Fate Won’t Take You From Me
chifuyu matsuno x fem! reader x mitsuya takashi
what if your boyfriend chifuyu knows the future will never be nice to the two of you and he doesn't know how to change it.
a/n: I wrote this when I still had to finish the anime so I hope it's not too bad o(TヘTo)
words count: 4.6k
tags: angst, drama, love triangle(?)
masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi
Chifuyu leans against the wall of the abandoned warehouse, arms crossed, watching as Takemichi rubs his temples like he’s battling the worst headache of his life.
He just got back from another dive into the future, another desperate attempt to fix things before everything spirals out of control. Chifuyu is used to this by now. The frustration, the exhaustion in Takemichi’s eyes.
Takemichi looks uneasy, avoiding his gaze, shifting uncomfortably like he’s keeping a secret.
Chifuyu doesn’t like that.
“So?” he presses, forcing his voice to stay casual “I guess we didn't win yet.”
Takemichi hesitates “It’s… complicated.”
It always is. Chifuyu sighs, running a hand through his hair “Yeah, yeah, it always is. But you know what? I wanna know something else. You know I always try to not ask much but I'm too curious.”
Takemichi finally looks at him “What?”
Chifuyu smirks, trying to lighten the mood, though there’s a weight in his chest that he can’t explain “I never asked before but… What about me and y/n?” he asks, referring to you “Do we… you know… last?”
Takemichi blinks “Last?”
“Yeah. Do we stay together? Are we finally married?”
It’s supposed to be a stupid question. A joke, even. Because of course you do. You and Chifuyu have been through everything together. There’s can't be no version of the future where you aren’t by his side.
Right?
Takemichi’s silence is the first thing that unsettles him. The second is the way his friend suddenly refuses to meet his eyes.
Chifuyu feels something in his stomach twist.
“…Oi,” his voice drops “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Chifuyu, I—”
“Just tell me. The worst that can happen is that we gonna change the future.”
Takemichi takes a slow breath, and when he finally speaks, his words shatter Chifuyu’s world.
“In every timeline I’ve seen 'til now… you never marry her.”
The air in Chifuyu’s lungs disappears. It’s like the room is suddenly suffocating, like the walls are caving in around him.
He swallows hard “Then… is she… alive?”
“Yeah, she keeps doing good actually.”
“Then… is she still around? does she marry someone else?”
Takemichi hesitates. But he can’t lie, not about this.
“…Mitsuya.”
For a moment, Chifuyu doesn’t move. He can’t.
His brain refuses to accept the words, refuses to process them.
Mitsuya? Mitsuya?
It has to be a mistake. Takemichi has to be messing with him... but his face tells him everything.
It’s true.
His fingers curl into fists. His heart pounds, a chaotic mix of emotions, shock, denial, fear. But the worst one is the burning, consuming jealousy that claws its way into his chest.
Mitsuya. His friend. The guy he trusts with his life.
And the guy who, in every future that exists, steals you away from him?
Chifuyu forces a laugh, but it comes out weird “Nah… nah, that’s bullshit.”
Takemichi doesn’t say anything.
Chifuyu’s jaw tightens “She loves me.” His voice is sharp now, more desperate than he wants it to be “She’s with me.”
Takemichi finally speaks, and his voice is gentle. Pitying.
“…She’s with you... now.”
Now.
The word slices through Chifuyu like a blade.
Because that means one day, you won’t be.
One day, you’ll wake up and love someone else.
One day, you’ll leave him behind.
His chest tightens painfully, like his heart is being crushed in a vice. He wants to scream, to fight, to tell Takemichi he’s wrong. But he can’t, because deep down, a part of him knows… you’ve always been close to Mitsuya after all.
A part of him knows, if he looks too closely, he’ll start noticing things he never wanted to see.
But he refuses to let that happen. He won’t let fate take you from him. He can’t.
Chifuyu doesn’t sleep that night.
He lies awake, staring at the ceiling, Takemichi’s words replaying in his head like a curse.
“In every timeline I’ve seen… you never marry her.”
“She ends up with Mitsuya.”
He hates it. Hates how it latches onto his brain, poisoning every thought, twisting everything he knows about you. About him.
