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The first time it happened, Fuwa woke up on the back of a flying snow owl. He tried to close his eyes once again to keep himself tethered to reality. It was spring in Japan now and his skin shouldn't be prickled with freezing temperatures at the height of winter. His nose suddenly felt dry and each cold breath he inhaled became more and more real as he slowly took in his surroundings.
White snow was all around him and Fuwa was hit with a sudden déjà vu. The terrain, the height of the mountain, the shape of the land. He felt like he's awfully familiar with it but he couldn't grasp the situation well. It couldn't be helped. A few seconds prior he was so sure he laid his head on the sofa in the ROF-MAO waiting room. There was no snow, nor wind, nor the fluff of owl feathers beneath him. The leash he held was real but there's just no way that the owl under him was real. There's too much discrepancy, the constant tug between reality and dream. His body felt real, yet whatever reality he was in felt surreal.
What a weird dream, Fuwa thought.
After what felt like a very long time—which actually only took about a few minutes—the owl finally descended slowly towards its destination. There stood a small facility hidden under the green forest and once again Fuwa felt like he had seen this building before. The gate was awfully huge and the stone surrounding it was way too real to be compared to any dream he ever had. Also what has been distracting him the whole time was the constant sound of blowing wind around him. The sky was of course colder, but with his whole sense being stimulated like never before, cold sweat started to form on his back.
”Anikiiii!!!!!!!!"
Before he could ponder even further, a voice called him from inside the building. It was an awfully familiar voice. The pitch was just right and Fuwa could imagine the face of the person calling him. His drenched back was suddenly lighter. Even if that guy was never a source of peace, a familiar presence greatly tethered Fuwa. His mind is not working on the speed of light and instead it went back to its status quo. All fluffy and empty. Totally letting the flow of things carry him on.
The same face that Fuwa imagined showed up from the gate. His usual fluffy hair was running around cheerfully as he trudged towards Fuwa. He wore his long black coat and turtleneck to battle the cold.
"... Kaida," Fuwa called his name quietly. Whether it was reality or a dream, he only had one Kaida in his life. It's a relief that this guy never changes.
Though, Kaida had a startled look on his face as he got closer and closer. His eyebrows raised high and his eyes blinked quickly within a few seconds. He was looking flustered for whatever reason.
Looking back, Fuwa should've known that agitation, no matter how miniscule it is or how well it was hidden, is something that should not be ignored. The way Kaida looked at him slowly, as if he was looking at a puzzle, and how his expression slightly changed. It was no longer loose. His smile etched in a very composed way as if placed carefully. He probably found the answer within those short 5 seconds of silence, but Fuwa thought that the man in front of him was the same Kaida Haru he always had.
He was wrong, and it will take a while before Fuwa finally realizes it.
Instead, a hand found its way in front of Fuwa's eyes. Kaida smiled faintly and asked for the things he had been asking for. As if on auto-pilot, Fuwa put the bag of goods he's been holding the whole flight in Kaida's hands. He didn't know what was inside nor could he imagine what it was yet it felt like the most correct answer.
But Kaida's face dropped. Dark clouds were over his face and he looked at the bag in his hands as if he wanted to cry and Fuwa almost never saw this sight. How Kaida brows creased ever so slightly and how he bit his mouth. He has seen enough crocodile tears and crying just for the show, but a blatant, real expression of tears? Never. There was never really an occasion that led to tears and really, Fuwa didn't really want to see it as well. Just seeing the crumpled face is already enough to make him panic, let alone seeing actual tears being shed.
So he scrambled closer, hands reaching out to touch Kaida in any way but a hand pushed Fuwa away. It was a weak push but Fuwa could feel his whole world crumbling under his feet. Kaida never pushed him away. His silly advance, his touch, his anger, even. The ever sunshine who accepted all of his deeds and let him do whatever he wanted with a smile by his side.
This dream is so weird, Fuwa thought, once again.
Everything felt so familiar yet so far away. A scenery he had seen before yet the cold was biting onto his hands. A familiar person, the exact carbon copy of that person, yet everything he has never seen before was shown so easily.
"You are not Aniki, aren't you?" The voice asked weakly. Looking at Fuwa as if he was an alien. Looking at Fuwa with so much fear.
And then Fuwa felt his head spin. It was so painful that he had to crouch down on the spot. The last thing he remembered before waking up was Kaida, grasping his hand tightly, calling him in a voice he never heard before. They were calling for his name, yet not quite him.
