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Ring.  Ring.

Midorima grabbed around his nightstand and knocked over basically everything reaching for his phone. When he finally found the thing, he brought it up to his eyes. The bright light blinded him momentarily while he checked the caller ID. No one he knew. He answered the call and brought it up to his ear expecting it to be a stranger who had the wrong number or something.

"Hello? Is this Midorima Shintarou?"

"Yes."

"Um, well, you know about," the woman paused and faint sobs were heard in the background as the phone was handed over to someone else, "hi. This is Kazunari's father."

"Hello. Did something happen?" Midorima sat up, curious on what was happening. Probably something bad.

"Yes, you see, Takao... Last night he passed away."

"What?" Midorima whispered.

"I'm sorry, I knew you two were really close. I just wanted to let you know that the funeral will be next week at 3:00 PM. It'll be at the funeral home that's a few blocks from our house."

"Yeah. Okay, thanks," Midorima whispered and hung up.

'Close. Yeah, you don't even know.' The green-haired boy thought, lying back down on his bed.  His heart was racing and he knew a normal person's first action would be to start crying... but he couldn't.  He was in too much shock and anger and confusion.

"You broke your promise... Takao." Midorima whispered, his voice barely able to be louder than that.

He just sat there, his heartbeat going a mile a minute, and his mind was screaming. He wanted to cry, he wanted to punch someone, he just--

Wanted Takao's smiling face in front of him.

It was a cute smile. His dimples would show and his eyes would almost sparkle. Sometimes it would be that obnoxious smirk, or an embarrassed blushy one. There was the occasional sad smile which was still beautiful in its own way. Any smile of Takao's was wonderful and beautiful. He had the most beautiful smile. How could anyone even describe it really? Midorima really missed Takao's smiles, probably more than ever before because he knew that he can't just go his house and see that smile. It was gone forever.

The next week was filled with sunny days and there were clear blue skies.

It was disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.

Life continued, it was as if nothing had happened. Midorima almost felt like throwing up as he put on his suit in preparation for the funeral. It was 12 PM. He managed to hold in his disgust when he got to the funeral home and signed in. There were only a few other people that were there that early: Takao's parents, him, and some of the team. Someone tried to approach him, but hesitated and retreated back to where they originally were. He blocked out everyone and created a little bubble of silence around him with one task at hand.

He walked down the aisle and stopped in front of the coffin. Takao's face peaceful and, to Midorima's surprise, smiling. It wasn't like any he's seen before; there was a sincerity behind it.

Peace.

Takao was at peace.

His hands were placed carefully at his sides and his hair was combed back to stay out of his face. Midorima wanted to touch his face one last time, but decided not to. It was be unlucky because he might disturb Takao's spirit and then he couldn't go to heaven, right? What was he doing there again... ah, yes. Last words.

He said his last words in his thoughts so that no one but Takao can hear them. "Hello. Are you having fun in your castle being a princess like you said you would? At first, I was upset that you didn't keep your promise... but I forgive you. I know you tried your best, thank you. Thank you for everything. For making my life so much better, for making basketball so much better, for making just everything so much better. I know I seemed like a cold, emotionaless person, but I do care about you. And I do love you. So, do me one last favor and wait for me. I'll meet you on the other side."

And with those words, he left. The ceremony would've been pointless because his goal was complete and he said was needed to be said. As he stepped outside the funeral home, he saw a black cat staring at him. Its eyes were grey and it seemed like it was almost smiling. It leaned against Midorima's legs and purred loudly.

"Well, I guess I was wrong," Midorima faintly smiled. He leaned down and stroked the cat's head, the animal contentedly leaned towards his touch. "Reincarnation is possible, isn't it, Takao?"

The corners of the cat's mouth moved upwards and Midorima could almost see the signature smirk only Takao could pull off.

"Let's go home."

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Yes I just ended it like that.  So, I don't think I'll be staying on wattpad anymore since I've been so busy and I've basically had 0 time to do anything.  So I'm going to wrap up some of the stories and then I probably won't return to this account.  Thank you everyone who has stuck with me for this long and I hope to maybe return in the future when I'm not literally drowning in work.  It's been fun, farewell.

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