Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

REBORN

There was a soft thud, or well, there was.

That thud turned into loud stomps, and then crashes as eleven bodies fell elegantly onto some sort of wooden floor.

The twelfth body belonged to Hanagaki Takemichi, who was preoccupied with staring down the supposed god of time. Which, one, okay. And two, what the fuck? Since language doesn't seem to transfer between dimensions, a flurry of images were shoved into his mind before he was thrown down into the same place as the other ten people.

A few of them he didn’t recognize, but the ones that were up the quickest he did. Mikey and Draken were charting their surroundings, trying to figure out where the hell were they?

A blonde boy with an undercut groaned at his feet, and Takemichi lifted him to his feet. “Are you okay?” To which the boy just gave a lopsided grin at him and leaned on him some more. 

Draken quickly came up to him, muttering a small ‘Chifuyu is surprisingly heavy’ before scanning him up and down. He was surprised Draken was moving so fast after literally just recovering from a fatal stab wound literally hours prior. “So, Takemitchy-” he jolted, “Yes?” “Any idea where this is?”

This was referring to the large expansive gray nothingness that seemed to extend on forever. A quick test by Mikey (the test was him running at mach 10 til he ran into a wall) confirmed that they were confined to a space about the size of a football field. The only source of color they had were themselves, and their feet on the floor were the only way to tell up from down. 

After literally breaking all rules of time and leaping back and forth 12 years ahead and 12 years back he’d have thought he’d seen everything in terms of the supernatural. Yeah nope, that was clear by the literal manifestation of nonlinear time that had presented itself to him about 2 seconds ago (that moment would continue infinitely for it, though. weird.) 

Takemichi finally spoke up, glancing at how the black haired boy and boy with an earring were glaring at each other. “Um. Would you believe me if I said I think we were ripped out of the stream of time?” 

All the other ten people in the room paused (Hina? Why was Hina here? And the girl his past self had almost cheated on Hina with too???)  before looking at him like he was insane. 

Takemichi could feel the sweat staining his back, “I-”

The room lit up, and words splashed across the screen. [SORRY. IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET THE SCREEN WORKING. SPACE TIME CONTINUITY AND ALL THAT.]

What the fuck- The long black haired boy whispered, to which Chifuyu(?) promptly shushed him. When the disembodied cube voice is speaking(?), you listen, apparently. 

[TIME’S BELOVED, YOU HAD ONE JOB AND YOU MANAGED TO CREATE OVERTIME FOR YOURSELF. FRANKLY, IT'S INCREDIBLE CONSIDERING HOW YOU WEREN’T OBLIGATED TO ANY OF IT.] The room murmured, all questioning who the voice was referring to, to which Takemitchy dug his face into his uniform and tried not to blush in embarrassment. C’mon, Mikey and Draken were in the room as well as Hina. He wanted to look a little cool. At least decent.

[SO. WE’VE DECIDED TO DO A LITTLE MEDDLING OF OUR OWN. ENJOY, TOMAN AND FRIENDS, THE SECRET ONE OF YOUR OWN HAS BEEN KEEPING FROM YOU.]

“Yo.” Mikey, he did not just tell some primordial being, ‘yo’. Right? Right??

[...]

“Hey, this place is depressing. Can you at least add some couches or something?” Draken, not you too-

Mikey’s eyes lit up, “Ooh! An infinite Dorayaki stand!”

[...anything else?] oh god. They made the god lose Alll caps

Some of the Toman division officers spoke up. 

“I’ll have some kaarage, thanks.” The purple-haired one said, he thinks his name was Mitsuya? 

“I’ll have whatever Take-chan gets.” “Hakkai,  you sure? You could literally ask for anything?” “Whatever Take-chan wants, is best.”

“Huh? Hakkai? You’re here too?” A girl with auburn brown hair stood up, grasping onto her brother’s arm. “YUZUHA? Are you okay?” Hakkai looked over at her. They continued to fuss privately over each other.

Hina pipped up from where she had apparently made friends with a blonde who he recognized as Mikey’s sister and also the girl who made him very close to cheating… he hates to say he had no control over that but he literally didn’t. He should apologize though anyway. 

“Some general snacks for me and Emma- an aloe-vera mango drink! Oh, wait you- okay make that strawberry milk.”

It seemed like no one else had the gall to request a god for food. Well, most of them probably lost their voices from screaming on the way down to this big cube so-

And poof, it was there. What the fuck.

[ANY MORE ‘REQUESTS’?] 

Mikey hummed ‘no’ from where he was laying on the couch (when did he get there??), mouth full of at least ten dorayakis. Everyone else just settled in from there.

[GOOD. NOW LET'S WATCH THIS SELF INDULGENT MESS.]

A dirty and cluttered apartment was shown, trash bags and beer cans littering the floor.  A TV-broadcast was playing on the television of the owner who was busy shoving his face with chips.

“Jesus, that's disgusting.” Mitsuya piped in, he was the older brother to two little girls. He knows how important hygiene is.

From where Akkun was beginning to wake up clearly, he thought of Takemichi’s house before he and Takuya had deep-cleaned it. “Y..yo’u said it sister.”

“I’m glad someone here agrees, random guy I’ve never met before.” Solidarity in hygiene.

“Likewise, random dude.”

“The dispute between the Tokyo Manji Gang has been intensifying in the city. Recently, uninvolved civilians fell victim to the dispute.” The anchor stated.

“What?” Hakkai stopped braiding Yuzuha’s hair, ignoring her protests as the waterfall strands fell out. The rest of Toman paused, Mikey and Draken especially- this was something to pay attention to.

“No way? For real? Scary. ” The man said, even though all that could be seen was his back.

“That’s the most lackluster response to a death I’ve ever seen.” Chifuyu remarked.

“ Within the many victims, there were two fatalities. Those two are 25 year old, Tachibana Naoto-”

“Tachibana Naoto?”

“Naoto!?” Hina yelled, muffling her shock.

“And 26-year old Tachibana Hinata.” His full face was in view, and his expression was one of shock as he stopped eating mid-bite.

“What? I die at 26, really? And Naoto too?” Coming face to face with a due date for your own death must be so surreal for her. Especially since those involved in her murder were sitting in the room with her, though she had no way of knowing that.

Emma placed a hand on hers, “Let's wait. I’m sure it'll elaborate more.”

The scene sped forward slightly in time, to the perspective of the owner of the apartment. It panned outward to a dusty, clearly very old apartment. 

It seems that the girlfriend I had during middle school- Tachibana, Hinata, has died.

Did I date someone with black hair in the future? Hina thought.

“Aw damn, that means you and Hina break up, huh, Takemichi?” Akkun patted him on the back, “But hey! You can change that now!” He glanced at Hinata, who flitted her eyes away. Her mind was more focused on her and her brother’s deaths.

The landlady slammed her fist on the door, yelling- “How many times I gotta tell you before you get it through your thick skull?!” She practically screamed, pointing at him, “YOUR TV IS TOO FUCKING LOUD!!!”

“This guy should just dropkick her.” Mikey munched on a chip.

“Or set her car on fire.” Baji added.

“...Maybe even steal her cat,  I don’t know.” added Kazutora.

Kazutora was trying to lie low, since he didn’t exactly want to see the one responsible for him ending up in Juvie and the death of Shincihiro. But he couldn’t exactly avoid it forever so, time to face the music, he guesses?

Mikey turned to him, scanning his features. He looked beyond enraged, but the gentle and firm grips of Emma and Draken on his arm respectively held him back. He breathed out, “The earring’s new.”

Kazutora gaped, clenching his fist- that’s it? “That’s all you have to say?”

Those soulless, infinite black eyes of Mikey’s turned to him (the one’s that hurt Haruchiyo, the ones that would end up ruining so many futures) and he regarded him like Kazutora was no more of a problem than a common housefly. “That’s all you’re worth.”

He sat in silence.

He had a placated expression on his face, and sweated out a small- “I’m sorry.” The landlady huffed, “JEEZ! KIDS NOWADAYS!” and grumbled off.

“I hate people like that.” Baji huffed, “Apologizing is the easy way out. Fighting properly is the best.”

Both Takemichi and Kazutora dead-eyed him.

Another switch.

The chime of a store.

God that place sucked, Takemichi thought.

Sigh. A woman sighed, “How many times are you going to make me say the same thing~~? Hanagaki, Takemichi Ku~n.”

"Takemichi?!" Akkun whipped his head around, those who didn't know who that was (the majority, although he knew them) following Akkun's line of sight. "THAT'S YOU?"

"I seriously don't want to watch something all about some guy I don't know." Kazutora mumbled. 

"Hey. It beats you being in juvie!" Kazutora just leveled Baji with a glare that if looks could kill, Baji would be 27 feet in the ground. 

"Is your secret that you work at a DVD store in the future with a young manager?" Chifuyu questioned. Why did it sound genuine and not like a mockery of him…?

"Uh." Takemichi stuttered.

“Uh” Takemichi mumbled.

She turned to him, before gesturing back to the DVD’s. “When a DVD gets returned, immediately put it back on display. How many times have I said it~~?”

He rubbed the back of his head, averting locking gazes with his manager, “I’m sorr-”

“YES! All you do is apolo gize~!!” The manager groaned.

"Ith twoo," Mikey finished chewing his breaded chicken…? "This future Takemitchy apologizes so much."

"All would be solved if he just punched someone in the face like a fuckin hero," The 1st division caption quipped, in which his vice just sighed. "The only thing that'd do for him is relieve him of work."

Baji lit up like a Christmas tree in the beginning of November,

 "Exactly!"

"Because he'd be in jail, dumbass.

" "Whatd'ya say?"

 "NOTHING."

Takemichi continued to try placating her, like usual, “Oh man…I had intended to do it.”

She waved him off, walking back with her hands full of DVD’s, “If you had planned to, please do it before someone has to tell you. Lately, things have been different. We’ve gotten some complaints about the DVD’s being put back. Please do it properly before we get any more complaints.” She was obviously very annoyed with him.

Takemichi bowed his head, “I’m sorry…”

Agh! “Yes!! All you do is apologize~~!”

The barrage of subtle-disses at Takemichi continued for his entire shift, until he finished in a depressive dump. He spotted an obviously expensive car, took out a quarter, and SCRAAAAAPED the side of it. 

Akkun seemed excited at this, prattling off about how he still had some delinquency in him left. 

"Seems petty to damage someone else's things just because you yourself aren't feeling great, Takemichi" Mitsuyu lectured him. 

There must be a whole lake in his shirt from how much he's sweat. Actually, when he touched his back everything was…normal? Oh right. Being ripped from time and all probably means our bodies are in like stasis or whatever. 

Hina quickly came to his defense, she was too good for him. "Hey! That's future him, not present him!"

If only she knew…

Actually. Considering what this is showing, she probably will know.

I had never thought things would turn out like this. “ Go die, rich people.”

“OI!” The owner of the car appeared, causing Takemichi to sprint away like a mad man.

“AGHHHH! THIS WAS 80,0000 BUCKS!” I mean, my life.

After escaping the (rightfully) pissed rich man, he found himself at the subway station he always used to commute to and fro from work. Since those were the only places he really had any place in any way. He spoke out loud to himself-

“I live in a beat-up apartment with thin walls. My manager is 6 years younger and treats me like an idiot.” The train began to roll into the subway station.

Hakkai bit his nails, "Does anyone else not like how close he's standing to the tracks?"

"That's like, rule number one in a subway. Stand like twelve feet away in case some psycho charges at you." Yuzuha rubbed her chin, "It's never failed me."

Takemichi’s negative rant continued, “I’ve only ever had one girlfriend- in middle school.” He smiled a little, “I’ve never had anything perfect.”

He face palmed himself, sighing again, “...Where…did I go wrong?” Pff, woosh, the train made its way closer.

BAM

"TAKEMICHI!"

"Bro..?" Akkun veered around to make sure he was still alive, Hina doing the same.

"Takemitchy..?"

"What just happened?"

Huh?

Hanagaki Takemichi was shoved straight onto the tracks, and the train was directly in front of him. “No way.” He exclaimed. Takemichi stared right at his oncoming death, eyes wide.

A heavy atmosphere laid itself over the group like a thick blanket. 

"Yuzuha, you fucking jinxed it." Hakkai mumbled. Which only lightened the tension for a moment before it went back to being taut.

The instant when I thought ‘I’m going to die.’ I didn’t think of my family or friends. I thought…

A girl with a mole under her lip was shown.

I thought of Tachibana Hinata.

Was she supposed to be happy about that? Ever since the day Takemichi had stood up and saved her in elementary school, she had loved him. But to think that at the end of his life, she was the only thing he could think of? “Takemichi..” Hina mourned out loud. And the ‘present’ Takemichi, the one who was still her boyfriend, just gazed at her with a look more mature than his years.

If I think about it now, then middle school Grade 2 was my heyday. 

A group of middle school girls were gossiping about Hinata liking Tachibana. 

“I heard that class 2’s Tachibana-san likes Hanagaki.” Wuu, Wuu, went a girl in the back at her friends snickering. 

Another female classmate added her two senses, “She’s so popular. Tachibana- san was visited by another second year boy too.” She said it in a sweet way.

I was the number 2 member of a cool second year delinquent group. “Why’re you so popular?” A boy known as Yamigishi asked.

“A delinquent group? I’ve never heard of ‘em.” 

“Neither have I, Mikey. “

Akkun huffed, “Well, just you guys wait. We’ll take over all of Shibuya, and then Tokyo!”

Mikey looked at him amused, “Is it a requirement that to become Takemitchy's friend, you must make crazy statements like that?” Akkun flushed but kept his statement true.

The time when I had the only girlfriend I’d ever get- is flashing before my eyes?

BA-DUMP

Hm?

Takemichi’s eyes opened to him being on board a train instead of being run over this time. “Oi! Takemichi!” A familiar voice caused him to look up.

Mikey nearly choked on his food, and Draken came around to pat his back. Everyone’s gazes were locked to the screen. Especially the commanders who were lingering around the back of the couches.

“Hurry up. The door’s gonna close on you.” A boy with stylish red hair and hair clips reprimanded him. Three other boys were also there as well. A pretty blonde, a boy with slicked back black hair, and a glasses boy with a half-up-half-down brown hairstyle.”

“Ayo, its me! Didn’t expect to see myself.” Akkun squinted his eyes, “Wait. This day looks familiar somehow.”

Takemichi nearly shouted in excitement. My middle-school pals!!! Whoaaa, how nostalgic!!! 

Makoto, who’s constantly fondling his cock!! “Yamigishi, did you see this week’s magazine?

“Ugh, TMI.” Emma groaned.

The dumbass Yamigishi who thinks he’ll be smart if he wears glasses!! “I saw it. I already jerked it to the pics.” He seems to be way too proud of that.

“Are we really going today?” The blonde boy said nervously. And my childhood friend, Takuya!!

Our leader, AKKUN!! “You guys get too nervous.”

“There I am, ladies and gents!” Chifuyu laughed, “Y’know, when you didn’t just fall down a huge hole into a cube, your hair actually looks decent.”

Akkun beamed, “Thanks, chifuck.”

“Its Chi-FU-yu.”

“Yeah, Chi-fuck-yu.” Akkun couldn’t help but snicker as Chifuckyou just face palmed.

They happened to pass by a mirror, where Takemichi met his past appearance face to face for the first time in a long time. 

“Huh?” Piss-colored hair, droopy black pants and a mohawk that’s on the verge of collapsing. 

“Seriously, Hina, what do you even see in him. I’ve looked better after getting beat up by- people.” Yuzuha questioned. Hina giggled, twirling her hair between her fingers, “He’s just the boy I love, that's all.” 

Emma made a gagging motion with her hand, “That’s so sweet, I’m gonna puke.”

“Hah? Wha?” Akkun seemed to be asking him what the hell he was doing via his eyes. “Open necked shirt and baggy pants…”

WHO THE HELL IS THIS LAME ASS DELINQUENT!!?

Takemichi clutched his face in the mirror. Horror. Absolute Horror is the only way to describe his expression. 

“Ah, so he was aware.” Mitsuya said, turning to Takemichi, “Seriously. You are a walking fashion disaster.”

The girls nodded in agreement, Emma speaking up, “At least your future self is kindove better.” She deadpanned, “I say that very loosely. It's still not good but it's better.” Zero times ten is still zero.

It’s me… It’s me from middle school!!! FUCK! I’m so lame!!

The Mizo Middle gang kept walking forward, obviously not giving a damn about Takemitchi’s slow pace. 

Even though this should have been my heyday…

He rummaged through his pockets, only to find some yen and a cellphone.

I have a 500 yen coin and a cellphone in my pocket. Everyone is lame, man…”

As he opened his phone, his eyes lit up with excitement.  POP! “It’s a flip phone! How nostalgic!” 

“Do phones change a lot then?” Hakkai wondered out loud. Takemichi almost chimed in to let him know before shutting himself up. Shit! That was close. 

Hold on.

July 4th, 2005!? 

The present is July 4th, 2017. So…

So, today’s 12 year’s in the past!!? He stood stock still, taking in the information slowly.

My life flashing before my eyes feels so real.

“Isn’t it way too convenient for a flashback to take you back exactly twelve years in the past?”

“Mhm. But maybe that's how this whole thing works. Have you tried dying before?” Both Chifuyu and Hakkai turned to Draken, who just shrugged. “I dun’ know, didn’t feel like that fo’ me.”

To snap him out of his stupor, Akkun tilted his head to Takemitchi. Who was, supposedly, in the process of reliving his best heydays. Akkun grinned, “I’m so glad that your cousin is the leader of Shibuya Middle, Ta-ke-mitchi~!” 

Fucking Masaru…. Akkun grit his teeth.

Takemitchi’s expression was just confused, honestly. 

Yamigishi chimed in, pumping a fist, “So if the 3rd years come out, it’ll be okay for us to throw out Masaru-kun’s name, right!?” “HUH?”

He had to step back and reorganize his thoughts for this one. “H-hold on a second. I wanna get all the info straight.” Masaru.. Masaru? Uhhh.

Gasp! I get it!! My cousin, Masaru-kun! He’s a third year student at Shibuya Middle!! He said that he was the leader there!!

Wait a damn minute… The mice in his brain were speeding on their little hamster wheels. “Hm? Ho…Hold on a minute? Is it a GOOD thing that Masaru-kun is gonna be there? I don’t understand??” 

The Mizo middle boys just stared at him like he was some foreign entity which uhh-

He sweated even more,  “W..what?” 

Makoto broke the silence first, “OI, OI, TAKE-MICHI!!!”

“Is your head okay!!?” Yamagishi shouted it like it was genuine concern. “Haha…” he humored them. 

“Huh!? Then that means. So right now we’re on our way to that middle school…to start a fight!?” 

They all simultaneously sweat together, incredible. Makoto stood frozen in horror, and Yamagishi prodded him to say something. It was Takuya who finally spoke up. 

“Oi, oi.” His expression firmed, “They were looking down on us, you know? The only thing we can do is fight back, right?” He didn’t say it like he was looking for an answer to that question. Rhetorical. 

Chifuyu nudged Baji, “See? That Makoto guy gets your ideology, Baji-san.” 

He shrugged Chifuyu’s arm off, tsking to himself. “No, that's only in fights that are started by other people. They’re looking for a fight, so they can’t just say they have to fight when they’re the ones who instiga-instigam…”

“ Instigated .”

“Fuck, -instigated it.”

Akkun chuffed, “That’s easy for you to say. You’re strong, if people fight you you can just simply defend yourself. For us, we had to take preventive matters. Or else we’d get eaten by our peers.” Seriously. That’s only something a strong person can say. He has no idea what it's like to be the underdog.

“Yeah, sure.” His voice was dripping with sarcasm, “And how’d that work out for ya’? Last I heard, you all would’ve been shuttleboys if not for your crybaby hero over there.” Baji threw his thumb over to where Takemichi was, who was trying ever so desperately to become one with the couch.

“I’m sure Takemichi would agree with me.” Akkun rebutted. 

Snot dripped from Takemitchi’s nose, “Looking down on us…. That’s the reason? ” His brain could not simply wrap itself around such a concept.

“What was that, A-kun~?” He teased. “Why, you fuck-”

“Girls! Girls! You’re both pretty.” Yuzuha chimed in, and it seemed to work in somewhat deflating the tension as Atsushi and Baji both sat back down.

Yamagishi smiled widely, “We ain’t need that pussy act! We’re gonna knock some heads!” SWIP, SWIP, he waved his hands up and down in a fist motion, “ You’re gonna give ‘em a backfist as soon as ya see ‘em like always, ain’t ya!?”

Chills went down his spine. Backfist? What-?

Mikey laughed at the thought of Takemitchy throwing a punch. He was better as a shield. Though, he did protect Draken, so he had his infinite thanks.

“I wonder if Takemichi is ‘excited’” Makoto was really living up to his perverted mind title. 

HOLD ON! HOLD ON! HOLD ON!!!! 

Fast, so fast… Everything is progressing too quickly! So fast, he’d say, that it was like a train! Heading straight towards him! Crazy…

Well, this did certainly happen! He pressed his thumb under his chin, imagining it all coming back to him. Give him a break, he hasn’t thought about these events in 12 years! Did I really go and talk to my cousin, Masaru-kun, who is the leader, so that we could get into Shibuya Middle…? It was still a fuzzy memory.

Hakkai turned to the group, “Are we sure this is still a flashback?” “...”

Makoto and Akkun suddenly approached two school boys. 

“OI!! ARE YOU GUYS FROM SHIBUYA MIDDLE?” Makoto stomped over to them, Akkun ahead of him. “WHAT YEAR ARE YOU FUCKS IN!?” their leader said eloquently.

Mistuya just sighed. That was worse than him saying anything, honestly. It felt like disappointing your parents or something close to that.

A… fight…? He gulped, A fight?

Now, an expression of true horror dawned on his face. Making him look akin to a dried fish. But I haven’t done this in 10 years!? Thoughts on him potentially being maimed flashed by too quickly to be processed. Shit… I think I’m gonna piss myself.

“Please don’t.” Emma, with her disgusted expressions, groaned again.

Was I really all gung-ho about this 10 years ago!? In the back, Akkun and Makoto continued inter- ‘questioning’ the two Shibuya Middle students. Fuck! I don’t get what’s going on. 

BA-DUMP. 

BA-DUMP

BA-DUMPBA-DUMPBADUMPBA

CALM DOWN! This is a flashback. 

His heart rate slowed. 

Awfully realistically for a flashback.

The sound of Takemichi’s heart beating caused everyone else’s heart rates to skyrocket.

“I don’t think future dead flashback Takemichi is doing so great,” Hakkai bit his nails again.  

The boys found themselves at a park, where Yamigishi was found drawing into the ground with a stick while the other boys loitered around. “Man, this is strange. The 2nd years ain’t here, huh?”

“Everyone we talked to earlier was just 1st and 3rd years!” “What’s going on” “Gang boycott..?” “Seriously, Takuya, a gang boycott?” “I don’t know man. Do you have any brighter ideas?”

“Oh!” Yamigishi exclaimed, “Or! Maybe they heard were comin’ and got scared?” Makoto laughed, “Could be that.:

Meanwhile, Takemitchy continued to stare off into the distance. There was a nagging feeling in his gut he just couldn’t get rid of.

I remember…this park.

Akkun nodded, “Well, the Shibuya delinquents are whipped and trendy ‘city boys’ in the end anyway, huh?”

Baji huffed, hackles raised, “Is that what people were saying about Toman members of Shibuya!?”

“To be fair, they turned out to be some bad apples.” Mitsuya calmed him down.

That gut feeling persisted. I have a bad feeling about this.

“OIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!” 

Trendy city boys?

He chuffed, No.

“Were you guys the ones sniffin’ around for our 2nd years?” A gaggle of delinquents made themselves known, all with their hands in their pockets. Several, if not most of them, looked unhinged and/or disinterested. The boys were not expecting this.

These guys are…the 3rd years!! It dawned on him, The rabble rousing 3rd years!!!” 

“What the fuck is Kiyomasa doing here?” Mikey shrugged, “This must be from before we dismantled their stupid fighting ring.” 

Atsushi and Takemichi remembered the fear they felt that night. 

Kiyomasa took out a light, flicking his cigarette, “The 2nd years are on a quote unquote school trip.” THESE GUYS ARE THE REAL DEAL!

A delinquent with a cigarette hanging between his lips pointed downwards, and he somehow managed to say the following while sounding bored, “Anyhow, we gonna ‘beat ya to a pulp’ one by one. So…line up.”

Makoto and Yamigishi stood petrified, “Y-you guys are the 3rd years, right?”

Yamigishi somehow managed to summon false confidence and evoked a name. “We’re going to explain the situation to the 3rd year leader, “Masaru-kun.”

The two delinquents went quiet, “Masaru…?”

“HAHAHAH!” The one holding the cigarette between his lips laughed so hard it fell out. “OI!! Masaru!”

A freckled boy came from the back of the gaggle of delinquents. “Um…yeah? I can hear you even if you don’t talk that loud..” He mumbled.

“Go buy everyone of us some juice! Masa-ru!” “Ah…okay!”

“W-what about money?” “Huh?” 

“This ‘fist’ of mine is worth 100 yen a pop, y’know? Should I hit ya about 10 times?” Masaru, the ‘leader’, backed down at that threat, “Uh, I’ll pay for it.”

…

That’s right.

Chifuyu hissed. Damn, he was just a shuttleboy.

Masaru-kun was just a ‘gofer.’

Said boy glanced back at Takemichi.

He was just showing off to me, his younger cousin.

I think I remember what happens after this. While we are terrified, our last ray of hope will be snatched away from us…

And we’ll get the shit kicked out of us.

Hina winced at seeing her boyfriend and his friends look more akin to tomato sauce than to humans. 

Mikey slurped on a juice pouch, “Looks like that hurt.”

A bloodily beaten Takemichi and equally bloodied Akkun were on their knees. “WUR ZORREY!” They shoddily yelled. 

“Fucking dorks can’t even yell properly” Kiyomasa tsked at them.

Takemitchi’s eyes were resigned. Tired. 0w.

Takuya was the only one still laying up while Makoto and Yamigishi were sprawled on the floor, licking their wounds. Yamigishi was,,,crying.

“From today onwards, you shits are soldiers of the ‘Tokyo Manji Gang.” The crazy delinquent stated, pointing at their disheveled forms, “So work your asses off. “

The Tokyo Manji gang…

That’s right. It all starts from here.

“FUCKING IDIOTS USING OUR NAME FOR SOME DUMB SHIT LIKE THIS!!?” Baji exploded, and like a torrential volcano he yelled at the top of his lungs- as if the Kiyomasa on the screen could hear him.

“Baji-san! Calm down!” Chifuyu tried to get his captain to listen but to no avail. 

“Baji.” Kazutora stepped up. “Chill.” He looked up and down at his former childhood friend, and brushed his hand off. “Whatever, Mikey and Draken have already shut him down.” Doesn’t mean I’m any less pissed about some wannabe gangster’s desecrating our name like that. 

The daily hell of being used in any way they desired. Akkun had recomposed himself and was working his way around comforting his group. To which all Yamigishi had to say was to not tell anyone he cried. 

Everyone here is in the same boat.

A picture of Takemichi in his gakuran, with a diploma in hand. He graduated. 

And then, at the same time that I graduated middle school. 

“Huh, wait?” Atsushi gasped, “But didn’t you stop Kiyomasa? So why were we still gofers for them?”

“Well, it was more Mikey-kun and Draken-kun who shut him down, Akkun.” Takemichi laughed, avoiding the question.

I…. escaped. 

That same dingy apartment.

I lived by myself. 

A still-blonde Takemichi was shown apologizing for being slow at loading trucks.

And started a part-time job,

A waiter version of Takemichi was shown bowing deeply at another waiter.

But I could never do anything very well.  So I apologized. 

He was bowing at a convenience store customer, apologizing again.

And apologized. 

A just-out-of-service Takemitchi bowed his head too.

And apologized. 

“I am sorry!!”

Baji patted Takemichi, “Sorry Takemitchy, your future self really was just a hard worker and a coward.” He still was. But Baji-san didn’t know that yet.

Would they think less of him if they found out that the ‘hero’ they knew of wasn’t a hero at all? He was just a coward who had run too far and was left with no other choice. For most people, they make the right choices in their life the first time. Was he so pitiful that the universe itself decided he needed another shot at life?

Takemitchy clutched his head, his body bent over his knees. “Dammit..” My whole life was just spent apologizing. 

His face was bloodied and bruised, but the set expression on his face of devastation was clear only to himself as he toiled with his internal monologue. 

This is the worst. The worst flashback to get at the end of my life. 

Takemitchi pounded the ground and then screamed at the endless sky. As if to mock him, it began to rain. 

“I get it, God!! YA TRYING TO TELL ME MY LIFE FUCKING SUCKED, RIGHT!!!?” Even while screaming, his eyes watered. An awful day for rain.

The same girl with the mole appeared in his mind’s eye like a ray of hope. Smiling, she said. “Hanagaki-kun. You’re definitely going to succeed.”

Hina smiled, “I’m happy my words still stuck with you for 12 years, Takemichi.”

The tears continued, but did not flow over. 

Tachibana… 

[THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE TOKYO MANJI GANG HAS BEEN INTENSIFYING IN THE CITY.]

The Tokyo Manji Gang…

[THERE WERE TWO FATALITIES. “TACHIBANA HINATA,”]

He leaned upwards, “Huh?”

The Tokyo Manji gang.

“Tachibana’s death-” the realization hit him like a ton of bricks, “12 years from now, is their fault!” he went silent before curling himself up again. 

“How the hell did our gang go bad, huh, Mikey!?” 

“Why are you grilling him like he has an explanation?” Draken refuted. 

Baji whipped around, “If there’s anyone who has an idea of what could’ve happened, it would be our leader, but sure! I’m the crazy one.”

As Draken went to sit down, Mikey murmured something under his breath. Something Impulsivity….?

Knowing that doesn't really have anything to do with me though…

Huh..:?

Eyes wide, he looked askance, “What did… Tachibana look like again?”

He ditched the boys, much to their sudden exclamations of ‘where are you going’ chagrin. Their words fell on death ears as Takemitchi sprinted to the nearest subway and found himself searching for Tachibana’s house. 

A large apartment complex. 

“Takemitchy forgot where his only amazing girlfriend looked like, but not where she lived? Okay.” Emma added.

“Faces are a lot easier to forget, Emma.” She turned away from her brother. Mikey glanced at Takemichi’s future self, that black hair of his made him look even more like Shinichiro. Hina pat Mikey on the shoulder, she was so fearless. “Don’t be mad at future Takemichi, it has been twelve years for him after all.” She said sheepishly. “And…he never got a chance to see me again before I..died, after all.”

“Tachibana’s house. It was definitely here!!” He huffed, out of breath. 

“Tachibana… Tachibana…” He rang the doorbell.

DING DONG [Yes… Huh!? Hanagaki-kun]

Takemitchi breathed a soft, “Ah…No way…” He hadn’t remembered her voice all the way correct either.

THUD- CLICK.

A beautiful young girl’s face filled his vision. How could he have forgotten that pale orange color of hers that she had? The firm set of her brows and the framed eyes.

“Hanagaki-kun! Did you get in another fight.” Of course, she was worried about him.

“...Tachibana? Tachibana…Hinata?” She continued to reprimand him, “That’s not good! All you do is get into fights!”

Huh?

Tears dripped down his face, cascading like a waterfall. His blue eyes swam in hazy vision. “Huh!!!? Why am I… why am I crying?” Hinata blinked up at him, too shocked to move immediately as her boyfriend stumbled away from her door. 

“Sorry!! It’s nothing.” He hobbed away, wiping at the ‘nonexistent’ tears on his face. “I’m going home! I only wanted to see your face. That’s all.” He refused to show her his face.

Hina bit her thumb, “No. No, I- I definitely remember this happening!” She turned to the rest of the room. “Guys. This happened. For sure.” 

“Well, yeah, it's a flashback as he’s dying so wouldn’t it make sense that you remember this?” Hinata shook her head at Kazutora’s remark. “No. The reason the future Takemichi visited me is because he was from the future! Why would the 14-year-old Takemichi come visit me? That makes no sense!”

“Takemitchy, do you have anything to say about this?” Draken-kun turned the attention to him, and all eyes stared daggers into his soul. 

“Yeah, you’ve been weirdly quiet this time for us watching a show about future you, and all.” Akkun. Please kindly shut up.

“I don’t really know him but he did save Draken-kun a few hours ago, should we really be pressuring him like this…?” At least Hakkai had his back. “But I guess that makes it even more suspicious…” Hakkai did not have his back. Agh.

Blonde hair filled his vision, and Yuzuha swiped a hand in front of his face. “Are you okay? You’re sweating profusely.” 

He let out a small ‘eep’, “Yup! Never been better.” Hina glared at Yuzuha, replacing her hand with her own. She gave him that open, understanding look she always knew to give him when he was struggling. “Listen, Takemichi, can you just ex-”

GURGGGGLeE

Mikey’s stomach grumbled, and he shoved more food in his face.  Draken questioned him as to how he was still hungry after probably eating more food than his weight. The leader of Toman shrugged, “I was hungry before I got here, and now I am still hungry.” The pout he made would be almost cute if not for the deadly stare he was giving his stomach. “My own body…has betrayed me, Ken-chin.”

“ You’re so fucking extra.”

An escape! Takemichi inserted himself into the conversation. “I think…our bodies are in stasis.” Hm? Takemichi nodded, “I mean, we were supposedly like, ripped from our time, right? So our bodies are kind of like… a pause?”

There was a pregnant pause, before everyone seemed to accept that answer as making the most sense. At least, most of them.

“A pause? Wait! Isn’t there a term for a pause in time?” Hakkai rubbed the scar on his, trying to think. He seemed to have gotten the answer he was looking for, as he snapped his fingers and had a metaphorical light bulb go off. 

“I got it! Menopause!”

“No, Hakkai, no.” Yuzuha dragged him away, off to a corner of the couch. Watching Hakkai’s expressions from afar as Yuzuha explained was all Atsushi needed to start laughing. Dumbass. Everyone knows menopause is when a group of men go quiet!

Emma stared at the red-haired friend of Takemichi’s, she had a feeling he was thinking something stupid.

Now that everyone was thoroughly distracted, Hina turned back to him, cradling his face. “I’m not going to drop this, Takemichi. But I’ll let the screen do the explaining for you.” He always ended up making her mad. He really should’ve been a better boyfriend to her.

She was nothing if not stubborn. “No way. Did something happen?”

Takemitchi’s back was still facing her, “You’re different than usual, Hanagki-kun!” She knows that fact in her gut.

“Girlfriends always can tell when something is up.” Akkun smiled.

“Yeah, like you’d know.” Baji brutally decimated him.

She yanked him toward her, smushing his face between her two hands. “Huh?” was all he had to say. 

Again, that firm and determined expression was on Hinata’s face. There was no leaving this conversation without answering.  “Spit. It. Out!!”

She cradled his face, “I want to know- everything about you!”  Her expression softened, looking more open and understanding, “I’m your girlfriend!” And that is what snapped Takemitchi out of his daze.

That’s right. “Sorry.”

All I ever did was piss her off. She was.. Tiny and strong-willed. 

Stop thinking about me in past tense, Hina thought, I’m right here. She tightened her grip on Takemichi’s hand.

Hinata sent him off crying, his expression the missing link that scientists needed to prove the correlation between humans and gorillas. “Bye bye!” She cheerily waved, not at all put off, “See you tomorrow at school!”

Chifuyu spit out his water, spraying a dazed Kazutora. (Hey! What the hell?)

“My god, Takemichi, how did your face make such an ugly expression.”

Akkun wiped a fake tear off his cheek, “He’s always been talented, ever since he was little. If Takuya were here he could tell you all about it.” Thank god Takuya wasn’t here.

I really loved the cheerful way she said, “Bye bye!”

Hanagaki was walking alone now, his path illuminated only by street lamps as there was no moon that night. He rubbed his face, “Dammit.” 

Park’s were considered comforting places right? Well, Takemitchi thought so at least as he swung himself gently back and forth on the swings. They were old, as the metal creakeddd each time he kicked himself against the sand a little too hard.

As if he wasn’t having an already bad day, loud shouts began to fill his ears. 

“THAT’S NOT EVERYTHING, IS IT?” “YOU’RE LYING TO US, AIN’T YA? JUMP UP AND DOWN?”

“How much does Takemichi need to pay to have some peace and quiet for once?”

