“Hi, kid,” Seichiro muttered, his gaze calm as he looked at Minoru.
“No way…” Minoru mumbled in disbelief, struggling to make sense of the man before him.
“I… I thought you were dead!” Minoru exclaimed, his voice filled with shock.
“Yeah, well – I’m not. I need you to focus, kid. There are more urgent things at hand than my mortality. Can you do that for me? I’ll give you the rundown later, I promise.”
Minoru looked down, his brow furrowing in concentration.
“… If you’re here… At this timing… Did they find me—”
“No, kid. No one found you. You just happened to be in a bad place at a bad time,” Seichiro replied, his expression weary.
“I see… W-what do you need, Mr. Kurose?” Minoru mumbled, still processing the situation.
“Your sister. Where is she?” Seichiro asked casually, but with an underlying urgency. Minoru’s eyes widened as adrenaline coursed through his veins.
“You… How did… You… HOW DID YOU KNOW SHE’S HERE?!” Minoru demanded, his voice urgent.
Seichiro sighed. “You and that kid being here, plus those guys… And the fact you haven’t a clue what you got into… It wasn’t hard to guess why you’re here. Did she get hit with the stuff?” he asked, his tone serious.
Minoru looked down in shock.
“Right… She… So that’s why she acted like that… They… These bastards… Hit her with that…?” Minoru’s voice trailed off, his face becoming unreadable as he stared at the ground, a surge of bloodlust radiating from him.
The man sighed again, his gaze still weary. “So that’s a yes, then…” he mumbled to himself as he approached the now feral-looking Minoru, casually flicking his forehead.
“Ow!” Minoru exclaimed.
“OW!” echoed from Hayato, another young boy nearby who got his head flicked by Seichiro.
“That’s what you get for fighting in my house! Hayato, go apologize to your mom. Minoru, you follow,” Seichiro commanded with authority, after flicking both boys’ foreheads.
“B-but DAD!! Minoru started it!” Hayato cried, rubbing his now red forehead.
Seichiro huffed, his gaze intense. “I don’t care! You escalated it instead of trying to solve things… You’re as guilty as him. I always tell you to hit back whoever’s punching you, but Minoru’s your friend. Got that, Hayato? You never hurt your friends!”
Hayato merely nodded.
“Now, go apologize! Each one do it alone! Got it, kid!?”
“H-huh..?” Minoru muttered, snapping back to reality.
“I need you to focus… Your sister. Where is she? I’ll go get her, and see how she’s doing,” Seichiro urged.
Minoru shook his head, trying to collect his thoughts. “Right… There were those two INK punks… I told them to get her to safety. But I’m not sure where they went if not here… They probably ran off when they realized the mixer was in on this. This punk here protected them, I believe.”
“Haha,” Seichiro chuckled, though his smile lacked its usual vibrance.
“That kid’s real brave, huh?” Seichiro commented, nodding toward Sendo.
“You know him, Mr. Kurose?” Minoru asked, puzzled.
“Hmm… You could say we’ve crossed paths once, and he made quite the impression,” Seichiro muttered as he started toward the exit.
“W-wait! I’ll come with—” Minoru started, moving to stand.
“No. You stay here with the kid until the ambulance picks him up… It’s an order. Got that, Minoru?” Seichiro instructed firmly, glancing back at Minoru.
Minoru, frustrated but obedient, nodded. “Yes… Sir,” he replied, settling back down beside Sendo.
“Good boy. I promise I’ll give you a rundown later. By the way, I called the ambulance before I entered, so just sit tight. They’ll be here any minute,” Seichiro said, disappearing from view as he left the scene.
“Just…” Minoru started, his voice tinged with anxiety as he observed Sendo’s calm, relaxed expression. Sendo lay there, a slight smile on his face despite the needle still lodged in his chest.
“Haah…” Minoru sighed, his shoulders dropping as he allowed himself a moment of relaxation.
Minoru watched the steady rise and fall of Sendo’s chest, the tension slowly ebbing from his own body. The quiet of the mixer reception, punctuated only by Sendo’s gentle breathing, seemed to offer a rare moment of peace amid the chaos that had unfolded earlier. Sendo’s relaxed expression, almost serene with that slight smile.
“I wish I could just pass out like that… No worries, no fears, just… peace,” Minoru whispered, his voice tinged with envy. He lay on the dirty ground beside Sendo, staring up at the dim, flickering fluorescent lights of the mixer.
“Ahh right… I’ll have to explain everything to the cops when they show up… And then give that old fart an explanation… Ahhhh, what a pain…!!” Minoru groaned in frustration. He rubbed his face wearily as he lay on the ground, the distant wail of ambulance sirens growing closer.
“Either way… If it’s Mr. Kurose… He’ll find her,” Minoru mumbled casually, his gaze blank as he stared into the dim flickering of the overhead lights.
“Everything works out… When he’s there, so…” He added, his voice trailing off as he closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of rest.
Back in the mixer, Minoru had just stepped over two of the four men he knocked out as he approached the remaining three, the smoker’s cigarette still laced with white powder.
“Now that all the distractions are gone…” Minoru muttered, his gaze direct yet indifferent.
“Can you answer my question? What were you guys planning to do with my sister? I couldn’t care less about her, but the mafia boss I work for will blow a gasket when he hears about this, so I need the full story,” he said, scratching his head in irritation.
‘He’s definitely from Black Letter… That strength… And still so young, what, 19? 18? It’s not too far-fetched to think he’s really from there. And the boss he’s talking about… No, it can’t be. He didn’t know what we were doing here, so it can’t be that guy… Another faction within that cursed organization?’ The smoker thought rapidly, his mind racing for answers.
“She actually wanted to touch me. I’m doing all I can not to throw up right now. How are you going to make up for this?” Minoru continued, his patience thinning as they remained silent, shock written across their faces.
“W-wait..” The smoker stammered as he stepped forward from the group, “We didn’t know it was your sister. We were just looking to grab some high-schoolers for a job, but she was unfortunately one of them. I assure you if we had known—”
“If we had known…? Man, that’s rich,” Minoru interrupted sharply.
“So you mean to tell me, you’d have kidnapped her and drugged her regardless of my intervention?”
The smoker grew flustered, his eyes darting around, as Minoru’s irritation became palpable. The tension among the smoker’s associates was mounting.
“That’s…” “And what did you drug her with? I’d rather know what it was than scramble around. I’ll let you off if you tell me,” Minoru pressed.
‘Wait… He doesn’t know what we used…? Even after seeing her like that…!? I thought he was just bluffing to intimidate us… So that means…’
His lips twitched as he suppressed a smile.
‘…He doesn’t know! And he has no connection to our operations… I can use this to my advantage… We’ll deal with his boss later!’
“Right.. We used this,” the smoker said, pulling out a bag from his pocket filled with a white powder.
‘I’ll show him the FD-01 first..!!’
“This drug is quite complex… It doesn’t just do one thing,” he began, his eyes gleaming as he noticed Minoru’s growing curiosity.
“Hohh…? What’s it do? Be quick, then,” Minoru urged, stepping closer.
“I’m afraid if I explained that, we’d be here all night… But look here,” the smoker said as he slowly reached into his other pocket, producing another bag with similar white powder.
‘Now, I’ll pull out the MD-01… And when he least expects it…!!’
“This is the antidote. It negates all the effects of the other one,” he explained, holding it before Minoru’s face. Both of the smoker’s associates watched intently.
Minoru sighed as he closed his eyes, “Sorry,” he started.
‘…I’LL BLAST HIM WITH THE MD-01!!!’ the smoker thought as he hurled the bag of MD-01 straight at Minoru’s face.
“…Tricks like that just stopped working against me a long time ago,” Minoru said, his expression melancholic and resigned as the smoker, baffled, found his own face blasted with the white powder bag he had attempted to throw at Minoru. Minoru had quickly stepped back to avoid inhaling any of the powder.
To the onlookers, it appeared as though…
…the smoker had thrown it onto himself.
“Even without listening to your breathing, a child could tell you were up to something. Give me a break…” Minoru muttered.
The bag spread to the other two, who jumped aside in panic – a moment too late.
Then, they all stared at each other intensely as they gulped.
“What the hell…?” Minoru called, arching an eyebrow as he watched the remaining three ferociously charge at each other, ripping each other’s clothes off…
…And brutally make love.
Minoru silently clenched his teeth and fist in silent anger.
“No…!!!”
“HOW..!!?!” Minoru called in confusion.
“THEY FOUND ME…!!?”
—–SIMULTANEOUSLY, JUST OUTSIDE THE MIXER—–
Sendo stood resolute in front of the bouncer, his gaze intense and unyielding as he faced the larger man.
“Shit… Kid, that ID’s fake, isn’t it? No 15-year-old hits like this…” The bouncer muttered, rubbing his chin, sizing Sendo up with a mix of respect and suspicion.
“Da fuck do I care!?! All I know is you ain’t gettin’ past me!” Sendo retorted defiantly. “I’m not trying to ‘get past you’ anymore, kid,” the bouncer began, his voice dropping to a menacing tone, “I’m going to fucking kill you, and then I’ll go after the other two escapists. Shit… Maybe I’ll only break your limbs and force you to watch your friends getting brutalized until they’re dead.” His threat was cold and brutal, fueled by rage.
“I ain’t one to go easy on someone just because they’re a kid,” the man declared as he launched a punch in Sendo’s direction.
‘It’s slower than Aniki’s punches…!!’
‘…But heavier!!!’ Sendo quickly assessed, realizing the critical need to dodge the powerful left aimed at his chest as he lunged forward.
Sendo parried with the metal bar, the clang of metal ringing sharply through the air, but the force staggered him back a few steps.
‘What da hell…!! It feels like I blocked a cannonball..!!’ Sendo grimaced as he clenched his teeth, feeling the weight of the hit reverberating through his arms and torso. Seizing the moment, the bouncer swung a heavy right hook, undeterred by the pain from hitting the bar.
‘F-fuck..!!!’ Sendo thought in alarm. “DIE, YOU FUCKING BRAT!!!” The bouncer yelled.
‘Move… My body…!! MOVE..!!!’ Sendo willed himself, straining to dodge as he stared at the fist flying toward him.
The punch grazed his cheek, sending a sharp sting across his face. ‘Dat would’ve broken my face..!’ Sendo realized, his survival instincts kicking in as he noticed the bouncer’s lower body exposed.
‘I can hit him there!!’
Regaining his footing, Sendo countered, sweeping the metal bar in a wide arc aimed at the bouncer’s legs. The bar connected with a sickening crack against the bouncer’s knee.
“GODDAMN IT, YOU FUCKIN’ KID!!!” The bouncer screamed, stumbling but not falling. ‘He ain’t going down from this..!!? I’m sure I cracked his knee!’ Sendo grimaced again.
Growling in anger and pain, the bouncer charged again, his movements more reckless this time. Another fist flew at Sendo, a raw expression of rage and desperation.
‘He’s slower now!!’ Sendo realized, seizing the opportunity for precision. He sidestepped the wild punch and brought the bar down hard across the bouncer’s forearm. “GRAHH!!” Sendo grunted.
