Archive of Our Own ^beta

It happens on a random Tuesday, or— scratch that, according to the incredulous look plastered on Yamagishi’s face, the disbelief written in sloppy cursive upon Takuya’s features, or even the plain, brooding stare coming from either side of him; attached to Akkun and Makoto— this particular situation has happened another time? A few? Multiple?

Takemichi couldn’t keep up.

Apparently his face gave way to that thought because the tips of Yamagishi’s ears were slowly turning from a pale pink to a crimson red. “Takemichi, am I going to spend the rest of my life explaining everything to you?” The palm of his hand rested no, dug, deep carvings into his forehead.

“I mean, seriously! Do you see these wrinkles?” He all but pointed to the creases on his pale skin, though Takemichi was more than a thousand percent sure they were caused by the way his brows were furrowed, practically dragging down to his frown.

“I’m only eighteen, Takemichi! I cannot be losing my facial value to your lack of social cues, I mean, are you really that oblivious?”

“Okay, okay,” Takemichi spoke, reaching his hand out in an attempt to calm his blubbering brunette friend just inches away, “You know I’m not the best at these things, but I mean, I’ve only ever dated once! Plus, Chifuyu and I are just best friends, partners, there’s nothing even remotely romantic on his agenda.”

“Oh my god.” Yamagishi threw his hands up, (very dramatically, if Takemichi may add) with a theatrical sigh, “Takemichi, we are best friends. You and Akkun? Best friends. You and Takuya? Best friends. You and Makoto?” He paused, “Well, you get the point but you and Chifuyu are far from any sort of platonic relationship.”

Takemichi glanced around the room as he watched each of his childhood friends nod in agreement with Yamagishi’s words. “What makes Chifuyu and I’s friendship so different from you and I? Or even Akkun and I? And why would you not include Makoto? We’re best friends too.”

“Thank you, Takemichi,” Makoto grunted somewhere to his right, before the chestnut haired boy in front of him all but shouted in frustration, his confidence shattering second by piercing second.

“Okay Yamagishi, I think I’ve got it from here. Takemichi,” Akkun spoke up, glancing from an all but calm Yamagishi to the stunned blonde, “There are some things that friends don’t usually do together, but Chifuyu and you do, and that’s fine— all Yamagishi is trying to say here is that maybe you should take Chifuyu’s very obvious feelings for you into consideration.”

Takemichi stood from his futon in frustration, “B-but what obvious feelings are you even talking about? What do we do that is so different from what we do together?”

“Cuddling, for one,” Akkun replied easily, leaning lazily against the couch.

“Holding hands to and from school,” Takuya commented in a bored monotone.

“He gives you his romance manga.” Makoto added slyly, resting his chin lazily upon his crossed arms.

What?

How was that at all different from moments he’s shared with Akkun? Takuya? Anyone from the Mizo crew?

“Akkun, we cuddle every time we watch a movie and Takuya, we don’t do it every time, just sometimes when our hands are cold! And since when was sharing mangas a sign of romance? You guys sound crazy! Chifuyu and I are just friends!” Takemichi shot back with a disturbed huff, “I mean, if I brought this up to him he would just laugh!”

“So do it then, Takemichi.” Yamagishi shot back, resting his head against the nearest door frame.

“Do what?”

“Bring it up to Chifuyu and see how he reacts, because I’ll bet he’d be far from reacting in any humorous manner.”

“I’m not actually bringing this up to him!” Takemichi returned in desperation, of course he wouldn’t actually tell Chifuyu about this conversation— it was embarrassing and far, far, far from correct.

“Why? Are you scared, Takemichi?” Takuya cooed teasingly, crossing his arms over his chest.

“No! I’m not scared! But I’m not going to make our friendship awkward with your meaningless depiction of our actions!” Takemichi whined, feeling pricks of hot tears threatening to escape his waterline, “We’re just friends,” he managed to croak out, his frustration and embarrassment getting the best of him.

“Takemichi,” Akkun voiced, though he sounded closer than before. It was only when hands fell on either side of his shoulders that he realized his eyes were squeezed shut, mirroring his fists at his sides. He blinked away the dark orbs obliterating his view of Akkun, “Listen, Takemichi, we’re not trying to upset you at all. Like I said, what you two do in your friendship is completely fine, but it is obvious to us and all of Toman that Chifuyu has feelings for you beyond just the platonic spectrum. All we’re asking from you is to take notice and if you’re not interested, perhaps let him down easy?”

“But if you are interested,” Takuya cut in, suddenly popping up near Akkun’s shoulder, “You have our full support and we just want you to be happy, Michi, really. I think what you two have is really special and we would all hate for it to be ruined by your lack of romantic cues.”

Before Takemichi could find the right words to leave his lips, Yamagishi was at his other side, “I’m sorry I got frustrated with you, Takemichi, that was out of line. I just think this could be a really good thing for you, if you want it, and I wanted to be the one to point out that Chifuyu isn’t just affectionate with anyone, it’s only you.”

Only affectionate with him? Was that true? Takemichi tried to think about any other time he’d noticed Chifuyu as close to any other member of Toman as they were, yet came up blank. All his mind could center around was their dynamic and most recently— the cause of this conversation in the first place.

“If what you guys are saying is true, what am I supposed to do about it? Do I bring it up? Do I stay silent?” Takemichi asked, taking in the looks of tinted appreciation painted upon his childhood friends’ faces. “Do you guys really think he likes me?”

“Let’s slow down a little, Takemichi,” Takuya spoke, ever so softly, reminding him of darkened nights in the park; where they’d whisper about their secrets and desires into the vast night sky. Takemichi couldn’t help but sink a little closer against Takuya’s side as he was promptly brought back to his original spot on the couch. With an outstretched arm looped loosely around his shoulder, the group offered Takemichi to start back from the beginning. The first time Takemichi could remember noticing the way Chifuyu and his relationship switched to something a little more special— dusted and sugared with secret intimacy.

It was well over a month ago when Takemichi could place a moment that had his stomach swirling like an opened butterfly cage. It was a simple interaction, really, but that moment hadn’t left his mind since; even if he did push it back to another tactic of wholesome and friendly conversation.

They’d spent an evening lazing about the playground, exploring every inch of the play area to switch up different views of the colorful sunset. With their backs pressed against a slide that faced the orange kissed sky, they watched as soft pink clouds cuddled the sky like blankets, slowly sending the sun off to a peaceful slumber.

They spoke of fond memories, everything from Toman to their after school activities, and ridiculous banters with the Mizo Mid crew that had them feeding the atmosphere with breathless laughter and bubbly serotonin.

Graduation was dawning on them in just a couple months, which didn’t necessarily mean instant change, but definitely noticeable. The kind of change that had Takemichi’s heart sick with fear and worry, for what could possibly happen, what distance could occur without the daily enclosure that brought so much time well spent together.

It’s not like he could help it, how quick their reminiscent conversation brought soft tears onto his cool cheeks. They were all memories he held near and dear to his heart, memories that held pain and acceptance, passion and determination, will and strength. Takemichi couldn’t afford distance with those who made him feel the most alive, the most himself. It didn’t matter if he spent almost every evening with Chifuyu or every weekend with members of Toman, causing chaos and shouting profanities into the night sky, change was always a hard reality for Takemichi to manage.

“What’s wrong, Takemitchy?” Chifuyu's voice whispered, soft and full of endearment somewhere off to his side.

Takemichi bit his bottom lip already fidgeting with his hands in modest embarrassment, “Chifuyu, what if when we graduate, everyone forgets about me? I mean, Mikey’s already disbanded Toman activities for graduating purposes, but who’s really going to go back? Mitsuya has dreams, Hakkai, Draken, Akkun, even you have dreams to change the future. I’ve already been to the future and there’s nothing there for me, who’s to say this time around it’ll be any different? Sure, I’ve changed the past here but every time I go back to the future, my life is the exact same. No matter how strong or how brave I am here, I’ll always be irrelevant and lonely in the future.”

The tears that were once soft and delicate, like small droplets kissing windows after a morning dew, now showered down, providing warmth against his cold cheeks.

“Takemitchy, look at me,” Chifuyu whispered with a sense of urgency and concern. He inhaled a gulp of fresh air as he slowly turned his head, facing the blonde who’s eyes now sparkled as bright as the first few stars over their heads. It was captivating, the way Chifuyu looked at him, as if he read the thoughts in Takemichi’s brain that never left his own lips. Shoulder to shoulder, squished up rather uncomfortably on a children’s slide, their noses just a hairsbreadth apart. Chifuyu reached out slowly and steadily until his hand fell cupped against Takemichi’s cheek, his thumb working like windshield wipers, removing the warm tears from his face.

