Loud snores filled the entire room.
Mitsuya was a little irritated by the sounds. He groaned as he turn to where the snores were coming from— it was Pah and Kazutora, sleeping on the couch, next to each other.
Pah's head was resting on Kazutora's right shoulder while Kazutora's head was resting on top of Pah's, and both of their mouths were hanging open. Draken nearly chocked when he saw Pah's drool stream down Kazutora's shirt.
Chifuyu was still sitting at the side of [first name]'s bed, "Are you guys tired?" he asked, glancing at Mitsuya.
"Not really.." Mitsuya replied, looking at Pah and Kazutora weirdly. "Just these two." said Draken, walking his way to them. Chifuyu stood up, watching what Draken's about to do.
Mitsuya frowned and said, "I think it's best to let them sleep—they're both too damn loud to be in a place like this."
Draken ignored him as he gently put a hand on Kazutora's left shoulder and began shaking him. "Hey..wake up you two." he said softly. Kazutora squirmed then he turned to Pah and hugged him—snuggling him like a teddy bear. "Shut up..Chifuyu.." he grumbled.
Draken flinched—he slightly felt crushed. His best friend just mistook him for someone else. When Mitsuya saw the look on Draken's face, he immediately folded his lips—not wanting to laugh at Draken's reaction.
A small smile formed on Chifuyu's lips as he shook his head at the sleeping Kazutora, then his attention went back to [first name]—still sleeping peacefully. His smile immediately faded as he looks at his wife.
She's fine, and same goes with their baby. The doctor said that she's lucky—the bullet didn't hit her heart. Knowing that his wife and his child are fine, he still can't help but to feel so worried..and he's still mad at himself for not being there to—he flinched and quickly shook the negative feeling off.
Chifuyu let out a loud and heavy sigh, making Mitsuya look at him. Mitsuya tilted his head, watching Chifuyu pinching the bridge of his nose.
Mitsuya let out a weak smile as he went up to him and nudged him, "Hey, she's alright now. Don't blame yourself for what happened." he said in a comforting tone.
Chifuyu hummed as he turned to face him, "I can't help it..if only I was with her that time, she wouldn't be—"
Mitsuya put an arm around his shoulders, slightly pulling him close to him, "Listen, it's not your fault. Stop stressing yourself out. If [first name] saw you acting like this, I'm sure she would say the same thing." he said, giving Chifuyu a warm smile.
"He's right, Chifuyu." said Draken, "Stop blaming yourself for what happened, just be thankful that [first name] and your kid are fine." he added.
Chifuyu looked at them with wide eyes, he expected them to be mad at him..why?
12 years ago, he promised them..he promised Baji..that he will never let anything bad happen to [first name]—He'll always be by her side to protect her till the very end..but he thinks that he just failed keeping that promise...
"B-But I promised—"
He stopped when he saw Pah was already awake, "Quit your whining, Chifuyu. It's not your damn fault why she's here." said Pah—with Kazutora still sleeping on his lap.
"Pah-chin.."
Pah stared at Chifuyu straight in the eyes—and slapped Kazutora's forehead hard, causing Kazutora to jolt up.
Mitsuya, Chifuyu and Draken froze when they witnessed that. "Now that's a weird way of breaking a sad moment.." said Mitsuya.
"What the hell?!" Kazutora yelled angrily at Pah with both of his hands on his forehead. "Why'd you do that?!" he yelled again.
"You were drooling on my pants, dumbass.." said Pah lazily. Kazutora flinched,"Hey! You drooled on my shoulder! Did I slap the living crap out of you for that?!" he yelled, pointing his index finger at him.
Pah turned his head away from him, "Geez, just do the same thing to me so we can be even."
Kazutora growled angrily at him, he was about to say something and yell at him again when suddenly he heard a weak moan—he froze.
They all froze when they heard it.
Chifuyu quickly turn to where [first name] is. He gaspefd when he saw her fingers were twitching a little—he immediately ran back to the side of her bed and held her hand with both of his hands, slightly squeezing her small slender hand. "[first name]..?"
[first name] fluttered her eyes open, she was a bit confused when she saw the white ceiling—then her eyes met Chifuyu's. She was surprised to see him right beside her, but she felt too weak to react. "Where am I.." she managed to whisper.
"The hospital. You got shot in the chest..the doctor said that you and the baby are fine." he said, placing her hand on his cheek and getting a little teary.
[first name] flinched a little, then her face softened when she began to remember everything. "Oh yeah..I remember.."
"Who did this to you?" said Chifuyu, gripping her hand a little tighter. [first name] look at the ceiling, "I don't know..All I remember was getting on a cab when suddenly I felt something hit me in the chest..when I looked down, I saw blood was already coming out.." she explained in a weak voice.