“Don’t you mean future Takemitchy, Mitsuya-san?” 

“Sure, Emma, sure. That’s what I meant.” Mitsuya has always been too smart for his own good when it came to people.

A young elementary student was seen jumping up and down, the slight clink of metal giving away his money. “YOU GOT SOMETHING IN YOUR POCKET STILL!” One of the boys yelled. Yeah, good job sherlock. Dora level deduction skills you’ve got there.

Huh? Naoto? Hina thought.

“Empty ‘em out!” “HURRY UP!” Takemitchi was visibly pissed. If this were an anime, he’d have three little lines drawn over his cheek pulsating. SOOO fucking noisy. Even though there’s someone here basking in sentimentality. 

“This must be when you saved Naoto, Takemichi! I remember this…”

He was 26, he didn’t have to put up with this shit. Death flashbacks aside. 

“Stop dilly-dallying!” 

“OI.” 

“Hah?”

“ SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU DUMB SHIT!!!” He hollered, socking the boy straight across the face. Backist, baby. He’s still got it!

Her eyes widened to the size of saucers, “I don’t remember him telling me that you-”

“DECKED SOMEONE SO HARD THEY SAW STARS, BITCH!” Baji excitedly shouted.

Mikey had no visible reaction, except for the slight tilt of his eyebrow. 

“There’s the legendary Michi Backfist!” Akkun balled up his hands, “That thing was gonna’ get us to the top!” 

“Damn, dude. Didn’t think you could throw a punch like that.” Chifuyu could give him props for that.

“Hahaha…” Takemichi just wanted this to be over.

The boy thudded to the floor, the only use the stolen money would be to him now is to pay for the hospital bill.

The other boys gaped at Takemitchi. “All you’ve been doing this whole time is bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch~” He rustled through the garbage for a weapon and came upon an empty glass bottle. Smashing it into the ground, he whipped it around towards them. The sharp edges of glass facing the bullies.  “Right now, I’m super fucking pissed off.”

The cold expression did not leave Takemitchi’s face, “Get lost. Or I’ll kill your asses.”

Both of the conscious boys silently screamed. “W-w-w-we’re sorry!” they stuttered, and hauled ass out of there.

Scribble. Scribble.

“Are you- are you writing that down!?” He could not believe this, appalled as Baji pulled out a notebook from seemingly nowhere. “Where did you even get the notebook!? I- what..?”

“It's a good line, kid.” Thanks Mitsuya, but- what.

Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. “Poor Takemichi, he doesn’t even know how to manifest a notebook.” Whispered Emma. 

..WHAT?

Takemitchi lowered the glass, and turned to the petrified victim who was still clutching his school bag for dear life. He visibly deflated and tossed the broken glass onto the ground, “Go home, kiddo.” He used up all his mojo that had been pent up for 12 years. He was like a fine wine, if fine wine tasted like a failed life and loneliness. 

The boy stuttered out a small thank you, to which Takemitchi sighed and decided it couldn’t help to give the boy his 26 year old advice. “Listen up, when you come across people like that, you gotta have some guts.” He would’ve wanted someone to tell him this sooner.

“Prepare to get punched! But don’t flinch. Be prepared even to die. And face them. “ The young boy seemed to not like the advice he got himself roped up into. His eyes were panning the park for escape exits, it felt like his grandfather was lecturing him. “Those half-baked guys will definitely be scared by that.”

The boy wrote down those points on the mental notebook he had in his brain. “O…okay!!”

Baji paused his notebook writing, “You should’ve considered being one uh’ those uh’ life advice peeps. Woulda’ paid a lot more than working at some dead-end DVD store.” Chifuyu glanced over at his handwriting, and burst out laughing.

“You ‘arrow(矢) your other pencil’? What does that, huh, even mean!” Baji guffawed, “Shutup! Kanji’s hard!” 

Chifuyu wrote down the lose;misplace symbol (失). “I think you meant this one.” ohh, Baji went.

The first division page smiled, Never change, Baji. 

Takemitchi whipped around, I was lacking ‘guts’ and ‘preparedness’ in my own life too.” Say, kid, what’s…your name?”

“Tachibana…” Takemitchi twitched.

“I’m Tachibana Naoto!” He turned back to face him. Dramatic advice session over.

“HUHH!? You’re,, Tachibana’s little brother!?”

“Uh,” Naoto thought, “I..I do have an older sister.”

“You have a little brother. Hinata?” 

“Hm? Yeah I do! You and Yuzuha are totally welcome to come over sometime and have lunch with us.” Emma’s eyes lit up. “Oh yes please! I don’t know about you, but the only thing we ever have in the house are those dorayaki’s Mikey loves.”

“I resent that statement.” Mikey said with his eyes, since his mouth was busy eating dorayaki.

“THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE HURRIED UP AND SAID SOMETHING!” In his excitement, he yelled way too loudly, “I’m Hanagaki Takemichi! Call me Takemichi!”

But again, that broadcast came back to him.

Tachibana Naoto… That’s right. In 12 years, he’ll also be dead. 

He decided to invite Naoto to his mopin- sentimentality swing session. 

“Do you like your sister?” He wondered out loud.

Naoto made a disturbed expression, “Huh!? No! I hate her! No one likes their own sister…”

Takemichi hummed, he didn’t have a frame of reference for that so was that really true? “...Is that so? Well, I guess so.”

Takemichi turned to his, uh…to Hinata quickly, “He doesn't think that way anymore! I swear!” She humored him by giving him a nod of acknowledgement. 

Quietly, he added, “Take care.. Of your sister.” 

Naoto turned to him, the swings creaking. 

He sat up forwards, “I love your sister.”

“I love you too, Takemichi-kun.” She was all smiles, the curve of her mouth tilting upward. She really lived up to her name of being a ‘sunny place.’

Gently smiling, he said, “I loved her so very much that it was like nothing else existed. I remembered that today.”

The elementary schooler just looked at him, puzzled. 

He plastered on a smile, “You don’t really understand what I’m talking about, do ya?” If this really was a flashback, then what would telling Naoto do? Might as well.

Hakkai really doubted that this was still a flashback. But what other answer was there? Time..? Nah, nah.

Mitsuya, on the other hand, was just waiting for his own suspicions to be confirmed.

“It’s a story that lacks common sense but today, in 2017, I fell off the station platform onto the tracks.” Naoto kept quiet, but his brows were furrowed. 

Takemitchi stared down at his hands, “I thought I was dead, and before I knew it I was a middle schooler. This is the same day 12 years in the past- what do you call something like this?”

“A time leap!” interjected Chifuyu.

“A time leap!!?” Naoto interjected with all the enthusiasm of a sci-fi loving elementary school boy. “Yeah!! That’s it.”

Takemitchi kicked the residual sand off his pants, slipping free from the creaky swings. “It's probably only that I’m having a hell of a long dream.” But…

“But, at least.” He looked at the sky with an expression of solemn gratitude. “God let me see Tachibana one last time.”

“Damn, girl. He must have really loved you if these were his final moments.” The first division captain was straight to the point. 

How could he have forgotten her face?

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

Back to him, he recounted the broadcast that Takemitchi practically had memorized at this point 

[THERE WERE TWO FATALITIES. “TACHIBANA HINATA,”]

“On July 4th, 12 years from now, your sister is going to-”

“Die.” Naoto shut his mouth.

After Naoto had come back home that night on July 4th, 2005, something about him had seemed a little different. When she hugged him, instead of pushing his sister off, he just held her tighter. 

Takemitchi’s expression turned back towards him. “At that time, you’ll die together with her.” 

As if he was scared to lose her.

Was what Hinata had come to the conclusion of.

“July 4th, 2017. Remember that date, Naoto!! And protect your sister!!” And those were just the words Naoto needed. 

If this is reality then-

“Just kidding. There’s no way someone would believe a story like that.”

I’d like to change the future.

All I could do was watch about those two dying on the TV.

“But, I’m relying on you.” He beamed, all teeth.

Thinking back on it now, that was a pretty heavy burden to put on a little kid, huh. But he was desperate at the time. And it was probably the only time anything in his life has really worked out for him. 

Then again, the burden he himself was carrying was…probably a lot heavier. 

With that helplessness-

Naoto gulped

And that frustration 

I want to do it all over again.

Takemitchy stretched his hand out, his palms free of any wear and tear. 

Naoto, slightly hesitant, chirped a small, “Okay…” He stretched out his hand to grasp Takemitchy’s, and gripped it tightly. “I understand.”

BA-DUMP

Staticstaticstaticacrosstime’sbelovedchosen

“Ayo?” Akkun.

“Where did he go this time? Was it a dream?” 

“That would be one pretty vivid dream, Hakkai. Mana and Luna have some pretty big imaginations and they would never be able to conjure up that whole ‘dream.’”

His eyes fluttered open again, and he propped himself up quickly to find himself lying in some sort of medical cot.  

A police officer joyfully greeted him, “Are you awake!!!?” He yelled, but Takemitchi did not answer as he took in the new surroundings he was in.

“Where… am I?” The officer smiled, “The station medical office.” A man in a black suit stood behind him.

The officer recounted what had happened, “You fell off the station platform onto the tracks.” Takemitchi paled, July 4th, 2017!?

Was I… just dreaming?

“Huh?” Wait a minute.

“I WAS SAVED EVEN IN THAT SITUATION!? AND I DON’T HAVE A SINGLE INJURY!?” 

The man in the suit walked forwards, “Would it be okay if I could talk to him alone for a moment?” “Uh, sure go ahead.” He then nodded to Takemitchy, who was still grappling with his new reality, “He is the one that saved you.”

“Huh?”

“I’m Tachibana Naoto.” The man smiled.

Chifuyu spit out his drink again on a poor relaxed juvie-convict. 

“Huh? Didn’t he die?”

Mitsuya smiled to himself, glancing over at where Takemichi was fiddling his thumbs. He fucking called it.

Mikey’s expression was still blank, but there was a small spark there. Potential, is what it said.

“...HUH?”

“You changed my fate on July 4th, 2005.” Takemitchi’s mouth, that was so open it had begun to catch flies, quickly shut. 

“Huh!? That was…real? But I thought, uh, you died..”

“You,” the older Naoto began, “leapt through time!!” as if that was a casual statement anyone could make.

“YOU CAN FUCKING WHAT!?” Atsushi marched over and shook his friend. 

“C-calm down, A-Akkun! I can explain!”

Draken gripped the two of them. “Go on them, Take-mitchy, explain.”

He hated how everyone was staring at him like that. He looked down, avoiding their gazes.

The 26-year-old started, “Its true, on July 4th, 2017, I was on my way home from work before being pushed by someone and then opened my eyes to find myself on a subway with my old friends from Middle school.” 

Honestly, no one knew exactly how to react.

“I wouldn't've believed it if the literal proof wasn’t burning into my retinas..”

“Bro, you were always talking about how time travel was real!”

Hakkai turned, flustered, “Yeah! For fun! Real time travel is just…” He bit his nails.

Takemichi fidgeted with his hands.

“It must’ve been hard for you.” A warm hand was placed on his shoulder, and he looked up. The curly purple hair of Toman’s second division captain brushed against his cheek. “Having all that happen to you, I mean.”

Takemichi stared, before tears started welling up in his eyes.”Aw, there’s the crybaby Mitchy~” Mikey cooed, “Look at him go!”

“S-shut up!” He sniffed, it was an emotional moment, okay?

Hina stood in front of him, “I won’t pretend to fully understand it. But I could always tell something was..different about you sometimes.”

He laughed, “Yeah, when I went back to the present my past self would have no idea what was happening so he’d run off.”

“Ahh, yikes.” Chifuyu grit his teeth, “You should probably tell him you exist. Poor guy probably feels like he’s losing his memory.” Takemichi blinked, why hadn’t he thought of that. 

Akkun was doing some counting on his fingers, before huzzahing and pointing at his friend. “WAIT! Wait, so you’re… 26? 26 and 14? 40? How old are you??”

Takemichi whistled the question away.

“Takemitchy.” 

“AGH!” He turned, smiling sheepishly, “Mikey, you scared me.”

Toman’s leader nodded, and then asked him something. 

“Did you know Ken-chin was going to get stabbed?”

The room went quiet.

Draken seemed to be in thought, “Now that you mention it, a few days beforehand you had claimed to want to be my ‘bodyguard’” 

He lowered his head, “Yeah. I did.” He didn’t want to elaborate right now, he’s sure the screen will do it.

Mikey raised his hand-

..and pressed an open palm onto Takemichi’s hair, ruffling it. 

“Thank you for saving my best friend.” Mikey smiled gently, and Takemichi could only think of the sobbing, out of breath Mikey who was breaking down against a hospital wall at the thought of losing Draken.

“Your best friend? Oh.. Mikey, you honor me.” Draken teased, and Mikey went ahead and kicked him in the back of the knees. “Shut up, Ken-chin.”

Takemichi smiled, this was the future he wanted to protect. He knew that those two could not have been the ones to kill Hina. His smile fell, they were probably going to hear about that soon.

“SO ARE YOU FUCKING 40 OR WHAT?” 

The screen continued.

He stared as Naoto continued. “And so I survived and saved you, Takemichi-kun.” 

“Takemichi-kun, your time leap-” 

The gravity of everything began to hit him all at once, and crashed onto him with a resounding thud as Naoto finally drove the ball home.

“-changed the future!!”

Ba-dump

Naoto sat himself down, probably feeling how overwhelmed Takemitchi was. “Takemitchi-kun, 12 years ago today, you said this to me: “Protect your sister.’ I desperately studied, adn became a ‘detective-” woah! A detective! “In order to protect her.”

“Th..then, Tachibana is-!!?” Naoto sat with a grim silence. 

The detective bowed his head, “I’m sorry, Takemitchi-kun. My sister died.” The professional mask slipped a bit, “I-I did everything I could think of, and yet….and yet!!” 

“Who the hell is killing Hinata?” Emma growled, “She’s so nice!”

“Thank you, Emma-chan.”

He suddenly looked up, placing his hands firmly on either side of Takemichi. “Please help me!! If you do… we can save my sister!!!”

Despite it all, Takemitchi recounted his words, “I can… save Tachibana..?” 

“THAT’S IT!?” The formerly silent Kazutora screamed. His popcorn splattering across the limitless floor.  He whipped around to Takemichi, “Hey, Takemitchy, what happens next?”

“I-”

[AH, NO. NO SPOILERS!]

Takemichi gave Kazutora a tense smile, “Y-you heard the thing, I can’t say anything.”

Kazutora just kicked the popcorn bucket that disappeared due to the force.

“Well, c’mon already, let's see what happens after. I, for one, had no idea that time travel was even involved in our lives so how much crazier could it get?” 

“Don’t jinx it again, Yuzuha!”

How much crazier could it get, Takemichi smiled. You have no idea. 

The screen started up again.

Chapter Text

“Are you guys like…doing okay?”

The screen had paused its rendition of Takemichi’s life, due to the constant badgering of Kazutora that he “drop kicked his popcorn into the abyss” and “would kindly like another.”

Takemichi looked up from where he and Hinata had been sitting patiently beside each other on the couch. She was laughing at Baji and Kazutora’s antics, both of them fighting over popcorn (even if they could easily just get more.) Both of their legs were crossed prim and proper; tense.

Chifuyu rubbed the back of his head, looking down at his feet. “It’s just…Tachibana now knows she’s going to die and you- Takemitchy.” He looked up straight at him, “You died. Or at least you would have if you hadn’t time-traveled and all that.”

Takemichi looked down at his hands, rubbing his thumb over his pointer. “I don’t think I’ve exactly had time to…process everything because of what happened.” He was too busy filling his life with tasks. Prevent Sano Manjiro and Kisaki Tetta from meeting, Save Hinata, Save Draken. Prevent the fall of Toman, and probably more missions he hadn’t discovered yet.

If he hadn’t managed to save Naoto, would he have been dead? If the 26-year-old washed up runaway had died being hit by a train that day, then who even was he?

Ever since his first leap, things had felt muddled. Like he was seeing his life through cloudy, fogged up lenses. Each time he went back, only to resume a life that he had no recollection of living, it felt like he was an imposter. The body had lived just fine on its own for 12 years, and then for him to suddenly come and go from it as he pleased felt…wrong. Although the time traveling was a gift, it felt like a curse all in the same. Because the more he leapt, the more the chasm of difference between himself and present Takemichi grew. Was he even dead? What happened to the futures he changed, could time really just rearrange itself as he pleased?

Whatever omnipotent being there was, giving this power to a nobody like him must be their idea of a sick joke. It was laughable, really.

Hope was the cruelest torture of all. 

“I’m doing fine though!” He smiled. If there was anything he learned from his manager, it was the ability to give a fake smile to customers. “I f you say so ..” Chifuyu grumbled, turning to Hinata who gazed at Takemichi.

She jolted, “Oh, me?” Chifuyu nodded, still trying to be respectful since he didn’t really know her that well. “I hope it’s not invasive, or anything. But the stuff we were just shown was really heavy.” He glanced back at Takemichi, whispering. “ Especially for him, since he already lived it.”

The first-division vice-captain of Toman intertwined his fingers together, “I don’t know, I feel some sort of draw to him. Like everytime I see him, I get some sense of deja -vu. It’s really weird.” Chifuyu exhaled, “But I feel like he’s hiding more than he’s showing.” How could he be blamed for that? 

Hina reassured him, placing a hand over where Chifuyu began to bounce his leg up and down. “Ever since I asked Takemichi to go out with me, he’s always been very…shut off.” She chided herself, “And, I hate myself for even thinking this , but when his future self came and suddenly lapped up my attention, I thought to myself that ‘ finally, he’s going to be a better boyfriend.’ ” Her laugh was hollow. “Only to immediately find out that it wasn’t even the Takemichi I knew, but an older, kinder, and more mature Takemichi in his place.” 

“The second he leaves, I can tell. Because instead of this desperate attention in his eyes all I see is indifference. I know he likes me, but it isn’t the same as how this Takemichi likes me.” Her eyes softened, “When he came to my house for the first time since we started dating, only to start crying in relief, I felt like I could see a scene in my mind’s eye.”

“For Takemichi, who had just died, I must have looked like a lifeboat in an ever-expanding dark ocean.”  Chifuyu gulped. Was that love? Or obligation to save someone who he had loved?

Hina shook her head, “But I can never really know what Takemichi’s thinking.” She smiled to herself, “He’s always been too good at keeping his thoughts to himself.”

She would always love him, ever since he stepped up to save her with a cape two times his size, she knew she would. But maybe that love has changed now. For better or for worse. 

And with that final note, Kazutora and Baji seemed to have compromised and decided to get an additional empty popcorn bowl (because they were still too stubborn to just get a whole new one.)

Mikey smiled at them, “Alright. Everyone, let’s do this.”

The screen started up.

“I have a theory,” Naoto gestured towards Takemichi, “About your ‘ability’ to leap through time.”

Naoto’s lost it

Draken hummed, “How does one guy even make a theory about time travel? ”

“The same way a guy time travels, supposedly.” Mikey chimed in.

By getting run over by a train? Draken wanted to say. But even he knew that was too soon.

He took a sip of his coffee, “First of all, you time leapt from July 4th, 2017 to July 4th, 2005.” Another swig. “In other words, I’m sure that your ability is-”

Hina smiled. Somehow, seeing that even 12 years later her little brother still drank his coffee black was reassuring. 

“To return to the ‘same day’ 12 years in the past.” He’s gone completely bonkers.

“You’re the one who time-traveled and you’re calling the guy who saved you crazy?” Mitsuya questioned him, “That doesn't exactly make sense, Takemichi.”

Takemichi shyly smiled, “Welllll… At the time we still weren’t 100% sure I could time travel. I mean, who knows, maybe I just had a really, really, vivid dream.”

Emma deadpanned him, “So you both coincidentally remembered you telling Naoto that you would fall off a train platform in 12 years- and then coincidentally actually fell off a train platform 12 years later?”

Well, when you put it like that. “If you put it like that we seem stupid, Emma-chan.” She hmphed. “P-plus! The problem was just that we weren’t sure I could even go back again.”

“Time-travel is a finicky science.” drawled Mitsuya. 

Now, it was July 6th, 2017.

The room they were in was a cluttered mess, a board covered in red string was shown, and stacks of papers lay next to Takemichi. 

“ Woah! It looks like those boards like in the detective manga you read, Hakkai.”

Hakkai flushed, “S-shh! Yuzuha, that’s a secret.”  Well, not anymore apparently.

She gasped, and Hina beamed in excitement, “Shiba-kun, I had no idea you liked detective manga too! I love them, see, my favorite mangaka came out with a new one last month-”

Kazutora looked concerned, leaning over to whisper to a bemused Yuzuha. “ Why is he frozen like that? Is he doing an impression of a statue?”

Yuzuha snorted, “If that was true he would be doing a very good job. And no, he just doesn’t know how to talk to any girls besides his sister.”

Naoto loomed over Takemichi, who was typing away on a small laptop;  pointing out flaws to a tired Takemichi. Whose eye bags were basically designer.  I’m so sleepy , he muffled a yawn. “That’s important.” The only reason he was still awake was due to the small pile of energy drinks and shots next to him.

Takemichi felt a chill go up his spine, and he wrapped his hands around himself. Naoto was convinced he could cram every bit of information on Toman into his head in two days. Ugh. 

I’ve been confined at Naoto’s place for the last two days basically without any sleep.

“Please cram as much info into your head about The Tokyo Manji gang as you can.” And he just continued sipping on the coffee. 

Naoto is trying to kill me.

“Hey, Ken-chin, do you think we can suggest this as a new torture idea for the 5th division?” 

Draken paused, giving it some actual deep thought. “What information could we force them to learn?”

Baji piped in, “Kanji. It's hell on Earth.”

Chifuyu chuckled, “Or you’re just a slow-learner, captain.” which earned him a glare filled with killing intent, “Y-yeah, let’s just say Kanji is difficult, haha.”

Mitsuya face-palmed, “You all can’t seriously be considering adding this, right?” Mikey smiled at him. “ Right?”

A picture of an adult Tachibana Hinata, a small gracing her features, was shown.

Yuzuha whistled, “Damn, girl, you look amazing!” Hinata blushed, “Thank you.”

On July 1st, 2017, Tachibana Hinata was caught up in a dispute between the Tokyo Manji gang and was killed. She was killed during a festival after a truck rammed into a food stall.

She was 26.

Hearing the news repeated over and over somehow did not make it hurt any less. If anything, it made it hurt more. Like picking the scab of a healing wound.

Naoto drilled that knowledge about the Tokyo Manji gang into my skull.

He was bent over the desk, blearily tapping through several open internet tabs. “Is this really necessary in order to save Tachibana?” He looked like a hot mess, greasy hair and white shirt stained from a few energy drink spill mishaps.

“This your man, Tachibana?” Draken laughed.

Hina smiled, all teeth and no bite. “That’s my man.” They still had to talk after this, but the small reassurance that they were there for each other was all they needed.

After all, Takemichi would jump through time and space for her and those he cared for. Regardless of it it was romantic or not. 

Naoto is a detective in the organized crime department.  A small badge was shown, a flower inscribed on it. He is well-informed about their internal affairs. 

“He wasn’t kidding when he said he worked his ass off to save you, Tachibana-san.” Chifuyu added. 

The younger brother of Hinata turned to him, “If there’s one problem with your ability- then it’s this-”

Naoto’s gaze hardened, “You can only go to the present 12 years in the past.” 

“And how does he know this exactly?” Emma questioned.

“Naoto’s always been brilliant when it came to his interests.” Hina said, not adding the fact that her brother was probably latching onto any information he could find to prevent her death.

Sighhh. Takemichi groaned, resting his head in his palm. He didn’t bother turning around to face the man who saved him. “...That was just your hypothesis, wasn’t it?” 

“...” Bullseye. Silence speaks a thousand words.

Takemichi blinked, shrugging, “Firstly, I wonder if I’m able to go back to the past again anyhow…?” Naoto slammed his hands down.

“You’ll go back to the day my sister died!!” He stopped mocking Naoto, and listened in.

The detective weaved his hands together, grabbing them firmly. “If you were to stop her from going to the festival against her will- then you could save her!”

Festival . Festival, Mikey turned the word over in his head.

“Ken-chin, you were stabbed at a festival.”

"I know, Mikey. I was there" Draken turned his head to him, "Was that something you knew would happen, Takemitchy?”

Takemichi smiled, “Uhh. Not exactly . Sort’ve ? Not at all? It’s..complicated.”

The rest of the group decided to add their two senses. “This Naoto guy is seriously dumping a lot of responsibility on you, Takemichi.” Mitsuya turned to him, “That’s a lot of weight to carry all by yourself.”

“Thank you, Mitsuya-san, but..just how was I supposed to rely on anyone else?” The room went silent. “Honestly, what sane person would have believed me.” He sniffled, “Time travel? C’mon! I’d have better luck getting signed into an insane asylum than convincing someone.”

Draken sighed, “Takemitchy, you didn’t tell anyone about this ability of yours?” 

Takemichi opened his mouth, “I-”

“We’re partners, Takemitchy.”

He groaned, clutching his head as his vision suddenly went dizzy. “N-no, Draken, I thought I didn’t tell anyone but-” 

His head continued to thump in pain. He grit his teeth. “It feels like I’m forgetting something.”

Ba-dump

“The chance for that one day will come after waiting 12 years…” He unclasped his hands, raising his right thumb to his mouth and chewing on the nail. “The risk is too high after all that.” 

Hina sighed. Naoto really needed to stop biting his nails. She would always tell him not to.

With me being dead, she thought, there’s probably no one to remind him to stop .

“If we were to let that day slip by, we wouldn’t be able to save her anymore-” His tone was frantic “I can’t allow that to happen!!”

His hands balled into fists, but he seemed to calm himself soon after. Naoto must have learned to have a cool head for his profession, after all. “There is something we can do now!”

“Doesn't it seem like he’s shoving all his stress onto Takemitchy? Anyone else see this?”

Mitsuya nudged Chifuyu’s shoulder, “For him, it’s been 12 years of him spending everyday to save his sister only to fail. This is probably his last desperate attempt to fix things and he’s expressing it in the wrong way.”

“Still, what Takemichi is doing is insane. I’d hoped he'd have been more patient.”

“Chifuyu, thank you for the concern but, “ Takemichi smiled, “I can handle myself. I am a grown man, sometimes. I just needed Naoto to knock me out of my funk.”

The vice-captain flushed. “Okay, whatever you say.”

“Please use the timeleap to go back to 12 years ago and meet with a certain person during your middle school time.”

Takemichi raised a brow, a little off-put, “A certain person..?”

Naoto nodded, making his way over to the board mentioned before. Pictures of several people were strung together with all the colors of string possible to buy.  He emphasized on the pictures of two specific men, slamming his hand onto the board.

Baji squinted, “That one guy looks familiar.”

Hina joined his squinting club, “Yeah, that other guy looks familiar to me as well.”

“These are the Toman’ leaders-” A man with blonde, sleeked back hair and another with glasses’ photos were shown. 

“‘Sano Manjirou’ and ‘Kisaki Tetta’.”

Hina gasped, “ Kisaki!?”

“Mikey?”

“Are we talking about the same Mikey?” Akkun chimed in from where he had been unusually silent.

“ Me ?”

Mikey blinked. What did he have to do with this?

Or more like.

What did his future self do?

Naoto grimly said, “If those two had never met, then the current Tokyo Manji gang wouldn’t exist.”

..I see.

“Mikey-kun, do you know Kisaki?” Hina asked gently.

Mikey shook his head, “I’ve never heard of him.”

“If all went according to plan, you two should’ve never met each other.” Takemichi sounded forlorn, “Of course, things can’t be that easy.” He groaned, sagging into the sofa.

Whipping around, Naoto (who must be getting dizzy from all the turns he was making around the room) directly addressed him. “In other words, there’d be nothing for my sister to get dragged into and killed by.”

“How did Mikey even get involved with something like this?” Hakkai fussed, “His whole principle is making a new age of delinquency. Not crime!” 

Takemichi lowered his head, nodding in understanding. His eyes were wide, as the weight of the information weighed down on him. “...I get it. If I return to my middle school days, and stop those two from meeting.. Then-”

“Then Toman won’t exist!”

Takemichi awkwardly chuckled as the stares of Toman members fell onto him. “G-guys, I’m talking about the criminal organization Toman. Not the current gang.”

Draken grunted, “There won’t be a criminal organization version of Toman. Not if I have anything to say about it.”

It was barely a whisper, but after living in a brothel like Draken does, he learned to have selective hearing. So much so that he heard the small mumble of Takemichi’s voice, as he said, “ And that’s they needed you alive.”

Draken let out a soft breath of air out of his nose as he felt a small, melancholic smile quirk his lips. “So that’s why you saved me, huh, Takemitchy.”

The time-traveler blinked, “Draken-kun, did you say something?”

He let out a deep belly-laugh, startling everyone else in the room. Draken beamed down at him, looming but somehow not intimidating. “I just think you’re so cool , Take mitchy. ”

A blooming, red flush spread across Takemichi’s face as he stammered out a small thank you. Poor guy probably wasn’t used to being complimented for anything, if his past was anything to go off of. He heard Takemichi crawl back to Hina, who slapped his back and commented how cute he looked. Draken thought he looked more like a ripe tomato, but he knows when to keep his mouth shut.

Mikey went ahead and slapped his back.

“Ow! Mikey, what was that for?” Mikey glared at him, tsking.

“You stole it!” He blinked. “I stole what?”

“The way I say Takemitchy’s name! I always say it like ‘Take mitchy ’. But you just said it.” He could not be serious.

Draken was befuddled, even a lifetime of knowing Mikey would not be enough to understand him. “Mikey, the nickname is still yours. I am not stealing it.” Mikey seemed to light up at that. “You promise, Ken-chin?” 

He was about to say yes before realizing that this was the most opportune moment to mess with Mikey even more. “Yes, I’ll just give him a new nickname. ” Mikey gasped dramatically, a devastated expression fell on his face but the small quirk of his lips gave away his amusement. 

“Ken-chin, you can’t do that. It’s illegal.”

“I am highly sure it's not.” 

“Well how do you know?” He got up in the taller boy’s face, “Are you a lawyer!?” Then he got serious. “Ken-chin, you would tell me if you were a lawyer right?” Draken rolled his eyes.

“If it's such an issue, then just get a copyright license for Takemichi’s nickname, Mikey-kun.” Mitsuya added offhandedly, staring at the screen as if willing it to just start again. Seriously, this thing stops at the worst times.

Mikey pivoted on the balls of his heels, clutching onto Draken’s white button-up. “You’re a lawyer, right, Ken-chin? Can you help me do that?” 

Draken just shouldered him, done with his friends' antics. “My right hand man has betrayed me, Takashi.” “I know, Mikey.” “I’m devastated.” “Good for you, Mikey.”

Draken waltzed back up to Hina and Takemichi, who was still red as his girlfriend(?) was barraging him with lectures on self-worth, apparently. “Hey, Mitchy. Let’s get this show on the road again.” He ignored Mikey’s guttural whines in the background. 

He was taken back by the sudden interjection, but quickly recovered. “..I understand that.” Takemichi tilted his head, “But how am I supposed to get to the past?” It’s not like I was given a ‘Time Traveling 101 For Dummies” book. I was too busy getting pushed off train stations, he pouted.

“Was it a common occurrence for you to fall off train stations before?”

“It was my favorite hobby to do after work, y’know?” Yuzuha just laughed. 

“I know the timeleap ‘trigger’.” Naoto, back at it again with his amazing intellect.

His words took a moment to set in, but once they did Takemichi quickly stood up from his spot on Naoto’s hair. The chair clattering behind him. “Huh!?”

“I know what to do.” What police academy did he go to that taught him about time traveling!?

“So this is definitely theoretical.” Yuzuha remarked. 

“If that wasn’t very obvious, yeah.”

The detective continued, “When I shook hands with Takemichi-kun twelve years ago, I could feel ‘you’ inside past Tackemichi-kun.” He tilted towards him, “The trigger is shaking hands with me. ”

Chifuyu chortled, trying to muffle his laughter. “This is seriously just way too convenient.”

Hina ‘oooh’ed, “So that’s why you kept showing up to my house and asking to see Naoto, shake his hand, and then run away screaming.” Takemichi had no excuses this time. “Yeah…I could’ve handled the situation a lot better.” 

Naoto pinched his chin, “Perhaps I am ‘one part’ of your ability, since you saved me and all.”

I see. I had thought he was just lacking common sense, but he really believes that I can leap through time. So he’s made a serious effort to come this far…

If anything, I’m more like a lifeline for him to save his sister.

“Are you ready?” 

To leap through time? To single-handedly stop the formation of a criminal organization? To save your sister?

He’s got so much to do. Akkun thought 

Hah. I won’t lose to Naoto in how much I want to save Tachibana!! “Yeah.”

“Is it a competition now, Take-mitchy?” Mikey teased.

“I-in the moment it made sense to think that way!”

The detective went over the task at hand, “Sano and Kisaki. Those two are going to meet in August 2005.”

He waved his hand at Takemichi, “It doesn’t matter which but get in contact with one of them. Let’s work together and prevent that meeting.”

Atsushi rubbed his chin, “Is that why you were so incessant on trying to meet Mikey?” He turned to Takemichi. “Before you got…y’know…by Kiyomasa.”

“Ahahah…” He trailed off awkwardly.

Despite looking unsure, Takemichi agreed. “Alright..I’ll try to do something.”

Naoto extended his hand.

“You are the only one that can save my sister.”

Nod.

“It would probably be significantly easier if you just branched out to more people for help.” Chifuyu grumbled.

“I wish it was that easy for me, hah..”

And they grasped hands.

STATICBA-DUMP

Switch

Hakkai’s eyes gleamed, waving a hand in front of the time traveler’s face. “H-hey, Takemichi?”

“Mm?” 

“What does time-traveling feel like?”

What does it feel like? How could he possibly give the ‘sum-up’ of the myriad of emotions and feelings that embodied time traveling. 

“It feels like,” he paused, “I’m being tethered onto a ship. And then I’m lowered down and thrown into a raging ocean.”

“And then sometimes- sometimes it feels like I’m being electrocuted, or cast into stone and gold.” 

Mitsuya hummed, “It’s hard for Takemichi to describe to us because it's something outside of the average human comprehension.” Takemichi nodded, and the Shiba sibling seemed satisfied, if a bit confused, by the answer.

There was a boy in front of him, his fists raised like an animal on its last stand. He screamed, “COME ON!!”

“Wait- is this when Takuya-?”

“LET’S DO THIS!!” The newly arrived time traveler blinked, his fists lowering in confusion. He turned, processing the cacophony of loud boyish yells behind him.

“H-hold on a second.” “HURRY UP AND START!” “HUH?” “MURDER HIS ASSSSSS-” “DID YOU COME HERE TO EAT FUCKING BREAKFAST” “Dude what does that even mean-” “yOU PUTTIN ME TO SLEEP, YA DUMBASS!”

Emma plugged her ears. “Goddamn! These people are way too noisy!”

Huh? Wha? Takemichi trembled slightly. A boy screamed, “HANAGAKI! I PUT 1000 YEN ON YOUU!!”

The gorilla face made its return, snot running down his nose, Takemichi yelped, “HUHH!!? What the hell is eVEN GOING ON HERE!!?”

He turned again towards the boy who was going to fight him, holding a hand in the air in a ‘pause’ motion. “Hold on a second!” He rustled through his pockets.

The flip phone snapped open. Trembling, he read the date. JULY 6TH, 2005!? I..

I’m 12 YEARS IN THE PAST!!? NO FUCKING WAY! IT’S JUST AS NAOTO SAID!

“Seriously, I can’t believe you were hesitating about being able to time-travel.”

“Emma-chan, it is a little hard to believe so cut him some slack.” Hina said. 

Mitsuya chimed in after being in deep thought, “If he timed everything else right, he probably could’ve won like..the lottery or something.”

“Taka-chan, he would’ve had to wait for something like that. And in all the sci-fi novels and mangas I’ve read, changing something huge like that could totally change the future.”

“You’re right,” The captain said seriously, “Maybe him winning the lottery or preventing a robbery would cause the collapse of an entire business, or even create a whole new neighborhood and people’s relationships to one another.”

Takemichi nodded, “Naoto told me that’s called ‘the butterfly effect’” He chuckled, “As much as I’d love to be ‘rich’ I’d much rather have security that mostly everything would stay consistent in the future.”