“There’s no chance in this world whether it be past, present or future, that any one of us could ever forget you, Takemitchy. You’ve impacted our lives from the very first moment when you stuck up for Takuya and relentlessly fought against Kiyomasa. There’s a reason Mikey took a liking to you that day. It was the very same feeling we all had for you the moment we were all introduced to you.” His thumb paused it’s back and forth motions of comfort to tap one, two, against his cheekbone, “You’ve changed our lives for the better, Takemitchy, and we are all forever grateful for everything you’ve endured both present and future to make sure all of us survived our pre-existing fate. Beyond your efforts and your selfless actions, you’ve created a family built on trust, safety, and passion. That’s more than a lot of us could say we’ve brought to Toman. No matter how much time or distance spent apart from anyone, there’s not a chance in hell anyone would ever forget you. And I, for one, don’t plan on going into the future without you by my side. We’re partners, aren’t we?”

There was something so ridiculously comforting about the way Chifuyu spoke that it had felt like a blanket made of the highest-grade material, the softest substance, that left Takemichi feeling as if he were floating; and Chifuyu’s voice was the only thing keeping him from crashing down. It was a free for all at that point, listening to Chifuyu’s words, watching the look of perseverance plastered on his face as he spoke words that brought endless streams of tears from his eyes. In the same way his heart sang, he felt sick with hope, belief in Chifuyu’s words. He’d seen the future countless times and nearly every outcome left him in his dirty apartment, alone and without support. Chifuyu was only in one of his futures and it ended with his death, tied to a chair and unable to stop it from happening.

If that’s how the future was supposed to be, Takemichi would much rather suffer alone than relive another without Chifuyu in it.

The endless stream of tears were quick to turn into an uncontrollable sob as he stared into those green orbs, like a stroll out in the mountainside with a view of vibrancy in spring. Takemichi reached up to hold onto Chifuyu’s wrist, all but yearning for the truth in his words, “I don’t want to lose you again, Chifuyu.”

“And you won't, Takemitchy, I can promise you that.” He answered honestly, his thumb still moving in motions that had his tears disappearing as soon as they flicked off his eyelashes. So melancholy, so comforting, so prominent. These shared moments between them when it was just the two of them, against the world.

“Can we just lay here for a little while?” Takemichi asked after a few minutes of comfortable silence, Chifuyu’s thumb never faltering from catching each and every last drop from Takemichi’s waterline. He needed time to process his words, his promise— a future where they’d continue to be inseparable sounded so far away. But when it came out of Chifuyu’s mouth, they felt real, they felt like a dive into a crystal orb, showing proof of the two in the same place, the same position, just twelve years ahead. Takemichi wanted his words to be true, he wanted the delusions and the negativity to crush down into little specs of nothingness— instead of being the driving force that was keeping him here, in the past.

He was terrified to go back, terrified to live another future without Toman, Akkun, Draken, Chifuyu. Another future without Hina despite their relationship coming to a halt just a few months prior. The love he had for her would always remain and even if they were no longer soulmates or destined lovers in the future, if he returned to find her gone, he’d come back to the past as many times as it took. It was the same drive he felt for just about everyone he’s come into contact with in the past.

Takemichi drowned out his sorrowful thoughts with the view of Chifuyu’s soft smile. The way his eyes crinkled against the moonlight, or the way his hair nearly shone silver in the darkened setting. He was breathtaking, really, like a painting in a museum, there to be observed but never touched. It almost made him feel all the more lucky to realize art was touching him, art was painting the canvases of his selfless, humble heart.

His eyes fell closed as he slumped his forehead forward, releasing a slow and steady breath when their heads rested upon each other. They stayed just like that, Chifuyu’s hand upon his cheek, tracing small circles against his skin in no particular time span. Their foreheads pressed together with Takemichi’s hand outstretched and placed flat on Chifuyu’s chest, feeling the steady beating of his heart.

“And that’s about all that happened, it was almost a month ago, though. I mean, I guess you could say the moment was a little more intimate than usual but,” Takemichi paused as he finally glanced up to take in his friends’ appearances. The words died in his throat as he took in the thick tension of the room, even more so, Yamagishi’s emotional state. “W-Wait,” Takemichi stuttered, “I’m confused, why are you crying, Yamagishi?”

He watched as his friend sniffled and hiccuped, wiping at his eyes repeatedly, “You’re just so…” He paused as he hiccuped once more, “…so stupid, Takemichi.”

“Eh?” Takemichi all but squawked in reply, “Me?” He looked at Akkun and Takuya, who looked just about as bewildered as Yamagishi did. “What the hell did I do?”

“Are you kidding me?” Yamagishi shrieked back, “You call that just a little intimate?? What the hell is wrong—“ but the rest of his insults were shut down by Takuya.

“Yamagishi, that’s enough, how is Takemichi supposed to have a support system if you’re bashing everything that comes out of his mouth?” Takuya asked and when Yamagishi didn’t croak another word, his eyes fell back onto the problem at hand.

“Takemichi, how did that particular event with Chifuyu make you feel?”

How did it make him feel? What was he supposed to say? Like his heart exploded into a million fireflies lighting up the night sky? Like he was walking on water? As if he were floating in a cloud or living in a dream?

“I don’t know,” Takemichi settled with, “It made me feel…important? Special, maybe? I don’t know, why are you asking me that? What does it matter what I feel? It’s not like my life has ever gifted me with any sort of happiness or success. And no, I’m not having a pity party, let’s not forget I’m not the luckiest guy in the world or anything.” Takemichi spoke, resting his chin against the palm of his hand.

“While that might be true,” Takuya started slowly, “if Chifuyu makes you feel as if you are the luckiest guy in the world, why are you holding back from it?”

“Who’s to say that I make him feel the same? You know, I never said I didn’t have feelings for Chifuyu. I-I mean, I never not said I had feelings for Chifuyu, wait, is that right?” Takemichi voiced his thoughts aloud before shaking his head, “It’d be rare for someone like him to feel anything back for someone like me. Look at Mikey-kun, I’m just a savior complex to him, what makes anyone think Chifuyu would feel anything even closely romantic to me? I’m no one, I couldn’t even save Baji-kun.”

Takemichi was temporarily distracted by the low whistle that left Makoto’s throat. “We’ve got a lot to unpack here, Takemichi.”

“Why are you talking about yourself like that? As if you have any right to feel sorry for yourself?” Blue eyes snapped towards violet, a warm blush spreading his cheeks. Shit, was his pity party really getting out of hand? It was kind of hard to constantly live a double life where everything that went momentarily right here went chaotically wrong later on. Perhaps he’d developed an internal inferiority complex, that’d he’d always be viewed as a hero, but how could he be one with so many deaths by his own hands?

“Takemichi,” Takuya started, “have you still not learned from Chifuyu’s words? You’ve saved all of Toman more than once, twice even. What makes you think you’re any less human than the rest of us? You can’t possibly save everyone and you can’t possibly blame yourself for actions caused by existential circumstances. No one we’ve lost has ever been your fault and it never would be.”

“You’ve done enough and more, Michi,” Akkun slipped in and at that point, it was involuntarily, the tears that flew from his waterline, the words that dug like knives into his chest. Was it all really enough? Was he?

None of this ever felt real.

“We’re getting a little sidetracked, why don’t we talk more about these moments you’ve shared with Chifuyu that make you feel so special? I’d like to hear more about that, if you’d let me.” Takuya offered once more, clearly trying to fix the blubbering mess at hand.

Takemichi inhaled a slow and shaky breath as his mind dove deep into his memories with Chifuyu, locked away for safekeeping. “I can think of one other,” Takemichi admitted, his cheeks warm with sudden remembrance.

“We’d love to hear about it, Takemichi.”

It was nighttime again, but slowly reaching just a few mere hours away from where the sun’s blankets moved to create space for her to rise. Those wee hours of the morning that didn’t technically count as an all-nighter, but definitely far from any normal sleep schedule. If that were true, Chifuyu and Takemichi should have fallen victim to sleep several hours ago, cooped up in Chifuyu’s apartment with Peke J on his free side. Instead, after hours of memorable banter ranging from just about every little topic, though they spent a hefty time reading through Chifuyu’s manga collection, they decided for some fresh air.

It was quiet, comfortably quiet, as the city slept the last few hours of night away. The only sound being the buzz of Chifuyu’s engine, as he soared through the empty streets, with Takemichi at his back.

The cold air kissing his cheeks always felt more comfortable when it was nights like these. With Takemichi softly clinging to the boy in front of him, speeding throughout the entire city as if he owned it, all of it. The way the wind destroyed their hair or made their faces feel numb to the touch. It was moments like these that he felt the most alive, the most himself.

They usually headed to the park when they took such late drives like these, but this time around, Chifuyu drove straight into a parking garage making his way to the very top. It was colder up here, Takemichi thought, as Chifuyu parked his bike which signaled the end of their ride.

