[AllTakemichi] Control

Chapter 60

Takemichi does not want to go back to the hospital. He does not want to be alone, and climbing out of the place is easy, but climbing back in is a real problem for him. So he and Chifuyu choose to stay at a 24-hour convenience store for the night.

Takemichi talks to Chifuyu a lot, mostly about what he plans to do after he is discharged. He does not bring up the past again. And the whole time, Chifuyu stays right beside him. Their fingers stay laced together, and even when Takemichi falls asleep, Chifuyu does not let go. Takemichi sleeps soundly, even though his position, slumped over the table, looks far from comfortable. He feels safe. There is someone next to him. Someone he always trusts.

Chifuyu also rests his head on the table, but he cannot fall asleep. He watches Takemichi's peaceful sleeping face, his own mind tangled and heavy. How is he supposed to help Takemichi get past all the things that hurt him? He wishes he could blow all of it away.

Tomorrow, they have to get back early before Takemichi's mom arrives to handle the discharge papers. Otherwise, she will definitely worry. That thought drifts through Chifuyu's mind as he slowly slips into a hazy, exhausted sleep.

But Chifuyu does not need to worry about waking up early. Dawn has not even broken yet when he jolts awake because something hits him across the face so hard it burns. A slap. A very clear, five-finger slap.

Before he even understands what is happening, he hears "Takemichi" grumbling.

"God, this is insane. Unbelievable."

The tone snaps Chifuyu fully awake. He frowns and looks at "Takemichi," who also wears an irritated grimace. The boy even shakes off the hand Chifuyu had been holding, as if he just touched something filthy.

"You are not Takemichi, are you?"

Chifuyu asks a question he already knows the answer to.

"Correct. So get away from me, will you? I cannot believe you let him spend the night in a dump like this. My whole body aches. And you held hands? Please, that is disgusting."

That spoiled, sharp, hateful attitude can only belong to one personality: Michi. Chifuyu realizes immediately that today is going to be terrible.

He rubs his forehead, already feeling a headache. Why today? Why now? Takemichi agreed that the alternate personalities could take turns using his body twice a week, but they never follow a fixed schedule. There is no way to predict them.

Fine. Either way, Chifuyu has something he wants to ask these personalities. But before he can speak, he notices Michi going still.

Michi stomps his foot lightly, testing it. He winces, then looks down and notices the bandages. Then he touches his arms. His expression slowly shifts into anger. He pulls off his jacket and pushes up the sleeves.

Both he and Chifuyu freeze.

Takemichi's arms are covered in scratches, long marks left by fingernails. Some wounds are dark red with dried blood, and some are bruised purple. They look terrible.

So last night's episode was worse than Chifuyu thought. Bad enough that Takemichi hurt himself. Chifuyu goes blank with shock, unable to react, until Michi punches him in the face and knocks him backward.

"This is all your fault. Always your fault!"

Michi grits his teeth, veins standing out on his forehead.

Chifuyu knows the person in front of him is not Takemichi, but the body is, the face is, the eyes are. His heart twists painfully when he sees those usually warm, bright eyes now cold and empty, aimed at him with pure hatred. It feels like a knife driving into his chest.