Chapter Text
The events from the latest timeline Mikey leaped to was not something that he expected. Usually, things always get messy or miserable, and it actually did, however there was a twist in the end. He still killed someone, though, that never changes every time the Three Deities era would occur again after time leaping.
That twist was something that made him delighted from going back to the current timeline, he was excited to see her again — breathing and lively. Mikey had hoped for a future where he could go back in her arms, hugging the lass as if there’s no more time in the world. Maybe he might be excessive on unintentional spoiling towards Senju.
During those continuous time leaps, he dreamed that someday he’d be able to achieve a future where Senju is in it. If he can’t and won’t be able to, then he’d do anything and go back to square one just to let the love of his life be together with him. Maybe this time, they’d cook together, write that cooking book for their future kids, and probably get married for the second time because he wants to relish the moment he puts a ring to Senju’s finger as a symbol of their union.
Perhaps thinking of those thoughts made the blond lad perceive the feeling of pure happiness after months of brief sadness. Going back to the future didn’t seem like anything had changed, he woke up with a weak groan as if he slept in a bad sleeping position. After blinking for three times, a small range of headache swarmed in his head as he rubbed his temples.
Mikey having migraines isn’t much of a normal occurrence since the guy is pretty much laid back in his ordinary state. He’ll ask for a painkiller later, he guessed. A chill breezed through, most likely due to the set temperature of the air conditioner right now. He recalled that Senju loves a cold room because it reminded her of the winter season.
Like her physical appearance, she usually does a snow angel along with him. Giggling and sighing dreamily that the snowflakes fell down at the tip of her nose and Mikey would kiss it as a replacement. Oh, what a sweet memory, isn’t it? On top of that, her competitive side shows up whenever they establish a snowball fight whilst creating a budget igloo and claiming it their territory.
At first, he didn’t mind the surroundings around him since the man was busily daydreaming about his wife. He didn’t bother getting up from his bed– no– from a foamy leather couch. That fact itself made him get a little bit aware, nevertheless he kept his cool instead and tried to not surge this deeply or he’ll get stressed the moment he goes back from his timeline. After all, nothing changed right? Mikey was highly positive of it, at least he wants it to be like that. He was about to get up from his leather sofa bed but he heard someone going inside of the room – speaking about it, where is he anyway? Mikey slightly lifted his head and relied on his fast eyesight to scan the entire room. Papers, file cabinets, huge stacked piles of documents that were neatly organised, two-sided panels of a cork board and whiteboard…
He knew exactly where he was right now. The voice started to get louder as he heard the door closed. Apparently, it seemed that the topic wasn’t something that Mikey is aware of. Probably that the detective has a client on a phone call. Yeah, that could be it. He pretended to sleep, closing his eyes and all, and tended to stay still in his sleeping position.
The brunette on the call shuffled through the file cabinet, positioning his device on his shoulder to let it hold for him. Mikey didn’t want to eavesdrop on the conversation but it can’t be avoided. “Listen, I’m a detective not a lawyer. I’m not supposed to handle their papers but here I am.”
Naoto closed the cabinet, finally finished finding the file he needed. “There are a lot of ‘em, that’s right.”
“You’ve gotten too deep on my personal info.” He sat on his rolling chair, “I applied as a detective. As far as I know, I do not have any authority to become their personal lawyer for this certain case. Plus, even if I am, the case isn’t my forte to do.”
“Look, as much as I treat them as my friends in my personal life, in jobs, it has to maintain professionalism, too.” Naoto claimed, “Now do me a favour and try to find someone who is a lawyer, if you can’t… Well, I have to ask someone in their circle.”
The call ended soon after. Mikey didn’t really keep his eyes closed on the entire thing, he was curious enough that he wanted to know what they were talking about. They’re talking about finding a lawyer as soon as possible, probably a criminal lawyer? Naoto usually handles stuff that is not intended for anyone to see.
He was impressed that a clean-freak like Naoto is able to withstand the stench of a dead body, or seeing dismembered bodies in a crime scene. Detectives are something else, maybe that’s why he’s talented at things. Mikey even overheard that somewhere along the lines, Naoto also studied the aspects of being a lawyer.
Mentioning the brunette made him wonder why he even woke up at his office in the first place. Now, it’s not something he would take into account so he was even more baffled in his current situation. The sound of a coffee machine being completely done to process the pod and pouring it down to a coffee mug was enough for Naoto to sit on one of the leather chairs that are paired with the sofa bed Mikey is laying down on.
Gripping the newspaper on hand with the phone on the coffee table, Naoto took a sip as he flipped the grey pages of the written news. He seems invested in the article labelled on that lengthwise so the blond decided to rise himself up. As much as he was fond of Naoto’s office, sleeping here wasn’t his best choice.
It wasn’t like him at all, despite being inside multiple times, he never recalled taking a long sleep break here not even once.
God, he needed that damned painkiller because the migraine just attacked right now, though it was a light attack, Mikey was annoyed by the feeling of it. For now, he’ll just shrug it off as if it was nothing. He can pretend that it didn’t annoy the fuck out of him, plus he can’t just beat his own brain into it, right?
Naoto’s legs crossed as he flipped the pages, sipping his decaf coffee. “Oh? You’re awake?”
“..Yeah..”
No response was heard afterwards, letting Mikey think that it became awkward and assumed that the lad in front of him was out of mood just now because of the conversation he had on his phone earlier. A lot of things he wanted to ask, he needed to ask, and yet he chose the most simplest one out there.
A medicine for his damned headache.
“You got something to ease migraines?” Mikey asked, “It annoys me as hell.”
Again? “Near the bathroom, take the Ibuprofen from the medicine shelf.”
Mikey nodded, getting up. “Thanks.”
