# TWO MONTHS LATER
Two months flew by. Summer was a distant memory, replaced by the vibrant hues of autumn. The leaves on the trees had changed color, and most had fallen, creating a colorful carpet on the ground. It was October.
Kakashi had been on several missions, gaining valuable experience with each one. Each mission was a step further in his understanding of what it truly meant to be a supernatural being; the weight of his newfound abilities settled upon him, a heavy cloak he wore with a growing sense of responsibility and apprehension. Now, it was time to continue his journey—a journey he knew was far from over.
He sat beside Megumin, holding her hand. The gentle warmth of his touch against her cool skin was a stark contrast to the sterile environment of the hospital room. He rubbed his thumb gently across her knuckles, a small act of comfort in the silent room. The faint rise and fall of her chest with each breath was a fragile counterpoint to the quiet hum of machinery. "I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit," he said softly, his voice thick with a sadness he couldn't quite disguise. "Things have been… incredibly busy. They wouldn't even let me visit, but Mira said you've been doing well." The words felt inadequate, insufficient to convey the depth of his regret.
He looked out the window. Despite being on the third floor, the view was breathtaking. The autumn sun filtered through the branches, painting the landscape in soft, golden light. Everything was peaceful and quiet, yet the quiet was not devoid of feeling; it was both comforting and painful, making him almost forget the chaotic events that had brought them here.
He had only just arrived at the lab, the familiar scent of antiseptic stinging his nostrils. Despite his attempts to appear strong and composed, a deep-seated fear still gnawed at him. Megumin had been the first to approach him and from that moment on, they had formed an unshakeable bond.
He let out a long, shaky breath. "Sometimes… I wish none of this had ever happened. If… if I'd stopped Tokah from going outside the barrier, maybe we wouldn't have been attacked. Mom wouldn't have died, I wouldn't have been kidnapped, and Kenji, Saito, and everyone else might still be alive. Tomura might not have been possessed, the Wind Sage might still be alive, and the Flame Sage might never have suffered that terrible fate." He paused, the words hanging heavy in the air. The silence that followed was dense and suffocating.
He pulled his thoughts back from the endless possibilities to the immediate reality that lay before him. He removed his necklace, the cool metal a stark contrast against his skin. He opened the locket, revealing the familiar photograph: the last picture he'd taken with his family.
A sudden knock echoed in the quiet room.
"MEGUMIN! I'M BACK!!!" Mira's voice, loud and exuberant, announced her arrival, cutting through the stillness. The door opened abruptly. "I've got tons to tell you! Oh, Kakashi… you're here too." Her voice softened as she saw him, her usual boisterous energy tempered by the somber atmosphere of the hospital room.
After a moment, Mira went to the small drawer beside the bed, placing the bags of snacks she'd brought inside.
"What brings you here today? Are you here to see your girlfriend? Or maybe you're here to see me?" Mira asked, a playful smile teasing at the corner of her lips as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"Of course, I came to see Megumin," Kakashi replied, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
"Took you long enough," Mira commented dryly, but with a hint of affection. Despite their infrequent conversations, a sense of easy camaraderie permeated their interactions. Perhaps it stemmed from the fact that Mira was the first face he'd seen upon waking up in the hospital.
"Even if I could have visited sooner, your mother wouldn't have let me," Kakashi said quietly, carefully closing the locket.
"Can I take a look at that?" Mira asked, her voice soft.
"Huh?" Kakashi looked up, surprised.
"The picture; I'd like to see it," she clarified gently.
Kakashi nodded, handing the locket to her, a quiet understanding passing between them. Mira opened it, her eyes lingering on the image before a chuckle broke the stillness.
"I didn't get a chance to see it before, but up close… your sister really is a handful," she laughed, pointing at Tokah.
The picture captured a scene of chaos and familial affection: Tokah, with a mischievous grin, had accidentally punched Kakashi in the face. He'd tried to retaliate, but their mother had quickly intervened, restraining him with a warm smile.
"She's mostly childish but acts mature sometimes," Kakashi chuckled, a wave of warmth washing over him as he remembered his mother's unwavering support. "My mom always looked out for us."
