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It was like a comfortable yet equally uncanny dream when Nozomi had led him by the hand to what he unequivocally knew as Karua's house.
Takumi didn't know how to feel, walking in. It was nostalgic and serene, but his brain poked and prodded at his memories, reminding him it wasn't the same. That it was different. The conflicting images of this house he knew and never stepped in simultaneously silently clashed and collided in his head, but he blinked them away, staring up at Nozomi instead.
His heart raced, thinking about the fact that they'd be living together. Just the two of them, in the house that Nozomi had inherited following her mother's passing. It was a bit sad to think that Takumi couldn't meet the woman herself, but at the same time…
He really didn't think he wanted to meet the woman that experimented on Nozomi so ruthlessly, though. Even if Nozomi handwaved that behavior and how much it clearly hurt her, something about it struck as wrong to Takumi. Families weren't supposed to be like that, right?
Well, maybe he shouldn't speak on that. After all, his “mother” didn't exist. Nozomi might've had insight on something he didn't regarding that.
Thinking about it now, the truth they had learned upon getting back on the Artificial Satellite was nothing short of devastating.
Their memories were fake. They were given those memories to become humanity's soldiers, their heroes clad in armor of blood. They were grown in capsules, destined to save their race.
After all, they were just as human as everyone else on the satellite.
They were showered in cries of praise and profuse apologies and lavish gifts upon their proper return home— they were quarantined and tested for any disease before re-entering the Tokyo Residential Complex, of course. It took them about a month before all of the paperwork was organized, and finally…
They were all able to live the lives they'd been fighting those hundred days for.
And for Takumi, that started with Nozomi.
It wasn't easy getting over Karua, but, the more he thought about it, the less he regretted his decision to stay with Nozomi. She looked so happy having him with her, and he couldn't help but mirror her expression in return.
As he had gotten to know Nozomi over these past months, there was something more there than what he had before with Karua. This is what he believed, at least.
But more than just that… was the peace.
From now on, things could be like Takumi always wanted them to be. The same, unchanging life, without the tough decisions he was forced to make on the battlefield, without the traumatic loss of his friends— the friends so close to him, that they were like the family he never had. He wouldn't have to sacrifice a single one ever again.
But he was sure his friends, wherever they went after they died, were watching the rest of them with pride. And he was glad he could carry on their wishes like this. He was glad he could protect Nozomi this time. He was glad to see her smiling so genuinely, with more confidence than he'd ever seen. Everything was perfect as it could be. He had done his job as Team Leader; there was no point in putting himself down for what he couldn't do, anymore. The others had reminded him of such.
“So, what do you think?” She asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. She had shown him around the whole house at this point.
“Well, it's just… it looks familiar, you know?” He smiled, a slightly somber tinge to his voice. “But it's nice.”
Her face fell flat for a brief second before she plastered a sad smile back on.
“Hey, I'm sorry, about… your memories, and all of that. It must be hard t—”
“Don't worry about it.” He interrupted. He didn't want to hear Nozomi berate herself for something that unimportant.
“H— huh?” She almost mumbled, her eyes wide.
“Sure, it's not easy dealing with the fact that Karua never existed, but… her being in my memory is still important. After all, she's what connects both of us.” He said, gently taking her hand in his.
“She connects us…?” She wondered aloud, looking down at their intertwined hands before looking back up at him.
“Yeah. Think about it; if Karua could only exist because you talked to me, it means that she's the way we can share those memories. And I'm… I'm glad to have those memories with you— with Karua— even if certain bits and pieces aren't true. I'm glad to be in love with you, because of that.”
Nozomi paused for a moment before giving him a warm smile.
“I'm glad to be in love with you too.”
She pecked him on the lips.
Takumi's body was on fire. Blood rushed to his face faster than he could think, and he felt like his mind was going to split in half.
That was the first time she'd ever kissed him on the lips…
Nozomi giggled at his reaction.
“Thank you, Takkun. For everything.”
Act cool, Takumi, act cool—
“Y— you're welcome, but I feel like I should be the one thanking you…!”
Damn it!
He felt like he was going to have a heart attack and die on the spot. Maybe using his infuser had given him permanent heart damage? Nevermind that, he didn't want to think about that when he was this happy.
He ignored the sudden sensation of his lips tingling and how much he greedily ached for a second kiss. How could he want another when he was already acting like this over one?
She giggled again. He must've been making a funny face at this point, and that only served to make him more flustered. Who let Nozomi have such a cute laugh…?
“Before I forget, do you want me to set up the guest bed for you, or…” She went quiet for a second, averting her gaze from him, “do you want to sleep with me, for now?”
Oh, so Nozomi could get shy t— wait.
She was inviting him… to share a bed?!
.
.
They were probably moving way too fast with their relationship, but Takumi really did not care. He had wanted this for what felt like forever— so much so that it barely registered to him that he and Nozomi had only been dating for a little over a month.
He found the slow rise and fall of Nozomi's chest as she breathed in sync with him soothing. They were able to rest together, as he let his head lay on her shoulder.
When they had first gotten into this position, he had been anything but calm, but now he had settled down; Nozomi's touch was cool and quieting— it quenched the anxious fire in his heart.
He was disconcerted by how much she felt like Karua, though. The frame of her body, the texture of her hair, even how she smelled… it was all too familiar to him.
It made him question what kind of things Nozomi had told him while he was in the capsule. Maybe he'd ask her more about it.
He blushed, thinking about the Nozomi from back then being in love with him the same way she was now…
He was beyond satisfied with this. If he died right now, he could die without a single regret.
It was so simple, he realized.
He always wanted to be held, to be loved, to know his life was at ease, to settle down somewhere, maybe even start a family; especially with her.
He knew those kinds of dreams and aspirations were lame, corny, cheesy; completely atypical for a guy his age, but—
It was just who he was, and always had been. Takumi lived to love, and he lived to be loved as well. He never had any serious goals outside of that, he just… wanted to live that kind of plain, picturesque life with the girl he loved.
Karua— no, Nozomi had given him that purpose. Unlike the others, he had a reason for living that persisted past memory. He had everything, right here, right in front of him, gently holding him. Caressing him.
Even if he was the one that was supposed to protect her, wasn't it ironic? Wasn't it ironic, how much he wanted her to never let go, for them to stay in this moment forever? For them to stay safe, just like this?
Thinking about it now, he'd always been kind of a hopeless romantic. Well, maybe not so much hopeless if he actually was with Nozomi now, like this…
He wondered how Nozomi felt about it. Was she the same way? Had she also always felt like this? Did she also feel like… that she realized some kind of purpose, with him?
His thoughts jumped back to Nozomi's mother and what that woman put her through.
No, he couldn't think about that.
His brain felt so fuzzy in the darkness of the night, and he held Nozomi a bit closer to him.
“I love you.” He said.
I'll protect you.
“I love you too.” She responded.
His tired eyes were overcome with a heaviness he readily accepted, drifting off to sleep in her sweet embrace.