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“Listen to me, Chifuyu!”
And the other boy is genuinely paying attention, stopped mid-spin on his swivel chair, eyes comically blown wide from the sudden halt. But the awkward fidgeting reveals that he doesn’t really believe what's going on.
Takemichi groans, exasperated, tired from having to repeat this again and again.
“If we don’t change the future, Baji-kun is going to die tomorrow!” Takemichi isn’t sure how he can make this any more clear, because that tomorrow is only a couple of hours from now.
He thought about easing Chifuyu into this crucial information. Or maybe redo-ing the past with as few changes as possible—which means not letting Chifuyu know about the future or time-traveling aspect until much later.
But Takemichi misses his partner. His aibō.
And he thinks Chifuyu might be the key to fixing everything this time.
“Don’t fucking joke about that, Takemitchy,” but Chifuyu isn’t laughing either. There’s nothing funny about this—and Takemichi knows it.
“It’s not a joke, dammit!”
Realistically, there’s no way he could have gotten as far as he did without Chifuyu by his side, protecting him, supporting him. Always aiding in his plans and being the best friend a guy could ever ask for. Man, he really wishes Chifuyu never has to go through all of this again.
If he has any regrets in the future, it’s that Takemichi wasn’t able to save Baji for him.
“C'mon, didn’t you hear anything I just said? I could really use your help here, Chifuyu! We need some kind of plan, you always…”
Takemichi finds himself steeling his resolve to meet his best friend’s gaze. He holds them in this life-changing moment, and then holds himself accountable for all the things he wasn’t able to change last time.
“You just said some shit about being a time-traveler, you expect me to believe all that crap?” Chifuyu shakes his head, his smile strained, like he’s still waiting for the punchline of a joke to hit. “Wait, you did? Takemitchy, are you serious?”
“I am.” He clenches his teeth and then both his fists. “And I’ve seen the future.”
How Chifuyu opens a pet shop—because it was Baji’s dream—but then closes himself off to the rest of the world. How Chifuyu takes on Toman—then takes on too much, way too much—and lets it take the final toll on him.
How a part of Chifuyu dies that day—tomorrow—when Baji dies too.
“Kisaki is going to betray us tomorrow and he’ll get away with it.” He closes his eyes, remembering the things he’s let come to pass. All the times he’s been fooled by Kisaki.
“And Baji-kun is going to try and stop him, but he’ll fail and di-”
“Stop!” Chifuyu is already out of his seat, the chair knocked over in his haste to stand and cross the room. “Why are you fucking saying all of this?!”
Because in every timeline Takemichi has been to, he remembers the way Chifuyu lives without truly living.
“Last time, I didn’t do enough! I didn’t tell you until it was too late!”
The room is silent after his outburst. Their voices rose unintentionally, until they found themselves yelling at one another heatedly.
It’s not until Chifuyu whispers, shaken, that they can truly hear the underlying emotion in his voice—it’s fear.
“So this really happened before?”
Takemichi is so relieved he wants to cry. “You finally believe me, huh?”
“It’s not that…” Chifuyu looks like he’s in physical pain hearing all of this, worse than when Takemichi had found him bandaged on the playground. “The risk is too high to not believe you. If Baji-san’s life is really in danger—”
Chifuyu stops, then shakes his head like he wants to leave the thought alone. “Plus you said some weird things on the bridge, earlier. I wasn’t standing close enough to hear what you were talking about in detail, but…”
Takemichi laughs nervously.
“‘Please don’t die,’ you said that today, to Baji-san.”
The truth is that Takemichi had only been able to timeleap to this universe about an hour ago.
“And the way you said it, like you knew that Baji-san was gonna die.” Chifuyu continues on, as he figures out his own reasoning. “That’s why you were so desperate to talk to him today!”
Those actions were taken by the past Takemichi and thankfully it seems like they’re still consistent with what he remembers. Their time on the bridge, although occurring within that day, was actually months in passing to him.
He’s gone so long without even seeing what Baji looks like in person, the First Division Captain only existing within his memories.
But it’s too much to explain to Chifuyu right now.
Even Takemichi doesn’t understand how he was able to travel back in time irregularly, breaking his 12 year rule, but he’s not about to take it for granted. The details can be analyzed later. Right now they have something bigger to focus on.
