𝖈

soft sunlight spilled gold across the very planter boxes umemiya spent the whole week fussing over, who’s currently misting a row of seedlings.

you sat beside your boyfriend, tsubakino, the two of you watching from the old bench as painted nails gently card through your hair.

“you’re spoiling them again,” he sighed toward the white haired male fondly. “i swear those tomatoes get more attention than half the first-years.”

umemiya only laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest as he glanced back at the two of you. “they’re part of the family. just like you two.” his eyes crinkled at the corners when they landed on you. “and you, [y/n], c’mere. you’ve been running around all day helping with patrols.”

he didn’t wait for an answer to reach out and hook an arm around your waist, pulling you properly into his side. you went willingly, melting against the solid warmth of him while tsubaki immediately shifted to keep contact, draping himself along your back like a very stylish, very affectionate blanket.

“see?” tasuku murmured near your ear, pressing a quick kiss to your temple. “this is the best seat in the whole school. right between the two of us.” soft fingers found yours and laced them together, thumb stroking over your knuckles. “isn’t that right, sweetheart?” he glanced toward the other with an expectant look.

hajime hummed in agreement with a grin. “of course it is!” his own free hand came up to cover both of yours, big and gentle. “you two make coming home after a long day feel easy.”

“haji, you say that like almost everyday.” a laugh left your lips as you teased him.

“listen to him, darling. our big strong leader getting all soft.”

tasuku tilted your chin up with a finger so he could look at you properly, eyes sparkling. “but he’s right. you’re the center of this little circle, you know that? ume and me, we get to orbit around you.”

you felt your face heat, but neither of them let you hide. umemiya pressed a kiss to your hair. tsubakino followed it with one to your cheek, then the corner of your mouth.

for a long moment the three of you just stayed like that; tangled together on the rooftop bench, surrounded by the faint rustle of leaves and the distant sounds of people below. just hajime’s steady heartbeat under your ear, and tasuku’s soft humming carried by the breeze.

as you watched the sun slowly set, you realized it was probably time to head back home, but before you could say anything, umemiya’s voice was barely above a whisper when he spoke again.

“stay a little longer?”

tsubakino answered for all three of you, squeezing your hand.

“as if we’d ever let you go.”

your name left his mouth before he could stop it, disbelieving.

you offered an apologetic smile, the same one you used to give him when you unintentionally got late to meet him after school—and the sight of it carved straight through his chest.

“hey, teru,” you greeted with a small wave. except your voice sounded different. a little distant, like it was coming from very far away. “you look tired.”

that’s when teru should’ve moved. right then and there, he should have drawn out his sword and finished the job. he should have ended it before the thing wearing your face could speak another word. that was the rule. the duty carved into his bones since childhood. supernaturals were not people. they are distortions. threats. things that need to be erased before they could sink their roots into the living world.

but his hands felt frozen at his sides, useless. subconsciously refusing to rise because it was you.

you, who’d wait for him by the shoe lockers even when it rained. you, who listened without fail whenever he confided in you about the weight of responsibility becoming more and more heavy. you, who died only weeks ago—suddenly, so unfair in a way that still made his throat close whenever he thought about it too long.

now you’re standing in front of him as something he was sworn to destroy.

“you’re not supposed to be here,” he said coldly, more than he intended. it was the only way he could keep it from shaking.

your expression faltered. “i know. i didn’t mean to come back. i just…i was so cold. and then i saw the school lights, and i thought maybe if i could see you one more time—”

“stop.”

the word cracked out of him like a whip. you fell silent instantly.

teru’s fingers tightened around the sword until his knuckles whitened. every instinct screamed at him to finish it. he could already feel the wrong pressure of your presence against his senses, how the energy wasn’t normal and your shadow didn’t fall quite right. you were no longer human. you turned into an apparition, a residual regret given shape. the kind of thing that would only grow hungrier the longer it was allowed to roam free.

he’s exorcised dozens like you, never once hesitating before.

“why you?” the question slipped out before he could stop it. “why did it have to be you?”