The boy fighting him didn’t seem to get the memo, as he hollered a loud “RAWWWGH.” And swung his fist towards him. Poor Takemichi, who was too busy holding his flipphone, could only ask for the boy to ‘w-wait’ before getting punched so hard he was knocked down.

I really did leap through time.

“Your face is looking more and more punchable, Mitchy .” Mikey hissed at Draken’s casual use of a nick-name.

“I- I resent that statement! I was just shocked, okay!?”

“GASP!” Takemichi breathed himself awake, briefly feeling light headed at the sudden intake of oxygen.

The delinquent member from before (the cigarette one) stood over him.

I got punched… and knocked out? “Oi, Hanagaki is awake.”

Cigarette delinquent turned back to him, thudding over to where he lay on the floor. “You fuckhead, that was a one-hit KO.” He tsked, “Everybody bet money on you.”

A delinquent in a mask groaned, “What a fucking letdown of a match.”

….A match?

Draken laughed.

“Grandpa Sano would have beat all their asses for abusing their strength like that. Right, Mikey?”

Mikey smiled, “He would have sent them somewhere lower than hell, alright.” 

He regarded the other delinquent on the bleachers, “Ain’t that right Kiyomasa?”

Kiyomasa flipped through something.

That scarred eyebrow.. Belongs to the leader of Shibuya Middle.

Draken’s eyes widened, “Ey. It’s the dude who refused to bow to Mikey.”

“He was probably in shock from being caught.” Atsushi tried to placate Draken.

SLURPPP. “If he was doing nothing wrong, then there wouldn’t’ve been a problem~. He should have just laid down and died like everyone else who was caught.” I don’t remember anyone dying, though an exasperated Kazutora.

The convict looked at the inky cavity of void that was Mikey’s eyes and remembered the hostility he had been given the second he made his presence known.

Kazutora sighed, knowing Mikey, it was entirely possible he could’ve killed someone with just a glance. 

Because Mikey stared at people like he was but an unwilling spectator. Like a distraught and seldomly bored god had decided to descend among them for the mere sake of haunting their nightmares just with a simple glare. A simple look-over by Mikey left them reeling, sending full body shivers down their body. His frame was small, but just one look is all it took to send any person with a brain running. 

From what he heard from the others (since he was in jail at the time)- it seems that ‘Takemitchy’ was the only one who hadn’t run off when confronted with the eyes of human mortality. 

Huh.

He was flipping through wads of cash.

“Ew, cringe.” Emma mocked, “ Look at me. I’m a bad-guy and I collect money.” 

“You’d be surprised how many delinquents are like that, Emma.”

Her face flickered, a flirty visage overtaking her features. “But you would never do that, right, Draken-kun~?” 

Said boy's eyes wandered off, thinking back to probably the hundreds of delinquents he had sent off with pocket’s a few couple dollars lighter. How else was he supposed to pay for medical supplies? He lived in a brothel , for Christ's sake.

“Yeah, sure, not exactly.” A white lie. 

“And that’s why I want to form a new age of delinquency!” A childish grin lit Mikey’s features, “Just good ol’ fashioned fun! None of that crime stuff. Shit’s boring.” And if that wasn’t Mikey’s entire moral system. Whether or not it was boring. 

Takemichi winced, if only he knew the extent of how criminal he becomes .

He blinked, what did he mean by that?

A flash of white hair and a tattoo.

He clutched his head again, groaning. 

Takemichi’s head kept hurting, and he leaned against Chifuyu and Hina.

Masataka Kiyomizu!!

“So is Kiyomasa a nickname or something? That’s what he introduced himself as.” Hakkai commented, “I’m only a vice so when he joined I never bothered asking him for more info. Probably should, now that I think of it.”

“We should probably add some new, like, security screening stuff, Ken-chin~!” 

Draken nodded, “I’ll talk to Muto ‘bout it.”

“With the new torture and a new security protocal, we are going to keep him veryyy busy!” He giggled. 

Mitsuya groaned, "Are we really going to implement that? Please tell me you are joking.” No one told him anything.

Kiyomasa spoke, “If we can’t get any spectators, our fighting ring’s done for.” He said, regarding Takemichi who was still on the floor.

Fighting ring!? Ahh, he gets it.

I see…Earlier that was a fight that people were betting on. I remember now.

The Tokyo Manji gang managed those fights.

Baji could be seen essentially giving off heat from the amount of rage he was vibrating. 

“Woah, dude, your vibes are so off.” Atsushi, the wise sage, commented. 

“Shut the fuck up, you wannabee red, bungo stray dogs, lollipop looking ass.” 

A brief pause “..okay, yeah, fair.” 

Kiyomasa puffed his cigarette, “Anyway, let’s take this loser..” He stood up from the bleachers, “..and teach him a lesson.”

Emma started to raise a hand to cover Hina’s eyes, who swatted them away.

As Kiyomasa walked over to him, one thought appeared in his head. Ah…I’m dead.

Takemichi, practically sprawled way too comfortably in a (begrudging) Chifuyu and (content) Hina’s laps, remarked, “Damn, I should draft a will or something at this point.” He blushed when he realized the thought was spoken out loud. 

Hina smacked his head, “No. No more dying until you’re old and gray.”

Takemichi was laid curled up protectively on the ground, a delinquent kicking the shit out of him. It then progressed from kicking to one-sided stomping.

“Stop turtling, bitch! Get up!”

I totally forgot.. “I’ll KICK SOME BALLS INTO YA!! TAKE THIS!!” I was a slave to these guys.

Just another yes-man in the Tokyo Manji gang.

“Who the hell are these guys to bully Takemitchy, hm?”

“We should beat them up even more, Ken-chin~!”

Takemitchy sighed, waving them off. “I would much rather you just stop shit from happening like this in the first place.” 

He turned to the members of Toman, “Seriously. I’m not sayin’ to be like model citizens or anything- but just cut down on the unnecessary violence. Ruining someone’s highschool experience, or even their life, just for some petty fun isn’t fuckin’ ‘delinquency.’ It’s bullying, torture, whatever you want to call it.” His vision grew misty, “I know the feeling all too well.”

They watched as Takemitchy tried to subtly wipe his eyes with his sleeves. His efforts were in vain as his face was in full view of Chifuyu and Hina. 

“I’ll also mention that to Muto as well . ”

Takemichi’s lips curled into a shy smile, face still flush from crying two seconds ago. “Thanks, Draken-kun.”

He jabbed a finger towards Takemichi, “Ya’ saved my life, least I can do for ya, Mitchy.” Even if it was for some long-con plan to save your dead middle school ex-girlfriend. Draken appreciated being alive even if there was an agenda behind it, thank you very much.

Takemichi’s smile bloomed across his face, to which Hina mumbled about some sunglasses she needed? Mikey continued to whine , knowing Draken was still teasing him about the nickname.

The kicking stopped, “Why’s he turtlin’ like that?” “Leave some for me to punch, Red.”

“Damn. Parent’s so uncreative they just looked at the color he was covered in and called ‘im that.” Mitsuya deadpanned. Creativity is a dying breed, apparently. 

Kiyomasa overlooked them as Takemichi continued to be dogged on. “What a lameass!” Red (probably) yelled.

We were forced to fight against our wills and then ‘toughened up.’ 

Takemichi panted, winded from where he was knocked nearly conscious on the ground again. If there was anything he was good at, it was tanking a punch.

Day in and day out.. I was a living hell.

…That’s why I ran away.

In true turtle fashion, he hunched over himself, trying to recover from the beating he was just given. I abandoned my friends and even my girlfriend, Tachibana.

Akkun stalked over to Chifuyu, Hina and Takemichi’s couch, placing himself on the ground in front of them. He sat himself criss-cross-apple-sauce, back facing Takemichi’s face. “None of us Mizo Mid boys would have blamed you for that, y’know.” 

“Ha, if anything, I’d leave after you left. It just wouldn’t be the same without that backfist of yours.”

He cleared the snot from his nose, eyes firm to the ground.

Red taunted him from where they were walking away, Kiyomasa already on the second set of stairs up. “Next time try a little harder. You were really pathetic today.” 

“Umm.” Red flinched.

“Damn, Hanagaki, you’re still awake?” He was a tough little shit.

Mitsuya dropped his head into his crossed hands with a loud THWOP.  His voice came out muffled from underneath his arms, “ How has this kid not gotten a concussion.” The captain could practically envision the lengthy list of hospital visits Takemichi was due for.

“At least your dense head is useful for something,” said Yuzuha. “No offense.”

Takemichi gave her an awkward thumbs up, not exactly used to her way of speaking yet. “N-none taken?”

He looked awkward with his hands next to his side, “Um.. You guys are in the Tokyo Manji gang, right?”

An awkward smile sweetened his features, “I’d like to meet one of your leaders! Someone called Sano or Kisaki..I wonder if you could help me out..?” He trailed off at the shock on the Toman member’s faces.

Takemichi tried to laugh it off, “Ah. But, uh, it’s okay if you can’t.”

The purple-haired boy lifted his head from where it was buried underneath his arms. He threw his arms up in the air, “It's official. Takemichi has a death wish.” 

The time traveler in question just puffed his cheeks, looking very childish. He looks like a rat , thought Chifuyu. Aw, he looks like a rat! Thought Hina. “ H-hey! I had no better ideas on how to get in contact with them. Seriously, it was life or death.”

“You couldn't've looked them up on MySpace or something!??” Mitsuya gestured to the youngest Sano sibling, who looked taken off guard from suddenly being put on the spot. “Emma literally has an entire page with over ten thousand friends!” He did not mention that the aforementioned page was created with the intention of being a Draken love journal that spiraled out of control. He had two sisters, he knew how to keep secrets.

“Mikey has a MySpace!?” Mitsuya blinked, “Yeah. I’m surprised you know of it since it’s pretty ne- ohh.” 

Takemichi turned to a Mikey who was self-absorbed in his food (again.) He could just not picture him using any form of social media. It was like imagining Tarzan using a computer. It just did not work in his brain. And it was the practically historical site ‘MySpace.’

His eyes teared up, “I need a nap.” And laid back down next to his friend and girlfriend(?).

Kiyomasa lowered his cigarette, and turned to his men behind him. “Get my bat.”

WHAM, WHAM, HIT, WHACK!

A bloody bat was raised in the air, the air breaking due to how fast the bat swung up and back down onto Takemichi’s back. Kiyomasa was casual about it, cigarette ash falling onto Takemichi’s arms and back as he continued to be beaten. The white of his shirt turned to a bright red.

Takemichi turned his gaze away from the screen, shutting his eyes. Hina gently placed her hands on top of his ears.

Yuzuha and Hakkai stared at each other, both glancing down at the youngest Shiba siblings' arms. The beating, no, assault on the screen continued to get louder, and it took all of her strength not to crouch down and scream for ‘Taiju’ to stop. Her breathing grew shallower, as she desperately hung on to any grounding sense to keep her from spiraling. Hakkai took her hand, clenching it hard and not letting go. 

Takemichi and Yuzuha both shut their eyes, like it would make the things in front of them go away. And their loved ones tenderly held them close, not to the point of suffocation but enough to say that ‘I’m here for you.’ in a weirdly comforting way. 

‘ I’m sorry.’ Hakkai mouthed to her, yet Yuzuha did not see. Her eyes were still shut.

I’m sorry you are going through all this and probably more just to save me. Hina kept to herself. She had to stay the bubbly, lovable, but determined girlfriend. For Takemichi’s sake. 

[“For Takemichi, who had just died, I must have looked like a lifeboat in an ever-expanding dark ocean.”]

The other Kiyomasa lakkies looked on in hesitation. 

WHACK! PANG!

The masked boy spoke up, “H…Hey, don’tcha think we should stop him soon?”

Red nodded, “Uh, yeah..” He yelled down the stairs. “KIYOMASA! YOU’RE GOIN’ TOO FAR!”

They thudded down the stairs. “HE’S GONNA FUCKIN’ DIE!”

Mitsuya let out a choked sigh of relief, “Finally. Someone has the balls to say something.”

The clock struck 12:02am.

Atsushi gasped, knowing that his friend had been brutally beaten within an inch of his life for the sake of Kiyomasa’s ego for HOURS. He grit his teeth, Kiyomasa was lucky he hadn’t stabbed him that day. The dull shine of the box cutter still caught his attention to this day. 

If only he knew how much worse it got.

And a bloodied, battered, and bruised Takemichi welcomed in the new day by being sprawled across the ground. Blood streamed down his cheeks, his eyes and face swollen despite his best attempts at covering himself.

“You look dead, man.” Chifuyu’s thoughts were punched out before he could have a chance to filter them. “Wait, shit, I mean-”
Takemichi laughed, “Yeah, yeah, it’s fine. I look awful there.”

“Well, I don’t think anyone looks good after getting beaten like that.” His thoughts trailed off to all the Toman members, and how they looked majestic while fighting off like ten people at once. 

He was kicked again, his limp body thudding against the foot. “Hey.”

“Wake up, Hanagaki!!’ KICK

Kicking the dead horse… this time, Chifuyu kept the thought to himself.

“N-nn..” He had just barely woken from a brutal beat down.

“Ugh,” Takemichi blinked open his eyes, coming face to face with a pissed off Kiyomasa, who was crouched over him.

“The next time Sano-kun’s name comes out of your mouth, you wanna know what’ll happen.” He gazed at Kiyomasa dazedly.

Mikey felt his blood run cold. Sano-kun was his brother , the weak but lovable leader of the first generation of Black dragons. He was Mikey. That name had no right coming out of the delinquent’s mouth. 

“I’ll kill you.”

…

Takemichi’s face did a full contortion, eyes furrowing and tears running rampant. HOOOLY SHIITTTT!! SCAAAAARY!!

“The gorilla face makes it return!” Chifuyu hollered, fully belly-laughing. 

“He’s still so talented,” Atsushi interrupted, wiping another fake tear off before joining Chifuyu in his mockery of Takemichi’s wide range of facial expressions. 

Takemichi huffed, but didn’t say anything. Those two were very talented in lightening tension.

Rain began pouring down again, leaving a panting Takemichi soaked in loneliness and rain water as he watched the Toman members skulk off out of the forest they were in.

Pant. Pant.

You’re gonna get a cold, Mitsuya wanted to say. The ten different concussions the guy had were probably more concerning, though.

What the hell’s wrong with him?! I can’t even talk to the guy!

His heart began to pick up again, feeling lightheaded and dizzy. It must be from the convenient rain. Yeah…

IT’S PROBABLY A FEVER AND YOUR TEN CONCUSSIONS, Mitsuya muffled the urge to scream by punching a sofa cushion. Mikey noticed, looked him up and down, then offered him a juice pouch.

Mikey? Offering food? Mikey shook out the juice pouch, and Mitsuya quietly drank it.

This is impossible! I won’t be able to meet them like this! He paled.

He said he’d kill me if I even say the leader’s name again. Am I really gonna die!!? IS THIS SERIOUSLY A MIDDLE SCHOOLER!!??

“If it makes you feel any better I heard that he was rumored to be on ‘roids.” quietly murmured Chifuyu. Takemichi tsk’ed, but let out a light breathy laugh, “I doubt it. But thanks, part-”

He stopped himself. “T-thanks, Chifuyu.” Again, that incessant headache made a return, before vanishing a few moments later.

Feet thudded against concrete, paved roads. He ran through the streets, ignoring the stares of passersby obviously concerned by his bloodied appearance. 

“Wow. People really don’t give a shit, huh.” Kazutora commented. “You could deadass be dying in front of them and they could find an excuse to not help you.”

“A phone call to the police would at least be warranted, but nooo. ” Kazutora knew all too well what people were like. They were selfish. And always looking for a way to neglect responsibility. 

The convict thought back to when he had tried to leave his childhood home for the first time. Littered in bruises, a passerby had brought him back home without so much as opening his mouth to ask him any questions. The police were the same, and even Kazutora's mother had left the house to personally thank the officer (covered in bruises and dried tear tracks) they had merely curtsied and left. His mother had chided him, warning him of what his father would do if he found out. 

Kazutora’s child self had just looked on ahead, not really seeing his mother in front of him anymore. Why? He had thought, why didn’t anyone help?

No one helped them. His mother was the one who ended up leaving. They did everything themselves. 

People were selfish. His child self had ingrained this lesson so deep into his soul that it started to bleed. 

‘Get in touch with the leaders of Toman’!!??

Heturned, crossing out of the alley and into the streets.

Me? Who’s basically a slave!!??

“THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE!!” He cried, “I CAN’T DO IT, NAOTOOOO!”

He sniffled to himself, wobbling across a bridge as the adrenaline ran dry. A couple flinched at seeing the wounds covering him.

I had forgotten. I had completely forgotten.

He pursed his lips, biting into the dry and cracked skin.

I am.. ‘Me.’

Takemichi’s vision began to go blurry, he sniffed.

Even with a second try at life.. A loser’s still a loser.

His resolve shook.

I’m going home. Back to the future.

…

They didn’t know what to say. How could they? 

As much as it was hard to admit, Takemichi was an adult. He was shown to have been carrying burden and stress for nearly twice their lifetimes. How were they to comfort the adults that many of them relied on, and many of them hated?

Especially since the matter at hand was something supernatural. There was no one but them in the dark void they had been cast into for some god’s entertainment. What were they meant to do? 

Throwing a group of traumatized, estranged, and borderline deranged middle schoolers into a room was a recipe for a disaster

Simultaneously, they all huddled close to each other. The exanspive un-natural room began to feel more oppressive, and maybe sticking closer would suffocate that feeling.. 

Takemichi stood in a crowded street. Yet he had never felt so alone.

Isolated.

The god’s must hate him. Showing his lowest moments in front of everyone like it was some sort of circus show. It was easier when they could poke fun at him, and him likewise.

He didn’t like people seeing him when his emotions were so…raw.

Vulnerable.

“..But how can I go back home though?”

Oh yeah… Naoto told me his handshake is the ‘trigger.’

So if I can meet the past Naoto, I can…  He continued walking, cradling his arm as he wobbled across the street. Sloppy and directionless.

He found himself in front of a familiar large apartment complex, ringing the door.

Takemichi wheezed, the climb up winding his damaged frame. “..Huh? I wonder if no one’s home?”

It has to be Naoto. He looked desperate, and his pained breathing picked up. If..If I can shake hands with Naoto, then I’ll be able to return to the future.

Naoto extended his hand.

“You are the only one that can save my sister.”

Chills went down his back, his heart skipping a beat.

… Am I running away again?

Hina brought her face down close to Takemichi’s ears, whispering a message solely for him. “ I would never blame you for just stopping, Takemichi. It’s not your burden to carry alone.” 

“Hina, you were a source of happiness in my otherwise bleak life. I want…I want to do all I can to repay you for all the joy you gave me.” His throat grew tight, voice coming out strained and like he was holding back tears. “I-it’s not fair I spent 12 years of my life doing nothing only for someone who shone so brightly like you to be killed, Hina!”

He panted, “I just..wanted to do something useful in my life.” The outsiders kept quiet, even Mikey, who gave them a calculating gaze. “I would get up in the morning, a-and I’d think to myself ‘What if I died today?’ and I realized after dying that my life would have amounted to nothing. ”

“You’re so good, Hina! You deserve to live.”

“So do you!” She surged forward and grasped his face between her palms. “So do you , Takemichi-kun.”

She lowered down one hand, the pads of her fingers dancing across his cheek as she gently grazed the tear-stricken skin. “Did you forget our promise, Takemichi?”

He blinked. She let out a laugh, small, and unassuming. It sounded like small bells.

Hina raised back up the dropped arm, punching him lightly square in the chest. She beamed, “I’ll protect you, and you’ll protect me. We’re both in this. Together” 

Takemichi let out an ugly gurgle, trying to halt the sobs ripping out of his throat. He continued to cry into her chest, feeling soft comfort for the first time since even before the whole time-traveling shtick had begun. They continued to sit in mellow silence with one another.

Emma lightly blew her nose, already whipping around to halt a Mikey who was beginning to gear up to tease her. “ Shut up, Mikey. It was very emotional.” 

  “Hanagaki-kun?” Hinata suddenly appeared next to him, loosely crasping her school bag in her right hand.

Takemichi jerked, eyes flying up to identify the new voice. “Tachibana!?” He stuttered, “Why are you here?”

Ah. He smiled. This was when “Tachibana” became “Hina.”

Her eyes drooped, a hesitant smile gracing her features. Her expression was just ‘are you seriously asking me that?’ incarnate. Hinata pointed towards the door, “‘Why’..?” 

“Because I live here?” 

“I’ve only known you for like two hours, but I can safely assume you are a certified dumbass.” Chifuyu deadpanned.

Mikey suddenly howled in laughter, “If you ever join Toman, I’ll make sure Mitsuya sews on that title for you!”

“Hanagaki Takemichi. Certified Dumbass Toman official.” Draken rubbed his chin, flashing a teasing smile. “Has a nice ring to it.”

Poor Mitsuya, monologued Kazutora, who was looking down at a frustrated Mitsuya, these guys keep giving him so much work.

“You’ve finally met your match, Hakkai.” Yuzuha teased, “He’s even worse than you.”

Hakkai flushed, “It’s not my fault. A-at least I just freeze up and don’t say anything embarrassing!” He winced, “S-sorry, Takemitchy..”

Takemichi gave a weak thumbs up from where he was trying to recover from the personal attack on his social skills. “All good.” It was not all good, Takemichi’s shattered pride screamed into the abyss. Give him a break! He hadn’t properly socialized in like….. His mind drew a blank.

Crickets. There were audible crickets.

“...Oh yeah. That’s right.”

She moved into his space again, something she seemed to have gotten into the habit of doing again. Breaking the tension. “Did you get into another fight?” No, he just had a tussle with a flight of stairs. “Ugh.”

He rubbed the back of his head, messing with the blood caked in his hair. “..Sorry.” She hmphed, planting her hands on her hips. Before releasing a sigh of disappointment and speaking to him again.

“Why do boys have to fight all the time?!” She sighed, leaning against her house door, her school bag tucking her arms behind her. 

“If only I was a boy.” “Huh?”

Baji gave a cat-like smile, tilting his eyebrows tauntingly. “Oh, so that’s what you guys are into, Takemitchy?” Mikey laughed.

“N-no, I- she was just- Hina!” Hina just wiggled her eyebrows, “Whatever you say, dear.”

Whipped. They all thought, but no one said anything.

“Guys! We’re like.. 14 right now!” 

“No one said anything, Takemichi.” Kazutora whistled.

“Agh!!!”

She grinned, pumping her fist in front of her. “If I was, then I’d protect you, Hanagaki-kun!” She stated, making a small ‘hiyah!’ noise to accentuate her point.

Ah, so this is the promise. They remarked.

Hinata pulled back a little, her cheeks rosy. “I took karate in the past, so if I was a boy, I’d be realllll strong!” 

“I should pick that up again.” 

“Takemitchy~ you should do it too! Learn how to fight- my grandpa has this dojo~”

Takemichi shook his head firmly, “Not interested at the moment, hah.”

Mikey tilted his head to the side, “Then your girlfriend can be the strong one between you two.” He placed a finger on his chin, “She probably already is. When she pulled you away from us when we first met she had a pretty firm grip.”

Hina preened under the praise. “I do some sports on the side.”

Takemichi just smiled at her antics. “In that case..”

He turned parallel to her, pumping a fist straight out too. 

“I’ll also protect you, Hina!” Hina?

Hina? Hina thought.

“ Ah.” She looked a little shocked.

“I accidentally called her ‘Hina’.”

“Okay!” She gave a thumbs up, trying to give her approval. Takemichi just blushed and shook his head. “Sorry, I got carried away.”

“Can I call you Hinata, Tachibana-san?” Chifuyu awkwardly asked. He couldn’t find another time for it. “I don’t speak formally to like anyone except Baji, so..”
Hina smiled, and Emma could feel her scalera’s burning, “Of course, Chifuyu!”

Hinata smiled, no teeth. “That’s fine with me!” He looked down, to her, and then down again before laughing at the ridiculousness of it all. Hina turned toward him, “But! I’d be the one protecting you.”

Hands in his pockets, he let out a- “Huh?”

She blushed, looking up and away from him, “Be causeeee, Take-michi-kunnn. You’re such a crybaby. If I was a boy, I’d be stronger than you, for sure.”

He just flushed.

“You’re pretty much on the same scale, right now. Especially if you start working at our dojo. Ken-chin?” On cue, Draken produced a mysterious and horribly designed business card and handed it to Hinata. 

Kazutora glanced over, “No way! Are those the demo business cards you guys had before Mitsuya redesigned them?” He temporarily forgot his animosity in favor of childhood nostalgia. 

Draken nodded, “Mm. I put them in my pocket three years ago and forgot to take it out.”

Mikey huffed, “I still don’t see why we needed a new design.”
“Because they were a travesty to this Earth, Mikey. ” 

Kazutora nodded, “Those poor trees did not deserve to be cut down for that .” 

“Hey now, you got it all wrong!” He whipped his hands out either side of himself, trying to reason with Hina. 

“You got it all wrong! I only cried last time!!” She laughed at his antics.

“Forget about that, Hina!”

“Nope~” She popped her p’s, “I’ll never forget.” Giggling and laughing, they continued teasing one another, just like how kids do.

She waved at him, “Bye bye!” 

Emma glanced at Draken’s reaction to the cute farewell. He seemed…neutral, which was better than the other ones she had tried. In went Hinata’s farewell in the long list of Emma’s plan to “ensnare the heart of a dragon.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow!” He nodded, “Okay!” He stuck around to listen to Hinata greet her family.

Lips pursed and brows furrowed, he walked away from her home.

In my time, Hina and I…

Aren’t dating and hadn’t seen each other in many years.

“Why did we break up?”

His brows furrowed, “I…wasn’t the best boyfriend the first time around. Honestly, I can hardly even remember anything about my middle school days at all. I wish I could tell you, but I can’t.”

So, I don’t have any obligations to save her.

[“I’d protect you, Hanagaki-kun!”]

He trembled for what must be the nth time that night

But…

Takemichi rubbed at his eyes, the sclera red and raw.

“I can’t let her die!!”

“As weak as this guy is, his internal monologue is very inspiring.” said a surprisingly calm Baji.

“T-thanks?”

DING DONG! SCHOOL TIME BABY

“TAKEMICHI!” Takuya briskly walked past their other schoolmates to confront a dazed Takemichi. He must still be out of it. “Why’d you lose to that guy!?? That just ain’t like you!!?”

He looked at his childhood friend, “Takuya…”

Oh…he means in yesterday’s match.

Atsushi creaked open the classroom door, “Oi. Everyone, get inside.”

“Hey! It’s me!” the memory dawned on Atsushi, “Wait. So this is when-” 

The Mizo Middle gang reconvened in the bathroom. A fitting setting.

“Is that brown-haired guy taking a piss mid-conversation!?” said a disturbed Emma. 

Yuzuha chidded her, “C’mon, girl, don’t act like we all haven’t talked to our friends in the toilet.”

Atsushi shrugged his shoulders, “When ya’ gotta go, ya gotta go.”

Akkun leaned against the bathroom window, “They’re making us fight again today, I got a message from Kiyomasa-kun.” Their leader continued despite the complaints from the rest of the gang.

Solemn. “And he said that the fighter today… is Takuya.”

They all jolted to attention. Takuya’s body was… weak..

Atsushi and Takemichi lowered their heads. Fuck.

Takuya chuckled under his breath. “I see..” The other two members of the gang were a lot less ‘calm’ with their reactions.

“But it’s impossible for Takuya!!” Yamigishi shouted, leaving the urinal mid-piss.  Makoto came to back him, “He’s no good at fighting.”

Thanks guys, Takuya thought bitterly.

“Tell that to Kiyomasa-kun.” Deadpanned Atsushi. Yamagishi and Makoto quickly shut themselves up. “Can you? If I could take his place, I would.”

Oh. Akkun turned to Takemichi, who gave him a small grin. So that’s where he got the idea from.

“Takemichi.” Takuya paced over to him, smile tight. “Watch my fight!”

“I’ll avenge you!”

He grinned at his childhood friend, “If I win, you’ll buy me some gyudon, won’t you?” 

“Takuya..” He whispered.

“They’re treating it like it’s a death sentence.” Baji mumbled.

Atsushi glared, fed up with his bs. “For someone like Takuya, with a weaker body, it practically is a death sentence if just one thing goes wrong.” Akkun blinked. “He could have died to inflate some psycho’s ego.”

Don’t whisper my name like I’m already dead when I haven’t even fought yet. 

Oh and wasn’t that just awful. That Takuya knew exactly what his friends would be thinking. 

Takuya may be frailer than some, but he’s always been resilient like the rest of us. 

Takuya kept those thoughts to himself.

He bumped his fist into Takemichi’s chest, posture casual.

Akkun rubbed a hand on Takuya’s shoulder, Makoto and Yamigishi coming behind for support. “Give it all you got, Takuya!”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t let ‘em psych you out.”

Takemichi watched his friends walk by him.

I thought they were lame… but they’re actually pretty cool.

“Hey!” Akkun mock glared.

“To be fair, anything from 12 years ago must be ‘lame’ to future boy, over here.” Mitsuya interjected matter-of-factly.

“No. I just thought they weren’t as cool as my memory made them out to be.” Takemichi rubbed his nape, fiddling with the showing roots, “But. I was wrong, they definitely are the coolest. ”

He gazed at them, at the people who had made his middle school life his ‘heyday’. Even 12 years later. I had such good friends in middle school.

“This time, we are keeping in contact.” Akkun shoved a finger into Takemichi’s forehead. “Got that!?”

“Okay! Let’s do this!” Takuya shouted, with the rest following close behind.

It was now the time for a fight, ladies and gents.

“IT’SSSS FIGHT TIME, FOLKS!” YEAHHHHH! Screamed the crowd.

“ON TODAY’S CARD ARE THE FIGHTERS FROM THE EMAIL Y’ALL GOT!!”

“They set up a fucking email? How did we not spot this earlier?” said a baffled Chifuyu.

“Electronic mail, harder to track.” the all-knowing Mistuya stated. Seems like he grew tired of using words to explain things extensively. Poor guy.

Each fighter began to step up as their name was called.

“KOJIMA, FROM SAKURA MID!!” A blonde guy stood up, waving a y sign and shouting surf’s up. “AAAAND MIZO MID’S YAMAMOTO!!!”

“You better not wuss out!” “Die, long-hair!!”

“Long-hair is beautiful, and Takuya’s is long and silky! You guys just have no taste!” shouted the (hopefully) future hairdresser.

“Y’know the screen can’t hear you, right, Akkun?”

“I’ll make it hear me.” A manic grin took over his face. “ Eventually .”

Yikes, Takemichi backed off.

Red stretched his hands out, “THE ODDS ARE 4 TO 6, WITH KOJIMA SLIGHTLY IN THE LEAD” “Kick his ass, Yamamotooo!!!!” “I got 500 yen ridin’ on yarrrr!!”

Takuya stepped up to the field, sweat dripping from his forehead. His pupils dilated, focused completely on the boy who would be his opponent. 

Kojima made a ‘come-hither’ motion with his hands. “LET’S DO THIS THANG! IMMA SLIME YOU IN THREE! Like a… FISH FILET!” “YEAH!” The crowd screamed.

“Guy can’t even trash-talk correctly.” Mikey said impassionately.

“Who the hell uses the term filet when talking about beating someone?” Draken chuckled,

“My money’s on that Takuya guy.”

Takuya gulped, and the two boys faced each other in silence.

Kiyomasa puffed his cigarette, inhaled, exhaled. 

“Begin.”

“YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” 

“HOLD IT!”

A boy with piss-colored hair stood above them all. Kiyomasa glanced back at him.

Takuya took a breath, “Ta..”

“Takemichi!”

Atsushi grinned, “You’re just as insane as I remember, Takemichi.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.” said an impressed Draken. 

“As expected of our crybaby hero!” Mikey announced, dragging him into a head lock and ruffling his hair again. 

Hina just sighed, “I can’t keep you out of trouble, can I?”

“He’s like a trouble-magnet.” Emma added.

Baji turned to a Takemichi who had just escaped a cobra Mikey’s head lock. “Ey. Nice to see some balls on ya, Takemitchy.” God, were they just incapable of using his real name or something.

Some of the fight club onlookers hollered at him, annoyed. “What the hell, asshole?!

Heart racing, he let out a steadying breath. “Hoo….”

He’s scared. No, nervous. Kazutora took a shallow breath. Such a weak guy, who despite being a coward and running away faces things head on. 

If anything, I’m the one who’s a coward.

He put his hands behind his head, parading himself down the steps with a wide grin on his face. “Wellllll….”

Yuzuha whistled, impressed. “You wear that cocky look well. Looks borderline convincing.”

Takemichi tried appealing to the onlookers, “Isn’t it boring watching the same fights all the time? Wouldn’t you rather have something more.. exciting? ”

They were finally watching Takemichi do something. Where he wasn’t getting berated, beaten, killed, and then beaten again. Despite themselves, many felt their hearts beating in excitement.

He had their attention. Now just watch. Despite the shouts and complaints, no one made a move to stop him.

“..Something more exciting?” Kiyomasa turned his sharp eyes towards Takemichi’s figure.

“All my years of working in the service industry paid off for this one moment.” His smirk was sharp. “It meant that I knew exactly how to get a rise out of people.”

I gotta fight back. He was terrified. 

Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

“For example..”

He wouldn’t let that fear show.

I can’t run away.

[ “Listen up, when you come across people like that, you gotta have some guts.” He would’ve wanted someone to tell him this sooner.]

In the past nor the present.

“KING VERSUS SLAVE.”

“Holy shit… why is this so hype?” Hakkai’s heart rate left him feeling light headed. 

“It’s the flashbacks..and I think I hear music? God, I don’t even care.” Yuzuha cut herself off.

“Huh?” went Red. “Whadd’ya mean?”

“Takemichi..” Takuya knows his childhood friend, and he put the dots together fairly quickly. “You don’t mean…”

“Hey, hey, hey!” “This guy’s crazy!!” “What’d he just say?” “Hah? Wha?”

This time, he was going to make sure that he had no choice but to be listened to.

“Kiyomasa-senpai.”

“Fuckin’ say it, Badass Mitchy!”  Draken hollered, Mikey not even noticing the nickname in favor of giving big cheers to the past Takemichi on the screen.

“Beat his ass with tears, Takemitchy!”

Takemichi, face still swollen, covered in cuts and bandaged, pushed out a fist. And with a manic smile, he said, “Fight me one-on-one.”

If I don’t change myself…then I can’t change anything.

Kazutora smiled. This guy’s a real crazy one, huh?

Kiyomasa puffed in front of his face, “Huh?”

“Oh my god.” Chifuyu was reaching the edge of his seat.

I won’t run away anymore. He gulped.

Kazutora groaned as the screen turned off. Throwing his popcorn into the abyss. He gazed at everyone already glued to the screen. “Let’s get this show on with then, huh?” 

The screen started.

Chapter Text

Resolve

Baji was… somewhat hard to characterize.

Even his friends who knew him before Shinichiro’s death had a hard time placing him. All things considered, he was a living conundrum. A boy with violent tendencies since childhood, but also studious for the sake of his mother. Never the exemplary child in academics his mother wanted, but flourished in social settings. He could read people, understand them, majority of the time. 

If there was one thing that got to him, it was trust.

He built trust in that small little friend group of Mikey’s. Baji, begrudgingly, could see the prospects of friendships with them would be beneficial to him. So, imagine his surprise that two of the members would be practically indecipherable.

Mikey, loyal to a fault, but you would never know it from his nonchalant demeanor at first. His eyes seemed bored with everything around him, but he laughed and joked more than anyone else Baji knew. He took everything in stride, casually prattling off about reforming delinquents like it was no herculean feat. 

Despite being used as Mikey’s old-bike-carrier, Baji enjoyed being around them. So much so, that he found himself holding in explosive outbursts. He didn’t enjoy making them unnecessarily upset. And the day that Mikey showed up, his short stature looming over the high-school gang members that threatened to hurt Baji- and beat them all up- well. Suffice to say that was the day Baji realized that dream of reforming delinquents? Definitely possible with Mikey around.

He was so caught up in that idea, that he walked himself and Kazutora into the pits of hell. He never was super close with him, not as much as he wanted to be- at least. 

But, watching the stable and level-headed boy self-destruct was an experience he could never possibly forget.

It made him finally understand that he had trusted himself far too much.

