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Kou Minamoto… he knew that was his name, though it felt more like a title he was lucky enough to wear. Being a boy of his family, justice was in his blood as either a curse or a blessing depending on the circumstance… like now in his room, his mind ran and he couldn’t keep still.
Two people on his mind, two important people complete opposites of one another at that! His kindhearted upperclassmen with short blonde bangs, and a boy with obnoxious pink hair with a stubborn girly attitude.
His reluctance kept him from actually saying the words, but he cared for them both deeply, and that brought him to his dilemma… Yashiro was going to die, and Mitsuba wanted to live.
He promised to help them and he didn’t make these promises half-assed, He intended to see them through, no matter what it was going to take.
He didn’t realize but those promises were more a promise to himself; to help someone– Anyone for once in his life! Instead of always being on the sidelines, like he was so so painfully used to.
He flopped his back onto his bed, as the moonlight flooded, blanketing atop him. His entire neighborhood was silent, already long asleep considering how late it was. It was like he was completely alone in the world, no signs of anyone else existing, just him, in this singular moment.
It brought him some peace, it felt immature, but those thoughts easily calmed him down. No burdens or expectations, even if just for a moment– before he shook himself out of it. He did have expectations and people counting on him– Yashiro and Mitsuba were counting on him! And he couldn’t rest sitting there doing nothing.
By the next day, he hadn’t lost much of his anxiety but still managed himself to school decently, luckily for him. Though he still couldn’t focus, still clouded with stress and burden. Only being caught out of his daze when he had left class to clean himself up after bumping into a poor girl during lunch.
Beating himself up for a new thing. A curious breath brushed past his neck, sending shivers down his body. Sitting up from the sink in front of him was Mitsuba's head poking out from the mirror. “MY GOD– are you trying to give me a heart attack?!” he cried out, very startled.
“Sheesh sorry, I wanted to check on you but you kept ignoring me!” Mitsuba pouted cutely. “What’s got you so in your head anyways??” he teasingly poked his forehead.
“Since when do you worry about me ??” he jabbed, deflecting the question.
“Anyone would be worried when you’ve been going about today like a zombie!” he jeered as he fully exited the mirror. “C'mon just tell me, I won’t judge this time– I swear! (unless it’s something stupid of course) ” he added, giggling to himself, playfully floating around Kou on his back.
“...y’know you’re really annoying, right?” Kou groaned, laughing at his stupid gestures.
“As if you’re somebody with an opinion~” he shrugged nonchalantly in reply.
“ Ha ha …” Kou scoffed sarcastically, falling a little quiet pondering whether to actually humor him. “I guess I do have some stuff on my mind today…” while saying this, Mitsuba inched closer up in his face curiously prompting Kou to just as quickly nudge him away. “It’s just Yashiro…” Kou took a small exhale and continued firmly, “...she’s going to die.”
Mitsuba had an unamused expression. “Well duh dumbass, everyone dies eventually.”
That struck a nerve in Kou, but he continued, “Not like that ! Like… this year or so...” he tensed up, filled with disgust in his words.
Mitsuba sat up and turned slightly serious, “Where’d you get that idea?” he asked, more genuine than he was expecting.
“...The other day with Number One.” Kou looked down, cringing.
“Hmm… Well, she shouldn’t be complaining! I’d be easily happy if I got a day to be alive again~ and she’s got a whole year left!” he sneered, hoping to lighten the mood, though he had been half serious when saying that. And Kou knew that, which sent his mind spiraling with duty all over again.
“HEY, quit that! Is this because you said you were going to grant my wish??” Kou flinched up back to Mitsuba. “If that’s giving you so much grief, forget about it! It’s my selfish wish afterall– I can figure it out myself…” Kou’s eyes flashed with utter horror.
He leapt up dragging Mitsuba down by his shoulders, unaware how firm his grip had been. “NO! I promised you I was going to find a way! Please don’t say that!” he lectured powerfully, which had no effect on Mitsuba whatsoever.
“Yeah… you’re definitely a little stressed out, buddy~” he glared disapprovingly. “Why do you care about this so much? It’s not like it affects you…” he rolled his eyes.
“It does…” Kou muttered.
Mitsuba tilted his head curiously, “Come again?”
Kou took a quiet breath in, then breathed out calmly. “It does affect me. I promised Hanako I would do this– I promised you I would do this!”
The ghost slouched and listened carefully. “Jeez, you’re a whole new level of messed up! Stop being so stressed over this. You keep on promising pretty impossible stuff and then you’re getting all worked up! Do you even see how ridiculous you’re being?” Mitsuba shouted with dismissal and worry.
Kou looked away, embarrassed, and frustrated after that outburst of emotion, almost on the verge of tears as a result. He quickly wiped his eyes and focused.
Mitsuba sighed loudly before continuing, “Look, forget about me for a while, okay? I can wait. Focus on your little girlfriend ‘kay?” he half-heartedly poked at Nene before Kou collected himself again, caught off guard.
“You mean Yashiro? She likes my brother!!” He protested nervously.
Mitsuba interrogated, not convinced, “Well, you like her don’t you?” He teased evilly.
“I don’t know… maybe”
“What do you mean maybe? You either like her or don’t! Pick a struggle dude.” He glared.
Kou blushed softly, thinking it over again through his head. He definitely thought Yashiro was cute… in the same way he thought Mitsuba was cute. But he was a boy! So obviously he didn’t like either of them like that … right?
Kou took another deep breath before looking back at Mitsuba annoyed. “You suck!” He pushed Mitsuba away laughing and teasing.
After that talk he felt a bit better to go back to class, a little less tense and a bit more determined, Where he would shortly be greeted with the Mokke to deliver another pleasant surprise for him… an invitation!