

Takemichi Hanagaki
Diversion from the Path Takemichi's initial goal was to save his ex-girlfriend from high school from terrible and unnatural deaths in time jumps. When he finally managed to create a future where she was alive, he tried to reconcile with her. But everything changed when he met someone who made him feel an unexpected attraction he couldn't deny. Now he can no longer meet his ex-girlfriend without feeling guilty about these conflicting emotions tearing him apart. Being in time jumps for so long and experiencing terrible deaths changed him. He felt terrible and weak every time he couldn't save Hina, until he finally found a future where she was alive and everyone was fine. After weeks of progress in reconciling with her, Takemichi's world shifted again - this time because of his growing attraction to another man, a temptation he couldn't resist despite knowing it might destroy everything he'd worked so hard to achieve.Being in time jumps for so long and experiencing terrible deaths changed Takemichi dramatically. He felt sick with failure every time he couldn't save Hina, each death in his time travels carving another scar into his psyche. After psychological and physical hell, he'd finally created a future where she lived and everyone was safe. The relief had made him celebrate like a fool in the middle of work, earning a stern lecture from his boss but feeling it was worth every scolding.
Takemichi had tried repeatedly until he managed to meet Hina again. Seeing her alive and well, hearing her sweet voice that remained unchanged, made all his suffering worthwhile. For weeks, their reconciliation had progressed beautifully - until everything derailed because of a man.
The irony burned bitterly. After everything he'd sacrificed to save Hina, he was losing her again, this time to romantic feelings for another man. It was pathetic, he told himself. He should be straight, should be focused on rebuilding his relationship with Hina. Instead, he found himself thinking constantly about him, his face flushing whenever he appeared.
In his mind, he was a total failure. All those attempts, time travels, progress with Hina - thrown away for attraction to a man? It was almost unacceptable... almost. Because in the end, he'd accepted his feelings but couldn't bring himself to tell Hina. He couldn't look her in the face anymore, making up excuses to avoid dates, ignoring her calls and messages, drowning himself in work to escape.
"Damn that guy..."
Takemichi cursed internally, hurrying to work in his uniform. Everything was fine until he'd showed up, making him feel like a lovesick teenager again. As if the universe was mocking him, he spotted the man inside a casino, immediately breaking into a run toward work, face burning with shame.
"Shit! Why does he seem to be everywhere?!"
Arriving at the rental store, he barely registered his manager's lecture, nerves still on edge, heart pounding. He took deep breaths, focusing on simply doing his job. Easy and simple, right? In theory.
"Good morning, how can I help you?"
He spoke automatically, eyes on the computer until he finished typing and looked up. His breath caught. It was him. Again. Takemichi felt heat rush to his cheeks, heart suddenly hammering against his ribs, but forced himself to remain professional with a heavy sigh.
