Archive of Our Own ^beta

"Traveler!" A young cheerful voice called behind you. Your heart jumped from your body. It couldn't be. You quickly jolted and turned to face the person behind you. It was Shikanoin Heizou.

No...that voice. It is indeed Heizou. But that energetic tone... It is undoubtedly Teppei's. How could this be? Surely he was gone. So how was it possible that he was back here again? Your heart felt heavy in pain from remembering what had happened back then. You lost him so quickly. But this was your chance. This was a miracle to meet him again.

Without any second thoughts, you quickly launched yourself towards the young boy and wrapped your arms around his torso. His body was not that of the adult you imagined, but instead of a youthful boy with a physical stature similar to yours.

Heizou froze and his body stiffened at the sudden contact. He did not expect that. Normally, he would have pushed the Traveler away and begin to interrogate them for their actions. But an unknown force in his body was fighting against that. As if, his very soul was denying him from freeing himself from the Traveler's grasp. He felt his body move on its own. His arms wrapped around the Traveler's similarly to theirs.

"It's okay. I'm here. It was tough, wasn't it?" was all he mustered to say in response.

After a few seconds of calming down, the Traveler separated from Heizou.

"I'm not sure what compelled me to do that." The Traveler looked away, flustered. "I'm sorry, Heizou. I'm sure I surprised you with that."

"It's quite alright. For some reason, some part of me was screaming at me to hug you back and then my body just moved on its own!" Heizou explained with an incredulous tone and dramatic hand gestures. Heizou quickly started to feel embarrassed and tried to change the subject while stammering. "Well... well, anyways, there's that! What did you call me here for anyways?"

"Right. I did have a request for you. It is a bit strange, but I was wondering..." The Traveler pulled out a uniform from their bag. "Would you be willing to wear this uniform for me?"

Heizou froze in his spot. No one has ever asked him to do such a thing before. He probably would have declined, but his curiosity grew when he gazed at the mysterious article of cloth. He grabbed the uniform from the Traveler's hands and inspected it.

Somehow... it looked familiar. A feeling of déjà vu washed over him. It was as if he had seen this uniform before. It was a bizarre feeling since he does not recall such a uniform. He was then reminded of how it seemed to hold some resemblance to the Watatsumi Army uniform, but it had a more unique touch to it. He could only think to himself: Why the Watatsumi Uniform?

The Traveler noticed Heizou's suspicious expression on his face. "Is that a no...? I think it would suit you..." Their voice trailed off in nervousness.

Heizou normally would have declined. But he felt very compelled to wear the uniform. As if, he had some responsibility and need to wear it.

"I'll wear it." He said with sudden conviction.

There was silence.

"Eh?!" The Traveler jumped in shock. "Are you for real? I was sure that you would refuse, are you sure you don't feel forced--" The Traveler rapidly sputtered in concern.

"Don't worry. I'll just wear it for a brief moment." Heizou cut them off before they could say anything else. "And besides, I am quite curious about this uniform anyway. I wonder if it will look as good as you say it will on me." Heizou winked and joked in an attempt to clear the Traveler's feelings of unease and tension in the air.

Heizou walked off into a secluded area to change. After a few minutes, he reappeared with the uniform on.

You dropped the bag in your hand. You could only stare at him in great awe. It was him. He really was here. It was the absolute spitting image of him...

"Teppei." The name you were trying to avoid saying had unintentionally slipped out of your mouth.

Heizou twitched in response to that name. He had never met anyone by that name, but why did it feel like he knew that person so clearly? What was this conflicted feeling he was feeling in his chest?

"Can you... could you repeat that name you just said?"

"Teppei?"

His heart jumped from his chest. His deduction was right. He does know Teppei. Teppei was close to him.

"A-Anyways, I have a similar uniform. Wait right here, I'll quickly change into it." The Traveler hurriedly tried to escape from the awkward situation.

Heizou just held his breath in anticipation.

A handful of minutes later, the Traveler reappeared in the same garment. The uniform really did look similar to his. Heizou cleared his throat.

"Wow, we look great together, don't we?" Heizou positively yet awkwardly laughed as a distraction from the situation. The Traveler only nodded fondly in response.

"Can we take a picture together?" The Traveler asked while pulling their Kamera out of their bag.

"Sure thing." Heizou aligned himself next to the Traveler.

Snap! The Kamera unraveled the photo. There in the photo, the two stood next to each other, proudly posing for the camera. The Traveler's pose was humble, while Heizou's pose was brimmed with confidence.

"See, even the Kamera agrees, look at us!" Heizou brightly grinned. His moles were in clear view of his close-eyed smile. He looked nothing like Teppei and yet...

"...So, what do you think of the uniform, Heizou?" The Traveler asked, trying to shake off the thoughts from their head.

"It is quite peculiar... but I do not dislike it." Heizou brought his hand to his chin in thought. "I look superb in this, don't I? I would have believed it if you told me that I were a Watatsumi Army soldier in an alternative universe!" Heizou exclaimed as a light-hearted offhand comment.

As if in response to Heizou's comment, the Traveler could no longer hold back the tears in their eyes. The tears freely fell from their eyes. "Mhm." They nodded in great approval in response. "It fits you..." They managed to say while stifling a sniffle. "...Very well."

Heizou was startled when the Traveler began to shed tears. "Huh?! Was it my joke? Did you find it offens—"

The Traveler cut off Heizou's worries with their sudden urge to hug him. A vivid smile reached their face.

"I'm so glad you're here." The Traveler bitterly laughed while wiping away their tears.

Heizou's body moved on its own and quickly returned the hug with a tight grip. After withdrawing from the Traveler, he took his hand and placed it on top of their head. He gave it a soft pat.

"I hope you were able to find some sort of resolution." He continued to with a gentle tone to his voice.

The Traveler closed their eyes and thought to themself for a brief moment. "Teppei may no longer be in this world anymore. You are not Teppei but Heizou now." They reopened their eyes. "Let me start over. Can we still be friends, Shikanoin Heizou?" The Traveler asked softly, while briefly reaching out their hand to Heizou.

"Of course. I was just waiting for you to ask! I may not be the Teppei you knew, but we can still get along! Gladly!" He reached out to grab the Traveler's hand and shook it with rather large swings. The Traveler could only giggle in response but returned the kind gesture.

Heizou heaved a sigh of disappointment. "I wish I could have done more for you though. Is wearing this uniform really enough? Is there anything more I can do to help?" He inquired eagerly question after question.

"No. This was already plenty enough, thank you. Because after all..."

The Traveler beamed with a warm content smile.

"He kept his promise."