A/N: HIII! before we start the chapter, here are some fan arts for Hasty Feisty by these ppl <3 TYSMMM!! i love these ♡

╰┈➤ by komiikoe

╰┈➤ by slutyyhai

╰┈➤ ❝ [he failed in the past, present, and future?]

Third Person POV

Many people believe that the waiting room is the scariest room you can stay in.

You'll feel unsettled, rushed, panicked, dreadful, terrified, frightened, trepidation, glum, and many more. Simply because you are waiting for a patient that is on the verge of death. Not knowing how to feel. Not knowing what to do except wait, wait, and wait while your heart beats erratically.

This is exactly how they feel, especially Manjiro Sano.

These plain white empty walls can't signify the circumstances occurring at this moment, let alone his emotions that are now scattered on the ground. The ticking clock can't tell the time to the significant awaited moment.

"How long will it still take?" Manjiro asked, and it was the same question he had been asking repeatedly... but he was only asking it in his mind.

"No updates from the doctors yet," Koko informed as he walked inside the waiting room.

Mikey's chest tightened with each passing second, making it difficult to breathe, yet he never spoke. He only kept quiet, keeping his sentiments to himself. Maybe that's why it's getting hard to breath.

He's on the verge of fainting, until the doors to the operating room open, showing the surgeons, nurses, and doctors.

"How was it?" Ran was the first who stood up from the chairs and went to the doctor.

"The procedure is successful."

The heavy and suffocating inside Mikey's chest starts to subside, and he can finally breathe normally. The men felt like a heavy boulder had been worn off from their shoulders, and they couldn't deny it.

"But please, follow us if you want to hear some vital information regarding the patient's condition and surgical procedure. We've already transferred her to the PACU room as of this moment."

They followed the doctors whom they just threatened hours ago. Following the steps to the stairs and the footsteps can be heard loudly, all ringing in their ears. Is it simply trepidation, or the presence in the hospital itself?

Mikey looked around the hospital and he can feel the scorch flaming in his chest. It's a different hospital, yet it's still a place that he forever despises.

"As we mentioned, the operation was successful. Her situation isn't that terminal, and we performed minor procedures, thus she won't be staying in the PACU room for long," the doctor remarked as he handed him some paperwork including vital signs and thorough data.

"We tried everything, and the best we could to make the situation any better." One nurse stated, and the staff pulled back the drapes, allowing visitors and guardians to see the patient inside, which is you.

The sight of you met in their field of vision.

Mikey felt his heart crack, and he can feel the tears welling on the brim of his eyes.

You're unconscious, with medical tubes inserted into different parts of your body and various liquids circulating within your body, as well as through your mouth and nose. Plasters, bandages, and a neck brace, and it's covering the noticeable bruises, cuts, and injuries.

There's a glass window that serves as a divider between the room where the patient is staying in and the visitors. 

The heartbeat monitor kept on beeping beside you, and they swear it's better than the clock ticking in the waiting room.

Because it indicates that you're still alive.

Mikey closed his eyes as he can't bear seeing this. It's aching him, it's aching them.

Why is this sight familiar? Why is it so vivid? He swore he saw this before. It's oddly familiar. Is déjà vu a coincidence? It's all clear in his mind. It's scaring him.

So real that he can almost hear whispers and hallucinate that your soul is somewhere here.

Kakucho had to call Mikey's attention to click him back to reality.

"Shall we break the news?" A doctor told, making everyone turn their heads to him.

"Stop hindering, doctor. You've basically told us every detailed report yet you couldn't tell the main point? Stop going in circles and tell us straightforwardly—" One of the men said, yet the words that came out of the doctor's mouth kept them shut.

"Patient 111, Ms. (L/N) (Y/N)... has fallen into a coma."

His heart dropped... their heart dropped. They knew it, their anticipations were real. The question had been answered on why everything seems so familiar, so vivid as if they time-traveled to the past.

"Callista... has fallen into a coma."

Oh well, history did really repeat itself.

"Zane Wilbert, call the stewardess."

Eri called, and she was taken out of the hospital right away. She was too persistent, and also because she held a high authority, Zane and the doctors couldn't do much about it, so they just did what their boss said especially since her vitals are getting stable now, and the drugs that Hanma was injecting her for the past few years had stopped.

"We're in a high altitude," Zane rubbed his temples, and they are in their private jet, "That's why I'm feeling nauseous."

"I can't wait to see my daughter." Eri thought while looking outside the jet's window.

"Ms. Erianne Dhiore, are you ready to meet with Mr. Manjiro Sano?"

"I've been ready, always have been."

