Chapter Text
Ding dong bing bong
The nighttime announcement played as the recording of Sirei started its usual shtick. Takumi however didn't care. He barely even knew what day it was anymore.
After all, he'd been completely paralyzed since day 51. And ever since that day… he had completely shut down emotionally.
Everything had been hard to even comprehend after that. Ever since his supposed friends had killed Nozomi in cold blood. They'd proclaimed him their God, and kept him paralysed as they served him. Taking care of him.
But Takumi didn't want that. Part of him just wanted to die, to escape the hell he was in, but he couldn't do anything. His mind was barely holding on. Every time his former friends came in and looked, spoke, or touched him, he just tried to think of better times. To think of Karua, of Nozomi, or how his friends used to be.
But most of all he blamed himself for what was happening. If he'd just made better choices he wouldn't be here. Darumi and Takemaru would be alive. Nozomi would still be alive. His friends would still be themselves, and not the cruel husks they were now… cruel husks who desecrated him and his body almost every single day.
He was terrified of the people they'd become. Especially Eito. They all had violated him, done unspeakable things while he just took it, unable to protest or stop them. And he felt dirty. Used.
Takumi just closed his eyes, wallowing in his thoughts. If he was tearing up, he couldn’t feel it because of how numb his body was.
‘... It's all my fault.’
As Takumi however tried to close his eyes and escape into the world of dreams to get some comfort, he heard a noise in the room with him.
His eyes shot open in fear, but instead of seeing one of his classmates, he saw someone he'd not seen in a while. The sound crackled and snapped… and the scent was similar to a campfire… and a violet hue lit up the whole room as a figure took shape from the purple flames - and the figure that formed was… him.
The Ghost Boy made of undying flames.
“I apologize for the intrusion. I know you didn’t want to talk with me for a while, but… we don't have a lot of time.”
Takumi must have looked slightly confused as Ghost Boy stopped, “It's day 95 now… and with how things have progressed, I'm not letting the original plan happen, not anymore. It's a lost cause with all that's transpired.”
Once the Ghost Boy turned the corner of the entranceway, he paused in his tracks. It was the first time he’d seen the ‘team leader’ since Day 47… when Takumi had turned him away. The Ghost Boy didn’t bother eavesdropping on Takumi on the off-chance he’d upset him again, but he couldn’t help projecting himself to see Takumi’s friends to update himself on what the SDU were up to as he stored up enough Undying Flames in order to launch the final attack on Day 100… and he was far from thrilled on hearing what the others were saying.
… especially about him .
Takumi could see the cogs turning in the boy’s head as he laid in his bed, with no way to communicate with him apart from slightly moving his eyes.
“Why… why are you here…?” Takumi wanted to say, but his mouth wouldn’t move an inch. Even if he wanted to speak, his throat must’ve been so hoarse from not being able to talk in the past 45 days. All he could muster was a noise he thought was a small groan.
The Ghost Boy slowly walked over to Takumi’s paralyzed body and placed a hand on his chest, being careful to control his flames around his arm to not burn the sheets… and shuddered, as if he could sense the marks left on him.
“Oh my… what did they do to you…?” The Ghost Boy whispered, but he already knew deep down. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to speculate what the others had been doing to him… he had a feeling for a while… but didn’t want to jump to any conclusions, “I should’ve come in sooner… then maybe…”
But he shook his head as he took in a breath, “Ah. I don’t have the time to reminisce on the past. Takumi, I'm here to get you out of here. I'm going to give you my Hemoanima.”
Takumi's eyes somehow went even wider but the Ghost boy just hoovered a hand above him, “With my powers, your body should be able to fight off the paralysis drug. Once you're mobile, I need you to go to the War Room, grab your infuser and hop in time once more.”
A sad look entered his eyes, “It's our one and only chance. They're all distracted with getting everything ready for day 100.”
Takumi wheezed a little more but the Ghost continued to smile, “I know you want to stop me, but I don't mind. I'll save you so we can do it all over again. A clean slate.”
It was then that he closed his eyes, “Maybe next time we can all be friends.”
Takumi wanted to yell for him to stop, but he soon felt some energy seep into him. His eyes closed as the power surged into him. It was warm, like a gentle fire was wrapping around him. After all that had happened, this feeling was so supportive. Like he knew he was going to be okay.
After a few seconds Takumi gasped as he sat up, breathing heavily.
