Existence Precedes Essence

Chapter 22: Why Stop?

"I love you, and that's the beginning and end of everything." — F. Scott Fitzgerald

Chifuyu's Residence

Azumi reads Chifuyu's manga on his bed with Peke-J lying on her stomach. "Can you imagine? Your owner once called you Excalibur. I'm glad Baji had another name for you", the lady caressed it. The lad entered wearing a towel around his waist. "Mom! Why didn't you tell me that she's here?!!!", Chifuyu went inside his closet. It's been two years since Toman was disbanded. "Chifuyu, you're smart. Reading this kind of material will mess up your rain. Now I understand why you still believe in Santa", she fixed the manga on the shelves. 

The blonde went out already dressed but still disheveled from wearing his clothes in a tight space. Azumi went closer and fixed his collar. The lady turned more captivating as the years passed by. She's graduating this year and will be studying in Australia. The thought suddenly made Chifuyu go into slumps. He cleared his throat and gently pushed Azumi outside his room. "I'll be ready in a minute", the blonde leaned on his door. 

Chifuyu's mother saw Azumi kicked out of the room. "He's a late bloomer. It's good to see you visiting often", Aoi, Chifuyu's mother chuckled. "It's just recently that he's spending more time at home aside from the vet clinic", the raven head bowed politely and walked down the stairs with Chifuyu's mother. "Aoi-san. I don't know if Chifuyu told you but I'd be leaving Japan next year. I'd be visiting twice a year", the lady assured. "I see. That's the reason why", Aoi gave a short laugh. "What do you mean?", the raven head was curious about her reaction.  "Have fun, dear Azumi. I know you'd do great wherever you will go", the woman cupped her face. 

Department Store

Women's Clothes Section

"I'll be waiting in the lounge", Chifuyu could see other female customers looking at him. "You promised you'd be picking my clothes with me", the lady gave a slight pout. She grew taller and her closet needs restocking. She gave her old clothes to Hina since they were still in good condition and the peach head's height didn't change. "You could just ask Fumi-san to bring you clothes", the blonde sighed. Azumi finally realized what was making him agitated. "That's your fault for sticking out too much", the raven's head clicked her tongue, and grabbed him by the arm. "What are you doing?", Chifuyu's face is all flustered. "It will stop them from giving you those stares", the lady looked at the female customers and gave an eerie smile. They all looked away and even started to leave the section. 

Azumi still has her arm around Chifuyu's. It was her first time to do it. Whenever they walked, it would either be Chifuyu leading or dragging her around. This time, it is she who is showing the lad where to go. They ended at the blouse area. "You should have brought Taka-san. He's more knowledgeable about fashion", the lad stood behind Azumi looking at the clothes. "You're the one who is here so stop complaining and start looking for grey ones", the lady said without looking at him. The mention of the name made her miss the sight of the lilac head. Ever since Toman disbanded, the lavender boy focused on his designing career and he was known in just a nick of time. He had been involved with so many projects. Often when Azumi visits the Shiba's residence, she would search for any evidence that he visited but there was none. 

The lady went to purchase the ones they picked. Chifuyu walked around and saw a jewelry stand. A flower bracelet caught his attention. "Would you one to check on it?", the clerk asked. He shook his head and turned to Azumi's direction. The cashier was telling her something and it made her laugh. The lad also gave a small smile. When she met her for the first time, she would rarely smile or even laugh. "Are you sure?", the clerk looked in the direction of his gazes. "I'd give you a good discount", she winked. 

Cafe

Chifuyu received a message from Takemichi and knew that he was back from the future. He told the lady about it and she insisted on going with him since she was also starved. They ended up at the cafe. Takemichi blinked a few more times and whispered to Chifuyu. "By the way, in the future, Hanami was really gor-", the lad stopped when he saw the raven head looking at her. "For some reason, I find it intriguing that Chifuyu would hang out with you, and other times it seems like you guys don't know each other", Azumi hummed. Chifuyu panicked and stuffed the lady's mouth with garlic bread. "You said you're hungry so just keep on eating", he sweatdropped. The lady can be so observant and her hunches are usually correct. After some time, the lady excused herself to give space for the lads to talk. It was clear to her that they were both hiding something. 

Takemichi remembered Chifuyu lecturing on the Future Azumi of not calling him for a month. "I wanted to ask you before but I just didn't find the right time. Chifuyu, how do you look at Hanami?", the lad asked.  "Azumi? She's like an older sister to me?", Chifuyu felt the need to gear himself with Takemichi's question. "I mean, she's a striking woman. I'm not cheating on Hina by saying this. Hina is the only one for me but Hanami is someone that you would be admiring for a lot of things", the blonde tried to wash his hands clean. "I recorded that", Chifuyu showed his phone and started to tease Takemichi about being pure and worrisome. "I understand. Even back in junior high, I saw tons of males crying on the rooftop because they got rejected by her. Some already gave up having Oikawa always around her. They didn't know that they were cousins", Chifuyu nodded in agreement to what his friend said about the lady being easy to fall to. 

"That's right. Then, how about you? I find it so impossible that you didn't at least look at her as a woman", Takemichi shook his head violently. "Do you remember when you first admired an actor or even a fictional character? You admire them and you enjoy every moment that they appear on the screen or the story. And that's it, you admire them at a distance and you're okay with it because logic will tell you that they're something you can never be friends with or even stand in the same room with", Chifuyu leaned on the chair. Takemichi allowed the silence seems he saw a pained expression from his friend. 

 "Same. I never dared to look at her as anything else other than my friend. For some reason, she started hanging out with me after I treated her with ice cream. I love those moments, when we eat together she makes food taste delicious because she eats heartily", the blonde gave a wide smile. Takemichi looked down at the floor and clenched his fist. "Are you afraid that she doesn't feel the same way towards you?", the lad asked. Chifuyu looked outside the window and saw that the rain started to fall. "I already know that she already has someone in mind", he forced a smile. Takemichi felt bad for his friend. He stood. "Did she tell you in your face? Can you just be assuming?!", he clenched his fist. Takemichi knew how much Chifuyu cared for the lady and felt pained to see him just giving up. "You want me to ask her upfront? That's just so self-destructing. Do you want me to get slapped in the face?", the blonde chuckled. "I'm glad. For once in her life, she's pursuing something that she decided to", Chifuyu gave a proud smile. "What are you? Her dad?", Takemichi cried. "You always cry so easily", the lad placed his arms around his best friend and walked away from the cafe. The two decided to talk about the future in another place. 

"I wanted to say hi but you told me to stay silent", Hakkai peeked at the two leaving the cafe. He turned to check on what kind of expression Mitsuya was making. The lad sighed to see a conflicted look on his former captain's face. Even if they were disbanded, he still chose to follow him. The lad knows that Mitsuya spent nights working on a dress as a gift for Azumi and also plans to ask her out on a date and make up for the time he got so busy. "You're not backing off because of what you heard, right?", Hakkai knew that the lilac head is so much considerate that he was willing to throw his chance to make way for others. 

Chapter end.