A/N 

Im back, also the picture above is my work, just a little something I did, I hope its not that bad. See more chapter notes at the end.

[Onwards to a new Future]

Mikey... What are you doing here...? Takemichi questioned inside his mind but shook his head.

Act normal, deal with it later... Remember Takemichi, he doesn't know you and he isn't that Manjirou... Takemichi said to himself as he smiled at both males.

"Thank you...?" Takemichi said.

Shinichiro then started approaching Takemichi with an unmistakeable dark aura. Takemichi shrunk at this.

"A-ah, S-shin-nii..." Takemichi stuttered at the approaching man.

"You idiot! Who told you to jump and protect me like that!" Shinichiro raised his voice a little bit at Takemichi, before the raven head can answer Shinichiro, the taller man engulfed Takemichi into a hug.

"I am so glad you're safe..." Shinichiro said shakily as he gripped Takemichi who's eyes widened at this.

He hesitantly brought his hands to hug Shinichiro back but eventually did. When he did, Shinichiro hugged him tighter making Takemichi grip Shinichiro's shirt and also hug the taller male. The raven head started crying as he did.

"Don't you ever worry me like that again..." Shinichiro said to the crying male who nodded.

"Are you guys done?" Mikey asked, pouting, interrupting their moment. Shinichiro and Takemichi separated and looked at each other, then at Mikey before laughing.

Ahhh... Really, he's the same as always, doesn't know how to read a room. Takemichi thought tearfully.

"Yes, yes Manjirou. Were done. Now you guys are officially meeting I'll leave and fill some papers the nurse was asking me." Shinichiro said and left. Leaving an awkward atmosphere between Takemichi and Mikey.

"M-Manjirou right?" Takemichi asked tentatively despite already knowing his name.

Mikey stared at Takemichi before grinning.

"You have really pretty eyes Takemitchy! Thanks for saving my big bro." Mikey said.

Takemichi didn't even bother to correct the nickname and just smiled warmly at the nostalgia with the nickname.

"It's not problem Manjirou kun." Takemichi replied back.

"Call me Mikey since you're my friend now" Mikey exclaimed as he went near the raven head taking something out of his pocket. It was a lollipop.

"Here, this is compensation for now, since I have to go. Once you get out, I'll introduce you to my friends, okay?" Mikey said with his usual smile and handed it to Takemichi.

But something happened.

The moment their hands touched, a surge of electricity went to Takemichi and Mikey making both kids react. They looked at each other, Mikey was confused and Takemichi was just as confused but he knew it had something to do with his time leap with Mikey, he was starting to get worried.

Before Mikey could speak someone came in, it was Shinichiro.

"Takemichi! I got your discharge papers! You'll be discharge tomorrow..." Shinichiro trailed off when he saw that Mikey was holding his hand as if it was hurt and Takemichi doing the same. "Did something happen?" Shinichiro asked.

"Nothing happened Shin-nii! Anyways, thanks for doing the papers!" Takemichi said with fake enthusiasm.

Mikey then looked at Takemichi with blank eyes, for a moment, Takemichi was worried that Mikey remembered something but it was just pure confusion hidden beneath the blank look making Takemichi sigh, relieved, inside his head.

"I'll see you later once you're discharged Takemitchy." Mikey said with a small smile before leaving.

The lollipop was left on the bed.

"Did Manjirou do something bad Takemichi?" Shinichiro asked the boy.

"No, no, he didn't do anything bad, it's nothing. We're fine." Takemichi said with a nervous smile.

Shinichiro was still unsure but he knew better than to pry. He may have only known Takemichi for a few months but he knows better than to dig in things that Takemichi doesn't want to talk about.

"Hm, I hope so... Say Takemichi, do you want to meet my family officially? Like Manjirou isn't my only sibling, I have another, it's our youngest and her name is Emma." Shinichiro smiled at the child softly.

Now that hit Takemichi a little bit. The guilt of not being able to save Emma from the previous timeline haunts him. Emma's last words, he cold body, and Draken's tears upon seeing Emma's dead body and punching Mikey.

To Takemichi, he thinks that it was his fault that a dent was made on their friendship- no, brotherhood. To Takemichi, he felt like it was his fault that Emma died, that if he had only been smarter, faster, quicker... He could've saved Emma.