How Kazutora’s voice shook, the slow pan of his eyes down to his feet to where Shinichiro’s disfigured head lay, and the incessant array of denials that bubbled up his throat and choked him. 

For once in his life, Baji couldn’t say anything. Couldn’t muster a word of comfort, because the gravity of what they had just done was too much to bear. It threatened to crush him.

He remembers the look in Mikey's eyes.

And then that was the day he realized, he didn’t really understand people at all.

Baji glanced out the corner of his eye to Kazutora, who had slowly made his way closer from the back of the room. Kazutora was always so awful at subtly, and the others decidedly ignored it. (Just wait til he moves closer.) They all thought.

Kazutora hissed in sympathy as the screen played, popcorn forgotten. It felt kind of disrespectful. 

Kiyomasa loomed over Takemichi, yet the boy did not waver, gritting his teeth. The bandages covering his mouth twitched.

Akkun grit his teeth.

I have to meet the leader of the Tokyo Manji gang.

A look of determination graced his features, I’ll never be able to meet him while I’m just a slave.

“Again, you could’ve just contacted people the normal way.” complained Emma.

Hey, he can’t help it that his ‘ice-breaker’ is saving people from bullies. 

The bored expression fell from Kiyomasa’s face, and he pulled out a cigarette seemingly out of nowhere, “Don’t regret this later,” he said, turning his body away from Takemichi.

And even before he could move a muscle, with a cigarette still delicately balanced in his mouth, Kiyomasa punched the ever living daylights out of him. Not even a sweat was found on Kiyomasa’s face.

Hina winced, what could she say? “I wish I was there to help you.” she mumbled.

“I would rather you not have been there, actually.” he awkwardly chuckled, “It’s my turn to do something for you.”

(I haven’t even done anything for you yet.) She wanted to say, (It’s a future I haven’t even lived. I’m not a mature, successful 26-year-old woman. Just a middle school girl.) She dug her nails into her skirt.

Takemichi choked out a small scream, spit and sweat mixing mid-air. I can’t win. The difference in strength is so great that I can tell with only one bunch.

It’s like a bulldozer versus a crappy beat up car.

“This line-up is just inhumane.” Chifuyu remarked.

“These guys don’t care about that.” Mitsuya narrowed his eyes. “They’re just a bunch of ignorant kids looking for a good show.”

“And their show happens to be me.” It sucked having to live through all that. And now, his innermost thoughts and experiences were being broadcasted in front of the people who would probably go on to remember him as a coward.

“WHAT’S THE MATTER, HANAGAKII!?” Red screamed like an over-excited dog.

“Where’d all that big talk go?” A boy with a tooth gap hollered.

“YOOO, YOU GOT ONE-HIT K.O’D AGAIN, DIDN’T YA!?” The taunting boy with the mask pulled down his face patronized.

Chifuyu rubbed his back, “If it makes you feel any better, you are taking those punches like a fucking champ.”

Takemichi reeled back, shutting his eyes in pain as Kiyomasa landed another punch after another. His whole face rippled as he was socked with a solid right hook and sent nearly tumbling to the ground. 

Atsushi flinched, “Goddamn. Seeing this the second time is somehow worse.”

“I’m suddenly glad both you and I hit that guy as hard as we did, Ken-chin.”

Draken laughed, “Agreed.” 

Although, if it were now I would do a lot more than a simple knee to the gut. He side-eyed Takemichi, who was covering his hands to not see the screen. That guy saved my life, fucking wild.

Takuya stood up, helpless to do anything but watch. “Takemichi..” Makoto covered his hand with his face, and Akkun just narrowed one eye. “Ngh.”

Akkun sighed, “I was so fucking useless.”

“What were you gonna do, punch him?” Mitsuya nudged his shoulder, “I’d be more focused on the guy who’s getting his ass beat to help his friends.” Mitsuya was not liking the pattern of self-sacrificial behavior the time traveler was showing. 

The time-traveler who hadn’t fought anyone in over twelve years attempted to block his face. Kiyomasa quickly punched the weak spot underneath his arms, sending him screaming backwards as an audible crack echoed through the makeshift stadium.

“Y’know, I’m really surprised I haven’t gotten more than cuts and scrapes from these fights.” 

Mitsuya deadpanned, “I was expecting a few concussions but that noise just now sounds like you broke something.”

Mikey fixed Takemichi a glance, “Takemitchy , seriously consider my offer.”
“He never offers twice, Mitchy.”

Mikey nodded, “At least learn to block before you get wiped onto the pavement next time.”

Next time? Takemichi internally groaned.

The crowd screamed. Whether in joy, in distaste, or in mockery, no one could tell. He was their gladiator in an arena full of apathetic and bored boys with a morality as loose as their pants.  Executioner and the one sent to be killed.

“These guys are fucking depraved,” Yuzuha wrinkled her face in distaste. Emma agreed with her, “Yeah. This is just sick.”

Hina thought for a moment, “I bet a lot of its peer-pressure. Hard to refuse an offer to watch some real life fights.”

Hakkai thought back to all the times Yuzuha protected him. He never saw her do it, since Taiju always dragged her somewhere else. “..It’s really easy to just forget the nature of what’s happening if you refuse to put a name to it.” Yuzuha glanced at him, then down at his balled up hands. She squeezed once, twice, and then put her hands back in her lap.

He swayed in place, hands curling up in weak fists as he could barely keep his eyes open. Kiyomasa reeled around, ignoring the obvious weakness and lifting his leg quickly to WHAM Takemichi straight in the face.

Takemichi winced, that was something he felt in the morning the day after. Mikey ooh-ed and whispered something to Hina, who let out a small laugh.

“What did he say? ” he whispered to her, and she giggled. “He said, ‘A med-kit might be a good Valentine's day idea.”

The joke was funny, but it also served a second purpose of stopping Hina from digging her nails further into her palms. Takemichi kept the thought that a med-kit would be a great idea to himself.

A bloodied and fatigued boy (once upon a time, a man) wobbled.

Takuya couldn’t take it any more, and tried to get his childhood friend’s attention. “Takemichi!!” The boy just straightened himself, blood dripping onto his white school shirt. With his back hunched, no one could see his expression. But even Kiyomasa looked surprised to see him still standing. 

“That’s enough! Takemichi!” Atsushi was desperate to try and elicit any sort of response from his friend.

“You didn’t have to push yourself like that, Takemichi.” his friend grit out. “No one likes seeing you so hurt .”

“Especially now that everyone here knows all the shit you’re doing to protect people.” Akkun blinked rapidly, “I just hate seeing you, so weak, taking the brunt for everyone else.”

Takemichi gave him a soft smile, “Akkun.” He was fully sat up now, so he could see him from where Akkun was sitting on the floor next to the couch. “I’m weak as fuck. That’s my strong point.” He kicked him, “So don’t knock my efforts. I’m just doing what any of you would have done, and I wouldn’t have changed any of that.”

Akkun rubbed his neck, a slight sting from the (pretty weak) kick. He just doesn’t get that he’s got the worst martyr complex I’ve seen yet. Seriously, does this guy not care about his own well-being?

“Although, I would have preferred less bodily harm towards me next time, hah-hah.” He let out a small puff of air through his nose. 

Vermillion, scarlet blood trickled faster out of his injured face. His nose swollen, face beaten, cheeks flushed, and eyes bruised. “Not yet..” he breathed. 

Emma was disturbed, “H-how are you even able to move right now..?”

“His eye looks way too swollen for something not to be busted.” Yuzuha would know, she’s dealt with black eyes herself on numerous occasions. 

“Determination..?” is all Takemichi had to offer in defense.

The rest of the onlookers looked taken aback. Yet the crowd went wild, as if they were watching a twist in a movie. Or a video game. They didn’t treat it like real life.

“KILL HIS ASS!! KIYOMASA-KUN!” “FINISH HIMMMMMMMMMMM!!!” 

Tch. 

Kiyomasa threw another right hook directly onto Takemichi’s face. 

“FINISH HIM!! FINISH HIM!!” The crowd kept cheering, even as Kiyomasa bent the boy over his knee to repeatedly knee him in the gut. Small spots of vomit and stomach acid came out against Takemichi’s volition. His vision was hazy, and focused on just staying upright. 

Hakkai gagged at the cross scenes displayed. “Nauseating.”

Mikey thought about how Takemitchy had walked around school the next day. A few pieces of tape and bandages did not correlate to how much he was getting brutalized.

“Do you think Takemitchy has some sort of insane pain tolerance?” he whisper-shouted to Draken.

“It would explain how he’s tanking everything despite having no fighting experience.”

“Guys, guys,” Takemichi waved them off, “I-it’s just adrenaline numbing pain and stuff, flooding my brain with endorphins so I don’t pass out….” 

Mikey blinked, “Wow. Takemitchy is smart.”

Takemichi nearly bit his tongue, “I- I am 26 years old!” He’s not that dumb!

Akkun pointed, making an ‘ah-hah!’ noise, “So that’s how old you are!” Takemichi groaned, “Okay, well, not exactly..!?” He himself didn’t even know.

Mikey whispered back to Ken-chin. “Maybe it’s accelerated healing instead.” Draken sighed, “Why is he magical all of a sudden?” 

The leader of Toman shrugged, “Well, he can time travel, so logic is off the table, right?” The vice-president just face-palmed.

Members of the crowd began to quiet, as the brutal beatdown and assault continued in front of their eyes. “That guy.. Has massive balls..” one of them tried to remark, but it fell on deaf ears.

“Why would he go so far against.. a guy that’s obviously stronger than him?” 

As morbid as it was, Takemichi was kind of happy others were recognizing his bravery.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group was all thinking how the guy went straight past bravery and into crazy territory.

Another punch that would have sent any man, nonetheless a middle school boy flying, was sent and mailed straight to the address of Takemichi’s face.

He bashed Takemichi’s head away, the boy’s hair caked in blood at this point. Kiyomasa seemed ignorant to the world, and the boy’s watching seemed to be woken up from their idea of a modern day gladiator ring.

“Oh, what the fuck.” Baji piped up from his unusually quiet spot. “Seriously? We let these guys into our Toman?- Mikey!”

Mikey picked at his ears, “Yeah, my bad. I’ll do thorough checks next time.”

Mitsuya flicked through his mind-palace, “If i remember correctly, these guys were brought in through recommendation. I always thought it was a bit suspicious.” He placed his head between his hands. “I’ll look further into it and report it to Muto.”

Baji grumbled, “The guy asked for a fight. Not whatever this is.”

Entertainment, it was entertainment for them. 

This was no fight.

Not a fair one, at least.

Tearily, Takuya tried one more time. “I SAID THAT’S ENOUGH, TAKEMICHI!!”

Akkun didn’t even have to project his voice anymore. The crowd was silent, “YOU’RE SERIOUSLY GOING TO DIE!”

Atsushi blushed, “Well, he probably wouldn’t’ve died, but..” They all glanced at the Takemichi on screen. “You can’t tell me he doesn’t look two seconds from death.”

Takemichi worried his bottom lip, “Yeah.. I bleed really easily and bruise like a banana.”

No, he looks like he is going to die, Mitsuya thought. “Like three concussions, lasserations, sleep-deprivation, time-traveling, at least a sprained ankle or two, and probably more injuries. How are you even standing is the real question.” 

“Maybe the universe knew how reckless he was going to be and gave him some magical healing along with time-traveling!” Chifuyu said excitedly. Mikey smiled, “That’s what I was saying!”

This guy has clearly developed some form of savior complex, Mitsuya thought. It was surprisingly common. And it made sense. The guy had no drive in life, and latched onto the only thing he had- the mission to save Hina. It also explained the total 180 in attitude the second he remembers his mission.

Is that healthy , they were in a gang of middle-school delinquents. So, no , is what Mitsuya concluded.

Even when beaten within an inch of his life, Takemichi smiled. “Not..yet.. Not..yet..” He kept repeating. The grin was sharp, feral. 

Mikey flinched. That look was familiar.

Kazutora leveled Mikey with an unknown expression on face.

Kiyomasa huffed, exhaustion beginning to seep into his bones.

The smile (if you could call it that) remained on the blonde’s face. Smears of blood spanned his arm as he used his limbs to halt his still bleeding nose. “Not yet.. This can’t… fix.” He huffed, “Twelve years of being a lazy…good for nothin’.”

Hina shook again, “Why do you keep saying that? Do you really think your life was useless?”

Takemichi looked away. “I already told you how I feel, Hina.” 

She bit her lip. He was so avoidant about this topic.

She was going to get him to talk about it. He needed to, it wasn’t good to keep all that bottled up. If he was going to embark on some hero’s mission to save her future life, then she could at least make sure he was in a good mental place.

Although, there were no advice books on what to do to help a time traveler process.

“Fine, be like that, for now.”

Takemichi sweat at the for now.

Halted from the worry in replacement of concern, Makoto interjected. “What the hell are you talking about?”

He wore his grin like armor. Clunky, damaged, rusted armor. But protection nonetheless. He swayed more. “Running and running, and running and running.”

Chifuyu leaned back, “Is- is anyone else feeling like past-Takemichi’s going feral?”  Hakkai chewed on his nails, “Yeah… this guy is about to snap any day now.”

“I am right here.” Takemichi deadpanned.

Baji felt shivers crawl up his spine, “Why are you repeating yourself?” His vice-captain pondered, “Well, his brain is probably like- stuttering? Focusing on simple words to focus on like-”

“Not passing out? Yeah” Takemichi interjected, although he couldn’t remember too much of the fight since it felt like he was trying not to collapse the whole time.

Naoto leaned over. He was a desperate man. “Please save my sister.”

Takemichi panted, sweating profusely. 

“You are the only one that can save her.” Smart, full-of life, Tachibana Hinata. 

Tears beaded at the corners of his eyes, vision blurry.

Akkun could do nothing but yell in hopes of his friend hearing him, “Give up already, Takemichi!! You’ve proven yourself!” If only determination was the only thing keeping him going.

Akkun balled his hands into fists. Useless.

He balled his hands together, lifting his head. Wet, thick, ugly tears poured out of swollen eyes. There was even blood on his teeth, his shirt, and his nose and hair. But still, he mustered up more courage- no. He merely remembered what his mission was.
“I AIN’T GIVING UP!!” He cried out.

Draken smirked, “That fire in his eyes…”

“Amazing, isn’t it?” Hina smiled, “That look in his eyes. I can’t ever get over it.”

Mikey bent over, clasping his hands together. He knew from the get-go something was different about that ‘kid.’ (Shinichiro..) 

He didn’t even care for how awful he looked. Or how he would aggravate his wounds each time he spoke. “I HAVE A DAMN GOOD REASON! TO NOT GIVE UP!”

The Mido Middle gang was taken aback, not used to seeing this side of their friend

There was 'determination'.

But this?

This was something more than that. Something scary.

Takemichi panted, “The Tokyo Manji gang.. Kiyomasa.” The mentioned delinquent’s face twitched. 

He furrowed his brow, forming deep intense wrinkles. His eyes were wide and seemed omniscient. Blue sclera surrounded by red white. “The only way you’ll win is by killing me.”

The air grew thick. It was nauseating. 

It was desperation. That’s what Mitsuya thought.

Hope to save his girlfriend, Takemichi pondered.

But it was also his sole mission, Hina thought. 

“Would you have let them?”

Hakkai’s distant voice filled the room. Takemichi tried brushing it off, “N-no! I just… wanted to prove I could withstand it.”

The Shiba sibling went silent, and sighed. Running his hand over buzzed hair, his eyes flittered; askance, he murmured, “You should be careful with how far you go protecting people.” 

“But, it was all for a good cause at the end of the day,” The time-traveler tried to reassure him, “Plus. I’m still standing, so it seems that all ended well despite my hate for fights.” 

Yuzuha grit her teeth, and sank into her seat a little further.

Mikey leaned a little further back into his own seat, and whispered to his best friend. “Was it really a bluff?”

Mitsuya answered for him, “That guy… he’s scared of dying without purpose. I doubt he actually wants to.”

They didn’t dare utter the unspoken. That Takemichi probably would go through with it if he believed his purpose mattered more.

And, even down to his last stand, the boy was still crying. Yet, he did not waver. He stumbled, once or twice. Tripped, fell. But never, ever, lost sight of the things he needed to do. The people he needed to save.

So, with a wide grin, he cried. “I absolutely ain’t gonna lose.”

Kiyomasa just stared at him, like he was looking at someone insane. When Takemichi looked at him, it felt like he was seeing through him. Like he was gazing at someone else. Maybe it was a girl with a mole under chin. 

I am going to save Hina. 

The head of the fighter ring seemed to have somewhat regained his composure, although still disheveled. “Bring me my bat!!”

Takemichi panted. “Bring it on.” 

“ I’m gonna kill you.”

Hina placed a hand on Takemichi’s thigh. Chifuyu tightened his grip around Takemichi’s shoulders. 

(Funny how it didn’t take long at all to get attached), Chifuyu huffed.

Baji clocked the unusually affectionate behavior, and decided to drop it for now.

He let out a soft breath, corners of his mouth drawing deep creases. An expression of dread befell him, but those eyes never once flinched away.
“Bat, he says.” said one boy, speaking over a demanding Kiyomasa. “I thought this was a one-on-one fight?”

“Oi. Kiyomasa.” “HAH?” A new voice joined the mix.

Draken grinned devilishly, “The dragon joins the fray.”

Chifuyu hollered, “Go kick some ass, Draken.”

A boy (are you serious, that can’t be a middle schooler) joined the mix. A dragon tattoo graced his half shaved head. A blonde braid waterfalled down his tall frame. He looked grounded. 

“You’re losing the audience,” he noted calmly.

“ Haah? So now I’m the one who’s not a middle-schooler?”

Takemichi fussed, hands flying wildly. “I mean- uh, you’re just…very imposing?”

“Nn, he’s saying you’re built like a fucking girrafe, Ken-chin~” Takemichi paled, “No, no! I mean-”

“Hah? Is that true, Mitchy?”

Hina slapped away Draken’s hand, “Stop teasing him so much. Remember what I said?”

Mikey cradled his cheek, “How could I forget? I think it still stings.” He whimpered, wiping away crocodile tears. Hina flushed and turned her head. Mikey smiled, they were fun to taunt. (Although, who can blame him for thinking of Draken like that at first? Any sane person would have thought the same thing upon seeing him.) Good thing Mikey wasn’t sane then.

Takemichi’s eyes focused, trying to recall. Who is that? 

The dragon-tattooed boy shoved his hands in his pockets, and the chatter of the onlookers picked up. “Calm the hell down. You’re the organizer.”

Makoto gasped, and Akkun’s eyes widened in realization. “A blonde braid and a dragon tattoo on his temple..”

“That’s the vice-president of the Tokyo Manji gang!!”

“Didn’t know my look was so recognizable, hm.”

“The braid and tattoo are pretty much your trademarks.” Akkun added, “Yamigishi basically drilled that info into our heads before our gang debut.”

Mitsuya pouted, (Yeah. ‘Cuz he stole my designs.) He brushed against the right side of his head.

His braid swayed in the win, a loose diamond pattern cardigan thrown over his rumpled school polo. A shorter boy munched on a dorayaki behind him. 

“RYUUUGUJI KEN! Also known as “Draken”!”

“Roll credits.” Hakkai whispered.

The boy who was eating spoke up, “Ne, ne, Kenchin?” Draken groaned, “Hah!? Don’t call me by that nickname, Mikey.”

Mikey waved his now empty hand, not minding the crumbs at the corner of his mouth. “I’m out of dorayaki!” As if that was the priority. 

“It’s me!!” Mikey shouted excitedly.

Baji belly-laughed, “Of course your first on-screen appearance is with your mouth fucking filled to the brim.”

“Classic.” Mitsuya laughed.

“If the dragon is Draken’s trademark, Mikey’s is the dorayaki!” Akkun said, before shutting up with a quick glare from Toman. He had gotten far too comfortable with them, and they were just not at that level yet.

Meanwhile, Draken was mourning the amount of money spent keeping Mikey’s hunger satiated. His poor wallet….

Akkun and Makoto sweatdropped, “The hell is up with that guy..?” “He can’t read the atmosphere of this place at all..”

“Pfft.” went Mikey, and Akkun nearly fainted. He would have never said that if he knew the leader himself would hear it one day!

Immediately after, the boys in front of them bowed deeply. This drew Takemichi’s attention.

One of the boys inhaled, “GOOD AFTERNOON…MR. PRESIDENT!” he yelled. 

“Good afternoon.” “GOOD AFTERNOON!!” “GOOD AFTERNOON!” The other bowing boys quickly resounded. 

Mikey lethargically licked away the crumbs of dorayaki left on his face.

Ba-dump

Everyone in the arena stood frozen, and Takemichi could not help but stare at them. That guy… He can’t be..? There was no way. It had to be a coincidence, he thought.

“Yes, way, Takemichi.” Mitsuya drawled, “The guy with manners of a five-year-old is the infamous leader of Toman, woo.”

Mikey punched him.

Mikey and Draken walked past, not giving a damn as more boys lowered their heads and shouted greetings to them.

Tokyo Manji gang president..

Mikey gave a small smile.

Sano Manjiro.

Akkun and Makoto were still standing up in shock, not bowing like the rest. “The invincible Mikey- Toman’s boss!!”

Takemichi braced himself, panting heavily from the fight. He’s…the top guy in Toman- Sano Manjiro?!! He grit his teeth, tasting iron.

“Don’t wear out my name from saying it too much!” Mikey gave a toothy smile.

Red stood ridgid as Mikey passed by him. “Mi-...Mi-...Sano-kun!” he stuttered out. 

“I…I ride with biker gang number 3! My name’s Akaishi!”

Silence. Mikey did not even turn to acknowledge him. Urk.

Draken bumped into Red. He shifted, “Move it.. Mikey doesn't talk to people he ain’t interested in.”

Baji crushed a soda can, “That’s probably how that guy’s ego felt.” He laughed, “Nothing’s better than shutting up cocky people.”

Mikey tilted his head, “Cocky or not, doesn’t matter. That delinquent had nothing to interest me.”

That’s such a cocky way of thinking, Akkun thought. 

All confidence crushed, Red sauntered off to the side, stumbling. “Ah…s-...sorry.”

“Red-kun didn’t even give him any lip.” Makoto whispered to Akkun.

Mikey kept his bee-lined pace, casually walking the path that Kiyomasa blocked.  Kiyomasa did not move.

He shallowly bowed, it was more like a nod than a bow. “Good afternoon.”

CRUNCH!

-went Kiyomasa’s rib cage as Draken swiftly kicked him straight in the gut. Mikey didn’t even flinch, unmoving.

Kazutora flinched, yikes. Looks like that hurt.

Hakkai hissed, “Ya pulled no punches, hm?”

Draken picked at his teeth, “No. He disrespected Mikey. And if I had to do it again I would, but worse for all that shit he pulled on Takemichi.” he spit and it immediately disappeared. 

“Fucking asshole.” The vice-president gave Takemichi a loose thumbs up, who clumsily reciprocated. Not sure whether to feel flattered or frightened.

“Kiyomasa.” Draken tilted his head, “Who died and made you king?”

“ That’s how low you should bow when greeting the president.” The bully grunted, keeled over his stomach as he hacked up spit. “Y-...yes, sir!!”

This is too much is what Takemichi’s expression was saying. He stood with his mouth wide open and gaping, grasping for sentences and syntax- which evaded him. “Uh..Aah..uh-”

The childhood friends of Mikey and Draken could sympathize, they were both pretty much insane. Draken only looked normal because he was compared to someone as off the rails as Mikey.

Internally, Takemichi was thinking about how all the members of Toman were just a little crazy. (Was he included in that or was the time-traveling-for-them not enough?)

Mikey continued to walk straight towards him, face close enough to where their noses were practically touching. “Ah..”

Kazutora flushed, and Baji batted his eyes at Mikey- who upper-cutted him. Hina just giggled, and Takemichi was oblivious.

He couldn’t take the amount of presence and stumbled to the ground.

The wind shifted his blonde locks, “What’s your name?”

“H-..” he swallowed back blood, “Hanagaki Takemichi.”

Mikey slightly nodded, humming. “Hm….okay… Takemitchy. ”

The time-traveler blinked. “Huh?” Take mitchy!?

“If Mikey says so, then that’s what it is.” Draken stated, “Takemitchy .”

Wha- huh!? Was this guy the law? He inwardly yelped. “Huh?!! His eyes veered off to Draken’s direction. 

Chifuyu patted his back, “Sorry, bud. Mikey has a weird thing with nicknames if you didn’t notice.”

Draken sighed, yeah, yeah he does. Although it isn’t always a bad thing, he glanced at Emma.

“But why Takemitchy …” Takemichi bemoaned. “It’s not even a nickname! Just a brutalization of my name!”

“No it’s not, Takemitchy ~.” Mikey taunted.

“Honestly, for like the two hours we’ve known each other-” Why did it feel like so much longer? Chifuyu’s head zapped with pain, but he ignored it.

Takemichi looked to the side where Chifuyu had his arm behind him, “-I’ve gotten way too used to calling you Takemitchy. Don’t think I could change it even if I wanted to.”

“Same here, Mitchy.” Takemichi crushed Baji’s soda can harder in frustration.

He groaned, “This was not the circumstance I wanted to be given a nickname in.”

When he looked back, Mikey was completely over him. His small frame towering, and his hands and legs braced down in a squat. It defined rippling muscles otherwise hidden beneath his deceivingly small frame. His gakuran seemed to cage the two of them, and Takemichi let out a small ‘Eep!’ in fear. 

Mikey grasped the back of his head, pulling at yellow hair.

The guy was suffocating. So this was the presence of someone ‘invincible.’

Mikey blinked, wha..? 

“Is…is that what it looked like for you?” The leader seemed taken aback.

Takemichi turned to face him, “I mean- yeah? You looked…terrifying.”

Mikey bit his lip, “I was just trying to get on your level.”

“What?”

He sighed, “I mean, you fell on your ass upon seeing me so I figured me standing was freaking you out or something. So, crouching down to your eye-level would look less freaky than standing over you.”

Takemichi paused, (I just thought you were trying to…)

“I just thought you were trying to psych me out or something.” He flushed. “When I first met you… the only you I knew about was that you were supposedly the guy who was gonna kill Hina in the future.” The-time-traveler fiddled with the strings of his pants. “Seeing you with that idea in my head just kind of made every bit of you look scary, honestly.”

(Mikey wasn’t anything like what I thought he was going to be like, if I’m being honest.)

Mikey rubbed his cheek, “..Yeah, makes sense.” He threw on a smile, “Takemitchy, next time, just don’t fall on your ass then, okay?”

Takemichi groaned.

Mikey continued to smile, is that how most people see me at first, then?

For the first time, the leader of Toman started to mull over his title of being ‘invincible.’”

“Are you really in middle school?”

Mikey’s nose perked up, “Hah! My instincts are never wrong!” he boasted.

“Fighting, finding sweets, and finding time-travelers. That’s three for three on the OP- bingo card.” Hakkai whispered.

The yellow-blonde boy drooped, “Do I… really look that old?” He caressed his skin, “I thought I did a good job of taking care of my skin- I knew I should have listened to my grandmother’s nags about blue light glasses…” 

Nah. Nah. “It was more of your eyes . They didn’t look child-like, Takemitchy .”

“That’s a relief.” Takemichi chuckled. He peeked at Mikey’s eyes. 

His didn’t look child-like either sometimes. 

The time-traveler just stuttered and did everything he could to halt a scream from rising out of his throat.

“From now on, Takemitchy.” Mikey gave him a toothy grin, black eyes swirling with mirth. “You’re my bitch, m’kay? <3”  How did he audibly say a heart emoji…

“Huh?!” was all he could say.

“HAHAHAHAH!” Baji wheezed, clutching his stomach. Even Kazutora had to break his silence, breaking out in a small burst of giggles. “Heh.” Hakkai, Emma and even Yuzuha cracked a smile. Dumbass.

Mitsuya lectured, “Mikey. We’ve talked about this- why can’t you just ask to be friends .” His small smile said otherwise.

Chifuyu practically yelled from how hard he was laughing. Takemichi just stared at both Hina and Chifuyu- the two of them both caught up in laughing so hard they started to clutch at the cushions for Oxygen.

“I hate it here.” His face was stony.

“ Bwahah!” Mikey chortled, “C’mon, Takemitchy ! It was a good one!”

“I’m not anyone’s ‘bitch’!” he refuted. “Not even Tachibana’s?” Draken questioned.

Takemichi went silent for a moment.

“...No!”

“HAH! IT TOOK HIM A SECOND!” Baji continued to laugh, cackling like a wild man. Kazutora’s laughs died down to a smile. Akkun wheezed as Chifuyu’s laughing fit nearly caused him to be kicked straight in the gut.

“Why the hesitation, Takemitchy?” Chifuyu’s laugh was cheshire-like.

“..Mhm, why the stutter, Takemichi-kun?” Not you too, Hina!

“I CAN’T WIN!” He covered his face.

Behind the cover of his hands, Takemichi gave a small smile. When was the last time he joked around with his friends like this? 

Akkun batted away Chifuyu’s legs, who was letting out small snorts. “Huh?’ he said, ‘Huh’ was all he said..”  The vice-commander giggled.

Takemichi’s smile fell, - probably before I left Akkun and everyone.

“..I think I saw a small smile there, Takemitchy .” 

“No!” They laughed.

Ignoring him, Mikey quickly stood up. Leaving a silent and bewildered Takemichi to just stare in awe at him from his spot on the ground.

The leader of Toman walked over to a recovering Kiyomasa. “Are you the one organizing these matches?”

Kiyomasa nodded, “Y-...yes sir!” Mikey smiled.

SMASH!

-went Kiyomasa’s face as his chin was sent straight towards the sky personally by Mikey.

“Agh..” Kiyomasa groaned, and the time-traveler just kept his face slap-jawed.

“Maybe I should pay that guy a visit soon.” Mikey’s face was expressionless.

Takemichi sweat, “I can’t pay for hospital bills! So don’t!” Mikey sighed dramatically.

Mikey clutched the bully’s head, bringing him straight below his own eye level. 

“Who the hell are you?” he practically whispered, voice low.

Even the members of Toman felt a chill up their spine. Their goofy leader was an eldritch-horror when he wanted to be.

When Kiyomasa didn’t respond, he rewarded him with another punch to the nose. “Hey.” The crunch, smack, whack, and noises that ensued were for sure signs of a broken something. (If not a broken ego.) “Ki..Kiyomasa.” His cronies whispered.

Face swollen, Kiyomasa was dropped to the floor. He was practically unrecognizable. Mikey placed a firm, sandaled foot on top of the fallen’s head.

“Okay.” his smile reached his eyes, “Let’s go, Ken-chin.”

Wagh… Takemichi gaped.

Emma stook out her tongue, blowing a raspberry. “Blegh! At least he can use that dumb extorted money from earlier to pay for the hospital bills. That’s what happens when you try to be a cheesy villain and count your money before a match.”

“Fighting rings are stupid.” cooly stated Mikey.

Hm. “Don’t ruin Toman’s reputation.” chided Draken.

“Agreed.” Baji affirmed, “Dumb strong guys against weak boys isn’t a fight! It’s a beat-down! Anyone with eyes can tell when a match-up is uneven. We should look for challengers, not weaklings to boost our egos!” 

“My grandpa really instilled his ideology into you, huh, Baji.”

“Damn straight! Your old man knew the real truth!”

Although, Mikey was the exception to that ‘truth’. It was seemingly impossible how he decked and folded people far above his weight class like they were nothing.

“Takemitchy! ” He flinched.

“See ya~ <3.” Mikey gave him a small wink, sending shivers down his spine.

“I’ve had nightmares about that wink..” Takemichi shuddered.

Draken waved them off, “Quit staring and disperse already, you idiots.” The formerly roaring stadium just stood in silence, before everyone quietly began to leave the premises.

Takemichi stood, contemplative, surrounded by the Mizo Mid boys. That was Toman’s boss- Manjiro Sano!!

Stareeee.. Makoto and Yamigishi looked at him with a slight blush. “Hm?”

“Takemichi! That was so cool!!’ Yamigishi crowded him quickly. 

Makoto nodded, “I was totally moved!!” 

…

“...Huh?”

They continued to lean towards him. 

“And- AND! You got the invincible Mikey to like you!!”

“That’s so rad, Takemichi!!”

Takemichi just gazed emptily. That really happened?

OH NOOOOOOOOOOO

-went Takemichi’s internal monologue. He tearfully grabbed his face, shocked with horror. That monster seriously likes me now!!

“‘Monster’? You wound me!” 

He was kinda hoping it was a dream.

Takemichi sobbed into the ground. I went from Kiyomasa’s slave to an incromprenshible monster’s toy… He imagined himself being forced to eat literal shit. “Lick it.” “Yes, master.” Slave Takemichi would tearfully say.

Emma nearly hurled, “The fuck!”

Mikey choked, “I-Takemitchy!” he laughed, “I would never force you to eat shit like that.”

Takemichi smiled, “I-I know! I was just kind of freaking out-”

“I would at least let you use a plate and utensils.” He deadpanned.

The time traveler stiffened, “..You’re joking, right?”

Mikey’s smile didn’t reach his eyes, “I’m a very ethical owner.”

Takemichi started to cry.

Such a crybaby , Hina patted his eyes dry with her sleeve. Chifuyu tried to do the same, only to flinch from the amount of snot covering the ‘adult’’s face.

All I did was change jobs!! This is hell!!

Why did it have to be me… Takemichi bemoaned.

Yamigishi poked him on the shoulder. “From now on, you’re Takemitchy! <3 ” he mocked.

“Your friend doesn’t have a career in acting.” Mitsuya said expressionless.

Akkun sighed, “Hah.. Yeah, I can’t bring myself to break his heart.”

Makoto dug his hands into his pockets, taking out a cowlick and squinting his eyes. “If Mikey says so, that's what it is, Takemitchy. ” He mocked Draken.

Small tick marks appeared on Draken’s forehead.

Yamigishi and Makoto hyped each other’s impressions up in the corner. 

Takemichi sighed, it must be nice to be an idiot…

“What morons.” added Akkun.

“Hm? Akkun.”

“But, it’s been too long since I got to see them act like idiots.” he smiled wistfully. 

Makoto crouched down, “From now on… you’re my bitch <3.”

Yamigishi gasped, “Huh?”

“SO FUCKING COOL-!!” the two continued to mock.

“Wow, they’re…” Emma started.

“..Really dumb.” Yuzuha finished.

“In a good way?” Hina tried.

Hakkai made an unsettled face, “..No.”

Hina shrugged, “I tried, Takemichi-kun.”

“It's fine, Tachibana-san. They’re our idiots.” Akkun gave a big thumbs up.

“No, they’re yours. You can keep them.” Takemichi pulled out custody papers from his back pocket. “I’ve already got the first six months paid.” 

Akkun looked devastated.

“Brutal.” Kazutora whispered.

Takuya laughed, they didn’t sound like that at all. He started running over to them. “I’ll be Draken!”

Takemichi laughed, as Akkun slipped down onto a nearby bench. “Takemichi.”

Their leader clasped his hands together tightly, “I was honestly thinking of getting a weapon and going after Kiyomasa myself.”

Processing…

“..Huh?!” Akkun continued. 

“Are you stupid?” Mitsuya started. “You were going to risk prison and shank some dude? Are you out of your mind?”

“It wasn’t- I wasn’t thinking clearly! I just wanted it to be over.” Akkun bit his nails, “If it wasn’t Takemichi, and it was Takuya instead then- then, well. He would die! I would rather him not die!” Tears beaded up from the corners of his eyes.

Draken sighed, slipping a hand into his own hair. “That has just gotta be..” he murmured, “-the dumbest sentiment.”

“Take this from a guy who has actually been stabbed- it’s not fucking worth it. You’d be ruining your and your pal’s lives by doing that. I can’t believe I’m saying this but- call the cops or something. Create a distraction.”

“I know that! I don’t want to hear that ‘advice’ coming from a guy who could easily take any guy any day.”

“You act like strength is everything all the time.” Kazutora whispered. The room went quiet.

“It doesn’t matter how strong you are, or how many guys you can knock out with one fist.” He held a finger to his head. “One blow of the gun and you’re gone. A stab, a bat, a chair, whatever. It’s not the right way for anyone to go.” Kazutora’s eyes were far away. “Especially someone with such a wishy-washy reason like you.”

“Keep out of it.” Mikey’s gaze was steely. Kazutora nearly punched him right then and there.

Akkun rubbed his eyes, “I just wanted to protect people, is that so wrong?” 

