"... So please, for me, persevere. No matter how hard, no matter what you might face, you will never be alone. You have wonderful people that need you, and you will make the best of friends… I know that you can win, but most importantly, you will always be a winner in my heart. I trust you, my champion."

Takumi's heart throbbed as he weaved his fingers into the hair on her nape, tightening his grasp around the girl. Her glittering pink hair embraced the falling drops of tears from his cheek. Slowly, her face moved away from his shoulders. Strands of pink glided away from his hand, falling down on the soft, large wads that sheltered her heart.

Using that free hand to wipe his tears, Takumi swallowed. The crystal-clear pair of eyes that had been fixated on Takumi`s face reflected a reassuring smile. Caressing the velvety outline of her face, he promised:

“I will find you. I will search the whole multi-verse for you. When I finally succeed, I will become your hero…”- He tuned his strained voice into the tone in which actors spoke-”Wait for me in the faraway land of dreams and fairytales, my dear princess.”

“No matter how many lives, how many afterlives, I will.”

Takumi`s own eyes reflected the marvelous background: stars rained from the sky as the ground melted, tenderly but quickly. Everything was colored pink. If only the scene was not that of a dying world. The “Melty Land” crumbled into a fascinating performance of countless diffusing spectral light beads, and the girl was going to join soon. She planted a kiss on lips, and drew his head under her chin, next to her chest. His face slowly submerged. It was soft, warm, forgiving, kind and fulfilling. He heard a faint beat, echoing. At that very instant, he knew that it was the sound of love.

Then, her physical form melted into a shining flux of light before disappearing completely.

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Light disturbed Takumi`s eyes, and he woke up. Next to him laid his mom, sleeping from staying next to him the whole night.

“Wonderful people need you, and you will make the best of friends.” Her voice resounded in his heart.

Tokyo`s xxx hospital, post-emergency recovery room.

The doctors were astonished how fast the fatal wound healed. His liver was impaled and ruptured terribly. Only a few hours before Takumi was struggling for his life, and many doubted he would make it through. And yet he was able to eat normally after a day. It seemed to his mother that her prayers have reached the god. Just only Takumi`s survival was a miracle, let alone his remarkable recovery.

The first thing he did was making up a story that the school would later completely believe, and so Chisato was only suspended for a week. He also requested the incident to be kept private, and had no charges or compensation demands from her. No one else was hurt, and everything slowly faded into the joyful atmosphere of spring.

That day was a pleasant one with mild sunlight. Sakura petals rejoiced in the carefree wind, landing on all sorts of places to embellish them with a blissful pink. The color reminded Takumi of the dream, and he smiled. The bell rang, and life continued. Students cheerily streamed out of class, while Kyoya waited for Takumi. Randomly, both of them found eachother.

“Hey” both called.

“Oh, I have something to tell you.” Kyoya said first.

“Eh? Me too. But you go first.”

Bowing down 90 degree, Kyoya kept his hands in line with his torso:

“I`m terribly sorry for that day. I stood still, and that got you stabbed. I was too scared.”

“What are you talking about? Without you I`d be dead. I can`t thank you enough.”

Kyoya stood up straight, and waited for Takumi`s turn.

“Well, what I wanted to say is… I`m also sorry. For a very long time I thought you were the second culprit, and even tried to stalk you. So… I`d be grateful if you can forgive me, and…”

“Don`t mind. And what?”

“Please become my friend, Sougo Kyoya.”

The rather feminine face of Kyoya paused for a moment.

“Eh… No?”

“Of course yes, it gets really bland just staring at books all day.” “And you did it.”

“Did what?”

Kyoya smiled. At that second, the whole world became lost in halcyon.

“You called for help. So you will get stronger from now. Nice to be you friend, Nishimura Takumi”

It was the first time that he ever saw Kyoya smile. Then he laughed, like he was a child.