𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍~ 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐈𝐑𝐎

♡Chapter 66♡

Third point of view.

The salty breeze brushed against your skin as you sat beside Mikey on the worn concrete border separating the road from the vast ocean. The wind played with your hair, making it dance around your face, but you didn't mind.

Without thinking, you leaned your head against Mikey's shoulder, closing your eyes at the pleasant warmth of his presence. His gaze softened as he glanced down at you, as if committing this moment to memory.

"You know," he murmured. "I still can't believe Takemitchy was a time leaper all along."

Your eyes fluttered open, but you didn't move from your spot, only humming softly in acknowledgment.

He let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. "It's weird, isn't it? Like, all this time, he was carrying something that big... and I never knew."

Then, after a beat of silence, he asked, "If you had that ability.. what would you do?"

Your fingers absentmindedly traced over the edge of the concrete beneath you.

What would you do..?

You smiled to yourself.

If only he knew.

"If I could go back, I'd try to save my loved ones too." You straightened up, turning to face him properly, watching as his gaze remained fixed on the water. "What about you?"

Mikey took a slow breath, tilting his head slightly. "I think.." He paused, his voice quieter now. "I'd go all the way back. To the start when everything was good."

"I'd go back to when I was just a kid," he continued, his tone wistful. "When Shinichiro was still around. Maybe... maybe I could save him." His fingers curled slightly against his knee. "And Izana, too."

He glanced at you. "And meet you as well." he added, looking back at the ocean, a small, almost sad smile tugging at his lips. "Wouldn't it be nice? If we could just.. go back and fix things before they ever went wrong?"

You swallowed past the lump in your throat, watching the soft glow of sunlight casting shadows over his face.

"Yeah." You murmured. "It would."

He shook his head slightly, exhaling through his nose. "Besides you... how many people knew about Takemitchy's abilities?"

You hesitated for only a second before answering, "Keisuke and Chifuyu."

Mikey hummed, nodding as if it made sense. "Yeah... I figured." His voice grew quieter. "Toman was supposed to lose a lot of people along the way, huh?"

You slightly nodded.

He sighed. "I'm thankful to Takemitchy. But I'm thankful to you too." He looked at you. "You were with him through all of it, weren't you? Trying to stop everything from turning south."

Your lips parted slightly, but you didn't know how to respond to that. Instead, your gaze dropped to your lap, fingers curling slightly against the fabric of your pants.

Despite all the effort, despite everything you and Takemichi had done.. you still lost someone in the end.

Your teeth sank into your lip as you nodded, voice quiet. "If you were in my place.. you would've done the same."

He hummed at that.

"I have a feeling..." He paused, almost unsure of himself. "That I won't be the best person to be around in the future." He turned to you slowly and when your eyes met his you saw a flicker of fear in them. "Tell me, Y/n," he asked quietly. "Is that true?" His brows pulled together slightly. "Is the future me really that different?"