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Prerequisite: Music helps set the mood, so as much as possible, I guess you should listen to the songs I put before the chapter starts. I mean, that is if you want to.

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- When you loved someone and had to let them go, there will always be that small part of yourself that whispers, "What was it that you wanted and why didn't you fight for it?"

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CHAPTER ELEVEN :: MEDALLION

5 YEARS EARLIER

FIFTH MONTH
2 DAYS BEFORE DABI'S RETURN

WEDNESDAY
4:30 AM

You and Keigo couldn't sleep at all. Both of you had been twisting and turning in your own beds, trying to find a comfortable spot to get some shut-eye. Both of you still had classes, for fuck's sake. Dabi's parents also wanted to talk to you after class and thinking about it already frustrates you because it only meant you had lesser hours to spend with Keigo.

Keigo was also worried about Dabi's return but he made it clear that he would never leave your side if the worst-case scenarios came along. When he returns, Dabi would, of course, keep a close eye on you. He would try to prevent Keigo from getting closer to you or even try to talk to you.

Why did it have to be this hard?

💛🌻

I am nervous.
read

💛🌻

I can't sleep, Keigo ...
read

💛🦅

same, sunflower
read

💛🦅

it's nerve-wracking.
read

💛🦅

i just want to be with u.
read

💛🌻

I want to hug you.
I feel like shit.
: c
read

💛🦅

c'mere baby. * hugs *
read

💛🌻

Idiot, I meant
in real life.
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💛🌻

But who am I
to be picky?
* hugs back *
read

💛🦅

that's my baby.
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💛🌻

Dabi's parents wanted
to see me after class.
read

💛🌻

You might want to head
out first after class.
read

💛🦅

message me if u
get uncomfy.
read

💛🦅

i'll comfort u, ok?
read

💛🌻

I wonder what they
need me for.
delivered

Unsure of whatever was coming, you stood up and stretched, watching as the sun illuminates your apartment bedroom. This was going to be the worst and the most suspenseful 2 days of your life. You wondered if you and Keigo would ever drift apart after tomorrow but the thought makes your heartache. You never wanted to stop anything, really.

You took in a deep breath and started doing your morning rituals before going back to grab your phone. You saw that Dabi had messaged you. 

☆ DABroskI

excited to see me?
read

'Honestly, no ...' you thought for a moment. 'I need more time with Keigo.'

♡ Sweet Cakes

Of course! :)
read

☆ DABroskI

if ur still upset about it,
i'm really sorry ...
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♡ Sweet Cakes

What can an upset me
do, anyway?
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☆ DABroskI

that sounded really bitter.
read

♡ Sweet Cakes

It did? I didn't mean
to. Sorry.
read

Dabi didn't bother responding anymore. He knows you were still upset about what's going to happen when he returns. But he was sure that you were going to be devastated when you learn of his parents' intentions for you. There was a reason why he couldn't let you be with him.

And it wasn't only his grudge. Truth be told, he wasn't over it but he wouldn't use it against him – not anymore. The sole reason why he couldn't let those feelings of Keigo and yours prevail because his parents had other plans for you. And falling in love with Keigo would only mean failures in their part.

And if there was one thing this family hated, it was " failure ".

Unlike your parents, Dabi's parents were stricter. Your parents never cared for titles and reputation but his parents did. His parents were always more proud of you than they were of him. Dabi was always dubbed as the 'failure', no matter how hard he have had tried. His achievements were always overlooked by yours but he never found that as a reason to be jealous of you.

Because you were always there to remind him that he was the best brother in the world. You were always telling him the things he wanted to hear. You were always the one who was so proud of him. You were a lot like your parents – compassionate, understanding, caring, and loving.

And it was understandable that Keigo would have failed for you.

Who wouldn't?

But right now, Dabi was just torn between making sure his parents were happy or making sure you were happy. He wanted to tell them to stop their plans of arranging you to somebody else because you were in love with somebody. But fuck it, would his parents even listen to him?

Would he be disowned?

