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(A/N: idk how orphanages work so bear with me;-;)
1.
2003
"You look like you got something on your mind, Hanagaki-kun," The old man who sat parallel to him noticed, his eyes still reading the morning newspaper.
Takemichi shook it off by shaking his hands in the air from denial, "I must still be sleepy! Thank you for worrying though."
The old man didn't say anything else, as he was still paying attention to the news printed on a big sheet of paper.
"Hey, Takemichi-kun," Shinichiro started a conversation between them. The blonde boy looked in his direction. "Thanks for saving Kazutora-kun back then. Though you had lots of bruises around your body."
Did I save Kazutora-kun? He thought. He looked still at the older's dark obs, lost in thought. From who? What even happened?
He then remembered a story that the said male told him while hanging out in a coffee shop. Oh yeah, that time I saved him from being scratched by a wild cat by the corner near Shinichiro-san's shop.
"Takemichi-kun? Takemichi-kun!" Shinichiro snapped his fingers, trying to get Takemichi. "Are you alright? You've been spacing out since yesterday."
"Ah, I'm alright, Shinichiro-san!" He smiled with his eyes closed, but that didn't earn a sign of relief from the other.
"Takemicchi," Mikey took a spoonful of his omelette. "You're food's gonna get cold, you know. And you don't look so well."
Yeah, he's having a headache and he doesn't know why. Probably from the time travel or other stuff, but he thinks that's not it.
"Maybe he had that headache from the big impact when he hurt his head," Emma butted in, sitting down by the chair near to Mikey. "I mean, he fell off the stairs pretty hard."
And now I feel on the stairs, Takemichi deadpanned. Well, great.
"Hey, Takemicchi," Mikey said. "Let's go out after this."
The blonde looked at the other, "Oh, sure."
"Hey Gramps," Shinichiro stood up, pushing the chair under the wooden table, and strode towards the exit. "I'll be going!"
"Aniki?" Emma looked up. "Where are you going?"
"Me?" Shinichiro looked behind, a smirk drawn on the side of his lips. "I'm going on a date with Waka."
"Again?!" Mikey groaned, stuffing his mouth with a large piece of omelette. "You just had a date with him yesterday!"
"Is there something wrong with being with your significant other every day, Manjiro?" Mansaku butted in, his eyes still reading the newspaper.
"Well, no..."
"I'll be going!" Shinichiro turned around, raising his hand before stuffing it inside his jean pockets. "See you."
"Bye, Shinichiro-san," Takemichi weakly waved goodbye, watching the familiar figure disappear into the halls.
2.
"Took you a while to get out of the house," Wakasa was waiting in the front gate, eyes still lazy as always. Shinichiro looked at him up and down, he looked great. He wore an ash grey long sleeve with a lace collar wrapped near his neck, tucked in a midnight blue skirt (?) and topped off with a black woollen oversized jacket that went up to his waist. He had laced oxford shoes on and a white bag hanging on his shoulder.
The brunette, on the other hand, wore a similar colour palette as him. Coincidence. Shinichiro had a black turtle neck on and black trousers, paired with a grey oversized checkered jacket. Hanging by his neck was his signature chain necklace and feet clothed in white sneakers.
"Are you wearing a skirt?" Shinichiro pointed at his clothed legs.
"These are pants, Shin-chan," Wakasa scoffed. "And since when will I ever wear a skirt?"
"I mean, men can wear skirts," Shinichiro shrugged, taking his hand and intertwining his fingers with Wakasa's. "You wear heels. How about try wearing a skirt?"
"I will not look good though," Wakasa let go of his hand, in which Shinichiro was taken by surprise. He then hooked his hand over to the ravenette's arm, leaning closer to him. "But I'll try."
"You will," Shinichiro glanced at him and smiled. "Everything looks good at you."
Wakasa nudged his shoulder with Shinichiro's weakly, a blush evident on his cheeks. The ravenette chuckled, amused by how cute his lover reacted.
"Even a wedding dress will look great on you, Waka," He admitted, confident in what he said.
"Y-yah!" Wakasa looked up at him, his lilac orbs dilated in shock.
"What?" Shinichiro made eye contact with him. "I'm telling the truth."
Wakasa stayed quiet for a while, his lilac pair staring onto his midnight ones, and looked down, walking a bit slowly. He then muttered, "Shut up, Shin-chan."
"I mean, I still have to propose to you," He whistled. "I'm looking for a perfect ring, you know?"
"That should be a surprise!" Wakasa said. "You don't tell that..."
