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Akane’s fever was worse.
The second she collapsed into Aoi’s arms, they both knew something was horribly wrong. Her face was flushed, an unhealthy red lighting her forehead. And she was burning up, practically burning his hand when he tested her temperature.
“June!” He exclaimed, nearly swallowing his own tongue to keep her real name behind his teeth. The rest of the room exploded in concern behind him, but he kept his eyes on his sister.
“Is she okay?!” Junpei took a step forward. His hands awkwardly hovered in front of him, like he wanted to help but wasn’t sure how to. Aoi’s gaze flicked to him.
“She needs to rest.” Would she disappear if she pushed herself too hard? They’d worked too long for this. Planned too much. “Junpei.”
He looked up at those large brown eyes. They were wide in fear, but he wasn’t that young boy they’d known from elementary school. He’d figured out Ace, well, Hongou’s identity quickly, rooting out the mole. It was impressive, even if they weren’t counting for it. But then Aoi hadn’t been able to grab the gun from the coffin in time. It was his own fault and he wanted to kick himself for it. He should’ve guessed Hongou would’ve taken and used it. He killed Clover then took Lotus hostage. It was terrible. Good people were dying and they weren’t supposed to.
They were only supposed to enact their revenge, not put the others in danger as well.
“You have to stop him. You guys have to catch up with him.” He briefly looked to Seven, before turning back. Junpei nodded resolutely.
“Okay. You keep her safe.”
Aoi gave him a weak smile. “Always.”
Junpei’s lips twitched. “I’m trusting you with this, Santa. Catch up when she’s feeling better, or I’ll come get you.”
“Aye aye, now get going.”
“Alright.” Junpei hesitated, eyes roaming both of them. “Keep yourself safe too. Come on, Seven.”
“Yeah yeah, see ya kids.” And then the big man and Junpei disappeared out the door.
Aoi let out a long breath, settling both himself and Akane on the floor.
“’Kane?”
She sighed, something shaky and weak. Her eyes had been scrunched in pain, but she cracked them to look up at him.
“Something’s wrong,” She whispered.
A bitter laugh broke Aoi’s face. “Obviously. Fucking Hongou. We should’ve guessed he was going to try something.”
“Especially after what he did to Kubota.” Akane shifted until her back rested against one of the many medical cots. “We shouldn’t have put the gun in there.”
“Well, I did have a plan. I thought it was pretty good.”
Akane sent him a look, though it lost some of its heat due to her scrunched expression. “Your hold me hostage plan? I was never a huge fan of that one.”
Aoi shrugged. “I would’ve put the safety on.”
“You said you’d shoot through the floor to prove that you could do it.”
“Irrelevant.”
For the first time in an hour, Akane cracked a smile. Aoi hoped his was a convincing one in return. In truth, his mind was racing. Was there a way to salvage this still? In this timeline? Junpei could probably free Light from his coffin, maybe they could follow Hongou into the 9th room, but Aoi still needed to activate the incinerator. He still needed to activate the one puzzle that killed his sister nine years ago.
“I can practically hear you thinking.” Akane’s voice was teasing, smile sweet.
“Practically, my ass. I’m probably transmitting all over the place on accident.”
“Thought you were supposed to be the receiver?”
Aoi shrugged. “I’m a man of many talents.”
He went quiet and silence swept the room for a moment. “…Junpei’s the right one, right?”
Akane glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “Yeah. He has to be. I just know it.”
Aoi clenched his fists and tried not to grit his teeth. “And this isn’t the right timeline for him, is it? Hongou fucked it up. I fucked it up. He’s not going to make it to the incinerator. Not before you…,”
His sister gave him a sad smile, full of sympathy like she wasn’t the one actively dying.
She held up her arm to display a hand that was already fading.
“No. But the knowledge he gains here may help in another line.”
“…Fuck.” Aoi’s voice was warbly, but he refused to cry. Not again. He couldn’t mourn someone who’d died nine years ago. He couldn’t mourn someone again. “And you’ll just accept that.”
Sorrow sketched every edge of her body. From the tug of her lips to the depth in her eyes. “I’m not quite sure I have a choice this time, silly brother.”
“Will you bring me to him? I’ll say goodbye.”
Santa bit his lip and blinked hard at the ground. His eyes burned.
“Yeah okay. Consider it my last gift to you.”
Aoi pushed himself to his feet and reached down to pick up Akane when she grabbed a fistful of his tank top. Her gaze was serious, unwavering.
“Thank you. Aoi, you were the best brother. You always have been. I don’t know…,” Tears welled up and silently dripped down her cheeks, “If I ever told you that.”
His cheeks were wet too, but he pretended they weren’t. He sniffled. “Hey you too, sis. I mean, I just did what I had to. Was really aiming for the number one brother award and shit.”
Akane was already weak, so she couldn’t do much, but she tried her best to wrap him in a crushing hug. Fresh fat tears cascaded down Aoi’s face, but he held back just as fiercely. For the last time.
“Take care of him. He’ll need you.” Her voice was mumbled against his shoulder. Aoi just sniffled again.
“Yeah, okay.”
A beat.
“He’s going to hate me.”
“He won’t. It’s Jumpy, he’ll understand.”
Aoi rolled his eyes. “Maybe after punching me in the face first.”
Akane giggled and he lightly picked her up. She barely weighed a thing at all.
“I’m at least glad we tried.”
“…Sure.”
“Goodbye Aoi.”
“…”
“…”
“Goodbye, ‘Kane.”