Chapter Text
Kotoha walked down the streets of Makochi, finally having enough courage to take her usual route. The day started off weird enough, For starters she woke up late. She woke up to her bedroom- her house was all clean! She hasn’t cleaned it since… Well that day. Not to mention her calendar was messed up but she was already in such a rush she didn’t have time to fix it or check it at all. Kotoha only managed to brush her hair and throw on her dark green jacket and rush out, she groaned thinking about how she needed to stock up.
Finally the recent rain has lightened up and it has been pouring the past couple of days… The blood that stained her hands and the sidewalk beneath them. It was the first time he didn’t blush at physical contact, He looked so… so… so calm.
She tried to get the memories of that day out of her head but she couldn’t, He was so young. He’s been in Makochi for less than a year and he’s given up his life for it. In less than a year he changed Makochi so much and gave it his all. Just because they accepted him, and gave him all the love and gifts he should have been getting from people his whole life.
They should have given him way more while they had the chance.
It was devastating, losing him. Yet everyone knew they had to keep moving forward. Despite how hard it was and how much they didn’t, they knew he wouldn’t want them in pain. It was the last thing he would have ever wanted.
Besides how weird the day felt it almost felt familiar in a way. Like this day has happened. Though she shrugged off the thought and collected her usual groceries, with the last item being eggs.
though on her way to Pothos five familiar guys surround her. She recognizes them. Kotoha couldn’t hide the surprise on her face at seeing the same dirty blond hair, with silver piercings, and a cocky sly smile.
He never showed his face in Makochi again, not after Sakura's first day here. Kotoha begins getting back up into the graffiti metal door of the shop, just like the first day.
”Not you again.” Kotoha says, though it was barely audible.
“Oh? You recognize me, pretty girl?” The guy says in that ‘smooth’ low tone.
”Get out of my way.” Kotoha finally yells, She can’t deal with this again. Especially since last time Sakura was here at the right place at the right time.
He wasn’t here this time.
The guy looms over Kotoha with his goons closing her in, He is basically saying everything word for word again. She was beginning to lose her patience. This has definitely happened before but why again? Why now that he wasn’t here. Here to help. Was that it? Now he was gone, criminals were finally thinking Bofurin would crack and let them slip through? That they were too busy grieving one of their own to defend their town? Kotoha could admit she could only take so much.
”I’m not gonna tell you again, get out of my way!” Kotoha said harshly, She almost covered her mouth realizing she repeated those words again. Though she stood her ground without faltering.
Just like Kotoha suspected, the guy moved closer and let the same words roll off his tongue “Come on, Don’t be like that, Sweetheart. Anywhere ya wanna go, Whatever ya wanna do, tell us and we’ll make it happen.”
Jeez, The guy still had the same confidence like he did before, Why? Why was he here? Why was he repeating everything word for word!? Why was she!? What was happening!?
Kotoha's grip on the grocery bag grew tighter. Last time she threatened to smash the eggs in his face. She might just do that this time.
”I’d love to smash these in your face, but like last time my hands are full and it would be a waste. You’re not worth it, not then and not now either.” Kotoha said harshly.
The guy grinned, She was getting really tired of that stupid grin, he chuckled “Then? Maybe you hit your pretty head on the wall too hard. The guy then rolled his head back then slid his hands in his pockets and spoke up again. “Luckily I’m into women who can put up a fight. But act too tough and you might end up getting yourself hurt.” Kotoha tried to walk away like last time but like last time he grabbed her forearm, and held it tightly. “See?”
”Let go, jerk! I said let go already.” Kotoha turned and said angrily. She was so over this. And Over him. She couldn’t believe this was happening again.
Suddenly a hand rested on the dirty blond shoulder. Kotoha saw some black hair peek behind but she immediately recognized the Bofurin jacket. She couldn’t help but feel relief. Though her relief was short-lived when she heard the voice.
“If you’re gonna embarrass yourself don’t do it in broad daylight. A dual colored boy said in a low voice.
Kotoha couldn’t believe it. It couldn’t be him. It couldn’t be.
