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Tsukasa blinks.
That's all he does, he swears. He's in the middle of practice with the rest of Wonderlands x Showtime, and blinks.
And all of a sudden, he's not at Wonder Stage anymore. Instead, he's sitting on a green sofa, and a glance upwards shows fabric and mirrors and makeup tubes like he’s in some sort of fitting room.
Is this some sort of Sekai thing? Tsukasa begins to question, "What-"
"Success!" A familiar voice, coloured by a similarly familiar maniacal glee cuts him off. "It worked! You can open your eyes now, Emu."
Tsukasa looks to the source of the voice and startles. For by the doorway is Rui and Nene: but... different. They’re both dressed in clothes looking right out of one of Nene's games, with Rui topped off with longer hair and a monocle and Nene with short hair. Most importantly, they look older . And wait, did Older-Rui say Emu ?
A high pitched squeal from his right cuts through his thoughts. He turns-
And promptly gapes.
For to his side is undeniably Emu, but, but... but gorgeous . This older Emu boasts soft curls that flow down her back, clad in a flowing white dress reminiscent of a bridal gown, and sparkling pink eyes that shine with affection. "Oh, thank you, Rui! He's so adorable!" Older-Emu enthuses.
"No worries," Older-Rui's voice sounds to the side. "I hope you enjoy your wedding gift!"
There are a thousand and one questions exploding in his brain but the only thing he can get out is: " Wedding ?!" But even that comes out muffled, as Older-Emu has started poking at his cheeks.
"Yeah, she's getting married to you," the voice of Older-Nene replies with amusement.
"To ME ?!" Tsukasa screeches in return, but there's no time to do anything but accept it in this whirlwind of a scenario, especially not when this Emu is looking at him with so much love in her eyes it can't possibly be faked.
And oh , the sheer force of her love focused solely on him almost makes him buckle. Rui is droning on in the background about the workings of what he'd done but Tsukasa's world is narrowed onto the woman in front of him. "Me? You're marrying me ?!" He chokes out in disbelief.
"Of course! Who else would I marry?" Emu giggles in return, as if it's obvious.
He stares at her, not comprehending. You're happy ? He wants to ask. You're so vibrantly happy, and you're saying it was me who made you this way ?
But words fail him when she takes his hand in a seemingly subconscious gesture and rubs gentle circles into the back of his hand, as if it's so familiar a motion that she doesn't even have to think about doing it. There's an ease with the way she sits beside him, from the way that she looks at him to the way she holds herself next to him. Tsukasa feels like he can barely breathe.
"We're getting married," he murmurs again in disbelief, and her eyes crinkle with amusement.
“Younger-you is so cute,” she beams softly at him instead, voice dripping with unfiltered affection. Tsukasa’s cheeks burn red.
“... and since we’re in parallel worlds, the paths our universes take will largely be similar, meaning that in a few years’ time you and your own Emu should- ah, time is running out,” Rui’s voice suddenly cuts through. There’s a tingling feeling in his left hand, and Tsukasa looks down to see it slowly start to fade.
Before the screech can leave his throat, Emu grips his hand harder and draws his attention back to her. She tugs him in closer, so that gravity takes its hold and pulls his forehead down to rest on hers. And he can’t help but note offhandedly that it’s nice that he’s still taller than her even though she’s all grown-up now, with her eyes and cheeks and lips and…
Emu smiles up at him so brilliantly and so vibrantly that his breath hitches. “I wish you the best in everything, Tsukasa!” She beams. “Your Emu loves you more than you realise!”
And before he can think anything about that, he disappears.
Emu isn’t sure what just happened. She had just been at another fun day of practice, when Tsukasa suddenly vanished in front of their eyes!
But before Emu can begin to panic, he suddenly reappears in front of them, but… but… he’s different !
This Tsukasa is taller and older, and his eyes sweep the group with a determined glint in his eyes. Emu nearly squeaks when his sharp gaze lands on her… only for his face to split into a large grin.
And she does, indeed, squeak when he abruptly strides up to her and suddenly wraps her in a giant hug. “Whaaaaa-?!” She gasps out, head spinning. Because of how much taller this older-Tsukasa is, he all but picks her up and spins her around.
