Banana Fish short stories | ✔

The Man in the Mirror

Different dimensions: what happens if manga Eiji and anime Eiji switch places for one day. Their timeline would be different, yes. But what if manga Ash/Eiji pair is already cannon and then anime Eiji switches place with Manga version. It's gonna be a mess, but let's read it. 

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   "So what do you think?" Eiji asked with a content grin. Ash looked back in front of him. There stood a big mirror with a dark-wood framework. "It's alright." Eiji beamed.

The mirror was indeed really nice, it looked sort of aristocratic and yet, in a casual way. Eiji immediately bought it when he found it in the corner of the old antique shop. Ash didn't complain since Eiji wanted it. It wasn't expansive either but the man in an antique shop that sold it to them said a few things that confused them. Ash shrugged it off as him growing senile with age but it still sticks with him. 

   "The mirror will show you how things can turn out in different reality, it's your choices that result in how you make them."

Eiji came around the corner "Time for dinner Ash, hurry!" Ash followed after him with eye roll "What's for dinner, ni-chan?" Eiji looked back with a satisfied grin "Natto," Ash halted and spun around "Suddenly, i lost my apatite." he took off in the opposite direction as Eiji ran after him.

* [in manga] *

It was 03:42 as Eiji tried to stuff his jawn for the hundredth time this night only. He long grew used to Ash being home in odd hours, he still tried to wait for him. He couldn't fall asleep properly knowing his boyfriend is out - quite possibly in danger, trying to keep them both safe. It's 1985 and Eiji's 19, yet he can't imagine his life further than this point, not without Ash by his side. 

He kept having this distinctive feeling of something very important about to happen and he wanted Ash by his side. 

He walked over to their shared bedroom and looked himself up and down in the mirror. The boy that stared back was foreign to him, even while looking the same as him. He looked different. Black hair seemed far more neatly then Eiji currently felt like he had, white shirt with a pink soft-looking jacket and blue trousers. Eiji looked down at his t-shirt, it was black... and his jacket had hoodie and reflections didn't have one. He blinked and brought his arm up to pinch the bridge of his nose. He knew he should go to sleep but Ash still wasn't here. He saw himself reach out to touch the surface and he copied, but instead of cold, smooth glass, his hand went right through. He slipped and fell face forward onto the floor, his head banged on the floor. He groaned and shakingly got up. The room was spinning a little and he took a step back to steady himself. 

   "Huh, why is the mirror behind me...?" he wondered, with a low groan he yielded his stubbornness and went over to his bed. The lack of sleep is gonna end up making him an even bigger idiot in front of Ash - like he didn't prove that many times before. Before he even completely fell asleep he heard doors unlock and he groggily blinked his gaze up. "Already asleep, huh?" he simpered at Ash's smooth voice and let himself drift into his sleep.

* [anime Eiji] *

Eiji peeked out from under his blanket and continued to stir in his bead for a moment. He looked over and saw a bundle of sheets on the bed. Checking and seeing it's 7 o'clock he got up and silently went to the bathroom. He splashed some water on himself and hurried to the kitchen after changing into more comfortable clothes he assumes were of his sleeping friend because he doesn't remember buying so many shirts but his hoodies weren't in clothes and he figured Ash won't mind - he'll definitively, 100% get teased for it even at slightest dose.