romance-free g/t

Takumi could say without a shadow of a doubt that things since his sudden transformation into a giant had been… strange, to say the least.

The most obvious was the fact that he was way too big to do much. He couldn’t even fit a hand through the doors, much less his entire body. So he was stuck outside of the LDA and forced to wait for company or tasks. Hiruko had taken over some of the team leader responsibilities due to this, though she sometimes would defer judgements and decisions to him. It was a kind gesture, and one he appreciated greatly.

Thankfully, the rest of the SDU had come around to his new body in varying degrees. Ima had commented that a lot of the teens felt bad when he looked like a gigantic sad puppy whenever he was alone, and felt pity for him and his new circumstances. It was blunt and brutally honest, but Takumi would rather hear the truth than lies.

There were a few discoveries that marginally helped their situation after a week of being a titanic freak. For one, he didn’t need to eat and drink anymore, so they wouldn’t need to greatly deplete their resources to keep him fed. Another was that his body seemed unaffected by the Undying Flames now. They didn’t burn him or his clothing at all, even if he was standing in the middle of the fire. He’d figured that out by accidentally scooting away from Eito’s high speed devoted charge towards him, and ending up halfway in the purple fire. 

And speaking of Eito, he had really become something unlike anything he’d ever expected of the traitorous misanthrope. He spouted ridiculous proclamations of devotion to Takumi, always using terms of divinity and worship when speaking to or about him. He tried to be close to him whenever possible, either on the ground nearby or somewhere on Takumi’s person. His words were full of passion and wonder, with twinges of love sprinkled in. It was… really weird to experience.

He tried to deal with this sudden influx of positive attention the best he could, knowing that Eito wouldn’t have much time to plan sabotage if he was occupied with his strange worship. He still spoke terribly to the other SDU members, but would stop if Takumi told him directly to do so. Therefore, it was practically unanimously agreed that Takumi would be Eito’s warden and supervisor, since he’d proven to be able to break out of the cage to see his God.

It was an exhausting task, but one he was committed to do. After all, it was one of the only ways to help his friends.

Well, aside from one other thing only he could do; be a giant deterrent for attacks during explorations. He was on one currently, having brought Hiruko and Yugamu out to search for supplies along with the ever present Eito. The three had each gone in different directions to look for supplies, leaving Takumi to stand alone far above everything.

That was until he’d spotted a colorful group of Invaders poking around 20 minutes in. “Hey! Go away!” he hurled their way loudly, approaching their location. He glanced around his feet after a few steps, sighing when he saw no people or Invaders near him. Good, the enemies must have fled upon hearing him shout and approach. Things seemed to be fine now.

But life wasn’t willing to be so kind to him this day, it seemed.

His heart stopped when he heard a pained cry from Eito, followed by wet coughing. He turned in a panic, seeing one of those strong golden knights driving their spear deep into Eito’s back. It pulled back and ran away when it saw the giant rushing towards them, fleeing with its bloody spear in its grip.

Eito managed to stay standing for a few seconds, gazing up at Takumi with such a peaceful expression, like he’d accepted his death so long as he could see his precious deity one last time. Then he fell forward upon losing consciousness. Takumi managed to get his hand underneath him before he impacted the rocky ground. “Eito! Eito, hold on for me. Don’t you dare go towards that light,” he demanded of the unconscious body, hoping he could still hear him. He frantically looked around, spotting Hiruko and Yugamu sprinting to him. “We have to get back to the LDA. Maybe Sirei can put his info back into the Revive-O-Matic.”

Thankfully, the other two recognized the urgency of the situation. They climbed onto his hand near Eito without hesitation, Yugamu readjusting the bleeding body and inspecting him. Hiruko made eye contact with Takumi, her gaze serious. “He’s going to die, Takumi. So prepare yourself if Sirei refuses.”

She was correct, though the truth stung. He did his best to stay steady and calm as he stood back to his full height with his friends in hand. “I… I won’t let that happen. I want everyone to make it through these hundred days, and I’ll do anything to ensure that,” he proclaimed as he started a speedy walk back to the school.

He wished he could run, but he couldn’t risk jostling the small bodies in his hand. He kept glancing down, seeing Yugamu try his best to sew up the wound and keep Eito alive as long as possible.

The wall of magenta flames were visible when Yugamu spoke gravely. “His heart stopped beating. We have minutes until his brain ceases any activity.”

