Sadie
3 days.
Anger was an all-consuming thing, much like the fire that changed everything in the Todoroki household. Greedy. Relentless. Even if no lives were lost, the devastation would remain for years to come. Those touched by such a heat source would surely be scorched, ash being left in its wake. Unfortunately, not all fire killed a person physically, instead taking hold of a person's mind with the only evidence being some scars to prove it. It wasn't fair– life was not fair– it was sickening how cruel it could be at times. If he could, the eldest Todoroki would go back in time and let himself embrace Death with a soft expression and smile.

2 days.
Fire wasn't entirely terrible, often bringing many positives along throughout the years that it takes to rebuild itself. New life forms from fires, things are reborn as something much healthier than they had been previously. Todoroki Toya was almost no exception, being reborn into something much more than who he had been previously. Hair grown back from the fire that had taken it and turned into the softest color of snow, blanketing the previous fire-red locks until there was nothing left. From an intense flame to the harshest of blizzards, there was no happy medium for someone like Toya. It was all or nothing and he had no intentions of being just nothing– of *Doing* Just nothing. It was something he resented and judged his family for more than he should; the only thing that he found Enji could do right. He was so much like him that it made his father sick sometimes.

1 day.
How long had it been since Toya had submitted that video? At least two weeks, maybe more. The cold staples embedded into his face, holding new pieces of skin together with old served as some sort of vague reminder. If he'd taken care of them properly, he would have known the exact date and time, but after years of abuse it all just meshed together into one. Definitely one of the worst beatings he'd received though, that much he was aware of. After days of filming and refilming that video, he'd been unsure on how to get it out to the general public all at once. Sure he had a big following on both social media of his, but it wasn't enough, especially when people all over the world followed him. That's when an old friend of his had popped into his head, remembering something about how the other was extremely capable at hacking. It was a long shot, but he'd sent a text, an agreement was made, and the payment was sent. He hoped it would be as impactful as he wished it to be.

**0 days. Show time.**
Standing in the middle of the crowd that was watching Todoroki Enji on the big screen blab about how he was *So* Grateful to be voted for the position of mayor, acting humble as always. Toya silently thanked his father for his acting skills at that moment. Static filled the large screens surrounding New York's Time Square before swapping to a video of him sitting on a tattered couch with a solid-colored wall behind him. Fingers pressed together and scars out on full display between his shirtless form and shorts he intentionally wore, he began to speak into the microphone he'd set up. After a minute, it swapped to a video secretly filmed of himself being beaten within an inch of his pitiful life, ending with him hacking up some blood before swapping to multiple images of wounds inflicted upon him due to his poor excuse of a parent. He didn't mention his other family past saying that one had been abused the same and the other two ignored, their poor mother driven to a breaking point. With a simple "Goodbye", the video ended. Gasps and whispers filled the air; he'd done his job.
Jennifer
I figured mike might want to read it.
Madeline
I may start crying mid read
Jennifer
Yes he is. He's trying, anyway.
Madeline
The tsars are comig

No words to describe how i feel rn
Lindsay
Suicide is a foolish thing to Chisaki. To him, it is an act of cowardice - an easy way out of one's problems without considering the repercussions that it will have on others. Taking one's own life is a permanent solution to a temporary issue. It is an unforgivable sin in his eyes, one that he cannot comprehend. He believes that every individual is responsible for their own actions and should take accountability for them. Suicide is nothing but an escape for those who lack the courage to confront their problems head-on. It is like walking into an active public space with a bomb tied to your torso. The second the bomb explodes, you, and everyone close to you gets hurt. That's every suicide. Every single one. An act of terror ‭perpetrated against everyone who's ever known you, everyone who's ever loved you, the people closest to you, the ones who cherish you are the ones who suffer the most pain, the most damage. For Chisaki, suicide is simply not an option. Life is a precious gift, and one should be grateful for every moment of it, irrespective of how difficult it might be.