"Takemichi? Takemichi!" Shinichiro raised his voice at the spacing out boy who snapped out of it because of Shinichiro's voice. "You good there? You spaced out for a bit." Shinichiro asked, worried.

"I-I'm fine Shin-nii... I'm fine with meeting your family." Takemichi smiled at the older(?) man who only looked at him worried.

"Look, it's okay if you're not ready to meet others yet. I'm just worried about you." Shinichiro said to Takemichi and held the younger's hand.

"I'm okay now, I was just scared because of an... experience..." Takemichi muttered lowly but loud enough for Shinichiro to hear.

Shinichiro just smiled softly at the raven head and patted Takemichi.

"Just remember, you're not alone, not anymore." Shinichiro smiled warmly.

Takemichi had unshed tears on his eyes.

Takemichi had always been alone. Be it childhood, teenage years, or adult years, he had always been alone. Forgotten by his parents the moment he hit 18, running away from everything, and it all led to him being alone.

He wonders how he grew up like this, saving people left and right, he was decent at least.

"Thank you..." Takemichi mumbled audibly as he gripped the hand that was holding his.

"I'm always here if you need a brother, I don't mind having another little sibling." Shinichiro said with a smile. "I'm sure Manjirou and Emma doesn't mind having you over." The male added.

"Thank you!" Takemichi lifted his head this time to face the black-haired male, this time, with a huge smile despite the tears in his eyes.

Takemichi wasn't going to run away anymore, not now, not ever. This time he will do everything right. This time he will save everyone. Even at the cost of his own life.

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Shinichiro left Takemichi since he couldn't stay long because of his shop and he had to take care of his siblings, Manjirou and Emma. Takemichi then bid goodbye to the taller male and Takemichi was left alone.

Takemichi looked at the night sky through the open window, pondering of what he has to do next. He then remembers the day he met Hina.

Takemichi then remembers the conversation he had with Hina after the Tenjiku fight, when he broke up with her. One of the reasons he broke up with Hina was because of a conflict of his own feelings. It got him thinking multiple times that even if he went back for Hina, Mikey was also another priority, not because of Hina, but because of him himself.

━━━━━━━━━Flashback━━━━━━━━━

"Takemichi kun! What brings you here? Naoto isn't here right now." Hina said as she opened the door to her house seeing Takemichi in front of their door.

"Hina-chan... Is your parents there? I would like us to talk, you know, just the two of us." Takemichi said with a small smile. Dread filled Hina but she smiled anyway.

"Their home right now so if you want us to talk why don't we walk to the playground." Hina said as she put on a pair of shoes and shouted from the door, informing her parents that she'll leave for a bit getting a yes as a reply.

Takemichi just gave a small smile and walked ahead, Hina following behind.

On their way there, Takemichi started talking.

"Remember the day we first met?" Takemichi asked.

"Yea, but I'm pretty sure I was the one who made you remember that." Hina grinned.

"Okay okay, I know, no need to rub it in... I was a kid with a hero complex and liked saving kids, it was fun and I was able to meet you and Kaku..."

"You were pretty cool back then, even until now but you just had to get that hairstyle."

Soon they both arrive at the playground and sat on the swings next to each other, swinging lightly.

"This was where I first time travelled with Naoto, I told him that you would die in 12 years and since then we worked together to save you." Takemichi began, Hina was silent so he continued.

"In nearly each timeline you were dead and I had to go on more missions... eventually I met Toman, made lifelong friends and my list of people to protect continued to grow... Before it was just you, then it expanded and expanded, so much that I had so much to lose." Takemichi said.

"Hm... This is about him right?" Hina speculated and Takemichi stopping his small swings was enough of a confirmation for her.

"During one time leap, he died in my arms Hina, his body was so warm and it became cold in seconds, he cried and maybe it was when I realized it... Hina, you being my girlfriend was the best thing in my life, I thought I was in love then I met him.... I realized I was in love with the idea of you, pressured because of my friends and excited for the experience... I'm sorry for leading you on but I genuinely wanted to save you." Takemichi said with unshed tears.