When the lad was walking straight all the way to the bathroom, Naoto’s eyes slickly followed the blond man’s tracks. He kept himself quiet, slipping pages of the newspaper he’s holding and taking small sips of his grounded coffee. Inside the clean bathroom, the young man found the side-mirror with a compartment inside as he opened it, seeing a lot of varieties of medicine that could treat different injuries or sickness.
He wondered, though, as to why Naoto has these lots and lots of tablets and pills, considering that the detective himself can’t afford to get sick. Some of them were drops or syrup-based. The lights flickered twice inside as Mikey noticed the knuckles of his hands were red and bruised, suddenly wondering how he managed to attain them.
As much as he tries to look back on his memories of this timeline before he did leap here, the images he wanted to perceive weren't coming to visualise in his mind. So, it was hard, his hands reaching for the ointment instead and a pill of ibuprofen before coming back. Swallowing the medicine without water was easy for him to do but he always made sure to rinse off his throat because it always felt weird that he took it dryly, worrying it might get stuck down there. Anyway, putting the ointment to his rough bruises should have made him flinch yet he didn’t.
Going back to where Naoto was and sat down, his hands clasped each other. Usually when he comes back, Mikey knows that Naoto would come to him and ask how it went. The silence was intriguing, to say at least, he isn’t used to this. Him waking up at the detective’s office was a first, him receiving migraines as soon as he woke up was also a first, and not getting approached quickly by Naoto was also a first.
By the way, where the fuck is Takemichi as well?
“Uhm,” Mikey started. “Why am I here?”
Great, what a nice question to start with. Of course he should be here! He meant to ask why he woke up here instead of his shared house with Senju. Naoto didn’t even bother to give him eye contact as his eyes only focused on the news article. “You better lay off the sleeping pills, Sano.”
“Sleeping pills..? But I don't take them!”
Mikey was more confused. Sleeping pills? Why would he take them? Was there any reason for him to take one? Sure, he had severe insomnia before but he overcame it and stopped taking dosages. Unless he prescribed it to one, the blond would never take it. Besides, going back here in the current timeline already seemed good and a bright one at that! Also, he doesn’t remember his therapist to take some pills, either.
Yet Naoto didn’t seem to believe it. Just what happened while he was leaping into a few alternate timelines? “You’ve been having headaches every time you wake up, sometimes lightheadedness, and memory problems.” He sighed, “You never listen to any of us anymore..”
Why did he even forget? It’s not like he drank any beverages that contained alcohol in it.
“I swear, I don’t take those pills anymore.” Mikey promised to him sincerely. He genuinely looked like he was being serious about it. “Not after I started going to therapy.”
Naoto’s eyes widened in shock, dropping the newspaper and almost spilled his coffee. “Oh, you finally came back..!”
Mikey nodded eagerly to his response. He saw how the brunette reacted, how he dropped the newspaper on his hands assuming that he just skims through the pages and definitely not reading them properly like how he usually does. By how Naoto acted earlier, he could notice that there was something wrong.
It’s not the feeling of violence or mentions of death. Or, anything going to its downfall, no. There is certainly something he feels — there’s this existence where, clearly as expected to happen, that she’s still alive and somehow it feels wrong that she is. Well, Mikey is absolutely happy with it! He doesn’t wish death upon her, not again. (He can’t accept the fact that it feels wrong seeing her alive but she deserves to be breathing, doesn’t she?)
Maybe it’s him who was wrong the whole time. “You’re fucking weird earlier, Naoto. What’s up with that?”
Naoto’s relieved expression dropped as it shifted to a mix of neutrality and frustration. “Before you went back here, there were a lot of things that just happened.”
“Like what?”
“Well,” the brunette said. “Let’s see… First, your friend Haruki or what they call ‘Pah-chin’ and his wife seemed to be expecting a child soon.”
The blond lad had his mouth open like an ‘o’, looking happy for his old friend! “That’s great! When is the baby due?”
“Around next month, uh, the first week of it.”
Mikey wanted to ask a lot of things, and so he did. He will ask a bunch of things if it means to calm the raging thoughts in his head and since he cannot stop them then he’ll just distract them from expanding it any further. He asked if the Sano family dojo is still there and the students are growing day by day, he was taken aback that the students of that dojo were actually the children from the old orphanage Izana and Kakucho had renovated.
When Naoto said that the children wanted to surprise Izana and that they wanted to learn skills from him, Kakucho had a long time trying to calm down the weeping albino since the actions of those little kids touched his heart. He also mentioned that the progress of those kids are well and that Grandpa Mansaku, if he were alive, would be so proud of his grandson.
He also asked if Baji’s pet shop was booming in business and if Kazutora still helps him. He remembered that his childhood friend’s dream was to establish a pet shop because he loves animals and so that he could be able to help his poor mother. “How is their business?”
“They’re doing fine, don’t worry. Hanemiya and Baji are great at handling animals there. However, Matsuno stopped assisting them anymore.”
“Why? Did something bad happen to Chifuyu?”
“Not really. He pursued his dreams of becoming a pilot but he is still making time for the pet shop and for the two of them as well.”
Okay, that didn’t sound like a bad timeline. Even though Pah-chin's future is secured and safe, Izana’s dojo is now filled with eager students, and Baji’s pet shop alongside his husbands, means that the future didn’t change for everyone else even though there were some tweaks in it.
But why does it feel so wrong? It felt so wrong yet correct at the same time.
However, with that said, the look on Naoto’s face contradicts the good news he delivered to him. As much as he wanted to point that look to him, he really couldn’t help the pang on his chest that something was happening soon.
Something heartbreaking that he should not avoid any sooner. His eyes trailed along the sight of the neat, tidy stacked papers on the coffee table that was almost stained by Naoto’s coffee. The blond lad pointed these out, wondering what they were. As soon as Mikey mentioned that part, that’s when Naoto knew that he should tell the poor guy without lying to him.
After all, telling the truth is solid and can hurt, unlike likes that are easily moulded and shaped and it won’t let anybody get hurt. “Naoto, what are those?”