These thoughts were the only thought circling around Dabi's mind for months now. When his parents told him about the plan, I thought it was unfair. I thought that it wasn't what you wanted and it sure isn't what your parents would have wanted too. He sighed, running his hands over his face, gently massaging the bridge of his nose. Quickly, I have grabbed his phone again and dialed Keigo's number.

I had decided.

And with that decision you eat the possibility of broken hearts.

The phone rang for about 30 seconds before Keigo had nervously accepted it. The moment he saw the caller ID, he just wanted to disappear from the face of the Earth. Keigo saw no reason for Dabi to be calling him at this hour especially since he was arriving in less than 48 hours. God, Keigo hated feeling this hopeless and confused.

"Hawks. We need to talk." Dabi's voice was cold and serious on the other line and Keigo undeniably lost all sense of speaking and ended up nodding even though Dabi couldn't see it. "When I arrive, you need to meet me at the park. I have one last favor to ask of you ..."

With that, even if Keigo responded or not, Dabi ended the call. Dabi closed his eyes and let the guilt consume him. He knew you weren't going to be happy with what he's going to do, and sure enough, he wasn't even happy with what he was plotting. 

'Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.' Dabi quoted to himself, putting his phone down on the coffee table beside him. He hated the idea that everything he ever cared about was on the line. Stupid ideas and stupid ideals never made a person who they are; it is how they act on their ideas and ideals that does. 

But if his actions meant breaking your heart just to keep his from breaking, then so, be it.

WEDNESDAY
5:00 PM

You were sitting patiently at the restaurant Dabi's parents told you to wait in. You didn't wear anything fancy for the occasion seeing that it was only Dabi's parents you were going to eat with-or so you thought. You played with your fingers under the table and thought of Keigo, breathing slowly, trying to calm your anxiously beating heart.

Why did you feel like something bad was going to happen?

💛🌻

Keigo, I can't.
read

💛🌻

I'm really nervous. My
heart is beating so 
fast right now.
read

💛🦅

dabi called me earlier ...

read

💛🦅

said he wanted to talk 
when he arrives ...
read

💛🦅

I'm right here, sunflower.
i love you so much.
read

💛🌻

i hope it's going to be
alright.
read

You stopped texting as soon as you felt a hand on your shoulder. You looked up to see that it was Dabi's father or your uncle; his parents had finally arrived. You smiled lightly at them and waited until they took their seats. All three of you started talking about your studies and how incredible you always were with it. You started getting shy about it and began to try to come up with excuses not to talk much about it.

"Dabi's doing really great at his internship." You opened up while eating the food that was just served a few moments ago. "He says he's really enjoying it."

There were only nods of approval from his parents. This was one thing that pissed you off when you saw them. They were always busy and when they have time to show up, they always ask for you and not for Dabi. You knew since you were younger that they didn't really see Dabi's achievements and always acknowledged yours. 

"Actually, darling." your aunt began to spoke with a worried tone. "We have something we need to tell you."

You raised both your brows at the statement and tilted your head to the side slightly. "What is it?"

"That is ..." your uncle cleared his throat, looking back at your aunt. "... if you don't freak out about it."

Awkward tension and silence circled the three of you. You bit your lower lip waiting for the two of them to speak up, your heart racing and your palms sweating. But before you could react, your eyes had started to tear up and the pain in your chest gradually became unbearable. It only took those words to break whatever was left of your sanity. 

"We have arranged for you to marry someone, (your name)."

"... Why?"

"Consider it your payment for everything we have done for you."

You stayed there, dumbfounded. The three of you continued to eat. They said that they would wait for your response in 3 days. If you were to say no, you would be ungrateful and rebellious. If you were to say yes, you were sacrificing your happiness for their own fulfillment. All of this became too heavy for you to bear, so you stayed silent, waiting for the moment your heart stops shattering.

But it never stopped shattering.

