Yahoo! :*

First off, I'm still alive (just struggling to finish the What If because I lack puns for Izuki's scene lool). So here's another short story in the meantime. This isn't the MidoTaka I promised you though. This is a mini-series I wrote for a very dear friend of mine, and for you guys to make up for not updating for centuries OTL

Dedicated to @IrisHanniwu because I love her so friggin' much :)

TRIGGER WARNING: Suicide.

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Once Upon A Time (Midorima Shintaro x Reader x Takao Kazunari) PART I

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It was ironic.

You wondered why it's called falling in love when falling implies collapsing; and collapsing means breaking.

People always see love as something grand, something we need, and we all momentarily forget that love makes us weak.

And that's where the irony lies.

You fell in love, felt complete, and didn't even realize that you were actually losing yourself. Love broke you and here you were, counting how many pieces of yourself had gone missing from the impact.

Then you realized, there were a lot.

It had been exactly a week ever since he broke up with you. But to you, it seemed only yesterday when he mustered up the courage to tell you what he truly felt.

"Let's break up, [Name]. I'm sorry, but please just forget about me and everything between us-nanodayo."

It didn't make sense at first, you didn't know what you did wrong for him to say those words---to end everything and break your heart. But when he turned his back on you despite seeing your tears, you finally came to understand why.

He had fallen out of love.

A soft sob escaped your lips as memories came rushing back at you, reminding you of the happiness you felt and will no longer feel again.

You took a step forward and stared at the water underneath your feet, reflecting the round moon above and the beautiful stars you used to admire. Then without so much of a noise, you let yourself fall, deeper and deeper, allowing the cold water to embrace you with a defeaning yet somewhat peaceful silence. You let the air inside of you ran empty, let the water drown you without putting up a fight, let the pain of not having him anymore die.

Along with you.

***

It was ironic.

He wondered why most people see love as the most powerful thing; a force that can withstand everything.

Midorima Shintaro thought so too, having you with him was perfection. Like everything was right and nothing could go wrong. It was so beautiful that he had momentarily forgotten the irony that lies beyond it's pretentious nature..

That sometimes, you couldn't stop fate from getting in the way.

Love is powerful, but the truth is, it is fate who decides.

And it showed him that he wasn't the right man for you, that no matter how hard he'd try, he couldn't defy it. So he had no choice but to end everything and say goodbye.

Only he didn't expect you'd be too broken to even stand up again.

Panting hard, Midorima impatiently waited for the elevator doors to open. Upon seeing that it was still up on the fifth level, he hurriedly ran towards the stairs, shoving aside the people who were blocking his way. He couldn't care less about the complaints and snide remarks he heard about his rude behavior, all he had in mind was that he needed to see you as soon as possible.

Just minutes ago, he got a call from your father, informing him that you were brought into the hospital and was currently in the ICU. You've fallen into a comatose state after attempting a suicide by drowning yourself into your own swimming pool. Midorima didn't even wait for the call to end and immediately ran his way to the address your old man gave him.

"Midorima-kun, I love my daughter so much. I only want what's best for her. Your family is facing a huge crisis right now and I don't want her to be involved in a controversy. Your name's sinking reputation is the last thing she needs. If you want to protect her, you know what to do."

Damn it.

God damn it!

"I love you, Shintaro. I'll always be here for you. Forever.."

A small whimper slipped past his throat as memories came rushing back at him, reminding him of the happiness he felt and been longing to feel again.

Pearl-like tears freely streamed down to his damped cheeks as he fastened up his pace even more.

He couldn't forgive himself.

This was all his fault.

***

"How is she?" Midorima asked as soon as he reached his destination. His chest was rising back and forth through heavy breathing, eyes immediately darting to your body which was laying half-alive on the bed.

He ground his teeth together to prevent himself from wailing. If he could, he would. But then what good would that do? He had to be strong. That's the only thing he could do right now.

Your father who was situated at the stool chair near your bed turned to him, the usual steelness on the businessman's face was nowhere to be seen. It was replaced with hopelessness and guilt, he was now a man who had just lost all his reason to live. He looked so weak, so fragile, so miserable. "Midorima-kun.. If only-- If only I didn't--"

"There's no point in dwelling on the past-nanodayo," the young male started, maintaining his composure. But honestly, he was mad---so mad there was nothing else he could do but to hope and pray that you'd wake up.