“i don’t want to hurt anyone,” you whispered, taking a step closer. to which he did not move away like he should. “i..didn’t want to disappear without seeing you again. is that so wrong?”

yes, he wanted to say. yes, it is wrong. because every second you remain, you become less of the person i knew and more of the thing i am meant to erase. because if i let you stay, i am betraying everything i was raised to protect. because if i destroy you, i will never forgive myself.

but how could he say all that? instead, he only stared at you, jaw locked so tightly it ached.

the minamoto heir. the flawless student council president. the boy who smiled for the whole school and carried a blade in his shadow. all of it felt paper-thin now, standing in an empty hallway with the ghost of the only person who ever mended the broken pieces of his heart and held them safely.

“i have to end this,” teru forced himself to say. “you know that.”

your whispered, “i know.” was almost enough to make him turn back on his word. almost.

silence stretched between you. but even still, teru’s hand went to draw out his blade. his arm felt like it weighed a thousand kilograms. every muscle resisted and worse, his vision blurred at the edges, which he realized with distant horror that his eyes were burning.

sensing his hesitation, you gave him a soft, understanding look that only made things worse on his end. “it’s okay, teru,” you reassured gently. “you don’t have to hate yourself for this. i already knew…if i came back like this, you would be the one to find me.”

“don’t. don’t make this easier.”

there was no fear in your expression. it felt like you were encouraging it, even.

but you only did that same, painfully familiar smile. the one that used to make ordinary days feel bearable—and waited.

for a moment, just one moment, he almost lowered the seal. almost let himself pretend that duty could bend for something as fragile and human as grief. close to chose the memory of you over the world he swore to protect.

teru’s hand trembled. his heart was pounding hard, mind overwhelmed with different kinds of thoughts that wouldn’t end. most of all, regarding the three words he so foolishly believed he had time to say out loud to you one day, but will never be able to, now.

time is a twisted thing.

then the cold in the air warped again, and something behind your eyes flickered. not quite you, something else entirely, and the choice was made for him.

your form dissolved like mist under a harsh sun, the edges of your body burning away in silence. there was no resistance or last words spoken. only the soft, final sound of something precious coming undone.

with a raise of his sword, black light flared.

after that, the hallway was empty again.

when he lowered his hand, his fingers were shaking so badly he had to press them against his thigh to still them. there was no blood or body. nothing left to bury or hold or beg to stay.

teru stood alone beneath the flickering lights, arm still outstretched, the last traces of spiritual energy fading from his palm. his breathing was uneven. he felt..helpless. empty, not a single spark of satisfaction at all. he didn’t move for a long time.

teru finally turned and started to walk away.

only the afterimage of you burned behind his eyelids—smiling, content that you got the chance to see him one last time, forgiving him for something he’ll never be able to forgive himself for.

i love you. i’m sorry i never told you.

he did not look back.

what if you weren’t ready? what if you messed this up? what if something you did—something small, something careless— hurt the tiny life already growing inside you? the fear sat heavy in your chest, rising panic coursing through your veins. you’ve always been the one who worried about everything. takashi was the steady one. the one who kept his calm, and the one who could hold the whole world together with quiet hands and a soft smile.

you were just...you. and suddenly that didn’t feel like enough.

now sitting against the wall, senses heavy with overwhelm, you missed the familiar sound of the front door opening, followed by the soft clink of keys being set down and a thud of a bag. all of it was soft, cautious just in case you might be resting.

what he didn’t know yet was that you very much weren’t right now.

“i’m home,” takashi called out, sounding a tad tired but still warm. after being met with unsettling silence, he tried again.

“…[y/n]?”

still no answer. you didn’t. you couldn’t.

footsteps began to walk around aimlessly before starting to approach toward the bathroom.

once the door opened slowly, you quickly wiped away tears with the back of your hand, hoping that blinking fast enough and a scrub on your face would be enough to hide any evidence that you were sobbing a few moments ago.

takashi took one look at your face, obviously concerned about what was going on—when his gaze moved up to the counter, landing on the stick that was placed on the edge—and something in his expression softened. there wasn’t panic or shock. just a quiet understanding that settled over him like a blanket.