The impact broke the bone with a clear, horrifying snap, causing the bouncer to howl and drop to one knee, clutching his injured arm.
‘Got him now… He’s got nothing left..’ Sendo thought, sensing victory. However, the bouncer was relentless. Ignoring the pain, he surged upward with surprising agility, landing a heavy blow to Sendo’s ribcage just as Sendo thought he had the upper hand.
“GARRRRRHHHHHHHHH!!!!”
Sendo coughed violently, the breath knocked out of him as the impact reverberated through his torso, a rib crackling under the sheer force. “Ha… ha…” Sendo wheezed, struggling to regain his breath. ‘What’s with this guy…!! He’s unlike anyone I’ve ever faced… He’s…’ As he caught his breath, Sendo gazed up at the towering bouncer, ‘Real strong!!’ With renewed vigor, Sendo swung the metal bar, but his movements were slowing, fatigue and pain gnawing at his strength.
“Heh… You’re getting that slow over a single punch, you shitty brat!!!?” The bouncer taunted, blocking the strike with his good arm. He snatched the bar from Sendo’s grasp, tossed it aside, and launched a brutal uppercut. “YOU’RE TOO FUCKING WEAK!!!” Sendo’s head snapped back, and he tasted blood.
‘Ah… What… What just happened… It’s all black…’ Sendo’s thoughts fuzzed as he momentarily lost consciousness, his legs buckling beneath him. He tumbled backward, beginning to fall to the ground. “I’M NOT DONE, FUCKER!!!” The bouncer bellowed, driving his fist deep into Sendo’s gut with a surge of adrenaline-fueled rage.
“Gah-ha…!” Sendo cried out, once more gasping for air that wouldn’t come. Sendo spat blood onto the cracked concrete, right outside the mixer, his body crumpling from the impact as he collapsed onto his back.
He coughed and gasped, clutching his abdomen. ‘I feel like my guts are torn up…!! I… I can’t breathe..!!’ He thought grimly, each cough bringing up more blood, the taste metallic and sharp in his mouth.
As Sendo’s vision blurred, each throb of his heartbeat echoed painfully in his head. He lay on the ground, writhing in agony, desperately trying to catch a breath that seemed to elude him. Above him, despite his own evident pain and broken limb, the bouncer loomed menacingly. His face was a twisted grimace of pain intermingled with anger. A cruel sneer formed on his lips as he grasped Sendo’s leg, positioning it precariously under his foot. He lifted his good leg, poised to deliver a crushing blow.
“It’s ONLY FAIR I TAKE BOTH OF YOUR LEGS NOW…!!!” the bouncer bellowed with savage intent. Sendo clenched his eyes shut, tensing every muscle as he braced for the excruciating impact he knew was imminent.
“Kendo, huh…?” A casual voice interrupted the tense moment. The bouncer paused his movement to turn around, curiosity and irritation mixing in his expression. There stood Minoru, nonchalantly picking his nose, appearing almost bored by the scene unfolding before him. His clothes were immaculate, in stark contrast to the violence of the situation.
Sendo slowly opened his eyes, confusion fleeting across his face as he saw Minoru standing behind the bouncer.
“You’re that scrawny brat that came with this fucker earlier, weren’t you!? How the fuck did you get out of there!!?” The bouncer bellowed, his foot still hovering threateningly over Sendo’s leg, though now slightly lowered as he diverted his attention.
Minoru glanced briefly at Sendo, his expression unreadable. “The way you breathe… Or, more like, can’t breathe… tension pneumothorax, is it now…? What a pain… This is why I hate kids… Except for Shiori,” he commented dryly to Sendo.
“By the sounds of it… Looks like I got a minute or so, huh…?” Minoru deduced calmly.
“Regarding your question,” Minoru continued, turning back to the bouncer with a casual, blank expression, “I just walked out. I can’t fly or teleport, last time I checked.” He sauntered over to the reception counter and picked up a first aid kit.
‘Alright… This will do nicely,’ he thought to himself, catching sight of a broomstick in the corner of his eye. With swift movements, he plucked out its brush, leaving himself with a long wooden stick.
‘This bastard… He acts like I ain’t even here!!?’ The bouncer fumed internally, his teeth clenched in mounting frustration.
Clutching the stick firmly in one hand and the first aid kit in the other, Minoru approached the bouncer, who now regarded him with a wary eye. “Punk, since this is probably the only time we’ll see each other, let me show you,” Minoru called out to the struggling Sendo, twirling the stick with practiced ease and a hint of mockery in his tone.
“…Just how embarrassing your Kendo was just now,” Minoru concluded, his voice thick with disdain as he casually advanced towards the bouncer.
“TOUGH TALK FOR A TWIG LIKE YOU!!!” The bouncer roared, charging at him with unrestrained fury.
‘Shit… Dat guy… He charges at him like I didn’t break anything…!!’ Sendo thought, his consciousness wavering as he struggled to draw breath, his efforts increasingly futile.
‘Da homeless dude’s in trouble!!’ Sendo worried.
But what he witnessed next left him utterly shocked.
‘Those moves… I… I just used them… But they’re… better…!’ Sendo marveled as he watched Minoru masterfully wield the stick. Each movement flowed seamlessly into the next, with no wasted motion. As the bouncer attempted to land a blow, Minoru deflected his herculean strength effortlessly, making the massive man’s efforts seem as light as feathers.
‘He a master…?’ Sendo thought, awestruck, as the stick in Minoru’s hands seemed to transform into a sharp blade with each precise maneuver.
Sendo’s thoughts blurred as he no longer had the strength to hold his head up, his vision dimming as it dropped to the ground, his lungs still desperately gasping for air.
“SHIT, SHIT…!!! YOU FUCKER…!!!” The bouncer bellowed in frustration, lunging forward with all his might, every muscle screaming in agony.
“Yeah, sounds about right… The only thing a brute like you could do right now is scream… So scream,” Minoru taunted, his voice cold as he struck the bouncer’s windpipe with a swift, surgical precision.
“…Until I’ll take that as well,” he concluded, his tone chilling as he nonchalantly tossed the stick aside and walked over to Sendo.
Seconds later, the bouncer’s body hit the floor with a heavy thud that reverberated throughout the establishment, marking the end of the confrontation.
Minoru knelt beside Sendo, who was still gasping for air, struggling with each breath. He briefly placed his ear against Sendo’s chest, his expression focused.
“Hm… This one, huh?” Minoru murmured, identifying the second intercostal space on the left side of Sendo’s chest where he detected diminished breath sounds.
“Alright… Stay still, Punk. This is going to sting,” he warned casually, opening the first-aid kit. He sifted through its contents with calm precision, searching for a 14-gauge needle—a critical component for what he needed to do next.
Finding the needle, Minoru prepared it with a practiced ease, positioning it precisely between Sendo’s ribs after ripping open his shirt. With a swift, assured motion, he pierced the pleural space, allowing the trapped air to escape with a faint hiss, providing immediate relief from the tension pneumothorax.
“There, you should start feeling better soon. I’ll call you an ambulance, and—” Minoru began, turning to walk away when suddenly Sendo clutched his arm.
‘He’s still a kid after all… How bothersome. Am I going to have to reassure him now…?’ Minoru thought with a resigned sigh as he turned back to face Sendo.
[SELIN SORAL – ETHEREAL]
To his surprise, Sendo was smiling—an enthusiastic, warm, and awestruck smile, despite the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and the evident ache in his battered body.
“H-hey… Dude… Join…”
“Ma’… Kendo… Club…” Sendo managed to say before his eyes fluttered shut, his consciousness slipping away.
Minoru stared at him, slightly stunned, feeling the grip on his arm loosen.
“Hah.” Minoru let out a single chuckle.
“As if, you stupid idiot.” He muttered, watching the smile spread further across Sendo’s face as he drifted into unconsciousness.
“It’s a rarity,” a calm voice called from outside the mixer.
Minoru’s head snapped up in full alert, scanning for the source of the voice.
“…Seeing you smile for real, Minoru.”
Minoru’s mouth fell open, his expression one of shock.
“Mr…”
“Kurose…!!? Kurose… You’re Kurose Seichiro, right!!?” he exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief and urgency.
“…Big… Bro…?” Sakura’s voice was faint, her vision blurred, her body overheated, and her breaths came in short gasps as she tried to focus on Minoru, who faced her with an indifferent expression.
Konro & Gon: “BIG BRO!?” Their astonishment echoed in unison as they turned to Minoru, who seemed to disregard their shock.
‘Hold up, what just went down?! That guy slipped in unnoticed, and just like that, the smoker’s on the floor, and he’s stepping in!? Calling those Black Letter thugs ‘Senpais’!? And he’s Takagi’s brother?! What’s even happening…?!’ Konro’s mind was a whirlwind of confusion.
“Didn’t catch that, Sakura? Time to head home. Get off your ass, and let’s go,” Minoru stated plainly, drawing the attention of everyone in the room, even the other girls paused to watch.
“I… don’t wanna… I need… Come closer… Let me touch you…” Sakura slurred, a weak smile on her lips as she reached out to Minoru from the couch.
Minoru grimaced in disdain, “Tsch, look at you – all drugged up and trashed. You’ve wrecked my whole night…” he muttered, frustration evident as he rubbed his face.
“Hey, kid, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you’re way out of your league here,” one of the men warned, stepping towards Minoru from behind, while the smoker struggled back to his feet.
‘This guy… He just called us ‘Senpais’… No way, right…?’ The thought hung heavily in the smoker’s mind as he rejoined his group.
“And who might you be? Little man thinks he can meddle in this? Not your place, even if she is your sister… She’s not in her right mind to care…” another voice sneered.
“Listen, here’s an idea. Why don’t you join us instead? We’ve got a warm welcome just for you…” another voice offered, its malice thinly veiled.
“Ah, shut it… I’ve had enough of this,” Minoru snapped, cutting off Konro’s plea with a wave of his hand, visibly exasperated.
‘What!?’ Konro thought, startled.
“Look at you, pricks. I take it she came with you, right!? Dating girls? Drinking Booze? Enjoying your youth?” Minoru called in frustration as he snapped to Konro and Gon, “Having fun on other people’s expense!!? COULDN’T YOU HAVE TAKEN HER TO AN ICE-CREAM RESTAURANT OR SOMETHING!!!? YOU HAD TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO SCREW *ME* OVER TONIGHT!!? HUUUH!!!?”
Minoru yelled as he pinned his face close to the two. Both were startled.
“H-HEY!!! I DON’T CARE IF YOU’RE TAKAGI-CHAN’S BRO, THERE’S A LIMIT TO HOW YOU ACCUSE PEOPLE LIKE A PIECE OF SHIT FOR NO REASON!!! WE JUST WANTED TO HANG OUT AND—” Gon snapped, yelling back.
Immediately, Minoru head-butted Gon, knocking him down instantly.
“Your breath smells like ASS TO BOOT!!! The world really IS AGAINST ME TONIGHT…!!!” Minoru said as he immediately recovered, while Konro stood shocked in place.
