"Good morning," Mikey greets. When you woke up without him, you thought maybe he went home. You rub your eyes, still feeling groggy, even after brushing your teeth and washing your face. You look up at the clock in the living room.

"Mikey, it's two in the afternoon," you respond to him. He was sat at the kitchen table, empty wrappers next to his arm that rested on the table. "Did you only eat dorayaki...?" You ask disappointingly, looking at the alarming amount of wrappers. "Maaaaybe..." Mikey says, looking away from you and pursing his lips like a guilty child.

You walk over to the kitchen and roll your sleeves. Mikey smiles as your back is turned from him, you were still wearing his Toman jacket. "How do you like your eggs?" You ask him, getting a few from the carton. "Sunny side up," he answers.

He watches you. As you cook eggs for both him and yourself, you wonder how he's feeling right now. Mikey may appear normal but he's just bottling it up. Or even just ignoring it. You knew it's just how he copes but you were worried he may not go back home for too long. Worrying his grandpa that both he and Emma haven't come back home yet.

Emma...

You felt awful. You've only met their grandpa once but you knew it would be tough for him too. He's already lost his eldest grandson. You shake your head. Now's not the time, you think. Mikey's with me right now, I have to help him cope healthily. So, that his dark thoughts don't hinder his conscience. But how...? Making him eggs isn't going to magically make him happy!

You turn the heat off and go through the cupboard. You take out two bowls and fill them with rice. You lift the pan and put the eggs on top of the rice. "Sorry, it's not much, but at least it's healthier than having just dorayaki," you say, sighing, "What are you smiling about?"

Mikey had been watching you the whole time, leaning into his hand as his elbow rested on the table. You place a bowl and spoon in front of him and sit across from the blonde.

What do I say to him... Should I say anything at all? Should I give him time to open up to me first or should I try to ease him into talking to me? God, I've no clue how to comfort someone... The best I've done was hug him, but there's no way that's enough. What does he need to hear?

"You fought well," Mikey sparks conversation. You look up, "Oh, uh, thank you..." You didn't know how to react since you were still worrying about how you'd help him get through Emma's death.

I shouldn't force it... It is still new, so I should let him grieve. But it doesn't look like he's allowing himself to.

"Your technique could use some work though," Mikey says matter-of-factly. You look at him in disbelief, is he really going to criticize my form at a time like this...? "Sorry, I'm not some martial arts prodigy," you respond sarcastically.

He looks up from his bowl. His expression was blank, "Oh, I know that. I meant when you flashed Hanma-"

"IT WAS UNINTENTIONAL!!" You yell out in embarrassment. You notice him perk up from your reaction. "No, but seriously, it was very ineffective. I mean-"

"Yeah, yeah... Could get me in more trouble in a fight..." You interrupt him, assuming he was scolding you. "No, you flashed EVERYONE. If you're gonna flash someone, at least make it's just your opponent," he points.

"WAIT?! YOU'RE OKAY WITH ME FLASHING OPPONENTS?!

"NO!" Mikey objects, yelling back, "But if you're gonna do it, at least don't announce it like you did..." You took slight offence, assuming he thinks you meant exposing yourself as some sort of combat strategy. "I only ripped it 'cause I didn't want to wear a Tenjiku uniform! I..." You felt embarrassed, admitting why you ripped it in the first place. "I thought that... it would look cool but..." You see Mikey shake, covering his mouth. "Go ahead and laugh!" You shout at him, "Toman won anyway, it doesn't matter anymore!"

Finally, Mikey laughs at you. "How would showing your boobs be cool?!" He continues to laugh and point. "I didn't know I was only wearing the jacket!" You defend, "I'm not the one who put it on!"

"What...?" Mikey's smile disappeared.

Oh, no...

"You... Didn't put the jacket on yourself...?"

AAAHHHH!! HIS AURA CHANGED. HE'S GONNA MURDER SOMEONE!

"It was Kisaki! He's dead now so...!" You lie, hoping that his murderous intent would die off. "I'll kill him in his grave!" Mikey says getting up from his seat. "No! You'll cause a scene in the cemetery!"

-

You and Mikey finally finished eating. The two of you were sitting on the couch watching some random anime that was playing on cable. You finally calmed him down from trying to find Kisaki's corpse and ripping it apart. How gruesome!

Even you had to calm down from Mikey's constant teasing. Even though Toman won against Tenjiku, you didn't necessarily win against Hanma. Everyone was distracted by Izana and Kakucho. If it weren't for that, you'd probably be knocked cold by that guy. You still felt somewhat sore from that fight.

How can someone use another human being as a weapon?! You thought, remembering how he used both you and Chifuyu against each other.

I don't have to learn how to fight to help Mikey, do I? I mean, it's not like I can punch the dark thoughts out of him... But finding the right words to help him through that is also difficult.

You see a hand wave in front of your face. You turn and see Mikey's worried expression. "What are you thinking about? You wanna talk about it?"

Idiot. It's you who needs to talk about something, you reply in your head.

You poke him in the head, which he wasn't expecting. You smile softly at the blonde, "Worry about yourself." His eyes widened. It was clear no one had told him that before.