"Fuwa-san!"
A blinding light, familiar room, and the everpresent noise enclose him like a warm blanket. As he slowly refocused his vision, Fuwa breathed out a sigh of relief.
"I'm back," he said in relief. The ceilings he has seen million times and the sight of Kaida waking him up is never a stranger. He has safely come back to reality.
He saw Kaida's face, mild panic was in his eyes and he could imagine he shared the similar facet. They stare at each other for a few seconds before bursting out in laughter.
"It's no time to be laughing, the recording is going to start," a stern voice they recognize as Kenmochi interrupted them but they simply couldn't stop themselves.
——
"Did you know the first thing he did to me was hitting me on the head?" Kaida's sudden question woke his mind. The deserted waiting room was once again their background. Both Kenmochi and Kagami had already gone to their own respective schedules. Fuwa just happened to be lazy after a lengthy recording session and Kaida seemed to be more jittery than usual.
"Really? Isn't it just the usual me?" Fuwa just threw a glance at the other. He could see Kaida and his pout visible for anyone to see.
"Yeah, but also, he called me Haru," Kaida continued.
"What a weird dream," Fuwa voiced his thoughts on the whole predicament he had before the recording.
"For real," Kaida said. Fuwa could hear him scrambling with papers and clicking his pen dramatically.
"So I make a theory!"
There on the paper, Kaida drew various sizes of circles. In the middle of it, with the biggest circle, 'Fuwa Minato' was written there. Couple of lines were stretched from one circle to another. All of them are connected to 'Fuwa Minato' in the middle.
"You think I was stuck in a time-loop?" Fuwa asked after he couldn't quite grasp the explanation about the universe and alternate universes. Kaida theory wasn't exactly easy to digest even with prior isekai knowledge from anime and manga.
"Not time-loop. It's an alternate timeline; a completely different version of you that lives a completely different life from you," Kaida refuted the time-loop theory by Fuwa.
"There is you out there in a different universe who calls me 'Haru'," Kaida continued. His complaints about the similarities of them being so violent and extremist was filtered out from his ears.
"So I couldn't rewind the time five minutes before I hear your mouthful explanation to erase it?"
"Hey! My theory is worth so much in Ouma!"
And so, the adventure of "What Fuwa Minato version will you get today?" gacha has started.
The cause was still unknown, Kaida said. It might be a bug, or even unknown magic. Further observation was still needed to be done. Just like researching a demon, it took time before they showed their habit and weakness. A researcher's duty is to pay attention and react accordingly to the situation at hand.
"Then, what should research subjects do?" Fuwa asked in confusion.
"I don't know, maybe just get used to it?" Kaida answered with a shrug. For a renowned researcher in his home country, he sure is useless.
Fuwa didn't really understand what it means to 'get used to it'. There's nothing to get used to when you're thrown into an apocalyptic world where there's nothing you can see but deserted civilization and sands. The ruins of what used to be skyscrapers and utopia now was nothing but debris. He breathed in dust and closed his eyes tightly when a strong wind blew on his face.
Fuwa would recognize this world every single time. His white vest seemed to be unsuited to live in this dystopia but he was glad he got shorts. At least the heat could be battled with short pants.
"Fuwa-san? Are you okay?"
Once again, he heard the familiar voice. It was always clear even amidst the calamity surrounding them.
When he opened his eyes, Kaida Haru was there. He was crouching a little to see Fuwa eye to eye.
"I guess?" Fuwa said. Eyes darting all around to find the meaning of 'getting used to it' that Kaida from his world means. Getting used to a world where the Kaida Haru that existed there was not the Kaida Haru he knew it's not easy. He has only known how to handle his Kaida. Not this.
"It's okay if you want to take a rest, the road is still far," Kaida said with a smile. He looked reliable and strong. The complete opposite of the Kaida that he has known all his life.
"Where is Shachou and Mochi-san?" Fuwa asked. He put in the knowledge that he has from various music videos that are connected to this world. He remembered that they were battling the aliens that invaded the earth... was it? Or is that a different one? Fuwa's memory is a mess and there's always a probability that this timeline is an entirely different thing from what he imagined.
"...We're still searching for them," the answer came a little bit somber. Kaida gazed at the sky and looked far in the distance. When he turned back he had a smile on his face. One that speaks of pain and loneliness.
"Soon," Kaida continued. Looking at Fuwa with kindness.