"Just to give you a heads-up that I'm serious about this," He said.
Wakasa had nothing to say, or his word box was empty. He knows they're at least old enough to get married, and they were in a relationship for years, but matrimony isn't something to be taken lightly. Wakasa doesn't have any parents, so he doesn't need any approval from them, or if he cares to need approval from them. Shinichiro's grandfather already gave them hints and the only obstacle they have is his younger siblings. Especially Mikey and Izana.
"Will they be alright? With this, I mean," He whispered, half expecting Shinichiro to hear.
"I'm sure they will," He answered. "If they approved of our relationship in the past, then this wouldn't be a big obstacle like how dramas portray it."
Wakasa chuckled, resting his head on Shinichiro's shoulder.
"I guess so..."
With Takemichi and Mikey
Takemichi thought deeply, in two weeks by now, Wakasa and the rest will be ambushed. I wonder where Shinichiro was back then. I forgot to ask! But, we have two weeks to work with, so it may be best to use this opportunity to at least get information about this 'unknown gang' and why it keeps attacking these four.
The blonde, deep in his thought process, didn't notice Mikey's call for attention.
"Takemicchi!" Mikey shook his shoulders, which made him get back from his thoughts.
"A-ah! Mikey-kun, that hurts!" He pleaded. And with that, Mikey stopped, but his hands were still on his shoulders.
"Are you alright?" He leaned closer, their faces a few inches away from each other. "You've been like this since yesterday."
So close! "I'm alright, Mikey-kun. Maybe I don't realize I think things too thoroughly." I might die!
"Well, don't think too much," Mikey sighed, going a few steps back and letting go of his shoulders. "And you should enjoy our date today!"
I'm sorry... I DIDN'T AGREE TO THIS?!
"W-what?" Takemichi was taken aback.
Mikey huffed, putting his hands on his hips, "You agreed yesterday, you know!"
The blue-eyed boy sighed, "Fine."
Mikey, now sunny again, took Takemichi's right arm and linked it with his, pulling the taller one closer to his side. The said male just smiled, glad to see his Mikey like this.
"We're going to the amusement park!" Mikey announced. "Hope Aniki and Wakasa-san isn't there."
"They may be, they may be not."
3.
2017
"Oh, welcome!" One of the persons running the orphanage greeted a sweet smile wide across her face. "You're Mr and Mr Sano, am I right?"
She sounds so fake, both thought.
"Yes, and we have an appointment?" Wakasa was the one who spoke first, and it was quite disturbing for him for the lady to look at him up and down. In short, she's judging him because of wearing heels.
"Right this way please," She smiled again, giving an open palm before leading the way towards the office. They gave each other a short glance before following the short lady. She then opened a white door, letting warm sunshine in the dark entrance. She looked back at them to check before continuing her way. Wakasa hung his own arm on Shinichiro's, which the ravenette just allowed him to do so. Outside was a playground, children shouting, laughing, playing, and running around were seen. But Wakasa saw two children on the swings, holding each other's hands, quiet. The bi-coloured male stopped in his tracks, which made Shinichiro do as well.
"What's wrong?" Shinichiro looked down at Wakasa, before looking at where he was gazing at.
"Those children," Wakasa muttered. "They look lonely."
The lady who was with them went towards them, her eyes also following where the twins were. She then said, "You want to talk to them?"
"What's their names?" Shinichiro asked.
"Their names are Asa," She pointed at the blonde male with black eyes. She then pointed at the female with the same coloured locks but with purple eyes. "And Akira."
"They're so cute," Wakasa smiled.
"Their playtime will almost be over, how about you talk to them?" She offered.
"Well, I hope they don't-"
"Oh, they won't," She cut Shinichiro off, not knowing what the consequences are. Wakasa scowled lowly while Shinichiro kept that serene expression on his face.
"Well, that's nice," He chuckled. "Then, we'll meet them after their playtime."
"Very well."
hello! i just wanna say to all people to stay safe and always take care, I know we're all struggling and I hope you all are safe :(
and yeah, I know what's happening in the world so I hope nobody gets hurt more and everybody will be at peace again :)
and thank you so much for 6.1k reads on wattpad and 3k on fanfiction! i really appreciate all the support and love you give this book :(
and akira is a unisex name, I was planning for them to be both males and then I thought that wakasa wants a girl while shinichiro wants a boy so here (and their eyes look so much alike with them, coincidence perhaps?)
here's the spotify list: playlist
and see you in chapter 23!
-seiji