Chihiro Hanagaki

Chapter 16

When she got to the car park she found a familiar person there. Kakucho was leaning against the railing overlooking the water. He looked to be deep in thought about something. As she approached, she had a sinking feeling the closer she got to him. Chihiro was surprised to see the person she was scheduled to meet was him. It seemed no matter what she was destined to meet him in some way shape or form when she returned to the present.

"I wasn't sure you'd meet me," Kakucho admitted. Chihiro frowned, "Why's that?" Kakucho mused almost somberly, "The last time we spoke was at a festival almost 12 years ago. I still have the doll from then too." Chihiro felt her cheeks get hot from the memory.

She still remembers how warm his chest felt pressed against her back. Chihiro gripped her shirt feeling like her heart was about to jump from her chest. "I-I still have the doll you won me 16 years ago," she admitted. Kakucho whipped his head around, staring at her wide-eyed, "You do?!" Chihiro nodded, she slept with the bear every night. Kakucho straightened his back, clearing his throat, "I s-see." Chihiro could make out the flush on his ears despite facing away.

Kakucho then confesses, "I should be honest. Since the festival 16 years ago. I went every year in hopes of seeing you again." Chihiro felt like the air had been knocked out of her. Out of all the things she expected him to say this was the furthest from her mind. "You did?" she breathed. Kakucho nodded, "When I saw you that night I realized how much I missed talking to you. Hearing your voice and seeing your smile...I really missed it." Chihiro covers her face, she whines, "Please stop talking!"

Every word that left his mouth made her face feel even hotter and hotter. Her heart never beat this fast in her entire life. 'This doesn't make sense?!' she thought to herself. Kakucho's laugh didn't make the rush of emotions any better. Kakucho moved her hands away, "It's not like you to act like this." Chihiro puffs her cheeks, annoyed by his teasing.

*Kakucho's POV*

I can't deny how my heart flutters seeing and hearing her. This small wholesome moment almost made me forget why I was really here tonight. Kisaki ordered me to kill Chihiro. He didn't explain to me why he wanted her dead. I could barely fight the bile rising in my throat at the idea, the idea of hurting her in any way made my heart ache.

Izana knew how I felt about Chihiro for the past sixteen years. Even he didn't seem to understand why Kisaki wanted me to kill her. I had no choice, but to do as I was ordered...Damn it why did she have to look at me like that. "Chi...." Chihiro tilted her head, "Hmm?" I bite my lip conflicted at what I should do.

*No Ones POV*

As Kakucho struggled to find his words, Chihiro felt something off. The glimmer in his eyes began to dim since they'd been talking. She knew it was too good to be true. Kakucho's grip on her shoulders tightened slightly. He looked pained, "Kakucho, what's going on?" Kakucho gritted his teeth, "I can't...."

"You can't what?" she pressed. "I...I can't hurt you," he growled out. She should have expected as much given the change of events. She could feel an ache in her heart. The whole situation felt surreal, as he clung to her similarly to before. He trembled against her as she felt her shirt sleeve become wet. All of it was hard to process at that moment.

She should have expected that this could happen given how Hinata was killed again and Takemichi was almost killed again. It would make sense for Kisaki to make Kakucho kill her in this changed present too. But why did it hurt more? Why did this situation hurt more? Before she was so angry at Kisaki for forcing Kakucho to do something like this. Now she felt a pain she couldn't describe. It wasn't just anger, but something more.

This anger felt different entirely. While Chihiro tried to process this she heard squealing tires and a loud crash. Her heart sank, knowing exactly what that noise was from. Across from where she was she saw the car Hinata had been driving and the truck Akkun had been driving. 'No...' she thought. She shoved Kakucho away and ran in the direction where that side of the car park was located.