Takumi’s breathing quickened, as did his speed. He made sure to enclose his friends in his hands before passing through the flames, raising his voice as soon as he was clear of them. “Sirei! Put Eito back into the database! We need the Revive-O-Matic now!” he called to the school, kneeling near the front and laying his hands down on the ground to let Hiruko and Yugamu get off. Soon the only occupant was the lifeless body of his… enemy? Friend? Devoted worshiper? It didn’t matter right now, only saving him.

Sirei appeared suddenly, barely visible to Takumi. The robot smacked his cane onto the giant’s nearest fingertip as he responded. “What’s this here about adding the traitor back into the system? It’s like you’re trying to help him sabotage this operation.”

Takumi glared down, lowering his voice into a commanding tone. “He won’t try anything anymore. He listens to whatever I say, so he’ll help us. So put him back in! He’s going to be brain dead in a minute!”

Sirei let out an aggravated sigh, shrugging his non-existent shoulders. “Even if I wanted to, I can’t. His data was completely and fully deleted. Nothing can restore it and there’s nothing to add if he’s already kicked the bucket. If I tried now, it’d just spit his corpse back out. He’s out for good.”

Takumi felt like time stopped when he heard that. Eito… was completely dead and couldn’t return? This was it? He looked down at the body on his hand, so small and limp with a peaceful expression. Cold, the flame of life in him snuffed out.

He felt immense sorrow, having just started rebuilding some sense of companionship with him after the betrayal. Now he wouldn’t get to see Eito truly overcome his challenges and be a better person. It was over now. If only he could reverse time and bring Eito back…

Request to reverse time’s effects on the held individual heard. What time shall the body revert to?

An emotionless voice spoke in his head, the same one that granted Takumi’s initial wish and turned him into a giant monstrosity. But he didn’t have it in him to be mad at the source of his stress, its words lighting a spark of hope in him. ‘He can come back? Yes! Do it! The Eito from this morning is fine. Return him to that body!’

Understood. Hold individual close to soul to initiate time reversal.

Takumi was quick to do so, carefully cupping the tiny body and pressing him up against his hoodie. He felt his body tingling as the strange powers started working their magic. He sighed in relief as he mentally spoke to himself. This is good. Every time someone gets hurt, I can reverse time. I can use these powers for something helpful at least. Eito can come back like he was this morning, and he can be as healthy as then for as long as we want.

Adjustments to wish understood. Applying new and extended effects now. Additional features from power usage will be applied to the user’s body simultaneously. Please wait for results.