WEDNESDAY
10:30 PM

Keigo waited for your messages the whole evening. He waited for you to call, to tell him something. The weight of his overthinking is getting too much to bear. He wasted most of his hours crying in his bedroom and drinking wine that he had saved for these types of days - the cold, lonely, and sad ones. He tapped on his phone, watching it turn on and off as every tap begins to accelerate due to his nervousness.

You, on the other hand, sunk on your bed, covered in your blankets. You wanted to call Keigo but you don't know how to explain to him the whole situation. Of course, he would say he'd understand but you didn't want him to - you wanted him to fight for you. You wanted him to say 'let's run away together' or 'I won't let them decide for you' , but you know very well what would happen if he did. 

It would still end up being a disaster.

And a disaster is the last thing you want to happen. You felt your warm tears welling up your eyes again and you let them fall this time, not holding back the sobs you held in at the restaurant.

"You're going to get together with the son of one of our business partners."

"Consider it your payment for everything we have done for you."

Did they even consider if you liked this decision? Did they even think about how you would feel if this happened?

These statements rang in your ears like noisy bells - fucking annoying. You wanted to just shut it out and never think about it but Dabi's return the next day still kept running around your mind too. You screamed out of agony until your voice was hoarse, not minding if you're going to get a complaint the next day. 

Both of stayed awake with uneasy hearts that evening. The two of you were suffocated by your own thoughts to get some rest or even sleep. Both of you drowning in what if's even before the event has happened. However, in all those what if's, only one stuck to your minds like glue.

What if we just drifted apart?

With that, you grabbed your phone and called Keigo. Keigo quickly picked it up but before he could even say he loves you and ask how you were, you said something that made him drop his phone on his bed.

"Keigo, let's end this."

Your voice sounded so low and hoarse, the sadness dripping off every word was evident. Keigo wanted to ask why, he wanted to know what the hell was running on your mind right now. He craved for the answers to the question that was now stacking up inside his head.

Did he do something wrong?

Did he make you want to leave?

What did Dabi's parents even tell her?

Is this why Dabi wanted to see him?

But to no avail, he couldn't bring himself to muster out a single word. And so I have asked;

"Is that what you really want?"

"No. But it is what is needed to be done."

"Do you want me to leave?"

"Fight for me."

"(Your name) ..."

"Keigo ..." you were now starting to sob on the other line. "... I beg of you, please."

Keigo stayed silent and he swore he could have heard his own heart cursing himself for not doing anything. He wanted to say something, anything, just to make you stay. What would he say to make you stay anyway? What can he do for you not to decide things like this.

"Sunflower, I'm not fucking happy with this decision ..." he said while swallowing back his own sobs. "... I love you too much."

"I love you ... so much ..." you said in between sobs. "But damn it, I can't ... I can't keep loving you ..."

"Why not, sunflower?"

"Because Dabi was right about the world being unfair!" You screamed.

"I won't let it happen."

"W-what?"

"Sunflower, I won't let you go."

The call had already ended before you could respond. Keigo was pissed, devastated, tipsy, confused, and in pain, he didn't know any better than walking up to his wall and punching it hard until his knuckles bruised - to let him feel something else other than what he is feeling right now.

You tried to get some sleep but only to wake up every hour to check if Keigo had sent you anything.

But nothing.

You sighed and closed your eyes once again.

This was going to be such a long week for all of you.

1 DAY BEFORE DABI'S ARRIVAL

THURSDAY
12:34 PM

You woke up groggily to the sound of your phone ringing. You checked the caller ID, half asleep, and answered the call.

"H-hello?" Your throat was hurting and it felt sore and your voice was really low and hoarse. "Who's this?"

"It's me, Dabi." His voice was laced with worry. "What the fuck happened to your voice?"

"I– I was–" you tried to think of an excuse. "I had lots of cold d-drinks last night."

"Hm. You better drink some water." You heard him sigh on the other line. "Did they ... tell you already?"

"Don't shit, Sherlock." You said while getting up and walking out to the kitchen to get a glass of water. "... I don't know why they could make such a decision ..."

"I—" Dabi stopped. "That's why I called ..."

