stand back up (#2, Go Read The First One You Rotten Amimal)

11. finale

This isn't my fight.

I don't care about defeating Angel.

I don't care about getting obliterated.

It sounds like a good thing. It means that I have no regrets, right? If living here forever means I have to regret something forever, is it really worth it? Would that make me truly happy?

Everyone has gathered in HQ, where Yurippee explains our game plan to help Kanade and defeat evil Angel, but I can't listen. All I want to do is spend time with Tobio, care-free. I'm a lover, not a fighter.

"Any objections?" Yuri asks, finalising her plan.

"Any thoughts, y/n?" Noda asks me, getting a perplexed 'hm?' as a response.

"Any thoughts on the plan?" He repeats.

I shrug, "I'm a lover, not a thinker."

"Okay, so it's settled," Otonashi says, "y/n and Kageyama will stay here in case it's a trick, or the shadows come back. Remember to report in the SECOND something suspicious happens."

"Everything about this place is suspicious." I tell him.

"Got it," Tobio answers for the both of us, "good luck, you guys. Come home safe."

They all nod and cheer in enthusiasm, sprinting out of the door ready.

"GO KICK SOME ASS!" I shout to them all as they disappear through the door in one big clump.

~

It's just me and Tobio left in the principal's office, not really sure what to do from here.

"What the fuck are we supposed to do?" I ask, admitting that I wasn't listening to a single thing Yuri had to say.

"I don't fucking know," Tobio answers, "and I don't fucking care. I'm here for you, only you."

We decide to go on a walk. No one is supposed to be in school at this time of night, so I guess that could be what Yuri meant when she said 'suspicious'.

We stop by the canteen for some food. "God forbid there's pocky here, fuck, they don't even have pringles in this economy!" I winge, "some sort of after life this is."

Tobio laughs, "I guess you have to settle for pasta."

I don't want pasta. But fine, I guess I will. I put the penne token in the food machine and receive my pasta. I take it and sit down, followed by Tobio with empty hands.

"Are you not eating?" I ask.

"I'm not too hungry," he admits, "I will just pick off yours."

"The fuck you will!" I complain, sitting down and keeping the pasta as close to me as possible so he doesn't reach.

Alas, I end up sharing with him anyway. Originally, he sat opposite me to make it easier to steal my food, but we end up sitting next to each other, looking at the photo of us all together once more.

We just talk for hours, sat on these shitty school benches. I couldn't really tell that they were so uncomfortable because I'm so caught up with Tobio. Nothing in particular, just him. I look at him and everything around me just doesn't exist anymore. He is my everything.

"I'm bored," I tell him while standing up, "let's go for a walk."

"Where to?" He questions, standing up with me and locking his hand in mine.

"I don't mind, I just want to walk. I don't know if you feel the same way I do, but being able to run around for hours without needing help to breathe is more freeing than words could explain. It's total bliss."