"You didn't see the person who shot you? Do you remember seeing someone near you??"
[first name] shook her head at him, "No.." then an image of a sobbing Mikey appeared in her mind, tears began to form in her eyes, "but..I remember the scared look on his face when he had me in his arms.." she whispered.
Chifuyu didn't quite hear her clear, "What?"
A tear escaped [first name]'s eye as she continues to think of the look on Mikey's face when they were on their way to the hospital. She sniffed, thinking that—it's time to tell her husband.
Chifuyu wiped her tears with his thumb, "Why are you crying? Are you feeling any pain?" he asked, getting more concerned.
She took a deep breath, "Chifuyu..there's something that I want to tell you.." she said, looking at him straight in the eyes. Chifuyu stared at her, a little confused. "But before that..can you help me sit up..?" she gave him a faint smile.
Chifuyu immediately did what she ask, he even placed a ton of pillows behind her. [first name] winced when she felt a pain on her chest—she hissed. "Are you okay??" Chifuyu asked.
[first name] gave him her signature faint smile and placed a hand on top of his, and it slightly calmed him. "Yeah, don't worry. I'm—" she froze when she saw four men behind Chifuyu. Draken, Mitsuya, Pah and Kazutora were looking at her like she was a ghost...and all were in tears.
Chifuyu followed her gaze and saw what she's looking at. "Oh, they were here ever sinc—" Chifuyu didn't get a chance to finish because—he just got knocked over by [first name]'s brothers.
"[FIRST NAME]" They all jumped on her bed, causing [first name] to flinch by their sudden actions.
Mitsuya held her wrist with both of his hands, "[first name], you idiot! You scared the living shit out of me!" he said, between his sobs.
Draken was sitting at the end of the bed where [first name]'s feet were, "What were you thinking?!" Draken yelled, trying his best to fight his tears—but he just can't.
Pah was on his knees, covering his face with his forearm as tears continue to stream down his face. "I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA LOSE YOU!" he sobbed harder.
Chifuyu rubbed his head as he stood back up, groaning in pain.
[first name] stared at them weirdly and said, "D-Don't cry, you guys.." she said, getting a little teary again. "Seeing you cry makes me want to cry too.." she said, still looking at their crying faces.
Then Kazutora went to her side and hugged her tight, making [first name] wince..because he was hugging her a little too tight. "K-Kazutora..my wou—" [first name] tried telling him about the gun wound on her chest.
"DON'T SCARE US LIKE THAT AGAIN, [FIRST NAME]!" Kazutora yelled a he continues to sob, then he began talking again, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'LL DO IF I LOST MY LITTLE SISTE—!"
"Stop hugging her like that! She just had surgery, you moron!" Mitsuya yelled as he and the others pulled him away from her. "I'm sorry!! I got a little carried away! I was just so happy she's—"
Pah didn't let the sobbing Kazutora finish, "Yeah, yeah. We're all happy she's awake." he said lazily.
Chifuyu quickly went beside [first name] and gently pulled her close to him. [first name] looked at him with sad eyes and said, "Sorry I made all of you worry too much.." Chifuyu ignored her apology and planted a soft kiss on her forehead, then he gently placed his chin on the top of her head, "You're okay now, that's what matters.." he said.
[first name] hummed as she rested her head on his chest. "By the way, how did you even get here?" she asked, looking up at him. That question made everyone look at her.
Chifuyu avoided eye contact and said, "Someone called me, using your phone number."
[first name]'s eyes widened in shock. She knows there's no other person who did that. She knows it's no other than Mikey..
"It was a man. He didn't tell me his name, but he told me about you getting shot, and he even gave me the address of the hospital that you're in." he explained, then his eyes met hers. "Who was he? Is he the one who helped you?" he asked.
"Or the one who did it.." Pah muttered, crossing his arms. Mitsuya heard what Pah was saying and smacked the back of his head,"Ow..!"
[first name] took a deep breath, "do you remember what I told you? that I was gonna meet a friend?" she looked at her husband, Chifuyu just stared back at her, waiting for what she's about to say next, "It was him. He was the friend that I was telling you about.." she said, glancing at her brothers.
"What's his name?" Draken asked, putting his hands inside his pockets, hiding his shaking fists—he thinks he knows who [first name]'s friend is. And he doesn't want his thoughts to be right.
[first name] looked away from Draken, "Manjiro Sano.." she said almost in a whisper.
Everyone's eyes widened in shock when they heard that name escaped her mouth.