"We will find everyone and start doing all the fun things with ROF-MAO once again."
"Kaida—"
Before he could respond, he felt a pain so harsh it felt like his head could split in two. He had experienced it once and he knows that Kaida finally found a way to pull him back. But not yet. Not when his kobun in this world looked so much in pain. He wants to be here. Until Kaida can smile and laugh easily once again.
"—Kaida!"
"I'm here, Fuwa-san."
Sat in front of him, is the exact copy of the man from the different universe. They wore their second anniversary outfit for their concert rehearsal. Maybe that's why he was caught in a universe where this outfit was based. An apocalyptic world where they can't meet each other. Fuwa and Kaida only have each other to find the world. It's so painful. So painful to even think about it.
"Fuwa-san, we are here."
A hand caught Fuwa's shoulder and brought back his attention back to the room. The air was cool and there's no debris from the ruined world. He is back in his own reality. Kaida is smiling here. Kenmochi and Kagami are probably outside. They are not separated by anything.
"You are Fuwa Minato from this world."
"I am."
Fuwa nodded at the affirmation. He could feel how dry his throat was. His heart was beating so loudly so he tried to take a deep breath slowly. It's like a reminder that he is not facing the end of the world right now with Kaida.
"Whatever reality you saw in that universe is not yours to experience."
"Yeah," he breathed deeply and repeated firmly.
"Yeah. I understand."
To 'get used to it' actually means to keep your ground on a tight guard and not crumble upon seeing the reality in front of you. Both Fuwa and Kaida didn't know what would happen if Fuwa got swept away in emotion and refused to go back. Kaida said the possibility of him getting stuck there forever is not zero. Even if Kaida tried his best to help the 'Fuwa Minato' from different verses to get back, if the real 'Fuwa Minato' refused, there might be a chance of an altered universe where everything changed. Fuwa completely tuned out when Kaida started with his dual universe and wormhole theory, though. That was the least of his concern.
But as his busy schedule kept piling up, Fuwa found himself shifting every so often. Jumping from one universe where ROF-MAO is an idol group to another one where they were a group of mafias. It was exhausting to come back without Kaida on his side. His observation journal helped to piece in information from the stranded ‘Fuwa Minato’ with the reality he saw. Also seeing the actual Kaida rather than a shadow of what he was in an alternate universe is always better than not.
Well, at least today he was nothing but a mute, life-sized mascot doll that the fans called ‘Fuwadayo’. It's definitely less tiring than to be in an idol body whose schedule is more hellish than his vtuber self.
“...”
“...”
Without being able to utter a single word, Fuwa looked at the presence beside him. It's a doll face version of Kaida Haru called 'Idadayo'. He was not particularly doing anything but his droopy brows mixed with his big eyes made Fuwa heightened his instinct to bully him.
So he smacked him on the head with his comically short hand.
Idadayo reacted weakly and retreated a few steps. He looked at Fuwa with pleading eyes even though his expression remained the same. Fuwa could picture the tears on those eyes. It's so easy to make him cry.
What a weakling, Fuwa thought. His short hands got up again, this time not to hit Kaida but to caress the part where he just landed his blow.
Kaida happily accepted that and he shook his hip from right to left. Like a happy dog. So easy and endearing.
It didn't take long before Fuwa's consciousness faded away and he woke up to his Kaida; all the flesh and blood looking back at him with a warm smile.
"Welcome back, Fuwa Minato," Kaida said.
"I'm back," Fuwa said with relief.
——
On one particular day after a long shift in the bar he works at, one where there was no schedule tomorrow, Fuwa woke up with a start. He remembered he just jumped on the bed not even bothering to change his clothes or wipe his makeup but not even a second passed and he was now in a totally different room, a totally different world he never knew existed in the first place.
On his hand is a knife and a few vegetables he had chopped. It's a totally different kitchen from the one that he had at home. He dropped the items on his hand back to the aisle and chose to sit down on the chair behind him. After so many toss and turns fighting with his time-loop—wait no, time-leap power—he finally found his rhythm.
He took a deep breath, letting the air fill his lungs and brain. It helps with quick thinking and decision-making. The quicker Fuwa accepted this reality, the more it will help his endeavor. Especially when he knows Kaida was not by his side.
The next thing that he needs to do is gathering information. Whether this is a world where he has to rely on survival instinct or how far removed it was from reality.