he didn’t say anything at first, knowing how vulnerable you must feel at the moment. he simply stepped inside, closed the distance, and pulled you into his arms, hands settling at the back of your head and back.

you broke instantly.

the tears came fast and messy again, soaking into the front of his shirt as you clung to him. “i’m scared,” you whispered against his chest. “takashi, i’m so scared. what if i’m not good enough? what if i do something wrong and—and the baby—”

“hey. hey.” takashi’s voice was soft, soothing, the same voice he used when either of his sisters used to wake up from nightmares. and not to ruin the vibe, but on one occasion or two, soothed you as well.

one of his hands slid around to cup your cheek, gently making you look into his eyes. “breathe for me, okay? just breathe.”

you tried. it came out shaky. mitsuya didn’t get annoyed at all. instead he held you tighter, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of your head. “it’s okay, love. you’re already worrying about being a good mom,” he murmured. “that tells me everything i need to know.”

“but what if i mess up?” your voice cracked. “what if i hurt them without meaning to? what if i’m not ready?”

takashi pulled back just enough to look at you, his other hand coming up to cup your face fully. his thumbs brushed away the tears with the same gentleness he used when he sewed. those calm, lavender eyes of his were soft—so soft it almost hurt.

“you’re not going to hurt our baby,” he reassured firmly, but so softly it felt like a promise. “and you’re not doing this alone. i’m right here. every appointment. every late night and every scary thought. you don’t have to be perfect. you just have to be you. and i already know you’re going to be an amazing mom… because you love so hard it scares you.”

your lip trembled, holding back another choked sob, but now it was under an entirely different reason—that he never failed in comforting you, in providing that safety that your mind and body alike have associated that word with him, and only him.

he leaned in and kissed the corner of your mouth, then your cheek, then the tip of your nose. sweet, lingering kisses that grounded you.

as he held your face, something in his expression grew distant for a moment, like he was seeing something far away. his thumbs kept stroking your cheeks, and when he spoke again his voice was quieter, almost thoughtful.

“you know…the night i realized i was in love with you, it felt a little like this,” he admitted with a faint chuckle. “not the fear. the certainty of what i felt.”

you blinked up at him, still sniffling and now a tad confused.

takashi’s mouth curved into a fond smile. because he still remembered that day in full detail.

that day had been a breezy, sunny afternoon that slowly melted into evening. golden light spilled through the open window of the old apartment above the sewing shop, carrying the faint scent of fabric and the distant sound of kids playing outside. luna and mana were already asleep in the next room, curled up under the handmade blankets he had sewn for them. the only light left on was the small lamp by his worktable, casting a warm glow over scattered patterns and spools of thread.

you’d come over to help him finish a rush order of uniforms, sitting cross-legged on the floor with fabric scraps stuck to your clothes and a pin cushion balanced on one knee. every now and then you would glance up at him, smiling at something small—or simply of the fact that in a way, you were still spending time together. and also of the way he frowned in concentration, or the soft hum he didn’t realize he was making while he worked.

takashi was focused on a stubborn seam when he felt your gaze linger longer than usual. he looked up and found you watching him, chin resting in your hand, expression so open and fond it made something in his chest flutter.

“what?” he asked, a little amused.

still smiling, you shook your head to play it off. “nothing. just… you. you’re always taking care of everyone.”

he didn’t answer right away. instead he set the fabric down carefully, rested his elbows on his knees, and really looked at you; at the soft light catching in your hair, at the way you made yourself at home despite the mess, at how natural it felt to have you there.

and in that quiet moment, it settled over him completely.

ah. so this is what it feels like.

well, if he had to admit it—takashi was already head over heels for you months ago, but there was something about this moment, the simplicity and as said before, the natural feeling of being together like this—that made him truly realize the depth of his love.

it felt right, like something’s been stitching into place for a long time without noticing. he spent so many years being strong for everyone else—for his sisters, for toman, anyone who needed him—that he hadn’t realized how much he wanted someone who stayed. someone who looked at him like he was worth looking at even when he wasn’t being useful.

to put it more directly, someone like you.

takashi reached out, hesitant at first, and took your hand. his thumb brushed over your knuckles once.

and before he could stop himself, the words were tumbling out.

