. However, he reluctantly lets go of Takemichi's hand when Takemichi gasped, catching the attention of the people nearby.
"Ah! The gift!" Takemichi exclaimed, as if just remembering about it. He pat around his suit, panicking while the other three just looked at him fondly.
After patting his every pocket and found nothing, he looked around him frantically when his eyes landed on the beige enveloped on his chair. He immediately snatched it, turning to Draken.
"H-here, open it!" Takemichi shoved the envelope into Draken's hands, earning a spluttering Draken. "F-for Emma-chan's, it's in her room already. It is too big to be brought here"
Emma smiled at Takemichi sweetly, hugging Takemichi while saying thank you over and over again.
Draken sighed, pulling his bride away from Takemichi before patting Takemichi's back. "Calm down, Takemicchi" If Takemichi visibly scooted away from the touch, no one said anything.
The tallest man there took a deep breath before opening the envelope as gentle as he could, taking out the paper inside. He just read the first line when his eyes widened, immediately looking at the sheepish looking Takemichi. He kept reading the paper and looking at Takemichi in disbelief repeatedly.
Mikey and Emma looked at each other confused before shrugging and turning to the other duo. Although, Mikey being Mikey couldn't contain his curiosity, climbing on Draken's broad back to get a look at the paper too. Safe to be said his eyes widened as wide as the plate too.
"I am the largest shareholder in my company. I own 90%" Takemichi said, gaining the attentions of the two shocked men and a confused Emma. Takemichi rubbed his nape awkwardly, a sheepish smile on his face when he saw their jaw gradually hanging open because of what he had revealed.
"I-I took over the Yamayume Motocars not too long ago and this-" Takemichi pointed to the papers in Draken's hands and they looked at it, jaws still hanging open. "-happened."
"T-Take-"
"The garage is located at the most popular spot for bikes and cars racing, close to your new house. I planned to give you the position of the Professional Managers, CEO-"
"NO"
"-But I figured you didn't want that" Takemichi looked at Draken, only Draken, smiling softly. "I know you. I know how you love tinkering with bikes or cars. So, that's from me, for you"
Draken looked at the papers in his hand still in shock, speechless. His eyes burned a bit, but he willed himself not to cry at that moment.
"I-I don't know-"
"No giving back. I took over and invested in that already" Takemichi crossed his arms in X, looking at Draken sternly before his expression softening "I know how much this job means to you, how much you wanted your work to be bigger than Shinichiro's. It's your opportunity, Ken-kun"
No one noticed how Takemichi slipped up the name. He used to call the other that in the past timeline when they were together. Takemichi acted as if nothing happened even if he's panicking internally. Before his panicking could get worse, he was taken aback when a strong arms wrapped around him.
Draken was hugging him.
Takemichi looked at Mikey for help, just to see that the latter was standing there in shock, frozen in his place. With no other option, Takemichi hesitantly lifted his hands to pat Draken's back gently.
Emma looked at this ordeal with warmth in her eyes. Happiness shone bright in her eyes for her husband.
When Draken detached himself from Takemichi, he smiled at the smaller man sweetly.
"Thank you"
"I-it's nothing, Draken-kun. We're f-friends. F-friends help each other." Takemichi really wanted to grimace with the f word coming out of his mouth. Oh how the word hurts him.
"...Still... this is what I want the most... I never tell anyone about this..." Takemichi's breath hitched when he saw the fondness in Draken's eyes, directed at him "I'm surprised you knew"
Takemichi laughed awkwardly, avoiding Draken's eyes while scratching his head. He couldn't just tell Draken that he was told by Draken himself. But in the other timeline.
"I want a gift too"
Takemichi chuckled before ruffling Mikey's hair. "Just tell me what you want, Mikey-kun. I'll get it for you"
Mikey smiled wide at Takemichi before blowing raspberry to Draken and Emma which earned him the annoyed newly weds.
Takemichi watched as Draken and Emma were trying to get Mikey, angry expressions on their faces. It was not long before Draken caught Mikey in his arm, ruffling Mikey's already messy hair. Meanwhile, Emma just stood there beside Draken looking so pretty, laughing at her groom's and her brother's antic.
"Congra-" Takemichi was about to speak, ready to move on, when the other Toman members and other guests came their way, smiling widely. The newly weds immediately came to their sense, remembering that they had other guests to entertain.
Draken and Emma looked at him sadly before Takemichi reassured them "It's okay. go"
They looked at him skeptical before heading to other guests. However, before Draken could create quite a distance from him, Draken said with his biggest smile,
"You look stunning as always, Takemicchi. A suit suits you. Thanks again" Draken couldn't even see Takemichi's reaction when one of the elder guest talked to him, taking his attention away from Takemichi.
The tears Takemichi tried so hard to hold just streamed down his face. He tried so so so hard to wipe away his tears, still not stopping.