However, before he could ponder for it longer, the sound of the front door opening jolted him back. Fuwa scrambled on his feet to get to the front door. Whoever was there would be beneficial for his survival.
“Fuwa-san! You cook!”
A familiar sight, a familiar sound. It might’ve been a million times already that Fuwa saw those grey sweeps of fluffy hair and the high-pitched voice but the relief he brought is immense. The presence of Kaida Haru during the timeline hopping is so big in Fuwa’s mind.
Seeing his only salvation during the worldline-altering-kidnapping case is enough to make Fuwa lower his guard. That's why Kaida could easily scoop him in a tight embrace and in the process stole a peck on Fuwa's cheeks. Kaida whispered that he's home and how happy he was to see Fuwa again. It happened so quickly, in a matter of seconds, and left Fuwa wondering whether this was actually a dream, not some magic bullshit he has to experience for the last six months.
Kaida moved away from the tight embrace, leaving the stunned Fuwa on the hallway alone. His mind was completely void of thoughts as he digested what just happened a few seconds prior.
"Fuwa-san? Minato? Are you not coming?"
That was the last thing he heard before he woke up on his bed. The smell of alcohol is still thick in the air. The pounding on his head demanded attention but Fuwa could only groan to the pillow.
What a choice him from another world made...
——
"The other day—" Fuwa cut off his ramblings. He coughed before he continued, "There was a universe where we are dating, Kaida."
Kaida's finger stopped his writing. He was filling his 'Fuwa Minato' observation log and when it finally came to that part, he halted his movement. Fuwa tried his best to read his reaction upon the fact. Kaida was staring at his writings, gripping the pen with a confused look on his face.
"... Huh," he said in response. Simple and anticlimactic. "So there's a possibility of that."
Fuwa looked at the ceilings, "Perchance."
He heard Kaida chuckling on his seat. It was contagious because now Fuwa smiled. It was really dumb of him to feel fear over how his Kaida would react on the news.
"You are not Minato."
Fuwa was not even there for five seconds and he already saw those calming blue flickered into menacing red. A hand flew onto his throat and he was pinned to the floor with ease. Fuwa would never think of Kaida as someone strong but maybe his appearance right now tells a lot.
"Where did you hide him?!"
Fuwa could taste the inhumane wrath from the person in front of him. Fuwa wouldn't even call him a person with the horns on his head and how his fangs glinting dangerously as if it wanted to eat Fuwa.
"... He's safe," Fuwa managed to answer with bated breath. He wouldn't last long if the Kaida in this universe wished so much to kill him.
"I will kill you human! I will curse you for taking him away from me!" The fury on those crimson eyes was palpable. He looked at Fuwa like he just took away his whole life. Though, somehow Fuwa was not scared of it at all.
"You won't," Fuwa whispered. He could feel his awareness slipping away. Maybe this Kaida was strong enough to strangle him to death. If that was not the case then his Kaida has finally found a way to rescue him.
Fuwa held his hand to the other. Carefully touched the long hair and tucked it. "You can't live without him," he said. Breathless.
"Then give me back Minato."
"Okay, Haru. Don't cry," Fuwa's hand continued to stay there. Catching every drop of water that melts away the red on those beautiful eyes.
"Fuwa-san! Are you okay?"
Fuwa woke up with a coughing fit. He was no longer restrained yet he could feel phantom hands with sharp nails around his neck. It wasn't exactly comfortable.
"Yeah, I'm fine. How about you?" Fuwa said finally after his breathing evened out. He took in the situation in the room. There was a flipped chair and Kaida with his Oni outfit. On his cheek was a slice dripping with fresh blood.
"I'm fine," Kaida said. His blue eyes are clashing with the entire crimson outfit. There was no longer a storm in those eyes and Fuwa breathed in relief.
"But you're injured," Fuwa said. His hands carefully hover over the cut.
"It's fine," Kaida replied, head slumping on the sofa with a weird smile on his face. Fuwa tried his best to refrain himself from touching Kaida Haru here. Somehow it was fine for different Kaida from different universes that he probably wouldn't meet anymore. He couldn’t do it with the guy in front of him though.
"As long as you come back,” Kaida muttered. If Fuwa noticed a drop of water that wetted the sofa, he pretended he didn’t.
——
The cycle continued. One time Kaida was a fellow host coworker in his bar. One time they reenact their voice pack content and Kaida excitedly said they will capture another legendary beings with their fake guns and all. One time they are in a castle, walking for a minute in silence before Fuwa got dragged back to the real world. Next time Kaida was back as his lover, kissing him as they both went to sleep.
