It had been two words. The two last words Nagito had spoken.

Thank you.

He had mouthed it to Hajime before he plunged into that hole, never to return.

Hajime, with his arms tied above his head, stared down into the infinite abyss with shock, his throat hoarse from screaming Nagito's name.

He needed a reaction, a symbol, anything that proved that Nagito was alive. Half of him hoped that Nagito would pop out from below the surface and tell him that it was all a joke.

But nothing happened. There was no pale hand, no sound, no nothing.

Nagito was gone.

His mind blanked out and his ears blocked out all background noise. A wide, gaping hole expanded within him, devouring his soul and his heart. An empty hole, one that couldn't be mended even with time.

He didn't even have the strength to cry. The shock paralyzed his body and he no longer cared if his arms tore off from his body if he hanged any longer in mid-air.

Several heavy wing beats brought a part of his consciousness back to reality.

Gold filled his vision and the burning in his arms subsided as his restraints were taken off. Delicate gloved hands wrapped around his waist, carrying him back to the floor of the stadium.

Hajime fell to his knees, his voice emitting feeble sounds as he tried to form words.

A pair of armored shoes landed in front of him, but Hajime did nothing to make eye contact with the King of Heaven.

"Hajime Hinata," he spoke with authority, "Do you hear me?"

Hajime nodded once, weakly.

"What has happened to the Queen of Hell and the Grim Reaper has been a devastating accident. But we must act fast and fill the spots of these roles or the balance of the Afterlife will be destroyed."

Hajime's head snapped upward, his eyebrows creasing together in rage.

"Are you telling me to just forget him?!"

"Yes." Makoto showed no sign of fear or recognition toward the brunet's behavior.

"How can I just forget him?! He was the only one I cared about!"

"Listen," Makoto heaved a sigh. "You're to be the new Grim Reaper. Part of this role is to witness countless deaths. Consider this one as part of your training."

Hajime roared, swinging his fist toward the shorter male. His attempt was shown futile once Kirigiri stopped his attack a palm.

Realizing what he had done, the Mafia lord collapsed to his knees again, hot tears burning behind his vision.

"I... I can't just forget him. It's impossible! I just-"

A burning pain erupted in his cheek as his head snapped to the side, tears streaming down his wide eyes.

Gentle hands cupped his cheeks, forcing him to look into the stern but sympathetic face of the King.

"Forgive me. I chose the wrong words," Makoto smiled softly. "All you need is time. Time will heal your heart. And as a Grim Reaper, you will slowly be able to think less about his death once you've adapted to your role in the Afterlife."

"But..."

Makoto placed a hand on Hajime's head, wrapping him in a hug.

"I'm sorry for your loss, but we need to continue the work of the Afterlife or the world of the living will cease to exist. Okay?"

Hajime took a shuddering breath, separating from Makoto while he wiped his eyes.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Makoto smiled, standing up.

"Are you ready to become the new Grim Reaper, Hajime Hinata?"

He didn't need to think twice about it. This was what Nagito would have wanted. For Hajime to reincarnate after his five-year sentence.

"Yes."

"You are aware that after these four years, you will be reincarnated by all means?"

"Yes."

Makoto gestured at Kirigiri, who handed him a large scythe, one identical to Nagito's.

"Then I hereby proclaim you, Hajime Hinata, the successor of Nagito Komaeda, as the nth Grim Reaper of the Afterlife."

The mention of Nagito's name sent an aching pain through Hajime's heart as Makoto placed the scythe over each shoulder, tapping Hajime once with it.

"You may rise."

The brunet stood up, taking the scythe and bowed deeply. Words flooded his mind once he came into contact with it.

"I, Hajime Hinata, will serve the Afterlife, the King and Queen of Hell, and all its inhabitants for the rest of my time as the role of the Grim Reaper."

Makoto dipped his head slightly in respect.

"Now, Hajime," Makoto mused. "What do you plan on doing next?"

《Four Years Later...》

"KOOOOOOKIIICHIIII OUUUUMMMAAAAAA!!!!" Hajime hollered into the halls, scaring the living crap out of everyone who walked within it. "YOU LITTLE GREMLIN, WHERE DID YOU GO AGAIN?!"

Even if Kokichi was nearby, he did nothing to betray his location. Hajime's green coat whipped around his figure as he dashed down the corridors, his hoodie flapping wildly behind him.

"I SWEAR IF YOU DON'T SHOW YOURSELF THIS INSTANT, I WILL GO IZURU MODE ON YOU!"

"Awww, Haji-bean. You're so mean." A purple blob appeared inches from his face.

"Get down from the freaking ceiling, Kokichi." Hajime glared at the younger male.

"Is this how you treat your apprentice? I deserve more respect for all the things I've done for you." Kokichi pouted.

"That's a lie."

"It isn't!"

"All you've done for me is burn my clothes when I instructed you to iron our laundry."

"That was an accident."

"It was on purpose. That's another lie."

Kokochi folded his arms, turning away from Hajime.

"You weren't kidding when you said you'd pull an Izuru on me."