“Now that I think about it, there’s actually a lot that’s off about you.” Chifuyu glances at him from the side, a bit of a wiry smile and smug expression.
“Well, I mean, that’s…” Takemichi starts, until he remembers that he’s barely interacted with Chifuyu in this timeline. “Wait, what?”
“Anyways, partner. Now that I know, what do you supposed we do about it?”
The subject is immediately changed by Chifuyu, but since the conversation is getting back to the point, Takemichi lets it slide. “I’ll tell you everything I know.”
He hopes it’ll be enough. It has to be.
“I promise you, we’ll save him this time, Chifuyu.”
—
They are not saving Baji’s life this time.
With deep regret, Takemichi realizes that it’s going to have to be the next go around. If he can figure out how to do the repeat time travel thing again…
He really hopes this wasn’t a one time do-over.
“No, no, you’re not listening,” he says, for the umpteenth time.
Chifuyu is definitely not listening.
“I am listening, Takemitchy!”
His ass is not listening.
“He hits you with a steel pipe,” Takemichi explains calmly, recounting the future of tomorrow, “and then after that Kazutora-kun stabs him.”
Chifuyu curses under his breath. “So that’s what kills him?”
“No, after that he hits you again.” Takemichi can’t help wincing at the memory. “And then he hits me too, after we try offering him help.”
“...fuckin’ badass.”
Takemichi ignores the comment.
He also knows to leave out the part about Baji taking out fifty guys in the Third Division—by himself while bleeding out—before reaching Kisaki. Because if he mentions any more heroic feats by Baji Keisuke, he’s going to lose Chifuyu’s concentration completely.
“But then he stabs himself and that’s what ultimately kills him.”
Chifuyu is quiet for a moment.
“Then we stab Kazutora first!” His partner suddenly yells. “Or we take out Kisaki and Hanma beforehand!” Chifuyu stands up, his arm cutting through the air to mimic a violent motion. “Baji-san can’t kill a dead man, so we’ll just kill Kisaki for him—problem solved!”
“No, we can’t—” Takemichi starts, then sighs. “I don’t have time to keep explaining this to you, but the problem here is keeping Baji-kun alive!” He shakes his head, hoping to clear his thoughts. “Nothing else should be changed until we have more information.”
If they’re going to redo Bloody Halloween—with no lives lost the second time around—they’ll need to take as few risks as possible. Last leap, there had been too many factors to keep track of and that’s how Baji’s death had blindsighted him.
But now that he thinks about it, there’s still one thing that’s standing in the way of their success.
“Chifuyu…” he asks hesitantly, “how come you can’t hit Baji-kun?”
“What?” The other boy sounds taken aback.
Takemichi rolls his eyes.
“You literally say,“ he pitches his voice into a whiny cadence and adds some air quotes for dramatic effect. “Oh no, I can’t hit Baji-san!”
“I don’t say that!” For some reason, Chifuyu gets flustered.
“You do.” Takemichi deadpans.
“Well, I don’t say it like that!” Chifuyu crosses his arms, but his blush deepens.
“If you can’t hit Baji-kun with your fists,” says Takemichi, deep in thought, “then we’ll have to hit him with something else.”
“Like what?” The other boy starts pacing around the room, still acting on edge and not looking his way. “What could I even possibly say to stop him? There’s no way! Once Baji-san sets his mind on something—”
"What if you try… distracting him?”
Chifuyu stops walking, facing the window, but Takemichi can see the top of his ears are starting to turn red. It must be emotionally stressful for him. They’re trying to prevent his best friend’s death after all.
“Is there anything you could say or do that would stop Baji-kun for a few minutes?” He tries asking. “That’s all we would need, to buy us some more time.”
His partner is oddly silent.
“Please, Chifuyu. Give me something to work with here!”
“I think…” his partner's voice comes out small, “I think, maybe, I could distract him…”
“Yeah?” Takemichi asks, hopeful for once. “You think you can do that?”
Chifuyu swallows. “Uh, how long do… I need to keep him… distracted?”
“As long as possible,” says Takemichi. “At least long enough for me and Mitsuya-kun to grab Kazutora-kun and then get that knife off him.”
Glad that they’re finally making leeway, Takemichi collapses back onto the bed. He doesn’t see what expression Chifuyu is making, because he’s looking up at the ceiling as he continues talking.