“What?”
“That,” He pointed at the documents in front of them. The font sizes are small so his eyes could not comprehend what was written in it. “Should it concern me?”
“Yes.” Naoto admitted. “It should. It should concern you, it might shock you.”
The brunette detective took a proper handful of those documents and tapped it, giving it to the blond in front of him as he clasped his hands that were supported by his own lap whilst leaning a bit forward. Some of the files actually did cover half of the revealing truth, he was wary that Mikey wouldn’t be able to accept this. (Probably)
Even though he faced so many hardships, this one could practically ‘waste’ all of his efforts. Once when the blond’s hands finally reached the main document that he is supposed to read after shuffling those contemporary files, his dark eyes widened in disbelief. “The thing is, Mikey, I’m helping out on your and Senju’s divorcement papers.”
Divorcement? Mikey thought to himself. What divorcement? No.. it can’t be! Harsh comments on his fragile mind have been surging in yet the first thing the mid-length haired man said was, “..Senju and I.. are married here?”
It was more like a questioning relief that regardless of him hearing the worst news he had heard, he was more focused to the point that he gradually did marry the sakura-haired woman. And, marriage is such a complex construct — Mikey gripped the papers tightly, re-reading the same sentence all over again, wishing that it will change even though it’s impossible to do so.
If he were given the chance to rewrite this paper himself, then he’ll just interpret this as a typographical error and say that it will bring a heart attack to a person.
“Yes,” Naoto answered back.
“Why?” Mikey’s voice cracked, “...What happened?”
“I..” the detective wasn’t so sure what to answer back.
The current time leaper wanted to know — heck, he deserves to know what happened. The guy was a married man in this timeline, in this future he was hoping and seeking for all these months. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you everything about what happened before you came back.”
Well, the blond did not accept that answer. He denied it.
“I’m not asking anything morbid, Naoto.” There was a striking hint of disappointment in his voice. “I have the right to know.”
It was oddly uncomfortable, weird, and strange that Mikey was so calm right now. Usually, things like this would have made him , well, have a taste of murder once again. But no, he was just reacting normally like a sane human would. Or, more like he was trying to contain himself from responding against it.
He’s actually right though. Mikey has every right to know so because as far as he knows, despite that handled divorcement paper, he was still married to Senju here. And yet, the needed answers were not given to him immediately. “I’m really sorry but I can’t. I’m not the right person to tell you that.”
In fact, what Naoto was saying is true. Although he’s the one who helps them manage through the divorcement, for him the entire thing on what happened between Senju and Mikey is out of his range for him to discuss. It was way personal that the brunette thinks that he isn’t supposed to be the one handling this.
Mikey disliked that. He needed to hear the reason, now. “Naoto, please.”
“No, I’m not in the place to tell you.”
“But I am putting you in your place to tell me the whole story as to why Senju and I filed a divorce paper.” Mikey stated, his voice strained in a serious manner. The brunette detective knows that the blond’s intent was subjectively persistent on knowing it. No harm will be done or whatsoever, but still. “If you’re the one who helps us with the entire case then that would mean you and I have the authority to discuss the matter.”
And it was quite a scary experience for Naoto to witness how Mikey uses his words in a sentence. Sometimes, he would underestimate his intelligence and hated the fact that the time leaper in front of him always kept showing his idiotic side mostly than the sophisticated one. Well, he understands it if Mikey only shows his true nature as a leader if it’s needed and if it mattered.
As much as he abhors himself from letting himself view Mikey like how he first impersonated him, due to the constant teamwork and efforts he shared with him and Takemichi, Naoto had forgotten how serious and earnest the blond is.
“I appreciate that you know how it works, however, it’s… quite of a one-sided agreement if one party hesitates to tell you–”
“Then, see me as your regular client.”
Naoto fakely coughed, “How long are you trying to keep doing this?”
“I deserve to know.” Mikey complains, “I worked long enough to see her alive.”
Seeing how desperate his longing for his wife was, he sighed as he closed his eyes just so that he would not be able to see how miserable the blond lad’s dark eyes wavers in sadness. “I think it's best suited if your friends and family would be the ones who will tell you. I’m not one to pry onto someone else’s personal problems…” His eyes looked down. “..Especially when it comes to yours.”
Mikey sighed in defeat, giving up on convincing Naoto. He slouched back on the sofa, covering his eyes with his arm. “I know the answer to this question but… please reassure me and tell me that Senju’s healthy and alive in this world.”
“Of course she is.”
“That, she’s not dying anymore — that she wouldn’t face any illnesses or violence ever again in her entire life.”
“Yes.. She’s breathing and well, Mikey.”
Mikey’s frown turned into a slight smile, putting off a huff. With still closed eyelids and his legs tapping continuously as if trying to fasten up the time, he tilted his head upwards. So many questions and it only added up when the door suddenly busted open as a familiar brunette came in the room with the pained aura coming from him.
And when the blond saw the person who came inside, his facial expression was stunned. If Takemichi is looking like he just felt the most depressing thing ever, then his thoughts get worse. So what did it really cause for him to terminate his marriage status with Senju? He was pretty sure that it’s his fault again.
Did he cheat on her again? Did he hit her? Did he abuse her? Did he abandon her? Did he… did he hate her? No! That’d be unacceptable and it was impossible for him to do that to Senju! He would never hit her, he would never do those despicable things on a girl. If he does, he’s afraid that he’s going to disappoint his late elder brother.
After all, Shinichiro always said that never, ever hit girls no matter what.
What made them get divorced in the present when he finally saved Senju? What did he actually do to make them get permanently separated in terms of marital status?
He’d punch himself if he did those horrible things to Senju– no, he might even beat himself or kill himself even better. Mikey’s fists curled into a clench as he straightened his back. “Mikey… are you back?”
He nodded slowly, blinking a few times. “Takemichi.”