The voice interrupted his inner monologue, just as confusing as the time it spoke after hearing his wish. He didn’t get a chance to question it, his body suddenly losing so much energy. He fell on his side, trying so hard to keep Eito’s body safe upon the impact. He also made sure to fall away from the school’s entrance, seeing more of the SDU emerging from the doors and looking his way. But he only got a few seconds to see them, as his eyes closed upon a wave of sleepiness rushing over him. He couldn’t fight it, and fell unconscious.

~~~~~~~~~~

There were no dreams during his state of forced rest, lost in a sea of inky blackness where he felt neither fear or comfort. He just… was. He could tell this was his body’s attempt to regain its powers as fast as possible, and he started stirring when it had replenished enough.

He groaned and his eyes scrunched up, slowly coming to and feeling heaviness in his whole body. There was also this odd sensation in his arms and legs, but he couldn’t quite place what it was. Maybe he would get some answers from the others once he was fully awake.

But before he opened his eyes, his ears heard something small and sweet and very familiar. The soft humming of a specific person he knew better than anyone else here. It made him hurry to finally open his eyes and catch sight of the noise’s origin point.

He’d been correct; it was Eito. The familiar white parka was instantly noticeable, the owner kneeling down to add a bottle of blue liquid to a bucket of water before stirring it until it was bubbling. He looked… like nothing had happened. Healthy, happy, and alive.

Takumi took a deep breath, nearly overwhelmed that his strange powers had apparently worked. “You…you’re alive,” he whispered, raising his head off the ground.

Eito spun around to face him, a dazzling smile visible for a second before he bowed deeply. “Good morning, my lord! I feel so blessed to have bore witness to your reawakening! I’m also immensely grateful for the gift of life you gave to me. I’ll use it to serve you for the rest of time, I swear!”

Still the same devoted worshipper as before, even a bit more now. It relieved him to see and hear, letting out a sigh. “I’m glad it worked. You feel alright?” he inquired.

Eito lifted his head up, meeting his massive eyes. “Yes! I feel so refreshed and rejuvenated every morning. You really picked the perfect morning to reverse the clock to. It’s something I can look forward to every day from this point on!”

That wording gave Takumi pause, now confused. “Wait… back up. What do you mean by that?”

Eito tilted his head, like a curious cat. “Did I say something strange? My apologies, my lord. I now realize you are unaware of the full extent of the blessing you gave me. You’re a new God, so you must not have a good grasp on your new abilities. That would explain why you needed 72 hours of continuous rest after such an incredible feat.” He smiled again, taking a step forward. “It would be my honor to explain! If that is what you desire, almighty deity!"

Takumi decided to ignore his annoyance with the reverent terms as he was desperate for answers. Especially now that he had apparently been asleep for three days straight. “Just tell me what happened, Eito. Everything,” he instructed.

The directive seemed to send a pleasant shiver down the SDU traitor’s back, which was obvious even in such a tiny body. “At once, my God!” Eito placed a hand over his chest, right where he’d been stabbed. “Your blessing was able to reverse the clock on my body and bring me back to life. My body returned to the morning of my death day, after a nice refreshing sleep. At first, I believed it was a single event. But I discovered that wasn’t the case on the second day after your blessing. See, I had accidentally given myself a cut with a kitchen knife when attempting to make myself a sandwich. But when I woke up in the morning, the cut had vanished entirely. It was like my body rewound again. I tested it again with a stab wound in my leg, and I woke up again with no injuries! So it seems that I will always return to the fresh, young, and healthy body come morning. So I can stay by your side forevermore without fear of death permanently separating us! The all-powerful God of Time and his blessed devoted servant, together eternally. It’s such a wonderful future to imagine!”

Takumi stopped breathing, feeling like a titanic bucket of water had been dumped on him. His powers had made it so Eito’s body would always rewind to the state of the previous morning? If that was accurate, that meant he would never age. He’d stay the exact same until the end of time, in this youthful stasis. A curse of immortality.

“Eito… I… I… I didn’t…” he tried to say, but the guilt crushed his attempts to apologize. He’d essentially doomed Eito to live forever without a way to stop it. All because he wasn’t careful with the wording of his wish again. He really was a failure.

Eito, however, didn’t share his thoughts and feelings about this. “To know I was the one chosen to remain by your side; it’s the greatest gift I’ve ever been given. I’ve found my purpose to live for finally. Thank you, my wonderful God, for saving me in so many ways.” He made a little noise with a bit of a jump, as if recalling something. “As a show of gratitude, I’ll continue polishing until you’re sparkling! I do my best to make everything beautiful, and I hope I’m doing a good enough job of it. Please inform me if it’s not to your liking and I’ll improve!”

The strange offer briefly jolted him out of his spiraling. “Polish? What is there to polish? I don’t need-”

That's when his eyes caught sight of something really weird. What looked to be a strange glass sculpture was near Eito, who was dunking a washcloth into the bucket of soapy water and raising it towards the glass. He started wiping the surface carefully, but… Takumi could feel that touch and cold liquid. But how? His arm and hand were nowhere in sight, only this strange large glass sculpture that looked… like a human arm and hand. Takumi felt dread pool in his stomach, praying to some other deity that he was wrong about this as he tried to twitch a finger.

The corresponding glass finger responded, exactly how his own hand would work.