Takemichi was quick to hop off the bike, taking in the view just before them. The particular garage he’d chosen was at least fifteen stories high with an entire view of the city. He’d only been here one other time with Mikey, the night he’d uncovered his truths about time leaping and everything he’d gone through and done, for the sake of Toman. That time was different, he overlooked the city with resentment and pain; mourning and loss for all he couldn’t do, those he couldn’t save. Now, though, standing next to Chifuyu as they took in their surroundings, little to no cars on the streets, empty sidewalks and a peak of the navy blue washing into a darker cyan or moonstone. It was hauntingly beautiful to say the least.

Though as breathtaking as everything looked, somehow, Chifuyu’s smile brought the city more to life than the twinkling lights to wake up all of Tokyo. They stood side by side, overlooking the vast city, pointing out areas they recognized in birds eye view. The wind was more forceful than it was down below but that thought suddenly didn’t matter. Takemichi felt a new warmth along his palm, shifting his eyes to find the source. The effect was greater than the cause, leaving Takemichi with a heart beating a million miles per second. Chifuyu’s hand had intertwined with his own, keeping him steady from the harsh gusts, yet warm from the inside out.

“Takemitchy,” Chifuyu said after a few moments of stargazing, “When are you going back to the future?”

That was a first.

Usually, Takemichi was the one to initiate that conversation, letting his partner know it was about time to check up on their fate.

“I was thinking I’d go back after graduation.” Takemichi replied slowly, though it was a thought he wished he could banish from his mind eternally. That only left him with two more weeks before he’d return to his future body, desperate to discover if his past actions had made a difference.

“So soon,” Chifuyu commented so quietly, Takemichi was almost positive he imagined it. Until he noted the shift in Chifuyu’s demeanor, the smile that no longer burnt as brightly as it had just a few minutes prior.

A blush rose on his cheeks, not necessarily out of embarrassment, but surely selfish emotions that he wished to indulge in but knew for the sake of everyone twelve years ahead, it could not be acquired. He held his breath as he offered about all he could to Chifuyu’s emotional change, a soft squeeze of their hands, his thumb extending to graze Chifuyu’s skin back and forth in the same comfort he’d given him just a week ago.

At first, Chifuyu just stood still, his hand stiff against his own. Then, miraculously, Takemichi felt the weight of Chifuyu’s hand soften against his own, returning the squeeze with a little more firmness than he’d initially put out. And just like that, all was well again. Chifuyu’s smile buzzed in the back of his brain, warming his heart and stomach until his legs practically felt like jelly. They stood together overlooking the city until the pink sun said a very goodnight to the moon.

“Oi, Takemitchy,” Chifuyu had called out just a few feet ahead of him, “Wanna go for a ride?” The bashful smile on his face all but confused Takemichi, while his heart sang at the way emerald eyes looked upon him, confusion like waves short-circuited his brain. Where did Chifuyu want to go next? It wasn’t as if they didn’t have class in the next two hours. Still, convinced he’d do just about anything under a smile like that, he nodded just as enthusiastically as Chifuyu asked.

Takemichi stood alongside Chifuyu waiting for the other to take a seat before he could climb up behind him.

“Go ahead and hop on, Takemitchy.”

“Huh?” He furrowed his brows before glancing onto him, “If I get on first I’ll just slip forward,” he spoke in obvious confusion.

A laugh escaped from Chifuyu’s lips, bright and loud, enough to make Takemichi shiver in his stance. What was happening, exactly?

“That’s the point, partner. I’m going to teach you how to ride my bike.” He all but offered, too casual for the words that just left his mouth.

“Huh? Chifuyu!? I can’t drive this thing, you know that! What if I crash? What if we get hurt?” Takemichi shook his head, “It’s a bad idea.”

“Takemitchy, I’ll be right here with you. Come on, I’ll teach you everything you need to know, don’t you trust me?”

Fuck, that was unfair. Of course he did, Takemichi trusted Chifuyu with his life and more.

“Fine,” Takemichi huffed, not bothering to put up a fight. “But none of the if I break it, I fix it, deal? I can barely afford lunch at school, there’s no way I can repair any damages on a bike like this.” He rested his hands on the handlebars before tossing his leg over the other side of the bike. He scooted as close to the front as he could, leaving room for Chifuyu to get on the back.

Another broad laugh from Chifuyu’s lips haunted him from behind, leaving Takemichi with goosebumps kissing every centimeter of his skin with buzzing excitement.

“We’re not going to have to fix anything, partner. I’m a good teacher, nothing’s going to happen.” One hand dropped to Takemichi’s hip to steady his own composure, before his chin came up on his shoulder as he began to explain the ropes of driving a motorized bike.

“This lever over here is your brake, it goes in correspondence with this pedal over to your right. This over here is the throttle, it’s how you’ll pick up more speed.”

“What about these gear shifts?” Takemichi asked, noting the pedal near his left foot.

“Don’t worry about those, I’ll do the shifting, you worry about the speeding and the steering.” Chifuyu answered easily, his foot already in line with the foot peg. “Think you can handle it, Takemitchy?”

Takemichi nodded in response, though his heart felt as if it was destined to pop out of his chest tonight.

“Alright, I’m going to shift us into reverse, start the throttle off nice and steady.” Chifuyu instructed, “Oh, and,” he paused as his hands fell to Takemichi’s hips, pulling him closer, until his back was pressed easily against Chifuyu’s chest. “Make sure you give yourself proper space, you can’t drive a bike sitting that close to the handles.” Takemichi could tell by the sound of his voice a smirk was lining his lips, which made him impossibly more flustered than he should have been. Butterflies swarmed his stomach in desperate search to find an escape but the only way out was through his throat and Takemichi would be damned to make any sort of squeak at a time like this.

Once Chifuyu’s foot pressed on the reverse shift, Takemichi brought both his feet off the ground and put enough gas into the throttle to reverse fully and keep them steady above ground. Takemichi heard the gear shift and took it as his turn to start up the gas once again, going forwards and down the slopes of the parking garage. By the eighth floor down, Takemichi had already gotten the groove, hitting at least 45 km.

“There you go, Takemitchy!” Chifuyu shouted off to his side. Excitement and exhilaration raced off their skin as Takemichi only took it as his chance to go faster down the last few levels. Without a car in sight, they had all of Tokyo to explore with Takemichi riding in front and Chifuyu riding as passenger. The warmth he delivered covered him like a blanket around his shoulders. Chifuyu’s arms were latched comfortably around his waist, with enough slack to leave room for Takemichi to steer without feeling confined. Every few minutes he’d feel Chifuyu’s chin resting somewhere around his shoulder, it was beyond comforting— the moment felt as if it was something purely out of a movie. He’d never felt more alive than he had at that exact moment.

“Hey, Chifuyu!” Takemichi called out over the obnoxious sound of wind buzzing loudly through his ear, “Can this thing do circles?”

“Circles?” Chifuyu asked, clear confusion escaping his lips, “What do you mean?”

“You know! When you drive a car or a bike around and around in a circle until it leaves marks on the road!” Takemichi responded, glancing back at Chifuyu through the small rearview mirrors.

“Takemitchy, do you mean donuts?”

“Yeah! That! Can this bike do those or is the machinery too heavy?” Takemichi asked with sheer curiosity, a rather large smile planted on his face.

Takemichi felt shaking against his back, subtle and not enough to lose balance, but definitely enough to catch him off guard. “Chifuyu, are you okay? Do you want me too…” but the words died out on his throat as soon as he heard the breathless laughter behind his ear.

“Huh? Are you laughing at me?”

“Who the fuck calls donuts, circles? Don’t you have a million car magazines in your room? To think you went around parading your knowledge about cars as if you were some ultimate car enthusiast.” Chifuyu managed to say before breaking into another fit of laughter.

“Hey! I am the car guy but I didn’t know if it was any different on a bike! And,” Takemichi continued when Chifuyu’s laughter only grew louder, becoming the only sound pulsing throughout his bloodstream, “I called it circles because you can’t really call spinning a non motorized bike around and around a donut! Akkun and I just usually call it circles! I obviously know the real lingo!” He shot back, mustering an expression of determination and sincerity, when the truth was, he had absolutely no fucking idea it wasn’t called circles.

“Ah, Takemitchy,” Chifuyu spoke, breathless, his eyes twinkling nearly as bright as the morning sun, “sometimes, you’re almost too much,” he spoke, choking back another fit of laughter, “but to answer your question, yes, my bike can do circles. Pretty much anything can do that as long as you know how to manage your speed.” He offered a large toothy smile painting his face.

For once, Takemichi was thankful for the strong winds making his face so ridiculously numb, cold and pale. Otherwise, the blush that he felt internally would definitely be showcasing brightly on his face right about now.

