A/N: welcome to the final chapter!!

epilogue

Daisuke was an idiot.

The numbers represented how much his heart loved. Not money.

If his heart didn't love something, regardless of the emotion he exuded on the outside, then the numbers would go down. If it did love something, it would go up.

How did he know? Well, HEUSC said it best.

Love makes the world go 'round.

Love is a fickle thing.

It's been a few days since his revelation, but it still shocks him to think about. The answer had been right there the whole time, right in front of him, but he was just too dense to get it.

Knowing the true meaning behind the numbers wasn't the only thing that's changed in his life. Upon realizing they shared the same feelings, his relationship with Haru cemented into boyfriends. Boyfriends. It's almost surreal. Sometimes, he steps back to look at how far he's come. To say it was a long way was vastly undermining it.

Ever since they confessed and started dating, he also doesn't see the numbers anymore. It's strange getting used to the lack of values atop everyone's head, but he was quickly getting attuned to it. Especially now that he knew the value of the one person that mattered the most.

He asked HEUSC about his forgone ability one day, and instead of the adamant denial of information, a video whirs to life.

It was of his mother.

She looked just as beautiful as his vague memories recalled, smiling softly into the camera. Daisuke had to reign in his emotions as she began to speak.

"Daisuke," she begins, and something in his heart clenches. "My son."

"Mother…" he whispers, staring up at the screen in awe.

As if hearing him, she smiles lightly. "There's something important I want to tell you. I wished to record this message in the case that I'm not around when you're older."

Daisuke's breath hitches. To think she planned this without knowing of her early death...

His mother's insight was incredible.

"I asked HEUSC to save this to memory, and only show you if you asked a question about the numbers disappearing," she continues. "I wasn't sure if you inherited my ability, but if you did, and you no longer see them…"

She laughs, eyes squinting from the force of it. "Then you've found your one true love— your soulmate."

Daisuke sits down in his chair, the information rolling around in his head. "Soulmate?"

"Let me explain a little more," his mother says. "I'm sure you've guessed it by now, but the numbers represent your heart, and how much it loves."

His mother takes a deep breath. "There are many people out there in the world, but your heart is looking for your soulmate— essentially its other half. You'll know you've met them because their number always starts at 'zero'. That's sure to get your attention, right? And of course, your heart will feel a natural pull."

She raises her right palm to the ceiling. "If you do something to your soulmate that your heart doesn't love, the number will go down, even into the negatives." She raises her other hand. "But if you do something your heart does, it will go up and up, until it can't go up anymore."

"Infinity, huh?" Daisuke murmurs.

His mother places her hands back in her lap. "Your soulmate's number can fluctuate a lot because love works the same way. The numbers of strangers or even family don't move much, right? That's because that love and this kind of love are different."

Ah, so that's why, Daisuke thinks, humming.

"Once your soulmate confesses to you, you'll lose your ability. You have no need for it anymore— your heart is whole."

She lowers her gaze, reflective. "Your father...he wasn't my soulmate. But I loved him anyway." She smiles sadly into the camera. "Hopefully things turn out well for us regardless."

Daisuke feels his heart jerk, grief plaguing the organ. His grandmother's words from ages past ring in his head.

"That god awful power of your mother's turned her so lovesick she passed away."

Was not loving her soulmate the true cause of her death? If so, this power was more troublesome than he thought.

"If you manifest this ability," his mother goes on, "then I hope this video is helpful. I'll also make sure to program HEUSC to give out hints about this so that once you meet your soulmate, you can try to figure out your feelings on your own. Better to experience it for yourself before being told outright."

She looks into the camera with nothing but endearment. "I want to be able to lighten your burden as much as I can. Seeing numbers all the time can be draining. I would know."

"It did help, Mother," Daisuke's voice is gentle, gratuitous. "Thank you."

His mother gives him a lopsided smile that fills him with joy. "I'll pretend I'm hearing a thank you. You're welcome, my boy. Ah, it actually looks like I have to go now." She looks somewhere off screen with a puzzled expression. "I've said my piece, and your father is needing me. He's gonna burn down the kitchen with his cooking."

She blows a kiss to the camera. "Grow up strong and healthy now, okay? I love you."

"I love you too." He captures the kiss and places it over his heart.

The moment the video switches off, the sound of high heels sound from the door. Daisuke whirls on his cousin, frowning.

"How long have you been eavesdropping?" he accuses.

"Easy there solider," she intones, walking closer. "I just caught the endearing I-love-yous."

Daisuke mutters something about privacy as Suzue takes up a seat on the counter of the hardware. "So. Do you love him?"

"Who?"

"Who else?" She rolls her eyes. "That person you mentioned a while back? Haru, right?"

Daisuke jolts. "How did you-?"

