Kaito stilled when he sensed Hakuba approach. So many scenarios ran through his mind and some if not all ended in the other leaving. Slowly he raise his head, eyes wet with unshed tears and cheeks flushed in the lack of oxygen to his head from squeezing his legs to his chest. He noticed the outstretched hand and timidly took.
Hope was a bitch that just kept coming back.
He scooted closer once he had Kaito’s hand, shifting so that he could hold it a little more comfortably, though his eyes never left his face. There was still so much stirring beneath the surface for them both, and he knew it. But there was time. That fact was cemented in him then; he would make time. Somehow. Whether that meant staying or making their remaining time as productive as possible, he wasn’t certain, but it was time to meet the inevitable head-on.
Finally.
“It’s all right, Kuroba-kun,” Hakuba said, voice soft as he switched back to Japanese, accent present, but fading quickly. With it came a small, but hopeful, smile. “I’m annoyingly persistent, remember?”