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Kou looked miserable, he was so serious, so unusual from his almost permanent positivity, he hasn’t spoken since they arrived.
Mitsuba looked back at him, but he didn’t know what to say. They reached the spot, and as they were standing there, waiting for this to start, or to be over, they truly didn’t know which one was better or worse.
Mitsuba took a deep breath, and exhale to gain courage, “Welp!” He clap, startling Kou, and successfully pulling him out of his own thoughts, “Come on Minamoto-kun, show me a little of your almost non-existential cool side” Mitsuba said with a teasing and upbeat voice, but even tho his words and voice sounded and seem like his usual bratty self, the conflicted emotion that his eyes held, was unmistakable.
Kou just sigh, and look at Mitsuba challenging and a bit annoyed, but now a clear, but small, smile was now present on his face, Mitsuba smile back, he was able to accomplish once again pulling Kou’s mind out of the gutter, he was quite proud of how good he has become at doing that, Mitsuba smile, enjoying for one last time the satisfaction of annoying Kou, always being able to make his eyes look his way.
“So! Let’s finish this, oh future, not-so-lame, great exorcist” Mitsuba replied upbeat and a bit sarcastic, but still genuine.
Kou looks at him in shock, but soon his face turns into one of amusement, “What? YOU, calling ME, a not-so-lame and even a great exorcist???” Kou asked amused, Mitsuba just shrugged.
“Just thought it would be nice to give you one, even if it’s a lie to sooth your lame and dorky self” Mitsuba said teasingly smirking, Kou look at him with a frown now present, but still somewhat amuse. Mitsuba was insufrible, but he would be lying if he said he wasn’t gonna miss this.
They got in position, for the exorcism, “…But for real Minamoto…” Mitsuba said almost whispering, Kou look at him expectedly, “You’re gonna be a great exorcist one day. I’m sure you’re gonna do great things”, Mitsuba looked at him smiling with eyes full of genuineness, Kou felt his hand tremble slightly, but not as much as his lip, he bit it. he wasn’t gonna cry. not this time. He promised.
“You really suck, you know that?” Kou replied as he sighed, his voice trembling slightly, he took a few seconds to control his breathing, giving Mitsuba a look with eyes that held annoyance and contained sadness, as small tears threatened to fall from the corner of his eyes, but his irritated smile was still prevalent.
Mitsuba just giggle as he closes his eyes slightly, shaking his head from side to side.
“But thank you…” Kou said, his voice barely audible. Mitsuba turned to look at Kou, shocked, “Thank you for being in my life. Thank you for existing Mitsuba”, Kou smile full of genuineness and a bittersweet melancholy.
Mitsuba felt his eyes sting and swell slightly with tears, “awww man…now WHO is the one that sucks???” Mitsuba said, a little annoyed, but chuckling slightly as he rubbed his eyes trying to prevent the tears from falling out. Kou laughed tiredly but a little bit less tense than before, as if he had finally let go of something that he’s been carrying for a while.
“Thank you for being part of mine too” Mitsuba said, grinning brightly as some tears escape from his eyes.
And just like that unexpected meeting between the two started all those months ago, the fights, the teasing, the laughs, the dates, the butterflies, it all came to an end, with just a young exorcist carrying an even bigger scar than before, but somehow, feeling lighter than what he had felt in years, for once in his 14 years of life, Kou felt like he did the right thing. And it hurt.