“Your… your soon to be ex-wife called earlier.” Takemichi looked at him with a pair of sad eyes as he adjusted his coat, taking something from it. “She said that you can come back to your shared house with her the day after tomorrow. She’s almost done packing her things.”
Mikey was still confused and perhaps in complete denial too. The ex-time leaper noticed this with a quick glance from the lad’s face and lowered his head. Seeing this, the blond lightly begged him to tell everything.
He really clings to hope, doesn’t he?
Takemichi grabbed his phone as he discreetly dialled a phone number as he looked at Mikey with a display that screamed apologising. “I– We, we will tell you soon, okay? With.. with the others, alright?”
He then excused him as he went to the corner and quietly whispered something to this phone. Mikey gave out a tch sound but groaned in defeat. Naoto stood up with his empty coffee cup as he tapped the papers that he brought with him and rolled the newspaper he was reading just earlier, “Well.. that’s your answer.”
“Yeah, I get it.” Mikey annoyingly rolls his eyes at him.
“If things go wrong or if things aren’t still okay,” Naoto mentioned. “You’re free and welcome to use my office if you want. Also, if you’re going to leave, go take a shower here in the office’s restroom.” He continued, putting the papers in its proper place and washing his used mug. “You left spare clothing here anyway so you’re set, it’s in the restroom compartment as well.”
“...Thanks.”
“Mhm.”
-
The place didn’t change. It’s still there, the nice view and the flower arrangements that displayed the entire Hanagaki residence. Hanging pots were still there, still looking lovely as always, and it appears that there are newer flowerbeds too. He could guess that Hinata had a great time picking up-to-date pots, variations of flowers and bushes, and she also bought cacti too.
Those little green-leaf clovers are still displayed there, of course, being the symbol of the Hanagaki residence. Although the four-leafed ones are quite rare to see in lawns or gardens that they just bought realistically fake ones instead, the five-leafed ones are hugging alongside with the grass. He also saw that the fences are upgraded and turned into sturdier ones than the old ones.
Seriously, the changes in the future whilst he was busy time leaping was shocking.
With the wife’s hobbies of gardening, perhaps even Takemichi also took this flower craze to heart and helped Hinata through everything. Mikey was glad that his saviour is living his life to the fullest and that he’s spending his entire life with the love of his life forever that not even the afterlife could tear or separate them apart.
Speaking of Takemichi, the blond lad remembered what the brunette told him back at the office. It felt like he just turned back to an old tune– similarly to that, that is. He was still baffled until now.
(Sounds of a phone call ending in a small beep as the former time leaper brunette turned his back as he faced Mikey, sitting on the chair that Naoto was sitting at before. The detective preferred standing up since he needed to keep the blood and energy flowing after those full minutes of sitting on a comfortable chair.
Mikey shifted his body towards Takemichi so that he’s able to tell him what he is about to say. So that he wouldn’t slouch or complain, or maybe ask him to fix his sitting position before going straight to the point. He puts his phone back as he pressed his lips into a thin line before opening it.
“Okay, so, uhm…” He started nervously a little, “Do you still remember where my house was?”
“I do, I still do. Why?”
“Alright. That’s because…” Takemichi’s eyes averted to Naoto’s direction quickly enough just to send him the message. “..I think it’s the proper place to tell you the whole story privately. Obviously we can’t do it here, am I right?”
Mikey nodded eagerly. “Well, if it all takes to know what occurred then… I don’t even mind if you have to tell me at the top of Mount Everest.” he continued, “Or in the middle of the desert, anywhere. Senju’s well-being is more important than everything else in this world.”
Takemichi smiled with his eyes slightly as he got up, patted Naoto’s shoulder blade as he approached the door, signalling that he’ll leave because he had to do something in his house. “Just arrive after you freshen up, okay? We’ll be waiting.”)
Right, he just remembers that Takemichi’s house is the meeting place. He wonders if he told their other friends and family about this. Ably, that should be expected as always. It is inevitable but it would be more shocking if the brunette didn’t tell the others. The subject is confidential so maybe it’s understandable if no one really knows.
Besides, Mikey wanted no one to interfere in his problems. He doesn’t want them to get worried all over again, the last time they did everything went downhill. He doesn’t want this to happen so the best choice he could come up with is to handle it alone. That’s going to be a little bit impossible considering that both of his friends, Draken and Takemichi + Naoto already know it.
Also, if it’s the Hanagaki house he’s visiting, then that means the people who will approach him are Takemichi and Hinata only. Well, that wouldn’t be bad. It sounds good, actually. He knocked the door three times and rang the doorbell once, just like how they told him before, and the door was greeted open by the rosy-haired lass as expected.
When he was pulled to go inside with deemed small force (which he didn’t mind at all), familiar faces were scattered all across the living room. Mitsuya, Draken, Emma, Izana, Kazutora, Baji, Chifuyu, Yuzuha, Hakkai, and Kakucho… Ten specific people were inside and he should have probably seen this coming when he saw those parked motorcycles outside.
How come he even ignored those? And still get surprised when there’s people inside besides the Hanagaki couple? Oh well, Takemichi did mention that it is a ‘we’ that will be the ones telling him, not an ‘I’. Still though, Mikey did not really expect ten people inside.
With this happening, there’s an etched feeling the blond time leaper felt since his best friends knew about the time leaping and all– That Draken was now fully aware that he experienced his soul going back in time and experiences the same feelings of grief and that damned gunshot wound.
“Oh.”
He was speechless, that was a fact. It wasn’t only him, everyone else too. The only ones who weren't astonished were the house owners. Mikey’s obsidian eyes scanned throughout the room, the living room was fairly big that it could fit ten to fifteen people in one setting so it wasn’t time consuming to check who is who.
Though, the thing is, the Akashi brothers aren’t present. So, the way his mouth opened to mention someone he’s willing to seek answers about, asked about the two. The guy was really dead serious about her. Baji answered his question instead since the others didn’t respond right away. “...Mikey, of course they’re with their little sister. They’re with Senju, okay?”