'That's so random, silly'
Takemichi didn't see when Mikey glared at his Toman friends as a warning to not approach them.
Mikey reached for Takemichi's hand, taking Takemichi by surprise. When the latter looked at him wide-eyed, tears still running down his face, Mikey smiled softly. He squeezed Takemichi's hand to let the ravenette know that he would be there for him.
Mikey kicked the urge to squeeze Takemichi's hand three times down to the pit bottom of his heart. He just held onto Takemichi's hand, moving closer to Takemichi as they both watched Draken and Emma looked so in love with each other.
So in love that it burned Takemichi.
.
"Here, Takemicchi"
Mikey held out a glass of water in front of Takemichi, urging the latter to take it.
They were outside of the venue, away from anyone. Mikey took Takemichi outside when everyone seemed to crowd around the latter along with the newlyweds pair. Takemichi's expression when Draken and Emma talked to him happily while holding each other was an expression Mikey hated to see on Takemichi's face.
Mikey figured that taking Takemichi outside was a great idea as the only Hanagaki Takemichi immediately sobbing loudly the moment there was only Mikey and him.
Taking the water, Takemichi chuckled slightly as he nodded his head in gratitude. His tears stopped coming out but his eyes, nose, cheeks were so red that it looked obvious he just had a breakdown. Takemichi rubbed his throat comfortingly before connecting his lips to the glass, gulping down the fresh water.
"Thanks, Mikey-kun"
Mikey just looked at Takemichi softly. His stare was apparently getting too long as Takemichi squirmed on the bench beside Mikey. As Mikey noticed the ravenette getting anxious, he looked up to the sky, ruffling Takemichi's hair.
Takemichi tried to waved off Mikey's hand off of his hair but it was a futile. As Takemichi was struggling, Mikey pulled Takemichi's head closer to himself, causing Takemichi's head to land onto his shoulder.
Takemichi's eyes widened, his struggle completely came to a stop. The feelings of the rising up and down of Mikey's shoulder, and the hand that was caressing his hair gently were too comforting. The comfort uninvitedly made Takemichi's posture completely relaxed, dropping his hands on his laps.
"You know you don't need to torture yourself for them, right?" Mikey asked gently, planting a soft kiss on the top of Takemichi's head. "You need to catch your flight tomorrow"
Takemichi smiled softly, fidgeting with his fingers. He ignored the kiss as it was a normal thing for Mikey to do, he just couldn't understand why he always did it.
"But they are my friends. My precious friends," Takemichi's eyes burned with a new batch of tears welling up in his eyes. "It would be frustrating for them if I didn't come and watch their special day"
Mikey almost said 'they don't deserve your heart' but he bit his tongue. He knew he couldn't say it as Emma was his younger sister and Draken was his best friend. However, it broke his heart greatly when he saw Takemichi breaking.
"But Kenchin-"
"Draken-kun what? He is still my friend, no more than best friend" Takemichi pressed, cutting Mikey off before the latter could say something Takemichi didn't want to hear. "He is no more than that. He WAS mine, but it was in the past. You know that, Mikey-kun. The moment we came to the past, I knew. I knew exactly that he is not my Ken, he is not mine in here. Never mine. He was Emma-chan's in every timeline"
Before the silence stretched on, Takemichi continued, "Even in that timeline, if Emma-chan never died, I'm completely sure that Draken-kun will never be mine. I know that"
Mikey didn't know what to say as he only looked up at the sky blankly. He was afraid to see what expression did Takemichi wore. He didn't want to see Takemichi looking so heartbroken. He didn't want to. He hated it.
Although, when he felt the person he cherished shaking beside him, he tightened his embrace. Mikey rubbed Takemichi's arm in comforting manner, kissing the top of Takemichi's head once more. Ignoring the welling tears in his own eyes, Mikey bit his bottom lip hard, drawing some blood out. He hated it when Takemichi sad. Absolutely hated it.
Mikey stood up abruptly, almost making Takemichi fall. Standing up straight, Mikey turned to Takemichi with a big smile. Putting his left hand behind his back, Mikey extended his right hand toward Takemichi, bowing slightly.
Takemichi looked at the offered hand confused. Looking up at Mikey who had sunlight showering him, Takemichi hummed questioningly.
"Care to have a little dance with me?" Mikey said, still holding his hand out toward Takemichi with a warm smile. "Everyone was dancing in that building, we should too"
Takemichi looked at Mikey wide-eyed before he burst out laughing. It gained a big and sincere smile from Mikey as he heard Takemichi's beautiful laugh. Putting his hand onto Mikey's, Takemichi stood up from the bench, putting his other hand on Mikey's shoulder.
"It's an honour"
Mikey put his other hand on Takemichi's hip before both of them moved their bodies to the music from the venue.
"Sorry, Takemicchi"
Somehow, it felt like there was more to the apology.