”Huh? Who the hell are you?” The dirty blonde replied though he continued. “And what’s with the look, freak show?”
“Stay outta my way!” Before Kotoha could even defend Sakura, the dirty blond threw a punch.
Kotoha already knew what would happen but damnit she couldn’t help the tears that swelled up in her eyes, Kotoha wasn’t a big crier but he was here.
A year ago he was on the floor, a puddle of blood beneath him. Kotoha could remember having his head on her lap as she tried to keep him awake. He looked so calm, but even in his final moments he was thinking of them.
He kept calm for them.
Even when his life was draining from his eyes that day.
She didn’t wanna let him go, nobody did.
Sakura dodged the punch and threw one of his own, immediately knocking down the blonde. After that he went after the other guys, knocking them to the ground which was easy for him. He came here for a fight after all. After that Sakura stood over the blonde, he rested his hands on his knees and leaned down repeating those exact words. The first thing she ever heard from him.
”You must have a few screws loose in that head of yours, If you thought they were tough. Guess what? You’re not.” Sakura moved his hand off his knee and grabbed the guy by the collar of his shirt as he kept talking. “You better never go forgetting my name and face! I want weaklings like you to avoid me, and the strong to seek me out!” Sakura let go of the blonde shirt collar letting him fall back to the floor again, with a grin. A grin nobody thought they would see again. “Who am I? Haruka Saruka, Over at Furin High!”
Kotoha watched, this has to be a dream. But it wasn’t. Kotoha was never into all that supernatural stuff, Time just passed whether you liked it or not. Things happen, people change, what is done is done. She always had that mindset, though it hurt her more the day Sakura gave up his life for Makochi.
Whatever accident happened in the world occurred that rewinded time, Whatever celestial being gave them a second chance, Even the slim chance of the stars aligning in their favor, or if she dreamt it all, one thing is sure. She wouldn't let Sakura slip through her fingers again, this was a restart. It had to be.
Sakura turned and slid his fingers into his pockets and began walking away, His black and white sneakers squeaking on on the wet pavement.
”SAKURA!” Kotoha cried out, putting her bags down and running up to the bi colored boy, to her surprise he actually stopped and turned around to face Kotoha.
Sakura turned his gaze, and was clearly surprised to see a brunette girl, with red cheeks and tears streaming down her face, grabbing his arm.
Sakura wasn’t heartless but he had no idea what to do in this situation. “Uhhh… Can I help you?” Sakura said, pulling his hand away from Kotoha's grip.
Kotoha stares at Sakura pulling away from her, right. If this is the day that she thinks she is, he wouldn’t remember her.
Kotoha couldn’t let him leave. Using the excuse from Sakura’s first day her words just spilled out. “Let me thank you! Come to pothos— Please.”
Sakura raised an eyebrow, staring at the brunette in front of her, after some back and forth of Sakura trying to reject the offer and Kotoha stubbornly insisting. He agreed, not but choice though!
Kotoha went to go pick up her bags and lead Sakura to pothos, Her mind was racing but she had to make sure she wasn’t the only one who remembered.
One the way to Pothos Kotoha couldn’t stop thinking ‘What the hell should she do?’
When she sat Sakura down all she could think of that night. His head on her lap, the dazed look in his eyes, the puddle of blood expanding beneath them.
As she cooked the omurice she couldn’t believe it, If she remembered right before she went to sleep the next day would have marked the one year anniversary of Sakura’s death.
Then when she settled the plate of omurice in front of Sakura, she couldn’t stop staring at Sakura's face, a stark contrast of the last time she- or anyone saw his face. Pale, cold, lifeless.
Kotoha shook her head and thought crossed her mind, they should try to keep things as similar as possible right? At least in the beginning. They wouldn’t want to lose him again, but they would want to get Sakura to trust and open up to them again, despite already knowing his past— but what does that matter! What matters is this second chance.
Kotoha before she could even recall their first conversation just like before the words spilled out of her just like before.
”I take it you’re not from here?” Kotoha ask, She would have clasped her hands over her mouth but she didn’t though her hands twitched.