DON'T LEAVE ME. . .

"It's getting late, and I
cannot seem to find my way home tonight

Feels like I am falling down a rabbit hole,
falling for forever, wonderfully wandering alone."

c'mon : p!atd and fun

— ANGST
— that's it

- - -

"Minamoto-kun."

Kou breathed through gritted teeth, already feeling the warmth filling his eyes. Although he came to their spot to talk to him — Kou just couldn't handle seeing Mitsuba right now, lest he'd hysterically cry right then and there. Not now, Kou told himself. Don't cry.

Don't make this harder than it already is.

Kou reluctantly twirled around, eyes downcast, and lip bitten. Mitsuba frowned at the sight. It was rare to see the usually bright Kou look so. . .depressed. The pink-haired boy took a few steps forward and studied the blond's face. When Kou looked away, Mitsuba scowled.

"What happened?" Mitsuba asked, hating how Kou looks and how fast his heart beating (and not in a good way). "Why do you look so sad. Did you fail an attempt exorcism or something?" Mitsuba tried to joke (as always, with this snarky self), but Kou didn't even try to smile.

"Mitsuba," Kou said, now staring right at the boy's eyes. "I have something to tell you."

Something to—

Mitsuba paused. A confession?

Is that why he looks so serious? Mitsuba felt his heart flutter, but he forced himself to not show it. The boy tried to hide his smile by biting the inside of his cheeks.

Kou sighed. "We're moving away."

"You're—" Mitsuba's eyes widened. His stomach dropped deep down at the news. "That's not funny, Minamoto-kun," said Mitsuba, his feet continuously tapping on the ground, feeling antsy.

Kou scratched his arm. "Because it's not a joke." And Mitsuba knew that even if he was kidding around, he wouldn't look so heartbroken. "My family decided to move countries because they've been hearing about the news this school — the whole city had. Nii-chan tried to convince my parents that nothing wrong was going on, but they found out about Tsuchigomori-sensei."

"No," Mitsuba whimpered, in a desperate attempt to believe it's all a lie. "You're lying, right, Kou?" Then again, it would hurt even more if he convinced himself it was a stupid joke and become disappointed the next day.

"It's stupid, isn't it?" Kou said, laughing. But it was hollow, just empty. This wasn't the Kou Mitsuba grew fond of. "Right when things were going so well."

"But—" Mitsuba searched Kou's eyes for something, anything, even he himself doesn't know. "I can. . .I can just—"

"You can't." Kou cut off whatever Mitsuba was going to say. "I really tried to change their minds, but if I make them mad, they might hurt you. I didn't think this was going to happen either, you know." Then he sighed.

The grey clouds started forming. There was a drop of water, then another, and another, until it became harsher each passing minute. The sullen sky matched Mitsuba's crestfallen face. It was almost funny how perfect it was; but no one was laughing.

Drenched from the storm, Kou sniffled and wiped the water that reached his eyes. He still didn't move an inch.

Mitsuba wanted to say something — he had so much to say, but none of it reached his tongue. It's always this way, though, Mitsuba thought bitterly, he makes me go tongue-tied.

Stupid, both of them thought.

Kou grabbed Mitsuba's sleeve and pulled him in a warm embrace (at least, what's left of the warmth). When Mitsuba's tears poured like the storm, there was no stopping it. Kou cried too, and made his shirt even more wet than it already is, but his tears were saltier.

"I like you," Kou said, voice barely above a whisper. He hugged Mitsuba as if— no it really might be the last. "I'll come back here."

Kou's shirt crumpled under Mitsuba's hold. Mitsuba was trembling, and it wasn't from the cold. "Don't leave me," Mitsuba croaked out. "Don't leave me, please."

"I'll come back," Kou repeated, "I promise! No matter how many years it'll take. You better be safe here once I get back."

"Don't leave me," Mitsuba pleaded weakly.

"I'll always come back," Kou said, along with the deafening clap of thunder. "I'll always come back to you." Then he pulled away. "Bye, Mitsuba," Kou said with a pained smile.

Mitsuba didn't let go of his sleeve at first, but there was a look in Kou's face, and his grip went limp. Once Kou was a good few meters away, he turned back, and beamed a smile at Mitsuba. Even though it's forced, it still meant the whole world for him.

He didn't even get to say i like you and goodbye back.

- - -

Requested by: patorisuwu

😢 This made me sad. But thx for requesting though! ❣️

I really promise the next few chapters will be fluff—

Thank you for reading ❣️