This is the story of a boy who dreams.
He sees but does not realise. Over and over again the tragedy repeats, but he cannot grasp what it means.
Another day arrives, the same as before. As the glaring summer sun hammers down on them, Takao looks over at Midorima to see him crouching down yet again.
"This time, this time for sure," Midorima mutters to himself as he peers at yet another patch of grass.
"Give up, Shin-chan," Takao says weakly, leaning against a nearby lamppost in exhaustion and despair. He changes his mind quickly enough, the burning metal of the lamppost is probably enough to start a fire.
"No," Midorima says bluntly. "I will do all that is humanly possible. I always do all that is humanly possible."
Takao sighs. Checking his phone informs him that they have been out in the blazing sun for the past two hours. Even with all the water breaks they've been taking so that they don't get heat stroke that is way too long.
"There is no reason for you to be here if you are not helping." Midorima looks over at him, eyebrows furrowing in irritation.
"I'm helping, I'm helping," Takao says plaintively, bending down to look at different patch of grass. "I don't know how you expect to find a live snake around here. And what if you get a venomous one?"
"Do not worry, I have read up on all necessary texts; I know exactly how to tell a venomous snake from a non-venomous one," Midorima declares, pushing up the bridge of his glasses proudly.
"Amazing," Takao says drily, poking at a bush. "Don't you think OhaAsa is a bit of a sadist? Making you go look for a snake for a lucky item? Maybe it's just playing with you."
"If you are just here to make fun of me-" Midorima starts to say stiffly, but is cut off as a snake suddenly appears before the two of them.
Appears is the only word Takao can use for it; one moment the area was empty of living things besides the two of them, the next a giant snake looms in front of them. Midorima is tall, one of the tallest people Takao knows, but the snake stands of a height with him. No normal snake is that big.
But Midorima doesn't seem to have noticed the strangeness. His eyes flash once behind his frames, and then he is chasing the snake as it slithers off at a surprising speed.
"Wha- Shin-chan, wait!" Takao calls, hurrying after the two of them. But it's too late, because in front of them is the empty road – heat rising from the asphalt in waves that makes it painful to see. The snake doesn't slow down at all on the concrete, crossing the street and disappearing on the other side. But Takao doesn't notice, too busy staring at the white van that had appeared out of nowhere just as Midorima was crossing after the snake.
Takao knows without needing to check that the crumpled body is dead.
The boy does not understand.
Another day arrives, the same as before. As the glaring summer sun hammers down on them, Takao looks over at Midorima to see him crouching down yet again.
"This time, this time for sure," Midorima mutters to himself as he peers at yet another patch of grass.
"Give up, Shin-chan," Takao says weakly, leaning against a nearby lamppost in exhaustion and despair. He changes his mind quickly enough, the burning metal of the lamppost is probably enough to start a fire.
"No," Midorima says succinctly. "I will do all that is humanly possible. I always do all that is humanly possible."
Takao sighs. Checking his phone informs him that they have been out in the blazing sun for the past two hours. Even with all the water breaks they've been taking so that they don't get heat stroke that is way too long.
"There is no reason for you to be here if you are not helping." Midorima looks over at him, eyebrows furrowing in irritation.
Takao looks down at him. Midorima's fringe is getting long, tips reaching down to where his ridiculously long eyelashes sweep up. A reckless urge wells up. "Shin-chan, let's go."
"Go? Where?" Midorima looks at him uncomprehendingly, not resisting as Takao drags him up by the wrist and pulls them in the opposite direction of the road.
"Somewhere else," Takao says breathlessly as he starts running. There is no end in this boundless landscape. It will never end, not until-
A snake suddenly appears before the two of them. Appears is the only word Takao can use for it; one moment the area was empty of living things besides the two of them, the next a giant snake looms in front of them. Midorima is tall, one of the tallest people Takao knows, but the snake stands of a height with him. No normal snake is that big.
But Midorima doesn't seem to have noticed the strangeness. His eyes flash once behind his frames, and then he is wrenching his wrist free of Takao's grasp and rushing towards the snake.
Takao reaches for him, but it's too late. The snake darts forward, and swallows Midorima whole.
The boy cannot understand.
Another day arrives, the same as before. As the glaring summer sun hammers down on them, Takao looks over at Midorima to see him crouching down yet again.
"This time, this time for sure," Midorima mutters to himself as he peers at yet another patch of grass.
Takao looks down at him.
The snake appears.
Midorima runs towards the road.
"Shin-chan!" Takao pulls with all his strength. The scenery flips. Suddenly, he's the one in the road, Midorima sprawling mere centimetres from the concrete.
It takes Takao a moment to realise why Midorima is looking over in horror. And then it hits him.
"Takao!"
The boy's vision will always end in death.