Takemichi ventured to an empty parking lot and began perfecting his donut technique, not at all satisfied until tire marks were practically carved out into a perfect circle among the pavement. After at least a good twenty minutes of the two going around and around as sunrise took its course, Takemichi grabbed a hold of the break and let his foot down on the ground. He twisted back to look at Chifuyu, “Are you dizzy? Because I am soooo dizzy, that might not have been the best idea. But look!” He glanced down at the work of art canvased on the ground, “I did it! A perfect circle. Worth it right?” He teased with a grin, clearly happy with his results.

When his eyes locked back on Chifuyu’s, he noted the sudden change in tension. The small curved smile tucked on either corner of his lips, the way Chifuyu’s eyes shone with pride? No— warmth, tenderness, adoration. Takemichi felt as if someone, an apparition possibly, had reached into his throat to steal handfuls of breath and air from his lungs. It wasn’t an uneasy feeling, per say, but it caught Takemichi off guard. He was so close and his eyes, where were his eyes looking?

Oh.

O h.

Chifuyu’s line of sight flickered repeatedly from Takemichi’s eyes to his lips and back again. Nerves got the best of him at that point. Fluttery, jittery nerves that had his stomach pooling with modest embarrassment. “Hey, Chifuyu,” Takemichi spoke, begging his voice to remain steady as he maintained direct eye contact, “we should probably head back, I think classes start in at least an hour.”

Coward.

He was an absolute coward.
The moment was right, everything was perfect, the look on Chifuyu’s face was the pure definition of sincerity and yearn, and yet Takemichi was too shy and too sheepish to deliver the same emotions, the same feelings Chifuyu was so willing to share.

Takemichi held his breath for Chifuyu’s response but as if a light switch had been flickered on, he was back to his smug ways. A coy smile licked his lips instead and a curt nod was offered in support of Takemichi’s words.

Takemichi turned back around to face the road, already punishing himself internally for ruining the moment. Still, once he throttled the gas and headed back towards Chifuyu’s apartment, he felt Chifuyu’s arms squeeze his waist just a little tighter, his chin resting easily upon his shoulder for the entire duration of the ride.

As they neared his street, Takemichi felt Chifuyu shift behind him. Although he was too concentrated on the road before him, now that the early morning risers made their way into the city, Takemichi noted Chifuyu’s forehead pressed softly against the back of his head.

“Chifuyu, are you okay?” Takemichi called out, but the boy’s answer wasn’t delivered in words. Instead, a few moments after Takemichi strained to hear anything leave Chifuyu’s mouth, he felt warmth against the back of his neck. It was quick, chaste, a tiny fraction of warmth and heat. He glanced into the rearview mirror just as Chifuyu was pulling back to rest his chin back on his own shoulder.

“I’m good, Takemitchy,” Chifuyu answered honestly, but Takemichi was too busy blushing from the inside out as realization settled in. The small smile that curled on Chifuyu’s face as his lips detached from the back of his neck. If Takemichi hadn’t been visually paying attention, perhaps, he wouldn’t have even noticed it. But alas, he’d noticed the entire thing and it was hard to keep focus on the task at hand.

Thankfully, they arrived outside Chifuyu’s apartment just a few moments later, Takemichi pulling into the covered parking spot with ease. He switched off the ignition as soon as he felt the click of the gear in park, allowing Chifuyu to hop off first. “That was fun! We should do that again sometime!” Takemichi spoke enthusiastically, sliding off the bike seat.

“So you can practice your circles more?” Chifuyu teased the fondness from earlier, never once leaving his eyes.

“Huh? There’s no need to practice anymore, I mastered them! You would have seen it if you were paying attention,” Takemichi responded with a faux whine, clearly looking to tease Chifuyu. It worked in his favor, however, because Chifuyu’s arm wrapped around Takemichi’s shoulder and pulled him close against his side, “Shut up, Takemitchy, you’re always so loud.”

A laugh rumbled from his chest as the two playfully shoved each other back and forth, not before noticing the soft blush glowing on Chifuyu’s cheeks, of course.

“Then after that we just ate breakfast and went to school, obviously nothing really happened in class. We read his manga at lunch and after school we hung out for a little before I came here with you guys.” Takemichi spoke, running his hands through his hair as he took in his friends’ reactions for a second time. Thankfully, no one was shedding any tears this time around, but no— the tension in the air was thick. Just when the hell had it become this suffocating? Akkun and Takuya both stared at him in pure disbelief, eyes wide and mouths slightly ajar, while Makoto had his eyes squeezed tight, his thumb and middle finger pinching the bridge of his nose.

“U-Um,” Takemichi started, clearing his throat, “so… did I say something wrong? How come no one is talking?”

His eyes finally landed on Yamagishi and it was then, Takemichi realized where all the tension was coming from. He stared back at Takemichi like he was his true enemy, his biggest rival, Yamagishi’s face shaded a blotchy red. Fuck.

“Oh, I’ll give you something to talk about Takemichi!” Yamagishi shouted, jumping to his feet and landing on Takemichi’s lap in a split second, “I’m going to fucking kill you!” Yamagishi yelled in utter frustration already grabbing at Takemichi’s shoulder and shaking him repeatedly, “Are you this fucking dense? What the hell is wrong with you? It’s almost like you want everything in your life to go bad! Chifuyu literally spelled it out for you and you said you wanted to go home? As if school really even fucking matters? Are you mentally ill?” Yamagishi’s physical frustrations lessened tremendously as he seemed to be in favor of screaming in Takemichi’s face.

“And this happened today??? This fucking morning?? And you have the audacity to sit here and act like all these moments don’t mean anything?? Is your brain fucking damaged??!”

Takemichi could barely muster a word out without the smell of red bean paste infiltrating his nostrils. Courteous of our friend, Yamagishi, who’d binged five bean paste puns throughout Takemichi’s retelling.

“Okay, okay Yamagishi, that’s enough.” He heard Makoto’s voice somewhere in front of him, although Takemichi couldn’t physically see with Yamagishi standing froggy style on his thighs. Though as soon as the weight appeared, it quickly disappeared once Makoto picked Yamagishi up by his shirt collar, dragging him back to the couch across the table.

He shot a look to Akkun and Takuya for help but the two looked suddenly interested in just about anything but Takemichi.

“Uhhh, you guys, what the hell? A little help would have been nice,” Takemichi spoke, shooting daggers towards the two beside him.

“Takemichi, we thought when we sat you down to talk about these interactions, they were going to be minuscule enough that we could explain what you’re missing here. What exactly are you missing with Chifuyu? How could you possibly not recognize the feelings he has for you?” Takuya asked, staring back at him with clear concern.

Takemichi huffed in response, “I know he has feelings for me but I don’t know what to do about it.”

“Why didn’t you kiss him back? You said it yourself that the moment was perfect enough to do so. Even if you wanted privacy it’s not like being out in a parking lot at 5:30 in the morning wasn’t going to guarantee you that.” Akkun spoke, resting his elbows on his knees, “We’re just trying to understand your feelings, Michi. I think you’re very aware that the two of you hold valuable emotions for each other, why are you holding back?”

Why was he holding back??
As if he actually wanted to do so.

It’s not like he could explain the real reason.
It always went back to the timeskip, the reality that this body would experience happiness while the future body would experience pain and suffering. Without his friends he was already nothing, to say anything about building a relationship in the past just to feel a bigger heartbreak in the future.

“Toman, maybe? I mean, look at who we are! We’re in one of the largest gangs together it’s not like other gangs wouldn’t go out of their way to fuck with us if we started publicly dating.”

“Fuck them, Takemichi! You have a whole gang and more to defend you both if that were to ever happen! If you live by that belief system, you’re never going to find the happiness you deserve. You have a right to exist any fucking way you want too, it’s not any different than when you were with Hina.” Akkun shot back with clear frustration, albeit, not one filled with any anger directed towards him— just because of him. Because of his choice of words.

“Michi, do you want to be with Chifuyu or not?” Takuya asked, staring long and hard for an answer.

Yes.
Yes, yes, yes.

“What if I fuck everything up? What if we don’t work out? What will happen then? I can’t lose him, we’ve gone through too much together. It’s not like I can ever lose him if we’re just friends but if we’re……..if we’re together, I can lose him in both ways.” Takemichi stuttered, refusing eye contact.

“That’s not what I asked, Takemichi.”

“Obviously I want to be with him, Takuya.”

“Then for once stop thinking of the negatives or the ‘what could happen’ scenarios, they don’t matter. Look at you and Hina, we all thought you two would grow up and get married. Did you lose her over the break up?”

“No.”

“Does she hate you? Do you hate her?”

“No! Of course not! But—“

“Then why do you hold such negativity over losing Chifuyu regardless if it works out or not? It’s not like you have a past relationship to compare that outcome too. You can’t let your fears hold you down from getting what you want. It’s not just you in this setting, if you keep living by fear you’re hurting Chifuyu in turn, too. Do you not think anyone who enters a relationship worries about the possible future without them? It’d be offensive of you to not take this opportunity seriously when Chifuyu clearly is willing to risk anything and everything to be with you.”