"Hm... Actually, I realized that for some time now but I was greedy... I wanted to be with you a little longer, the small gestures you do, the quirky stuff you do... I couldn't- didn't want to let go of you... But I guess I was too greedy." Hina said with a sad smile.

"Hina please don't apologize, you don't have to, you have nothing to apologize for.... I was greedy too, I just felt this obligation to be with you and I didn't think about what you would feel... Hina, I think it's best for us to break up... We may seem like a happy couple to many people outside but in reality, it's just eating us up and its unhealthy, its bad." Takemichi said as he stood up and faced Hina.

Hina stood up and faced Takemichi with tears around her eyes.

"I think so too... I knew this day would eventually come but even though, as I thought it still hurts." Hina gave him a painful smile.

Takemichi hugged her tight.

"I'm sorry but thank you Hina for everything... For teaching me many things and for being there when I was at my lowest and for being with me." Takemichi thanked the girl who hugged him back.

"Thank you too Takemichi... For saving me, my brother, and my friends... I loved you, but you just belong to someone else." Hina said with a tearful smile, hugging his now ex-lover one last time, just this last time.

They looked at each other, tear stains obvious in their cheeks.

"Don't be a stranger, it might take some time but let's still be friends okay?" Takemichi said and Hina nodded.

The couple, now exes, walked away from the relationship and decided to start anew.

━━━━━━━━━End Of Flashback━━━━━━━━━

I don't have to meet her, but the butterfly effect... There might be new variables I'll have to face and even lose more people... Takemichi thought.

The butterfly effect theory. It's a complex system. It's the idea of a butterfly flapping its wings causing a typhoon. Where predictable becomes unpredictable, foreseen becomes unforeseen, expected becomes unexpected, anticipated becomes unanticipated and it goes on. Takemichi may be able to time leap but he doesn't know the power entirely.

There was so much more he doesn't know, especially after that incident from a while ago with Mikey, it scares him of what will happen. Ironic because he came from the future with a 12-year blank gap.

Fine, I'll just save her but I'll have to reject her once she confesses... It's for the best, we talked about breaking up anyway. Takemichi thought again.

"I loved you, Tachibana Hinata... But I love Mikey now... Thank you..." Takemichi whispered to himself before closing his eyes, dreaming of the onyx black eyes filled with adoration.

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The next day, takemichi was released and Shinichiro was the one who picked him up. He didn't bother telling his parents as they couldn't care less nor would they even come home to check-up on him. That was how his life is.

Since Takemichi was injured, Shinichiro brought the raven head to his home, he had already informed his grandfather who agreed to the little one staying. Takemichi was a bit scared but he wasn't going to run away.

"We're almost there. Once we get there, you can use the spare room I saved for Izana but I don't think I can put him there anymore." Shinichiro said sadly.

Takemichi was currently being carried by Shinichiro despite the numerous protests from the smaller male. In the end Shinichiro won reasonably, Takemichi didn't want to give up but he was currently weak.

I'm only doing this once and the next time you do this, I will kick you. Takemichi swore to himself.

Shinichiro sneezed.

Is someone talking about me? He thought.

_________

They finally made their way to the Sano home.

"I'm home!" Shinichiro shouted from the entrance and little footsteps, equivalent to two people, came running down the hallways towards Shinichiro.

"Shin!" both children shouted in glee, frightening Takemichi a bit making the raven head squeeze Shinichiro's neck and burying himself in his neck.

"Shh, guys keep it down. Emma, I'm sure you've heard about Takemichi from Mikey and I want you to officially meet him, he's going to be staying here for a while." Shinichiro smiled at the little girl who had sparkles in her eyes upon finally meeting his older brother's saviour.

"Takemichi, you okay there?" He whispers to the smaller guy who nodded. He wasn't going to admit he was getting shy despite meeting the girl multiple times in the past.

The raven head turns to the sandy-blonde girl and sees her eyes. Filled with innocence just as it was before, he starts to tear up when memories of her body lying on the concrete floor on the night of February 22, the same day Izana and Kisaki died.

Shinichiro took notice of the unshed tears and comforted the raven head by patting his back, not knowing what to say in order to comfort the smaller male on his arms.