Gon shook his head, “Why’d you do that for, you FUCK!!!?” He shouted as he rubbed his aching head.
‘W-What… What is this guy ON about…!? Can’t he read the mood!!? This situation… Is too dangerous for messing around!!’ Konro thought.
Minoru looked at Gon, his eyebrow a bit arched, “Hoo? I hit you with the intent of sending you to the nightmare zone, but you’re still up… Next time, I’ll hit you trying to kill you!”
‘Hm… Those INK boys are kinda strong, I suppose…’ Minoru thought to himself.
‘…What’s with this brat? The way he acts creeps me the fuck out… Like we’re not even here,’ the smoker mused, resignation etched across his face. As he reached into his other pocket, his fingers came away dusted with a white, ash-like substance.
‘Gotta be careful with this one… Just puff it out… I didn’t want to use it like this, but I have a bad feeling about this kid,’ he thought to himself, sneaking behind his group to rub the white ash onto the burning end of his cigarette.
Minoru sighed and ran a hand through his hair, muttering, “Whatever…” He turned to see Sakura still extending her hands towards him.
He knelt down, effortlessly lifting her onto his shoulders.
“Big bro…?” Sakura’s weak voice came from above him.
Minoru scanned the surroundings. “I’ll be going now. You all can do whatever you want,” he called out nonchalantly.
‘Is he just going to leave us here!!?’ Konro panicked, watching Minoru stride towards the exit with Sakura.
“I don’t wanna leave…..” Sakura mumbled with a pout,
Blocking their path, two men stood firmly in front of the exit.
“Hey, move,” Minoru called, his voice confident.
The two thugs exchanged glances before returning their gaze to Minoru, resolute in holding their ground.
Minoru closed his eyes, inhaled deeply…
…And as his eyes snapped open, a palpable chill coursed through the room.
“Catch,” he said coolly, spinning to face Konro and Gon.
Caught off-guard, Gon instinctively reached out his hands and caught Sakura, who Minoru had deftly thrown.
“WuhaghA!!” Gon exclaimed, nearly staggering under her weight.
The thugs at the door stared in astonishment.
“What the hell!?” they shouted, having missed the moment Minoru effortlessly tossed the girl from his shoulders.
But they had no time to react further; their heads were suddenly clashing together with brutal force. They crumpled to the ground like felled trees, unconscious.
“Black Letter? You guys? Give me a break… Black Letters…!!” Minoru taunted as two more thugs charged at him, fists flying.
Yet, as if by some unseen force, their own punches collided with each other’s faces, knocking them out cold. They dropped to the floor, lost in the depths of unconsciousness.
“…Aren’t so damn weak!” Minoru declared, striding past them with an air of invincibility.
‘What is this…!? I didn’t see him make a move at all!!’ thought the smoker, ducking behind the remaining two thugs.
“Four… four guys… In a single instant…!!” Konro murmured, disbelief etching his features.
“Hey,” Minoru called out sharply, turning back to Konro and Gon.
“Y-YES!!?” they responded together, jolted by his tone.
“Take her and get out of here. I’ve got to have a chat with my ‘senpais’,” Minoru instructed, his tone brooking no argument.
“Y-yes, sir..!!” Gon complied quickly, dashing outside with Sakura in his arms.
Meanwhile, Konro helped the other two girls to their feet and hurried them out, with Minoru guarding their retreat against the smoker and his remaining associates.
‘This aura… There’s no doubt about it… This kid is actually from Black Letter…’ the smoker thought, eyeing Minoru with a shiver of fear creeping down his spine.
“Well? Care to explain to me, dear ‘senpais’, what you were doing with my sister?” Minoru demanded, his tone icy.
Meanwhile, Konro and Gon dashed outside, slipping past the bouncer with ease.
“W-what!!? Sendo-kun!?” Gon exclaimed in surprise, recognizing Sendo.
Sendo jumped, his eyes widening with relief as he saw them all.
“Aaah! You guys…! And… Takagi-senpai!?! Miki-senpai and Sumi-senpai!!? What’s wrong with dem!?” Sendo cried out, noticing Sakura’s and the other girls’ near-unconscious state.
“N-no time to explain! We need to get them to safety, Sendo-kun! There are some bad people in there!” Konro urged, his voice tinged with worry.
“What…? But those older guys seemed so nice…” one of the girls complained, clearly frustrated.
“We… didn’t really need to leave… Yukie-senpai…” Sakura murmured weakly.
“What’s wrong with dem!?” Sendo asked, alarmed by their disoriented behavior. “Are dey drunk or somethin’?!”
“N-no time to explain! We need to get out of—”
“Hold it right there…” the bouncer interjected, sprinting forward to block Konro and Gon’s escape.
“What…?! You ASSFUCK!! MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!!” Gon screamed in defiance.
The bouncer adjusted his tie calmly. “I can’t do that, kid. I don’t know how or why they let you get away, but you’re not getting past me,” he warned.
‘Fuck… He’s one of them…! We can’t fight while protecting these three…’ Konro thought, sweat beading on his forehead.
“Hey,” Sendo called out from behind the bouncer.
“Hm..? What do you want, ki—” the bouncer started to ask, but he felt a hand on his shoulder, followed by a hard punch that sent him tumbling sideways.
“MOVE, YE’ GUYS! I’LL DEAL WITH DIS GUY!!” Sendo yelled.
“R-right..!!” Konro shouted, and both he and Gon quickly left the mixer while Sendo stayed behind to handle the bouncer.
‘Fuck… I thought he was just a kid… No kid hits THIS hard…!!!’ the bouncer thought to himself as he picked himself up and faced Sendo.
“I don’t really understand what’s happenin’,” Sendo said, picking up a metal bar and wielding it like a shinai, aiming it at the bouncer.
“But ye’ messed with da wrong guys, fucker!” Sendo declared, assuming a battle stance.
“A-n-y-w-a-y… Saku-chun, considering I lent you my phone, I think it’s only reasonable to ask for a small favor in return~…” Shiyon proposed as the minivan wove through the scenic route toward Atami’s Onsen Resort.
“And that would be…?” Yuuto prompted, his curiosity piqued as he leaned in from his perch by the window.
“Just a bit of friendly sharing~,” Shiyon responded with a mischievous grin, crafting an air of innocence, “A minor exchange among pals <3.”
“Which involves…?” Yuuto pressed, signaling Shiyon to cut to the chase.
“Ara~! Not denying our friendship, I see,” Shiyon teased, a glint of amusement in his eye. “Tsk, out with it, Harvester.” Yuuto urged, a mix of exasperation and casualness in his tone. The minivan was momentarily filled with the sound of a soft whistle from the front.
Hiyori observed, “You know… He’s seemed much more subdued since that conversation with Takacchi… Quite the change.”
Shun nodded, “Yeah, he’s been quieter. Guess he’s still feeling guilty about the whole thing with Takagi…”
Hiyori, visibly perplexed, countered, “Why act like it’s a negative? He’s far more bearable this way. As long as Takacchi’s okay, I’m gonna thank her once we return,”
Sato interjected with a chuckle, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves… Whatever things were said outside the minivan were between them,”
‘That bridge troll doesn’t even try to hide her voice,’ Yuuto thought. His focus momentarily diverted before it snapped back to Shiyon who was eagerly awaiting his query. “So, what I’m curious about is… Saku-chun, where did you go to school? Before you came to our humble INK?”
‘Humble, he says,’ Yuuto, Hiyori, Sato, Shun, and Chiyoko thought to themselves, Shiyon’s question resonated through the minivan, turning heads. Shun mused, “Huh, never thought to ask him that.”
Hiyori scoffed, “Does it matter? I feel as if pretty much any place would flunk that guy twice.” Chiyoko, concerned, queried, “Was it somewhere… problematic?” Sato reassured with a smile, “No need to worry, Chiyo. Sakurai-senpai’s past or where he came from doesn’t define him. Right?” Chiyoko, still puzzled, accepted, “I suppose…” Hiyori shrugged off her curiosity, “Eh, doesn’t really matter to me.”
After a small sigh, thinking ‘Oh well,’ to himself, Yuuto then disclosed, albeit reluctantly, “…Blue Envelope Private School,”
Shiyon pondered aloud, intrigued, “Hooo…?”
Hiyori jumped in, “Wait, I know that place. Isn’t it just a fancy school for snobs? Sakurai, that’s too much of an obvious lie. No way you actually came from those elitists,”
“Oh? You wanna compare grades, mountain yeti?” Yuuto snapped back, quick and sharp. “What!? You really wanna show off how much you suck…!?” Hiyori bit back, her tone a mix of amusement and challenge.
“Ah… Haha…” Shun awkwardly chimed in, drawing the group’s attention, Shiyon excluded. “Actually, uh… Sakurai kinda saved me and Riko more than once with his notes for tests when we were clueless… And, uh, I never really outscored him, so…” Shun admitted, scratching his head. “So yeah, him being from there isn’t that weird,”
” ‘We‘?” Yuuto interjected, catching Shun off guard, “Wrong, cuck. It was just you scrambling for notes. Cuckold-maker did fine, pretty much on par with me. You were the only D-Lister among us.”
“Y-you didn’t have to put it that way… And, I mean, Riko and I always hit the books together, so it’s kinda like we both needed your notes…”
“S-Seriously…?!” Hiyori blurted out, taken aback by the revelation of Yuuto’s hidden smarts. In the midst of the lively exchange, Shiyon found himself silently watching Yuuto, taking in what he revealed with a thoughtful gaze. After a moment, he let out a sigh, a shrug lifting his shoulders before he relaxed back into his seat, resigning himself to the observer’s role once again.
As the energy in the minivan simmered down and everyone found their calm, Yuuto turned his attention back to the window, letting his gaze drift over the night landscape passing by. ‘…It’s not like I have to tell them the truth anyway,’ he mused to himself, his fist clenching his silence.
Meanwhile…
“The 46th of Water-Bottle Street… We made it, this is the mixer!” Minoru exclaimed with a mix of relief and excitement as they arrived at the entrance of the venue. “Sweet! Maybe I’ll finally catch up with my senpai here too,” Sendo replied, his voice filled with hope.
As they approached the door, with the scary-looking bouncer, Minoru executed his secretly-thought plan.
“Just so you know, this guy with me is actually 15. He can’t come in,” Minoru casually mentioned to the bouncer.
“W-What..?! Dude, why’d you do dat!?” Sendo protested, taken aback as the bouncer immediately blocked his path, asking for identification.
“That’s for laying your hands on me earlier. Honestly, I’m not here for you or your senpai. I just wanted to head home early. You helped me do just that, so, that’s good I guess. I honestly don’t give a rat’s ass about you or your situation though,” Minoru confessed, his gaze cold. “Yah, here ya’ go, sir,” Sendo said politely, showed his ID to the bouncer, who confirmed his underage status.
“H-HEY!! LISTEN TO ME!!” Minoru shouted, his cold expression breaking as he was trying to grab Sendo’s attention, which was firmly locked on the bouncer.