"Oh come on," Suzue grins. "You underestimate my investigative skills."

He sighs and leans back in the chair, letting all the information from his mother settle in his head, letting his feelings for Haru settle in his heart.

His eyes practically shimmer with the emotion. "I do."

"Oh gross. When did you turn into such a sap?" she teases, poking his shoulder and jumping out of the way of his vengeful swipe. "It's cute though."

"You were the one who asked!" he grits.

She skips out of the room, laughing all the while, bidding him goodbye with a wave. Daisuke glares after her, knowing her heart was in the right place, but still hating how annoyingly accurate she was.

Haru had turned him into a sap, and he didn't mind in the slightest. Daisuke's heart was set on him. He was his soulmate for goodness' sake.

Nothing was wrong with turning a little sappy over that.

"You guys are official?" Kamei asks him as he enters, hand clasped in Haru's. "Congrats!"

"Thank you," Haru blushes slightly.

"I told you they'd be a couple before the end of the month," Saeki quips happily, bounding over to Kamei's desk and holding out her hand triumphantly. "My five dollars, please."

He grumbles and hands the bill over as Yumoto, Nakamoto, and Yukihiro all crowd around the new couple.

"Congrats!" Nakamoto grins.

"I knew I felt something there!" Yumoto snaps his fingers.

"That's great!" Yukihiro claps. "Your partnership will be great for future cases!"

"Ah," Daisuke deadpans. "Thank you."

"So, so!" Saeki pops up, "when's the wedding?"

Beside him, Haru sputters. "There's no wedding happening!"

"Really?" she sighs in disappointment. "I wanted to eat a sweet wedding cake."

"And lots single girls usually show up at those events," Kamei muses. "I wouldn't mind going."

"Hey Daisuke," Haru turns to him, "you tell them there's nothing happening."

Daisuke pulls out a cigar, sticking it between his lips without giving it light. He smirks at them. "It's happening in half a month."

"Oh! So soon!" Yumoto pipes up. "I need to think of a good present to bring."

"When's the honeymoon?" Yukihiro asks as Nakamoto laughs.

Haru turns a vibrant red. "Daisuke-"

"I'm kidding," the man chuckles and turns one-eighty, tugging on his hand. "Come on, let's go to the roof."

"You let us know when it's happening, okay?" Saeki calls out after them.

"It's not!" Haru snaps back, unable to keep the smile out of his voice.

The weather outside is similar to the first time they met there, warm and sunny, wind billowing. Daisuke stands at the same place he did that first day, sucking on the end of his cigar, blowing the smoke to the breeze. Haru stands beside him, watching the bustle of the city, silent as they take in the sights.

It's a long minute before either one speaks. It's Haru who breaks the thick silence. "Remember that first day when you blew smoke in my face?"

Daisuke snorts and tosses his head back in a laugh. "Yeah I do, very well. My apologies."

"No, I look back on it fondly," Haru chuckles, smiling softly. "Even then, I couldn't hate you. Something in my heart just wouldn't let me."

At the mention of heart, Daisuke's mind wanders to his mother's words. To how his heart was the ultimate decision maker.

"You know...we're soulmates, apparently," he slips casually, puffing out a stream of white.

Haru hums. "That would make a lot of sense."

"You're not surprised?" Daisuke asks, a bit shocked. "And you believe in things like that?"

"Not really, to both," Haru says with a laugh. "But when I think about how I feel about you, and how easily I fell...I believe it in a heartbeat."

Daisuke's heart positively bursts in his chest. How did he get stuck with such an amazingly perfect person? He makes up for his flaws, reigns him back when he goes too far, cares for him when he can't care for himself. He's compassionate, hardworking, caring, and incredibly sweet. Despite their clashes in the beginning, they fit each other to a perfect tee, and Daisuke has no clue how it took him so long to recognize that fact.

"God, I love you," Daisuke murmurs, leaning towards Haru's lips. "So much."

"I love you too," Haru murmurs against him, bringing his hands around his neck.

His heart bursts with happiness as he kisses him nice and slow, savoring his taste, savoring this moment. Daisuke cracks his lids open for a second, and swears he sees his infinity sign flash above Haru, as if confirming that this was the love of his life. He blinks, and it's gone.

Like he needs a reminder.

With him in his arms, kissing him like nothing else mattered, it served as more than a reminder. It served as a promise, that they were bound by the red strings of fate, and nothing could keep them apart.

Daisuke's love for Haru was infinite.

It could never be represented by a mere number.

But if it was…

Daisuke pulls back, smiling. "Haru."

The man inclines his head. "Yeah?"

His heart leaps for joy. He was so incredibly lucky.

"You're my number one."

A/N: and that's the end!! thank you all so much for reading this story. :D

Note: notice throughout the story how Daisuke's heart reacts to certain moments!!