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CHAPTER ONE
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*THUD*
Hurts.
Everything hurts.
That's all the raven-haired man could think as his family members surround him, worry evident on their faces.
"ITACHI! WHAT HAPPENED, DEAR?! OH, MY BABY! SASUKE CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE!!"
"I've already called for one, it's on its way. Please calm down mother." Sasuke replies with a shaky voice and tears threaten to spill from his eyes.
"Sasuke is right, honey. Calm down." Fugaku tries to comfort his wife as he looks concerned for his son.
"How can I?! Our son just..."
Itachi could faintly hear the worried voices of his family, distant murmurs of his relatives as he can feel himself being lifted and taken away.
'Am I going to die...?' is all Itachi can think of before he gives into darkness.
YEAR 2021
It's been around 11 months since that day. Itachi had collapsed on Christmas day during a family dinner. He is healthier now, although a lot had changed since then. He had been really distant from his parents, his brother, his friends. He lived away from everyone, alone in an apartment, with no one to come home to. It's sad really, but he liked living like this.
*BZZT* *BZZT*
*BZZT* *BZZT*
*BZZT* *BZZT*
*BZZT* *B-
Itachi mutes his phone, irritated to have been woken up. He sits up to look at his phone and sees 'MOM' written on the screen. He rolls his eyes.
Ignoring the call, he gets up. Glancing at the clock, he chooses to get ready seeing how it's 8:17 AM and he has to be at work by 9:30 AM. Groggily making his way towards the restroom he starts his routine.
-Timeskip-
♫ Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring ♫
Waking down the street, Itachi could see decorations put up, bakeries opening early spreading the mouth-watering aroma of Christmas delicacies, people playing songs to fit the ambiance of the holiday.
Itachi, disregarding it all, keeps walking.
The sound of bells chiming filled his ears as he opens the door to the café. The smell of fresh coffee invades his nose, as it immediately soothes his sour mood.
"Hey, Itachi!" Asuma, his friend greets from behind the counter.
"Hello, Asuma-san." Itachi greets him back with less enthusiasm and with a small, but fake smile.
"You know, you said you would hang out yesterday, but I never saw you." Asuma says with a saddened look, although he hid it well. Itachi gives him a fake apologetic smile.
"I apologize, I've just been busy, Asuma." Itachi internally rolls his eyes at his overused excuse. He really does need to come up with another one.
"Busy with what? Arranging books?" Asuma sarcastically retorts while stacking a bunch of cookie boxes on the shelf.
"I-"
"Don't say that, Asuma. I'm pretty sure he's working on his novel. I'm really looking forward to reading it, Itachi" Kurenai comes into view and smiles at him.
"Thank you, Kurenai-san." He smiles as he takes the coffee she hands him.
"That'll be 300 yen as usual." Kurenai tells him. Itachi hands her the money and then takes a sip of his coffee.
"You know he is right, Itachi." Kurenai continues. "We see you every day just for two minutes when you take your coffee and then you're gone till the next day. Everyone misses you, come hang out with us again sometime, alright?"
"Hn. I'll think about it, Kurenai-san." Itachi responds and walks out of the café. She sighs, shaking her head, seeing how he probably overlooked her words.
"Don't stress about it too much." Asuma places a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Yeah but I still can't help but get worried." She turns to face him.
"He just needs some time. As his friends, we should respect his wishes." He explains
"Yeah, you're right." She smiles lovingly at her husband.