“Sorry, kid, you’re too young for this place. We only allow 16 and up, even if you’re not here for the alcohol,” the bouncer informed Sendo, handing back his ID with a firm tone. “Ahhh damn it…” Sendo said to the mixer with a pout, before turning to Minoru, “My bad, didn’t catch it. But looks like I’m stuck outside now, huh? What should I do?” Sendo lamented, stranded at the entrance as he faced Minoru again.
Minoru sighed deeply, his frustration fading to resignation. “…To be honest, I believed you being just 15 after a bit… And… I was starting to get used to you. Thought you were just another troublemaker scumbag at first.. Well, I was wrong. Good for you. But this is where we part ways. I’m here for someone specific, see that they’re doing okay and dip home. You’re not a terrible guy, really (Despite how you look like an NTR antagonist). Hope you manage to find your senpai or whatever you’re looking for…” Minoru said as he waved Sendo goodbye as he walked in.
“H-HEY!! What about dat mafioso boss!!!? Don’t just leave; let me help ya’ out!!” Sendo called out, his voice booming past the bouncer, full of determination. ‘This kid… He actually bought that nonsense of a story..? How gullible can someone get…’ Minoru thought, a mix of amusement and disbelief flashing across his face as he glanced back at Sendo.
“There’s no mafioso boss-…” Minoru began, his intent to dispel the lie clear, but he paused, catching the sincere concern in Sendo’s eyes. “…I’ll handle it on my own. It’s my problem, not yours. Just… Uh… Don’t die, alright? And apologize to that waitress for me, would you?” he finished, a hint of genuine feeling sneaking into his voice.
‘Tsch… Why did I even entertain that story… That bastard’s just too honest…’ Minoru pondered, a trace of irritation in his thoughts as he made his way into the mixer joint, leaving Sendo behind, now left to figure out his next steps on his own.
‘…You just can’t survive doing that all the time…’
Inside the mixer room…
Sakura loomed just above him, the room awash with an eerie nonchalance, punctuated only by Gon’s shattered self-esteem and the background noise of their companions’ moans as they were being played with by Yuuno’s associates.
‘I’ve… Never really looked at her closely before, but… wow… she’s pretty,’ Konro found himself thinking as Sakura’s breath warmed his face, her eyes seemingly sparkling with desire.
‘What… What were we even arguing about…?’ His mind scrambled to remember his initial reservations. The worry that she might be affected by something faded, replaced by a growing sense of desire and bewilderment as he got lost in Sakura’s eyes.
‘So, this is what he meant… Power…? But, is power… is it wrong to feel this way…?’ He pondered, speechless as he gazed up at her.
“Y-Yukie… Senpai..” She whispered again, her voice soft. “W-what..?” His reply was just as hushed, his voice trembling. “This is… strange… I- I think… Something’s not right…” Her words were fragmented, barely making sense.
Sakura: ‘What’s happening to me…? My thoughts… they’re all over the place since that smoke… And yet…’ Her attention drifted to Miki and the others, their interactions with Yuuno’s group leaving her breathless and confused.
As she watched, her breathing became labored, her mind a whirlpool of disjointed thoughts as she squeezed her thighs shut, a certain feeling building up in her lower torso as her sight filled with Miki and her friend’s pleasure, the sound of their moans and the scent of that tobacco. ‘I’m… s-scared… It feels like I’m slipping away…? But… somehow, it seems… inviting…’ Her thoughts were in turmoil as she observed, torn between fear… And lust.
Her focus then shifted back to Konro, underneath her, looking up in astonishment. ‘Actually… I never really considered Yukie-san that way before… But now… He doesn’t seem so bad… This might be okay… Right…? It’s not as if… I’m with someone…’ Her thoughts trailed off, her eyelids growing heavy as she leaned closer to him, the last thing she saw being Konro’s stunned expression, before their faces drew nearer.
‘She’s not herself… Something’s wrong… I’m aware of that, yet… Isn’t this okay for now…? They’re just Yuuno’s friends… We’re in no danger… Maybe it’s okay to relax a bit… Like that guy said, right…?’
Konro reasoned with himself, his eyes gently closing as Sakura’s face hovered closer. Their lips were barely a breath apart as he wrapped his arms around her waist. ‘Hugging someone like that… Feels so nice…’
——FLASHBACK——
I was a scumbag.
Konro: “We’re doing whatever we WANT, got it?”
“W-Why!? I wasn’t bothering anyone! On.. What right do you-” The student protested, his voice shaky from pain, bruises marring his skin and blood trickling from his lip as he slumped on the ground, utterly overpowered.
“What right? The right of being stronger. Got an issue? Stand up to me. Or maybe go snitch to your mom, rather than just our pathetic teachers next time. Oh, that’s right, she’s like, super dead, isn’t she? Want a lift to her grave?”
Empathy wasn’t my strong suit, especially not at INK. My world revolved solely around my circle, and I couldn’t care less about anyone else’s suffering. I only minded my own pleasure and fun. INK was that sort of place, where apathy thrived.
Konro: “What’s the matter? Surprised, are you? This is what you get for keeping someone so fucking hot like her all to yourself,” he boasted, the girl clinging to his side, casting her gaze downward in resignation, while her ex-boyfriend stared in disbelief.
“Please… you said you wouldn’t hurt him… Let’s just go…?” she barely whispered, unable to meet her ex’s eyes.
Konro: “Oh, come on, you’re better off now without that limpdick. Admit it, you’re relieved to be rid of him, right? Unlike him, I’m not afraid to show you off. I can be the protection he never was.”
Maybe I was already a deadbeat bastard before I went to school, like my dad… But INK nurtured a culture of taking—be it possessions or people. And I kept going along with it. …Because I just kept getting what I wanted.
And it felt good.
Every time I think about what I did back then, I can’t help but laugh my ass off at my younger self. We were just kids… Having a girlfriend or taking something that wasn’t yours, for a kid, was more about clout than anything sexual or because you actually needed it. It was a status symbol, proof of your popularity, your capability…
…Your strength.
So yeah, I get what the guy in the mixer is saying. I might have even agreed if I was that same kid…
But then, HE showed me something.
“A-ANIKI!!! WHY!? I didn’t make her do anything she didn’t want to!” Konro burst out, confused and upset.
Shiyon: “Kon-chun, we’ve moved past that life. Right now, the best thing is for you two to part ways,” he stated plainly.
“Why? I can look after her! Why can’t I be with her!!? With that limpdick of a boyfriend of hers, she was practically ripe for the taking!”
“Kon-chun, truly strong people don’t ‘take’ because they don’t need to. Strength isn’t about claiming someone as if they’re a prize.”
Konro frowned, yet still willing ot hear out Shiyon. “To be strong is to protect, not possess. It’s about making the hard choices that uplift others. That’s real strength,” Shiyon concluded, “But… Why!? That way, you’re not getting anything for yourself if you do that!! You’ll just be left swimming in shit while everyone step on you!” Konro argued.
“Hehe~… I’ll promise you this. If you do what is right and ‘good’, chances are you will attain something much better than whatever you’ll receive if you just do what you want,” Shiyon said with a smile.
“…”
At first, I pegged him as full of crap. Figured Sendo-kun just messed with his brain and turned our leader into a total pushover. Not keen on getting a lecture or my ass kicked, I did as he said – broke it off with her, told her she could crawl back to her boyfriend. Just like he wanted, I stayed clear of them, even played their guardian angel when things got rough and others wanted a piece of her or him.
I was on my last straw. For two months, I was fed up with Aniki, thinking he’d turned into a complete softie. I was choking on my own frustration, itching to lay into that wimp of a boyfriend, to snatch whatever caught my eye once more, and just making an effort into keeping it a secret. Because after all that time, it seemed like Aniki’s spiel was just bullshit from some kids’ storybook.
“H-here…” She offered, a bit awkward, holding out a single chocolate from a box crammed with them.
“…? What’s this for? I didn’t ask for any damn chocolate. Just bugger off back to your boyfriend…” I scoffed, not hiding my annoyance.
“I know you didn’t ask… This is just… my way of saying thanks.”
“…Thanks for what?” I asked, feeling the weight of the chocolate in my hand. “For leaving us be… And not just that, you even kept the others at bay… That was… kind of you. So… thanks,” she said before turning to leave.
“…Thanks…?” I echoed, staring at the chocolate, completely thrown.
“Kind…? Me?”
I wasn’t really into her, not even after what she did. But… that was the first time anyone gave me chocolate. The taste was bitter, probably because it was dark chocolate. She was a diet nut, after all. Yet… It was tastier than everything I ever ate…
I locked myself in the bathroom and just cried, holding the chocolate wrap tightly in my hand. Once I pulled myself together… I got a glimpse of what Aniki was getting at. Doing the right thing, holding back… There’s a chance it will never pay off…
…And that’s exactly why it means everything when it finally does pay off.
That’s when I decided…
To be truly strong…
Just like Aniki! ———————- Just as Sakura’s lips were about to meet Konro’s, he pulled away, gently guiding her head to rest against his chest instead.
With his own head tilted back, he caught a glimpse of Gon sitting close by, his posture slumped, a look of utter defeat etched across his face.
Konro let out a sigh, his expression a mix of resolve and confusion, as he addressed Gon. “Hey, Gon. Don’t you die on me now. The girls are obviously on drugs, made by these pricks. It’s time we teach these assholes a lesson for messing with our mates. Aniki will kick our asses if we didn’t beat these fuckers up,” he said, his voice steady and determined.
“What…?” The smoker reacted, taken aback by Konro’s sudden shift in attitude. Gon’s breath caught as Konro’s assertive voice reached him, his gaze fixed on the ground.
Lifting his head, Gon met Konro’s stare, seeing the unmistakable gleam of confidence in his best friend’s eyes. “…Dumbass!!! I was just waiting for you to come to your senses already!! As INK’s second in command…!!” Gon exclaimed, a glimmer of hope returning to his eyes. With renewed vigor, he launched his fist, connecting with one of Yuuno’s associates, “…I need my FUCKING subordinates SHARP!!!” He roared, as he flew over to the other couch of the mixer. All their eyes turning to them, stopping their actions on the girls that came with them,
“Haha, sure thing, buddy…” Konro replied, letting out a sigh as he carefully moved Sakura aside. “H-huh…?” Sakura’s voice was faint, confusion laced with dizziness as she gently slid from Konro’s embrace onto the couch.
“Sorry, Takagi. Just hang on a little longer. We’re going to get everyone home safe,” he whispered, offering her a reassuring look before rising to his feet to stand shoulder to shoulder with Gon.
“Time to teach these fuckdicks a lesson! They’re about to find out what happens when you mess with INK!” Gon declared, his determination palpable as he adopted a fighting stance, ready to defend their own.
The men burst into laughter, unfazed and relaxed despite the tension. Konro and Gon were on edge, the atmosphere charged with a foreboding sense of unease. The man Gon had hit just stood up, brushing off the impact with a chuckle, “Shit… That surprised me…” he commented, casually rubbing his cheek as he got back on his feet, leaving Gon astounded. “W-what!!? I hit that ASSFUCK as hard as I could!!” Gon blurted out, disbelief etching his voice.