You stayed silent and drank your water. What did he mean by that? Both of you fell silent and all you could hear was his breathing on the other end of the line.

"You better speak up then ... I'm too heartbroken to deal with any more shit." You said harshly, your hair covering your eyes as you looked down, gripping tightly on the kitchen counter.

"I tried to convince them to choose me instead, (your name). I tried to make them see that you wouldn't be happy. I tried to let them have me be the one with the arrangement."

"Well, guess what, Dabi? You didn't try fucking hard enough."

"You were always their favorite, (your name)!"

"And I always kept defending you, fucker! I always told them about your own achievements just because they keep shutting you out! I am not their child!" You were starting to cry again. "And yet they make all these decisions for me ... while you, you support them."

"(Y-your name), I—"

"No! You always kept your guard down with them. You act like a dog, hoping that they'd give you a treat for being a good boy! Especially, when it concerns me ..."

"I just want to make them happy ..."

"By using me ?! By limiting my own decisions to coincide with what they want ?!"

"..."

"Dabi, I fucking love you as my cousin and my brother. But you choosing their own happiness over mine – even when I put yours first ... it fucking pains me ..."

"(Your name) ..."

"And you know what else?" You chuckled bitterly. "I have to lose the person who put my happiness first because of your family's selfishness!"

You ended the call and threw your phone across the room. It didn't matter if it broke right now because that's how you were really feeling. You slowly sat on the kitchen floor and cried the tears you have left inside you until there was nothing but numbness.

The cold kitchen floor was just as cold as you now and you're not sure if it'll warm up even a little.

DABI'S ARRIVAL

FRIDAY
2:00 PM

Keigo stayed at his own home for 2 days now. His knuckles, wounded and bruised from doing nothing but punching the walls that he was confined in. It hurt to move his whole body so, he sat on the floor, staring at the dust that was mocking him for his stupidity.

He was intelligent in so many ways and yet here he was unable to do anything for both of you.

He slowly ran his fingers on his hair, hissing at the slightest pain his knuckles would send over. He bit his lower lip to keep himself from hissing too much at the pain. Today, was the day Dabi arrives and as much as he wants to stay at home, he had an appointment to get to.

FRIDAY
3:30 PM

When Keigo arrived at the park, Dabi had already been there, leaning back at a tree. Maybe Keigo was just holding back most of his emotions or maybe he had been feeling everything all once for the past few days that when he approached Dabi, he punched him right on the cheek. The punch caused Dabi to fall on the ground, making him groan from the pain.

Good thing nobody else noticed it.

But damn, did it feel good to let that out.

"M-maybe I needed that," Dabi said while standing up, touching his cheek and wincing at the burn it's causing.

"Damn right you do." Keigo held out his hand to him which Dabi gladly accepted. Keigo pulled him up and gently supported him while he wobbly stands. "I felt ... angry, really."

"And hurt," Dabi added.

"And hurt." Keigo nodded.

There was silence between the two. They watched as people pass them by, their smiles and laughter so contradictory to the raging emotions inside of them. Keigo then looked away from the people and stared at an empty space and only looking back when Dabi finally said something.

"Firstly, I think I should apologize." Dabi looked down at his hands. "I broke too many lives with my own decisions - broke too many hearts."

"Secondly, I think I should let you know that ..." he stopped himself, trying to find the words to make it easier for Keigo to accept. "... (your name) has been put into an arranged relationship - and possibly marriage in a few years - by my parents."

"They did what?" Keigo clenched his fist again, ready to attack at the nearest tree or person. I've tried to calm himself down but when you let anger course through you, it never really stops. "... Fuck, I really want to punch something right now."

Dabi looked at his knuckles and noticed that they were purple and blue, with light yet visible scratches. Just as Keigo was about to punch the tree behind Dabi, the latter grabbed his wrist, immediately stopping his fist from hitting the wood.

"She wouldn't be too happy to look at those hands with these bruises ..." Dabi said while placing Keigo's arm down.

"It's not like she'll be seeing them any sooner."

"What do you mean?"