Fuwa thought he would be a little broken. So much world, so much different life that he had to experience. He thought he would be getting crazy by now but somehow he always comes back in full pieces. Nothing left behind nor traded in the process.
Just how much Kaida Haru took part to keep him sane, Fuwa wouldn’t be able to fathom it. His presence was breathing in every single bone of the universe that he stopped by. Having someone by your side to tether you to reality, to remind you of who you are helped a lot.
That’s why he was puzzled now.
“Fuwacchi?”
“Fuwa-san?”
Two members of the same unit looked at him in puzzlement. Fuwa was supposed to be the one who is confused about this whole ordeal.
“Where’s Kaida?” He asked. Loud and clear and yet it sounded shaky even to his own ears.
Kagami and Kenmochi looked at each other before returning back to Fuwa.
“Who’s Kaida?”
After that Fuwa frantically tried to explain ROF-MAO to the other ROF-MAO members. It’s practically nonsense. Fuwa could feel how hard his heart was pounding on his ribcage. There should be four members. There should be four of them on the recording, on the song, on the picture.
But no matter how far he scrolled through ROF-MAO social media, numerous counts of breaking the search engines, and looking through the whole room, there was still no Kaida in this universe. His presence was gone without any traces as if he was not there from the very beginning.
“We can postpone the recording,” Kagami’s firm voice echoed in the room.
“You can take a rest, Fuwacchi,” Kenmochi kindly pulled Fuwa to the sofa. It’s the same sofa where Kaida woke him up. It’s the same ceiling that he would see when he woke up. Everything in this world was the same but without Kaida in there.
Kaida did say that there’s million of possibilities that could happen in an alternate universe. Those millions show different glimpses of life that Fuwa Minato would experience had he was one thing and not the other.
If he was a host in this life, then in the other world he would be a doting lover that would cook for his husband. If he was a human here, then in the other timeline he would be a demon. If he knows Kaida, there will always be a chance where Kaida was not there.
He just never thought about it. A life devoid of the things, the person, you saw daily. There was never a lifetime where Kaida was not there and when he was taken away like this, suddenly the balance tipped over. The calm puddle now a raging storm.
“For now just sleep,” Kagami’s voice sounded so far away. Fuwa could only wish he would wake up in a reality where Kaida was there. No matter the form, no matter the span.
——
“Do you have a good night sleep?”
Usually that was the cue for Fuwa to tell Kaida about his adventure in a different world.
Fuwa just looked at a distance. Trying his best not to remember the horror he experienced the night prior.
“Nah,” he said. Looking at the expecting eyes, he didn’t have it in him to tell the truth. There’s no way he can just say that there’s a universe out there where Kaida is gone.
So he just said, “I just had nightmares.”
Kaida looked surprised. Then he flips his books a few times.
“That would be the first nightmare you mention after a year.”
Fuwa hoped it would be the first and the last.
“Do you think you can find the cure?”
It was spring once again. Kaida still had a few petals on his hair after running under the cherry blossom tree outside. Fuwa gently brushed those away and his eyes felt the totally stunned Kaida Haru.
“I’ve thought of a few theories,” Kaida said as he walked in further into the room. Fuwa followed from behind.
“I even tried out few spells on you,” Kaida looked back at him but not quite at him. Probably on few ‘Fuwa Minato’ he met during the shift. “Nothing was really happening. You know? My isekai gate is something physical, but yours is psychological.”
Then Kaida went on with his theory about why it happened. Fuwa probably felt the same frequency of feelings with the Fuwa from the other timeline at the same time and so on and so on. Fuwa didn’t really think much about it. He just wanted to live without the constant fear he would wake up in a world line where Kaida Haru is not there. It simply deteriorated his whole sense.
“Do you think you from different world would have the answer?”
Kaida looked away. He muttered that would be possible. If his Kaida didn’t know then there existed one Kaida who knows the answer out there. Fuwa just has to find him.
——
“It’s too early to wake up, Minato.”
He got a kiss and hug.
Not you.
—
“Anikiiiiiii!!!!!! The snow owl escaped!!!!!”
Not you too.
—
“Fuwa-san? Should I start with the presentation?”
Not you either
—
“Go back, intruder.”