"Although I don't want to talk to him as Manjiro Sano, I want to talk to him as Bonten's leader. I don't want him to talk to me as Erianne Dhiore. I want him to talk to me as Dias' Corporation's President, or rather, as (Y/N)'s stepmother."

Zane just stared out the window and took a deep breath before saying, "Understood very well. If the conversation between you and Mr. Sano gets into a heated argument, I'll try my best to stop it without using any weapons.

"Are you saying that in a sarcastic way, Zane?"

"No. Not at all, Ms. Dhiore."

"Regarding that, I've received the results of Ms. (L/N) (Y/N)'s surgery. She's out from the ICU room, though she's still unconscious." Zane informed as he passed Eri the documents.

Eri reads the documents while Zane continues talking, "What Mr. Sano doesn't know is that I, rather we, receive the first vital records of Ms. (L/N) (Y/N) before them. Dias Corporation holds an authority to the hospital there."

"Now, Madame Dhiore. Please sign the documents." He added.

Eri took a deep breath before signing, and as she was signing it, a familiar sight came into her mind.

"Familiar, right?" Zane sighed, "Despite this, the contract (Y/N) signed in Bonten was legitimately made by you."

"Enough is enough. I'll destroy this façade," Eri grunted as she refused to sign the papers, "Call a group of entourage in my company before we arrive at the hospital."

"Will do, madame."

They're finally getting close to their destination after several hours. Eri is just tapping the sidearm of the jet's seat with her long red nails. Her crimson velvet lipstick is still intact. On the bridge of her nose, her dark sunglasses remained still. She pursed her lips as Zane spoke, and before looking at Zane, she took one more peek outside a familiar airport location and at the documents she was holding.

"We've arrived, madame."

Eri wasted no time in standing and walking to the jet bridge, her brown coat slipping up her shoulders as she moved, her bodyguards, servants, and staff willingly carrying the luggage behind her. She removed her sunglasses and stood at the airstair, the wind blowing over her hair as she looked at the landscape, "Oh if it isn't my homeland."

"Manjiro Sano, I'll finally see you after years. How's the game we've all played for so many years?"

"Welcome, Madame Dhiore."

The employees in the hospital greeted the prominent CEO of Dias Corporation who is known since they cater to these kinds of sectors.

"(L/N) (Y/N), patient 111."

"Please proceed this way." They guided as they passed through the corridors.

Eri kept a straight expression while walking straight, her heels clanking and her designer purse clutched. Nonetheless, when she approaches your hospital room, she can't ignore the loud, rapid beating in her chest.

Years have passed yet she didn't even watch you grow after months of graduating from college. She couldn't wait to see what would be her first glimpse of you.

As she went up the elevator and ascended to another level, where your hospital room is, Zane followed Eri from behind as he informed her some stuff.

"Careful, there is also a group of entourage from Bonten," Zane cleared his throat, "We need to lay low."

"I don't need to lay low. They're aware that I'm coming, so what's the purpose of me feeling scared?" Eri scoffed.

"I will know as soon as I face him—" And there, Eri finally opened the door.

Standing at the door, all of them turned their head and attention to Eri.

"Manjiro Sano."

Mikey slowly looked back while his hands are inside his pockets. He tilted his head, eyes squinting from the familiar face as he faced Eri.

"Long time no see," Eri said, smirking, "How's the game?"

Their heart almost dropped the familiar woman in front of them, yet they kept their reactions neutral.

They knew that the time has come. The time where everything will end as she returns. Including the end of the contract that (Y/N) signed years ago.

It's her return. 

Mikey kept an unfazed, unbothered, and stoic face. He didn't talk and went back to face you lying unconscious on the hospital bed.

Eri's eyes were drawn to your unconscious body on the ICU bed, and she stepped near to the glass pane that separates the corridor from the ICU room, where the patient is now being confined since visits are strictly prohibited.

Eri's tender hands caressed the cold glass as she looked at you through it. Her heart swelling so much that it ached, your condition, the tubes sticking into your body, the oxygen, and the machines that are only keeping you alive. It hurts for a stepmother to see her stepdaughter suffer. She doesn't want to see this, and she doesn't want you to go through what she experienced.

"Oh my... what have they done?" Eri told in a brittle voice as tears brimmed on the corner of her eyes.

Eri forced a laugh as she faced the men, "What happened... for so many years?"

Mikey shifted his feet as he was about to walk out until Eri spoke.

"Are you not feeling apprehensive, Sano?"

"No." Mikey bluntly told, and then continued walking.