"Your mother… she looks awfully familiar," Mira mused, her gaze fixed on the photograph. "I feel like I've seen her somewhere before, but I can't place where."
"You think so?" Kakashi asked, a hint of uncertainty coloring his voice.
"Yeah," Mira replied, tilting her head as she scrutinized the picture.
"Hmm…" Kakashi sighed, a low rumbling sound in his chest. The silence stretched, filled with unspoken thoughts.
"My dad died before Tokah was born; she never got to know him," Kakashi added quietly.
"I'm so sorry," Mira offered softly.
"Don't be," Kakashi assured her. "I hardly remember what he looked like. But Mom always said I was his spitting image, even though Tokah got more of his personality," he admitted with a sad smile.
…
"Megumin's going to be okay. They've already revitalized her. We just… we can't figure out why she's not waking up," Mira explained, handing back the locket. There was an unspoken worry in her voice.
_She's too clever for her age,_ Kakashi thought, a mixture of pride and concern filling him. "Thanks… for everything. Please, watch over her until I get back."
Mira smiled brightly. "Absolutely! You can count on me!"
"And… please, don't yell at her," Kakashi reminded her, thinking of their first encounter.
"Already tried it. Didn't work," Mira said with a grin.
…
"So, Kakashi," Kanade began, her voice soft but insistent, "before you leave, how do you want to share the money?"
"What money!?" Kakashi asked, genuinely confused. They were all at Miss Natski's house—a comfortable, if slightly chaotic, gathering place.
"You know," Kanade explained, leaning closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "the bounty you received for defeating the demon. It was supposed to be fifty million dollars. Add that to your promotion raise; that's a lot of money. I know you can't possibly spend it all. Why don't you share some with your favorite Sensei?" She hugged him tightly, pressing his head against her chest.
"You mean Yaze-sensei?" Kakashi asked, his voice muffled against her clothes.
"No! I'm talking about me!" Kanade dramatically fell back onto a nearby chair, tears welling in her eyes.
"Well, I didn't give it much thought," Kakashi admitted. "But I don't know what to do with all that money if I can't find my sister with it, so I've decided to give it to Ayaka. Her dad needs it more than I do."
"Really!?" Ayaka burst into tears, running to hug him tightly.
"Of course," Kakashi said, ruffling her hair gently. "And Kurumi can have the rest."
"What!? But I don't need it," Kurumi protested, surprised.
"That's a real man," Hibiki cried dramatically, "I can't believe she ends up with two, and I get none!"
"Don't cry," Mira consoled her, "your sweet sister is always by your side."
Kanade was still crying, while Yaze tries to calm her down.
"Kakashi," Kurumi said, handing him a small box, "I want you to have this. I've already set it up. It's not much, but with this we can keep in touch with you."
"And you can have this," Ayaka said, thrusting a small, wrapped package into his hands. "Dad said I should give it to someone spe…" She trailed off, her voice shy. "Don't open it! At least… not now."
"Ummm, okay. Thanks, I'll take good care of it," Kakashi said, accepting the gifts with a warm smile. "I should get going; the taxi's here." He grabbed his backpack, waved goodbye, and stepped out into the bright sunlight. The cab was waiting, the driver already noticing his arrival.
…
"Hey!" A boy in a wheelchair called out, his voice surprisingly strong, "You must be the Supernatural who saved us!"
Kakashi, lost in his thoughts as he surveyed the vastness of the airport, turned towards the voice.
A boy, roughly his own age, sat in a wheelchair, a nurse standing attentively behind him. His right arm and left leg were heavily bandaged, a bandage also covering a portion of his head.
The boy wore the academy uniform.
"Umm…" Kakashi hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond.
"Oh, sorry," the boy apologized, offering a slightly awkward smile. "I'm Kobayashi Tomo, but you can just call me Tomo." He reached out to shake Kakashi's hand, his grip surprisingly firm.
"Yeah, I was planning to," Kakashi replied, returning the handshake warmly. "So… can I help you?"
"I just wanted to say… THANK YOU!" Tomo yelled, bowing his head deeply. "We couldn't have done it without you!"