Takemichi rubbed his friend's shoulder, “..No, it’s not. Us weak guys have to help each other. That's all we’ve got.” His eyes narrowed, “I learned that the hard way.”

He inhaled, “But Takuya was going to fight with everything he had,” he remembered the original fight. His childhood friend was a fucking fighter.

“Takuya is brave, so brave. He would not have wanted to have ‘won’ like that.”

Akkun brushed a sweaty hand across his forehead, “Yeah. You’re right. Doesn’t make it feel any better that I was so useless though.”

“Atsushi.” Hina’s voice was firm, “What Takuya needed was a friend .”

Takemichi noded, “Yeah, he just wanted us guys to be there for him. Even if he lost or was beaten. It’s better to wake up in a hospital bed surrounded by friends than to have won at the cost of everything, don’t you think?”

Atsushi murmured, “I didn’t even do it. It was just an idea.”

Takemichi stared at him. Why do I remember…him saying something about that then? His head hurt again.

“Well, it’s better that you know now then never.”

“I guess.”

“Because with how things were going… we were gonna be his slaves forever. I would’ve had no choice but to kill him, y’know?”

“No choice…” Kazutora paled. ‘ No choice’ his ass.

“Akkun..”

They stayed in silence for a moment. 

Akkun stood up, “Thanks, Takemichi.”

“Huh?”

He turned to face one of his friends, “It’s thanks to you standing firm against Kiyomasa, that we were freed from being slaves.”

Takemichi’s face was pensive. Blue eyes swirling with hidden thoughts.

He gave him a small closed smile. “That was real badass of you.”

“..Stop it. You’re making me blush.” He turned away from him to hide his flushed expression. 

Hina smiled, “It was super cool, Takemichi-kun. Although, don’t ever do it again!”

“Alright, alright.”

Draken frowned. Seems the guy has a hard time accepting compliments of any kind.

“You’re right, Tachibana, it was cool.”

Takemichi sweat even more.

He decided to join the band of idiots. His idiots. “You don’t sound like Mikey-kun at all.” he critiqued. 

“Hm?” “Shuddup, Takemichi.” “Hey!”

The next day.

A boy with swollen eyes sighed. It was Takemichi.

“Ugh.. School sucks, I hate mornings.” he complained to the air, “Eight o’clock is too early to be up. Especially for a night owl like me, y’know?”

Tap, Tap. 

“I feel that sentiment, Hanagaki…” 

Yuzuha slapped him over the head, “Yeah! That’s because you stay up all night reading manga!”

Hakkai stuttered, “W-well, when else am I gonna get a chance to read ‘em? They already confiscated the one’s I had at school!”

“You can read them after assemblies if you’d like, Hakkai.”

He teared up, “Taka-chan!”

“Morning, Takemichi-kun!” a familiar voice cheerfully greeted.

Hm ? “Hina!” she smiled, throwing up a peace sign. “Good for you! Goin’ to school in the morning like a proper student, I see~” she teased.

“I’ve got cram school after school today.” “Oh, really?” she nodded at him. 

“Let’s go on a date until I have to be at cram school.” Takemichi blushed, “O…okay.”

So forward, Emma thought. If only that worked on dense idiots, she glared at Draken.

Draken itched the back of his head. Weird .

“Ahhh, I’m so glad I have the same class as you, Takemichi-kun.” Her words fell on deaf ears as Takemichi was too caught up in the excitement of being on a date. School is the best.

“You sure changed your tune quickly.” Mitsuya said, amused.

“What can I say..I’m an honest guy..”

A teacher’s chalk screeched down the board.

Takemichi was face first into his desk, loosely clutching a notebook. “This is no time to be having a good time.” He chided himself, “Yeah..”

Hina frowned. Having two seconds of an enjoyable encounter was his definition of a ‘good time’?

“Don’t worry, Takemichi-kun, I will try my hardest not to die!”

Ah-hah. “Thank you, Hina.” He didn’t tell her that her death was orchestrated by others outside her control.

He recalled Naoto’s words, informing him of his mission. All of it to save his sister.

The time-traveler balanced a mechanical pencil between his lips and nose, concentrated. Naoto, I met with Sano Manjiro. (Although it was a coincidence.)

In order to save Hina, who got caught up in their dispute and was killed. I have to stop the Tokyo Manji gang’s dispute. 

A grown up Mikey and Kisaki were shown. Kisaki looked especially more scammy than usual. 

Kisaki. Kisaki. Hina rolled that name over her tongue. It was so familiar, but why couldn’t she exactly place it just yet?

In order to do that, I have to prevent the two leaders of Toman from meeting in the ‘past.’

I met one of the leaders, Sano Manjiro, by chance.

Takemichi clutched his hands between his head. But I have absolutely no idea what to do after this!? Preventing them from meeting is basically impossible if you think about it, right!??

“Hmm.. Well now I know not to listen to this Kisaki guy.”

A loud ruckus started to come from someone outside. “OI! YOU CAN’T JUST BARGE INTO A SCHOOL HOWEVER YOU LIKE!! What school are you from!?”

Mikey and Draken smiled, and the rest of Toman sighed.

“Hm?” He couldn’t help turning to the source of the noise. 

The classroom’s door slid open loudly.

Mikey popped his head out, looking innocently. “Oh! Here he is <3.”

Emma threw a candy wrapper at her brother, “No! Stop being a nuisance!”

“I was just being friendlyyyy- ”

Her voice was firm, “You know damn well what you’re doing, Mikey.”

“Tee-hee.”

Emma scrunched up her face in disgust. “Never make that noise again.”

Mitsuya took Baji’s notebook and rolled it up, bonking Mikey over the head with it. “Education is important.”

“Yeah! My mom said she’d kill me then revive me if I missed out on schooling again!” Baji shouted. “Do you know how much work it took to suck up to the teachers? Hm? DO YOU?”

A surprised Takemichi let out a small, “Huh?” which seemed to be commonplace these days.

Mikey barged in, calmly walking over to the time-traveler’s desk. Draken hovered by the entrance, hooking his arm around the door’s frame.

Mikey gave him a closed eye smile, “Let’s go play, Takemitchy. <3” The teacher just blubbered out shocked interjections.

“Could you try to be a little less ominous and friendly?”

“No can do, Takashi~”

Is..

IS THIS GUY CRAZY?!!

Yes, the majority thought.

He burst out of the classroom, being somewhat dragged by the two gang members. His jaw dropped upon seeing the majority of his school’s delinquents either knocked out or with their spirit’s broken on the hallway floor. 

T…these are all the 3rd years..?

Akkun’s jaw dropped. “The guy’s who beat our ass were so easily defeated…? Just like that!?”

“No offense, but you guys weren’t exactly hard to beat.” Chifuyu added.

He craned his neck slowly to the giant standing next to him. “What is this?”

“Huh? ‘This’?”

Draken hummed, “You mean the trash?” 

Draken turned back to the piles of ‘trash’ beneath him, “They pissed me off. So I knocked ‘em down a peg.”

“As it should be.” Mitsuya hummed.

The normal people just sighed. If only it were so easy.

Takemichi imitated a statue as Draken began giving orders to the recovering 3rd year students. “All of you guys, line up right here.” The vice-president pointed down beneath him, “Face down.”

The third years lay face down, in a neat row, too scared to speak against the orders.  “Oi, you’ve left too much space in between you two.” 

“Huh?” said a poor third-year.

“I wonder what they’re gonna do..?” whispered another delinquent.

STOMP

A sandal was stomped onto the back of a delinquent. “ARGH!” he yelped.

Hina winced.

Yeah…

Draken and Mikey pranced on top of their human runway, Takemichi walking awkwardly to the side of them- on the normal floor. Like a normal person.

Baji scribbled in his notebook, “A human walk mat, got it.”

Chifuyu whined, “Oh hell no! I do not want to do that!” Knowing his captain, he’d have to do the dirty work.

The leader of Toman really is crazy.

“I heard there’s someone influencing the USG(?) at Shinsen.”

Mikey smiled, “S’alright. Let’s knock ‘im out.”

The screams and grunts of the delinquents under them made it hard to understand what they were talking about.

“‘I’m sorry, can’t really hear you due to the cries of agony from the people below me.’” Yuzuha deadpanned. “‘Can you repeat what you said?’”

Tormenting people is an everyday occurrence for these guys. To them, it’s the same as washing their face.

“I don’t wash my face everyday though…” Mikey drawled.

The delinquent floor eventually finished, and Mikey and Draken dragged him down to the ground floor of the school. The school’s bell chimed.

Draken bent down and draped his arm around his shoulder, his other hand in his pocket.

“You feelin’ okay?” Takemichi was visibly shaking and sweating profusely. 

“Well, y’know, still healing from yesterday.” He said that like it was the only reason. Y’know, like a liar.

Mikey shook his gakuran, “You’re free today, right?”

Takemichi pursed his lips, “Uh, err… not really.”

A group of students began gathering, all gossiping amongst themselves. 

“Let’s hang out for a little while, Takemitchy~! ”

“Huh..? But I said I was-”

He overheard the gossip from the student’s behind the shoe cubbies.

“Whaaaa- is Hanagaki-kun buddy-buddy with Mikey?”

Another student shushed him, “ Idiot! You’re being too loud!”

“We actually have someone that awesome here!?”

Takemichi went silent, realization dawned on him.

Oh no. Hina thought. He was going to ditch! Reconnaissance is a good reason though.

I see… so this is my chance. My chance to get close to Mikey and stop him from meeting Kisaki Tetta!

“Were you planning on leaching onto me for the rest of my life?”

“I mean… more or less?”

Mikey considered the idea, “Hmm. If it’s Takemitchy then it should be fine.”

Draken looked mildly disturbed, “You should not be so okay with that idea.” The leader blinked.

Just as he was about to, supposedly, accept the ‘offer’ (more like a threat, if he was being honest) a voice spoke up.

“HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!” familiar pink hair entered his line of sight. His jaw-dropped, gazing at the sight of his girlfriend with her fists balled up angrily stomping over to them.

HINA!?

Chifuyu tilted his head to Hina, “Hinata, do you ever get tired?”

“What do you mean, Chifuyu-kun?”

“From carrying around those massive balls of yours.”

She choked, and Takemichi sputtered from between them. She flexed her biceps, “No! I’m super strong, you see?”

Chifuyu looked genuinely surprised by the amount of muscle definition she had hidden away. What was up with small framed people and being secret powerhouses!?

Mikey’s expression was blank. Draken narrowed his eyes, “ Haahhh? Who are you?”

Hina’s approach continued, and Takemichi awkwardly tried to cancel their plans. “I’m sorry, Hina.. Uh, today is actually no good for me, so-”

Mikey’s face was cast to the side.

“Holy shiittttt-” Baji let out.

SLAP!

Hina slapped Mikey across the face. Hard.

“OH MY FUCKING GOD! HAH!” Baji laughed so hard tears streamed down his face.

Kazutora snorted, “H-his head went in the opposite direction! HAH!”

Draken chuckled, “At the time, I was too pissed off, but looking at it now it is kind of funny.”

“The invincible Mikey…taken down by a mere slap.” The members of Toman let that one slide for now.

Takemichi’s face scrunched in shock, before tears and a silent scream bubbled up in his throat. Hina…san?

Her expression was still defiant, obviously pissed out of her damn mind.

Draken’s veins pulsed.

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!!?  

“Preventing you from ditching our date and also protecting you!”

Chifuyu whistled, “Damn. Where’d you find such an amazing girl?”

“Aw, I’m flattered, Chifuyu-kun.”

“I would have rather you, uh, y’know, NOT slapped an infamous gang leader to protect me, Hina!?” Takemichi was practically tearing his hair out. “It’s scary as hell! I thought we were going to die!”

“..But we didn’t!”

“Hinaaaa.”

Mikey tossed Hina a thumbs up, “You give firm slaps.”

“Thanks, sorry, but thanks.”

–

The day was shown a few minutes prior. 

“Oh shit! Takemichi was kidnapped by Mikey-kun!” 

Makoto gasped, “Seriously!? He’s gonna murder ‘im for real!!”

Wow. Public opinion of him was not merciful at all , Mikey thought.

Hina eavesdropped, “Is that true!?”

“Ah!” Yamigishi was taken off guard, “Tachibana..”

Her indoor shoes clacked against the floor.

“HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!” she could see Takemichi’s clearly shocked expression. “HINA!!” He went, but it was too late.

She slapped Mikey, hard, this time from a different angle. 

“You go girl.” Yuzuha cheered.

Emma hummed, “I’m not one for violence but, that slap was deserved.”

Baji nodded, “He violated his education! First-class offense in my mother’s book.”

“..You do realize I already have learned everything I need to know, right? I graduated?”

Baji’s eyes widened, “..So you’re receiving double the education? What the fuck. Not fair. When I fail a test, I don’t get the magical ability to time travel.”

The air grew thick.

She hmphed, pursuing past the gang leader she just slapped the shit out of. “Takemichi-kun.” she tugged on his arm, “Let’s go!” “Eh?”

“You can’t just do what these people want.” She narrowed her eyes, “I will protect you.”

Touched, Takemichi let out a soft call of her name. He looked down, and felt small tremors against his arm.

Her hand is trembling.

Mikey’s brow furrowed.

Before they could move further, Draken’s hand reached out and gripped Hina’s arm.

“Oi.” His look was murderous, “I’mma murder you. Bitch. ”

“Okay, so maybe I overreacted a little.”

Hina bowed, “No! I misunderstood and threatened your friend, it would be weird if you weren’t mad.” She shivered, “Although. That look did give me nightmares for a little while.”

Hina didn’t look him in the eye. “You think you can just slap someone and then leave? Don’t make me laugh!”

The female Shiba sibling nodded, “Yeah, true. Don’t know how you were planning on getting out of that one.”

“Worst case scenario, I hire a bodyguard so we don’t get killed.”

“Why is that your plan A?”

Hina wiped her nose, “A girl has always gotta be prepared! But in all honesty, it was impulse that lead me to slap Mikey-kun-sorry again!”

“What part of this is a joke?” “Hah?”

Her voice was no-nonsense. “Coming into their school and forcing someone to go with you isn’t what a friend would do.” Takemichi sweat a little. “Takemichi-kun is still recovering and covered in wounds.”

She braced herself. “If that was because of you guys, then..”

Hina’s eyes blazed, “Then I won’t forgive you.”

Mikey rubbed his neck, “Yeah. I should have thought maybe he was tired from getting beat up yesterday. He just seemed fine, so-”

“Well, a lot of people can look just fine and be struggling a lot and you would never know it.” Hina reprimanded.

The leader of Toman sat in contemplative silence, “True.”

From behind, Takemichi gripped Draken’s shoulder. “Huh?”

His heart was beating so hard it was audible, “Let go of her..” he said shakily.

Draken’s patience ran thin, and he leaned into the time-traveler’s ear. “What did you say? I didn’t quite hear ya!”

“I said let her fucking go!” He couldn’t forget Hina’s promise.

“You dumbass!!” he gritted out.

I PROMISED TO PROTECT HINA THIS TIME!

And there it is again, Mitsuya frowned. All his hesitation dries up when he remembers what he has to do. 

Although.. Mitsuya pinched his brow. It’s not like he’s fearless. In fact, he looks scared shitless. But it’s like he’s forcing himself through it somehow.

Is he the type of person that can just…do things without knowing why? Mitsuya felt his blood run cold, those types were the craziest of them all.

“Look at you guys, protecting each other!” Chifuyu teased.

Draken grinned wildly, getting all up in Takemichi’s face, “You bastard… Who the fuck do ya think you’re talking to, hah!?”

Takemichi looked up, “I ain’t gonna give her up a second time.”

The vice-president blinked. “Hah?” (A second time?)

The mood sombered at the reminder of Hina’s death.

Mikey looked offhandedly to the side, “Ahh, and here I thought you could be my friend. Too bad.” He smiled wistfully, “Well then,”

“How do you wanna die?” Takemichi felt a shudder go down his spine.

Mikey casually smiled at him, “You’re making a face you won’t be able to stand on your own again.” The boy’s heart kept racing.

“Just promise me one thing.” “Hm?”

His brow furrowed, “Promise that you won’t lay a hand on Hina!” said girl was taken aback and blushed a little, touched.

Mikey’s soulless eyes were not touched at all. He wound up for a punch. “ Hah? I don’t give a damn about her!” Takemichi braced for impact, squinting his eyes.

Takemichi squinted his eyes, Ah, don’t kill me, Mikey.

Mikey bit into another miscellaneous pastry, “..I’m starting to think maybe I’m too good at acting.”

You think!? Takemichi cried.

“Just kidding!” He shut his eyes, giving Takemichi a smile that was way too reminiscent of the one he gave Kiyomasa. 

Takemichi blubbered, eyes teary and nose running full of snot down his face. “..Huh?”

Mikey laughed, lowering his hands. “Takemitchyy , you dummy~”

He began to walk out the door, showing the crowd that had formed to watch the confrontation. “There’s no way I’d lay a hand on a girl.”

The time-traveler just stood, shell-shocked. 

Hakkai gulped, “Even I thought you were serious…”

Mitsuya nodded, “Yeah. Although, I know him so I could see through it. But anyone who doesn’t know him? Would believe that he was about to send the two of them to the afterlife.”

To add to more of his shock, Draken wrapped a hand around Takemichi’s shoulders again. Leaning down, he said, “Takemitchy… you were tryin’ to threaten me?”

“I-I’m sorry.” “It’s okay.” Draken smiled.

“You won't give her up’, hm? Nowadays, there aren’t any men that will say that about women, are there? It is the modern era, after all.”

“Haha.” Takemichi tried to laugh dryly, but it came out more like he was being held at gunpoint. 

“Can you try and look less like a hostage?” Chifuyu said dryly.

“I’m trying my best, give me a break.”

The dragon tattooed boy joined his friend. “Were you surprised?”

(‘Surprised’ was putting it lightly. ) Hina and Takemichi thought.

They stared at the two of them, before Hina came to a conclusion. “Huh, wait..? Takemichi-kun, these people are…” He awkwardly chuckled.

“I AM SO SORRY!!” Hina browed deeply to Mikey, who gave her a deadpan expression. 

“Awah,,, I must have misunderstood something!!” She tried apologizing, to which Mikey just wiped her off casually. “It’s fine. Don’t worry ‘bout it.”

He then delicately cupped his check, a cheeky smile appeared. “It was an amazing slap.” Agh! Hina cried in the background, “I am so sorry!!”

“It was a good slap.” 

“Really great form.”

“A+ for effort, Tachibana.”

“Anyone who can slap Mikey like that and live has my respect.”

“...good job.”

They all unanimously joined together to compliment the assault of one of their best friends.

Mikey hmphed, still smiling, “it’s fine to do your best for the man you like.” Protecting, helping, etc. “But don’t get too carried away.”

(I should probably tell Takemitchy to not get carried away, he seems to be the one that needs that.)

“Takemitchy.”

“Y-yeah?”

“Don’t get carried away.”

Takemichi stiffened, and nodded. Mikey smiled, thinking his good intent had been properly conveyed.

Meanwhile, Takemichi was wondering why Mikey would ever think he’d have the guts to slap him.

Besides, “Things would have been bad if you’d hit someone that’d fight back, you know?” He lectured.

“Y-yes!” she said in military stature. Awkwardly, she tried to excuse herself. “I…will be going then.”

Takemichi held out a hand, “Eh? But what about our date?”

“I’ll postpone it for now. Since your friends went out of their way to come hang out.”

Mikey waved, “Bye-bye! Next time don’t hit me! <3” Hina yelped, and bowed again.

They watched her go, “What a nice girl. It’s rare to see one like that.”

Takemichi nodded, “Y-yeah.”

He dropped the jovial constitution, “Be sure to take care of her.”

Takemichi stiffened. 

“I’ll do my best!” He announced, and Hina let out a small laugh.

–

Somehow, Takemichi had the leader of Toman on the back of his bike. His vice-president is behind them on his own bike. 

I learned about the Tokyo Manji gang 12 years in the future from Naoto. They are a heinous gang responsible for gambling, fraud, rape, murder, and other such crimes. 

Takemichi recalled Mikey’s words. [“Underground fighting is stupid.” “There’s no way I’d lay a hand on a girl.”] 

He kept biking, (Is this guy really the boss of the terrible Toman?”) he thought.

(I really doubt it.) Draken contemplated, (It just goes against everything I know about Mikey.)

But , the thought hit him, what if I had really died that night? What would Mikey have done?

“Um, Mikey-kun,” Takemichi began, “Why did you take a liking to someone like me?” He was curious.

The leader straightened, realizing what was going to be shown. It was a moment of gentleness unlike the usual Mikey.

Mikey stared at the houses they were passing, “...That’s a stupid question.”

“Aah- sorry.” he quickly rectified.

“I have a brother 10 years older than me.” Mikey had a far-away look in his eyes.

“He’s dead, though.” Takemichi flinched, but kept peddling.

He’s talking about Shinichiro, Mitsuya smiled. He hadn’t heard Mikey say much about his brother even though they were so close.

“Oh, Shin..” Emma mourned.

Kazutora blanched, feeling sick to his stomach.

The leader of Toman’s smile was gentle; genuine. “He was a reckless guy,” he chuckled, “He’d challenge guys way stronger than him to fights like it’s normal.”

“Ohh-,” Takemichi said, “He sounds like a cool person!”

Mikey smiled at him, “You’re like him, Takemitchy.” 

“Eh? Huh? N-no, I’m not as cool as him!” he awkwardly laughed. “No matter how you look at it.” 

Baji looked up and down , “Well, now that I’m lookin’ at you-”

“You do bear resemblance to him.” Mitsuya finished. “When you are older, especially.” And you both share that insane recklessness for being so weak. “

“He was much cooler than any of us, for being so weak and all. He was strong in other fields.” Baji said in an usually nostalgic tone.

Mikey smiled, “He was, wasn’t he?”

Mikey let out a laugh, “Well, it’s true he wasn’t as lame as you, Takemitchy .”

The blonde pouted, “..You’re so mean.” Mikey chuckled.

The scene panned over to a setting sun.

“Nowadays, people just think delinquents are lame.” Mikey remarked, the breeze blowing his gakuran and hair.

‘Cuz a lot of them are. Emma fretted. Shin was one of the only good ones.

Her idealation of her brother never ceased to stop. Even after he was long gone.

Kazutora couldn’t help but wonder where they would all be if he hadn’t broken into the store that day.

I see. I guess they still get called stuff like that even now.

He paused, “In my big brother’s generation, there were quite a lot of street gangs in this area.” 

Baji’s eyes lit up, “Oh yeah. We used to make a game of counting all the bikes as they passed by.” Kazutora’s eyes widened in recognition, but he kept quiet.

Hakkai gasped, “We did a similar thing too! What was it called..?”

The other sibling laughed, “God. It’s been too long. I can’t even remember.”

“That was fun.” Mitsuya coveted, voice full of bittersweet longing.

Draken concured, “It was, the aunties used to hate it for the shop’s business.” He snickered, “Said it made too much ruckus.”

Mikey gave a wide grin , “You could always hear their super-loud bikes as they went by.”

The sky was brilliant in hue. “They all acted super tough. They fought all the time. But they always cleaned up their own messes.” 

“What’s so lame about that?”

Hahhh , the leader plopped down onto the grass. “That’s why I’m gonna make a new era for delinquents.”

“So that’s your reasoning, hm.” Mitsuya’s eyes were closed. “I almost forgot the whole thing. Since you’ve been making this plan for so long.”

Mikey beamed, “Just you wait. I’m gonna change the whole world for us.”

He tilted his head in Takemichi’s direction, “You should come with me.” he got up.

“I like you, Hanagaki Takemichi.” The time-traveler’s expression was slightly shocked.

For once, no one teased the moment. The genuine reverence in the way that Mikey uttered the time-traveler’s name was lost on no one.

“I still do like you.”

Takemichi’s smile was wistful, “Thanks.”

Draken started, “We have plenty of guys that are good at fighting, but-” he looked at them from the corner of his eye, “Standing up to anyone for something you wont give up? There aren’t many guys like you.

“True. Not everyone is as ballsy as him.” Akkun chided.

Takemichi kept a shy smile on his face. The two of them walked away, “ Think about it, Takemitchy.” Draken hollered.

On his way back, Takemichi was shown deep in thought again. Mikey’s a delinquent, but he’s not a bad guy.

The crushed truck was shown again. At least, not the kind of guy who’d crash a truck into a festival and kill Hina.

Mikey’s smile dropped.

The Tokyo Manji gang 12 years in the future. That guy is definitely not their leader.

So deep in his thoughts, Takemichi didn’t even look up to see the group of three boys walking past him.  What changed him?

Mikey glanced back at where Draken’s gaze was glued to the screen. 

Words poured into his ears.

[“Ken-chin, you were stabbed at a festival.”

"I know, Mikey. I was there" Draken turned his head to him, "Was that something you knew would happen, Takemitchy?”

Takemichi smiled, “Uhh. Not exactly. Sort’ve? Not at all? It’s..complicated.”]

He thinks he might just have an idea. The thought of Draken staying dead was just…incomprehensible. What did he even do before Ken-chin showed up? He made everything fun .

If he lost Ken-chin, then…

Mikey looked back at the screen,

He very well would have started to lose himself.

A boy with buzzed, tennis-ball bleached hair was prattling off in the front of the. His glasses refracted light, making it hard to see his features. A tall, built boy and another boy with glasses accompanied him.

All of a sudden, it hit him. Naoto’s mission for him. The images of Sano Manjiro and Kisaki Tetta.

“Huh?” he said out loud, turning back to where the three boys were walking away from him.

Takemichi’s face was a confused one, “Huh..? Why do I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before?”

Hina paused, then gasped, “Kisaki!”

She turned to the rest of them, “I know who Kisaki is!”

Chapter Text

Return

Hina paused, then gasped, “Kisaki!”

She turned to the rest of them, “I know who Kisaki is!”

“What do you mean you know who ‘Kisaki’ is?” Draken crossed his arms. 

“I mean, ” Hina emphasized, “I know exactly who he is. Well, not exactly but, enough- I know enough about him.”

Takemichi started to bounce his leg up and down, “How? How do you know him, you were supposed to- Naoto and I were supposed to prevent anyone from ever meeting him…”

“I thought it was just me who couldn’t meet him, though.” Mikey quirked a brow. 

The time-traveler buried his hand in his hair, “Agh. Yes, but if he never met you then supposedly no one else would get involved with him since you’re the leader.” the afore-mentioned leader nodded in understanding.

“Ahah..” Hina laughed awkwardly , “That would’ve been impossible. Since you and I met him a long time ago.”

“Me?” The attention was back on Takemichi, who stuttered, “Don’t look at me like that! I don’t remember that at all.” ( Although I hardly remember anything from 12 years ago at all… That doesn’t seem very normal. God, I barely remembered what Hina even looked like.)

Hina addressed the rest of the group. “Kisaki and I both went to the same cram school.”

“The one you mentioned earlier?” Chifuyu gestured towards the screen, and she shook her head.

“No, in elementary school.” She sighed, “He was hard to miss because he always got top scores and grades. And it was awful seeing the other kids start to alienate him because of that, so I tried to get closer to him. He just looked so lonely .”

The group seemed to mull this over.
“There’s no way he affiliated himself with the future-Toman because of being bullied as a child, right!?” Hakkai suddenly shouted out.

“No way! At least, I don’t think so… I didn’t know him all too well.” Hina chewed on her bottom lip. “There’s gotta be something else, some other cause. He never showed any sort of interest in gangs or violence.”

Baji shrugged. “Why does there have to be a reason? He could just be crazy.”

Mitsuya knocked his shoulder, “Idiot. People aren’t ‘ just crazy’ there’s always some other reason for it.” He began counting out reasons on his fingers, “Family issues, control issues, complexes, mental health, and all sorts of stuff.”

Akkun smiled. “You know a lot of that stuff for an inspiring fashion designer.” Mistuya snorted, “I just picked up some stuff from raising my sisters. Didn’t want to mess them up for life or anything.”

“Takemichi-kun, do you remember when we first met?”

The time-traveler furrowed his brow, “Uhhh. Vaguely. I remember some bullies, if that helps at all.”

Hina paced the room a little, “Yeah. You saved me from some bullies, and- and.” She stopped, “Kisaki was there too.”

“He was?”

“He was!” She got up in his face. “That’s when the two of you met! You saved me from those bullies and Kisaki was there as well.” 

Hina blushed a little, “That’s the day I started to, well- y’know.”

“So what’s that got to do with all of this .” Draken cut her off and gestured to the giant screen again. “I mean, c’mon, how bad does everything have to be for the universe itself to intervene. You’re telling me some kid got, what, butthurt about being alone and decided to make it every single person’s problem?” He tsked, “For someone so smart, that’s stupid. I hate obsessive people like that.”

Mikey hummed, “Well. There are a lot of wrong things in the world. But trying to change every little thing is just a recipe for disaster,” He licked a popsicle he had somehow acquired, “You’ll just ruin yourself. Even I know that.”

“Well, he was a super smart kid before going all supervillain, right, Hinata?” Hina agreed with him, “Right! So, he would be smart enough to pull strings from the shadows.” The vice-captain of division one added.

Mitsuya put his hands between his head, “True. But why?”

“Uh, guys.” Takemichi winced as his voice broke, “Hate to interrupt and all. But if it’s that important, won’t the giant , creepy TV tell us?”

Mikey bit the wooden stick from his finished popsicle. (Clearly, some events-especially one event in particular-would be glossed over). He glanced at Kazutora, who just stared back at him. 

“Actually-” 

It was Emma.

“The TV has yet to show us actual future scenes. It's only shown us stuff we personally didn't experience. Who’s to say that there won’t be more stuff shown from the past?”

Kazutora tried to make himself as invisible as possible. If that were true, let it not be true. Mikey didn’t need to see him kill- no. Mikey was at fault for it all. In fact, he should see exactly what Kazutora was forced to do. He should look at it and suffer, because Shinichiro was dead for a reason. It wasn’t just an accident. Let everyone realize their beloved leader wasn’t so benevolent. 

No, it was his fault. It had to be. 

For his own sake, it had to be.

"Technically, we have seen the future." Interrupted Chifuyu, "From Takemichi's point of view."

"Okay, yes , but in terms of linear events from Takemichi's perspective all of this happened in the 'Past'."

Takemichi groaned, "I think I feel a headache coming on."

“Well, as fascinating as that topic is-” Yuzuha’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “We need to actually watch the almighty intervention screen in order to find out.”

A group of boys were shown, laughing loudly on a train. “Ain’t this photo just awful!?” “SO BAD! Oh man, great.” They were clearly causing a ruckus.

Hina frowned, “I remember them. They were so rude.”

The other train occupants glared at the boys, each looking more annoyed than the rest. Hina and Takemichi were stood next to each other, both with a hand on a train holder. “God, they’re loud.” Takemichi whispered to her.

“Oh? Why were you two out together?” Yuzuha teased, Hakkai then bonked her over the head in retaliation. “Hey! Don’t hit me ‘cuz you’ll never have the chance to go on a subway date.” She gasped, “Unless?” And waggled her eyebrows in Mitsuya’s direction, who gave them an exasperated sigh.

“It really wasn’t what you think though..” Takemichi’s protests were lost to the nonexistent wind.

She glanced at them, then stomped her way over to where the boys were. “Hey!” “Hah!?” they went. 

Takemichi looked over to where she had somehow left his side, “H..Hina?”

She grasped the train holder above them, leaning down to one of the boys’ level. She was pissed, “You’re taking up way too much space!” The boy flinched. She addressed the rest of his possy, “That’s fine when there isn’t anyone around, but that old lady is standing right now, isn’t she?”

“I guess in her everyday life she’s used to standing up to people,” Mikey remarked, “Explains the punch.”

“I told you I’m sorry! ”

“I can’t hear you over the agonizing pain from my cheek.” Hina fumed, “You’re impossible.”

“No, he’s Mikey.” Chifuyu whispered and she immediately started trying to lightly punch his arm from across Takemichi, who awkwardly tried to press himself into the sofa. He faked whimpers and exclamations of pain. “Why is everyone so insufferable!” She huffed. 

Mitsuya schooled her with a thousand-yard-stare, “That’s a question I’ve been asking myself ever since I met Thing 1 and Thing 2.” He pointed at Draken and Mikey- the latter had decided to climb above the couches and sit there instead of sitting on the couch like a normal human being.

“He’s a menace.” Mitsuya hissed. Mikey stuck out his tongue.

Hina tilted her head in an innocent manner, “How about letting her sit down?”

The boys shuffled, hands on their laps. So cute.. “Hm, alright.” “Scoot over more!”

She gave a quick nod of her head, “Thanks!” The boys just flushed more, “Hm, y-yeah,” “No prob, it can’t be helped.” So cute.

Hina pointed to the now free spaces between the boys. “Ma’am! There’s a free seat over there.” The old woman smiled, “Why, thank you so much, young lady.”

Takemichi’s mouth was wide in surprise. Hina…is amazing.

Emma and Yuzuha nodded to each other in agreement. “True, she is incredible.”

Hakkai quietly added, “Tachibana-san really does seem like an amazing person.”

The girl in question looked taken aback at the sudden compliment. He froze up when he spoke to her, and now a genuine compliment out of nowhere? At the lack of response, Hakkai froze up again and Hina quickly melted his stiffness by flashing a small grin at him. “Why, thank you, Shiba-kun.”

“Just call him Hakkai, Shiba is both of us.” She pointed between the two of them.

“Okay! Hakkai and Yuzuha.” Hina said. “I’m happy to know everyone’s internal thoughts of me are overall positive.” She made an overenthusiastic thumbs up. “Especially you, Takemichi-kun.” 

The time-traveler stammered, “W-well. It’d be weirder if I had negative thoughts of someone like you!”

Hina’s smile dimmed, “You never know.”

“What does that mean?”

She sighed, “Nothing.” Yeah, right, everyone knows ‘nothing’ means something.

“Hina, what is it?”  “I’ll talk to you later about it, okay?” She said firmly, “Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad, we probably just need to talk.” Hina turned to the rest of the group. “ All of us.”

Is it just me, or is she staring at me? Kazutora thought from where he was poorly hidden behind a couch.

Quietly, Yuzuha patted Hakkai on the back. “Good job speaking up just now. Progress, brother, progress.” He nodded, still embarrassed. 

The train rattled, and Hina and Takemichi were sat down now. “Thanks for coming shopping with me.” He looked on at the rest of the train’s occupants, “Yeah. Don’t mention it.”

Emma pouted. Draken never accepted her invitations to go out. Mikey usually did, but she was his sister so he was kinda obligated to! 

“How did your finals go?” She leaned down. “Oh! Finals sure are nostalgic!” He had a twinkly look in his eyes.

“Smooth.” Akkun laughed. “I’m really surprised no one figured out you were a time-traveler earlier.”

Hina sweatdropped, “Nostalgic? But we just had them earlier.”

He laughed awkwardly “Oh! T-that’s true!” Crap. I said that out loud.

Chifuyu paused, “Okay, wow. We must have been really dumb to not be able to tell this guy was from the future.”

“To be fair, if he slipped up once or twice I would just think he’s got a few screws loose- time travel wouldn’t be my first conclusion.” Hakkai added. “No offense.”

Takemichi just glared at them, his ego broken into a million little pieces. “Hey, you try blending in with children 12 years your junior while also not remembering a single thing from your youth!” He shook his fist at them, “I think I’m doing an exceptional job, thank you very much.”

Chifuyu tried to placate him, “Yeah, yeah. You’re doing great, sweetie.” Takemichi blanched, wrinkling his nose in disgust. “Do you want some meds, old man?” Akkun tried to muffle his laughter by biting his fist.

Takemichi punched him, “Don’t call me an old man!” 

Hina giggled, “Oh, but ‘sweetie’ is okay?”

Takemichi’s eyes switched between his couchmates. He buried his head in his chest, “I just can’t win.” 

Baji stood from the couch. “On the topic of blending in…” In a flash, he pulled out a hat, skateboard, and sunglasses along with a fake marker goatee and put on a cheesy accent.“How do you do, fellow kids?”

Akkun fell over, cackling wildly and leaned against an also laughing Chifuyu. Draken cracked a smile, finally giving in to laughter as Mikey did so as well. The girls all giggled quietly. Kazutora bit his fist.

The time-traveler was doing his best impression of a tomato, “Why do you have a hat with you? A skateboard?” 