He was an idiot for even asking that.
“Oh, right.. Right, sure, of course.”
The guy felt nervous, well, who wouldn’t be? Facing people you basically grew up with until adulthood that knows a lot about you and witnessing horrible things in life as well. Sure maybe he was bloody as hell before, or dangerous too, leading hundreds of people in such a way that family and friends were familiar with.
But him divorcing one of their closest friends, especially when two of them actually played with the soon to be ex-wife during childhood? Oh, that’s a whole ass nervous breakdown. Baji was familiar with the girl, considering that he played with her– with them, actually, when the Akashi siblings were still fine and Shinichiro alive. (They’re around in the fifth to sixth grade at that time.)
Barely looking in their eyes and forcing himself to do so because he felt like drowning in shame, Emma and Izana are the first one who approached their brother and hugged him immediately. They’re clearly worried about his state right now and started to ask and bombard him with questions. “Oh my god, Mikey, we were so worried!”
“I know.” Mikey said as he hugged them back. “I know.”
“Are you okay? We figured out just yesterday you didn’t sleep at your house… Or even in the dojo place at all..” Emma frowned worriedly. “Izana kept ringing your phone and it turns out you left it in your house.”
“I even drove all the way to your house just to check on you.” the tanned albino added in as he sighed deeply. “You seriously have the knack to leave your phone.”
“..Thanks, both of you.” Mikey muttered to them.
The sandy blonde woman looked at her older brother with a sad display on her face, “We just care for you, Mikey.”
“Next time, you better bring your damn phone.” Izana patted his back with a little weight and flicked his forehead not so gently. The blond lad grunted as he rolled his eyes towards the purple-eyed man.
He scanned the room, observing their forced stoic and timid faces before glancing back at his siblings which he wanted to clarify something about her. Mikey was worried. "Are you guys.. mad at Senju?"
With that said, all their faces fell flat sadly as they shook their heads no. He was glad that they aren’t but why are they holding such a sad expression? Shouldn’t they be displaying shock and disbelief at him? At first, Mikey thought that they were just pranking him and thinking that they hate Senju because they separated.
And yet, they aren’t. Everyone was worried about the couple — they aren’t teaming on who is who. No one is teaming up with one side, no one is teaming up to whoever they chose to, no one is teaming up. They just genuinely care for both and are concerned too to the point that it did affect them in a way.
Baji spoke first in the situation, “You guys were so happy back then. We still remembered how you guys look at each other and we can tell that both of you are in love and ready to start a life anew together.”
“Oh.” was all Mikey muttered.
“Just a few months ago, you won’t stop blabbering and bragging that you’re getting married to Senju.” Mitsuya chuckled dryly, “Thanks to Senju, you guys saved at least twenty percent because she was kind enough that I insisted on giving a discount to the wedding dress and your tuxedo.”
Then again, they are confused. Why did it seem that Mikey forgot the reason he’s getting divorced? Kazutora and Chifuyu even recalled that the blond didn't drink anything that had alcohol in it. The tallest man looked at Mikey with a worried face, it’s a look that says Mikey should tell them the truth about him after the others decided to apprise him of the situation behind.
Mikey sighed deeply and closed his eyes. It does look like that he has no choice but to say it, after this is the only opportunity he has left, he has to. He mentally apologised to Naoto as he inhaled deeply. Sorry, Naoto. I have to tell them. They deserve to know what I have been into.
“Please tell me everything. Tell me what happened between me and Senju.” His obsidian eyes looked at them sincerely. “And, I have to say something afterwards too.”
Everyone nodded at his statement and proceeded to recollect and answer every question Mikey asked them. Although this was all based from their own perspective, at least it gave him the initial idea or the centre point.
Still, what they told him broke his heart.
(They say that newlyweds can be openly affectionate. It was true, they all knew that. All of them saw how two gang leaders fell in love with each other and it progressed their relationship throughout the years. After all, no one had expected that the two were childhood friends. Gradually, they thought that Mikey and Senju would be able to balance each other out.
Actually, the two did.
But not anymore when they noticed changes already after a couple of few months. Bickering between is a normal sight for them knowing they didn’t mean it and probably an outcome of their love. However, that bickering turned into arguing instead. There would be times where they tend to hide it in public and if they come back home, they resume that.
It was a pitiful and tiring sight for their friends. Not only those who were affected inside the room right now but also the people who know them personally! Peh-yan, Pah-chin, Inupi, Koko, Wakasa, Benkei, Takeomi, Haruchiyo, Akkun, Takuya, Yamagishi, Makoto… All of the people in their circle had been noticing it.
So, whenever they ask about them, Draken and Baji would normally sway them off and tell them that the two are okay even though they aren’t. They just decided to observe because asking Mikey or Senju about their situation might not be a good idea since them being angry would result badly in the end.
Like how Takemichi and Hinata tried to confront them along with Draken and Emma. Approaching the couple by themselves upon appearing in front of their doorstep.
Knocking and knocking, no one keeps answering so the sandy blonde did her priorities straight as a sister and opened the damn door instead. Living room, no sight of Mikey and Senju. Dining room, no sight of them either. Kitchen, nothing. They checked everything downstairs not until they heard muffled shouts upstairs.
Didn’t even bother if they made noise and shit, their fight and flight response had been activated all of a sudden. And, when they actually did reach upstairs, they hesitantly stopped in their tracks. Shit, should they even have the authority to barge into someone else’s privacy in the first place? Sure, they were concerned and worried and all but, what are they doing right now…. Was it acceptable?
Emma pressed her lips into a thin line, a sweat drop slid down off her temples. “I.. I don’t think we should—”
“I think that is late for that already, Emma…” Hinata answered her as quietly as possible. “You went through the door the moment no one was answering.”
“Well, yeah.. But..” The woman sighed.