It was a lot to digest but he knew his friends were more than right. He was being selfish, fearful for a world without Chifuyu so he’d continuously plague any chance of their romantic feelings. Even when it meant despair and regret in the long run.

What was he so afraid of?

He was at his happiest when he was around Chifuyu, that much was obvious.

If he died in the future or if everything got fucked up again, at the very least he’d have this happiness and love to mourn in his grave.

Takemichi was silently calculating his thoughts for what felt like a few mere minutes but actually neared a good twenty to thirty. He’d heard the others speak out a few times to get his attention but his mind was fully occupied on will.

Fear was no longer an excuse. Despite how many times he was fearful for the past, he returned and fought his way to the top. He’d experienced near death too many times for the sake of others, it was unfair to not allow himself the gift of love and intimacy for fear of basic human possibilities.

“Okay,” Takemichi said, his voice slightly wavering in predetermination, “what’s the plan, then?”

The smile that encompassed their faces was picture worthy. Even their eyes shone with pride and appreciation, enough to make a faint blush rest on his cheekbones.

“What do you wanna do, Takemichi?”

“I don’t know, we’re supposed to meet up for that Toman meeting today, I was thinking I’d go over to his place and talk to him either before or after.”

“Do whatever your heart tells you to do, okay? We were just here to make you realize the situation at hand, now that you have, I think it’s your turn to figure out how you’re going to tell him.” Takuya answered with blatant honesty.

That was absolutely fair. He couldn’t rely on his friends to do everything for him. He had to figure out a plan on his own, something that fitted into their current relationship already. New anxiety and excitement rippled into his chest like high tide waves. He bit his lip to hold back a smile that begged to pierce his face. “Okay,” he managed, “then do you mind if we meet you at the meeting later? I think I might have an idea in mind.”

“There you go, Takemichi!” Yamagishi shouted, loud and proud like he’d just won the lottery. Before he could get a chance to stand up, he felt full weight piling on top of him. “I’m sorry I almost killed you but I’m so happy you finally opened your dumb little eyes,” Yamagishi spoke, wrapping his arms around the back of Takemichi’s neck and squishing him until he physically couldn’t breathe.

“Okay, okay,” Takemichi choked out, breathless and begging for air, “Thank you, Yamagishi.”

Makoto was back to pull the clinging machine off of him, but it didn’t really matter as Akkun and Takuya both bombarded Takemichi with firm hugs.

They let go far quicker than Yamagishi did, though. “Okay, we’ll let you do your thing and see you at the meeting around eight, okay? Good luck, Michi!”

He waved them off with a final smile before he quickly headed to the shower to wash off the morning sweat and grime. Truthfully, he was exhausted. Not sleeping a wink in twenty four hours, unless he was to account for the fifteen minutes he’d dozed off during lunch. His warm shower only had his bones begging for a nap. It was still relatively early in the day with a good three hours before the important meeting. He grabbed his phone and set an alarm for 18:30, figuring that’d give him more than enough time to get dressed and head over to Chifuyu’s apartment before the meeting.

Takemichi was quick to leave his apartment with maybe thirty minutes of sleep tucked away in his subconscious. It was impossibly hard to have any kind of real rest when the thought of uncovering his feelings hid just around the corner. He’d finally given into the fact he’d never get any kind of sleep with Chifuyu’s face haunting his mind. He was up and dressed into his uniform and out the door in a matter of ten minutes. There wasn’t any kind of real plan to this, it wasn’t like they sold any books for “how to tell your crush how you feel about them without worrying how it will affect the future”.

Though, he could really use one right about now.

He headed for Chifuyu’s apartment, his mind running through the right words to say through and through but every answer left him sun kissed by a cloudy sky. It was right around seven when he mustered enough courage to walk up the three floors of the apartment building. Every step and every incline doing an absolute number on his chest. He was about ready to turn the corner just as he heard Chifuyu’s voice down the hallway. A laugh erupted from his throat before words that had Takemichi feeling woozy left his lips.

“You’re all so invested in this, aren’t you? And to think I get so much shit for reading romance novels.” Chifuyu barked out with a grin.

Takemichi lost all brain power to move any closer, instead taking shelter against the wall.

“Can you really blame us? It’s not as if Toman has ever had a love story to speak about and to say anything about how long it’s gone on for.” Mitsuya offered, scratching his head. “And anyway, what’s going on with that? Have you told him?”

“No, I haven’t. I’ve tried to show him a number of times, though.”

Takemichi couldn’t help the warmth touching his ears. Shit, so everyone else really did know about their romance.

Except him, apparently.

“Chifuyu, you do realize this is Takemitchy we’re talking about here. He’s not exactly in tune with his atmosphere, you kinda have to spell it out for him.” Mitsuya offered with a sly smile, “I mean it’s obvious enough to us that you both have real feelings for each other, one of you just needs to push those feelings into words. Preferably you, unless you think he’s realized.”

“After this morning’s trip I’d like to say he’s realized that I care more about him than just a friend would. But nothing happened out of it. Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure I freaked him out.”

Takemichi’s heart was quick to drop into his chest. His actions always had the worst consequences, he never wanted Chifuyu to feel as if his emotions weren’t valid or important.

“I highly doubt you scared him off, Chifuyu. What with Mikey kicking his ass and he’s still so willing to come back around. I’m saying I really think you need to come clean with him. Is it really so hard? Here, you can practice on me, I’ll be Takemitchy.”

Chifuyu barked out a bright laugh, “Absolutely not, Mitsuya, but thank you for the offer. There’s really no rush to this. If he has feelings for me in any way, he can come to me about it on his own. I’d never force him to feel as if he has to return my feelings just because I have them. Anyway, I still have to get ready for the meeting, I’ll see you there in an hour, okay?”

“Alright, alright, fine. But I expect the two of you to be together by next week, latest. Don’t forget I have money on the line.” Mitsuya added with a smug smirk, “See you later.”

Money?
Takemichi forced his legs to move back down the steps as quickly as possible. There was no way he’d get caught eavesdropping a conversation like that. He paused just outside the building, closer to the street than the parking lot as he caught his breath. What money did Mitsuya have on the line? And what did it have to do with the situation at hand?

Before he could allow himself to dwell on that new piece of information, he heard his phone ringing in his pocket.

Shit, shit, shit.

He answered the call without looking at the caller ID.

“Hey Takemitchy, I was just calling to make sure you were coming out tonight, this meeting is important.”

Mitsuya.

Takemichi hummed quietly in response, “U-Uh yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Cool, I was going to ask if you wanted to walk together but you’re already here.”

Takemichi froze as the last few words of that sentence came from somewhere to the left side of him, even as his phone was placed against his right ear. He slipped his phone into his pocket and mustered as much courage as he could to face the silver-haired man beside him.

“Good timing, huh?”

“What were you doing here, Takemitchy?” Mitsuya asked his tone never faltering but there was a mischievous glint sparkling behind his lashes.

“I was just about to see if Chifuyu wanted to head to the meeting together but you found me first.” Takemichi admitted, smoothly.

“Uh huh and that’s why I saw you lurking around the corner upstairs, right?”

Shit.

“U-Um yeah, about that…” Takemichi started only to be interrupted by a soft laugh leaving Mitsuya’s lips.

“No need, Takemitchy, you don’t have to explain anything to me.”

“Then can you tell me what money you were talking about? Are Chifuyu’s feelings for me some kind of bet?”

Takemichi watched Mitsuya’s face snap into something more serious, “No that’s not what’s happening at all. He would never do that to you, Takemitchy.”

“Then what other money is there? It doesn’t make sense.”

Mitsuya sighed, running his hand over his face, “Let's take a walk, Takemitchy.”

The two of them set foot towards the shrine as Mitsuya gave a quick run down on the conversation Takemichi overheard. Of course, Chifuyu would never play with Takemichi’s feelings as any sort of bet. It was stupid, really, but those of Toman who’d noticed the little love story blooming between them had placed bets on who’d crack first. Mitsuya admitted it was childish and stupid but none if it was ever out of ill-intent, as they were just as invested in this as the respecting parties were.

“Ohhh,” Takemichi hummed in response, “so who did you bet on?”

Mitsuya replied with a cheeky smile, “Chifuyu, of course. I mean, Takemitchy, I don’t know the extent of everything but watching him countlessly flirt with you and for you to not notice gives way to the fact that he’d probably be the one to break first and tell you.”

Takemitchy really wasn’t sure how to respond back, clearly embarrassed by the fact all of Toman seemed to be very interested in his love life without his knowledge at all.

“But thinking about it, why were you hiding behind the wall? I figured after I left you would have headed to his apartment.” Mitsuya thought aloud before continuing, “Were you going to confess?”

“Huh?” Takemichi blushed, instantly feeling winded by the accusation, “N-no, I wasn’t.”

“Oh my god,” Mitsuya boasted, a smile wide on his lips, nearly matching the intensity of the way his eyes stared down at him. “You were, you totally were.”