“I nearly forgot how adorable you were when we were younger, wife!” Tsukasa booms, laughing happily as he sets her back down, only to cup her cheek and thread his fingers in her hair, the same satisfied smile she knows on her own Tsukasa stretched across his face.
Waaaah… what’s going on?! Emu’s brain is melting and she’s so confused but it’s hard not to lean into his affectionate touch with how gently he’s cradling her face. This Tsukasa is so tall and so handsome with his long hair and sharper features and… and white suit…
“ Wife ?!” Nene sputters to the side. Older-Tsukasa laughs heartily and explains, “I’m from a parallel universe! My version of Rui figured out how to send people back and forth, so I’ve temporarily switched places with your own Tsukasa. It was his gift for us!”
“Oya? A parallel universe… fascinating.” Rui breaks into a concentrated stream of muttering before Nene gently nudges him, bringing his attention back to the present. “Tsukasa-kun, not only did you just call Emu-kun wife , but you also mentioned a gift, no?”
“Of course,” Tsukasa proudly proclaims. “In my world, Emu and I are about an hour away from our wedding!” As he does so, he wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls her to his side.
Emu’s face feels like it’s on fire! She? Is going to get married?! To Tsukasa-kun?!?! She presses her hands to her burning cheeks as she’s pressed to the side of Tsukasa’s chest… which is broader and more muscular than her Tsukasa’s.
“Awawawa…?!” Is what she finally manages to get out.
“Ha ha ha!” Tsukasa enthusiastically laughs, and it’s so similar to her own Tsukasa’s that her heart clenches a little. Emu can’t help the gasp that leaves her when he starts to play with the ends of her hair, looking down at her. “My Emu never had short hair, but as expected, any hairstyle looks good on you. You look adorable!” He announces grandly, like there’s no room for argument.
“ Tsu-ka-sa-kuuuuunnn… ” Emu squeaks. Her heart is beating so quickly it feels like it might explode. She never knew Tsukasa could look at her with so much… much… zingy-zangy fondness in his eyes!
But before there’s time for her to do much more, the pressure from his arm around her lessens. Alarmed, Emu cries out when she realises that said arm is starting to fade. “Tsukasa-kun! Your arm is disappearing!”
“Oh,” he notes more calmly. “Time must be up. You’ll get your own Tsukasa back now.”
And before she can respond, he lets go of her, only to cup her face in his two hands and lift it to meet his gaze.
“You’re going to do amazing things, Emu,” he murmurs at her with eyes filled with adoration. “Younger-me probably doesn’t realise it yet, but he also likes you so much more than either of you know, alright?”
And with another soft, warm smile that brings complicated butterflies to her stomach, he fades away.
After a dizzying sensation of weightlessness, Tsukasa feels himself land on something soft. Ah, he must be back . Quickly, he shuts his eyes - he can’t see the bride before the wedding, after all, for it would bring bad luck.
But that doesn’t stop her from throwing her arms around him, and him immediately fumbling to follow in kind. Distantly, he registers the sound of the door closing, with Rui and Nene likely giving them a quick moment alone.
“My wife! I nearly forgot how adorable you were when you were younger!” He proclaims, grinning when he’s met with her adorable giggles of joy.
“You as well!” She laughs happily. “Younger Tsukasa was soooo adorable!”
They take a moment longer to laugh together softly. Then, Tsukasa pulls away.
“I’ll see you soon, Emu,” he tells her tenderly, fumbling for her face, which she gladly guides his hand to. He runs a thumb over her cheek and presses a loving kiss to the same spot. “At the altar.”
“At the altar,” she breathes back in agreement, and under his thumbs, he can feel the way her lips curve into a smile.
And if he kisses her again before leaving, no one but them will know.
With a small poof , Tsukasa is back to where he was originally, on Wonder Stage in the middle of practice with the rest of Wonderlands x Showtime.
Tsukasa, eyes down at his own hands, stares dumbly. Emu stares dumbly. Rui and Nene stare dumbly.
Then, Tsukasa raises his head, and catches sight of Emu.
His face instantly flushes. So does hers.
“AAAAAAAAA!” He yells.
“WAAAAAHHHHH!!” She yells back.
“You-!” Tsukasa points at her shakily.
“We-!” Emu presses her hands to her cheeks, eyes dizzy.
“AAAAAAAAHHH!!!” They cry out together into the golden sunset of Phoenix wonderland.