His head is being held with a cold fan. He recognized this merch in any form. The greenish silhouette and their chinese inspired outfit means that he finally met with—
“Genbu Kaida!” He said with excitement. That garnered a frown by the man in front of him.
“You are not Suzaku. How do you know about me?” That dignified voice was something that Fuwa would ever associate with Kaida. But here he was, the Genbu that probably has knowledge surpassing that of Kaida of his world.
“Can you cure me?” Fuwa pointedly asked. He didn’t want to beat around the bush. He wanted to stop with the whole time-leap incident all at once.
“And why do you think I would know the truth?”
“Because you’re Kaida,” Fuwa replied. “And I believed every Kaida that I met, including you.”
“Fair enough,” Genbu snapped his fan close and retreated back. “So, little bird who resembles Suzaku, what do you seek from me?”
Fuwa told him the story. From his first meeting to the most recent one. He saw when Genbu’s breath hitched at the mention of a universe where he didn’t exist. It was probably a mirror to how Kaida would react had he told him that.
“Do you think you can help me?”
Genbu looked far ahead before firmly pointing at Fuwa with his fan.
“Little bird, you are just a fool.”
Fuwa tilted his head in confusion.
“Do you think the universe will grant a wise beauty like me what they bestowed to you? To feel love in every bone of the universe and experience it in your waking moment? You’re a fool to take it all for granted.”
Fuwa tilted his head further to the right.
“Now go back and reassess what me in your world had to go through every day in your presence,” Genbu made a shooing gesture and before Fuwa closed his eyes he heard:
“Give me back my little bird and go back to your sky.”
When Fuwa woke up once again, he was not in the ROF-MAO waiting room, or his own house. He was seeing the cherry blossom petals dancing in the air. It was spring in Tokyo but this much petals in one season is something that is considered rare. Fuwa didn’t know where he was. Whether it was reality or a dream or a different universe.
“Retreat this instant! I will take care of the demon.”
Before he could ponder even further, an awfully familiar voice can be heard far from where he stood. There he was, the person who is always there, no matter how far Fuwa’s leap through the time. His white attire clashing with the sea of people. His commanding tone carried so much power even though his battered state was simply painful to look at.
Fuwa tried to move, to run against the people who ran away at the sight of the hideous demon. He wanted to go closer to where Kaida is. He wanted to be there for him, like how Kaida has always been for Fuwa. He didn’t want to see the lonely back of his Kaida.
Kaida!
His voice couldn’t even reach the man but he shouted as hard as he could. Kaida’s voice was always there for him and he wanted to be the same. He wanted to be the strength amidst the hardship, like how Kaida’s voice helped him with everything.
He could see Kaida gritted his teeth as he struggled with his barrier. He tried his best to keep the evil beings away until everyone’s gone. He chose to stay until the very end.
That’s when Fuwa struggled as well. He tried his best to move his fingers, his legs. Just one millimeter closer before the monster striked Kaida. He didn’t want to lose him. He didn’t want to feel the helplessness he felt when he woke and Kaida was not there. He didn’t want to live in a timeline where Kaida didn’t love him.
Genbu said that he was a fool; maybe he was. In every loop he saw and every Kaida he met, he was loved. And in every universe he took over, Fuwa loves him back. No matter how far the timeline shifted, that fact never changed.
——
“Ah, Fuwa-san you woke up—”
“Kaida.”
There in front of him, was Kaida, not from a different world, not from a dream made by the almighty Genbu. Perfectly healthy Kaida without a single scratch or burn marks that he had in dream.
“Ah, by the way! Suzaku came today. I don’t know what happened but Suzaku came back for quite a long time yet you don’t —”
“Kaida.”
“Yes?”
Fuwa scooped him onto his tight embrace. It was a reminiscence of when he woke up as Kaida’s lover. Kaida had hugged him tightly before. Now that’s all he could think of to show his affection.
“Kaida, I love you,” Fuwa broke the hug, brought Kaida’s hands closer and kissed each finger tenderly.
“Wha-”
“I want you to be there when I wake up, and even before I sleep,” Fuwa took a deep breath before flashing a smile. “I want you to be in my every waking moment and to love you back as much as you love me.”
Those blue eyes stared back at him. Full of life and bewilderment but Fuwa could swear he saw happiness beneath it all.
“Will you love me in this timeline too?”
Kaida happily nodded. Tears wetted his cheeks and carefully, Fuwa caught every drops of water that melts any worries from those blue eyes.