“No! I s-seriously wasn’t, Mitsuya-kun! I was just going to see if he wanted to walk with me to the meeting.” But his words no longer mattered when Mitsuya’s mind was already made up. The other flew his arm around the back of Takemichi’s neck with a laugh infiltrating his eardrums,

“You’re crazy Takemitchy, you know that? Who would have thought Draken would know you better than I do.”

“Eh? Draken-kun bet on me?”

Mitsuya bobbed his head enthusiastically, “A lot, too. He and Smiley were the only ones to bet on you.”

Was he serious? This conversation was happening too fast.

“Wait, did Mikey-kun bet Chifuyu?”

“No, Mikey didn’t take bets on anyone but he knows about it. But Takemitchy, don’t let a stupid bet hold you back from doing what your heart wants you to do, the bet is all for good fun, no one actually cares about the outcome if it results in you two being happy.”

It was times like these Takemichi wished he was able to stop his heart from beating so ridiculously loud in his ears. His legs once again felt like jelly as they bounced back and forth in conversation. He managed to explain how he had feelings for Chifuyu but was too worried about what could happen to them to do anything about it. He explained the talk he had with Mizo crew before arriving and how he had absolutely no plan in mind just that his feet moved on autopilot to Chifuyu’s apartment.

“Mmm, that does seem like a dilemma. But Takemitchy, your friends are right, no one enters a relationship without some sort of fear of it not working out, right? That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t indulge in things that make you happy. If you continue to think like that you’ll miss out on so many important opportunities.”

He knew everyone was right.

It was why he suddenly felt like he’d explode if he didn’t tell Chifuyu how he felt, soon.

“Ah, one second Takemitchy,” Mitsuya spoke up as he grabbed his phone, signaling an incoming call. They stopped on the sidewalk as Mitsuya spoke with Draken about their arrival time. He’d taken note that they’d circled the same block twice during their conversation, giving more time for Takemichi to talk out his emotions and dilemma with Matsuya. He checked his phone to note it was ten minutes after eight. How had time disappeared so quickly?

“Right, we’re about a mile down the road,” Mitsuya spoke into the phone, clearly unaware of the sudden shift in tension. Takemichi saw it out of the corner of his eye— off to his side was a small alleyway with a group of five guys staring right at them. He knew better than to think nothing of it considering just who they were. But before he could find it in his voice to speak up, he noted there were two more guys coming around the block from behind them, and two more coming straight ahead.

“Uh, Mitsuya-kun?”

“I’ll call you back.” Mitsuya mustered before he dropped his phone back into his pocket, taking in the scene before them.

“Stay back, Takemitchy.”

“Well look at what we have here! Two of our beloved Toman members in our territory, it must be our lucky day, don’t you think?” One of the guys from the alley spoke, a disgustingly big smile engulfed on his face. “What’s wrong, Manji gang? Can’t fight without your invincible Mikey?” They all broke into a fit of deranged laughter, quickly unsettling the feeling in his gut.

They were outnumbered by a lot, but even more so, Takemichi could recognize a switchblade in any pocket if he saw one. And shit, did he see multiple.

“Mitsuya-kun, they’re armed.” Takemichi muttered, glancing from the boy in front of him and back to the street thugs.

“I know, Takemitchy, try to stay back.”

“What are you two girls whispering about? Let’s have some fun!” The obvious leader shouted, the grin on his face only growing impossibly wider in anticipation. Takemichi couldn’t remember who threw the first punch but suddenly it was an all out brawl. Mitsuya was quick to deal with the thugs in the alley while Takemichi was left to deal with the four on the sidewalk. It’s not as if being in love made him any stronger or any better of a fighter, that just seemed to be his mind fighting to jump down from Cloud 9. He did his best, getting back on his feet each and every time he was punched or kicked down. He managed to score a couple of punches to a guy’s nose and another to a guy’s throat, but the other two were too strong for him to take on alone.

Thankfully, Mitsuya managed to jump in just as Takemichi got cornered against the wall. Everything was happening so fast, he was aware he and Mitsuya were yelling and shouting at each other often, but his mind could barely keep up with everything at once. With a horrified gasp, he took note that there were only four guys on the floor in the alleyway instead of five. Shit! Where did their leader go? Takemichi threw one final punch at an opponent’s nose before he desperately searched around.

This wasn’t good. There was no way a leader would abandon his men when it was just the two of them. Without being able to see where he went it left an open ended mystery for a surprise attack. Mitsuya was already injured, still fighting back the other two men that cornered them from behind initially. A flash of a jacket appeared behind him but before he could fully turn around to take his new opponent into view, he felt the dig of a blade slashed against his stomach.

He saw white before he saw anything else. A bright white of agonizing pain. Hot tears formed in his waterline from the anguish that spread like a wildfire exploding against his skin. Whatever adrenaline he managed to score from the affliction, he used to the best of his ability. He moved to kick the blade out of the man’s unsteady hand, before wrapping his arms around his torso and taking a bite— firm and hard, as he refused to let go. It’d worked once before with Kiyomasa and now without the thug’s defense weapon, Takemichi had a little more control of the situation. He ignored the punches to his sides or the attempted knees to his stomach and held on like his life depended on it.

“Let me go you fucking flea!” The man squirmed relentlessly but Takemichi refused to budge, only sinking his teeth in further. It wasn’t until he felt the man slump down that he managed to pull himself off of him and take account of the situation. Mistuya, as per usual, managed to take down the rest of the crowd, offering a single blow to the leader’s face as he was pinned against the wall by Takemichi.

“Mitsuya-kun! You’re bleeding! Are you okay?” Takemichi shouted, quick to steady him on his two feet, wrapping his arm around Mitsuya’s shoulder to keep him afloat.

A breathless laugh left Mitsuya’s lips, “I could say the same about you, Takemitchy, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” He answered. It wasn’t necessarily dishonest, all the adrenaline from the fight had the pain in his abdomen feel as if he imagined it. Of course, the sticky and wet liquid under his shirt was the only current reminder that he, in fact, did not.

“Let’s go, we need to get your arm taken care of.”

“Always the savior, Takemitchy.” Mitsuya spoke with a smile, leaning into his frame as they limped their way to the shrine. When they finally arrived, Takemichi felt extremely dizzy and disorientated.

“What the hell?” Draken shouted from the stairs as he noticed the two’s physical state, “What the hell happened, Mitsuya? Takemitchy?”

Takemichi tried to find Chifuyu’s eyes in the crowd, he could barely make out Draken, a bit of Mikey off to the middle, and finally Chifuyu— blurry and fuzzy faced Chifuyu.

“We got ambushed by the switchblade thugs down the block. We’re fine, my arm got nicked and Takemitchy,” Mitsuya turned to glance at him, his words dying in his throat. “Takemitchy? What’s wrong?”

Takemichi could barely make out the words being said to him? From him? Near him? When did everything get so dizzy? He glanced down and took note of his physical state, although the only thing he could really make out was the vibrancy of blood on the cream colored sidewalk. ‘Fuck, I forgot I got slashed,’ he thought to himself and yet there was just a hint of empty humor trickling a smile onto his lips. “Hi Chifuyu,” he tried to call out though he wasn’t sure just how far his voice managed to go. “Hi Mikey,” he paused, coughing up a splatter of blood infused saliva onto the pavement. Fuck, how was it that physical harm could cause the body to feel absolute bliss? Peace, even? Or was it his delusions? His exhaustion? Nothing hurt and yet he was almost positive it should.

Mitsuya took in the look on Takemitchy’s face, the pale complexion of his physique, the blood pooling on the sidewalk just below him. The way he spoke was so choppy and perhaps, even a little out of his mind. How hadn’t he noticed Takemitchy’s state before? He couldn’t even remember a time where he heard Takemitchy’s usual wails of pain or anger, everything was relatively silent. His eyes widened in utter disbelief, “Why didn’t you say anything, dumbass!?”

Takemichi turned to face Mitsuya, offering a bloody-teeth filled smile, “I’m okay, I’m just…..” He paused, stumbling a little as he swayed with sudden nausea, “I-I’m…..really….tired.” Takemichi managed to bark out before the ringing in his ears, the waves in his chest, the pulse in his stomach finally crashed down over him. He felt his eyes roll back and everything faded to black.

When Takemitchy awoke next his eyes took account of the midnight blue sky above him, with stars twinkling so bright he was sure they were watching over him. He felt sore everywhere and his own breath smelled sour, like he had sucked on a million different pennies. He squeezed his eyes shut as he attempted to remember what led him here. He remembered seeing Chifuyu at the apartment with….Mikey? No, Mitsuya. He remembered walking with Mitsuya towards the shrine, for what, exactly? He listened to the voices around him, hearing the soft tone of Mitsuya somewhere around him and the boldness of Draken a bit farther away.