“GAH-!”
It had worked, the cryptoglobin transfer had made it so Takumi could finally move. After 45 days, he was finally able to move.
“I’m… I’m able to move again.” His throat burned slightly after finally being able to talk for the first time in weeks, but he didn't care. He welcomed the sensation as it meant he had control again. A sign that he was finally free from his metaphorical chains.
Still, Takumi turned back, “Hey, tha-”
When Takumi went to thank him however, he noticed Ghost boy was gone…
“Hello…?”
His heart sank as he was met with the deafening sound of silence in his room.
“He must've used all of his power… which means…”
Takumi felt slightly sick but he didn't have time to sit around and mope. He had to get moving, fast. Takumi was shaking, but he still forced himself onto his feet as he grabbed some clothes, slipping them on as fast as he could. God it felt good to wear clothes again.
Takumi took in a calm breath, ‘Right, I need to get to the War Room.’
Takumi was still careful as he opened the door to his room. He carefully poked his head around and as he expected, he saw someone outside standing guard. His breath hitched but he listened and heard faint snoring, which was a huge relief. Takumi was careful as he cautiously descended the stairs and saw that it was Gaku who was on watch, currently asleep in a chair.
Part of him wanted to sock him square in the face, but he couldn't risk it. He just glared as he carefully made his way to the school stairs, cursing at Gaku in his head.
Thankfully the War Room was the floor below so he didn't have to go far. He still checked the corridor, listening for any movement.
Thankfully he'd had practice from when invaders had gotten inside the school in the first 100 days. He kept his steps silent as he walked through the darkness, the only illumination being the undying flames flickering outside the windows. He thought of the Ghost Boy once more as he offered a silent thank you once again, vowing to get out… not just for his own sake, but so the Ghost Boy’s efforts wouldn’t be in vain.
He was soon by the War Room door, and slipped inside silently.
He was so close, he could see his infuser from here. As he stepped into the room however, he felt something smack into him.
“Guck!”
Takumi tumbled to the floor, but quickly turned to see who it was that was trying to stop him.
His blood froze.
“Eito…”
The silver haired individual grinned as he looked at Takumi, a soft smile on his features, but Takumi knew the true darkness behind that smile. As sweet as it looked, he knew it was a lie, he knew the true cruelty Eito was capable of…
Especially after how he betrayed him in the first 100 days… and when he…
But as he was lost in his thoughts, Eito pulled Takumi closer to his proximity.
Eito sighed longingly, almost burying his face in Takumi's neck, “It's a good thing I put that pressure plate under your pillow in case you ever did escape… ah, and the tripwire at your door! Gaku is quite useless at his job… thankfully, Kurara is the master of traps.”
Of course he planned something in case he ever escaped… he should’ve been more careful! He tried to wriggle free from Eito’s grasp, but it was no use. The taller boy gripped his wrist tighter, tugging it and holding it over Takumi’s back, earning him a pained scream.
“GYAAH-!”
“Hmm… I don't know how you managed to stop that drug, but we can't have you running off now, Takumi… we have so much more in store for you after all…~”
‘Stop…’
“… in order for us to make you a true god.”
‘Stop it…!’
Eito smiled even wider, his glasses glistening from the lights in the War Room. “Now, come, Takumi… let’s get you back to where you rightfully belong… And so you will NEVER leave our side… or mine.”
Seeing that smile… that wicked, sinister smile. Just like when Eito had revealed his true nature in the previous timeline… Takumi then saw red. All the hate, anger, the festering emotions that Eito sturred in him.
‘STOP IT!!’
How Eito had smiled as he forced himself on him time and time again…
“AAAAAHHHHHHH!”
Takumi stomped hard on his adversary’s foot, causing him to yelp and let him go. Even Eito was taken aback as Takumi screamed. Eito made a dash for the shelf of infusers, but Takumi was close behind, launching himself towards the other male as the two broke into a small scuffle.
Takumi had jumped onto Eito’s back, wrapping his arms around his enemy’s neck. Eito clawed at his opponent’s arms in an attempt to get him off, and ended up bumping into a wall. Takumi fell back in a stumble, but was able to keep himself on his feet. Eito wasn’t so lucky as he keeled over to gasp for air, and Takumi used this chance to make a break for his infuser. He barely had a stable grip on it as he plunged the blade into his chest.