“…So, that’s the choice you made, Yukie?” The man queried, extinguishing his cigarette while eyeing the duo with a calm demeanor. “Yeah… I forgot I made that choice a few years ago, so I’ll need to beat myself up when we get out of here. With a whip.”
“…I’ll help, fucker.” Gon offered, his sincerity unmistakable.
“Oi,” Konro uttered, a resigned expression crossing his face as he briefly met Gon’s gaze. “Haaah… And here I thought I saw something special in ya’. Oh well,” the man remarked, as all the thugs stood ready to confront them.
“We can’t really let you go if you’re so against my… Suggestion,” the man ominously stated, with two of his men already moving to block the door.
“Don’t worry. We also have something for guys… You’ll definitely forget everything that happened here… I hope for you that will be all that happens to you after that, though,” he added, with a sinister undertone as the others sneered in anticipation.
They began to close in,
“Why are you doing this!? Aren’t you Aniki’s bro’s friends!!?” Konro yelled, his defiance peaking. “…Heh. That guy… Doesn’t have anything to do with us. Just a little snot who calls himself our chum. Thinks himself on our level. He’s amusing, so we let him clown around amongst us,” the smoker revealed with confidence.
‘So, they’re not related…!?’ Konro’s mind raced as he scanned the encroaching men. “Now, then, INK – huh? They’re the last four years’ King of all schools, right? With Shiyon Michaels, “The Samurai” As their boss, who never lost a fight, tears through every school boss like they were paper in front of a sharp sword.” The smoker boasted, “SCARED!!!? That’s too late for you DICK FUCKS!! WE’RE THE SECOND AND THIRD IN COMMAND AFTER ANIKI, ANIKI’S BRO AND SENDO-KUN!! YOU STAND NO CHANCE!!” Gon shouted, defiance blazing in his eyes.
‘That’s barely even threatening… But… Even I can say…’ ‘…We’re pretty strong.’ Konro’s thoughts solidified, his resolve hardening as they stood united. “Hm…” The man exhaled, casting his gaze upwards as if in contemplation, a momentary pause in the charged atmosphere. “…I suppose, to the other kids, and even some grown-ups, you two might seem pretty intimidating…”
His words trailed off as he brought his attention back down, locking eyes with Konro and Gon once more, his demeanor shifting back to one of nonchalance. “But the place we graduated from was…”
“Black Letter.”
As the words “Black Letter” sliced through the tension-filled air, a palpable shroud of dread descended upon Konro and Gon.
————— “Listen up, you guys,” Shiyon said, his gaze sharpening, his voice dropping to a serious, compelling tone.
“Above all, steer clear of Black Letter.“
Konro and Gon couldn’t contain their laughter. “Ease up, Aniki! We’re solid with our school’s new code! You don’t have to spook us with some campfire ghost story.” Gon said, trying to lighten the mood, while Konro nodded in agreement, his grin echoing his friend’s sentiment. “Yeah, maybe ditch the fairy tale stuff for something real—” Konro began, but Shiyon wasn’t having any of it. His voice surged, slicing through the air.
“I’M DEAD SERIOUS,” Shiyon insisted, the sheer force in his gaze quenching their laughter. They fell silent, suddenly aware of the seriousness Shiyon was bringing to the table, and paid close attention to what he had to say next.
“If you ever find yourselves at a crossroad, ignore everything I’ve taught you if it means steering clear of Black Letter. Leave it all behind. It’s that critical. Do you understand?” He urged, holding their shoulders with a firm, unyielding grip, his eyes conveying a deep, almost panicked concern,
“Those stories you’ve been dismissing—about their involvement in a governor’s assassination, their takeover of a military base, their ability to control minds and manipulate bodies from afar, reducing people to mere shells of themselves, turning the closest of friends into sworn enemies, mastering combat in all its forms, and driving individuals to commit filicide…”
“…Are all true.”
Back then, Gon and I, thinking Aniki was overdoing his usual scare tactics, simply nodded along. We always took his lessons to heart, assuming this was another extreme method to instill discipline.
But witnessing the girls’ behavior tonight, and hearing those ominous words about having something “for guys too”…
Shit…
I think this is the real deal…
What hell have we got into…? Do we run, and ditch the girls like he said…!? As Konro and Gon stood cornered, fists clenched, the tension spiked with the encroaching menace of their opponents.
‘Is this how it ends…?’ Konro’s mind raced, bracing for the inevitable clash as the adversaries drew menacingly close.
Suddenly, a detached voice sliced through the tension, emanating from behind the smoker.
“Black Letter graduates, huh?” The words floated with an effortless coolness. The smoker’s confidence faltered, his eyes wide with disbelief, as he spun around in alarm.
“…So, does that mean I should start calling you guys ‘Senpais’?” The voice continued, tinged with mocking humor. Before the man could process the newcomer’s face, he found himself unceremoniously sprawled on the floor, bewildered by his sudden downfall.
‘Did I… trip?’ His mind scrambled for an explanation as he caught sight of a figure with silver hair gliding past him and his companions…
…and past Konro and Gon, straight to Sakura – who laid dizzy on the mixer’s sofa. “Hey, Sakura. Time to head home,” Minoru declared, his tone both assured and nonchalant, as if the tense standoff around him was nothing but a mild inconvenience.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the city’s lights dwindled to mere specks through the minivan’s windows, marking their departure from the urban expanse. Just moments before, Yuuto had made a call, his voice clear and unguarded for all within the vehicle to hear.
The subject of his call was unmistakable: he had enlisted Sendo’s aid to check on Sakura’s wellbeing. After the call, the phone was passed back to Shiyon, and a hush fell over the group once again.
“Uh… Sakurai, why do you think Takagi-san decided to go to a mixer? I doubt she’d go with that guy for anything. She seemed super uncomfortable around him, too. She said to us on the way to her house she really didn’t want to go,” Shun ventured to ask, his tone showing his hesitation.
Yuuto’s response was nonchalant.
“I’ve analyzed her behavior for a while, crafting a psychological profile. Based on that, I can predict her likely actions,” he stated matter-of-factly.
“Come on, now… Can you give me a straight answer?” Shun pressed, his patience waning. “…It’s because she’s upset. Anger makes people do irrational things,” Yuuto admitted, his tone shifting to a more serious note.
Shun fell silent, unsure of what to reply – as he recalls Sakura’s emotional reactions as she and Yuuto spoke outside the minivan.
Hiyor: ‘Hoh…? Sounds like he knows her enough to know she’d do that…’
Shiyon observed Yuuto with a serene attentiveness.
“Hmm… Sakuran-chun isn’t one to easily lose her cool. She approaches situations with logic. If someone’s hitting on her, she gets what’s happening fairly quick and responds accordingly, either by going along, or declining. If someone comes at her shouting and yelling, she recognizes the need to either disregard them or assert herself. Ultimately, she understands that anger is counterproductive.”
Yuuto found himself nodding internally at Shiyon’s assessment, a hint of surprise lifting his eyebrows. ‘That’s quite an accurate observation…’
“Huh, seems like you know her pretty well, Shiyon-san!” Sato remarked, clearly impressed. “I make it my business to understand my juniors <3. Like how you’re not fond of being recorded unexpectedly…” Shiyon returned with a playful yet insightful smile.
“Ha..ha… Really now…?” Sato managed, his laughter strained, while Hiyori’s expression darkened slightly.
“That’s… A bit too much, Shioycchi,” Hiyori interjected.
Chiyoko, observing the interplay, looked puzzled at the varied responses. Yuuto’s attention sharpened as he picked up on Hiyori and Sato’s discomfort. “Ah, I was just responding to what you mentioned earlier, Sato-chun <3. Didn’t mean to stir anything,” Shiyon reassured, her voice as calm as ever.
“Haha.. Sure, I… I know you didn’t, Shiyon-san..” Sato replied, trying to laugh it off while awkwardly scratching his head.
“Anyway… Taka-chun isn’t one to lose her cool, not unless someone pulls something completely illogical. Like, imagine a friend suddenly giving her the cold shoulder for no good reason. Or…” “… Someone tossing her own ‘thank you’ right back in her face like it meant nothing <3.” Shiyon concluded.
Yuuto, lost in thought, frowned as he caught his own reflection in the window, contemplating Shiyon’s words.
“Either way, when we’re back from this trip, just make sure to lay it all out straight. If you’re upfront about what’s going on in your head and the logic behind it, Taka-chun will get it, and any upset will blow over.”
At that, Yuuto’s hand gave a slight twitch.
“I’m not one of your projects, Harvester. I just needed to borrow your phone, nothing more. So back off,” he shot back, a sharp edge to his voice. “Hey, Sakurai, chill the hell out! Shiyocchi was just giving you some advice!” Hiyori’s voice cut through the tension, loud and clear.
“What, you’re defending him now? Quit sticking your nose in, Bigfoot. If you’re so desperate for answers, why don’t you go hassle Sakura yourself?” Yuuto fired back with undisguised contempt.
“That attitude of yours really pisses me the hell off, Sakurai. First, you make this big dramatic exit to ‘save’ her, apparently we learn you are on a first-name basis with her and then what, you talk for five seconds and she’s more pissed off than I’ve ever seen her?? Did it ever occur to you that people would start asking questions?! I’m her friend, for crying out loud!” Hiyori’s frustration was palpable as she spun around in her seat to face him.
“You’re her friend? Great. Then message HER if you’re so concerned. Check up on her, make her tell you everything and leave me out of it,” Yuuto countered sharply.
“That’s…!!” Hiyori began, her voice trailing off as she looked away, her expression clouded with worry.
Noticing Hiyori’s troubled look, Chiyoko turned towards her, concern etched on her face. “Hiyori-senpai…? What’s wrong?” she asked gently.
“I… I already messaged her. She hasn’t replied. She hasn’t even seen my messages. I tried calling, too. No answer…” Hiyori’s voice was barely above a whisper, her concern growing with each word.
Yuuto remained silent, offering no reply.
“Damn… You don’t think that guy…” Shun began, his voice trailing off as he sensed the heavy atmosphere enveloping them. A tense silence took over, everyone lost in their thoughts. Sato then glanced around, noticing the unease.
“Hey, everyone, wait a minute! If she’s at a mixer, maybe she just can’t hear her phone! Let’s not freak out just yet…” Sato suggested, hoping to lighten the mood. But the silence persisted, thick with unspoken fears and questions. Then, Shiyon’s demeanor changed; a confident smile played on his lips.
“Don’t worry, everyone,” he said, capturing their attention.
“She’ll be alright, trust me <3” Shiyon continued, his smile unwavering. “After all, Sen-chun’s on his way to check on her. And while he might not be the strategist of the year…”
“…He’s more than capable <3. He’ll find her soon, and I’m sure we’ll get an update that everything’s okay before we know it~” Shiyon concluded, his assurance infectious, his confidence in his junior clear and steadfast.