It’s stupid. You love him. He knows you do. But now, he can’t shake the feeling that one day, that won’t be enough.
The next day, he finds you outside Mitsuya’s sewing room, your back against the wall as you wait for him.
You look up when you see him, eyes bright. His girl. His heart aches just looking at you.
“Chifuyu” you call out, pushing off the wall to meet him “What are you doing here?”
He doesn’t answer immediately. His gaze flickers to the door behind you. Mitsuya’s door.
Something in him snaps.
“What about you?” his voice comes out sharper than he means it to “What are you doing here?”
You blink at him, confused “I told Mitsuya I’d stop by today. He’s fixing up my jacket.”
Of course. Mitsuya.
Chifuyu clenches his jaw, ignoring the way his stomach twists.
“So you just waited out here for him?” he asks, trying to keep his voice casual.
“Yeah?” you frown, tilting your head “Why?”
He knows it’s stupid. He knows he’s being irrational. But now, every second you spend with Mitsuya feels like a countdown.
Like every moment between you two is another step toward the day you wake up and realize you love him instead.
And the worst part? You don’t even know it’s coming. And he doesn't even know when does that exactly happen.
Chifuyu swallows down the jealousy burning in his throat and forces a grin, his usual grin, the one you love.
“I just didn’t know you guys were that close” he says.
You roll your eyes, laughing “Of course we are. He’s my friend.”
Yeah. Friend. Until he’s not.
The door behind you suddenly opens, and Mitsuya steps out, wiping his hands on a rag. He looks up, notices Chifuyu, and nods.
“Yo” Mitsuya greets.
Chifuyu nods back, but there’s something in his chest, something ugly, clawing at him as he watches you smile at him.
Is this what fate looks like?
Mitsuya turns to you, handing you your jacket “Should be good as new now.”
You take it with a grateful smile “Thanks, Mitsuya. You’re the best.”
Chifuyu watches as Mitsuya reaches out to fix the collar of your shirt, a simple, meaningless gesture.
Something inside him breaks, and efore he even thinks, he grabs your wrist.
“Come on” he says, voice tight “We’re leaving.”
You blink at him in surprise “Chifuyu?”
He doesn’t let go. Doesn’t want to let go.
Mitsuya watches him, silent. Calm, as always. But Chifuyu swears he sees something in his eyes, a question.
Chifuyu forces a grin, pulling you closer to him.
“She’s mine, Mitsuya” he says lightly, but there’s an edge to his voice.
Mitsuya doesn’t react, just watches. Like he’s studying him. Like he already knows something’s wrong.
You pull your wrist free, frowning up at him “What’s with you today? That was rude.”
He hates how guilty you sound, like you’ve done something wrong. Like you’re the one hurting him, when it’s fate itself that’s betraying him.
“Nothing” he lies, forcing himself to relax “Let’s just go.”
You hesitate, glancing back at Mitsuya, but eventually sigh and nod “Okay. See you later, Mitsuya.”
“Yeah” Mitsuya says slowly, watching the way Chifuyu keeps you close “See you.”
Chifuyu doesn’t look back as he leads you away, but he knows Mitsuya is still watching, and for the first time, Chifuyu realizes something.
He’s not just fighting fate anymore.
He’s fighting Mitsuya too.
Chifuyu doesn’t let go of your hand until you’re far from Mitsuya’s place. Even then, his grip lingers, fingers still curled around yours like he’s afraid to lose you.
You glance at him, brows furrowed “Okay, seriously. What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing” he says too quickly “Just wanted to spend time with you.”
You give him a look “You could’ve just asked instead of dragging me away like that.”
His stomach twists. You’re not mad, not really, but there’s something in your tone. Something off. Like you’re confused. Like you don’t understand why he’s acting this way.
Because you actually don’t. Because you don’t know what he knows.
He forces a smirk, bumping his shoulder against yours “I just missed my girl, that’s all.”
Your expression softens, but only a little “Still… you were kinda rude to Mitsuya back there.”
His jaw clenches before he can stop it “You always have to defend him like that?”
The moment the words leave his mouth, he wants to take them back.
You blink, surprised “What? Chifuyu, it’s not about defending him, it’s just—”
“Forget it” he cuts you off, shaking his head “Let’s go do something fun.”