Mind racing as he made his way towards the broken-down building. Despite a fever running hot in his blood, he was determined to reach his crew member in need. What kind of emergency had arisen that Toya felt compelled to send him that alarming text message? He knew that he needed to act quickly, as the situation could potentially spiral out of control if left unchecked. As he ran towards his destination, he thought of his Tomomi, and how she would react if she found out that he had left the house despite being unwell. She could be quite overbearing at times, and he knew that he didn't need that kind of lecture during such a critical moment. He shrugged off the thought and continued on, his eyes focused on the task at hand.

_ _ 
Chisaki's current attire was more casual then regular - a white t-shirt and black sweatpants that he had worn all day lounging at home. It wasn't exactly his usual outfit, but it was comfortable and functional. He didn't have time to worry about his appearance, however, and continued his mad dash through the city streets. He realized too late that he had forgotten to take off his glasses and replace them with contacts, but he didn't let this slow him down. He knew that every second counted, and he couldn't afford to waste even a moment. He made his way up the stairs of the abandoned building, he cursed himself for not bringing anyone else with him, but in that moment, there was no time to think about that. All that mattered was saving Toya from himself.

Toya was standing on the edge of the rooftop, ready to jump off. All the moments they had shared together flashed before Chisaki's eyes, making his resolve stronger. He had to save him, no matter the cost. His heart was pounding in his chest, but he knew he had to keep calm. The seconds felt like an eternity as Kai sprinted towards him. His breathing was heavy, and his vision tunneled as he got closer and closer to the ledge. But he didn't waver. He had to get there, to prevent Toya from doing something they would both regret. As he reached out to grab his lover, the world seemed to stand still.

_ _
Each memory that flickered across his consciousness was like a dagger driven deep into his heart. His life might have been different if he had never met Toya, if he had never been drawn in by the other man's charisma and deep eyes. Despite his anger and frustration, Kai knew that he would never truly be able to forget him. The other man had left an indelible mark on his soul, one that could not be erased by any amount of money or effort. There was a part of him that wanted to hate the Todoroki for what he was about to do, for the way that he's about to shattered Kai's world and leave him broken and alone. He longed to forget those tender moments, where he let his guard down and whispered those tender "I love you's" To the other with his face buried in his neck, the feel of Toya's warm skin against his own.

**They had been doomed from the start.**

Chisaki caught up with reality, finally, he grabbed Toya's hoodie tightly, he would've pulled the other back lest in his panic the only thing he got a good grip on with the hoodie string. 

Time froze around him. His life too flashed before his eyes in an instant, each one bringing back memories both good and bad. The first person who came to his mind was Eri, his daughter girl he still loved despite the unresolved drama between them. He regretted not being able to make things right with her, but his thoughts were quickly interrupted by thoughts of Hari. Hari was Chisaki's other half, his best friend, and the one person who had sacrificed so much for him. Kai couldn't thank him enough for being there for him all these years. His mind then suddenly shifted to Tomomi. Tomomi was someone who had become closer to Kai than anyone else. She was like a mother figure to him, someone he could always turn to for guidance and support. The ex-capo was grateful for their presence in his life, and he couldn't imagine how he would have made it this far without them.

_ _
He had done so many terrible things in his life.

The very moment the hoodie string pulled out ||*(Thank God it was enough to Toya back a little bit)*||, Kai lunged forward to grab the other's whole, taking a few steps backwards before falling onto his back. What if he hadn't acted quickly? In that split second where he saw the snowy-haired man's body falling towards the ground, everything had gone blank. But now, reality had kicked in and he knew that he couldn't let the Todoroki go just yet. He refused to let death win. There was stubborn determination within both he and Toya, one that wouldn't allow him to accept defeat without a fight. He couldn't lose Toya, not when there was still so much potential left for him to fulfil.

Feeling his weight against him all Kai needed. As he lay on the rooftop with Toya in his arms tightly, he spoke softly, voice barely above a whisper, *"Don't. I've got you."*

Toya Todoroki was going to be the death of Kai Chisaki.
Madeline
Ass tastes so good bro
Jennifer
This is so fucking good i'm screaming rn.