“i think i’ve been in love with you for a while now.”

he still remembers the way you only stared at him, eyes wide, clearly flustered—and he’d given you the most honest, smitten smile. “i kept waiting for it to feel scary. but it doesn’t. it just feels right. i don’t need anything big, i just need you. if you’ll have me.”

the memory faded gently, the nostalgic glint in his eyes replaced by the same adoration now as they refocused on yours.

“i told you that night that i didn’t need anything big,” mitsuya continued. “i just needed you, and i still mean it. only now…i get to need you and this little one.” he glanced down, one hand sliding from your cheek to rest gently over your stomach. “i’ve raised two little girls already. i know how terrifying it is to be responsible for someone so small. but i also know how worth it it is. this time, i get to do it with the person i love most in the world.”

warmth bloomed in your chest, spreading throughout your body, pushing back against the earlier fear.

takashi leaned in until your foreheads rested against each other. “we’re going to figure this out together,” he reassured once more. “you, me, and this baby. whenever you get scared…you tell me. i’ll be right here to remind you how loved you already are. how loved they already are.”

you finally laughed, fingers curling into the front of his shirt. “you’re going to be the best dad.”

“only because i get to do it with you, sweetheart.”

later that night, after the tears dried and the fear mostly faded away, the two of you lay tangled together on the couch. mitsuya’s fingers were splayed protectively over your still-flat stomach, thumb tracing slow, absent circles as if already soothing the baby inside.

“i already started sketching little onesies,” he admitted against your hair, a soft laugh in his voice. “with tiny dragons on them. and some with flowers in case they’re a girl. and maybe i’ll make some matching ones for luna and mana so they don’t feel left out.”

you smiled into his chest, heart so full.

outside, the city kept moving. inside, in the soft glow of the living room lamp, takashi held his whole world in his arms—the woman he loved, the child they’re going to meet one day, and a future he was already stitching together with steady hands.

ever since he saw the lines on that pregnancy test, you believed him completely. everything was going to be okay. because it’s takashi we’re talking about.

blinking in surprise, you gave a tired smile after. “could say the same to you. i thought presidents were supposed to leave at a reasonable hour.”

“i could say the same about transfer students who take on three extracurriculars in their first semester.”

a small, shared look passed between you—the silent understanding of two people who were used to running on less sleep than they should. your schedules had only aligned a handful of times since you transferred. usually it was stolen minutes in the hallway, or a brief exchange while one of you was rushing to the next commitment. today, though, the calendar decided to finally give both of you a free stretch of hours.

teru closed the folder in front of him with a soft thump. he was debating whether or not to ask this pretty bold question, but—when fate gives you a chance to be with the person that piques your interest, shouldn’t you shoot your shot?

“...there’s a café near the station that does decent coffee and stays open late,” he said casually. “if you’re free, of course.”

needless to say you did not expect that—but your smile widened a little more. “are you asking me out, minamoto?”

his expression didn’t change much; still the same composed, almost princely look he wore for the rest of the school, but something softer flickered behind his eyes. oh, and he was definitely pleased.

“i’m suggesting we both eat something that isn’t a convenience store onigiri or ramen. whether that counts as a date is up to you.”

you laughed under your breath and started packing your things. “then it’s a date.”

the walk toward your destination didn’t take too long. from avoiding teru’s intensely devoted admirers and stopping a few times by people that recognized teru, you managed to arrive in under an hour. which was great—since you thought it’d be longer.

as you walked inside, the café was quiet, tucked between a bookstore and a music shop. warm lighting, soft jazz, and the low chatter of conversations around. once you had your orders placed, he guided you to a corner table by the window.

the entire time you simply talked—about deadlines, the science fair project that was eating your weekends, about the piece you were preparing for your next music school evaluation.

and what do you know? you both found out you had much more in common than either thought. during a brief moment of silence, you saw his eyes move to the faint bags under yours.

“you push yourself too hard, huh?”

“look who’s talking.”

a smile formed on his lips at that. “fair.”

the conversation steered to a different topic after. rants, mutual complaints, even a quick debate over which subject at kamome was the most useless.