You hesitate for a second, then sigh “Fine. But if you keep acting weird, I’m making you tell me what’s up.”
He just smiles, pulling you along, ignoring the tightness in his chest.
He won’t let fate take you from him. No matter what.
Later that night, Chifuyu watches you from across the room as you scroll through your phone. You’re probably texting Hina or some of the other girls, completely unaware of the storm raging inside him.
His mind replays Takemichi’s words over and over again like a nightmare.
“She ends up with Mitsuya.”
His fingers curl into fists. He can’t let that happen. He won’t.
But would Mitsuya even fight for you?
Would he ever try to take you from him?
No. He knows Mitsuya. He knows he’d never do something like that. Mitsuya’s too good. Too loyal.
And that scares him even more. Because if Mitsuya isn’t the one stealing you away…
Then maybe it’s you. Maybe one day, without even realizing it, you’ll start choosing him instead. Maybe it’s already happening.
Chifuyu swallows hard.
He needs to do something. Now.
Mitsuya, on the other hand, notices the change almost immediately.
At first, it’s subtle. Chifuyu standing closer to you, always making sure to keep a hand on your waist or your wrist. The way he interrupts conversations just to pull you away.
It’s small things. Easy to brush off.
Until he realizes Chifuyu never lets you be alone with him anymore.
Until he catches the sharp glances Chifuyu throws his way when you aren’t looking.
Until Chifuyu starts watching, like he’s waiting for something to happen.
Mitsuya doesn’t say anything at first. He just watches back.
Because he’s starting to understand.
Mitsuya leans against his worktable, arms crossed, watching Chifuyu from across the room.
It’s been like this for days now. Chifuyu hovering close to you, keeping you just out of reach. Always watching. Always waiting.
At first, Mitsuya thought he was imagining it. That maybe Chifuyu was just being overprotective, like he always was. But now it’s obvious.
Chifuyu isn’t just protecting you. He’s guarding you from him.
Mitsuya exhales through his nose, standing up straight “Chifuyu”
Chifuyu stiffens but doesn’t look at him “What?”
“You got a problem with me?”
Chifuyu finally meets his gaze. His eyes are sharp, guarded “No.”
Mitsuya tilts his head slightly, studying him “Then why are you acting like you do?”
Chifuyu exhales a short, humorless laugh, shaking his head “You’re imagining things.”
“Am I?” Mitsuya doesn’t let up “Because it seems like you’ve been keeping her away from me.”
Chifuyu’s jaw clenches, but he forces a grin “She’s my girlfriend, Mitsuya. Maybe I just want to spend more time with her.”
Mitsuya doesn’t react “And maybe you’re scared.”
Chifuyu’s whole body tenses.
That’s all the confirmation Mitsuya needs.
Mitsuya takes a slow step forward, his voice calm but firm “You’re not stupid, Chifuyu. You know I’d never do anything to mess with your relationship.”
Chifuyu says nothing.
“But you’re still looking at me like I’m the enemy” Mitsuya continues “Like you’re waiting for me to take her from you.”
Chifuyu exhales sharply, turning away “Drop it, Mitsuya.”
“No” Mitsuya’s voice is steady, unwavering “Because this isn’t about me, is it? It’s about you.”
Chifuyu’s hands curl into fists.
“You’re afraid, aren’t you?” Mitsuya doesn’t let up “You really think she’s gonna leave you”
Chifuyu’s eyes snap to his, burning with frustration “Shut up, Mitsuya.”
Mitsuya holds his gaze “Or maybe...” He pauses, voice softer now, like he’s starting to understand.
“Maybe you really do think I would try steal her from you...”
Something flickers in Chifuyu’s eyes.
A crack.
Mitsuya inhales slowly “…You know something, don’t you?”
Chifuyu doesn’t answer.
Mitsuya watches him for a moment longer, then sighs “If you keep this up, you’ll lose her anyway.”
Chifuyu’s breath catches in his throat.
“Not because of me, or because of fate itself” Mitsuya says simply “But because you won’t let her breathe.”
Chifuyu doesn’t move, doesn’t speak, just stands there. And for the first time, he wonders if Mitsuya is right.