"I've already merged with him, so why not put his talents into use?" Hajime sighed.

During the past four years, the brunet had managed to join souls with Izuru, thus gifting him with all his older brother's abilities. Of course, Izuru was still in his mind, but he was a mere shadow, one that didn't bother Hajime unless he asked for it.

"Can we visit Shumai again today?" Kokichi asked with hope in his eyes. "Please, please, please?"

"If you stop your lying, sure."

"Lying's a talent of mine. I can't just get rid of it."

"Lie."

"Shut up."

Hajime rubbed his eyes, sighing in exasperation.

"You already saw him yesterday, Kokichi."

"But I want to see him again!"

"And the day before yesterday, too."

"Pleaaaaaseee?"

"You know what day it is. I possibly can't or I'll be late. Plus, once you take my role, you can see him every day."

"But there's no one who can put up with my crap more than you, Haji. So pleaaaseee?" Kokichi fluttered his eyelashes at Hajime, flashing his puppy dog eyes at the Grim Reaper.

"Alright, fine. But we need to make it back by three P.M. No exceptions."

"Yesssss! Thank you!"

The two spread their wings, leaping out of the castle windows and into the sky. At least this would be the second-to-last time Hajime would need to see another one of these portals.

Hajime and Kokichi burst from the ocean, flying rapidly to the Tokyo police station.

"You sure he's in today?" Hajime asked, shielding his eyes from the blinding sun.

"Of course!"

As if on cue, a blue-green-haired male stepped out from the station, checking his watch and sighing.

"Remember. No contact." Hajime warned the hype Kokichi.

"But it's Shumai!"

"Still no."

"What about-"

The pair was cut off when a blonde ran up to the detective, waving her arm in the air.

"Hey, Shuichi!" She called enthusiastically.

Hajime could feel Kokichi's smile falter the slightest out of jealousy.

"Kaede. Nice to see you here. What you up to?"

"Oh, a few of my friends are going to lunch and uh..." She scratched the back of her neck sheepishly. "I wanted to invite you to come with us."

A smile blossomed on Shuichi's face as he replied.

"Sure! Where are we going?"

Kaede and Shuichi turned away from Hajime and Kokichi as they walked down the sidewalk in the opposite direction, their voices fading.

"It's been three years..." Kokichi spoke weakly, his hand shaking. "He hasn't mentioned me in three years. It's like he's forgotten about me."

Kokichi's desperate eyes turned to Hajime's.

"Do people forget you when you enter the Afterlife?"

"No."

"Then why...? Why did he forget about me?" Kokichi's mouth was quivering and his eyes were watering.

A pang of pity hit Hajime in the heart like an arrow.

"Hey, hey," he said softly, placing a hand on Kokichi's head. "He didn't forget you."

"Then why... why hasn't he talked about me in three- three years?"

"You remember when I told you that I had a mentor before?"

Kokichi nodded weakly.

"What does he have to do with anything?"

"Well, I cared for him a lot. He was the only one who I genuinely had feelings for. But..." The familiar pain in his chest spread like watercolor on canvas. "But... he died."

Kokichi gaped at him with wide eyes. Hajime had never talked about Nagito in full detail for the past four years. He had never mentioned Nagito and would avoid the topic about the former Grim Reaper whenever it was brought up. He had worn Nagito's coat in memory of him since the albino hadn't left anything to Hajime.

"His name was Nagito Komaeda. He died protecting me from the Queen of Hell. She had been unlike our new Queen, Sonia Nevermind. She was about to have me executed when Nagito interrupted by pushing her into what would have been my punishment instead."

Hajime's hand subconsciously clenched into a fist, the gaping hole in him starting to throb painfully.

"His Majesty had told me that time healed all. But that didn't mean that I forgot about him. Just because I never mention him doesn't mean that I pretended that he never existed."

Hajime wrapped Kokichi into a hug, soothing the purple-haired boy as he continued to talk.

"I'm sure that Shuichi definitely didn't forget about you. Just like me, he probably never mentions you to save himself from the pain, from the memory of your death. I know he cares deeply about you, Kokichi. He holds you closer to his heart than anyone else."

Kokichi wiped his eyes, indicating that Hajime's explanation had changed his perspective on Shuichi.

"You never saw me crying, understand?" He sniffed, covering his eyes with his elbow. "If you tell anyone, I will shred your skin to pieces."

Hajime chuckled, taking Kokichi by the arm

"It's two-fifty eight now. We need to get going."

The Grim Reaper and his apprentice descended into Hell, this time flying directly to the throne room.

"Right on time, I see." The King of Hell grinned.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, I assure you, it wasn't my fault this time." Kokichi cut in.

"Hm. You sure about that?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Makoto laughed just as the new Queen of Hell, Sonia Nevermind, arrived in the throne next to him.

"May we start now?" Makoto asked Sonia.

"Proceed."

Makoto beckoned Hajime forward, but before he could take a step further, Kokichi grabbed him by the sleeve.

"Hey, Hajime..."

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Hajime smiled, patting his apprentice on the head.

"You better make yourself a better Grim Reaper than I was."

