(✓) the scariest future. [UNEDITED]

chapter 22

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(A/N: idk how orphanages work so bear with me;-;)

1.

2003

"You look like you got something on your mind, Hanagaki-kun," The old man who sat parallel to him noticed, his eyes still reading the morning newspaper.

Takemichi shook it off by shaking his hands in the air from denial, "I must still be sleepy! Thank you for worrying though."

The old man didn't say anything else, as he was still paying attention to the news printed on a big sheet of paper.

"Hey, Takemichi-kun," Shinichiro started a conversation between them. The blonde boy looked in his direction. "Thanks for saving Kazutora-kun back then. Though you had lots of bruises around your body."

Did I save Kazutora-kun? He thought. He looked still at the older's dark obs, lost in thought. From who? What even happened?

He then remembered a story that the said male told him while hanging out in a coffee shop. Oh yeah, that time I saved him from being scratched by a wild cat by the corner near Shinichiro-san's shop.

"Takemichi-kun? Takemichi-kun!" Shinichiro snapped his fingers, trying to get Takemichi. "Are you alright? You've been spacing out since yesterday."

"Ah, I'm alright, Shinichiro-san!" He smiled with his eyes closed, but that didn't earn a sign of relief from the other.

"Takemicchi," Mikey took a spoonful of his omelette. "You're food's gonna get cold, you know. And you don't look so well."

Yeah, he's having a headache and he doesn't know why. Probably from the time travel or other stuff, but he thinks that's not it.

"Maybe he had that headache from the big impact when he hurt his head," Emma butted in, sitting down by the chair near to Mikey. "I mean, he fell off the stairs pretty hard."

And now I feel on the stairs, Takemichi deadpanned. Well, great.

"Hey, Takemicchi," Mikey said. "Let's go out after this."

The blonde looked at the other, "Oh, sure."

"Hey Gramps," Shinichiro stood up, pushing the chair under the wooden table, and strode towards the exit. "I'll be going!"

"Aniki?" Emma looked up. "Where are you going?"

"Me?" Shinichiro looked behind, a smirk drawn on the side of his lips. "I'm going on a date with Waka."

"Again?!" Mikey groaned, stuffing his mouth with a large piece of omelette. "You just had a date with him yesterday!"

"Is there something wrong with being with your significant other every day, Manjiro?" Mansaku butted in, his eyes still reading the newspaper.

"Well, no..."

"I'll be going!" Shinichiro turned around, raising his hand before stuffing it inside his jean pockets. "See you."

"Bye, Shinichiro-san," Takemichi weakly waved goodbye, watching the familiar figure disappear into the halls.

2.

"Took you a while to get out of the house," Wakasa was waiting in the front gate, eyes still lazy as always. Shinichiro looked at him up and down, he looked great. He wore an ash grey long sleeve with a lace collar wrapped near his neck, tucked in a midnight blue skirt (?) and topped off with a black woollen oversized jacket that went up to his waist. He had laced oxford shoes on and a white bag hanging on his shoulder.