“Dude… This is NOT a mixer… IT’S A FUCKING ICE CREAM RESTAURANT!!! WHAT THE HELL ARE WE DOING HERE!!?” Minoru lost it, his patience snapping as they settled into a nearby table in the family-friendly ice-cream joint, while Sendo looked around, eyes of a hawk – scanning everywhere.
Sendo, caught off guard, whipped his head towards Minoru, eyes wide with shock. “Uhh… It AIN’T a mixer!? Shit, I ain’t never been to one! I thought mixers were about mixing up ice creams, shakes, and dat kinda stuff…”
“NO, IT’S NOT…. Mixers are those damn parties where guys and girls MIX OUT… It’s literally the worst (Especially since Shiori’s gonna end up at one of these things in a few years)…!! You fucking idiot…!!” Minoru groaned, dropping his face into his arms on the table in utter defeat. “Hey.. I get you’re pissed, but don’t call me stupid, man… Dat’s not cool,” Sendo replied, his tone a mix of hurt and surprise as he saw Minoru crumble.
“Don’t call you stupid!? DON’T CALL YOU STUPID!? We’ve been wandering around for HALF AN HOUR, and we end up HERE!!! WHAT ELSE AM I SUPPOSED TO CALL YOU BUT A GIANT IDIOT!!?” Minoru shouted, lifting his head to glare at Sendo, tears of frustration brimming in his eyes.
‘Now I REALLY can’t go hoooooommmmeeee…. I wasted my time following this clown, thinking he knew something… But UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH IT WAS A TOTAL BUST…. I’m screwed….’ Minoru lamented internally, his thoughts spiraling into despair.
“U-uh… Look, man, I’m really sorry…” Sendo began, his voice tinged with genuine concern at the sight of Minoru’s tears,
“I ain’t really been to any of those places, so I honestly didn’t know…”
“BULLSHIT… Just look at you!!” Minoru’s face immediately shot up upon hearing Sendo’s explanation, pointing at him “That tan, those piercings, that blonde hair!! You look like you’re straight out of an NTR manga. Acting like you’re the guy who’s always at those sketchy mixers, picking up girls left and right…!! You probably tell them you’re 15, and they fall all over themselves trying to ‘take care’ of you, leading them on until they’re cheating on their boyfriends!” Minoru burst out, his emotions getting the better of him as tears choked his words, his gaze filled with a mix of anger and desperation.
“H-HEY! I WOULD NEVER CHEAT ON MY GIRLFRIEND! AND I REALLY AM 15!” Sendo shot back, taken aback by the intensity of Minoru’s accusation, trying to make sense of the rapid-fire assumptions thrown his way.
“OF COURSE, YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND…!! It’s always guys like you girls are interested in…!! Never in us, good guys…!!” Minoru complained.
“I.. I feel dis guy has more issues dan senpai… I thought he was just a quiet guy..” Sendo commented, letting out a nervous laugh.
—–FLASHBACK, BY MINORU PRODUCTIONS———-
Shiori: “Heyyy Onii, Can Ban-kun come over and play?
Minoru-lation: Can Bankyun come over and… Play with me? *wink*
Minoru: “Shiori, you’re too young for stuff like that!!! Besides, I’m always home you can… Uhm… You know, do fun stuff with me!”
Minoru-rrator: The young man proposed politely and kindly to his beloved younger sister. Wanting nothing but the best for her and her safety. Bravely suggesting himself in order to protect her from having her hearted toyed and played with by that PUNK SCUMBAG, Ban.
Shiori: “But, Onii is boringgggg…. And what do you mean, too young! We play all the time at school! Ban-kun is my best friend, and he’s fun to play with!
Minoru-lation: Bro’s just a boring nice-guy. I’ve seen lots of those. You’re not that special. Besides.. Bankyun has that cool air to him whenever he beats the [MINORU-CENSORSHIP] out of our kind teacher. It reallllly does it for me… If you know what I mean *wink*.
Minoru-rrator: The youngster’s scarred, battlehardened, yet his kind and timid heart breaks. But maintains a steady pace to make sure his sister is comfortable throughout their walk home (inside his head, kindly and gracefully, he thinks: I will forever keep you safe, Shiori…-chan, oops the chan just slipped out..”)
Shiori: “Geez, Onii is such a dummy!”
Minoru-lation: “Damned party pooper, die.”
Minoru-rrator:The two walked hand in hand as the sun set behind them, a better sister and brother couple had not been seen before these two. But the younger sister, not seeing the good, kind, brave, cool side of her older brother, wants to see for herself the harshness of the world by seeking comfort in other people’s company.
——————————————–
“It’s always *sob*… You guys who end up… winning…” He managed to say through his tears, his voice muffled by the table where he laid his head.
Sendo, at a loss for how to respond, scratched his head in confusion. “Uh… S-sorry, dude… I’m sure things’ll get better with da whole datin’ and dat…!” He tried to offer some consolation, albeit awkwardly.
As Minoru continued to sob more silently, as he hid his face away from the world, a waitress approached and quietly set down a parfait beside him on the table. “H-here…” She muttered, avoiding eye contact.
“Huh..?” Minoru looked up, puzzled, as he slowly lifted his head from the table to see what was happening. “Hey, miss, ya’ might’ve mixed up the tables…” Sendo mentioned, eyeing the unexpected dessert.
“Yeah… *sniff* I didn’t order this…” Minoru added softly, still a bit disoriented. “S-sorry.. I mean.. No, it’s… on the house… We just.. Uh…” She muttered. Mumbling and fidgeting.
“Huh…?” Minoru repeated, his teary eyes meeting hers this time. She immediately looked away, unable to meet his gaze without her heart almost pounding out of her chest.
“I-I… It’s.. Just saw you looking so down… It seemed like something really bad happened… S-so… the parfait’s on the house… F-from me… And, uhm, if you’d like… I could give you my n-number… Maybe we can talk about what’s bothering you… In a coffe-shop or… Something… If that would help..” She offered, her voice low and hesitant, her cheeks tinged with pink as she fidgeted with her hair.
Yes.
From that waitress’ perspective and the other waitresses’ perspective, Minoru appeared to be like…
A damsel in grave distress. IN OTHER WORDS, A SOFT, GENTLE PRINCE FROM AN OTOME GAME, THAT GOT HIS HEART CRUSHED BY THE VILLAIN AND IS NOW RIPE FOR THE PICKING BY THE MAIN CHARACTER!!!
Minoru cried even more as he saw the parfait.
‘Even this random girl thinks I’m a homeless guy that needs charity~….. I don’t wanna live anymore… Kill meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…’
Watching him cry again, the waitress wondered:
‘Oh my… Is he tearing up because that’s the first nice thing anyone’s ever done for him? That means I’m in… Maybe I can snag a dreamy prince for a boyfriend! (Delusional)’ “I… I uh…” Poor Sendo couldn’t wrap his head around Minoru’s meltdown and just felt sorry for him.
“Miss…?” Sendo asked, turning to the waitress with a polite tone,
‘Ugh… This guy must be the jerk who broke my prince’s heart! He must’ve done something awful, like stealing his girl with some dirty tricks, and now my prince is confronting him about it like a man, but it’s all just blowing up in his face! He even LOOKS like the part. It’s definitely about that!’ The waitress thought, glaring at Sendo with suspicion.
“What do you want!?” She snapped, her patience worn thin.
‘Damn, she’s pissed..’ Sendo thought to himself, ‘We need ta get outta here before dey yell at ‘im or something for cryin’ so much…’
“Uh.. D’ya know where a mixer is? We’re looking for one on 46th street or somethin’…” Sendo asked, picking up on her irritation. ‘That must be where he lured her away! He’s bringing him back to the crime scene to rub it in even more!’ She assumed, her fury escalating.
“I don’t know. And even if I did, I wouldn’t tell the likes of you!” She responded sharply. ‘It’s too late… She’s totally against us…’ Sendo thought, feeling down.
“Forget it… We’re both the same… Just trash to the world… You for whatever you did throughout your punk life, and me… Just for existing. I’ll just let that mafioso boss kill me and be done with it. Don’t worry… I won’t tell him about you, so just leave…” Minoru exclaimed without any spirit.
‘WAIT-WAIT-WAIT, MAFIA…!? What’s this about? AH! NOW I GET IT. My prince’s love must be the daughter of that mafia boss!! And after that punk didn’t treat her right after stealing her away from my beloved prince, causing her to flee back to her powerful father; the father, wielding more influence than any royal, threatened them both! He’s got more clout than my prince’s family, so he laid down the law to the two guys who broke his daughter’s heart!’
—-WAITRESS PRODUCTIONS——-
Mafioso Boss: “You two… You’ve shattered my precious doll’s heart… If you wish to keep yourselves and your families safe, unite and prove your worth on 46th Street’s Mixer, fighting against the Blood Silver Gang under the cover of night. Succeed in this trial, and I might just spare you… Though, your chances are slim, MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
Punk: “Shit! Fuck, Penis, BOOOOBS!! Man, we need ta’ work together if we wanna survive!” He said rudely, turning to my prin-ahem, the prince.
MyPrince: “We… We’re both the same. I’m a scum for existing, because I couldn’t protect my wife… And you, for stealing her away… Who would have thought we’d have to work together…” He said, his dreamy gaze looking at the horizon, regretting his weakness and seeking strength in the night.
Punk: “Shit, fuck, ASSSS!! You’re right… I FUCKING hate you, but I have to cooperate with you to save her…!!”
MyDreamyPrince: “I hate you too… But if it comes to it… If we fail… I’ll take the fall with her father. After all, it was all my fault to begin with… I let her be taken away. I am going to be a better man. Fine. I’ll work with you!” He said bravely. Shelling his old weaknesses away, like a king-cobra snake, emerging more powerful than ever.
The punk agreed.
Punk: “Shitass…!! I’m starting to have a change of heart and be a better man too.” Then they shake on it. The villain and the hero working together for a common goal. —————————————–
Seeing Sendo in a new light, the waitress pondered. “Hmmm… A mixer on the 46th, you say..?” The waitress mumbled, drawing both of their attentions. “46th… The only mixer on 46th that comes to mind… I think…” She trailed off, gazing upwards as if the answer might be written on the ceiling, lost in thought. Both Sendo and Minoru leaned in, their faces lighting up with hope.
“Ah! You should check out the one at Water-Bottle! The mixer’s on 46th Of Water-Bottle Street! At least, it’s the only mixer on a 46th-kinda street that I can think of.” She finally said, certainty firming her voice.
Before she could even gauge their reaction, Minoru, overcome with relief and gratitude, jumped up and pulled her into an embrace. “Ohfu…” She gasped in shock.