He could still hear a commotion as he equipped his class armour, and turned to see all his fellow classmates by the door.
“Wh-what’s happening…?! Why is Takumi..?” Shouma whispered.
“No time… everyone… your infusers!” Eito gasped. Takumi tensed up but still stood in a defensive stance as he looked at them, a few of them pulling out their infusers they had on them.
“Stay back…! All of you…!”
Moko was the first to speak, “You can't fight us all, Takumi.”
Kyoshika helped Eito to his feet as they stared, their eyes boring into Takumi. Takumi hated it, those gross eyes on him… all he could see when he looked at them was when they would violate him over… and over… and over again.
Without the smallest ounce of shame.
Yugamu spoke next, inching closer to him in a manner similar to a slithering snake, “Takumi, you need to calm down.”
It then registered that Yugamu had a syringe in his hand… more than likely a tranquilizer, “Trust us… we don’t want to harm you. But if you’re gonna force our hand… then we’ll need to take some more drastic measures.”
And as he spoke, Yugamu raised the syringe.
“Yeah, calm down so you can go back to being our God.” Kako smiled, holding her brother's hand.
But Takumi's ears burned… he had heard enough. His eyes widened as he grit his teeth, “ENOUGH! DO YOU EVEN HEAR YOURSELVES?!”
The group flinched but Takumi stood his ground. With newfound strength, he grabbed Yugamu’s wrist wielding the syringe, and wrestled it out of his hand. He was originally going to toss it away from his grasp, but he was so blinded by rage that he stuck the needle into Yugamu’s neck.
”GHA-ACK! Ghuuh…!” Yugamu spasmed for a second, then slumped over on the floor in an unconscious heap.
“YUGAMU!” Tsubasa, Kurara, and Shouma ran over to the assassin, tending to him. Ima shielded Kako’s gaze, hugging her tightly as if she had seen the one they were devoted to murder someone in cold blood.
Kyoshika used her free hand to draw her sword and, with great reluctance, pointed it towards Takumi, “S-Sir Takumi…! Have you lost it…?!”
At that, Takumi laughed bitterly… He had the power now and he would not let them take it from him, “Have I lost it…?! Ha! That’s rich coming from ALL of you! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME! YOU VIOLATED ME! PARALYSED ME! YOU TOOK MY WILL AWAY FROM ME!”
He didn't hold back as he summoned his class weapon, “I… hate you…! I HATE YOU!”
The second he uttered that, they all gasped. Their faces filled with horror.
Gaku quaked, “You… you hate us?”
Even Hiruko looked stunned, “But… we did this all for you… surely you know that much!”
Tsubasa looked terrified, like she was about to throw up, “But, we're your friends…! We would nev-”
“Oh, fuck right off with that!” Takumi uttered as hot tears stung the corners of his eyes, “You aren't my friends! If you were… you wouldn’t have hurt me… or one of our friends…! The moment you laid your hands on her… you became strangers to me!”
His words carried the most toxic venom. He couldn’t see from his tears fogging his vision, but there was no doubt some of them were crying now. Not like he cared, as Takumi continued, “My friends died the day you all killed Nozomi for trying to help you!”
Some of the more serious members seemed to take his words to heart as they looked downwards in guilty silence, but the vast majority were in utter shock or heartbreak. He raised his sword as he channeled his cryptoglobin into it, doing what he had done before to jump back in time.
“I'm going back to my real friends…”
There was a spark as his sword vanished. He smiled as he looked at his hands, seeing himself start to vanish. As he did he saw his former friends all crying, or turning away silently.
Eito however reached for him.
“Sir Eito-!” Kyoshika exclaimed, reaching for him knowing he hadn’t exactly recovered from the pain their precious Takumi inflicted onto him.
Eito however didn't care as pure fear went across his features, “Takumi… please! Don't leave me with these monsters! I can't go on without you!”
But Takumi just glared, “... You will never touch me again.”
He wished he could have said more, but he didn't see the point in humouring them. Seeing them all crying or shouting, he felt no remorse. In fact, he felt a tiny bit of catharsis that he finally had his autonomy back.
After everything they'd done to him, he didn't want to give them sympathy. As his vision started to disappear, Takumi smiled softly.
‘Time to do this a third time… and this time I will protect everyone.’
And with that, Takumi Sumino’s consciousness left that timeline.