“We should get out then.” Takemichi recommended as he held Hinata’s hand tightly. “It would be best if we didn’t meddle in their business for once… I guess..”
“They’ve been like this for the past few weeks. We’ve been trying to avoid this as if it’s a normal occurrence.” Emma’s husband rejected the idea of leaving Mikey and Senju alone from their business. “I mean, come on, we all know how hard-headed the two can get… seeing them argue almost everyday is not normal anymore.”
The three of them knew how Draken cared so much for Mikey. Of course, Senju too since she was his leader before back in the Three Deities. Their attention sparked up as the shouts inside the room were getting louder. The four leaned near to the door, trying to listen to the words.
“I can’t handle this anymore, Mikey!” That voice belonged to the albino-haired woman. “Everyday, Mikey! I can’t.. I don’t think I could longer–”
“I’m so tired too, Senju! Tired of arguing the same shit all the time, can’t we just…” They heard Mikey exasperatedly sigh. “Let’s just.. Let’s take a break.”
“What…?”
“You heard me, Senju.” Mikey said, they heard him turn around due to the audible footsteps he just did. “Maybe it’s best if we’re separated for a little while..”
“Are you..” the woman’s voice cracked, “..are you saying we should.. Why can’t we just try to fix this, Mikey?”
“We’ve been trying, and trying, and trying. It never works!”
“Then let’s just try and try until we figure it out!” She remarked, “Do you not want a good future for the both of us?”
A miserable scoff emitted through Mikey’s lips, “Why can’t you just give up, Sen?”
“Because I love you.” She wistfully declared, stepping towards the door before opening the knob. “If you truly want to keep this relationship, you’d never give up…” Senju painfully frowns. “But it seems that you just did.”
When she opened the door, there she saw her friends as she widened her eyes in shock and a small gasp. Her tears almost formed that time that it momentarily stopped because of them. Draken, Emma, Takemichi, Hinata… they garnered both of the arguing couple’s attention that they can’t even utter a single word.
This felt an awkward and uncomfortable situation for the both of them. After all, no one would blame Senju nor Mikey for reacting like this. Not knowing that your friends are eavesdropping already and witnessing things that shouldn’t be seen ever. Above all, they were the ones to blame for barging into someone else’s house unannounced.
However, instead of getting approached with an angry scold, Senju and Mikey did not have the energy to quarrel with them. “Excuse me..” the albino lass said, making her way out without trying to make a fuss.
The guests were embarrassed as hell, that’s expected, as they felt like they really shouldn't have eavesdropped or meddled even though their intentions were pure and good willed. Mikey glanced at them with his familiar agonised gaze, he went closer to the door as he excused himself as well. “Enjoy yourselves at home..”
“Shit.” Draken cursed only.
The room wasn’t messy or anything, rather it was oddly ‘designed’ in a way where the sheet covers were slightly in the wrong corners, some items were placed wrongly in different furnishings, and the pillows aren’t symmetrically lying down to their supposed position in bed. Yet, it was still clean nonetheless.
So clean that this did not represent the love Mikey and Senju had for each other before it went downhill little by little. It doesn’t mean that they are messy when they are still in love, no, but the room was representing them fully and completely. Not like this, not like how their picture frames are delightfully displayed perfectly aligned, not like how it used to be when it was happy, not like the present day. It was wrong, everything was wrong.
And when the four of them noticed this, they all thought of the same thing.
There was no more hope for Mikey and Senju’s relationship to flourish into goodness.)
“I…” the blond lad gaped his mouth, feeling all the emotions related to that certain day. His head dropped low, letting his yellow locks shadow his eyes. Dropping to his knees as if he lost balance, Takemichi and Draken aided and helped him. Mikey cursed under his breath, clenching fists into a ball.
He has to keep himself from crying, he can’t break down here. Showing how vulnerable he can be, it’s just like Emma said before. He’s just a kid no matter how many façades he puts up with, even though the guy is in his late twenties and entering early thirties soon. Mikey breathed in and out multiple times before standing up steadily, giving eye contact to many.
Telling Mikey what happened seemed like a bad idea, seeing how the lad just reacted badly to it. But, they have to. Sighing, Baji walked up to his childhood friend as he patted his shoulder blade as he glanced at him with his onyx eyes. “You don’t have to force yourself to look okay. Just cry, we understand.”
“It’s good,” Mikey smiled at him slightly before reverting back to its original downward line. He felt his own heart beating so fast because of the urge to break down, “I’ll be fine.”
Baji nodded, still staying beside the blond. “Okay. We’ll be ready to help whenever you need it.”
The man appreciated how his circle of friends has always been supportive and comforting despite how much of an asshole he is (as he thinks of his own), even so he still has numerous questions to ask them. He knows that all of them are fond of Senju, having a great relationship with each and every one of them.
Kakucho decided to suddenly speak up about the issue, “Do you still want to hear other points of view towards your relationship with her?”
Mikey nodded yes. “Please. I need to know everything about…” he quietly muttered the last two words. “..my wife.”
“Alright.” Getting permission from the young man, Kakucho spoke up. “We still remember how you guys tried to get together.” A dry chuckle came out, “It was… it was a rollercoaster.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s a lot of things that seemed off when you tried to win her over. The proper intentions were there, yeah, but before when you took her to a stroll date.. You somehow gave her the least favourite flavour of ice cream.”
“But chocomint flavour is her usual?”
“Exactly.” Kakucho pointed out, “And that’s not the last one yet.”
“Huh?”
Hakkai blended into the conversation as he got a faint signal from Kakucho to continue. “It’s not only you who seemed off… Although mostly that is, there were a few days before Senju was completely ‘off’. Not exactly physically, but she was acting weird about it.”
Mikey has his ears perk up to this current conversation as everyone in the room listens to them carefully. “How.. how off she is..?”
The one speaking it appears to be hinting at something, “She was looking pale at that time.”
“What?”