“I haven’t met Hakkai in this timeline yet, but since I’m in the Second Division right now it shouldn’t be a problem.” He frowns, remembering the order of his past friendships. “If I can convince Mitsuya-kun to go along with the plan, then Hakkai will do it, too.”
“How are you gonna do that?”
Takemichi isn’t sure, but that’s something for tomorrow.
“Let me worry about that, you just concentrate on stopping Baji-kun and keeping him away from Kisaki. Once we get to Kazutora-kun, that changes things and then anything can happen in this timeline.”
“Right,” his voice sounds distant, unsure. “I’ll take care of Baji-san, while you guys take care of Kazutora… Then we can get rid of that rat bastard Kisaki!”
“No, that comes later. After we disarm Kazutora-kun we’ll need him to reconcile with Mikey-kun and—” Takemichi feels a headache coming on, with all that they still have to do. But at least he has an abundance of knowledge from multiple futures now.
Takemichi can’t possibly mess this up again.
“Remember, once Baji-kun starts the countdown, that’s when Kazutora-kun is on the move.”
He feels Chifuyu sit down on the bed with him, the mattress dipping under the weight.
“Got it, so I have to stop Baji-san before then.”
Takemichi gives his friend a reassuring pat on the back, from where he’s laying down.
“If Baji-kun gets to zero, then it’s all over.” He tries to sound cheerful to relieve some of the pressure off of them. “Don’t worry, I’ll run in and help you out if it comes to it.”
But Chifuyu is stubborn. “You won’t need to do that.”
“We’re partners right?” Takemichi reassures. “I’ve got your back! If you can’t do this—”
“No,” replies Chifuyu. “I’ll do it.”
“Alright, I’m counting on you!”
—
Baji is already counting.
They’ve absolutely fucked this one up and Takemichi is mentally preparing himself to cut his losses and figure out how to time leap a second (third?) time back to this very moment.
“You got ten seconds.”
Chifuyu and Baji are standing on top of the wreckage, having a face off amongst all the abandoned cars as an audience. Even though Takemichi wants to watch what happens next, he knows these remaining few seconds are crucial.
“Ten.”
Takemichi looks around for Kazutora, who should be making his way over very soon.
Any hint of the two-tone hair, or a white jacket slipping between the black cladded Toman members, maybe a shimmer of the blade that’s about to take someone’s life.
“Nine.”
Suddenly, Takemichi sees his target running from the side. He signals to Mitsuya and Hakkai to be ready, the Second Division members discreetly getting into position.
If the two of them can stop Kazutora in time, maybe he can climb up to Chifuyu and provide back-up.
“Eight.”
Before making his way over, he looks back at Chifuyu, hoping for the best.
But it’s no different than before.
He hates having to leave his partner behind, but they both have a task to complete right now. Takemichi can at least rest assured that if things play out exactly the same, these two will still be in their stalemate when he gets back.
Because although neither of them are unmoving, it’s Chifuyu who is distinctly frozen.
“Seven.”
His gaze moves down to the steel pipe, still dripping with Chifuyu’s blood.
Chifuyu had known, Takemichi had told him.
But he still didn’t dodge the hit, letting history repeat itself once more. It seems like maybe some things can’t change after all.
“I’m the First Division Vice Captain,” he hears the blond say, pleading really, against the countdown. “I’m here to protect you, Baji-san…”
“Six.”
Baji, who’s been looking at Chifuyu like they’re the only ones left, as if it’s just the two of them on this battlefield.
From further away this time, Takemichi can see it all so much clearer. He doesn’t know how he hadn’t before.
Maybe that’s how neither of them had noticed the danger sneaking up last time, until it was too late.
Not that Takemichi could share that excuse.
“What’s wrong?” Asks Baji, his tone giving nothing away.
But Takemichi knows better. He doesn't know how to explain it. How truly wrong it is. Now that he knows Baji’s true intentions of protecting Toman, protecting Chifuyu—
“I don’t want to hit you, Baji-san.”
“Five.”
Mitsuya and Hakkai jump Kazutora at the same time.
It’s amazing how much can happen in just five seconds.
Hakkai holds Kazutora down, but it’s Mitsuya who gets stabbed with the knife. Two people who were never involved in the first place, putting their lives at stake to prevent another’s death.