“oh, no, math has to go. most of what i’ve learned i haven’t needed to use at all.”

teru chuckled. “i guess you aren’t as much of a math lover as i thought.”

“yet i still hold one of the highest rankings in our school.”

“so do i. what a coincidence.”

...which ended into another debate of who was smarter between you both.

later, walking back toward the station under the soft orange of the streetlights, teru’s hand found yours. a smooth slide of fingers until your palms fit together. his grip was steady, the kind of touch that felt like an answer to a question neither of you fully asked yet.

“same time next free period?” he asked, trying to play it casual even though there was a bit of genuine hope across his face.

you glanced at him; the perfect student council president with his tie still neat, and felt something warm settle in your chest.

“yeah,” you agreed. “i’d like that.”

the evening wind tugged at his blond hair as he leaned against the railing, his uniform collar slightly crooked, yet holding the same perfect posture as everywhere he went. though you’ve still known him long before the smile became a mask. you’d known the boy who used to share his snacks with you under the shrine’s old tree, who whispered secrets of the adults and made you promise not to tell anyone, who used to swear that nothing—not even the minamoto clan’s expectations—would ever come between you.

that boy was still in there somewhere. you just weren’t sure if either of you still had the right to reach for him.

“you’re late.”

teru didn’t look at you when he said that. his tone was polite, calm the way he used with anyone. the one that never quite reached his eyes when he talked to you these days.

“...you’re early,” you answered, stepping up beside him. the city stretched out below, lights flickering on one by one. “as usual.”

a small, almost invisible smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

you both stood in silence for a long moment, the way only people who used to know every version of each other could. the air held a tension thick with everything unsaid; the last mission where your families had nearly come to blows, the way teru’s expression shattered when he realized the curse mark on your wrist was spreading faster, the dreadful truth that time was running out and neither of you knew how to stop it.

the curse started as a rumor. a slow-acting spiritual corrosion that no one in either clan could fully reverse. it ate at the edges of your existence like rust on old iron. some days your hands trembled. some nights you woke up gasping, the mark burning hotter than it should. it got to the point you decided to just stop counting the remaining months after the last healer’s visit. there was no point.

teru found out the same way he found out most things; by being too perceptive for anyone’s good. he never said the words out loud, he didn’t need to. the way his gaze lingered on your wrist whenever your sleeve slipped up was enough.

“you’re still going on missions,” he said eventually. not quite accusation or concern. something in between.

“so are you.”

“that’s different.”

“is it?” you turned to face him fully. “because i’m from the wrong family? because my clan and yours stopped pretending to be civil three years ago? or because you still think i’m going to turn into something you have to put down?”

teru’s jaw clenched. for a second the mask cracked, and you saw the boy who used to flinch when people talked about supernaturals too casually, the one who carried the weight of his family’s expectations like a second spine.

“don’t,” he said quietly. “don’t twist this into something it isn’t.”

“then tell me what it is!” your frustration was showing now. “because i remember when you used to trust me more than anyone. i remember when we used to plan how we’d reform both clans together. what happened to that teru?”

he finally looked at you then. blue eyes tired, and far too knowing.

“he grew up,” teru said. “he learned that some things don’t get to stay soft.”

the words landed heavier than they should have. you looked away first, fingers curling into the fabric of your uniform sleeve, hiding the faint glow of the curse mark.

one beat of silence. two. then three.

“…does it hurt today?”

a short huff of a laugh left your lips. of course he would ask like that. as if the answer wouldn’t gut him either way.

“a little,” you admitted. “it’s worse when the weather turns.”

teru’s hand twitched at his side, like he wanted to reach out and didn’t know if he was still allowed. the old instinct was still there—the same one that used to make him automatically step between you and anything that looked dangerous, even when you were both too young to understand what danger really meant.

“you should stop taking the high-risk assignments. your body can’t take the strain anymore.”

“and let the weaker ones go instead?” you shook your head. “you know i can’t do that.”