If in his desperate attempt to fight fate… He’s becoming the reason you leave.
Chifuyu’s mood shifts over the next few days. You notice it immediately. His usual smiles are forced, and the protective gestures feel more suffocating than caring. He pulls you closer when you don’t need it, watches you with eyes that don’t just look. They study.
And the worst part? He barely acknowledges it. Like he’s pretending everything’s fine.
You can’t pretend anymore.
This isn’t the Chifuyu you know. The Chifuyu you know was always open with you. Always honest. Always real. But now…
You can feel the distance growing.
It hurts more than you thought it would.
So tonight, you decide to confront him.
You wait until the two of you are alone, until it’s just you and him in the living room, the silence thick and suffocating.
He’s on the couch, his legs stretched out in front of him, a manga in hand, but his mind clearly elsewhere.
You stand in the doorway, arms crossed, your gaze focused on him “Chifuyu.”
He doesn’t look up “Hm?”
You step forward, your heart pounding “Stop acting like this.”
He freezes, the manga slipping from his hand, but he doesn’t look up “What are you talking about?”
You take a deep breath, walking closer to him, every step heavy with the weight of your frustration “You’re being distant. You’re overbearing. You’ve been acting like… like I’m some fragile thing that needs to be kept away from everyone. And you know I don't like it.”
Chifuyu finally looks up, but there’s no understanding in his gaze. Just confusion “I’m just looking out for you.”
You shake your head “That’s not it. It’s more than that.”
He looks down at his hands, then back up at you, the walls around him thickening “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t lie to me, Chifuyu” you step closer, your voice firm but shaking from the emotion rising in your chest “You keep acting jealous... You think I would leave you for someone else?”
His eyes widen, and you can tell you’ve hit a nerve, but he still doesn’t speak.
“You’ve been pushing me away, and I don’t know why. I thought you trusted me, but now…” you take a breath, steadying yourself “Now, I feel like you don’t even know who I am anymore.”
He stands up suddenly, his face a mix of frustration and guilt “I trust you, Y/N! I do! But…”
He trails off, his voice faltering as if he’s trying to find the words to explain the chaos inside his head.
“But what?” you ask quietly.
Chifuyu rubs his forehead, as if trying to calm the storm in his mind “Every time I look at you, I think about what happens next. What if one day, you wake up and you’re not with me anymore?”
You blink, the weight of his words hitting you harder than you expected. His eyes are dark, haunted, like he’s seen something he can’t shake.
“Chifuyu…” you whisper, stepping closer to him, your voice softening “I’m not going anywhere. I'm here...”
He looks up at you, his eyes wide with uncertainty, and for a moment, you see the fear, raw and unfiltered, that he’s been hiding.
“You don’t get it” he mutters, voice breaking slightly “I saw it, Y/N. In the future. In every timeline… you end up with Mitsuya. Not me. You marry him.”
You freeze. The words hit you like a punch to the gut, and you can see the pain in his eyes, the torment he’s been holding in.
“You saw it?” you repeat, your voice shaking now.
“Not me, actually. But it’s the same…” he admits, his voice almost a whisper “No matter what… you end up with him. And it kills me, Y/N. I can’t… I can’t just stand by and watch it happen.”
You take a step back, his confession crashing over you in waves. The room feels like it’s spinning, and for a moment, you don’t know what to say.
But then, you find your voice “Chifuyu…”
You take his hands in yours, forcing him to look at you “Listen to me. I don’t know what you saw or not. But this…” you shake your head, feeling a mix of confusion and compassion “This isn’t about fate. It’s about us. I choose you. Every day, I choose you.”
Chifuyu’s eyes well with unshed tears, his hands trembling slightly as he holds onto you “But what if it’s already decided?”
You gently cup his face, forcing him to meet your eyes “Then we fight it. Together.”
His breath catches, and for the first time in days, he looks at you like you’re the only thing that matters.
“Chifuyu…” you say softly “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. But you need to trust me.”
He nods, his voice breaking as he whispers “I’m sorry, Y/N. I was so scared…”
You smile gently, brushing a strand of hair from his face “I know you were. But you can’t keep pushing me away like this. We’re in this together. Always.”
