A Future Without You is Soon |Mikey x OC|

Chapter Thirty

Christmas had come too fast. Takemichi wasn't sure he was ready for it. He hadn't been able to call Shiho for a couple days. It was slightly worrying, but he had to keep moving forward.

   "Can you stick to the plan?" Kisaki asks.

   "Yeah," Takemichi says. "I'll go talk to Hakkai. He should already be in the church. You guys go ambush Taiju."

   "Takemicchi," Chifuyu says lowly, moving a little closer to his Captain. "I know beating Taiju is important, but none of this matters if you can't persuade Hakkai. Persuading him will change the future."

   "Yeah," Takemichi says distantly. "I got this."

   Takemichi walks up the stairs briskly. This is his chance! He can save everyone with this. Takemichi opens the grand door to the church, peeking inside before walking in fully.

   Like he thought, Hakkai is there waiting. He stands with his back to the door, but he turns at the sudden noise.

   "Hakkai!"

   Hakkai raises his brows in surprise. "Takemicchi? What are you doing here?"

   "I figured you'd be here, Hakkai," Takemichi says.

   "What's going on?"

   "I came here to stop you!" Takemichi felt strange for being ever so slightly grateful to Kisaki, but he shoves the feeling away and focuses on the plan in front of him. Taiju might get here soon.

   "Takemicchi," Hakkai says, pulling Takemichi from his thoughts. "I didn't have that talk so you could stop me. It was to strengthen my resolve! Get in my way, and I'll kill you, too!"

   "No, you won't."

   "Hah?"

   "Whenever I share my memories with someone, it's because I don't know what to do," Takemichi explains. His fists clenched at his side. "Hakkai...I know how you feel. You think there's no other way to stop Taiju. That there's no other way but to kill him. But choosing murder...that doesn't protect anyone. Don't you want to protect your sister? Hakkai!"

   Hakkai pauses for a moment, his face contorting in rage. "What would you know?" He shouts. Takemichi stiffens. Hakkai seems to notice this, because he calms down and turns away from Takemichi. "If the food tastes bad, he hits me. If I don't greet him right, he'll force me to kneel all day. If I don't wake up earlier than he does, he kicks me until I'm coughing up blood. If our eyes meet, and he's in a bad mood, he beats the shit outta me. That's life in the Shiba household." He turns fully away, looking at Takemichi over his shoulder. "Stay outta family business..."

   Takemichi hangs his head, but he doesn't move. Hakkai stops looking at Takemichi. He, instead, focuses on the detailed statue in front of him.

   "Go home," Hakkai says once he realised Takemichi doesn't move. "You can't stop me."

   Takemichi pauses for a moment, takes a shaky breath, and starts to speak. "I broke up with Hina yesterday." Hakkai stiffens visibly. "I...I did it to protect her. I'm weak, gutless, and a huge idiot. But she loves me anyway. I'd do anything to protect her! But, no matter how much I hated my enemy, I would never kill someone! No matter how hard the alternative was! I'd never do something that makes Hina sad. Oi, Hakkai! Do you think this is going to make Yuzuha happy? Don't you think Yuzuha would be sad if you became a murderer? Eh, Hakkai!"

   "Takemicchi..."

   Before anything else can be said, the door opens behind Takemichi. He looks over his shoulder. Now? Already? "Huh...?"