“Her looking pale happens sometimes, and whenever you guys try to free your stress outside, it gets worse instead. She left you and came home immediately after you went inside the department store.”
The blond curved his lips upside down, his tone rang of disappointment. “Did we really hate each other? I couldn’t bring myself to hate her even if it was small or not.”
“Before you guys did file for a divorcement agreement and months after the ‘honeymoon phase’ or so…” Hakkai continued, “..Both of you got into a love-hate relationship that made us so concerned eventually.”
They all nodded at that statement, which made Mikey more curious. Even Chifuyu had mentioned that they were trying to look for a pet suitable enough for them to take care of despite being busy and that he and Senju would visit Baji’s pet shop almost everyday because they find the animals there cute. Not until one day they suddenly stopped going, making Chifuyu and Baji worried.
Or when Kazutora brought up this one moment where Mikey and Senju are seen frequently going inside and out of a photo booth (since the pet shop is like a neighbouring stall, with the windows as clear as day, the images are seen perfectly in view) and when the tiger himself asked the two, as they answered and quote “We wanted to have something to cherish and hold onto it forever, you know? We’re happy together and what is better than taking a picture of it?”
Izana said the picture of polaroids coming from the photo booths had been hung before in their couple's bedroom. He told Mikey that both him and Senju love to put frames to decorate their shared house with, especially when it surrounds warmth and captivates anyone who would ever step on their house.
There was a lot to process, so many to absorb at once, and numerous questions starting to get answered one by one. Although glad and grateful that his friends and family did not hesitate to tell these things to him, Mikey felt like there are times where he doesn’t prefer to know about those heartbreaking things.
He used to check and almost adopted a pet with Senju. He used to take countless pictures inside the photo booth with Senju. He used to decorate the house with Senju. Everything he does, there was always her. Her who shaped him to who he became. And yet, happiness is not enough as it breaks them apart. Again.
Has it always been like this? The blond lad hopes not. Wishing he could change it, and granted that he could– all that's left is how to execute it. He gave off a miserable smile, “I see..”
“For all what happened, you know, Mikey..” Emma started. “She still didn’t stop to finish that cookbook.”
Just one word of that special book, it cannot be helped that Mikey almost has his tears out. His voice was a little shaky, “Really?”
“Yeah. She said that she would want it finished, and that it can help other people if… oh.”
Sudden tears flowed out of Emma's sockets as she blinked a few times before Hinata and Yuzuha rubbed her back with a sad expression on their faces. Just mentioning that cook book has that effect where it just lets everyone weep out.
Same for Mikey, he does cherish the cookbook a lot. And if Senju decided to continue her work, does that mean.. are they expecting a child?
"Emma.." he began as calmly as he could, "..Am I expecting a child with Senju?"
A child. His little kid. Developing in his wife's womb. Yet, they are separating already before the child is born. The sandy blonde didn't respond to her brother's pleas.
For her, it was hard to answer because she felt and remembered how Senju cries and vents to her.
A firm grip was placed on Emma's shoulders as Mikey determinedly needs to know, needing to get that damn confirmation because he knows he fucked up too much. He doesn't want to become an absent father like his dad did to them.
"Please," Mikey begged. "Is she pregnant?"
"No." She finally answered him, holding back a sob. "She.. Senju.. got a miscarriage."
("What am I supposed to do.." Senju sobbed tears, covering her face with her small hands. She had been continuously crying these past few hours and it can't be helped.
Yuzuha filled a glass with drinking water as she handed it to the albino lass. Hina kept patting and rubbing her back and shoulders so that it might calm the lady. And Emma insisted on wiping her tears and forming sweat around her temples.
"Oh, Senju.. it's not your fault." She reassured the lass multiple times.
“We kept trying so hard, we tried everything there was.” The sobbing woman exclaimed, grabbing a tissue as she looked at her best friends with puffy eyes. “It’s been months… and god, I’m.. I’m so tired already..”
Emma hugged her friend as she tried so hard refraining herself from crying, “I’m so sorry, Senju..”
“I love your brother, I do, so so much.. But..” Senju sighed with a hiccup afterwards from all that crying, “I think he deserves someone who can bore him a child.”)
Hina continued the story for Emma, who appears unable to control her emotions at the moment while being hugged by Draken. “There’s a lot of trips from the hospital back then.. A lot of visits to the fertility doctor as well. Senju tried IVF on herself, hoping to have a baby.”
“It failed, of course.” Yuzuha added in with a gloomy tone. “She called us while you were sleeping in the middle of night, she couldn’t sleep at all with that stress and frustration. Senju mentioned that having a surrogate can be fine or adopting a child is fine, however.. She really wanted to know what pregnancy feels like.”
“Despite all of that, she still efforts to keep smiling, you know?” Emma hopped back to the conversation. “A lot happened, sure, but you two kept loving each other..”
“...until it burned out.” Hina sighed sadly. Her shoulders are being rubbed with a concerned Takemichi.
Mikey was visibly sad when he heard this, his voice cracked in disbelief. “H-how did I not help her go through all of that..?”
“You did.” Izana suddenly said. “Just… it’s not like we know everything that happened. Aside from the frequent arguments and failed pregnancies, all of us are sure that there is something that made you guys file a divorce.”
“..Huh?”
“Think about it, arguing constantly would’ve been enough for a married couple to be separated. You guys have something that we don’t know.”
The silver-haired lad has a point on that.
Had it not for him to expect that this timeline would be so great and peaceful, he would’ve prepared for what he just heard from his closest friends and family. Mikey knew to himself that he wasn’t perfect, nobody was. He knew from the start that marrying means following the vows he promised and recited at the aisle with her. From their ups and downs, sickness and health should a couple stick together.
Numerous timelines, multiple time leapings, ang sleepless nights result in this. Regardless of these things, he could never blame Senju. She didn’t do anything wrong, all she ever did was to live and he was the one who kept messing her life. All she ever wanted was a life with him, knowing that he was a living curse.