Chifuyu finally lets out a shaky breath, his shoulders relaxing as he pulls you into his arms, holding you tightly like he’s afraid he might lose you all over again.
“I won’t let you go,” he says, his voice thick with emotion “I promise.”
And for the first time in what feels like forever, Chifuyu feels like maybe he can stop fighting fate and trust that you are his, and no one will take you from him.
It’s a quiet evening when Takemichi arrives back from another dive into the future. He’s been gone for days, and you’ve been trying to distract Chifuyu from the anxiety that’s been weighing on him ever since the last conversation.
When Takemichi walks in, his face is grim.
Chifuyu notices him first. He’s standing in the doorway, his eyes tired and heavy with the burden of knowing too much.
You look up from where you’re sitting on the couch and smile, happy to see Takemichi, but Chifuyu doesn’t share your enthusiasm.
“Back already?” Chifuyu says casually, his tone sharp and protective.
Takemichi hesitates. The last time he revealed something, it only made things worse.
“You… you want to know what happens this time?” Takemichi asks, his eyes shifting nervously between the two of you.
Chifuyu stands up, walking over to where you’re sitting. His hand finds yours, squeezing it gently, but there’s a firmness in his voice as he answers Takemichi.
“No,” Chifuyu says, his voice steady “I don’t need to know. Whatever happens in the future… we’ll handle it.”
Takemichi blinks, surprised by Chifuyu’s refusal. Normally, Chifuyu is the one pushing for answers, the one desperate to fix things, but today… it’s different.
“Chifuyu…” Takemichi starts, but Chifuyu cuts him off, his voice unwavering.
“No, Takemichi,” Chifuyu says, shaking his head “I don’t need to know what happens with me and Y/N. I trust her. I trust us.”
You feel your heart swell, the love and reassurance in Chifuyu’s words more than enough to put you at ease. But then, a part of you know what Takemichi has seen, his face tells everything.
Takemichi swallows hard, looking between you both. He knows the truth. He knows what he’s seen. He knows what’s coming. And yet, he doesn’t want to say it.
Chifuyu’s grip on your hand tightens, but he doesn’t look at you. He doesn’t look at Takemichi. He stares straight ahead, his jaw clenched, eyes narrowing slightly.
“I already know what you saw” Chifuyu replies, his voice calm and controlled, but there’s an edge to it “But I don’t care. This is our timeline. Our future.”
Takemichi’s eyes widen in confusion, not understanding what Chifuyu means. He expected a fight, maybe even an argument, but Chifuyu… Chifuyu’s eyes are clear. His gaze unwavering.
“You’re… you’re not angry?” Takemichi asks, his voice uncertain.
Chifuyu shakes his head slowly. He finally looks at you, his expression softening.
“No” he says simply “I’m not angry. I’m just…”
His voice falters for a moment, but he continues, his words filled with conviction “I’m choosing to believe in you, y/n. In us. And no matter what happens, I’m going to fight for that. For us. If that’s the future, it means that something might have happened and all I want is you to be happy, even if it's not with me.”
You feel a rush of emotions flood over you as you squeeze his hand tighter, the words meaning more to you than anything else. You don’t need the future to define what you have now.
Takemichi watches the exchange between the two of you, his chest tightening. He understands now. Chifuyu is choosing to trust you. He’s not going to let the future dictate his present.
“You really believe that?” Takemichi asks, his voice quiet.
Chifuyu nods firmly “Yeah. I do.”
There’s a long pause, and for a moment, the world feels still. Takemichi is silent, eyes searching Chifuyu’s face, and then, finally, he lets out a breath.
“…Alright.” Takemichi says, his shoulders slumping slightly “Then, I guess that’s all I need to hear.”
You can see the relief in Takemichi’s expression, the weight he’s been carrying lifting slightly as he looks at both of you.
“I’ll make sure this timeline works out for you guys” Takemichi adds with a small smile, stepping toward the door.
Chifuyu watches him go, then turns to face you, his eyes softer than they’ve been in days. He pulls you into a tight hug, his arms wrapping around you as if he’s afraid to ever let go.
“I’m not going anywhere either” you whisper, holding him close.