Shit, it was the meeting with Toman.

They were heading to the meeting and got ambushed by the street thugs. He swallowed dryly as fuzzy memories slowly became clearer, sharper as if he was watching a movie inside his brain. When everything came back into focus he shot up with a stifled grunt, “Tch,” he breathed out, momentarily forgetting his injury in favor of Mitsuya’s. His hand fell to his bandaged stomach holding back the acrid nausea that threatened to spew from his lips. He glanced up to take in his surroundings but stopped short when a stone cold face stared right back at him. He froze for a second, maybe two— before he managed to find his voice, “Where’s Mitsuya-kun? Is he okay?”

Of course, Mikey offered nothing but a cold hard glare and a tight lipped frown.

“I’m right here, moron.”

Takemichi glanced up to see Mitsuya standing at his side staring down at him with faint amusement. “Is your arm okay?”

“It’s fine, Takemitchy, but I don’t particularly appreciate you lying to me about the state of your injuries. Another few minutes with a wound that deep and you would have been a lost cause.”

“Huh??” Takemichi shook his head, “No way, there’s no way it cut that deep, it really didn’t hurt that bad.”

“Take a look around you, your blood is soaked on the stairs and the worst of it is over where you fainted. You should have told me the second you got a wound like that. I understand you were worried for my wellbeing but none of this matters if you put everyone else’s injuries over your own. Everyone cares about you as equally as you care about them. You scared us, Takemitchy.”

He couldn’t help the sigh that left his lips, already mourning the feeling that it was physically impossible to do just about anything right. Whether it be through countless efforts to save the past lives of his friends just to return to a future where they’re brutally murdered in front of him. Or, through hopeless schemes of either platonic or romantic interests, where he worried them to the core, inflicting fear for his own wellbeing when truthfully— it didn’t matter what happened to him as long as they all got to live their lives happily and successfully in the future.

Takemichi knew all too well that if anyone close to Mikey died in the past it would only cause further chaos for all of Toman in the future. He’d be damned to let Mitsuya fall victim to any sort of physical demise, even if it was just a scratch on his forearm.

“I’m sorry, Mitsuya-kun, I didn’t mean to scare anyone.” He uttered faintly before he dropped his eyes back to Mikey who still observed him with clear uneasiness and borderline vexation. “I’m sorry Mikey, I didn’t mean to upset you either. I just know how much you care for your founding Toman members, I felt it was more important too—“ but the words died out in his throat the second Mikey’s hand snapped up to grab his chin.

“And what makes you think you have the right to decide who is or isn’t important to me, Takemitchy? I didn’t ask you to play God on who’s worth saving versus who’s not. We are all apart of Toman and I can’t have you leaving me as much as I can’t have anyone else leaving either.”

Mikey’s fingers pinched his skin enough to leave finger-padded bruises later on but the physical pain didn’t matter when he’d emotionally troubled his friends and peers all out of the sake of another’s security. “I’m sorry,” he offered once more, never breaking the eye contact that held so thick and prominent.

After a few moments of bitter silence, Mikey dropped his hand back to his lap and turned back to face the crowd. Takemichi turned to do the same but only then noticed the third presence originally situated behind him. He was quick to turn and face Chifuyu, not at all surprised to see faded tears tucked behind his lashes. His eyes shone such a pretty green but the particular shade only ever came into play when the rest of his face burned a sickly white. A “I’ve nearly seen a ghost” white. All because of him and his selfless actions.

“Are you going to call me an idiot too?” He asked honestly, unable to look away from those piercing emeralds.

A faint smile curled at the corner of his lip, so faint it was almost a guide to a fool’s paradise. But then he spoke, ever so soft, “Of course not, partner, we’re just glad you’re okay.”

The tears fell down his cheeks before the smile kissed his lips, the smile of sorrowed appreciation. He’d made the most important people in his life worry for his well being and excused it as if his life didn’t matter compared to anyone else’s. It wasn’t fair and it wasn’t a right accusation, either. It seemed the constant failures with time leaping had a niche for bringing down his own self-care.

Takemichi reached out in sudden desperation to feel Chifuyu’s warmth. That security blanket that did so well bringing him to his feet every morning. It seemed Chifuyu took the hint and intertwined their fingers with ease, scooting closer to Takemichi’s side all for the sake of careful consideration. As if to not stretch out Takemichi’s wound through any sort of far movement.

He’d never held hands with Chifuyu in front of Toman but it seemed everyone really was just as invested as Mizo Mid said they were. The lack of a reaction was the first indicator, although he noticed a few locking their eyes on the physical contact. He glanced to his side spotting a vague grin drawn on Mikey’s face, although his eyes still gazed ahead.

The meeting started shortly after and ironically enough, the emergency at hand had everything to do with the new slasher street thugs. Mikey made his and Mitsuya’s encounter a strong example of the damage they were willing to cause all for the sake of popularity. Mikey announced he’d be enforcing a buddy system for those who weren’t yet graduated to stick together to and from school as most of the recent ambushes were specifically targeted around that timespan.

Takemichi couldn’t help but glance at Chifuyu at the mention of a “buddy system” knowing full well they already traveled everywhere by each other’s sides. Chifuyu met his eyes with a smug smirk and a wink that left Takemichi’s heart a sudden master at string picking.

The meeting ended as soon as it started, dismissing all of Toman to return a very safe trip home. All the while the main group stayed put near the stairs, Mizo crew cutting through the waves of bodied traffic to reach Takemichi.

“Sick wound, Michi,” Yamagishi commented with a mischievous smile, “although that really wasn’t the plan I thought you had in mind. But adding a little bit of spice like this would surely…”

“Yamagishi! Shut up!” Takemichi shouted with a fierce shake of his head.

“Woah, what’s wrong? Aren’t you two—“

Takemichi shook his head again watching as the group all looked from their conjoined hands to anywhere but any sort of eye contact. Yamagishi even had the audacity to slip his hands in his pocket and whistle as if he hadn’t just exposed more than he necessary.

It was Mitsuya that broke the awkward silence after that with a voluminous laugh that had just about everyone around him joining in. Takemichi shaded a crimson red, tucking his mouth into the palm of his hand with clear embarrassment.

“Ah Yamagishi, you’ve always been such a trip.” Mitsuya offered through chuckled breaths.

“Don’t tell him that he doesn’t need anymore fuel to his fire,” Akkun replied, shaking his head at Mitsuya with a matched pair of coy grins. “Anyway, Michi, we're going to head out but we’re glad to know you’re okay. That is going to leave one nasty looking scar though.”

“Gee, thanks Akkun.” Takemichi whined, dropping his hand to his wrapped stomach. “Text me when you’re home?”

“Will do, Michi.” They offered a pair of waves before they set off and into the night.

“You sure you’re okay, Takemitchy?” Draken asked just as he and Chifuyu stood to take their leave.

“I promise I’m fine.” Takemichi answered, offering a smile of determination.

“I’m curious to know what happened exactly, what led to your wound and how did you possibly fight back with an injury like that?” Draken asked, giving Takemichi an extensive once over.

“Oh! Well, I just did the same thing I did to Kiyomasa! It worked then so I figured there was no reason not to try it out this time around.”

“Hah?” Realization seemed to dawn on him, a flicker of remembrance that brought those pearly teeth into view, “You didn’t.”

“I did.” Takemichi replied with a genuine laugh, “It worked though, right Mitsuya-kun?”

“Biggest damn chomp of skin I’d ever seen.” Mitsuya agreed with a coy smile, “I was surprised you managed to not rip his flesh off by the sounds of his screaming.”

“Pause.” Mikey spoke out of the blue, his eyes moving from Draken and Mitsuya to Takemichi, “Your fighting tactic during a brawl is to bite? When was this fight with Kiyosama?”

“August third when I carried Draken-kun from the shrine. We got ambushed by Kiyomasa’s posse. I’d already had a dagger go through my hand so I did the only thing I could think would cause him any sort of pain.” Takemichi spoke with a shrug, “I did the same with the leader of the street thug considering he’d already slashed my stomach. It really was the only option but so far it’s worked out in my favor.”

Mikey’s eyes widened slightly as the look of disbelief ignited his face. Draken and Mitsuya, on the other hand, threw their heads back in fits of joyous laughter, “I think it’s about time we called it your signature move, Takemitchy. He can’t fight but he definitely can bite.”

He felt a squeeze at his hand and wasted no time to bring his full attention to Chifuyu. “Are you ready to go?”

The boy nodded with a smile, “It’s been twenty four hours since we’ve slept, I think we both could use it, partner.”

“Hah?”

“Come again?”

“Twenty four hours without sleep? What were you two doing?” The three asked with utmost interest, beaming with eyes that sparkled and lips that dragged from ear to ear.

“That’s funny, I don’t remember any of this being anyone else’s business,” Chifuyu commented, matching their facial expressions faultlessly. “Let’s go, Takemitchy.”