“I always keep them in my jacket just in case.” Baji seemed particularly proud of this. Everyone was still laughing at him.

“BWAHAH! You look so stupid!” Mikey hollered, coming up behind Baji to pull off the backwards hat from him. “Hey! Give!”

“He’s not a dog…” Mitsuya whispered. 

“No, he basically is.” Draken murmured. “A blonde feral one. Ugh.”

“So, a pomeranian?” the vice-president snorted, “Yes. A pomeranian.”

Hina ignored him, “Make sure you study, you have a dream, don’t you?”

Takemichi’s brow furrowed, “A dream?”

She stood up suddenly, “Alright! I’ve decided. I’ll help you study!”

The best way to describe Takemichi’s face was this emoticon :o, “...Hoh?”

Both of them had gotten off the train and were on their way back to someplace. Takemichi was in deep thought. Hmmm. Did I really have a dream back then?

Kazutora huffed, the man should consider himself fortunate to be in a situation where having dreams was possible. The extent of Kazutora’s dreams went as far as leaving his house.

Although it wasn’t always like that. Maybe Toman was his dream once upon a time, Kazutora frowned, not anymore though. He tugged on his earring a little harder than necessary.

“That’s kinda sad…” Hakkai mourned out loud, and Kazutora whipped around- worried that his internal thoughts had been spoken.
“..What’s your issue, dude?” Kazutora ignored his question.

“Well, it’s whatever.” He brushed the thought off, before realizing. “Huh? This is..?”

“We’ll study at my place!”

A cute room was shown, with a neatly done coral bed, wooden floors, a pink fluffy rug, pink chair, pink dresser, and plushies lining the bed’s headboard and even above the coral curtains. It was adorable.

“Ooh!” Mikey went.

“Oh, those plushies are adorable.” Emma squealed. “Agreed. They’d be adorable for my sisters.”

Yuzuha whistled, “Damn, girl, you love the color pink, huh? No shame, just noticed.” 

Hina twirled her hair, “Well. It is my childhood bedroom after all. Young me really liked pink.” She laughed.

Takemichi’s expression was amazed, gaping at everything around him. Hina had neatly laid out all her study material on the small table between them. “Now then, shall we get started?”

“Can you at least try to look like you’re not about to pass out in excitement?” Draken taunted. He was used to being in girl’s rooms, considering his living situation, they often required him to do lot’s of the cleaning or heavy lifting for them. Things tended to get messy when you work in the sex industry (and not just that type of mess, things break and get damaged more easily than you’d think.) 

She paused, looking at Takemichi who was so quickly taking glances he was bound to make himself dizzy. “What’s the matter!”

“Nothing-” his heart was racing in excitement, “It’s the first time I’ve been in a girl’s room.” The first time in 26 years.

“Oh, that’s…”

“Kinda sad.” Emma finished.

“What about your mom’s room, man?” Akkun asked. “Surely she counts.”

Takemichi blankly stared, “Uhhh.. God, I can’t remember the last time I even saw her so I can’t tell you if it counts or not.”

He rubbed his neck, “I was a little too busy trying not to die after high school to do much else other than work. So when I got days off I just wanted to slack off.”

So he worked himself to the point of exhaustion, hm? Mitsuya pondered. To the point where slacking off seemed more like a luxury than going out or speaking to other people.

“Did…” Mitsuya began, “Did your lack of social life as an adult have anything to do with what you experienced in middle school?” Did it teach him that it was better to be alone than to reach out to people? Of course, he wasn’t a psychologist or anything like that. But raising two kids comes with some knowledge he had to know in order for them to be functioning adults.

Takemichi stiffened, sitting ramrod straight. “What? Uh, I mean.” He turned to see Hina and Chifuyu looking at him expectantly. “Nope! I was just kind of a shut in.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Hina pinched his cheek, “You don’t have to look around that much!” Have you no tact!?

“Showwry.” He mumbled, still having his face being pulled by Hina’s hand.

Knock, knock.

A woman, clearly Hina’s mom, walked in with two glasses of drink. She had deeper brown hair than Hina, but the eyes were the same. “Sorry, I didn’t have anything to eat on such short notice. Even though this is the first time Hina’s brought a boy over.”

Akkun’s eyes nearly bugged out of his skull, “That’s your mom ?” He then blushed, “Sorry.”

Hina reassured him, “It’s fine. I know my mom is gorgeous. She’s always prioritized taking care of herself in that regard.” 

Takemichi gave a stiff wave of his hand, “O-oh! It’s no problem, don’t worry about it.” Hina, embarrassed, attempted to push her mother out. “That’s enough, Mama! Please get out already!”

Her mom laughed, “Okay, okay… Is he your boyfriend?”

“MAMA!”

“I mean, technically speaking, your mom’s right though.” Chifuyu picked at his teeth. 

“Yeah, but, my mom can get kinda noesy. Who knows what she’d do if she found out! No one likes having a noesy mom.” Kazutora frowned.

After that situation was dealt with, both of them leaned over the study table. Takemichi groaned as he dealt with a particularly confusing problem, to which Hina just replied she had already explained it before. 

“Ah. That reminds me, thanks for looking after my brother.”

Takemichi looked up, pen in his mouth, “Huh?”

She gave him a small closed smile, “He said you saved him from some delinquents.” Takemichi removed the pen from his mouth, remembering, “Ah..”

Baji opened up his very convenient notebook. “Yeah, it was pretty badass. I even wrote down what you said here.”

Takemichi turned red, “Please just forget you ever heard that.”

“My dad’s so busy that he rarely has time to come home. Naoto doesn’t really like our dad but he suddenly started saying he wanted to be just like him.” Takemichi looked confused.

She looked off to the side, “Our dad’s a police officer.”

Chifuyu oohed, “So that’s why.”

Ohh. The realization hit him. He smacked a fist into his hand, “Ohh, so that’s why Naoto became a police officer!”

Kazutora glared at the time traveler. Wow, he is really bad at this.

“You are really bad at this, no offense.” Hakkai said dryly.

Kazutora whipped around again and stared at him. Was that guy reading my inner thoughts or something? 

Not knowing what was going through the convict’s mind, Hakkai just tried to offer a small sheepish smile.  Kazutora looked at him and shivered. That smile basically confirms he’s a telepath, right!? It’s gotta! With a shaky hand, he pointed towards his own head. Confused, Hakkai pointed towards his own and nodded. Oh, god. A telepath and a time-traveler.

Meanwhile, Yuzuha and Emma were watching the whole exchange. 

“What the fuck was that?”

The blonde shrugged, “Hell if I know.” 

It was Hina’s turn to look confused now, “Eh? But he isn’t though. I mean, it’s literally impossible.”

He sweat, stuttering. “R-r-r-r-right! It is, isn’t it? What am I even talking about, hahaha..?”

“Give me a break!” Takemichi yelled before anyone could make fun of his awful undercover skills again.

“But.” He leaned back on his hands, “I wonder if I was the one that was saved instead.” “Huh?”

Takemichi grinned, full of mirth. “I think he’ll make a great police officer. Hehe.”

“You were right, he does seem great.” Hina’s eyes softened. “Even if you only said that ‘cuz you already met future him.”

It’s a shame she can’t be there in person to see it herself. 

Hina gave him a gentle look, resting her head on her hand. “Though..he might turn out a bit loopy.”

Draken snorted, “‘Loopy’ is not how you should describe someone’s brother.”

“No, no, I think it’s a very fitting description.” The pairs of siblings in the room glared at each other.

“You’ve changed, Takemichi-kun.” His expression morphed into shock. “Y-you think so? Like how?” He rubbed the back of his head.

Hina pressed a finger to her chin, thinking. “Hm…You seem nicer than before. And maybe more mature.”

“Is past-Takemitchy that much of an asshole?” Chifuyu asked.

“Well! He wasn’t the exact nicest person on planet Earth.”

“Nah, Hina’s sugar-coating.” Takemichi grimaced, “I was an asshole to her.”

Hina frowned.

She smiled, “It feels like I’m talking to someone that’s a lot older than me.” “Haha. Is that so-?” He internally screamed, YEAH! BECAUSE I’M 12 YEARS OLDER!!

“I guess there are some things about you I don’t know about.” She practically whispered. “...I want to know more about you, Takemichi-kun.”

“Oo.” Yuzuha mused.

A hiss and then- BOOOOOM!

Mikey startled, fireworks?   

Kazutora’s eyes glimmered. He loved fireworks. 

They both perked up, looking to the window. Hina stood, “Ah! Fireworks!!” She ran over to the window. “Wow-! Hey!! Let’s go watch them on the roof!!” Her smile was excited. 

A black sky was filled with fireworks of all colors. A myriad of them flew into the sky as the onlookers from the roof watched on. Hina and Takemichi quickly joined them. It was a beautiful sight.

Emma placed a hand over her mouth, “My. That really is a beautiful scene.” She looked over at Draken, who was focused on the screen. She felt a genuine ache stab at her heart- she and Draken would have watched the fireworks if he hadn’t been stabbed . Then again, things would have been a lot worse if Takemichi hadn’t been there.

She crossed her arms. Draken would have been dead, and she would have watched the fireworks from a hospital. 

Takemichi sighed wistfully, “It really was.” Before he was sent back in time, and all.

Hina pressed herself up against the roof’s railing. “Wow!” When she looked at the sky, she couldn’t help but to give a wide, beaming smile. “So pretty!!”

“Hurry up, Takemichi-kun!” He was jolted out of his skygazing. “O…okay.”

Hina continued to gape at the sight before her, Wow..

Damn….I’m really happy…

His heart raced. I’ve never felt this way in my previous life. He looked at Hina, who pointed at a heart shaped firework. I want to stay here forever.

Mitsuya winced. As much as he time-traveled, they were in the past . Takemitchy belonged in the future, not with Toman. Although, he would look good in a Toman uniform. 

“Takemitchy..” Chifuyu murmured, “Was there really nothing in your future-life worth holding onto?”

“There was nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

Akkun sunk lower into the ground, did that include the Mizo Mid gang? Why did he never reach out to many of them? Why did he himself never reach out to Takemichi?

Takemichi’s expression was firm. Hina’s excitement whittled down to soft awe. I don’t want to go back to the future. Because Hina isn’t… in the future.

She winced.

He looked down at Hina, …I wonder if it’s okay to hold her hand?

Takemichi reached out, squeezing the hand much smaller than his. So warm. His heart pounded, and he mustered up the courage to look back at Hina. Beautiful violin music began to swell.

Emma squealed, “So cute!”

Yuzuha made a disgusted expression, “The hell? Are we in a romance manga? What’s up with the beautiful violins in the background?”

Hakkai sighed, “I think the violin’s sound great.”

It really is a nice scene , Kazutora thought.

The pink-haired girl blinked, cheek’s slightly pink, “Uh. I don’t remember you holding my hand.”

Takemichi groaned, “I know..”

Only it wasn’t Hina. “Hm?”

The violin stopped suddenly.

It was Naoto’s hand.

Mikey spat out his drink.

Baji choked, slapping his knee in laughter. Mitsuya wiped at his eyes, “Oh, Takemichi, you poor thing.”

“Doesn’t this mean that he’s going to go back , then?” Mikey asked.

Draken’s eyes widened, “Oh-”

Naoto gave him an awkward greeting. “H…Hello.”

“Heh!? Naoto?” He remembered future Naoto’s words. “Shaking my hand is the trigger.”

His heart began racing for a different reason than before, his hand still latched on to Naoto’s. “N…Naoto!!???” He shrieked. 

Hina looked away from the fireworks, “Huh? Naoto’s here too?” “Yeah.” Her brother replied.

“Are you kidding me!?” Takemichi’s face contorted again, and he screamed as another firework went off.

“I think the universe hates me.” The 26-year-old man in a teenage body pouted. 

“I think quite the opposite. It likes you enough to give you superpowers and apparently record your entire adventures to display to people.” Yuzuha said matter-of-factly.

Takemichi continued sulking, “Just let me have my moment.”

Ba-dump. Electricity.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHH!!” Takemichi, back in his future body, screamed. 

Future Naoto raced over to him, “Takemichi-kun!” Takemichi just sobbed.

The detective excitedly questioned him, “So you’ve regained consciousness!?”

Tears bubbled up in the time-traveler’s eyes. “So I have returneeeddd?” He drawled his words. 

“Hah? Why are you speaking like that?” Nevermind that.

Naoto brushed it off, “But that means… you were able to go to the past!? So a handshake was the trigger after all!” He prattled on.

“So my hypothesis wasn’t wrong!” Takemichi put a hand over his eyes, rubbing at his face. “Yeah, yeah, you were right.”

Most of the members of the room still didn’t understand how Naoto even came up with a hypothesis in the first place. Come on, time travel triggered by a handshake? Were they in a manga or something?

“But, you’ve returned which means…”The detective pondered, “I understand. Everything here is ready. How about in the past?” Hah? 

“Coming back here means you’ve made some progress, right!?” Y’know, saving his sister. “Umm..”

“Given by how obviously incompetent you were as an adult, Naoto should have known not to assume you came back on purpose.” Mitsuya jested.

He explained the situation. Naoto inhaled, “Y-You shook my hand by accident!? You need to take this seriously!” He yelled.  Takemichi awkwardly blushed, “Oh man, Hina was cute though!” He turned into mush, “And the fireworks were so prettttyyy.”

Hina hummed in delight. “I’m glad you thought so, Takemichi-kun.” The blonde fiddled with the hem of his shorts, flustered, “Well, yeah, but not like, in a weird way.” Takemichi scratched his cheek.

Chifuyu tilted his head, “What does that mean?” 

“Well, I’m an adult, remember?” They nodded, “So- I, what I mean is, she just looked cute in a ‘wow, that’s adorable’ way, and not anything weird!” He scrambled to clarify himself.

Emma let a small cheshire grin spread across her features, and Takemichi felt a chill go up his spine. “Oh, really?” 

“Y-yes, really?” Emma looked down, “So, then, what happened must have been because of the present Takemichi then?” 

Hina frowned, “What is she talking about?”

“I-I’ll explain when we get there! Just know that- I like people my age .” She awkwardly looked down at her skirt, and stopped leaning on Takemichi’s shoulder. Right, he was a time-traveler, and an adult. It would be weird if he thought that way. Still, it feels so weird of me to think of him that way since he looks like someone my age, but he isn’t. Hina decided she would work out her complicated ‘feelings’ later. There was a better time and place to deal with them.

Naoto tried to save the melting man, “What are you talking about? Takemichi-kun!” He fussed.

After an unknown amount of time that was full of Naoto lecturing Takemichi-

“I learned something from your second time leap.” Naoto was on a chair with Takemichi sat on a bed. “Oh?”

“Takemichi-kun, when you returned to the past-” An image of a passed out Takemichi was shown. “You stayed in a dead-like state the whole time. It was like only your soul slipped away.”

“Woah, Take mitchy , you look dead.” Mikey added, his commentary was oh-so very helpful.

“Huh?” Takemichi blurted out, “Does that mean I died?” It wouldn’t be the first time.

Yeah, the whole ‘dying’ thing hadn’t really set in. Takemichi pondered, I would be dead if I hadn’t gone back in time. In a weird way, if Akkun hadn’t pushed me that day, I would have never been able to save her…. Or him.

The time-traveler groaned. God, his head had been pounding ever since getting here. He doesn’t think he’s the only one, considering Chifuyu had been spotted clutching at his temples as well. Still, it doesn’t feel like a normal headache. The flashes of scenes and people he didn’t recognize were confusing. Perhaps….something was messing with his ‘powers’? 

Being ripped from the stream of time could make them mess up or something….Agh! Who knows? There isn’t a manual written for these things. Takemichi sighed, looking over at Akkun. His eyes widened, wait.

(If they’re going to see my trip back to the future then, they’re going to see that .) He hadn’t even had time to process it fully yet. For all intents and purposes, Takemichi wanted to pretend it never happened. And, with the way things were going, he could have pretended that reality never existed. That it was just a ‘possibility’. 

Anything to make it feel less real.

Naoto quickly scribbled on the white board next to them. “Your ability to time travel allows you to return twelve years into the past.” He started drawing a line on the board, “For example, if you were to go back into the past, you’d go back today twelve years ago, and if you came back here after spending a week there, a week would’ve also passed here.”

He circled around the words ‘the present’, “In other words, during the week you were in the past, your body was in suspended animation. All that remains in the present is an empty vessel.”

Hakkai pursed his lips, “So, time still moves while you’re hopping between timelines.” He nodded, “It doesn’t align with most time-travel stories that I’ve read.” 

“What’s the usual?” Mikey tilted his head.

The shiba sibling gestured towards a water bottle, “Usually. Time in sci-fi novels is stagnant. Things don’t flow into each other meaning everything is frozen and the MC can jump between times. But Takemichi’s power is different.” He poured the water on the floor, “It flows like water. The past and the present are divided by a 12-year-long divider- like a split in a river, creating two streams.” 

The rest of the group looked over the demonstration, Hakkai dragged the bottle along a path using a chip bag as a divider before suddenly removing the chips. “Eventually, that ‘divider’ will stop, and the past and the present lakes will just become one lake again.”

Seeing everyone’s attention was on him, Hakkai flushed a little but gave a cocky lopsided grin, “O-or at least, that’s what I think.” 

“No, no, it makes sense.” Mitsuya raised his hands, thinking, “Since the present is still moving forwards, it means that Takemichi’s power has a time limit, basically. Right, Takemichi?”

The man in question jumped, “Uh- I think so? I haven’t exactly gotten to experiment with it much after-” Flashes of a man with black hair. Ugh, that damn headache. “Sorry, my head’s been killing me since we got here.” Chifuyu groaned, “Ugh, same.”

Takemichi blinked, “Y-yeah, so, the time-travel thing doesn’t really have any rules.”

Mikey slurped on a go-gurt, “If something goes wrong in the present then, and you let it go by, then you won’t be able to fix it, right?” 

They all went silent, Hina coughed. “We shouldn’t have to worry about that now! W-we’ll work together to stop that from ever happening, right!?”

“Right…”

Yuzuha stared at the floor, “So, how are we going to clean up this water? Can we ask God for napkins?” 

They stared at the puddle on the floor. “We could just ignore it.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

Takemichi oohed in shock, “Hoooh. So that’s why my body was in a death-like state?” Naoto nodded, “Yeah. So you should only time leap at my apartment, because it’s dangerous.” The time-traveler sweated a little, “Yeah! I don’t want to suddenly collapse outside…”

“So- in conclusion, getting back to the main point-” Naoto waved his hand, “How did the mission to stop Sano and Kisaki from meeting go?”

Takemichi did an impression of a cardboard box- ergo, he stiffened. “Umm. I met Mikey-kun?”

“Mikey?” “Yeah, that’s Sano-kun’s nickname.”

The pink-haired girl piped up, “I’ve always wondered, where does the nickname come from?”

Draken looked off, “Huh, he’s had the name for as long as I can remember.” The other founding members excluding Kazutora mirrored his sentiments.

Mikey burped, “Don’t remember. It’s been so long.” but glanced at his sister; Emma felt a warmth stir in her heart.

The time traveler began explaining excitedly, “Listen to this, Naoto… Mikey’s a delinquent, but he’s a good guy!”

“Aw, Takemitchy likes me that much?” 

Emma deadpanned, “He met you for two seconds. Why is he so sure you’re a good guy?”

Takemitchy stuttered, “I-I’d like to say I have a good judge of character!” 

“The first time you saw Mikey, you nearly shit yourself.” Draken chuckled. “That’s a ‘good guy’ in your book? Sheesh.” 

Mikey grumbled, it’s not his fault if he just happens to strike terror into the hearts of everyone he meets. Although, maybe he should look into that….nah, it’s probably nothing.

“ Hah!?I” If looks could kill, Naoto’s cold expression would have buried him twenty-one feet under. “Why didn’t you kill him?”

“I don’t think he likes me.”

Kazutora snorted, you think?

Takemichi felt shivers up his spine, “Wha? Kill….him?”

“The guy who killed my sister is a ‘good guy’!?” Naoto burst out in a fit of rage, smacking the whiteboard behind him, “Did you get tricked into believing that in the past!?” He tried to defend himself, “You’re wro-”

“If future me really did kill her then he’s right to be mad.”

“Mikey!” Takemichi exclaimed. “What?”

Kazutora leveled him with a glare, “Killing someone is a big deal. I know you have it in you to do it- why would you kill an innocent girl?” Anyone who had met Mikey knew- the boy could kill someone. There was just something intrinsically wrong with him. He just wouldn’t do anything if it didn’t entertain him somehow.

The delinquent leader just had to laugh, “That’s funny, coming from you. I know myself, if I really killed that girl then I’ve given up on properly fulfilling Toman’s dream.” Maybe it got boring in the future, he didn’t add.

It always comes back to that damn dream of his, Kazutora bit the inside of his cheek. It tasted like iron.

The detective jabbed a finger in the middle of his chest, “Listen! That Mikey is now so involved in various crimes that the police can’t even handle him.” He clenched a trembling hand over his chest, “If I I could, I’d kill him myself.”

Baji dropped his head into his hands. Huh, Mikey got so bad that even the police were helpless against him? He sighed, not like the police were all that strong- especially against someone like Mikey. You’d have to be blind not to realize that that boy- there was something different about him. Everyone knew it, no one said it out loud. 

Maybe if they didn’t say a word, everyone could pretend like it didn’t exist. So that they could live their everyday lives without any guilt. Like avoiding saying it would make it so the universe didn’t speak it into existence. Words are powerful, apparently.

Cowards , Baji thought venomously. Although, I wonder if I’m any better. Since I refuse to address what happened between the three of us that day. And the day’s before then- the reason we stopped seeing Shin-

Baji shook his head, Mitsuya looked at him. “Something wrong?” he mouthed. “No, just in my head again." Mitsuya didn’t look convinced, but dropped the subject.

Naoto dropped his head, resigned, and pushed the whiteboard. Takemichi sat back down on the sofa, and quietly said, “...Naoto….Let’s go meet Mikey-kun.”

Naoto’s expression was incredulous, “Doing something like that won’t make a difference!”

“I’d like to meet with him and ask him face-to-face.” Naoto was exasperated, “It doesn’t matter what you ask, it’ll all be the same!”

Takemichi was firm on his beliefs, “Mikey is someone we can trust. I want to hear from Mikey-kun himself about why Toman changed. I want to know before I go into the past again.” He kept his head tall, “Help me find Mikey-kun. Please, Naoto.”

“I’m touched, Takemitchy ~” 

“Don’t let it get to your head.” Draken smacked him, which Mikey easily dodged.

They stood there for a second in silence, before the tension broke. Naoto sighed, “I don’t know if something happened in the past, but you’ve changed Takemichi-kun.”

“You seem less incompetent.” Mitsuya said, like it was a compliment.

“Mitsuya..!” Were- were those tears in his eyes? 

There was a small flush to his cheeks, “Hm? Really? Me? How so?” He was obviously fishing for compliments. Naoto chuckled, “Well, only a little. But you have become a little less frail.” 

The time-traveler pointed towards himself, “D-does that mean I’m cooler now?” He had a cheeky anticipating smile on his face. Naoto ignored his begging and sat back down at his desk. “Right. Let’s try to figure out how to meet with Mikey.”

“Hey, hello? Or do you mean I’m super sexy and awesome now?” Takemichi kept fishing, waving a hand for his attention, ignoring Naoto’s disgusted look, “Hey, come on! Don’t stop there.” “Don’t get so full of yourself.”

“Nevermind, I take what I said back.”

Takemichi gasped, “How cruel…”

Mikey whispered to Draken, “Do you think he’d find it nice if we called him super sexy and awesome?”

“I want you to think about what you just asked me.” The leader hummed. “Okay, I did. I now realize that may come off weird and he may be terrified even more if I said that.” “At least you realized, you socially inept king.” 

Mitsuya leaned over, “You guys are really bad at whispering, I’m pretty sure they heard you.” and pointed at Chifuyu and Hina who were laughing quietly while an embarrassed Takemichi hid between them.

“No, no, go on. I’m sure his ego needs it.” Chifuyu jokes, overestimating Mikey’s ability to tell between a joke and a request. 

“Takemitchy , we all think you are super sexy and awesome.” And he added finger guns to drive the point home, like any social butterfly would do. Except on him it looked more like a real gun. Baji ehhed in disagreement, “He’s alright.”

“T-thank you, Mikey-kun.” But I kinda feel like I’m being held at gunpoint…

“Having said that, Mikey is so careful that it’s scary.” He tapped away on his laptop, “Even the police haven’t gotten any leads on him.” Naoto turned back to address his guest, “He probably has a burner phone, and his address isn’t in his name either.”

Takemichi pulled out his phone, the beeping of a failed call could be heard. “Yeah, for real. The phone number he gave me in the past isn’t working either.” 

“Obviously, it’s from 12 years ago, right?” Naoto deadpanned.

“Aw, damn, the phone’s don’t change in the future?” The brunette complained.

“No, no, they do. I was just not able to afford better ones. In Japan, it’s trendy to have small and cute flip phones, too.”

“That’s just an excuse because you’re broke, though.” She deadpanned, causing Takemichi to wince. “It hurts ‘cause it’s true.”

The detective spun in his swivel chair, “It won’t be easy to find him.” The bottom of the whiteboard was shown, documents littered the floor. “While you’re at it, Takemichi-kun, sort through those documents.” “Fine.”

The time traveler began to sift through the piles of paper, “Looking at these reminds me how awful Toman really is.” “Please be quiet.” Naoto shut him up.

Takemichi’s posture was awful, “But man, this is a mountain of documents..” He complained. 

Naoto’s typing paused, “Hm?” An image of a curly red head, cigar smoking, glasses wearing man was shown with multiple rings on his fingers and a black jacket over a loose white T. “Who is this?”

Akkun gaped, “Are you fucking kidding me?” There goes his dream of being a hairdresser- no way would he get any gigs looking like that!

Takemichi walked over, “Hm?” He squinted, reading the photo description. “One of the managers of Toman, Sendou Atsushi…” He gasped, “That’s Akkun!”

“Akkun?” Naoto questioned, “Was that one of your friends?” “Nn! Yeah!”

The detective looked into Akkun’s charges, “If that’s him, he should have been arrested for stabbing a guy named ‘Kiyomasa Masataka’ when he was 16 years old- he should have just been a small-time hoodlum after being released from prison.”

Hot damn! A big shot, huh? He looked down at the criminal charges, Akkun blanched, “I’m suddenly really glad I didn’t go through with it….” He patted Takemichi on the shoulder, “Thanks, man.”

Takemichi went silent. Maybe it would’ve been better if he just went to prison considering what happened. Hakkai gasped, “Wait, ‘should have’? That means..”

Oh

[Their leader clasped his hands together tightly, “I was honestly thinking of getting a weapon and going after Kiyomasa myself.”]

He really was going to do it then…

“You actually changed the future, Takemichi.” Hakkai finished, “That- that’s so cool!”

Akkun drew him into a noogie, “I owe you one, man. At least I’m not spending my life in prison! All cuz of you!” He laughed.

Takemichi couldn’t find it in himself to laugh along with them.

They both came to the same conclusion, “Could it be..”

“That this is because the past was changed!?” They gasped.

Takemichi continued, “Since Akkun didn’t attack Kiyomsasa-kun he didn’t get arrested by the police.”

Naoto hummed, “Takemichi-kun, you were able to become friends with Mikey in the past, and so did Sendou…”

Takemichi just stared at the picture of his long-time friend on the screen, agape. “...Akkun is a big shot in Toman, huh…”

“You must be close to us in the future then,” Draken thought out loud.

“I must trust you to have you in the upper echelon.” Mikey added. “Why? What’s your worth?”

Akkun sweat, “ I can give good haircuts?” The leader looked enthralled by this, causing Baji to burst out in complaints. “Really, cutting hair is all it takes?! I had to have my ass beat for days to get in with you!”

“Sounds like a you problem.” Mikey repeated, Emma had been giving him slang lessons. Baji foamed at the mouth in rage.

The detective seemed to realize something, and rushed out of his chair, “Can you contact Sendou?” “Uh, yeah. Probably if I go back to my place…”

He filled the time traveler in on his thoughts, “If the present day Sendou Atsushi is a top member of Toman’s echelon, then if you get into contact with him, he may be able to contact Mikey!” “Ah!”

Naoto rushed, “Let’s go!” Takemichi staggered behind, “O…okay!”

Akkun suddenly looked excited, “Oh man! I’m gonna see my future!” He was disappointed he couldn’t own a barbershop or salon parlor, but being in Toman’s echelon under Mikey must be good, right?

But, it was a criminal organization. Not like their Mizo Mid gang, which was really half-a-joke and half-serious. Did future me kill anyone ? He paled. Suddenly feeling a lot more nauseous at the idea of seeing his future self. No, no way, right? He wanted to ask his friend, but Akkun had a feeling Takemichi wouldn’t say a word.

A rinky, run down apartment complex was shown. The steps creaked as they climbed up to the time traveler’s apartment.  Takemichi stopped with his key in the door handle, “It’s dirty, so prepare yourself.” Naoto huffed, “Yeah, I can kinda imagine…”

The door clicked open, Naoto held his nose.

“Oh my god.” Mitsuya, as a big brother of two, had seen some messes. This…this was hell on Earth. Even Mikey looked uncomfortable, “Takemitchy, ew.” The guy who lived in a literal brothel, a place known for being quite the opposite of clean, looked off put. The others mirrored his feelings exactly. It was fucking disgusting. 

Emma turned green, “I think I just saw a roach.” Hakkai matched her shade.

Hina looked disappointed, “Oh, Takemichi-kun. You’re a hot mess.”

“A flaming pile of garbage.” Chifuyu joyfully added.
“I get it! It’s gross! I warned you guys.” He already had enough of Naoto rummaging through his room in a hazmat suit mumbling ‘this does not spark joy.’ He did not need a lecture from a bunch of kids. Although they were probably 100x more organized than he ever was. Why try when there was just no point putting effort into a space you were in every hour of the day anyway?

A small apartment, about six futons long was shown. Wrinkled clothes hung below the ceiling light, the floor was littered with beer cans and sodas. The poor trash can was overflowing in several places, and the stack of books was on the verge of collapsing. Huge trash bags were shoved in the corner as if they were out of sight they would disappear. It was a sad sight. “Oh my god! It’s so dirty, how can you live like this?!”

“I’m gonna be sick.” Hakkai gulped. “Don’t throw up! I’m a sympathetic vomiter!” Emma cried. Sympathetic vomiter? Really?

Takemichi had no right to be ticked off, but he was, “I told ya to prepare yourself!”

He waded through the dirty floor with practiced ease. “Give me a sec, I’m gonna look for the memo book I used a long time ago.” Naoto’s smile was crooked; the poor thing looked distressed. “Are you going to be able to find it?” He shivered, “I think I’m getting hives.” He stomped out of the apartment, “I’m going to go buy a mask, there’s way too much dust here.” “Hurry up, then!” Takemichi yelled.

Takemichi sorted through old game devices in his closet, he looked around as Naoto bent down (now equipped with a hazmat suit mask.) His eyes were terrified as his gloved hand picked up a dirty sock that was growing mushrooms. 

Draken snorted, “The sock has its own damn ecosystem.”

Mikey looked amazed, “Life finds a way.”

Life finds a way.

Takemichi cheered, holding up a small spiral ring bound memo book with the words ‘Secret’ written on top. “Ahh!! Here it is!” Naoto stopped rummaging through the hazardous waste boxes.

“You really held onto all your old notebooks?” Akkun tried looking at the titles of other familiar notebooks.

“They were memories of a happier time in my life, hah.”

“D-didn’t you get bullied into leaving? That's why you cut ties with our gang?”

Takemichi cracked his knuckles, “Atsushi.” Akkun gulped, “At least, in middle school, when people have a problem with you, it can be solved through a few fist fights. Adults?” He chided, “They’ll break you down psychologically. One day, your coffee will start getting a little colder each time. Maybe you miss not getting a donut on donut-day once or twice. Or the manager starts asking you more frequently on your days off to cover someone’s shift. No biggie, right?”

Takemichi slammed his hands on the couch, “WRONG! That’s where they get you! Before you know it, you’re breaking your back for a job that could easily replace you, with people who hate you for no goddamn reason, alone in some dead end city with not a soul who cares if you showed up dead tomorrow!” He panted. “Uh, yeah. So I just liked reading notebooks from when my life was straightforward. Simple.”

The rest of the group of kids fell silent to the sudden outburst. Yikes. Akkun awkwardly looked to the side, “Okay…” he felt like he just poked the bear.

The incompetent adult flipped through it’s pages, “Whoa! How nostalgic! My memories of these times are rushing back!”

Naoto stood behind him, hands thrown out awkwardly like he was afraid of using his now contaminated hands. “Could you hurry up?”

“O..oh, yeah. Akkun, right, I’ve got it.” He hurried, typing the number out on his phone. “Sure hope he didn’t change his number.”

“I probably would if I’m in a criminal gang.” Akkun exhaled.

Ring “Oh, it's connected.”

Ring

Ring

Ringgg

The scene shifted, back to where Takemichi and Akkun split from the rest of the group. Right after the boy’s had decided that their mockery of Takemichi’s fight was over. 

“What time are ya coming to school tomorrow?” Takuya asked, “Afternoon, ‘cause I’m real tired today.” Akkun laughed, “I’ll wake you up, if you need.”

“Oh! I remember this day.”

The both of them stopped at a bus stop, the blonde completely sagged into the bench. “Man. My body hurts all over.” He stared at the flickering light above them, “Hey, Akkun.”

The boy, who was facing away from him, looked back, “Hm?”

Takemichi breathed, “If…we all were to go our separate ways after graduating and never met up, what’dya think we’d talk about after becoming adults.”

Akkun chuffed, “Dumbass, nothing would change.” Takemichi looked at him. 

“We’ll always be friends.” 

Takemichi kept silent.

Akkun smiled. He really hoped they could stay friends in the future now. 

Back in the present time, Naoto and Takemichi found themselves in front of a tall, skyscraper-like building. The detective looked suspiciously at the building, “He told you to come here ?” Takemichi nodded, “Yep! This is the hostess club that Akkun runs.”

“ You own that?” Draken pointed, having grown up near a brothel meant being familiar with all sorts of businesses. That club was a big one, for a big shot- he suspected foul play.

“ I own that?” Akkun gasped.

Apparently, he had changed to fit the occasion. Although he didn’t fit in at all- dressed in a DANDY shirt and cargo shorts. “...Is it really okay for us to be coming here so nonchalantly? Sendou is in the upper echelon now, isn’t he?”

“...You are not dressed appropriately at all.” Mitsuya face-paled. “A gaudy English T-shirt and cargo shorts with unidentifiable stains? Really?” Takemichi’s fashion sense was a crime against humanity. Maybe I can use him as a model in my fashion debut, wouldn’t it be the perfect theme? Taking someone so obviously out of touch and turning them into a dapper man just from my clothing…It’s perfect.

Mikey looked slightly concerned as Mitsuya began to laugh maniacally under his breath.

Takemichi brushed off the younger man’s worries, “Naoto, you dummy! Our friendship won’t change that easily!” Naoto just looked dumbfounded.

The doors opened, and a flashy man in a suit greeted them. Lines of women were dressed to the nines. “Welcome! What is your name?”

Akkun flushed, “Uh.”

Draken whistled, “Yeah, that’s a hostess club for you.” Most of the guys were in similar states of unknown- most had never seen hostess women.

The girls gaped, “How is she sparkling? Is her hair defying gravity?”

Yuzuha felt faint, knowing that the makeup each of them were wearing must have taken hours.

Error. “Uh..Uhhh.” (Incredible. Everything is sparkling.) “Are you okay?”

Flustered, Takemichi fussed with his hands in front of the greeter. “W….we have an appointment with Sendou-san…”

The man looked at the obviously out of place adults skeptically, “....You? And our president?” The man shouted back to someone, “Oi! Some shabby-looking guy is here. Does he have an appointment with the president?”

“It’s true.” Mitsuya commented.
“S-shush!” He was feeling on edge. Surely, they wouldn’t show a bunch of kids something that gruesome right? The gods must have some sort of consciousness? His death was enough, right?

Takemichi knows he won’t be able to stand seeing it happen again.

Takemichi turned red from embarrassment, Naoto laughing quietly. “Pft. Shabby!””Shut up.”

The man came back again, expression completely different. “Oh jeez! Next time, just say that you’re Hanagaki.” His voice dripped with honey, and rubbed his hands together.

Baji cackled, “Hah! Schmoozer.”