"We broke up ... 2 days ago. I haven't heard from her since." Keigo frowned and placed his hands in his jacket pockets, slightly flinching at the pain of his knuckles. "I don't want to talk about it but ... continue with your point."

"Do you really still want to hear it?"

"What have I got to lose?"

Dabi stayed silent for a while. "Everything."

Keigo looked at him with a confused expression. "What do you mean by that, Dabi?"

"Hawks, I have one last favor for you to do." Dabi pursed his lips, shaking his head slowly. "And if you do this, I'll do everything in my power to stop the arrangement. I have a plan but I'm not sure this plan will work."

"W-wait, why? I thought you wanted this!"

"I did! I wanted to impress my parents by agreeing to their decision about the arrangement but I regret it." Dabi looked at Keigo in the eye. "(Your name) 's happiness should always have been my top priority ... that has always been my purpose."

"But with my parents," I continued. "(Your name) was right when she told me that I always put my guard down around them because I was afraid to disappoint them."

"And what happens if the plan fails? I lose my shot?"

"You love her, don't you?" Dabi grabbed his shoulders. "Then, don't do the same mistake of not fighting for her, dumbass. If the plan fails, blame it on me. But if you lose your love for her or even think in the slightest that she will lose her love for you , then you're helping me fail my plan. "

Keigo took a deep breath and mumbled a curse word under it. "What's the plan then?"

"Give me 5 years."

Keigo's eyes widened. "5 years ...? Am I hearing that right?"

"Yes. For 5 years, you have to leave Japan without saying a word. You wanted an internship at Canada, right? The university would have sent you there for a year - under an exchange student program."

"You're crazy." Keigo turned his back and started walking away.

"Listen!" Dabi quickly grabbed his arm and turned Keigo around to face him.

"Leave 5 years without saying a word ?! Are you trying to give (your name) a fucking heart attack ?!" Keigo said pushing Dabi's hand away from his arm.

"In order for this plan to work, my parents have to see that (your name) isn't happy with the arrangement. She will keep looking for you and she will never learn to love the guy they arranged for her."

"And if she does fall for the guy?"

"Do you really think she'll forget you easily? Under 5 months, you gave her so much to remember. You made her so happy!"

"Then, I won't leave if I make her happy!"

"Then what?" Dabi spat out. "Watch her as she slowly disappears from your grasp and falls under the arms of another ?!"

Keigo felt his heartbreak again. God, was he going to die of this? Unsure. The thing is, there was silence between them again and the tension in the air began to thicken as Dabi continued to explain his plan.

"You disappear. She'll look for you. She'll never have time to love him. 5 years. My parents won't let them marry until years later. I'll prove to them she doesn't love him. You come back to Japan and win her heart. "

"How am I going to explain disappearing under 5 years, then?" Keigo said still hesitant about accepting this favor.

"Even if she ends up hating me, tell her it was all my idea. I need to make it up to her." Dabi had offered his hand to Keigo and Keigo stared at it for a moment.

"If this ends up being a disaster after 5 years ..." Keigo said, grabbing Dabi's hand. "... I'm going to disappear from Japan forever ... I'll never come back. I'll never stand the heartbreak."

After that deal, they both went home and thought about their plan. It was risky and it was stupid. But there was always a thin line between love and risking everything for it. Keigo knew that this would break you and it would break him.

Little did he know that 5 years after, he was right about it.

And damn he sure wished he could turn back and stop himself from agreeing.

He was naive.

He was careless.

And that was the last time he will ever truly be happy with his decisions.

You said that it would last, but how come it's the last time?

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A/N: I don't know if I'm doing anybody justice aaaaa but after reading this chapter, I suggest you listen to the song (because it fucking hurt me). I wonder what happens next though, huhu. I'm sorry if I keep hurting you guys! 

I hope you enjoyed reading!

We're down to our last 4 chapters + epilogue :)

Edit: I forgot to say thank you for 2k+ reads on this book. Gosh, I feel guilty for making y'all cry now!!!