Kokichi cracked a small smile.

"Hajime Hinata, formerly the apprentice of the Grim Reaper, Nagito Komaeda, has served his five-year sentence in the Afterlife. Thus, we will begin the process of reincarnation. Any objections?" Makoto's voice boomed around the room.

No one refuted the claim, earning a nod from Makoto.

"Very well. By the power bestowed upon me, I Makoto Naegi, the King of Heaven, grant Hajime Hinata the opportunity of starting anew in the world of the living."

Sonia raised a hand, continuing the oath Makoto had started.

"By the power bestowed upon me, I, Sonia Nevermind, the Queen of Hell, grant Hajime Hinata the opportunity of starting anew in the world of the living." She dipped her head.

Hajime reciprocated the action, going down on one knee as Makoto pointed a finger at him.

"Henceforth, Kokichi Ouma will become the next Grim Reaper. We thank you for your service, Hajime Hinata."

"Thank you for blessing me with this opportunity, Your Majesties."

"We wish you the best in your next life."

A blinding white light blossomed in his vision and Hajime smiled as his body became lighter and lighter until he completely disappeared.

《Seventeen Years Later...》

"ajime...? Hajime?"

The black-haired boy turned his head toward his friend, Kazuichi Souda.

"Huh? What?"

"I've been calling your name for about two minutes straight, man! You blanked out or something."

Hajime smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Heh. Sorry. I was thinking about something else."

"What? Your grades? Aren't they perfect enough?"

"Not as perfect as my looks, though," Hajime smirked.

"I swear," Kazuichi rolled his eyes. "You don't even need to do your hair in the morning, like what the heck? It's all straight and polished like a model's hair. What shampoo and conditioner do you use? Pantene??"

"It's not even long!" Hajime laughed, reclining in his chair.

"What if we matched you with long black hair and red eyes? That'd be cool."

A sudden pang of deja vu hit Hajime like a truck. Black hair and red eyes? Why does that sound like someone he had known before?

"Well," Hajime stood up from his seat. "I'd better get going. You, too. We have a chemistry test tomorrow and I can not afford to fail it."

Kazuichi groaned, mumbling something along the lines of 'freaking straight A student' and 'tryhard'.

"See you tomorrow!" Hajime waved to the neon-haired male.

"You better send me your brand of shampoo!" The mechanic called back, earning a smile from the black-haired boy.

Hajime turned away, swinging his school bag over one shoulder as he started walking down the sidewalk.

Suddenly, a shining pin dropped from the person in front of him.

Being the goody two shoes he was, Hajime picked it up, scanning the crowd for the person who had dropped it.

There, in the midst of the crowd was the abnormal white-haired boy who had dropped the pin.

"Hey! You! The albino! Heeeey!" Hajime shouted while running after the boy. "You dropped your pin!"

The male finally heard Hajime's frantic yelling, turning his head around to face the schoolboy.

Hajime's breath immediately caught in his throat as his olive eyes met with the boy's jade ones. Another sense of deja vu rolled through him. Where had he seen those eyes before? He never recalled meeting this boy before.

"You dropped your pin," he panted.

"Oh." The albino blinked. "Thank you for returning it to me."

"Have I met you before?" Hajime blurted out, the sense of deja vu stabbing him in the back of his mind.

"Me? No. I don't think so. Why?"

But Hajime swore that he knew this boy. His hair and eye color were so familiar, yet he couldn't quite place a finger on who he was.

"Well, my name is Hajime Hinata. What's yours?" He asked, extending his hand.

The albino stared down at the outstretched hand hesitantly before taking it in his.

"I'm Nagito Komaeda. Nice to meet you... I guess...?"

Nagito Komaeda, huh? Where had he heard that name before? Nagito Komaeda, Nagito Komaeda. It was a lovely name, nonetheless.

"Nagito Komaeda." The name rolled off his tongue in a funny way. He liked the sound and feel of it. "That's a unique name. A unique name for a unique person."

Nagito averted his eyes shyly, mumbling a 'thank you'.

"Well then, Nagito," Hajime continued, hoping that the albino wouldn't be weirded out by his outgoing personality.

"Would you like to enjoy a cup of coffee with me?"

__________________________________

Aaaaand that ends Death's Harvest, a story in which the Grim Reaper falls for one of the souls he reaps.

Ah, yes. The cliffhanger ending. Love it. It's up to you whether Nagito accepts or declines UwU (I told you it was disappointing hahaha)

Thank you to everyone who supported this story! I love you aallllll!!!!

I will be posting one last chapter, but it's a cast and promotion page, so you guys don't really need to read it if you don't want to. It's just a list of the people in real life who played roles in this story (ex: Nightshade, Tina, Ariel, etc.)

My third fanfic, Jabberwock of Spades, will be coming out in approximately two weeks.

AND YES, I AM GOING TO HIATUS FOR TWO WEEKS BECAUSE I CAN AND IF I DON'T MY MOM *cough* you know who you are *cough* WILL KILL ME.

Once again, THANK YOU SO MUCH!

~Luvtofu