"Why don't I come in first? My legs are getting pretty tired." Shinichiro said and the two children on the floor nodded as they made way for the taller but followed Shinichiro at the back like ducklings following their mother.

"Are you okay Takemichi?" Shinichiro asked and Takemichi looked at him with a deadpanned face.

"I don't know Shin-nii am I okay???" Takemichi deadpanned the taller guy, pointing at the unshed tears on his eyes. "Waka-nii was right, you are an airhead." Takemichi said.

"Hey!" Shinichiro exclaimed, offended with the remark. "But hey, look, you're not crying anymore." Shinichiro smiled at the raven head who took notice that he wasn't sad anymore, unshed tears gone. Takemichi gave a small smile.

Well at least Waka-nii wasn't wrong when he said that he wasn't bad at cheering up. Takemichi thought to himself.

Takemichi looked at Mikey and Mikey looked at Takemichi, two males made eye contact with each other and Takemichi shyly waved before breaking the eye contact.

Mikey had been curious of the little boy his older brother had been talking about since no matter how many times Shinichiro set up for the two to meet it never worked out since it was quite obvious that Takemichi was avoiding those set-up meetings.

At some point Mikey had even thought that Shinichiro was just imagining stuff or that Takemichi was just his imaginary friend or something, I mean even 23-year-olds has their imaginary friends.

Takemichi dreaded to meet Mikey, he couldn't face the man who had lost his loved ones just because he couldn't save them. He wasn't sure how the meeting with Mikey would go but it looked fairly fine.

I'll be fine... Takemichi thought.

Soon, Takemichi was put in the living room couch as Shinichiro went to the kitchen to tell his grandfather that Takemichi was here.

Right now, Takemichi was in front of Emma, who was staring at him and Mikey who was also doing the same. The raven head sweat dropped at the situation, not knowing what to do. Then Emma suddenly spoke.

"Thank you for saving my idiotic brother!" Emma said, albeit a little louder than she anticipated. This startled Takemichi.

"Ah, it really was no problem. I couldn't really just stand by..." Takemichi said with both of his arms up.

"She's right Takemitchy. Really, thank you for saving our brother." Mikey smiled at him and Takemichi couldn't help but return the smile. "We really wouldn't have known what to do if we lost him..." Mikey spoke again, although his voice was lower than it usually was.

I guess this was how bad Shinichiro-san's death hit him before, maybe even worse since in this timeline it was a near death... I wonder what went through his mind when Shinichiro died... Takemichi thought to himself.

"Since you saved my big bro, you are getting an extra portion of my cooking tonight!" Emma exclaimed with a grin.

"Ehh??? No fair Emma! I'm your older brother and you never give me extra portions!" Mikey whined.

"Nuh! You get enough Taiyaki as it is!" Emma scoffed and folded her hands together, not facing her whiney brother.

"Then Takemitchy is mine!" Mikey said as he went to the raven head and engulfed him in a hug, claiming the boy to be his.

"Huh! No fair! Takemichi is my friend." Emma retorted, going to the raven head from the opposite side as her brother.

"But I found him before you!" Mikey stuck his tongue out.

"Hey! I found him and gave him food before the both of you!" Shinichiro said as he walked into the living room.

"Shut up you jelly head!" Mikey and Emma said at the same time giving Shinichiro an arrow piercing his 'fragile' heart.

Takemichi who was in the middle of it all was just giving a dead smile.

What in the world is happening.... Takemichi questioned himself, life, fate, and the situation.

I didn't expect this... Well then again, this is the Sano family. Takemichi deadpanned in his mind as both of his arms were being gripped.

I also forgot that Emma was training in the Dojo, so of course her grip would be strong and goddamn the invincible Mikey is also gripping my other arm. I'm going to die. Takemichi cried inside with a dead smile, blurring out the shouting between the Sano siblings.

God, tell me, what did I do to deserve this. Takemichi thought to himself as the arguing continues, his body and soul hostage in the Sano's grips.

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The Sano siblings are now on the floor, sitting up on their knees, with an apologetic bow, the two male Sanos having a bump in their head and Emma doing the same except she didn't have a bum on her head. Takemichi stood in front of the three of them with a bandaged head and a tick mark in his head, dusting his hands off with seemingly imaginary dust.

"Nobody owns me and