Mikey was used to shouldering everyone's burdens. Putting them as his responsibility. When Shinichiro died, he had the responsibility to be the protective big brother. Even in Toman, he puts his comrades before himself. Promising to fight for them. He didn't hesitate when Pah-chin asked to go against Moebius. He didn't hesitate to go against Valhalla, to bring Baji back. The second he heard Mitsuya's bike, he rushed to help him. And now, when Toman needed him the most, he showed up to Yokohama. Even while he's grieving his little sister's death.

But why? Why does he carry this all by himself? He has friends who trust him. A team who would fight for him. Is it so hard to share his burdens the way everyone has shared theirs with him?

Or maybe... He shoulders everyone's troubles to distract from his. Maybe he doesn't quite know how to cope with his own problems, so he tries to help people with theirs. How can he be so selfless? After everything he's been through, how can he stay smiling for everyone's sake?

Admittedly, you felt relieved when you saw him arrive at the battle. Comforted by his strong presence. How can I be that for him?

"I'm not forcing you, but if you ever need to talk to me about your troubles, I want you to know I'm all ears," you tell Mikey. "Whether it be your past or the dark thoughts that sometimes consume you, I won't judge you."

Mikey looks back at the TV. You wonder if he's thinking or trying to ignore you. You want to say something, but you've already said your piece. You look at the TV as well. You wanted to help him badly, but you needed to be patient. Let him open up at his own pace.

If he would rather have a calm day, then I should let him have that. I'm not the one who's lost.

Three deaths and a year hasn't even passed. You were sure he was still trying to cope with Baji's death. Maybe even Shinichiro's too. And Mikey's only 15. No wonder he's continuously chosen a violent path, letting the darkness consume him. Maybe allowing that to happen for himself distracts from that pain as well.

You clench your fists and look down. I can't think of a single thing to tell him...! What are the right words? What's something he needs to hear during these times?!

Mikey puts his hand on top of one of yours and squeezes it. Your tense fists start to loosen. His eyes were still on the TV. You start to breathe, calming yourself down. You turn your wrist and intertwine your fingers with his before placing your head on his shoulder.

"I love you."

Mikey's eyes widen at your words, but his eyes continue to look forward. You close your eyes, trying not to get distracted. "I love you as Toman's leader. I love you as the Invincible Mikey. I love that you're a martial arts prodigy. And that you only ever order from the kid's menu. I love that you're selfless and never hesitate to help your friends."

"I love you even if deep down, you're a weak boy... A boy who keeps everything people give him. A boy who kneads on an old dirty towel for comfort. A boy who wants to cry but doesn't allow himself to."

You get off his shoulder and turn his head toward you. Mikey's eyes shine, clearly tearing up from your words. You give him a gentle smile, "Manjiro, your weakness is what makes you strong. So, let yourself be weak." You wrap your arms around his shoulders, pulling him closer. You lay his head between your neck.

"I know what it's like to feel alone. My whole life, I've tried to avoid having friends because... I knew it would be hard for me to cope with..." You say, referring to your ability to see the future. "The thought of people I loved dying always scared me. I thought I was fine with being alone. Convincing myself that I was independent," you started to sob, "But I need someone to depend on... Someone I can confide in. Someone to hold me and tell me it's okay..."

"I tried to push you away. When you tried to come over in October and I shut you out, I swore I would never be involved with Takemichi and Toman after what had happened in August. I didn't see a reason to." You pull away and look at him, both your hands on his shoulders, "But I do now. Your compassion, courage, charisma... Is inspiring. Not only to me but to everyone. You're the one who gives me the strength to fight. You're the one who's taught me how to love. I can only dream of being that for you." You sadly admit to him. Mikey continued to be quiet.

You take your hands off him and shift your body forward, facing the TV again. You wipe your tears, "I know all of this must be overwhelming. You don't have to give me a response. I just hope that, in some way, my words gave you comfort. And maybe even the strength to keep going."

Mikey takes his hair tie off, letting his hair down. It was a first for you to see. He adjusts himself on the couch, bending his knees in, lowering himself to lay on your lap. "Can you... stroke my hair and keep talking?" He innocently asks you. You smile, you were glad he responded to you at all.

You brush your fingers through his hair. Trying to be gentle when you notice knots, most likely caused by having it tied for so long. "You look handsome in white," you compliment, looking at his long sleeve shirt.

"You think?" Mikey replies, looking up at you. You smile at him, "Yeah, it looks good on you. Though, I do prefer black."

"You suit it," Mikey tells you. "Black," he clarifies. You look down and you nearly forgot you were still wearing his Toman uniform. "Thank you. I promise to give it back before you go home," Mikey groaned after you said that. "Can this be my home instead?"

You giggle, "Dummy, you still have a grandpa to be with," you flick his forehead. "Okay... Then how about you live with me?" He suggests with slight enthusiasm. "And make your poor grandpa take care of me too? He already has to worry about you," you tell him. Mikey pouts.

You feel your heart race and your face warm up. "How about... We live together... In the future...?" You say bashfully.

Mikey smiles. Oddly, it was a sad smile.

"I would love that."

Chapter forty-one, end.