"Still blunt until now, Mr. Sano?" Eri dropped a deep sigh as she walks past the men and sat at the chair placing her designer bag on the side table with a clank.

"Bonten and Dias Corporation have been great partners since the beginning. We already paid the debt, so what's this stern attitude all about? I'm just here for a talk, a casual one, to clear everything up from the beginning. From the beginning up to this day." Eri orotundly explained.

"I'm surprised you're still alive," Rindou commented.

"Why, aren't you happy that I'm alive? Or perhaps, you feel threatened?"

"Don't act like your company didn't have a debt back then." Rindou retorted.

"Excuse my words, but it's already paid. Don't keep on using that as a defense, so what are you blabbering about?" Eri crossed her arms.

"I'm blabbering about how Hanma got you hospitalized yet the blame was on us and he took that as a chance to take advantage of Bonten and also the reason why (Y/N) has fallen into a coma—"

"I know," Eri's eyes narrowed, "I fucking know. I got the news early. I got the vital records of her before all of you knew."

Mikey had enough of this talk and walked out of the hallway.

"Are you easily going to tarnish my presence, Manjiro? The man whom I trusted for my daughter (L/N) (Y/N)?"

Mikey neither looked back nor listened.

"You see, I believe that she still has the will to live," Eri mumbled, and her voice was tainted with gloom. "But do you think that the second forbidden knowledge will be the cost?"

Manjiro stopped in his tracks, and he turned back.

"Forbidden knowledge?"

"Now, choose," Eri said.

"This thing we call forbidden knowledge has blinded us for so many years, and Draken wh—" She added.

"He's dead." Mikey cuts off straightforwardly.

"Your tone sounds like you have no remorse," Eri cleared her throat, "Oh and also, I know."

"Do you feel any regrets?" She added, and Mikey didn't answer, only giving her a death stare.

"I'll ask you one thing. If Draken is still alive, what will you do or say?" Eri asked.

"I don't want to go back to that office in our firm, so if you may excuse me, I don't have time to answer your absurd question," Mikey told, then turned back once again.

"Stop changing the topic, come back here before I take (Y/N) back again," Eri said.

"It has a correlation to it," Mikey muttered, "Stop playing us with your mind games."

"Oh boy, my dear (Y/N) played your game, rather compelled, so what's bad about you all playing mine?" Eri raised a brow.

"Ah," Mikey let out a chuckle, "But wasn't that written in the contract you legitimately made and (Y/N) signed. What was that? Is it to play this game like a game of chess? Where there are no such things as rules, only objectives? Is that it, Eri?"

"I see, so that's why the fate went drastic. You've perceived the game wrong all this time." Eri replied

"Remember this, Eri. You're also a part of those people who started this mayhem, this game, and that's because of your selfishness and debt, that lead you into making the contract." Mikey continued to speak.

"A contract which (Y/N) signed, remember, Erianne?"

"Do you hear us? Do you hear how we are capable of anything, how much power we have?"

True, all they said was true, everything was, and you hate how they were all true.

"While you have nothing."

A mere person who has nothing but a controlled fate, rather.

Your lips quivered in terror, and you were already begging for someone's life.

"Now tell us, will you accept the offer? In return for your stepmother's life?"

"The only thing in her mind was you while she was signing the contract."

"I-I'll accept the offer..."

And there, tears ran down your cheeks, feeling a heavy boulder on your chest.

"Only for my stepmother and parents."

"While she was signing the contract, all in her mind was you, her stepmother."

"Give her the contract." Mikey commanded their workers.

"Yes sir."

While you were seated, feeling clammy and unable to move, feeling guilty yet indignation rise in your chest.

"—But you had to pretend to be poor and made (Y/N) think that all her hard work in school after she graduated was all useless."

"Yet I didn't deny it, I was ready to take consequences back then. I was on the verge of dying in that damned hospital while you had the chance of fixing everything for years, yet you improved nothing." She cuts off.

"Don't guilt-trip me."

"And don't gaslight me with your changing of topics."

Manjiro and Eri merely exchanged narrowed stares, as if their minds could be read by each other. Eri just reached inside her bag and extracted a familiar document that resembled a certificate.

"Repentance will always and forever be at the end, you know?" Eri sighed.

Mikey's brows furrowed at the familiar format on the paper that Eri is holding.

"Starting now, (Y/N) will cut ties with all of you," Eri announced as she took out the contract which you signed years ago.

"What did you just fucking say?" Mikey stepped closer to her as his chest heaved.

Eri held the contract firmly in her hands, "You were insisting that I made and own this contract, right? So, it's just right that I can do whatever I want under of it."

