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He knew everything was over when he couldn’t hear her voice anymore.
Opening his eyes slowly, he’s met with a fluorescent light that’s flickering across a coffee table at his eye-level. His cheek is squished against something and he tries to shift away from it, only to be met by a hand gently stroking his hair.
“Oh. I think he’s waking up, Yakou.”
He pushed himself into a sitting position and realized he was in the submarine, much to his confusion.
Didn’t I just….die?
“Never expected you to end up here, kid. Especially……not this soon.”
He glanced over and noticed the Chief, alive and well, and an unfamiliar woman sat across from the two of them. Yakou smiled fondly at him, but it was tinted with sadness.
“C-chief…”
He felt his eyes water and he quickly looked down at his lap. Yakou reached over and pulled Yuma against his side, rubbing his arm lovingly.
“I-i…you’re…you’re…you were dead..i-”
“Mhm. and by the looks of it, so are you.”
“.....”
“How did you get here, Yuma?”
“I-it’s too hard to explain.”
“I’ve got a while- eternity, in fact.”
“Yakou, just look at him. He’s exhausted.”
He glanced over at the woman who returned the look with a soft smile.
“Hello, Yuma. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
She shot a glare at Yakou as he tried to speak to Yuma again.
“Ryuko…”
“You heard me, Yakou. Leave him alone now.”
“Fiiine. Well, anyways, welcome to the afterlife, Yuma. Turns out it looks a lot like the agency, except I can smoke as much as I want without any consequences!”
He caught his wife’s disapproving gaze.
“...physical consequences!”
Yuma cracked a smile and pressed against the man’s side, being met with yet another hair ruffle.
Godamnit. He missed Shinigami. He missed the others. Would they miss him? Would they even remember he existed?? How did Labyrinth deaths work anyway?? Just thinking about it was stressing him out.
But….being here, being able to be with the person in life he trusted most, safe. Away from any threats and dangers and problems . No one here to arrest or kill or harm himself or the Chief. And knowing that Makoto would have solved everything, peace would return to Kanai Ward as well. Halara, Desuhiko, Fubuki and Vivia would all return home safely. Kurumi would lead a happy life. And Shinigami….
He wasn’t sure about her. But he was sure she’d be alright. Wherever she was.
But for now, all he had to focus on was here. The quiet banter between Yakou and Ryuko, the sheer love for each other that shone in their eyes. The protective arm around him, caring even in death. The warmth from the fireplace finally being able to be lit (thanks to the lack of Vivia).
It was nice.