Takemichi dashes over to help when he sees them struggling.
When he gets there, Hakkai has made himself into a fortress, his long limbs trapping the shorter boy beneath him, pinning Kazutora to the ground. Mitsuya grips his own arm, the cut bleeding through his uniform, but otherwise a shallow wound, thankfully.
“Taka-chan!” Hakkai yells, but doesn’t take his eyes or hands off of the Valhalla member.
“I’m fine.” Mitsuya responds. He’s not, but he’ll definitely live. “Just get that weapon off him!”
The injured boy uses the last of his strength to kick the knife, sending it spiraling out of Kazutora’s grasp and across the junkyard. Takemichi frantically runs after to retrieve it, bringing him closer to the duo on the wreckage.
From this range he can still hear them talking, especially as the distance grows smaller.
“Thought you weren’t holding back?” Baji taunts. “If you don’t kill me…you won’t be able to stop me.”
“Four.”
Takemichi wraps his fingers around the handle the same moment he hears it, whipping his head up.
He’s about to go, intervene before the countdown gets any lower.
“Thre—”
“K-Keisuke!”
The last three seconds stretch on forever.
Baji looks taken aback.
Chifuyu, red faced, and panting, looks torn between apologizing or asking for permission to use his Captain’s first name. It would be hilarious if there wasn’t so much riding on this moment.
Even the scuffle with Kazutora has stopped, the two boys on top finally securing him as their target gives up. But it’s obvious the group is listening in, with the way everyone stays silent.
“...Two.”
But it wasn’t enough to stop Baji, who has resumed counting, albeit slower and more unsure.
Chifuyu looks panicked, like it took everything within him to just say it.
They’re running out of time.
In another timeline, during Takemichi’s most desperate negotiation, Chifuyu had offered him a simple thumbs up as encouragement.
So when the blond looks at him for support, Takemichi does the same without thinking. But unlike the previous time, Chifuyu seems to get whatever courage he needs from the gesture, as he faces forward again. Determined.
“On-”
Before the countdown hits zero, Chifuyu is already on the move.
The space and insecurities between them disappears as Chifuyu makes the final leap.
Baji doesn’t expect a head on attack so he doesn’t react in time. Chifuyu steps into his space and fists the front of his uniform, bringing their heads together for a kiss.
Takemichi stumbles.
When he stands up again, he deliriously wipes his eyes before taking in the sight before him. The two of them are still connected, breathing each other’s air and finding one another with an intimate embrace.
“Hakkai, don’t—don’t look.”
Mitsuya is using his bad hand to cover Hakkai’s eyes, his wound openly bleeding on both of them. But it’s the least of their problems and not even registering as a shock compared to everything else.
“Chifuyu! Don’t give up!” Hakkai says, peering around the fingers.
“Hakkai, what the fuck,” says Takemichi.
“Stick your tongue in his mouth!” Mitsuya yells, using his good hand to project his voice. “You’ve got this, Chifuyu!”
“Mitsuya-kun, you too?!” Takemichi stares in disbelief.
Cheers of encouragement and catcalling surrounds them, surprisingly from both sides. It feels surreal.
“Did everyone know this but me?!” Exclaims Takemichi, whirling around.
“Ugh, even I knew about this…” Kazutora grumbles from the ground, his head pressed against the dirt, “from his fucking letters.”
“It’s—it’s working.” At this point, Takemichi is forced to accept that a miracle may have happened. “We stopped him?” He doesn’t care how, he’s just glad that it happened. “Holy shit… we did it.”
Takemichi drops to his knees in relief.
—
“Fuckin’ bastard.” But the harsh statement is softened by the kisses punctuating each word. “You never do what I tell you to.” Baji laughs. “I said to hit me with your best shot—this really the best you could do?”
Chifuyu pulls back, radiant and flushed. “Start the countdown again, and maybe I’ll hit you with something else.”
The comeback sounds closer to a promise than a threat, so Baji takes the bait. “Tough talk for someone who waited until the last second!”
Chifuyu doesn’t let it faze him, instead lowering his voice. “Do it again, Baji-san.”
But it’s unclear if he’s referring to the kiss or the countdown this time.
“You really gonna follow through?” Baji asks, smirk in place. “You want more than ten seconds this time?”
“Yeah,” says Chifuyu, smiling. “I want a lifetime with you.”