"Who says you have the right to do this? Just because of that damned contract?" Ran stood up from the metal chair in the hallway which he had been silent all along until now.

"Me, I have the right." Eri faced him, and she ripped the contract in front of him.

Their eyes widened as the crucial paper that started everything has been ripped, torn into pieces, and destroyed in just a second, but a partial scintilla they felt that it was well deserved, at least for them.

"You all have known every forbidden knowledge, that's enough. In the end, the (L/N)'s held the upper hand." Eri rose her tone.

"I'm taking my daughter now. It's either I'll see you in court or this will be the last time I'll see you all. Goodbye."

"Eri—" Mikey called, but Zane Wilbert entered the corridor and pointed a gun at the men as he pulled Eri beside him, shielding her.

Mikey also took his gun out and points it at them. They resorted to violence once again.

"Let's make a deal, again," Mikey held the gun firmly, "Put your fucking gun down."

"All fair and square, okay," Eri said in a hushed tone, as she nodded to Zane, "Get out. I can handle this."

Zane hesitantly nodded, "Yes, madame," then walked off.

"So, what's your deal?" Eri faced Mikey.

Mikey took a deep breath, yet not contemplating his statement, "If (Y/N) actually recovers and stays alive, it's her decision if she still wants to see us—"

"And if she doesn't?"

Mikey held back his breath from the question that will hit him in reality. There's nothing he can do, and in this circumstance, everything is possible, so why not accept the possibility? He'll ready himself now, at least, it would hurt him less if his unwanted anticipation became real.

"It's up to you, Ms. Dhiore Eri," Mikey finally answers, "But if you would ask me, I would prefer to stay her away from me because I can never imagine her laying in a casket, all lifeless. I'd prefer seeing no light than seeing that vision."

Eri slowly nodded, and he took a keen gaze at him before looking at the contract, "I see, so it's settled—"

"And if she fails recovery, her health deteriorates and—" Mikey swallowed a lump in his throat, "And really passed away, I'll accept any consequence."

"I see, Sano. After all, you were with her in the past, and in the present... yet none in those times you succeed in protecting my daughter. How can I entrust you with (Y/N)'s future even, then?"

Eri's words were like knives hurling into Mikey's chest, but it's all true.

"Set your criminal scheme for a while, Sano," Eri told, "Because your case can lead to a... more something serious if the court pushes it further, and If (Y/N) dies, you'll pay—"

"I'm willing to accept anything." Manjiro cuts off.

"Even if it's a death penalty?"

Mikey didn't hesitate to nod, "Yes."

"Boss." His men called his attention, furious and baffled by his undecided decision.

"What?!" Suddenly, Sanzu barged inside the room, and everyone looked at the door, "What's happening?!"

Sanzu's eyes met with Eri, then he looked at the scenery and chaos happening inside the room, he felt confused, puzzled, scared, and gloomy. He knows this, he knew that the time came where it was time to let go.

All of these happened just because of a contract, right?

Sanzu feels his heart slowly crumbling, and he can feel a pit in the bottom of his stomach. He knew the time would come, but never in those years, had he think of that. It was too painful for him to even think of it, that's why in those years, he deliberately distracted himself, but the day came, and he needs to wake up from reality.

Nonetheless, it's all because of a contract that is now in the hands of Eri.

"What? A sin for a sin." Eri spoke.

This was like the agreement that they had years ago.

"But please, let me see (Y/N) at some point. I still want to see her." Mikey told in a whisper, and it's barely audible.

"Okay, but if only (Y/N) can still say your name."

"What do you mean?"

Eri just laughed, "It's funny how you're so naïve when you've already experienced this in the past."

Manjiro's eyes widened, and his heart dropped. He knows it, he remembered it all.

"You know what?" Eri sighed, as she grabbed the bag and slung it around her arm, then walked off, "I'll head off now. Goodbye. Till we see again and see what will be your fate. It's either freedom or death awaits for all of you, Bonten."

"Zane," Eri called her secretary, and then faced the Bonten men once again before leaving the hospital room.

The room was filled with rage and tension. The atmosphere is palpable. You're laying on the bed, all lifeless, fallen into a coma and who knows when will you wake up. Even you yourself don't know, all dragged into this game they call, brought back to the past, your own past you're clueless in, the forgotten memories, and you're unaware of it all.

"I only want to hear one news when I come back at this hospital, or else you know your fate," Eri told as she kept the receipts, papers, documents, and contract inside her bag. She turned her heels to walk off, but looked back at the men once again to drop her words.

"'Your daughter, (L/N) (Y/N)  is alive'. That's all that I want to hear." 

A/N: get ready