“I know” Chifuyu replies, his voice steady but filled with warmth “And I’m not letting you go either.”
You smile against his chest, feeling the love and trust between the two of you stronger than anything fate could ever throw your way.
And for the first time in a long time, Chifuyu feels like the future doesn’t matter. Because as long as he has you, nothing else will ever break them apart.
The days after are peaceful. Chifuyu’s trust in you grows stronger with each passing day. He never mentions the future again, never brings up Mitsuya, and his affection for you deepens, he’s focused, determined to make the present his truth.
But something inside you feels weird.
You don’t want to think about it. You don’t want to admit that the future still lingers like a shadow over your relationship. But after everything you’ve heard, after everything Chifuyu has sacrificed to believe in you, you can’t ignore the question that keeps pressing at the back of your mind:
Why do you never end up with Chifuyu in the future?
You’ve tried to push it away. You’ve tried to focus on the present. But the truth is, you can’t stop thinking about it. And deep down, you know you need to get the answer for yourself.
One night, when Chifuyu is busy with work and you find yourself alone, the weight of your curiosity becomes too heavy to ignore.
You slip out quietly, your heart racing as you make your way to Takemichi’s place. The chill of the night air doesn’t even register, all that matters is the unanswered question that’s been haunting you.
When Takemichi opens the door, his face softens at the sight of you.
“Y/N?” he asks, surprised “What’s up?”
“I need to talk to you,” you say quietly, stepping inside. You don’t waste any time “I need to know. Why… Why don’t I end up with Chifuyu in the future?”
Takemichi blinks, clearly taken aback. He hesitates, looking at you with a mix of sympathy and something heavier. Something he doesn’t want to say.
“Y/N…” he begins, his voice soft and hesitant “Are you sure you want to know this?”
You nod, the resolve in your voice stronger than it feels “I need to know, Takemichi. Please. I have to know the truth.”
There’s a long silence as Takemichi looks at you, weighing the decision. He knows how much this will hurt. How much it could change everything. But he can’t keep it from you.
“Alright,” he says finally, his voice low “The reason… the reason you never end up with Chifuyu in the future… it’s always the same.”
You hold your breath.
“It’s because of Chifuyu,” Takemichi continues, his voice thick with regret “He never feels like he’s enough. He loves you so much that he convinces himself you’ll be better off with someone else. He pushes you away… he doesn’t want to be the one holding you back.”
Your heart sinks as you absorb his words. It’s not about Mitsuya. It’s not about you choosing someone else. It’s about Chifuyu, about his own insecurity, his fear of not being good enough for you, of loving you so much that he believes he’s destined to lose you.
“And no matter what happens,” Takemichi continues, voice trembling with empathy “Chifuyu doesn’t fight for you. Not because he doesn’t love you... he loves you more than anything. But because he thinks that’s what’s best for you. He believes you deserve someone who can give you the world, someone who won’t drag you down.”
The words crash over you like a wave, and you feel dizzy, your mind racing.
Chifuyu’s fear of being unworthy is the reason you’re torn apart. He believes his love for you is not enough to keep you.
You take a deep breath, forcing the tears back. You’ve spent so much time trying to make sense of everything, trying to figure out why fate always separates you and Chifuyu.
And now you know.
But knowing doesn’t make it any easier.
You stand there, numb for a long moment before you finally speak, your voice thick with emotion “So… it’s always his choice? He chooses to walk away from me?”
Takemichi nods, his eyes filled with sadness “Yeah. He never thinks he’s good enough for you. That’s the reason, no matter how much he loves you, no matter how hard you try, it always ends the same.”
Your heart aches as you let that sink in. The realization that Chifuyu, the person who loves you more than anything, could be the very reason you can’t stay with him.
You turn to leave, Takemichi’s voice stopping you just before you reach the door.
“Y/N,” he says softly “I’m sorry.”
You nod silently, wiping away a tear that threatens to fall. You need to go back to Chifuyu. To hold him. To remind him that he’s more than enough. You need him to believe in you, in both of you.
But deep inside, you know it won’t be easy. Because it’s never been about love. It’s been about belief.
And for now, you can only hope that, somehow, Chifuyu will find the strength to fight against the very thing that’s pulling him away from you: his own fear.