———-WAITRESS VISION——–
MC: “K-ya… Y-your majesty… W-we can’t… This is a public place…” She whispered, her voice quivering as he enveloped her in his warm, secure embrace, his breath warm against her ear. “Thank you… Kaori… You’ve been my salvation. You’re the one for me… But… I have to face this challenge alone…”
MC: “I understand… Go. Show them the strength I’ve seen in you…!” She responded, her arms encircling his broad, muscular back in a gentle yet firm hold; her touch tender against his frame. With a mixture of reluctance and resolve, she released him, letting him stride towards his destiny. ——————————–
“Uh… Miss…? I’m really sorry, I just got so relieved that I…” Minoru stammered, hastily breaking the embrace as he noticed the waitress standing stock-still, her gaze locked on the ceiling in apparent shock. ‘D-DAMN IT!! I SOILED MY BODY WITH THIS STRANGER!! WHAT IF SHIORI SENSES THAT I CHEATED!!?’ Minoru’s thoughts raced in panic.
“JEEZ, MAN! WE GOTTA DIP, NOW! SHE’S GON’ CALL THE COPS ON US BECUZ OF YOU!” Sendo exclaimed, grabbing Minoru and starting to make a beeline for the exit.
“U-uh…!! YES..!!” Minoru managed to say, stumbling as Sendo pulled him along. He quickly found his footing and ran beside him.
“Hey, you punk! Don’t you DARE TOUCH ME AGAIN!!” Minoru shouted back as they dashed out of the ice cream shop.
“Who cares about dat!!? Ya’ just harassed a stranger!” Sendo shot back as they hurried away, putting distance between themselves and the shop.
“That was me being GRATEFUL!! JUST BECAUSE I TOUCHED SOMEONE DOESN’T MEAN YOU GET TO GRAB ME, YOU FUCKING IDIOT PUNK!!” Minoru retaliated. More anxious than he is angry…
‘Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, Why did I touch her, killmekillmekillme’
“I TOLD YA’ NOT TA CALL ME AN IDIOT, I’LL BEAT YA’ UP!!” Sendo finally lost his cool and snapped back.
Back at the restaurant, the scene shifted. Curious, the other waitresses and customers approached to check on Kaori, who seemed to be stuck in a standstill.
“Kaori…? Are you okay…? Uh…” Their faces mirrored confusion as they found Kaori motionless, yet her smile was unwavering, frozen in a moment of unexpected joy.
‘I’m never… Washing this outfit again… Hehehe…’ Kaori vowed internally, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and delight.
“Just leave her there…”
Meanwhile, at the mixer…
Whistles filled the air. The distinct aroma of burnt tobacco lingered. And Sakura was on her 6th song. After each performance, Konro hinted that she might want to step down from the stage and leave like she initially intended to…
… Yet, she chose to stay.
“…Take it easy. She’s into singing. Let her do her thing,” the guy who had blown smoke in Sakura’s face earlier told Konro, giving him a calm look as he puffed out more smoke. After a quick stare down, Konro took another look around. The two girls they came with were suddenly all over Gon.
Gon hadn’t made a move on them purely because he was too shy, especially in front of people. His loud personality was just a cover. Deep down, he was pretty clueless when it came to flirting or anything romantic. Konro knew this all too well.
‘Seeing him smiling while they hang off him… Can’t that gorrila tell something’s not right with those girls…? And Takagi… After breathing that smoke, she… changed…’ Konro thought, watching everything unfold with a mix of confusion and concern.
“Seriously, lighten up! Just go with the flow, will ya’? I’m the second-in-command after all, and I’m saying it’s cool…!! Aniki’s bro’s friends are alright, just relax, you dumbass…” Gon told him with a gleeful, elated smirk as the girls clung to him, trying to get Konro to relax.
‘These guys… They seem too familiar with all this. They keep chatting, but their eyes keep darting over to Gon and the girls we came with. Something’s off here…’
Konro observed, his gaze shifting to Gon, who seemed to be in his own world of happiness. “T-tsubasa-senpai… I… I can’t take it anymore… P-please…” Suddenly, one of the girls made her move. She climbed onto Gon.
“W-Woah… What… Uh…?! Y-yeah… I..” Gon stuttered, caught completely off guard. “Senpai, you’re so shy… Is this your first-time doing something like this…?” she teased. “It’s… Okay… It’s… Mine too…” She said bashfully. Konro’s eyes widened in shock.
‘Alright, definitely something’s not right here…’ His attention quickly shifted to Sakura.
There he was, the same man from before, standing ominously behind her. Sakura merely blushed and allowed him to rest his hands on her shoulders without resistance. She simply looked down, resigned.
“Your name,” he began, locking eyes with Konro, “is Yukie, isn’t it? That’s what she’s been calling you.”
“Do you see this?” He gestured towards Sakura beneath his grasp.
“This is power. What I hold, right now, is power. This, is what power looks like,” he declared, his grip tightening around Sakura, drawing the focus of everyone in the room, except for Gon and the girls engrossed with him.
“I-… I’m not just an object…” Sakura whispered faintly, her voice barely audible, not attempting to break free from the man’s hold.
“Power…?” Konro whispered to himself, puzzled by the man’s assertion. At Konro’s soft utterance, the man gave a subtle nod to his companions. Two of them rose and approached Gon, forcibly pulling the two girls away from him.
“W-wait, what are you doing!?” Gon protested, reaching out in a futile attempt to stop them, only to be blocked by another muscular figure among Yuuno’s ‘associates’. “Watch your friend there. You’ll understand what I mean,” the man said smoothly, his presence still looming behind Sakura.
Konro, confused and alarmed, turned to observe Gon. Gon’s emotions were on full display: Anger. Worry. Fear. Frustration. Anxiety. Desperation.
It was clear as day on his face, especially in the moment the girls were whisked away from him. “Where’d all that bravado go? That bliss? That happiness? He was so elated a moment ago, but now, all of that… That overwhelming sense of empowerment, of control that he felt was all whisked away just by the removal of two girls who had made some advances on him. These girls probably didn’t even know him that well, yet they managed to make him feel better than he had in years. Why do you think that?” He inquired, his voice tinged with frustration as he watched the men begin to fondle them.
“W-WAIT!!! STOP!!! STOP, I SAID!! DON’T TOUCH THEM!!!” Gon screamed, panic evident in his voice, as he witnessed the girls moaning in response to the men’s touch and forwardness. Effortlessly, he was pinned to the mixer’s couch by one of the men.
“Wait… Why… Why are you enjoying that… Miki…?” Gon asked, desperation flashing in his eyes as he glanced over at the girl who had climbed atop him just moments ago. “I-I’m sorry… Tsubasa…-san… It just… Feels… So good….” She cried softly, before being pulled into a deep kiss by one of the men.
She didn’t resist. Instead, she returned the kiss. Gon watched the scene unfold, his face drained of color and frozen in shock.
“Ah… That..” She murmured as the man pulled away from the kiss, “Was my first kiss… M-…more…!” She whispered, her voice barely audible.
“Mi…ki…” Gon whispered, his heart sinking as he looked down in defeat.
Konro was breathless, his chest heaving with stress and uncertainty. Unsure of what to do or think, he immediately redirected his attention to the man standing behind Sakura.
“I’ll tell you exactly what happened here, Yukie,” He addressed him, taking a drag of his cigarette, “Queen Cleopatra, ever heard of her? An Egyptian ruler, renowned for her beauty and success. But here’s the thing— She understood the precariousness of her reign. She knew that without taking decisive action, her rule would crumble. Enter Mark Anthony from Rome. Through him, she found security, prosperity… and Power.”
“What’s… That have to do with us…!?” Konro interjected, his gaze wavering.
“Can’t you see, even after looking at your friend? Power isn’t derived from muscles or military might alone. True power lies in controlling people. In this era, we’re witnessing the erosion of societal foundations. To salvage her country, to secure her strength, she secured Mark Anthony. Thus, so save this country, we must do the same. If you can… ‘secure’ people like Cleopatra did Mark Anthony, you’d be… Truly powerful,” He concluded, his eyes flicking back to Sakura once again.
“And this… Is just the start,” He concluded, giving Sakura another squeeze, making her gasp. “Look, man! I don’t get what you’re on about… Do what you want, just leave us out of this! We just wanna go home…!!” Konro said, desperate to end the encounter.
The man sighed, a hint of resignation in his voice. “Right… You’re still too young to grasp something like this…” He muttered under his breath.
“Oh well, after tonight, you’ll want to know more. I’ll be ready to teach you whenever. In the meantime, you came here looking for a good time, right…? So…” He continued, before suddenly pushing Sakura off the stage, causing her to fall directly into Konro’s arms. “…Enjoy,” he said simply, stepping down from the stage to the sound of loud applause from his associates.
Gon remained seated, his gaze fixed on the ground, overwhelmed by a sense of defeat, struggling to process everything happening around him. Konro, caught off guard, was sent tumbling back onto the expansive mixer couch, with Sakura landing squarely on him.
“Ow…!” he exclaimed, the breath knocked out of him by the sudden impact. “A-Are you okay… Yukie-senpai..?” Sakura asked, concern in her voice as Konro tried to catch his breath.
Blinking rapidly, Konro opened his eyes to find Sakura’s face just inches from his, her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. She made no move to distance herself or rise from their awkward entanglement.
“T-…Takagi…?” he whispered, confused, surprised… And overwhelmed. “Y-…Yukie…” She whispered more softly. ‘…Power, huh…?’ he pondered, observing Sakura. His initial suspicion that she might be under an influence of something began to fade, gradually overtaken by a sense of acceptance.
Sendo rose from the ground, eyeing the man before him with a mix of concern and confusion.
“Uh… Here, man. Don’t kill ya’self. Try Kendo. It helped me,” Sendo offered, extending a 1,000 yen bill and dropping it onto the man’s knees.
‘This dude thinks I’m homeless… Well, ain’t that just grand. But he looks like trouble. The type who’d fuck your girl and send you the footage… I want nothing to do with him, but it pisses me off that this lowlife thinks I’m some homeless bastard,’ Minoru thought to himself, his expression a blend of confusion and annoyance as he observed Sendo’s blonde hair, his tanned skin and piercings all over his face.
“You think I’m homeless or something, huh!?” Minoru retorted sharply, his tone laced with irritation.
“Ain’t no shame if ye are! Dat doesn’t mean I think badly of ya’, old man!” Sendo replied sincerely, seemingly oblivious to Minoru’s growing frustration.
‘Old man? This fucking guy… he called me old…’ Minoru’s thoughts raced, his anger mounting as he met Sendo’s earnest gaze.
Then, an idea sparked in Minoru’s mind. ‘Ah.. Fuck it, at this point. I’ll just mess with him because why the fuck not. My life’s ruined anyway,’ he thought, resigning himself to the absurdity of the situation.
“Old man? Yer good?” Sendo asked, genuine concern evident in his voice.
Suddenly, Minoru’s facade cracked, and he began to weep softly, his face concealed as he spoke.
“…Yes,” he began, his voice trembling with emotion. “As of tonight, I no longer have a home after I brought shame to… A cruel mafioso boss,” he confessed, his tone strained with pain. Sendo listened intently, his gaze unwavering.
“He tortures me every chance he gets, and tonight, he sent me on a mission. I failed, so I decided I’ll just stay out of the house permanently, effective 20 minutes ago. Figured might as well go and die… It’s… It’s the less painful option, you see?” Minoru fabricated, his voice cracking with feigned despair.