How he fucking hated it...

All of this happened because of him.

"[Name]," he whispered as he held your hand tightly, as if the warmth he was giving you would help you regain your consciousness back. He wanted you to know that he was there for you, he wanted you to know that he was sorry and that he regretted everything.

"The doctor said it will take a miracle to bring her back." Your father cupped his face miserably, his shoulders began to shake as his sobs flooded the room. "This is all my fault! I shouldn't have done it! My daughter loves you so much! I shouldn't have told you to break up with her! This is all my fault! I can't forgive myself! I can't-- I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Midorima didn't say anything in return and only buried his face against the smoothness of your pallid skin, concealing the endless tears in his eyes as he cried like a little child. "I'm sorry, [Name]. I'm sorry.. I love you. I love you so much-nanodayo... You're all that I have right now, please don't leave me."

But no matter what he'd say, his words weren't able to reach you. No matter what he would do, his actions seemed meaningless. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months. Your eyes remained close, unable to see anything --- not even his tears.

***

Two Months Later.

"You look pale-nanodayo. Why don't you open your eyes and see how terrible you look right now?" Midorima cooed softly, caressing your cheek. "Wake up, [Name]."

His family circumstances didn't stop him from visiting you every day. He wanted to be with you, he wanted to be beside you when you wake up, he wanted to be the very first person you'd see the moment you open your beautiful eyes again.

He'd wait. Even if it would take him forever.

"I miss you so much-nanodayo." Midorima motioned his face closer then planted a soft kiss on your lips. "Come back to me, [Name].."

But just as he was about to straighten his back, the ringing of his phone startled him. He quickly fetched it out of his pocket then stared at the caller ID.

It was his sister.

Frowning, he answered the call. "Hello? What is it, Shizuko?"

"Onii-chan, Papa is-- The police came to arrest Papa!"

His eyes widened in horror. "What?! But how could that happen-nanodayo?! I thought they didn't find any evidence against him?!"

"I don't know." The poor girl's sobs from the other line could be heard clearly, worrying Midorima even more. "Mama is crying and I don't know what to do."

"Okay, I'll be there-nanodayo. So stop crying, everything will be alright. You need to be strong, Shizuko. Do you understand?"

"Y-Yes, Onii-chan.."

Midorima hung up then glanced at you with moist eyes, both hands curling up into a ball. The only thing that's giving him strength at the moment was the hope that you'd wake up soon and say what you would always say to him.

"I'll always be here for you, Shintaro. Always.."

As much as he wanted to rush out of the door, he sat on the chair and scooted lower to bury his face on your hand instead. The heaviness he was feeling was only becoming even more painful by the minute. "I'm losing everything and my family's tearing apart. It's so painful-nanodayo. I don't know what to do. How can I make things right, [Name]? What should I do to make things right again? Damn it! Damn it!"

He gasped when he felt your fingers move the slightest bit. He turned to look at your face, gaping upon seeing the tears that streamed down from your own eyes.

"[Name]?"

But then a dreadful noise was heard and Midorima's bespectacled eyes immediately darted to the monitor beside your bed.

"N-No.. No!"

A straight line...

"Help! Help!" he shouted hysterically as he tried to shake you hard in hopes that maybe you'd eventually force your eyes open.

The doctor came after a few seconds then took control of the situation, checking your vital signs while the nurses prepared the things they would need. Midorima situated himself at the corner, trembling in fear.

You were going to die..

No, you just died.

"N-No," he uttered in a low whisper before punching the wall beside him, hissing in pain then closing his eyes after. "Please, I'm begging you. Let her live, I beg of you. I'll do anything, I'll endure anything in return. Just please.. Don't take her from me-nanodayo!"

And right at that very moment, his prayers were answered and your heart started beating once again.

But...

--- To Be Continued ---

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yaaay! The first part is done \m/

Wait. You didn't think I'm done, right? LOL Not yet. Takao hasn't even entered the scene yet and the big twist is still coming up ;)

Anyway, don't forget to vote and comment. It motivates me to update faster XD