“The difference between customer service mode and regular person mode is alarming.” Mikey hummed. 

“Never underestimate the powers of customer service workers.” Takemichi shivered, “They are powerful people.”

What a schmoozer, They thought.

“If you’d mentioned you were the president’s friend, I would have let you see him immediately!” The man began to escort them around, “Lead these two to the vip room!”

Takemichi angrily pointed at him, facing Naoto, “Hey, he’s making fun of me, ain’t he!?” 

“Nah, no way.” Naoto tried to mediate.

A glass was handed to Takemichi to drink, and the ice clinked loudly. “Isn’t your hand trembling? Takemichi-kun.” The detective just looked tired.

“That’s because I’m not afraid!” He continued to tremble, wiping off beads of sweat.

He says I’m not afraid, while also shaking like he’s in an earthquake. Pfft! Chifuyu muffled the noise behind his hands.

“What’s so funny?” Takemichi narrowed his eyes. Chifuyu quickly looked in another direction.

The time-traveler gulped, It’s okay! No matter how much his social status has changed, no matter how distinguished he has become, “Akkun is still Akkun!” The beads of sweat had turned into a river and dripped down into the glass of water. Naoto gave a tired smile, “You’re shriveling up.”

Hakkai looked shaken, “Are we about to see him turn into a raisin? Poor guy has lost way too much water via sweat.”

“Takemichi.” He jerked, standing up. “Behind you.” Takemichi turned,

Akkun stood straight up, is that…? 

Akkun gave a toothy grin. He looked so different from his past self. Covered in sleeve tattoos, hair shaved flat. The cross earring still was present around his neck. His face looked more gaunt, and he wore a white shirt and a pair of simple black slacks. “You ain’t changed a bit, Takemichi.” 

The group had to pick up their jaws. “My hair!” Akkun burst out, “My glorious pompadour!” He mourned, his hair was his pride and joy, his baby. 

Akkun narrowed his eyes, besides his future-self looking different, something was off . The gauntness around his jaw didn’t look natural- like he lost weight suddenly. It’s not the way he pictures himself looking in 12 years…  And there was no way he voluntarily went to the military if he was a top echelon member. Something was up.

“At least I still kept the cross necklace.”

Tokyo Manji Gang manager, Sendou Atsushi

Takemichi’s eyes widened at the sight of his old friend. “...Akkun?”

Akkun laughed, “Didn’t recognize me without my pompadour, hm?”

“To be fair, it does seem to be your trademark.” Mitsuya mused.

“Thanks. It was intentional.”

“You look ridiculous.” Baji, still upset from the insults earlier, tried to instigate.
“I’ll take offense to your words the day that you start looking less like a dirty mop gone wrong.” 

The time-traveler was speechless, “Uh…yeah…”

Akkun smiled gently, “I thought about calling out to you earlier. But it was so nostalgic seeing you that I didn’t.” It’s Akkun.

He looks completely different. Takemichi looked wistful, But it’s still Akkun.

“You really never contacted him in the future?” Chifuyu asked, Atsushi shrugged, “I have no idea why not. I mean, if I’m involved in crime I guess I didn’t want to drag him into this?”

“You wanna meet with Mikey-san, right?” The manager read their mind, “Huh?”

“I’ve been waiting for you,”

“Takemichi.”

Hakkai frowned. He didn't like how ominous the future-Akkun was.

Takemichi paused, “Akkun…What do you mean by that?”

Akkun stood, “Let’s talk outside.”

“That’s an awful idea, don’t do that.” Takemichi was tense. He wishes he listened to that advice.

He gave a side-glance to the detective, “I’d like to talk, just the two of us. If that’s alright?”

“Takemitchy , you can be kind of dumb sometimes.”  Not you too, Mikey!

The time-traveler closed his eyes, hey, uh, god thing? If you can hear this- maybe- maybe stop playing into the next scene? This, this can get really bad.

No one responded to his internal thoughts. He bit his thumb, bouncing his leg up and down as he stole glances in Akkun’s direction. His friend was just sitting there, so normally. None of them knew what was about to come. They shouldn’t know. He never intended on anyone except Naoto ever being aware of what happened- and the detective hadn’t even seen what happened. 

Please, stop the screen, they shouldn’t see this. He sniffled as nothing happened. 

Takemichi made a move to start following his middle-school friend. “Takemichi-kun,” His voice was even more serious than usual, “Be careful.”

“It’s alright.” He smiled.

“I doubt that.” Draken laughed, not knowing how right he was.

They met on the roof, and the formal aura around Akkun vanished. He wrapped an arm around his friend’s neck, smiling widely. “How have ya been, Takemichi!?”

“There’s my casual attitude!” Akkun smiled, relieved that some version of his current (err, past) self was still visible in future Atsushi.

“Ow, ow, ow that hurts, Akkun!” “Bwahaha!” Takemichi dug his hands into his thighs, tense. Chifuyu and Hina looked at him and then back at the screen. They could tell something was wrong. They just didn’t know what .

He stopped the teasing, releasing Takemichi from the chokehold. “I’m just happy to get to see you after so long.” Takemichi smiled, rubbing at his now sore throat. Ouch .

Hina smiled, “You two and the rest of the gang were always attached at the hip. It’s weird for you guys to just stop seeing each other after middle school.”

Takemichi went over his version of the events in his brain, counting down the seconds. Please, it has to stop.

The city lights shone brightly against the backdrop of the infinite black sky. “Since middle school, right?”

Takemichi nodded, “...Yeah, it’s been about ten years since we last saw each other, Akkun.”

Mikey glanced at Draken, imagining what it would be like if he had to go that long without seeing him. He thinks he’d be….really sad. Emma would be sad too, so Draken wasn’t allowed to go missing. Mikey’s pupils dilated, He’s not allowed to go missing ever.

The smile dropped from the red head’s face. But just as quickly it was back up.

Hakkai blinked, Yuzuha had the same habit of dropping her smiles. Somethings wrong, isn’t it? He looked at the time-traveler. Otherwise, Takemichi wouldn’t be having such a reaction. Yuzuha nudged him, mouthing ‘don’t say anything’ . They didn’t know what the time-traveler wanted to keep to himself.

Everyone in the room had just been ignoring the gravity of their situation. That things had gotten so bad that not even time travel had been enough to stop some awful thing from happening. What was it that went wrong? Only Takemichi knew a little of it. 

Akkun gossiped into the air, “Then at a pivotal moment, Yamagishi-”

Takemichi guffawed, laughing, “The time when he farted and ruined everything?”

Akkun laughed, “Yeah! And I looked so awesome, too.”

Takemichi giggled, laughing lightly, “Akkun, you were so lame.” He stopped, gazing at the twinkling stars above them.

Takemichi inhaled sharply, if he closed his eyes he could still imagine the bite of the wind against his skin, and how the brightness of the stars burned into his retina’s. He couldn’t forget that sight even if he wanted to.

He breathed in the city air, “Haaaah. But man, Akkun, you sure are amazing now. You're the owner of a huge cabaret club like this one and a manager of Toman, right?”

Akkun looked silently at the ground, edging a little close to the edge. Takemichi didn’t notice, putting two arms behind his head in a brace. “You’ve got an expensive car, expensive clothes, and you’re sleeping with some fine ladies! You’re basically on a different planet than me!”

It sure sounds like the life he would have liked, but… I’m not liking how close I am to that edge, Akkun glanced up at Takemichi.

The manager faced outwards, looking over the glowing billboard below him. “It’s all because I know how to get my hands on money.” Takemichi ooohed.

“The guy who came along with you is a detective, isn’t he?” The time-traveler’s heart skipped a beat, “Huh? Uh…well.”

“It’s alright, you don’t need to hide it.” Takemichi lowered his hands. “It’s obvious.”

“He’s Tachibana Hinata’s younger brother, right?” His head tilted to the sky, “I had no idea she had a brother.”

Akkun started to piece things together. Hina furrowed her brows, “How did you know that?”

“I-I don’t know.” He didn’t want to be right.

Mitsuya bit his thumb, coming to a similar conclusion.

Ba-dump. 

“How did you know that?” Akkun leaned on his right leg, “Toman is that type of organization.” Takemichi gulped.

He continued, “Hey, do you remember? The day after you had gone up against Kiyomasa-kun that summer of our second middle school year?” 

“After everyone had gone home, you said: if we were all to go our separate ways, what’dya think we’d talk about after becoming adults ?” Takemichi smiled, the image flashing in his mind. Of course, for him that was mere hours ago.

“Yeah!” He grinned, “I remember that!”

Hakkai shook, “Guys, I’m not liking this atmosphere.”

Mikey leaned forward, eyes unnaturally focused, taking in all the information they could.

Takemichi shut his eyes.

Akkun kept his back to him, “How about we talk about this?” He slowly turned. His eyes were haunted, his pale complexion and gaunt frame so unlike his previous self. “The one who pushed you onto those train tracks was me.”

Akkun felt his heart drop into his stomach. “No…” He mumbled shakily.

Hina gasped, hands covering her mouth.

Mitsuya looked appalled at his theory being right, “What the fuck. What the fuck happened to Toman, Mikey?” Their leader was pale. Their vice-president was no better.

“I don’t- I don’t know!” Mikey was unusually emotional, “I just can’t figure out anything specific.”

Draken looked mortified, “Where did we go wrong? Did something already go wrong?”

Kazutora bent over his knee, “How fucked up does a middle-school gang’s future have to be for something to intervene. To make time-travel exist...” No one shut him up for once. Yuzuha laughed, “Wow, we’re fucked.”

Akkun stood shakily on his legs, “T--there’s no way right? I…I would never do that to you Takemichi! I have to be lying, right?” He breathed in sharply, eyes wide and panicked. “You know that, right? I would never do that to you.”

He awkwardly marched forward, desperate to reach Takemichi- who just shut his eyes as tears pricked in the corner of them. “Y-you believe me, right? I- I swear!” Akkun couldn’t even hear his own voice, his thundering heartbeat drowned out the rest of the noise as the group clattered around in various levels of alarm. 

Atsushi rushed forward, grabbing onto Takemichi’s shoulders and slightly shaking the, “TAKEMICHI! PLEASE! Y-YOU KNOW THAT RIGHT? PLEASE! I-” His voice broke, “I would never do that to you, I’m not that version of me. Please answer me.” 

“Oi, back the fuck up.” Chifuyu growled, shoving a hand into his chest,  “Can’t you see you’re freaking him out?” Akkun took a good look at Takemichi, who was pale- he looked like death worn over. Sweating and tears threatened to bubble out the corner of his eyes and his wrinkles were so deep they looked like fissures. 

Akkun grew ill, staggering backwards. “I..I didn’t mean- I just wanted him to know-”

Draken grabbed his arms, “How about you come sit with us, buddy?” Akkun struggled, “No! I want to talk things out with my friend!”

Kazutora glared at him, “Have you considered your presence might be making things worse?” Akkun looked horrified, whipping around to see Takemichi’s disheveled expression. His face was buried in Hina’s arms, mumbling something about how he ‘can’t do this again.’

Takemichi turned from his place in Hina’s arms. “Hey.”

His voice was unusually clear.

“I’m talking to you, god of time or whatever the fuck you are.” He addressed the still air. “I don’t know if you can hear this, or if you even can or want to. But listen-” he inhaled.

“These guys are kids. What you’re about to show them? Not even adults can handle it. This- this is fucked on so many levels. I hope you know that. If you, in good conscience, can sit around and just watch as you traumatize some people for- entertainment?” He spat, “You’re worse than the devil himself. Lower than hell. Piece of shit.” His insults broke into soft shaky sighs.

[UNFORTUNATELY. THIS IS NECESSARY.] The sky lit up.

Takemichi softly laughed, “No, it isn’t.” The message didn’t change. 

“DID YOU NOT HEAR HIM? HE SAID IT’S NOT NECESSARY!” Baji screamed from the back. “I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about, but he’s lived through it! I can take his word for it!”

“Baji...” Takemichi was touched.

“Oi, don’t think this means I’m befriending you. I just want an excuse to fight a god.” Baji cackled. “YA HEAR THAT?”

[THE PROGRAM CAN NOT CHANGE]

Can not change, huh? Yuzuha thought. “As in, you literally can’t?”

The screen paused for a bit, before spitting out the same phrase, [UNFORTUNATELY. THIS IS NECESSARY.] 

Chifuyu spat at the sky/screen, “Hah? Is God broken?”

Mitsuya gave a long sigh, “I don’t think whatever is in charge of this can change the events, the best we can do is shut our eyes and cover our ears. But, I think it’s Takemichi’s call on this- Takemichi?”

The time-traveler rubbed at his face, breathing in and out. “Okay. You guys…once the screen starts again, you’ll have an idea of what I was trying to have you guys not see.” His vision grew hazy, “It’s up to you on whether or not you continue watching.”

Takemichi watched them all sit down again, “And, um, as a pre-warning thing, I’m sorry.” 

Akkun walked over to him, mumbling apologies. “Takemichi, I am so, so sorry. I just-” he held a hand in front of his face. “Stop. I get it, I know why you did it. You panicked.” Takemichi chuckled, “So did I. I can not, in good faith, hold that against you.”

Akkun flinched, “Still…”

Takemichi looked at him, like he was seeing someone else. “Let’s talk after, Akkun, okay? I think… we all will need a break after this one.” He nodded, and got settled in place. There was still tension between them all, and it continued to rise as the screen began again.

The air grew thin, tension rose and bubbled to the surface. The wind scattered the last few remnants of nostalgia away. The city bustled below them. 

“...What?”

“It should have killed you.” This time, Akkun’s hand stretched out to push Takemichi onto the tracks.  He looked scared, “But someone saved you.”

Thank god. Akkun thought. Thank god, thank-

Hina wrapped her hands together. Oh, her little brother had saved someone so near and dear to her.

Naoto outstretched his hand, desperately leaning over into the tracks to grip the time traveler's unconscious body. “It was Tachibana Naoto!” Naoto dragged him off the tracks, and Akkun observed from behind a cement pole. “It seems like Tachibana Naoto actually knew that you were going to fall into the tracks at that time.”

He sighed, “I know this probably sounds insane, but could you, by chance, be able to return to the past?” It was said in a pleading manner. His last resort.

Hakkai tried to lighten the atmosphere, “How did he guess from that? Was he that desperate?” it didn’t work.

Takemichi jolted, gasping softly as he took a step back. “Didn’t you ask Tachibana Naoto from the past to help you?”

He threw out his arms, voice rising in intensity, “That’s it, isn’t it? If that wasn’t the truth, then it’d make no sense, wouldn’t it!”

Akkun’s mouth contorted, stretching his taut skin even more as his pleas grew more and more violent. “There’s no way anyone could’ve saved you without knowing what was going to happen!” 

Chifuyu looked uncomfortable, realizing how similar the earlier exchange between the two was to the encounter shown on screen. No wonder Takemichi looked so sick… He would be too.

“That’s not true, a good samaritan could have maybe helped.” Draken commented. “No, not with how fast the train was.” Mitsuya replied. “He was as good as dead the second he fell into the tracks.” They quieted again.

Takemichi just stood in shock, flinching when Akkun placed two hands on his shoulders, shaking him. “Hey, that’s insane, right?! Isn’t it?!” “Stop it!” He pushed him back.

Akkun felt a full body shiver at seeing his future hands on Takemichi’s shoulders. He had just done that, hadn’t he? How- he shivered, I need future-me to get his hands off before I break his.

“Who’s the crazy one here?!” He shouted, voice breaking, “The hell are you talking about, Akkun?!”

The room collectively let out a sigh of relief as Takemichi finally pushed Akkun off.

He clenched his fists, voice reminiscent of a better time. “This isn’t like you at all. You were always so calm and collected.” His voice and frame shook, “You were always able to sacrifice yourself for your friends.” He huffed, “You were kind…and reliable…that’s…that’s why-”

He was. The Akkun that Takemichi knew was like that. Why, why did things have to go the way they did? I will do whatever in my power to keep this future from ever occurring again. 

Despite himself, Akkun felt a small part of him grow warm at the high praise. You don’t have the right to feel honored right now, not after what you did. And what you will do apparently.

Tears dripped onto the floor, “You have to be lying!” Takemichi bit his lip, trying to stop himself from sobbing. “There’s no way you would kill me! You’re my friend!”

“I would never…” Akkun tried again.

“Don’t.” Chifuyu clicked his jaw.

Akkun clenched his jaw, watching as Takemichi rubbed his eyes. They stood across from each, his back facing the time traveler again.

He couldn’t bear for his friend to see such an expression on him. “Takemichi.”

I am really not liking how things are going so far… Mitsuya’s eyes were focused on how close the man was getting to the edge of the roof. Mikey looked like he was starting to get the picture as well.

“I wonder how things ended up like this.” Tears pricked at the corner of his eyes. Takemichi looked horrified. “I’m one of Kisaki’s soldiers now.”

“Kisaki…” Takemichi mulled over the name, “You mean, Kisaki Tetta?” 

“Fuck, this man really screwed things up, huh?” Baji sounded baffled. 

“Apparently.” Mikey said dryly, fuming internally.

Did Kisaki think that Mikey would give in so quickly this time? He clenched his fist, as soon as he shows up once they get out of limbo theatre, he’s going to fucking rock that boy’s shit so hard he won’t be able to tell up from down. 

 Who was this Kisaki to mess with the thing he spent his life building? What divine rights did he have to encroach on Mikey’s territory? With the people he owns?

Toman was made by humans, and it would be conquered not by a man, but a god.

That ‘god’ went by the name of the invincible. In terms of divine power, the one in here that most closely resembles something otherworldly is…Takemitchy . Mikey frowned, I should keep my eye on him, for good measure. 

He spread his hands wide, basking in the glow of the city. “Everyone in Toman has to obey Kisaki. I haven’t even seen Mikey-kun in years.”

Mikey blinked, what?

“And now he made you ditch us, great.” Mitsuya drawled, “That’s another on the ‘fucked by Kisaki’ bingo card.” Inside, Mitsuya knew it probably wasn’t hard for Mikey to leave. If Kisaki got into power so easily…. “It must mean that the core members aren’t around.”

“Huh?” The group went.

“No, think about it. We’re basically Mikey’s moral compass.” Mikey took no offense to this, he was aware. “If we were out of the picture- since Draken died, for example, then Kisaki would have no issue wiggling his way into Toman.”

“Like a worm.” Emma wrinkled her nose.

“That’s something we need to look out for then. Any attempts made on the commander’s and vice-commander’s of Toman should be made top priority once we get out of here.” Draken concluded. 

Takemichi looked down, “Akkun…It’s not too late! Just leave Toman!”

Atsushi bit his lip, please , just leave.

Akkun’s laugh was broken, “I can’t…” He wrapped his arms around himself, cupping his tattoos. “I’m scared. I’m terrified of Kisaki.” He grit his teeth. “With every fiber of my being.”

Again, that same silence fell over them.

“Takemichi.”

He looked up, “Mikey changed after Draken died.” “What? Draken died?!” Takemichi hunched over in shock.

“He wasn’t supposed to die. Draken shouldn’t’ve died, but he bit it.”

So this is when he found out. Draken was oddly amused.

“That’s a pretty insensitive way of describing my death.” Draken laughed.

“Sorry for future-me’s harsh words...” 

Akkun lifted one leg over the roof’s railing. He stepped on top of it all.  He grunted, “And now I’m thriving off of dirty money.”

Draken hummed, “That confirms it then. I figured dirty money had to do with your success.”

Mitsuya tilted his head, “How come?”

He smiled, “You pick up a few things after growing up where I did. The way the greeter reacted to them requesting Atsushi specifically was weird- since they must be involved in the criminal world, he probably had to make sure they were actual clients or else the two of them would be disposed of.” Takemichi shivered.

Takemichi stood stock still, paralyzed. Akkun shoved his hands back in his pockets, “I always looked up to you. The way you’d be crying,” he chuckled, “but hold your ground.”

Takemichi’s voice was full of trepidation; hesitantly, he whispered, “Akkun?”

Draken’s smile dropped. Oh hell no.

Hakkai and Yuzuha tensed. Emma covered her eyes, peaking out in a small corner. Chifuyu and Hina started to crowd Takemichi, but both of them started to look nervous themselves.

Mikey looked displeased, and Baji looked uncomfortable. Kazutora looked like he was dissociating to another plane of existence.

Everyone in the room could see where this is going. Including Akkun himself, who just looked on in horror. Please don’t tell me I’m about to do what I think I’m going to do….

“Is the one you want to go back into the past and save… him ?”

His eyes were laser focused on the sight of his friend. “It’s dangerous up there. Get down.” He repeated.

Mikey frowned, him? Didn’t he mean her?

Takemichi looked at Mikey, he had never really figured out what Akkun meant, but I think I’m starting to.

He looked at Mikey- everything seemed to revolve around him. 

“That’s some real love right there.” Akkun said, laughing bitterly. “I’m rooting for you, Takemichi.” 

“I can’t look.” Emma murmured. 

Everyone else’s gaze was fixed. They couldn’t look away even if they wanted to.

Then, he turned, and his childhood friend gave Takemichi a small smile. Tears freely falling. The night air smelt of salt water. “Please save everyone.”

“Akkun!” Takemichi yelled, trying to get his body to move.

No. It was selfish of him to ask that of Takemichi. That- that- that can’t be my last wish! I can’t do that to him!  Akkun wanted to scream.

Akkun smiled, “Our crybaby hero.”

The use of the nickname felt so familiar. And for some, it opened up a wound that hadn’t even begun to heal.

“This is just-” Chifuyu was aghast. 

“Are we going to- to see-?” Hakkai stuttered, trying to form something coherent in his delirium.

Akkun’s eyes were dry, god, I hope not.

Takemichi screamed, ripping his throat raw, “Don’t do it, Akkun!” He started to run, trying to sprint after him. “STOP! AKKUN!” 

His friend swayed in the wind, and then allowed himself to fall. He stretched out his hand, trying to desperately hold onto something to stop it. “AKKUN!!”

Akkun reached out a hand, like he could stop himself, “ No-”

Emma screamed, “Oh my god, oh my god.” Yuzuha held her, “What the fuck.”  Chifuyu bit down on his sleeve, he needed to keep it together. Hina wasn’t doing much better, shaking and holding onto Takemichi’s hand for dear life.

Draken looked like his emotions hadn’t even finished processing, “...hah?”  Mikey was…blank, he was always fucking blank, Kazutora thought- pissed off beyond belief. People die because of him and all he ever looks like is blank, showing concern for the wrong goddamn people . Hakkai placed his hands in the water from earlier, the cool sensation acting as some sort of grounding technique. Breathe in, Hakkai. Just like Yuzuha taught you.

Akkun slowly brought his hand in, gripping his hair and pulling at it. He was still alive, right?

“Stop talking so this video can play and we can get the fuck out of here.” Mitsuya hissed.

Takemichi’s hand stayed suspended in the air, and a loud THUD resounded all the way up back to the rooftop. He panted, breaths coming in short and terse. Vision blurry, he couldn’t move. He tried to breathe in, but nothing was getting to him. 

He stumbled over to the ledge, breathing getting quicker and quicker by the minute. He looked over the edge, holding onto some sort of small hope. 

“I-I can’t .” Takemichi murmured weakly, “I can’t see it again. No. I-” His condition was beginning to decline rapidly. Hina’s grip on his hand was painful.

People surrounded the corpse of his best friend, they were probably yelling. Soft murmurs filled his ears as Takemichi stumbled back, weakly falling to the ground. He stared into space, “Agh!”

Emma ran over to a corner, and puked her guts out. Yuzuha rubbed her back, “Drink some water, girl.” She tried her best to keep herself together, but watching a suicide like that…Even she couldn’t resist the urge to twist her expression into one of horror.

The image of a corpse was something the majority weren’t familiar with, and even the most stoic of them looked nauseous at best and petrified at worst. 

“I just- I just killed myself.” Akkun spoke. His voice sounded like he hadn’t drank in days. He screeched, “Holy shit, what the fuck? I just- I killed myself. I watched it.” He sobbed, “What- what?”

“This has got to the most fucked up thing I’ve expereienced.” Mitsuya cynically whispered, “This is beyond atrocious. I- I feel like I’ve seen something that can’t be unseen.”

Mikey pursed his lips. Feeling his blood run cold like that was- different. This death- it was personal, upclose, and intimate. It was done because of fear, yes, but it was still a suicide. It was still someone choosing to take their own life. Takemichi had to watch as his friend took their own life in front of him. What if it was someone he knew? Mitsuya? Baji? Draken? Emma? Mikey resisted the urge to throw up.

I won’t let that happen. No. It can’t. 

Chifuyu coughed, small tears threatened to bubble up and choke him- sue him, he was only in middle school. No one could be unfazed by that, right? “Please, just let it finish…”

Takemichi kneeled, biting his lip in an effort to contain his sobs. He desperately clawed at his clothes, latching onto some semblance of grounding. He screamed, voice guttural as he mourned. His voice broke, over, and over again, but Takemichi just cried- light headed and woozy. He couldn’t believe it. The night air and bustling city swallowed his shrieks whole.

“I don’t know how Takemitchy handled this the first time….” Chifuyu mourned out loud. 

“Takemichi-kun?” Hina suddenly said in alarm. The rest of the group looked towards the time-traveler.

He had bit into his arm so deeply in order to muffle his cries that rivets of blood were flowing down his arm. “Takemichi-kun!” Hina yelled, taking his arm out of his mouth, “Hey, hey, are you here? Do you feel this?” She gripped his hand tight. 

Takemichi still looked distant, tears flowing down his cheeks. He sobbed, voice raw as he couldn’t even yell or screech any of his frustration at having to see his friend die twice in front of him. Akkun and Hina must be like walking corpses to him, and he had to pretend like nothing was wrong. Like he didn’t see them die, like he didn’t see Draken almost die- like he wasn’t stabbed, or beaten, or sent off train tracks. Everything looked like it was fine.

“It’s fine, it’s fine..” He babbled, rubbing his eyes raw. 

Emma looked panicked, (she was relieved to know that the uh, bile, automatically disappeared) returning from the corner with Yuzuha, “W-what’s wrong with him?”

Hina, flustered, responded, “I don’t know!” 

Mikey frowned, “Let me try something.” The rest of the kids quickly made way for him. All of them wanted for someone to step up. Mikey bent down, their pose oddly reminiscent of when they first met. He grabbed both sides of Takemichi’s face, and wiped the hair out of his eyes so he could see.

Takemichi kept inhaling rapidly, breathing shakily like he couldn’t get enough oxygen in his lungs. His noises were small, like he was trying to keep himself hidden. “Takemichi.” Mikey began. He stared straight into the time-traveler’s eyes- “I need you to breathe with me, okay?” Takemichi kept holding his breath, “Okay? Okay.”

He held on for the next five minutes, Mikey began his countdown. “Match my breathing. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, hold, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,out-” he repeated this for the next duration of time. Takemichi slowly began to regain his coherent thoughts. 

“Mikey?” The leader smiled at him, “Okay. Takemitchy. Five things you can touch?”

The time-traveler blanched at the sudden question, “Um, your hair?” Mikey nodded. “Your gakuran. The couch. Hina’s hand. Chifuyu’s arm.” 

Hina squeezed his hand, “A-are you with us, Takemichi-kun?” He squeezed back, two soft pulses, “I- I think so?”

Akkun looked confused, “That was scary…What was that?” 

“Panic attack.” “It was a panic attack.” Mitsuya and Yuzuha answered, they glanced at each other. 

Takemichi groaned, feeling like he was run over by a truck. “I’m sorry- that was so sudden, I’ve never felt like that before. Thank you, Mikey, uh, for what you did…”

“What did he even do?” Baji asked.

Mikey smiled, rubbing Takemichi’s head again, like earlier, “I just calmed him down. My grandpa taught me how a while ago. It’s supposed to ‘ground you’ or something like that.”

Hina bowed, “Thank you, Mikey-kun. All of us were lost on what to do.”

Mitsuya glanced at Takemichi, who was leaning pretty strongly on Chifuyu- he must feel bad still. His mind mentally flipped open to a page from a book he had read a while ago when Mana and Luna had some temperament issues at home. Often, individuals experiencing trauma may only begin to show symptoms after the incident occurs. This can be years later, from childhood to adulthood, as the mind can only begin to process the trauma when the individual is in a safe place to process it.

Of course, he kept that thought to himself. He’ll have to mention it to Takemichi- who was probably confused as to why seeing his friend kill himself a second time was even worse than the first.

Desperately, he kept crying for something. A man on the back of the roof, who looked awfully familiar, kept an expression of neutrality on his face.”Hmph.” He pushed his glasses on his face.

“FUCKING KISAKI!” Baji yelled, “More like, Kiss-my-ass-ki. Eat a dick, asshole!” He wanted to punch the screen, but unfortunately it was floating.

Akkun paled, “Are you telling me, he even planned my death !?”

An alley was shown, and the faint sirens of an ambulance were heard. Takemichi hunched over on a stairway. Naoto spoke to two police officers. “I’m sorry, but could you give him some time?”

“It’s fine,” he spoke, but his voice was completely shot and scratchy, “They want to talk to me, don’t they?”

Naoto blinked, and paced over to him. He planted a hand on Takemichi’s head. “Don’t push yourself,” he said gently, “You should get some rest.”

“Naoto.” He lifted his hand.

“While I’m being interrogated, I need you to find out about the day Ryuguji Ken died.”

Naoto looked taken aback, “What?”

“The one who turned Toman evil is Kisaki Tetta.” Naoto gulped.

“Naoto, I…” his voice broke, “Draken, Akkun…” he sobbed, “and Hina!” Tears fell onto his intertwined hands, he held on so tightly it was starting to bruise. 

Takemichi cried hoarsely, “I want to save all of them!”

Hina addressed Takemichi, “Thank you.”

Draken bowed as well, “Yeah, I wanted to say thank you again, Mitchy.”

Akkun bowed deeply as well, “I really- really appreciate the sentiments-” He was cut off by his own tears bubbling up from his throat. 

I'm sorry I couldn't save you, I'm sorry, Akkun. I'M SO SORRY- Takemichi laughed, looking like a mess. His voice was still sore from whatever the hell he just went through, “Y-yeah, um, no problem? H-how about we get some rest though?”

Mitsuya stretched, groaning, “I’ve been sitting on this couch for way too damn long. And I’ve seen enough traumatizing shit for one day. Plus, like Tachibana said, we need to talk, yeah?”

Mikey jumped off the couch, “Alright! Time to discuss!”

Chapter Text

“What are you doing all by yourself over here?”

After Mikey had made the proclamation of discussion, things had quickly devolved as everyone began rummaging around the black space seeing if there was anything of interest. Apparently there was, as Hakkai came back from conquest (his words) with a strangely large tablet.

“This has got to be one of those hologram tablets like in the movies.” Chifuyu excitedly took it from Hakkai’s hands, “It looks pretty similar to one!” And, like an idiot, tapped the screen. It lit up all of a sudden, and he quickly dropped it. Mitsuya picked it up with one hand, narrowing his eyes as the screen projected an almost 3-D print of items. 

From the background, Mikey groaned again from where he was leaning over the couch, “Uh. Ken-chin, I want a backscratcher.” 

“Does it look like I carry one on at all times?”

“I don’t know, maybe.” He pouted, “I want a backscratcheeeerr.” Responding to his words, the image projection quickly switched to an image of a backscratcher, with the bubble words Confirm ? popping up.

“What the hell is this? The Sims?” Baji leant over, and then quickly clicked confirm. “AH! What the hell, why did you hit me?”

Mitsuya pinched his temples, “I can’t believe I have to explain to you why not to confirm purchases on the weird, hologram tablet! Who knows what you could have agreed to?”

Mikey, now lying on the floor, was suddenly hit with a backscratcher falling from the sky. “Ken-chin! The god’s have answered my prayers- behold, the backscratcher 9000!”

“Great. Now stop annoying me.”

Baji smirked devilishly, “Seems to me like I just figured out how we could spruce up the place.” He ignored the sharp looks his fellow commander gave him, “HEY! THING 1 AND 2!”

“What?” “Don’t call us that.” Draken sharply reprimanded, while responding.

He waved them off, “Yeah, yeah. Sorry, your highness. But, I think I just found a way to cure your boredom.”

So, off they went with the power of the convenient tablet. “I think we need a rainbow couch.” “We do not need a rainbow couch, Mikey!” Mitsuya tried his best.

“No, no, I agree. This does seem better than the other couch we have at the moment.” 

“Draken, you’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I am only on the side that benefits me the most, and in this case, that side is the one with the rainbow couch”

Mitsuya screamed, feeling like he was aging rapidly ever since they got here. Between the traumatizing shit and whatever the hell this was- he was pretty sure he would surpass Takemichi’s real age at this point. (Whatever that age may be.)

Still, he managed to keep them mostly in check (keyword: mostly.) Leaving the previously ominous black void looking more like a man cave- equipped with beanbags, a bar (they couldn’t drink. So what the hell was the point of that?), bedrooms for the girls and guys, and even a bathroom, upon Mitsuya’s insistence. 

“Why do we need a bathroom when we’re like in stasis, or whatever?” Mikey tried. 

“Bathroom’s are safe haven’s among chaos.” Mitsuya added, “I need some place to calm down when your guys’ bullshit gets to be too much.” In other words: he needed somewhere to chill- what better place was there to do so than in a bathroom?

Kazutora blinked, sitting up in one of the newly acquired beanbags. “...What?”

"I asked you what you were doing here, alone." 

The brunette paid him no mind, inching closer to him even when he quickly drew himself backwards. She shifts, wrapping herself up tightly, “Do you ever think people would care if you went missing?”

Welp. This is awkward. Kazutora gives her a weird look, but strangely enough…he responds, “Why?”

The girl sighs, tucking her hair behind her ear, “I was just thinking about how my shitty brother is probably worried right now.” She jabs a hand at the boy with a buzzcut, “Not Hakkai, my other one.” 

If he’s so shitty, why would he be worried? Kazutora turned away from her, “I didn’t ask.”

Yuzuha leans back on her hands, “I know, you just looked like a good listener.” He was literally just sitting in a corner. “Plus, you looked lonely.”

“I am not- ”

“Shh.” She shushes, “At least let me stay here for a moment. I don’t really know anyone here, and you’re the only one who I’ve noticed keeps mostly to themselves. Allow me a moment of reprieve.”

…Would anyone have noticed he left? Kazutora shakes the thought out of his head- no, there was no one because time shouldn’t be passing when they were in here according to Takemitchy- Takemichi’s theory. 

Plus, the only ones who’d care to notice would be the prison guards in charge of watching him. And that was their job , so it didn’t say much. 

But still.

It was a nice thought.

Anyways-

Mikey gasped again, drawing attention back to him. He figured out how to place a window, but quickly deflated upon realizing that a) no real light was coming from it and b) that the ‘sky’ was just a GIF of clouds on repeat. “Whaaa- no real clouds? Is this place on a budget!?” He complained aloud. 

“Probably.” Mikey glanced over to where Hakkai had suddenly appeared beside him. For such a tall guy, he had a way of making his presence borderline hidden at times. Wonder where that habit came from.

“Probably?” Hakkai hummed, “Didn’t you notice? When we got here, the voice or whatever the hell was speaking sounded like an actual person. But now…”

“Now it sounds like a robot.” 

Hakkai flinched, “Ah. Taka-chan, I knew you’d understand.” 

Mitsuya leaned against the fake-window, looking at the clouds. They were a poor imitation of real ones. His sisters could do a better job drawing the clouds than whatever was playing behind the windows. “It feels like we’re just in a system now, or some messed up game.”

“Budget cuts?” The leader owlishly added, Mitsuya seemed to pause on the thought. “Yeah, possibly.”

Baji groaned, loudly making his presence known. “Okay, that’s great and all. But are we going to start the next episode or what? AGH! Mitsuya, stop hitting me!”

“Yeah, Mitsuya.” Draken deadpanned, “That’s animal abuse.”

“YEAH!” Baji paused, “Wait a damn minute, what the hell did you just-”

Mitsuya rubbed a hand over his face, sighing deeply. He doesn’t get paid enough for this shit. He doesn’t get paid at all . Would his school accept the hours he spends with this band of idiots as charity work? Or maybe he could register them for volunteer hours…

“No, we’re going to talk okay?” The room went unnaturally silent. They didn’t really want to go over what they just saw again. Especially when the ‘dead people’ were in the same space as them. “Listen, I know we want to avoid it. But it’s inevitable- we don’t know exactly how long we’re going to be stuck here. Would you rather goof around forever- Mikey, don’t answer that.”

