That's all it takes.
Two seconds to bump into each other, exhausted and panting from the race, two seconds for Toudou to assess him, to scoff, to walk forward.
Two seconds to make an assessment, two seconds for a first impression.
A snap for Toudou to get riled up, two seconds for him to confront Makishima, face shaking with anger and brittle disappointment, two seconds for his face to crumple and for Makishima to realize how much losing must've been for him.
Less than two seconds for Toudou to beat him at their next race, less than two seconds for him to throw his arms out and roar a brittle, hoarse victory.
Barely a second for Toudou to lose, once again, and realize that life was indeed, not counted in hemi-semi-demi quavers, but moments that make you forget to breathe.
Two seconds for Makishima to get used to Maki-chan.
More than two seconds-give or take two months-for Toudou to start texting him like there was no tomorrow, insistent in his messages. Four seconds for Makishima to get used to Maki-chan! arriving in his phone with constant pings, a constant reminder of this promise with Toudou he never quite articulated.
0.04 seconds at the interhigh, both screaming themselves raw, bruised ankles and wrists, wet eyes from the stinging wind-speed the only words embedded, pounding in their heads, in their hearts,
and 0.04 seconds for Toudou to fling his arms out-a familiar sight now-, arch his head up to the blue, blue sky, and scream, soundless and eternal.
It was 0.08 seconds Makishima wouldn't ever forget.
Two seconds after the interhigh for him to tell Toudou through the phone, I'm going to England, and two seconds for him to picture Toudou's expression of shock.
Two seconds for Toudou to feel like the world was spinning with vertigo, listening to Makishima's scratchy voice on the phone.
Four years for Toudou to realize he loved him.
One week for Toudou to board a flight to England, ticket in his hands and heart in his throat.
Two seconds for him to see Makishima's face, two seconds to say "I love you" two seconds for Makishima to fling his arms around him, whispering Jinpachi.
Two seconds, and Toudou would never forget the taste of Makishima's skin.
One year for them to find a flat back in Japan, and one week for them to move in.
Two seconds for Toudou to drop a box, and two seconds for them to collapse into helpless laughter by the glass wall, overlooking Kyoto.
Two seconds of immortality.
Two years later, and
Two seconds for Toudou to get on his knees, trembling with anticipation, two seconds for him to produce a black box from his pocket, lined with deep purple velvet, two seconds for him to say-"Maki-chan, will you marry me?"
Two seconds for Makishima to bring a hand to his mouth, two seconds for him to look at Toudou's eyes, blue with commitment and full with promise, two seconds to realize that he would be seeing this for the rest of his life as he chokes out, "I do."
One second for Toudou to start crying.
Two seconds for Makishima to walk down the aisle, two seconds for Toudou to start trembling, dizzy with happiness.
A split second for their eyes to meet, two seconds for their rings to be slipped on, one second when Toudou almost started crying again.
Two seconds to say the vows that would them forever-Toudou did cry this time-and two seconds for Makishima to kiss Toudou, soft and gentle.
Two seconds for him to imagine their future together, and no time to realize that he would never regret any of it.