"What..?" was all Chifuyu can say to her.
"W-Wait..Mikey?!" Pah exclaimed, completely confused.
"The friend that you've b-been seeing....it was Mikey all along???" said Kazutora in disbelief.
"So..Mikey's the one who helped you and brought you here?" Mitsuya asked.
[first name] gave them all a nod. After she received all of their reactions, she immediately told them everything. From how she got a chance to talk to him again to how she got shot earlier..
Takemichi
"I WON'T LET YOU DIE HERE!"
I managed to yell at him as I used all of my remaining strength to hold onto his wrist, not wanting to let go of him, not wanting to let him fall—not wanting him to die.
Mikey may have shot me, and I may have lost a lot of blood right now but—that won't stop me from saving him.
His dead-looking eyes grew wide, he was looking at me in disbelief. He must've thought that I lost consciousness when he left me in the area.
"Mikey! Quick! Grab onto my hand!" I manage to shout at him—despite the pain that I'm feeling in my chest.
He gave me an emotionless stare, "This is stupid.." he said, still not grabbing my hand. "I tried to kill you, you know?" he added.
He frowned at me and said, "Yet still.."
I can feel my whole body giving up, "Mikey-kun..there's not much time left..I'm loosing consciousness.."
"Just let go, I want to end everything here and now." he said coldly.
"Come on..you'll regret it." I said, still holding onto him..but I'm slightly struggling, I'm loosing consciousness. He just stared at me with his eyes looking empty as ever, "Mikey-kun..quick.."
"quick.."
"quick.."
I pleaded, but he just continue to stare at me.
"I'll definitely save you..no matter what. I'll go back to the past as many times as much as I can.."
He scowled at me and said, "What are you talking about? You can't go back anymore, right?"
I can feel my eyes slightly grew wide when he said that, how did— "H-How did you know?" I asked. It took him a minute or two to answer.
"[first name]." he replied, "[first name] told me." he added.
[first name]-chan??
"Just like you. She wouldn't stop looking for me." he said.
I gasped—then that means..he and [first name]..
are talking to each other?!
how??
Then that's when I realized a lot of things. No wonder..
No wonder [first name]-chan acts weird whenever someone mentions Mikey..
No wonder she tried stopping me and Kazutora look for him..
She's been seeing him all along???
"And just like you, that girl has no idea when to give up." he said, then I noticed his eyes getting a little glossy. "Now look what happened to her.." I heard him whisper.
Huh?
"What are you talking about..?" I asked, what the hell does he mean by that??
He scowled at me once again and said, "You haven't heard about what happened earlier?"
I stayed quiet, trying my best to hold onto him. What the hell is Mikey talking about?
"She's dead, Takemitchy. Bonten killed her—I killed her."
My eyes widened in horror when he said that. "W-What..?"
[first name]-chan's dead?!
She died?!
Just today?!!
And Mikey killed her??!
No way..I don't believe him.
"This is why I never wanted to meet any of you. I didn't want this to happen." he said, then he looks back at me, "So please, Takemitchy.."
"Please.."
"Put me in peace.."
He said as he stared at me with his empty-looking eyes. This isn't the Mikey I know—
"SHUT UP!!!" I shouted as my tears continue to stream down my face. He stared at me in shock.
"WHY THE HELL ARE YOU ALWAYS LIKE THIS? ALWAYS AND ALWAYS! YOU ALWAYS PUT ALL THE BURDEN ON YOURSELF!!" I yelled, I can feel my entire body shaking as I grip his wrist tighter than before. "OI, MANJIRO! Just say it once, just say 'please help me', damn it!!"
He just stared at me, still in shock by my sudden outburst. I can feel his wrist slipping off my hand, because of my blood. I gave him a warm smile and said, "And I'll definitely come to save you..Manjiro.."
He burst out in tears as he—finally grabbed onto my hand. "P-Please..Please help me, Takemitchy.." he said, when he held my hand— something unexpected happened.
"Huh..?" was all I can say before I blacked out.
year: 2008
Takemichi
It was dark, and all I can hear was—what sounded like an alarm clock?
And the sound of my mother's voice?
yelling angrily at me?
"How long are you gonna stay asleep? You're gonna be late!"
That's when I sat up with my eyes wide, I can still feel my tears streaming down my face. I scanned the place and saw that I'm
in my old room—shit..I'm back in the past..?? How did I—
"Hurry up and get dressed! I've made you breakfast!" I heard my mom yell. "You're a highschooler yet you still don't act like one!" she added.
Highschool..?
It took me a while to realize what she was saying. I gasped,
"EEEH??! I'M IN HIGHSCHOOL?!!!"