Mikey pouted, lowering his hand. 

“So just start already.” Kazutora grumbled, leaning further back into his chair. Mitsuya exhaled, pinching his brow, “Trust me, I would have, but-”

The vice-commander looked over to one of the newly established boy’s bedroom’s, “It seems like some of us are having some private conversations.”

“WOAH!” Akkun exclaimed in awe, leaning down to press down on the very soft mattresses. “That purple-haired guy has really outdone himself. I don’t know how he did it but- it’s cool!”

Takemichi laughed, “Yeah. His name’s Mitsuya, by the way. It’s nice to have a room like this.” The time-traveler shivered, “Staying in that black void was sending shivers up my spine.”

Akkun groaned, “Tell me about it. At least you got to sit on the couches, I was on the floor!” He laughed, “Not only is it freezing, but every time I looked down I realized- oh yeah, I’m in an inky black void thing.” His eyes traced Takemichi as the blonde suddenly jumped straight onto one of the beds. 

“Oof. Warn me next time.” The red-head was nearly sent flying as Takemichi plopped down onto the bed. Both of them stared at the black ceiling, lying side by side. The air began to grow palpably tense and each of them could only wait in patience for the other to speak. It was a giant elephant in the room, and neither of them wanted to address it. But at the same time- they did. Because…because they were likely the only ones who would be able to understand each other. Even in the short amount of time they had been close, it was clearly a relationship that should have lasted a lifetime.

Atsushi mused, pursing his lips. He quickly noticed Takemichi was still staring at the ceiling, his ugly blonde hair thrown messily over the pillows. His cheeks still held a pale red flush from his earlier panic attack. And it was clear his eyes were bright red and irritated from the rigorous rubbing he had put them through.

It was a lot.

He wanted to look away. Akkun wanted to keep that image of Takemichi in his brain unsullied. He wanted to mold that tiny, little crybaby hero into something else. To keep him valiant, and untethered to any of their human worries. Maybe if he did that- he wouldn’t have to worry about speaking to Takemichi like a normal person.

It would be so easy to ignore all the signs.

The bruised cheeks, the slightly crooked nose, the crease in the middle of his brows- all of it. But the stark white bandage on the blonde’s face prevented that. It was a contrast that even he couldn’t ignore.

So, maybe Akkun could learn to view that crybaby hero as someone human too. That he- he was most likely more affected by everything than possibly anyone else in this hellish black void. Patience was a virtue that Akkun had long since decided to cast aside.

From the first day that Takemichi had come into his life. With a fiery look in his eyes, a smile a little too wide, and clothes four sizes too big. He looked the opposite of any form of strength Akkun had ever grown up with or learned to recognize-

That silly, middle-school boy with dreams larger than life itself. Who knocked down boys with a single punch, made a mess of himself while eating, and paraded around school with an ugly yellow pompadour. That Takemichi…the boy who seemed borderline invincible when he wanted to- that was the one Akkun knows. Not like how Takuya knows him (as a childhood friend) or Yamigishi and Makoto (as a badass.) 

Nah, Takemichi was always something else. He just didn’t know how to stop. He kept going, like if he didn’t he’d die. To see that image of that boy tarnished was something Akkun didn’t know how to deal with.

But it was in front of him now, and he couldn’t avoid it. Akkun chuckled, looking at the ceiling again, and finally spoke, breaking the silence the two of them had been sitting in for the past five minutes.

“I’m sorry.”

Takemichi stiffens, what? “It wasn’t you.”

The weight on the bed dips slightly, “It was a version of me. Even if it never happens now, there was a version of me that lived twelve long, hellish years. And that version of me killed himself in front of you, and told you to do everything he couldn’t.” Akkun locked his jaw, “Because he- I was scared. "

“Atsus-”

“No, listen to me. Because I don’t know if I’ll be able to say it again.” He couldn’t see Takemichi from where he was looking up, but he felt the sheets shift a little as the boy nodded.

“What you saw…What you lived through was, god, beyond messed up, Takemichi.” His voice broke a little at the end. “I mean, you saw how even those tough Toman guys reacted. 

Us gang members…we’re used to people being bloodied, and beaten up- but not a dead body.” He cleared his throat, “Especially a…suicide.”

“Why are you speaking in third person?” The time-traveler quietly asked, fiddling with his hands.

“Because that wasn’t me , Takemichi. I need you to understand that.” Akkun rubbed at his neck, “No matter how awful, and traumatizing that shit was, I didn’t live through that. It was technically me, but it’s not the ‘me’ that lays beside you now, okay?” 

Akkun nudged one of the hands that the other boy had laying at his side, “This isn’t about me- it’s about you . Talk to me. There’s no way anyone is okay after everything you’ve gone through.”

Takemichi felt his throat grow dry, he grit his teeth. “I can’t.”

“Please? Whatever reason we were brought here- there’s one thing I’ve understood from this whole ordeal. You can’t do everything alone.” Takemichi took in a sharp breath, trying to blink away the pricks of moisture that threatened to spur on sobs.

Akkun could hear the time-traveler struggling to get his emotions in order, “Hey. You asked me what we would talk about when we grew older, right?” The sheets shifted again, “Okay then. One of us is an adult here- technically- so, tell me, what cool stuff did you figure out?”

Takemichi gave a soft laugh, “You’re acting oddly mature right now, Akkun.” The red-head blushed, “I-I’m trying my best here!” he sputted. 

“Hm, well.” Takemichi brushed back his hair, “I found that fried rice is one of the fastest meals to make when you’re on a budget.” When he didn’t continue, Akkun nudged him again. “...I also found out that I am really, really good at puzzles? Oh, and that series you and I follow- it ends on a giant cliffhanger.”

“What the hell? Really?”

“I know. When I found out, I was angry for days. Don’t worry though, the author does come out with a new series.” Akkun laughed, “Well, that’s good then.” the red-head placed his hands behind his head again.

“Hey, Takemichi.” “Mm?”

“We’re friends, right?”

Takemichi smiled, “Akkun, of course we’re friends.”

“So…” Akkun drawled, “It’s just me and you in this room. And we’re friends. Don’t you think-”

“Is this some weird segway for you to get me to talk?” Akkun awkwardly bit the inside of his cheek, “...Was it that obvious?”

Takemichi chuckled, “You’re the opposite of subtle.” His laughter died off, “You really want to know how I actually feel?”

“Yes.”

“Even if- if you’ll think less of me afterwards?”

Akkun looked confused, and glanced to the side. Takemichi had curled up on his side, “Why would I ever think less of you? Takemichi, you’ve always been incredible. But at the end of the day, you’re just a normal guy.”

“A normal guy who can time-travel.”

“Exactly.” His smile was warm, “Just a normal guy who can time-travel. No matter what you say, I promise to listen with an open-mind, got it?”

“Fine then.” Was it just him, or did Takemichi sound a little embarrassed?

“I’m scared.” He let out a bitter laugh, “Terrified out of my mind, actually. Everytime I think I get a little closer to saving them…something always happens. And now, I’m stuck in a room with my dead ex-girlfriend, the girl past me almost cheated on her with-” Hold on, what now? Akkun wanted to stop and ask him to elaborate on that bit, but once Takemichi starts its hard to stop him.

“-, my dead middle school friend, the guy I saved, and a bunch of other scary gang members who may or may not have killed Hina.” Takemichi let out a deep sigh. “There’s a part of me that’s just been screaming in my ear that I should just quit- it’s a job where almost no one will know what I’ve actually done. But, I can’t, Akkun. Because more and more people keep asking me to help them. Always in their dying breaths, they always ask me to help others.” Takemichi laughed bitterly, “What the hell is up with that…”

“Takemichi.” Akkun’s voice was firm, “Can you look at me?”

The time-traveler glanced at Akkun from the corner of his eye- the red-head himself hadn’t even moved. They sat in silence for a moment longer, but this time it didn’t feel suffocating.

Takemichi quickly broke eye contact, “I don’t know. I think…I’m in mourning? I’ve never properly lingered on it before. So, it’s just kind of confusing.” They sat on that thought for a little longer.

“Y’know, I’ve always thought of you as this…immovable object.”

Takemichi’s eyes widened, “ME!?” Akkun laughed, “Yeah, yeah, you. I don’t know what it is about you. You may seem weak but you’ve got this charm to you. You just can’t help pulling people in. Even the…past you was like that.” 

“So, in the present and the past, I’ve always thought you were cool, Takemichi. Like, such a badass sometimes!” The blonde felt a strange warmth curl around his heart. Gratitude.

“Sometimes?”

“Well, you’re not a badass when you shoot milk out of your nose.”

“Oh my god, that was years ago, when will you let that go!?” “Never!” Akkun cackled. 

Akkun finally leaned up in the bed, swinging his feet over to the floor. “It’s about time we go join the others.” Takemichi nodded, beginning to get up himself. “Takemichi.”

The blonde looked over to the back of his friend’s head. The tips of his ears were turning red. “Even if more people ask you for your help, know that you have one more person in your corner.”

Takemichi looked stunned, but touched. “Akkun…”

The future-hairdresser quickly stood up, taking wide steps out the room. “Come on! Let’s join the others!” His ears were still red as they left.

“Ah!” Hina gasped, “They’re back!” 

Draken looked up from where he was behind the bar. The two friends had spent so long reconciling that his solution to that boredom was to ‘pretend’ to be a bartender. He had a lot of experience watching bartenders, and pretending to be one- sometimes, they had short staff in the brothel. Who would believe he was a middle schooler if he didn’t tell them otherwise, was the owner’s logic.  “Will that be on the rocks or normal?”

“Of course, normal.” She took her drink and sipped on it, “Mm. Chocolate milk really is superior.”

Emma leaned across the table, slurping on her own juice box, “If you just gave banana milk a chance-”

“No, no, Emma-chan. You just can’t beat chocolate.” The girl pouted, “Suit yourself.”

Takemichi shut the door behind him, following behind his friend- who spread himself way too comfortably onto one of the ‘bar’ chairs. “Hey, hey, what’s up with all this?”

The blonde girl finished her drink, “You guys were taking a while.”

“A-and your solution was to make a fake-bar?”

“In the face of boredom, humans become desperate.” Draken solemnly said.

Akkun made a disgusted expression, “I get that that’s supposed to be like, deep or something. But I can’t take you seriously like that.”

“Like what?” Draken said cooly, wearing a teddy bear print apron, while wiping down the used glasses dry. Emma giggled, “It’s cute! It matches the one I have at home.” She placed her chin in her hand, “Almost like couple clothes!”

“Wha-you can’t just start taking off the apron when I say that, Draken!” Emma huffed.

“Yeah, Draken. Show some tact.” The tattooed boy glared at them both. Takemichi looked over at the drying glasses on the bar. (Where did he even get these glasses?)

“OI! Takemitchy~!” The time-traveler’s blood ran cold, (There’s only one person who says my name in such a butchered manner.)

“Mikeyyyy..” The definition of a customer service voice came out.

Mikey began walking the rest of the group away from the bar, “You’re late! You and the red-pompadour guy took way too long.” (He has a name…)

They all sat down, joining the rest of the group who had formed a (badly made) circle on the floor. “Oh good.” Mitsuya started, “I thought I was going to have to use this.” He jingled a bell.

“Is this how you treat your people? Woooooow, the gall.” Yuzuha chastised sarcastically. “They’re more like a group of sheep, and I'm their shepard.” 

Kazutora crossed his arms, “Don’t let him fool you. The only reason he seems responsible is because everyone else in that group is borderline insane.” Yuzuha hummed, yeah, that made sense.

The leader took a deep breath, listening to the rest of the group chatting in their own circles. “ATTENTION! TOMAN!”

The Toman captains and those who recognized the name quickly snapped into a proper posture. Baji grit his teeth, damn Mikey and his stupidly strong voice- who wouldn’t straighten up when hearing him yell like that? Even the girls cut their conversations off abruptly in shock. 

“Members of Toman, and random people, and Takemitchy.” The time-traveler didn’t know whether or not to be flattered that he was excluded from random people.

“We’ve been brought into some weird, uh, space void. Which now looks more like a weird lounge due to the very wise decisions made by Vice-President Draken, Vice-Commander Mitsuya, and yours truly.” He winked.

Hina oohed, “So that’s where the rainbow couch came from.”

“Cool, isn’t it?” Mikey flashed a toothy smile. Mitsuya raised his hand like he was making a pledge, “I would like to state that I had no involvement in the creation of the rainbow couch.”

“You’re just a hater.” Mikey didn’t even let him respond, continuing on with his speech. “Moving on. As Toman’s leader and acquaintance to the rest, I request that we discuss the contents of the screen we just watched.” The boy sat back down.

Yuzuha’s eyes widened, “Wow, didn’t know he could be serious.”

“That’s how he usually is during Toman- he has to seem like a strong leader, y’know.” Kazutora felt a small twitch at the corner of his mouth besides himself, “That’s just how he is.” The afore-mentioned leader looked like he didn’t hear them. He did.

“Now, with formalities out of the way.” Mitsuya spun a pen, flicking open a page of Baji’s notebook. (“Huh? When the hell did he steal my stuff!?”) Ehem.

“Let’s take a look over what we know; Hanagaki Takemichi died twelve years in the future and gained the ability to time travel via his girlfriend’s little brother’s hand. “

“Oh! And that his time travel ability is only limited to the 12-year span! So he can’t change stuff that happened before the day he travels back!” Hakkai bopped up and down excitedly. Takemichi awkwardly scratched at his face, flushing slightly. His ability did sound like a superpower when it was described so positively like that.

Baji bounced his leg up and down, “Okay. I can’t be the only one who just can’t get used to that, right?” The rest of the group looked away. “Seriously? Y’all don’t have the balls to admit that it’s more than a little weird?” Takemichi felt his ears turn hot.

“Maybe it is! A little!” Hina jumped to the boy’s defense once more. “But you don’t have to be so rude about it. He did it for me . And the rest of his friends.” 

The boy scratched his scalp, “Agh. I don’t know man. But there’s gotta be more to it than just ‘guy gets convenient powers.’ Why would the universe choose someone like him to have an ability like that?”

The blonde looked down at his small, balled up hands. Yeah, he really wasn’t much of a strong guy at all. Someone like Baji-san could probably do more with this power… Or Mikey, or Draken, even Hina. 

But they didn’t get it. There must be a reason it was him right- or maybe it was just random chance, or a sick game. Who cares, it gave him some strength- a strength he had long since forgotten he had.

“He has a big heart!” She knew that more than anyone.

Baji picked at his ears, “Yeah. Yeah. You’re seeing everything through rose-tinted glasses, girl.” Hina balls up her fists, “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” and sits herself back down next to the discussion leader.

Mitsuya bit the end of his pen, “Okay, but going back to what Hakkai said- that’s just a theory and hasn’t been discussed. Plus, there’s no way to test that.” He scribbled something out of the book. Moving on…

“We have Tachibana Hinata somehow dying in an ‘accident’ that involves the future criminal-Toman. Somehow, a boy named Kisaki Tetta managed to weasel his way into Toman alongside Mikey.”

“No, I’m not there.” Mikey interjects. “I go missing, for some reason.”

Draken leant back on his hands, “Well- Mitchy, I was supposed to die right?” Takemichi looked down at his hands, seeing the scar protruding from his hand. For a moment, as he looks at the wound, he swears he can feel a knife plunge into him again- a flurry of red overtakes his vision. It hurt, it hurt , and a wet thumping- increasing in intensity caused a faint ringing in his ears.

“Takemichi?” The tattooed boy repeated.

“Huh? Oh, yeah!” Takemichi wiped the sweat from his brow, “Sorry! I was spacing out again.” Akkun looked nervously at his friend. 

The time-traveler addressed the group, “Yeah, I prevented you from being stabbed after I went back in time and-”

[SPOILERS]

“This thing has the worst timing.” Kazutora hissed. “Screw you and your ‘spoilers’. We’re going to watch this thing eventually, so what’s the point in hiding?”

“If this is a game…” It was Chifuyu, “Aha- they’d probably want it to be entertaining, huh? It would be boring if we already knew everything from the get-go.”

Hakkai grumbled, “Ah. The classic mistake. Sacrificing a character's common sense for the sake of building suspense to an obvious outcome.”

“I know! My detective manga sometimes do the same thing too- instead of looking for the obvious solution, there is a convoluted one that extends the story for way too long.”

“Uh.” Hakkai did not know how to respond to the girl, who seemed to deflate a little at the silent response. (Oh, she seems disappointed.) The Shiba son managed to muster up a small nod. The pink haired girl gave him a small smile.

“Sorry, Draken and uh, Kazutora-kun…?” Kazutora nodded. “Seems I can’t say everything. Aha…”

“Yeahhh… that’d be too easy then.” The guy sighed, “It was worth a shot.”

Mitsuya finished scribbling, “Okay, so because Draken and- possibly more Toman members were killed and/or went missing- Kisaki was able to get close to Mikey and get close to him somehow… but how?”

Takemichi shook his head. He didn’t know. “Okay, so that’s something we need to figure out. Although, it’s not hard to get close to him- the guy’s like a cat- food= friendship.”

“That’s not true.”

“Oh, really?” Mitsuya waved some taiyaki, “I’ll give you this if you say I’m your friend.”

“You’re my friend.” Wow. No hesitation. Draken looked miffed slightly. 

Chifuyu bit his thumb, “I doubt that’s how he did it though. Mikey can’t be that easy.”

“No, he is that easy.” Mikey's best-friend said.

Chifuyu groaned, “Agh. Either way, Kisaki Tetta somehow knows Hinata from cram school. Could he have killed her to be petty?”

“What, like a crush?” Baji said jokingly. 

“Oh...shit.” Hakkai’s eyes widened. “No, no, that’s 100% possible.”

Ehhhh , “I was just normal towards him. And he didn’t really seem like…he liked me or anything. I only knew him for a short period of time.”

Draken sighed, “Tachibana, trust me. I’ve seen some men fall for women just because they happened to look in their direction. It’s possible- especially if he was a lonely genius, like you said.”

“True, most geniuses tend to be a little jaded .” Yuzuha finished.

“Try more like they’re borderline psychos sometimes.” Their resident sci-fi nerd said.

Hina looked over Mitsuya’s shoulder, who was doodling a bunch of 3-D question marks. “I really don’t know..”

“I guess I’ll note that as another thing to look for- if we can find a reason to his actions, maybe we can prevent the corruption of future Toman.”

Mikey looked over his friend’s notes, “Is that all, Taka-chan?” Mitsuya hit him, “Don’t call me that.”

The boy fake cried, “I've been your friend for years and I can’t even use your nickname!?”

“Yeah, you’re not Hakkai.”

Hakkai felt an odd feeling of pride wash over him. 

“Uh, guys.” Akkun awkwardly interrupted their banter.

“I hate to interrupt but,” He pointed towards himself, “I feel like my…future death was a big deal?”

The light hearted atmosphere quickly sobered and grew heavy again. “Right, right.”

Akkun awkwardly shuffled on his knees. “W-well. We saw that Kisaki also had something to do with that too, right?”

Baji balled up his fist, “Kiss-my-ass-ki Tetta. What a fucking psycho.” says the pyromaniac. The purple-haired boy leaned against one of his raised legs. 

“It seems like he orchestrated my guilt. My future self did look scared- like he was pushed in a corner.”

The delinquent in question nodded, “Yeah, that’s possible, Akkun.”

“Akkun?”

“A-Akkun?” Atsushi pointed at himself.

Mitsuya flushed, “Oh. Sorry. This whole thing is from Takemichi’s perspective so I forgot your real name.” The red-head laughed, “No, no, it’s fine. And it’s Atsushi, by the way. I didn’t even know your name until like ten minutes ago.”

“You didn’t?” Akkun sweat a little, “W-was I supposed to?”

Hina giggled, “Well, it’s not like we all had a chance to introduce ourselves.” She placed her hands together. “Shouldn’t we do that? In circle order!”

“Huh.” Draken deadpanned, “I’m Ken Ryuguji, but call me Draken.”

“Tachibana Hinata!” It’s hard to forget her name when it was being repeated over and over again by the news recounting her death. Her smile was bright and wholesome. 

The purple haired boy sighed, “Mitsuya Takashi.” The exasperated caretaker for the Toman commanders was left unsaid. 

“Shiba Hakkai.”

“Shiba Yuzuha. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Takemichi oohed, “Ah, siblings.”

“As if that wasn’t obvious.” Kazutora whispered, not quietly enough since the time-traveler began to anxiously fidget with his pant lapels. 

“Hanemiya Kazutora.” The rest of the group ignored the glares Mikey was throwing like sharp daggers in Kazutora’s direction. It wasn’t a hateful look, no- just a look full of disappointment. 

“I’m Mikey!”

“His name’s Sano Ma-MMF-” Chifuyu was quickly shut up, he spat as he was finally able to breathe again. “Uh, Chifuyu Matsuno.”

“And I’m that Mikey guy’s sister, Emma Sano.” 

Yuzuha leaned over to the blonde girl’s ear, “If you are his sister, I believe you are entitled to financial compensation for your woes.” The girl had tears in her eyes, “I knew all those years of putting up with him was worth it.”

“If you get financial compensation, you owe me money for all the money I’ve spent on your shopping trips.” His sister wrinkled her nose at him in distaste. 

“Baji.” Yeah, straightforward. 

“I’m Atsushi!” Akkun said excitedly. 

“Sushi?” Was- was Mikey drooling? 

Takemichi looked around, only to realize he was the last one. “Oh, and I’m-”

“We know.” The group yelled.

The time-traveler looked sad. “But I didn’t even say my name.”

“If I have to hear your name one more damn time, I might just lose my mind.” Kazutora grumbled. Mitsuya flipped open Baji’s notebook one last time. 

“I, uh, I think that’s it.”

“Already?” Yuzuha said.

“Nn.” Flip, “I didn’t notice anything else.”

Chifuyu sagged onto the floor, “Didn’t we end up with more questions than answers? What was the point of this?”

“You guys finally know my name now, at least!” Akkun chittered. 

“I think red-lollipop sounds better.” Baji cackled, Chifuyu cracked a smile, “Yeah, maybe if your lollipop fell on the floor first.” 

“Welp. The biggest takeaway from all of this is…”

They leaned forward,

“We just need to watch the giant TV.”

“Boo-hoo.” Mikey crooned, “I could have told you that.” 

Mitsuya watched as the rest of the group slowly began clambering to their spots on the couches before. Except this time, those on the floor previously were banished seated on the rainbow couch. He was trying to not look at it too much- the tackiness hurt his eyes.

If he was being honest, the whole ‘talk’ was really just so he could give everyone a break. It was probably going to get even more messed up from here on it, so it was better for everyone to have a small breather before jumping right back into whatever TV-show this was. 

Plus, it put into context some things for him. The way that Takemichi responded to Draken’s question…wasn’t normal. And, he’d have to be stupid to not be able to tell that the redness around Akkun and Takemichi’s eyes when they came back probably wasn’t from some regular small talk. There had to be something bad coming- again, something Takemichi knew and literally couldn’t tell them- or something even he didn’t know. 

The boy sighed, handing back Baji’s notebook to him (who complained about all his previous notes being ripped out.) They were just going to have to wait and see. 

The screen started up again…

Chapter Text

Releap

“Hanagaki Takemichi-kuuuunnn.” Manager Hasegawa drawled, eyes half-lidded, “You’re firred.”

Takemichi blinked, “Huh!?” The manager continued reorganizing the shelves, “Don’t ‘Huh!?’ me. It should be obvious, you missed work for two weeks without permission. Just who do ya think took the flak for that hmm? You’re fiiired.”

“Oh, yeah. You’re an adult.” Chifuyu looked curiously over to his couchmate. 

“Nice of you to remember my age.” He looked back over the blonde’s middle school appearance, “It’s kinda hard to remember when you look younger.”

Oh, yeah…Two weeks have already passed, right!? Naoto did mention that when time passed in the past, time also passed here.

Hakkai looked giddy over his theory basically being confirmed. See, Yuzuha, I told you all those sci-fi mangas would be useful someday..

“Um, what about my wages?” He was sweating. “It was sent to your bank accountttt. Goodbyeeee.” She walked away.

Takemichi flicked open his checkbook. My account balance is 20,580 yen… His hands trembled, lifting a hand to stop himself from crying. “I won’t be able to pay my rent.” He bemoaned, and I’ve lost my livelihood.

“20,580 yen, mm?” Draken hummed. “How much is that, Ken-chin?”

“About 160 trips to that restaurant you like.” Mikey’s eyes sparked. “Oh. That’s a lot of money.”

Ah, to be a child , Takemichi smiled nostalgically, where having so little makes you a rich man. But he can’t just buy sweets, he has to be an adult and pay his bills, and all the other life stuff that he has to pay just by living. If it weren’t for the space continuum thing he had to keep in order, he probably would have considered Mitsuya’s idea of winning the lottery or something. (The little Naoto in his head screamed how it was a stupid idea since most lottery winners get hunted down. Curse him and his logic.)

Takemichi staggered, “How am I going to live like this? Someone like me is gonna save Hina…and Akkun? And Draken? When I can’t even save myself.” The adult shoved his hands in his pockets, and slumped over, “How depressing-”

“It’s…almost concerning how quickly you flip-flop between hero and crybaby.” Mitsuya's lips curled. Takemichi flushed, “I was under a lot of stress.”

“Yeah, like you’re not still going through a lot of stress.” Akkun mumbled under his breath. 

The scene switched back to Naoto’s apartment.

“Hey, Naoto. How about I just tell the past Hina that I’m from the future this time?” The idiot said, beaming. “Just like I did with you.”

“What is wrong with you?” Hakkai blurted out. 

Takemichi sighed, “Do you want that list in alphabetical or sequential order?” Baji snorted. The Shiba sibling quickly rectified his mistake, “No, no- I meant. Agh, I meant, how do you not know that that wouldn’t work. Have you ever read any sci-fi or fantasy material?”

“Well, I never really had time to leisure around much.” Which is probably why his adult-self was so lazy, Mitsuya thought off handedly. 

“You two should hang out then.” Yuzuha smirked, “So you can let him in on all the fun space and science facts you have running around your brain 24/7.” 

Chifuyu looked around them, “Considering where we are, I think all of us are being forced to hang out together.” Kazutora shivered, oh god, forced interaction.

Takemichi beamed, “Well, if the offer is still up after we leave this place, then sure! It’d be nice to talk to people younger than me without the whole, trying to pass as a middle-schooler thing because I'm a time-traveler.” They all thought that he really had no idea how weird that sounded out of context.

Yuzuha leaned back on the rainbow couch, slouched. “You might want to bring a notebook, Takemitchy. Trust me, you’ll need it.” Baji clutched his notebook a little tighter- Mitsuya had already stolen it for his ‘intervention-circle’, he did not need the goddamn time-traveler to decide he wanted to get his nasty little grubby hands on it. 

“I could probably recite to you the first space walk audio log from memory from how much he’s told me honestly.” Baji smiled devilishly, “Do it.” She began to open her mouth, “Hey, hey, let’s not Yuzuha.” 

She eyed him, “Fine then. I’ll just tell them about your first show and tell. He brought to school an acti-” “SHHH!” He slapped a hand over his mouth, laughing awkwardly. “How about we just watch the show, Yuzuha?”

She licked his hand, and he immediately drew it away, wiping his hands on the floor in disgust. After the first decade they spent being raised together, you would think he’d learn to not test her by now.

Naoto lent back a little in his chair, “Denied. Takemichi-kun, are you trying to take the easy way out?” Takemichi denied the accusation furiously, “No, that’s not…” The only way to describe his pose is that it was similar to the ‘is for me?’ meme. “I’m not trying to take the easy way out because life is hard right now or anything.”

“I really wouldn’t blame you for taking any sort of ‘easy way’s out, Takemichi-kun.” 

“I know, Hina.” He smiled, “But your brother was right. We just couldn’t chance messing up the opportunity to save you.” 

Naoto whipped out the documents he was reviewing, “What if my sister ends up thinking you’re crazy and dislikes you?” he pointed out, “No one would believe this under ordinary circumstances. Are you an idiot? I just happened to believe you because I was really into the occult at the time.”

Hina looked offended, “I wouldn’t ever dislike him for something that silly.”

Baji tilted his head, “Yeah, yeah. Your brother is probably remembering you the way younger brother’s do- overbearing, quick to react, and picky.” She hummed, “I guess that’s true.”

“Besides, you never know. Knowing Mr. Time Traveler’s luck, he would probably do something to massively screw up.”

“Gee, thanks.” Takemichi drly sassed. It hurt more that Baji was pretty much right on the nose.

The ‘idiot’ slumped down onto the floor, holding his legs between his hands. “Sendou is dead and we can’t meet up with Sano.” Naoto deadpanned. “In the end, the only way to save my sister is to go back into the past and change Toman.”

Takemichi sighed, “So we’re back to the beginning. If only Draken were alive…” “Huh?”

He lifted his head, “He was the vice president a long time ago- I think he’s the person that understood Mikey-kun better than anyone.” 

Draken subtly puffed out his chest. 

“If Draken were still alive, I don’t think Toman would’ve turned into such a terrible organization.” He awkwardly smiled. “Akkun said it too, that Mikey changed when Draken died.”

“Is it really possible for one person to have that much importance?” The question was asked by Akkun. 

“This whole thing has been showing just how important one person can be. Kisaki, Hina, Mikey, Draken, and you- all of your fates are tied to the actions of specific people.” Mitsuya said matter-of-factly, bent down, flicking a finger at Akkun’s forehead. “It doesn’t take much to figure that out.”

Mikey looked at the two of them, he huffed- tightening the hair band in his hair. “Ken-chin is my best friend.” The non-Toman members excluding Takemichi blinked, wondering if the statement was supposed to clarify anything. 

Draken smirked, “True. We’re thicker than thieves, him and I.” He was taking the whole, 'hey, you had an attempt on your life' thing very well.

“Now that I think of it, I don’t think those two have even split up once since we got here.” Yuzuha’s head lolled off the side. She whispered it to Kazutora, who leaned in- he had been convinced to move his stool over to her side of the rainbow couch. The ex-convict nodded, “They’ve been like that since I can remember.”

Kazutora briefly thought of when Mikey and him first met. And the words that he had loudly proclaimed like there was no choice for them to be the truth. What would it take for him to believe his own thoughts so whole-heartedly?

Naoto bit his pointer finger, “...It’s true. Toman’s descent into evil was caused by Kisaki becoming the vice president.” The detective began clicking on some files on his computer. “Takemichi-kun, while you were being interviewed I looked into Ryuguji Ken like I promised. I extracted a passage from a newspaper from that time.”

The passage appeared on screen, highlighted and in bold, “On August third, 2005-” Naoto began reciting, “-in a parking lot in Musashi Shrine, a 50-person brawl broke out in a biker gang. A middle school student (15) passed away after being stabbed in the abdomen with a knife.”

Mikey stopped chewing, he looked over at Draken- if you didn’t know him, you wouldn’t realize that he was nervous. But his skin was a shade lighter, his pupils slightly dilated- and, most of all, his hand (poised beside his head to look casual) began tracing over the lines of his tattoo. Mikey may not be the best at social cues, but he knows his best friend. Draken was everything. He was what broke him out of his shell and monotony. 

Draken likes to tell him that he’s the reason his life is exciting and fun. He could never be more wrong- it was Mikey who needed him around. Without Mikey, Draken could still live and function- Mikey? The thought had never even occurred to him until recently. Him and I are just stuck together. That’s how it works. 

He didn’t know how to comfort his strong-friend. So he settled for handing him a juice box- if the small quirk of his lips said anything, his friend appreciated the gesture.

An overly sugary drink, typical. Draken slurped on his juice box, “Christ. Let me tell you, that stab wound hurt like a bitch.”

“When you talk about it, it sounds so badass.” Akkun rolled his eyes. The rest of the group winced at the description of the murder. 

Chifuyu laughed awkwardly, “I don’t think ya’ can thank Takemitchy enough for saving your life, sir.” Draken nodded his head again in the time travelers directions. The blonde fussed, explaining for the nth time that he didn’t need a thank you.

I don’t deserve it , Takemichi thought to himself.

Naoto turned back to Takemichi, who gulped, “That middle schooler was Ryuguji Ken. There was a lot of stuff written on the internet at that time about the incident. According to that…”

He chewed on his nails again, “It seems because of the inner strife between the Mikey Faction and Draken Faction of Toman, Ryuguji died.”

Mikey quirked his head, “A fight between me and Ken-chin?” “We argue like very other week over dumb shit.”

Mitsuya groaned, “Yes, and it’s insufferable. Like that one time Baji and I had to mediate between the two of you via incorrect morse code because you refused to speak to each other, but also refused to write down your thoughts via paper.”

“AHA!” Baji laughed, “Then we ended up-”

“Yes, we ended up using a ouija board instead.” Hina looked visibly concerned.

Mikey puffed out his cheeks, “I was hoping it’d curse him.”

“Because I forgot to buy you the nuggets? Really?” Draken rolled his eyes.

“Promises are important, Ken-chin! ” He whined, “I don’t go back on my words.”

“Really?” Draken laughed, “You never go back on your word, hm?”

Takemichi tilted his head. He wasn’t sure, but he thinks they weren’t talking about nuggets anymore. “No, Ken-chin. I just need a straight answer to shoot.” 

“That’ll get you killed, idiot.”

“Good way to die, then.” Mikey crossed his arms. 

Emma gasped, “Mikey! Watch what you say. You’re so unnecessarily stubborn.” The older brother glared at her, blowing a raspberry. Draken knocked his shoulder- “Don’t say stuff like that. Think about what Emma would feel like if you went and died on her. You’d make a lot of people sad.” Mikey looked away. It wasn’t about the nuggets anymore.

Takemichi suddenly jumped up, “Huh? Wait, hang on a sec!” He focused on the date, “August 3rd is only two weeks away!” “Correct, but twelve years ago.”

Draken narrowed his eyes, god, it won’t ever not be weird to here those two talk about his potential death so casually.

Takemichi backed away from the screen, confounded “A dispute between Mikey and Draken? That’s impossible!! There’s has to be more to it than that.” The air between them grew taut again, Naoto sighed, “Let’s look into it. Today is July 19th, and the deadline is two weeks from now. You have to figure out the cause of the dispute and stop it.”

Mikey looked deep in thought, trying to remember about any specific fight between the two of them. Takemichi, in the meantime, was having flashbacks to shit in his hair.

Sternly, Naoto said, “On August 3rd, save Ryuguji Ken! That’s your mission this time.”

A flash of an adult Mikey- “Sano ‘Mikey’ Manjirou, who changed after Ryuguji died- Sendou ‘Akkun’ Atsushi, who was afraid of Kisaki and committed suicide, and my sister- Tachibana Hinata, who was killed by the currently evil Toman.”

Naoto stood up suddenly, “If this mission is successful, you could save them all!” Takemichi mouthed out the names, “Draken, Akkun, and Hina?” All of them? 

“Future me sucks ass.” It was supposed to be a light joke, but it had more bite in the tone than usual. Akkun and Takemichi both flinched upon seeing the red-head’s future self again.

“It’s too much…” Hina mourned. 

Hakkai chewed his lip, “Is that even possible?” 

“Takemichi wouldn’t accept anything less than everyone being saved.” She giggled, “That’s just how he is.”

“Do you want that?” Hina’s smile was plastered on her face, “What do you mean by that, Hakkai-kun?”

Yuzuha jabbed him in the side, making him speak again. He was getting better talking to the pink haired girl, but it was still hard. “Y-yeah. I mean, uhm. I mean are you okay with him sacrificing everything for like, an ideal future?” 

Hina placed her hands in her lap, “I just want him to be happy.”

“Yeah, and how does seeing people die make him happy, exactly.” Yuzuha chimed in. 

Hakkai stammered, “He’s happy with you, I think.” 

Hina slumped, leaning against Takemichi again- she liked to think he was. Or, maybe he was happy with the version he made up of her in his mind. Should she care about that? Was there some rule against that? Or was it a red flag she had missed? 

“Not that I don’t love the gossip, but did you all forget we’re right next to you?” Chifuyu raised a brow. Takemichi kept his eyes glued to the screen. 

The detective smiled tersely, “Yes!” Takemichi’s eyes wandered over to the image of Hinata on the desk. He held a hand out, “That’s the perfect solution then..” 

His eyes were ablaze, “I’m going to save Draken, no matter what!”