“i know.” his voice dropped. “that’s the problem.”

there was something in the way he said it made your chest ache. for all the mistrust, years of distance and looks that didn’t hold recognition, teru still understood you better than anyone else alive. he knew the stubborn streak that refused to sit out a fight, the quiet pride that wouldn’t let you be seen as fragile. he knew, better than anyone, how much the curse terrified you—not because of the pain, but because of the people you would leave behind.

including him.

the wind picked up. somewhere below, the last of the after-school club activities were winding down. the world kept moving like it always did, indifferent to the two of you standing on a rooftop with too much history and not enough time.

teru exhaled slowly, then did something he hadn’t done in years, stepping closer. close enough that you could smell the faint scent of the cologne he still used—the same one from middle school, the one you used to tease him about.

close enough that if either of you moved even slightly, your shoulders would brush.

“i hate this,” teru started off softly. he knew it was better to be honest now than never. time was ticking and fate wasn’t going to play fairytale. “i hate that i still look for you in every room. i hate that no matter how many times i tell myself we’re on opposite sides now…i still end up here. waiting.”

yet despite accepting what your end will be, hot, stinging tears rose to your eyes.

“i hate it too.” you whispered. “because i still trust you more than anyone. even when i don’t want to.”

the city lights blurred a little at the edges of your vision.

then teru’s hand moved. hesitant, but still reached out and gently took your wrist, pushing the sleeve up just enough to see the curse mark. his thumb brushed the edge of it, light as a flake.

“i used to think if i just became strong enough, i could fix everything,” he murmured. “the clans. eliminate supernaturals. you. but some things…don’t care how strong you are.”

you looked at him—seeing the tiredness in his eyes. the vulnerability he couldn’t hide anymore. “then stay,” you replied. “just for tonight. be...teru. the one i used to know.”

“…alright.”

he didn’t let go of your wrist. instead, he guided you both down to sit against the railing, shoulders brushing. the silence that settled between you was different this time, like two people who spent years building walls and were only now realizing how tired they were of holding them up.

after a long while, you leaned your head against his shoulder, the way you used to when you were younger and the world still felt simple. teru’s free hand found yours in the dark, fingers lacing together.

in this night, the rivalry or past months of distance didn’t matter. not even missions or the curse mark.

there was only this; two people who had once been everything to each other, sitting on a rooftop, holding on while the city spun on below them.

what you were. what you still, somehow, were.

the more he talked, the more kinich decided that ajaw had spoken enough words for the day, for which he shut him up with,

“quiet.”

...followed by a flick of his wrist that sent the creature flying.

not having paid attention to the little commotion that just happened, you casually wiped blood from your knuckles with a cloth, then turned toward him with a soft smile that completely contradicted the carnage behind you. your clothes were slightly torn in places, though that didn’t matter when the way you moved made it seem like it was all nothing more than a warm up. when you reached your boyfriend, you gently brushed a leaf from his shoulder, expression warm.

“are you hurt anywhere?” you asked, eyes scanning him with quiet concern. “i tried to keep them away from you.”

kinich’s gaze lingered on you, lost in thought for a moment. about how most people feared you when you fought; the way you moved with brutal efficiency, whether breaking bones or not wasting time in striking to the exact weak points.

but with him, you were always soft. always gentle.

“i’m fine,” he replied with a short nod. “you took care of it before they could get close.”

you smiled, the kind of smile that made something tight in his chest loosen. “good. i don’t like when they get too close to you.”

ajaw, who somehow managed to come back, interrupted the moment by making a gagging sound. “disgusting. you two are going to make me sick.”

the saurian hunter ignored him, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear as if to piss him off further instead.

“you don’t have to fight my battles for me,” kinich reminded gently. “but…i know you will anyway.”

“i want to,” you say while leaning into his touch. “you carry enough on your shoulders. let me carry some of it.”

he didn’t argue, preferring to pull you toward him instead to rest his forehead against yours in a rare moment of softness. “you’re terrifying,” yet he said it with underlying devotion. “but you’re mine.”

you laughed softly, wrapping your arms around him. “and you’re stuck with me. got it?”

kinich’s lips twitched at that, the closest he ever got to a real smile.

“i can live with that.”

that’s when kinich realized he’d found something priceless, which is ironic when you consider how he calculates the price of many things.