He is not someone who is pleasant to be with, he knows that sad fact, and yet she chose him despite all those bad remarks about him. Maybe it was his fate that he ended up in the worst timeline possible and that time itself was playing out. Or, maybe God was petty enough and decided to ruin things for him.
Mikey collapsed to his knees as his eyes darkened in sorrow, “She’s alive.. Yes.. but… if not being able to be with her… then.. What was the point..?”
He kept muttering to himself whether he deserves this life or not. He already repented and asked for forgiveness a lot of times, and perhaps it was not enough for whoever was above the world. It was cruel, yes, and that is how it should be. How it works for the world that was tortured enough.
Draken, Takemichi, Izana, and Emma came to aid the blond lad as they heard something uttered coming from his mouth. “If she is alive here.. Then, that’s all it matters.. It’s alright.”
He didn’t care if he said that out loud or not, whether if the others were confused or to get concerned by that. If they think to themselves that Senju is originally dead in the first place, fully aware that they’d just deny it.
The first two knew what Mikey was talking about. Takemichi was aware of things, right in the first place since he was the trigger of the man’s time travelling. Draken only found out because he had contact with Takemichi’s phone and he was willing that he’ll do whatever Mikey asks him to do. He owes a lot to that guy.
There were no more tears left to cry, Mikey had to calm his rampaging heart before trying to breathe in and out since it got suffocating. He thanked the four of them who came up to him, whispering a ‘thank you’ as he rose himself from collapsing onto his knees. “...When will the final papers be signed in order for us to be successfully divorced?”
“In a few days, Mikey.” Mitsuya answered his question.
Just a few more days. Would that mean he still has a chance to fix everything? Will he be able to fix it in time? Will he be able to face Senju from all the things that have happened? After all, there’s also another reason why they had to break their wedding promises to each other.
He couldn’t give up. He will not and he thinks he shouldn’t. There are so many things he needed to figure out— things that needed to be solved. He needs to know what Senju puts in her box and the needed lock and key just to open it, or what kind of recipe would Senju put as an ending.
A lot of reasons to live– and she was his major reason.
If the woman he desperately wanted saved never gave up on him to every timeline he had visited, then so should he. Maybe this time would be a silly reason, but he’s ready to risk it all if he only wanted to see Senju smiling and enjoying her life. He wouldn’t give up on her that easily.
There were a lot of detours but that was okay. He felt a little hopeful contrary to what his face just displayed in front of his peers. Then again, should he just allow that he’s going to part ways with Senju? So in that way she won’t be able to experience death once again and him seeing her lifeless body? Well the thing is, the woman will never experience it anymore if Mikey does anything and everything just to prevent it.
Plus, he imagines that his older brother Shinichiro cheers him on.
Minutes passed on and oddly enough, Mikey was silent that it gathered everyone’s worry. Asking him if he was okay and if needed a chair to sit on, or a drink to hydrate, or a good bed enough for him to rest his body. “Hey, Mikey, you good?”
He nodded in response before looking at everyone inside the room with an appreciative gaze towards them. Mikey figured that he should also tell his part to them. “I guess.. You guys are wondering why I look like I don’t know what happened between me and Senju.”
They shook their heads yes at him except for the other two that know but they have to go along with it. The blond only scratched at his nape as he continued, “I promise, I really don’t know. I wasn’t joking when I said that.”
“Yeah.. but it was weird. How come you forgot it?” Kazutora asked. “I mean, we believe in you– it’s just that, it’s kinda off in some parts.”
“There is something that I’ve been meaning to tell..” Mikey started, “Probably something big to absorb?”
Baji hummed in question, “Is it going to be revealing?”
“Yes.”
“Then… what is it?”
“Did you guys notice something different about me these past few months?”
When they looked at each other just to confirm it, Chifuyu spoke up first so that they’d go in turns to speak. “You’ve been distancing yourself in the beginning, as far as I can remember.”
Most of what they said was true and accurate, which made Mikey a little bit surprised but he did expect that since most of them have a strong memory. Like what Yuzuha said when he decided to distract himself mostly on work so he wouldn’t be able to remind himself of the drastic problems. (Which was true but it wasn’t technically a job– or was it? He wasn’t sure– that made him busy all of a sudden.)
Or when Emma and Izana mentioned that whenever they visit his house, it’s either he’s not at his own house or just decided to stay out late. They all mentioned things that did happen and he was genuinely shocked at what his other self did before his ‘real’ self merged to this timeline.
All of these things are true, that he can agree. Although he’s going to question some of them, most of it was definitely correct. “I didn’t expect you guys to say a lot about it…”
“Can’t be helped,” Kakucho gave a shrug. “You’ve been mostly around in everyone’s lives. It’d be much weirder if no one bats an eye on your behaviour.”
Mikey emitted a soft chuckle that made him relieve a light feeling to his chest. “Isn’t that so touching?”
Izana rolled his eyes, “Shut up. Now, what were you trying to tell us?”
“Ah,” the lad’s lips formed an ‘o’, looking at Draken and Takemichi with no words to tell anymore just to say a message to them that he’s going to do it. “Do you guys remember that Takemichi used to time leap by saving Hina and everyone else in the process?”
This made them get more curious. “What are you trying to say…?”
“There's a lot of timelines where it indicates what would happen afterwards after an action is made at the end of the day, going to be either a consequence or not.”
I’m going to tell them now.
“Wait… are you..?”
Just by saying timelines and referring to the word ‘time leap’, the reaction was immaculate. It was some sort of a mixed emotions, their eyes widened at the revelation coming from their leader and perhaps a role leader in some cases, “Don’t you fucking tell us—”
“Yeah.. I’m a time-leaper. I’ve seen horrendous things and have been trying to save Senju from her death.” Mikey told them the truth. I’m going to risk it all. Just for her, and only for her.