Toman's Little Sister

88 | Past Life

You returned to the record shop the next day, seeing the empty space at the window sill. Before you could pass by, the bell of the shop's front door jingled. "Excuse me!"

With a tilted head, you turned, seeing Takemichi stood in the doorway. "You're... the one that left the sticky note?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Have we... met before?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean..." He held up the sticky note. "Someone has said this to me before."

•••

Your eyes opened, seeing the familiar hospital ceiling above you head. "Man, I hate this place."

"Then stop putting yourself in it, would you?"

You slowly sat up, still aching despite the dose of pain killers you were given. "Mikey!"

He leaned back in his chair, fidgeting with a flag you normally found in a kid's meal at restaurants. "You're finally awake."

"I shouldn't have been out for too long."

"Only a few hours. It felt like a long time though."

"What's happened in those few hours?"

Mikey shrugged. "Kazutora went back to juvie. Sanzu and Hanma were sent there as well, but since Sanzu was doing it out of 'protection', they shortened his sentence. And your dad disappeared."

"What happened with the other gang?"

"They're under investigation as well."

You tilted your head, your grip tightening on the hospital blankets. "Why do you refuse to look at me?"

"...I don't want you to see my future. Whatever danger I might be in." His eyes watered. "You should've told me. I don't know what I could've done but at least you wouldn't have been alone."

"Look who's talking." You brought your knees close, resting your bandaged arms on them. "Your ability to ask for help isn't any better than mine. You tried to face all this by yourself."

Mikey finally looked at you. "Not by myself. I had Emma. And you."

"Emma?" You leaned your head on your arms and smiled to yourself, simply at the name. "Yeah..."

"I could've been so much worse, you know."

"A shame. That would've been interesting. I'm sure Takemichi would save you."

"You put a lot of faith in him."

"Of course." You didn't really give Mikey a reason for trusting Takemichi. He was like a face all too familiar to you, yet not familiar at all. You had seen him in the future, although you don't remember, but it wasn't the same him that he was now.

One with determination, bravery, a drive that no one could combat.

A crybaby hero.

"Mikey, do you think..." Tears pooled in your eyes and you turned away. "do you think we could go back?"

He shook his head. "I don't think so. But... we could make a better future."

You chuckled. "Yeah. I think I could live with that."

The door burst open. "Y/N!"

"Yamagishi, we're in a hospital."

You lifted your head. "Boys! How've you been?" Yamagishi rested his head at the end of your hospital bed. "As good as I could be."