Takemichi offered a wave of his fingers towards their friends before he turned with Chifuyu, the two already engaging in easy conversation as they walked their way back to his own apartment.

“What made you and Mitsuya so late to the meeting in the first place?” Chifuyu asked after a few moments of comfortable silence.

“Mmm, I actually was ready to head up to your apartment when I ran into him leaving. I was going to see if we could walk together to the meeting but Mitsuya-kun had other plans. We got a little sidetracked with time and as soon as we got the call from Draken-kun, we got ambushed.”

He felt Chifuyu squeeze his hand a bit more firmly at the mention of the ambushing which only caused Takemichi to squeeze back with reassurance. “I’m okay, Chifuyu, really. I wouldn’t have fainted if I actually managed to take a nap after school but Mizo Mid came over and caused chaos to my afternoon plans.”

Chifuyu released a hearty laugh at that, “They always got the worst timing, hm? Did you tell them you hadn’t had any sleep?”

“More or less but they didn’t seem to care. There were more important topics on their agenda than my sleeping habits.”

The two quickly transformed the conversation into affectionate slander towards the Mizo Mid crew, specifically regarding Yamagishi’s chaotic nature. Takemichi was glad that Chifuyu had yet to bring up Yamagishi’s revealing words regarding “Takemichi’s plan”.

They were so lost in comfortable conversation they barely recognized their surroundings to be Takemichi’s apartment complex. “Want to come in?” Takemichi asked before quickly adding, “If you need to sleep after today’s fiasco, I understand.”

“Unlike you, I actually managed a nap after school.” A smirk infiltrated his lips, “so if you’re willing to hang out for a bit longer, my schedule is cleared.”

Takemichi returned a smile before he unlocked the door and allowed Chifuyu to enter, “Are you hungry at all?”

“Depends, what do you have to eat?”

“Mmm,” Takemichi hummed as he headed to the kitchen, throwing open the doors of his pantry. “I have…..pocky? Two bowls of ramen?”

Takemichi rolled his eyes at Chifuyu’s exaggerated laugh, “I think I’m good without those, but thank you Takemitchy.”

He nodded in agreement as he closed up the pantry and shuffled towards his room tossing his discarded clothes from earlier into his hamper. He flopped lazily onto his bed with a soft sigh, nerves beginning to get the best of him. They were finally alone and Chifuyu definitely wasn’t an idiot; he had definitely heard the interaction between himself and Yamagishi earlier. Enough to connect the dots that Takemichi’s “plan” had just about everything to do with Chifuyu.

Chifuyu flopped onto the bed beside Takemichi, resting his back against the wall.

“So….Takemitchy,” Chifuyu started.

Fuck, the conversation was about to start, wasn’t it?

“Hmm?”

“There’s something that’s been on my mind for awhile and I wanted to talk to you about it, if that’s okay.”

Yes. Yes it was.

Takemichi sat up slowly, turning to face Chifuyu with his full and undivided attention. There went his chance to be the first one to admit his feelings.

“After the ambush you faced with Mitsuya, I realized that it’s nearly impossible for me to live my life without you. To be honest, Takemitchy, when you arrived at the shrine looking as disheveled and delusional as you did, it scared the shit out of me. After you had fainted and Mitsuya carried you to the landing, I remember reaching for your pulse and it was so, so faint, I thought we were all about to lose you. I thought I was going to lose you. In truth, the thought just made me angry. Your actions made me angry.”

Takemichi held his breath but stayed silent, allowing Chifuyu to speak out his feelings without interruption.

“It pissed me off that I wasn’t there to help you, it pissed me off that Mitsuya didn’t notice you were injured until you’d already walked a mile down the road, and it pissed me off that you didn’t even bother to call me before the ambush. What you said to Mikey was so cruel and I never, ever, want to hear that kind of degradation or lack of concern you have for your wellbeing ever again.”

Takemichi felt as stiff as a rock recognizing just how much pain his actions had caused towards those he loved, unconditionally. He watched as Chifuyu’s shoulders trembled with despair at what could have been— what could have happened if the blade had gone any farther. If they had arrived any later. He chewed his bottom lip anxiously as he reached out to hold Chifuyu’s hand, offering it a hearty squeeze.

“Takemitchy, you mean so much to me. As a partner and a best friend and as a…” He trailed off, breaking eye contact to suddenly find interest in just about anything but Takemichi’s eyes. “I can’t imagine losing you.”

With a sudden boost of confidence, Takemichi stretched out his free hand to cup Chifuyu’s chin, returning his line of sight back to his own face. “Chifuyu, in truth, all day today I was called out for my moronic thoughts and actions. All of Mizo Mid was furious at me for my lack of understanding of human emotions and feelings. I made up so many excuses out of my own fears for everything that relates to the future, that I hadn’t realized just how hard I began pushing away everything that makes me human. Each timeleap I’ve done has created a version of me that chills me to the bone. I’ve lost so much confidence in who I am and what I stand for because everything I try to do right here, slaps me in the face twelve years later.”

Their eye contact never wavered nor did the squeezes and firm grasps of their conjoined hands.

“It took me over two hours of full on storytelling to realize that everything everyone has said to me is completely right and I’m entirely in the wrong. I’ve constantly thrown away all senses of my own happiness or opportunity so I won't be disappointed in the future. So that I won't have to keep reliving heartbreak after heartbreak losing the people I love the most. In all honesty, Chifuyu, I’ve been fraudulent about my feelings for you. I heard you and Mitsuya speaking about me outside your apartment before the meeting and it hurt me to know that my oblivious actions made you think I was scared of you or that you had ever done anything wrong to me. You haven’t. Far from it, actually.”

“Ever since the day you called out to me on the swing, I’ve had a sense of longing and care for you that doesn’t come close to the definition of a basic platonic friendship. If it hadn’t been for the time skip where Kisaki shot you in front of me, I would have confessed my feelings for you long ago. But I was scared and even now, I’m scared that admitting my feelings for you will only cause me future heartbreak. I can’t bear to return to the future again without you in it. Earlier, Mitsuya-kun told me that if I continue to live my life in fear, I’ll continue to miss out on opportunities that make me the most happy.”

The atmosphere around them was so rich, Takemichi felt as if he could merely pass out. The way Chifuyu’s eyes stared into his own with so much intensity, love, lust, attraction— no moment between them would ever compare to this exact timestamp.

“What I’m trying to say here is….I-“ He paused, suddenly feeling breathless, “I love you, Chifuyu.”

But much to his surprise at the very same time he spoke those sacred words, so did Chifuyu.

“Eh? What was that?”

“Hm?” Chifuyu offered with a teasing grin, “what was what?”

“What did you just say?”

Chifuyu squinted his eyes as if he were in a sudden deep thought, “I don’t remember saying anything but if you repeat what you just said, maybe I'll remember clearly.”

“Chifuyu!” Warmth spread over Takemichi’s cheeks as Chifuyu barked out a bright and sunny laugh.

“I love you, Takemitchy. I always have and I always will.”

Their smiles were unmatched, their eyes shone with adoration so thick not even a knife could slice through it. Takemichi felt the bed shift as Chifuyu scooted closer, mirroring his position on the bed. Their knees touched first as Chifuyu gingerly reached out to rest a hand upon Takemichi’s cheek, “Is it okay if I…” he trailed off, a soft pink coloring his cheekbones.

Takemichi nodded, his smile never faltering, even as the butterflies in his chest darted viscously to find an exit.

This moment was so serene, so soft, so unreal— Takemichi had a quick thought that maybe he had really died in that altercation. That this was all merely just a dream while he lay in limbo. He supposed if it were true, at least in death he was experiencing the happiest moment of his life.

That thought dissipated as soon as it came, however, because one second Chifuyu’s nose was brushing his own leaving goosebumps to rise up the back of his neck with sheer anticipation. He watched as Chifuyu’s eyes glanced from his own, then down to his lips, and back again. A pause that begged the question ‘is this okay?’

Takemichi felt his eyes flutter closed as if to give absolute permission. A smile tied onto the corner of his lip when Chifuyu’s breath felt hot against his lips. As much as he wished Chifuyu would just kiss him already he couldn’t help but savor every single second of this buildup.

Within the next few seconds their lips finally connected, offering slow and sweet sentiments. Nervous anticipation that had the contact of their lips feel as if a static of intimate electricity buzzed from their lips to the tips of their toes. Takemichi felt Chifuyu slowly begin to pull back but his crave and yearn for more spoke louder. He reached up to cup the side of Chifuyu’s neck while his other hand rested comfortably upon his shoulder as he pulled Chifuyu in for another.

This one was just as sweet but quickly morphed into something more tender— more giving. Their lips fought to taste every inch until they were satisfied enough to explore further. They spent the next few hours laying side by side, allowing their tongues to get to know each other as well as their passions and attachments already had.