Takumi suddenly pulled away from Eito, needing to sit up and confirm again, rolling his sleeves up. He ignored the tiny teen’s questions and concerns, too stressed that his fear had been the truth. His arms and hands were both made of glass, transparent and see-through with what appeared to be sand particles flowing through them from shoulder to fingertip. A frantic tug on his pants near his shoes revealed the same thing happened to his legs and feet.

His limbs… were now like hourglasses.

It was all too much, and he wanted to mentally shut down. He curled himself into a ball, hugging his knees to himself in some poor attempt at self comfort. He had thought himself as monstrous before, but now it was just way more obvious with these arms and legs. He was nothing more than a giant freak who messed up people’s lives.

He didn’t shed tears, too overloaded to do so. He didn’t want to think again, wondering if he could just take another nap to briefly forget his stresses. It had worked in the past, so there was a strong chance it would now.

He almost missed the tiny noises of effort and tugs on his pants, but luckily realized it before he made any sudden movements. Eito was climbing his pant leg at a rapid speed, like he was ascending a mountain. His pace never faltered until he reached Takumi’s knee, standing up straight and resting his tiny hands on his cheek. “My lord, are you okay? I know it must be strange to no longer see your skin, but they’re now so beautiful! It’s proof that you’re something greater than the lowly parasites that populate this world.”

Takumi grit his teeth, mumbling with frustration. “If all you’re going to do is put people down, then shut up. I don’t want to hear that right now.”

Eito went quiet for a few moments, likely not expecting that. Good, because Takumi wasn’t in the mood to deal with his misanthropic thoughts at this moment. He remained in the same position, wallowing in his misery in the silence.

Of course, Eito couldn’t help but talk again, but this time it was in a softer voice and tone. “You know, they all came to visit you while you were resting. Every single one of them checked on you at least twice. The twins and Nozomi love watching the sand move around in your arms and hands, as do I. In my opinion, it’s comparable to watching a meteor shower in slow motion, like the sand is stardust floating around in space. But we can see it so much more clearly with you. No one has spewed insults about your new appearance. Not that I’d allow them to, naturally. But I’ll give them credit for not seeing you as a monster and instead… someone to care about and for.”

Takumi’s breathing hitched briefly, then he raised his head enough to see the teen on him. “They… really were worried about me? And… they don’t think I’m… a freak?” he asked, lifting one of his new glass hands out of habit to help keep his passenger steady.

Eito was quick to turn and embrace one of the transparent digits, hugging it tight with so much adoration. “You are a work of art, my lord, and we all can see it so clearly. You’ve become a beautiful starry sky that helps shelter us from the rains of trouble and pain.”

It was cheesy, but it made Takumi smile for the first time that day. “You’re… so corny sometimes. But… I don’t mind it,” he admitted. He guided Eito over to his other hand that was palm up, helping him step off his knee and onto the glass hand so Takumi could safely uncurl and sit cross legged. Eito was more than happy to do so, lying on his stomach as he gazed in wonder at the transparent hand and the swirling sand within. “So very beautiful. I’ll never tire of seeing this, my God.”

Takumi huffed and said his usual response to that. “Not a God, even now. Just… someone trying his best.”

His attention was shifted when he heard Darumi’s voice on the roof, loud and a bit shrill. “Takumi’s up! FINALLY!!! Man, you sleep like it’s a job. Send some sleepy vibes our way sometime, won’t ya?!”

Takumi could see Gaku’s room door open and the shorter guy himself almost trip rushing over. “You ARE awake again! Don’t scare us like that, man! Even if it does get you sick looking limbs. Plus, Eito’s ego is somehow higher than before. So no more crazy time power stunts, got it?!”

Before Takumi could respond, Yugamu practically appeared out of nowhere behind Gaku, making the teen squawk in terror. “I must admit, I’m most curious about your new body. You must allow me to investigate one day, Takumi.” He shivered and hugged himself with excitement. “The idea of slipping into a crack of the glass and then traversing through the ball socket into your flesh and bone torso is so tantalizing. It makes me so-!”

Takumi felt an unpleasant chill run along his body at the mental image, even scooting back a bit to put a little more distance between them. “Not happening. I'm still trying to even BEGIN to understand what’s happening. I don’t need that making it more unpleasant.”

Yugamu shrugged, still with a smile. “Worth a shot. In any case, we shall go inform everyone of your consciousness. I imagine they all will come out with us to see you soon after. Give us ten minutes and we’ll be back with you.” The three then turned and headed for the stairs, vanishing from sight and the door shutting behind them.

Eito grumbled unhappily, shifting a bit on Takumi’s hand. “So they are all coming out. I wanted to have more time for solo worship,” he complained with a pout. “I’ll need to wash and polish your glass after they leave, as they will surely smudge it up. No respect for the divine.”

Normally, Takumi would have rolled his eyes at the dramatic tone. But he found himself instead staring down at his hands again, still conflicted at the new sight of the swirling sands within the glass. It would take a long time to get used to these. Also, he still felt guilt for essentially subjecting Eito to eternity without permission, even if he hadn’t meant to do so. He’d have to use these new powers much more carefully in the future, and with precise wording to ensure nothing like this would happen again.

He had to be better. Not only for himself, but his friends and their safety and wellbeing. He would start on this training and improving as soon as he could.