“Aw shit! Dat’s fukin’ awful! Dat guy sucks!” Sendo exclaimed sympathetically, his fists clenched in frustration.
‘Holy shit, this dumbass actually buys it…’ Minoru pondered silently, steeling himself to continue the act.
“Y-yeah! I just got beat up by, uh… 30.. YEAH, 30 guys,” Minoru continued, his hands retreating into his pockets as if to hide nonexistent bruises.
“DAT’S SO EXCESSIVE, DA FUCK’S HIS DEAL!!?” Sendo erupted indignantly, his agitation growing with each word.
‘…How far I can push this?’
“And… If that wasn’t enough… That bastard… He… HE… HE holds my little sister at gunpoint!!” Minoru added, injecting a touch of sincerity into his words, his anguish palpable. “He threatens my mom every day. I just can’t do it anymore, man… And now with the failure of this mission… HE’S GOING TO KILL THEM ALL…” he trailed off, burying his face deeper into his knees as the charade continued.
“HOLY SHIT, DUDE. DAT’S TERRIBLE. WHAT’S YER MISSION!!? I’LL HELP YA’ OUT!” Sendo exclaimed, his frustration turning into determination as he leaned in eagerly.
‘Turns out, I can push it pretty damn far. Wow. Welp, time to take advantage of this guy. You probably fuck taken girls on your free time, and some of these girls probably, at some point in their lives, looked remotely close to Shiori. So that makes you a scumbag in my eyes. It only makes sense if you help me do one good deed in your wretched life.’ Minoru contemplated silently, maintaining his facade of despair.
“N-no… Don’t help me.. I’m too lost…” Minoru feigned reluctance, his voice quivering with false distress.
“B-but… If you insist… I need to find someone. She’s in a mixer or a karaoke somewhere. The only clue that BASTARD gave me is 46th of some street..” he added, weaving a thread of truth into his fabricated tale.
“Huh? What a coincidence, dude.. I also look for a Senpai of mine in a mixer. I don’t know the address at all, so I just figured I’d look in all of them till I find ’em.” Sendo said, remembering his own mission to find Sakura.
‘W-what…? He’s going to comb through ALL mixers until he finds his SENPAI…!? So that means… His senpai must be someone important to him… Hm…! AHA! I got it, he is trying to deliver a message to his boss!!’ Minoru’s mind was ablaze with speculation, alarm bells ringing as he pieced together the reasons behind Sendo’s frantic search.
——–MINORU-PRODUCTIONS————–
Punk: “The Blonde-Blood Gang’s boss is dead! Got shot 65 times before he dropped… We fucking won the gang war!!”
Punk Gang Lieutenant: “SHIT!! Punk, this is the biggest news of your life!!! Go tell the boss, he’s at some mixer in the city, GO FIND HIM!!”
Punk: “But ANIKI!!! WHERE exactly!?”
Punk Gang Lieutenant: *SMACKS HIM* “FUCK, SHIT, DICK!!!! I DON’T KNOW AND I DON’T GIVE A FUCK! Just find him. I don’t care if you have to raid every karaoke spot in the city, JUST DO IT.”
Punk: “YES, SIR!!!”
———————————–
‘That… It actually makes sense…!!!’
“I see. Your senpai must be important to you, huh?” Minoru remarked, his tone laced with realization and a hint of disdain.
“Yah, dude!” Sendo responded, oblivious to Minoru’s undercurrent of sarcasm.
“Alright…” Minoru said as he rose, a plan forming.
‘I can’t just leave this idiot to his own devices. What if Sakura’s caught up with that brute of a senpai and they both end up doing something to her? I couldn’t give two shits about her, but my old fart would kill me if something happened.’
“Let’s search for them together,” he proposed.
“Huh? Yer not old at all,” Sendo noted, finally taking a proper look at Minoru.
‘Only now you notice, you fucking dumbass?’
“Ah… haha… Thanks, I suppose…” Minoru replied, his irritation thinly veiled.
“Dat’s a sick dye job, man! I gotta redo mine every few months,” Sendo said, scratching his head with a grin.
“I was BORN this way, you PIECE OF…” Minoru started, then quickly corrected himself with a cough.
“What’s dat?” Sendo asked, completely oblivious.
“Ahh, I just mentioned… I was born this way, with silver hair. Mom genes, haha…” Minoru said, his voice softening into a more hesitant tone.
“Really? Dat’s cool,” Sendo responded, his earlier excitement dimming slightly.
‘Not impressed by that, are you, you shit?’ Minoru seethed silently.
He took a deep breath to calm himself.
“Ait, let’s get moving! I ain’t too sure where my school’s crowd hangs out for mixers, but if we’re aiming for something around 46th Something-Street, we might find somethn. I know a few places in streets with 46 in them.” Sendo suggested, pointing in a general direction, completely unaware of Minoru’s brewing irritation.
‘It’s settled then, I’ll have to stick to this doof for a while.’ Minoru resigned himself to the plan.
“Got it. I’ll follow your lead,” Minoru managed to say as they started navigating through the city streets.
‘He’s not ALL that useless, I suppose…’ Minoru conceded in his thoughts, trailing a few steps behind Sendo.
He glanced up at Sendo, noting their height difference.
“Hey, how old are you anyway?” Minoru asked, curiosity piqued as they neared a potential mixer location.
“Me? I’m 15 and a half,” Sendo replied with a hint of pride.
Minoru couldn’t help but let out a loud, disbelieving snort.
‘As if,’ he thought skeptically, doubting Sendo’s claim.
“What?” Sendo turned, puzzled by the snort.
“Just choked on my spit. You’re pretty tall for your age, huh?” Minoru covered smoothly, eyeing Sendo’s height with a mix of skepticism and envy.
‘This guy’s out here looking like he could play in the varsity team, and he’s only 15? Right, and I’m the Queen of England. This isn’t some high school anime. But fine, I’ll bite. It’s not like we’re going to be lifelong buddies. His type pisses me off too much anyway—so chipper and open. Bet he’s got a whole fan club. How many hearts have you broken with that charm, huh, Romeo? Swear, if you so much as think about the first letter in Shiori’s name… I’ll kill you…’
“KYAAAA LOOK AT THESE TWO!! ARE THEY MODELS!?” A girl nearby screamed, catching everyone’s attention.
“Woahh… Especially that silver-haired cutie… I just can’t… I wanna just kidnap himmmm hnnnn!!!!” Another girl added, practically swooning.
‘SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU DIRTY OLD HAG! I’d kill myself thirty times before I’d date the likes of you!’ Minoru thought furiously, barely keeping his cool on the outside.
“Ahh… Haha… Thanks…” he muttered, forcing a smile while awkwardly touching his hair.
“Wow, dude. Yer pretty popular with da ladies.” Sendo casually observed, seemingly impressed.
‘SHUT THE FUCK UP, SHOTA-IMPERSONATING GIRLFRIEND-STEALER. I DON’T WANNA HEAR THIS FROM YOU!’
“Haha, really? That’s… nice to hear,” he replied to Sendo, his voice laced with nervous laughter.
‘Ugh… This is going to be the worst night ever…!!’ Minoru mentally prepared himself as the two walked.
Meanwhile….
Gon found himself on a sofa alongside Konro, two girls, and Sakura, all huddled together in the mixer. The teens were visibly uncomfortable, almost squished against each other, as they faced Yuuno’s ‘friends’ seated across from them on the opposite couch.
Sakura leaned closer to Gon, her voice low, echoing the unease that was palpable between them. “Hey… Tsubasa-senpai… Who exactly are these people?” she asked, her discomfort mirroring Gon’s.
“…D-don’t worry, Takagi-chan…! They’re just some friends of Aniki’s bro! It’s all good… Why? Do they bother you? Haha…” Gon replied, his laughter tinged with an evident nervousness.
Before them, seven individuals lounged in a display of casual defiance. The group was predominantly muscular men adorned with tattoos and sporting buzzcuts, engaging in the open smoking of cigarettes and indulging in alcohol, seemingly lost in their own raucous camaraderie.
Konro leaned in, his whisper barely audible over the background noise,
“I think most of these guys are in their 20s… or even 30s… What the hell are we doing here, Gon!? Let’s bail! I’m freaking out here! The other two girls are on the verge of tears..!” His voice carried a mix of fear and urgency.
Gon, trying to muster a facade of confidence, whispered back,
“D-dumbass…! Walking out on them would be a slap in the face to Aniki’s bro! Besides, aren’t I the second in command after Aniki, his brother, and Sendo-kun? Trust me, Kon! I’ll make sure everyone from our school are safe here!”
Konro couldn’t help but question the logic silently,
‘Doesn’t that technically make you fourth in command? Plus, your whispering gives you away… You’re just as sacred shitless as we are!’
Sakura, having reached her limit, stood abruptly.
“This is absurd… I’m out of here,” she declared, her determination clear.
“W-wait, Takagi-..” Konro reached out in a futile attempt to halt her departure.
“I’m leaving,” she announced louder this time, drawing the attention of the seven onlookers as she made her way to the exit.
One of the men, with a serene yet intense gaze, stood to intercept her.
“What are you doing…? Move. I want to leave,” Sakura demanded, meeting his gaze head-on, unafraid.
“T-takagi-san…” Another girl from their group whispered, admiration laced with fear, as she remained huddled between Konro and Gon.
“Wait. This is a karaoke mixer. Sing something,” he commanded, his voice firm yet tranquil.
“I don’t want to, I want to leave,” Sakura stood her ground, firm in her resolve. Meanwhile, Gon and Konro were panicking internally, visibly sweating.
“W-well, A-Aniki’s friends..!! Haha, if she wants to leave, we should let her, right? Takagi-chan! You’re kinda disrespecting Aniki’s friends, but, uh, I’ll let it slide just this once!” Gon stammered out, standing up in a clumsy attempt at diplomacy.
The man who had halted Sakura studied her with an intensity that felt like he was peering into her soul, casually adjusting the cigarette between his lips with a hand pulled from his pocket.
In that moment, Konro’s gaze shifted to the rest of the group. A shared, malicious grin spread across their faces as they watched the exchange, their focus entirely on Sakura.
“It’s alright, kid. She doesn’t actually want to leave,” he declared confidently, his eyes never leaving Sakura.
“Excuse me…?” Sakura’s voice carried a rising wave of defiance as she frowned, clearly offended.
Then, he exhaled a cloud of smoke directly into her face.
“T-Takagi-san!” Konro couldn’t hold back, his concern erupting as Sakura started coughing from the smoke.
“That’s enough! If she wants to leave, just let her go and—”
“It’s… It’s okay… Yukie-senpai…” Sakura managed to say, her voice weaker than before as she signaled at Konro with her palm.
“Just…” she tried to gather her strength, still recovering from the smoke assault.
“I’ll sing just one song, then I’m leaving… Okay..?” Sakura’s voice was soft, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red, her breaths coming slightly heavier as she addressed the man directly.
“T…Takagi…?” Konro whispered, his voice a mix of disbelief and concern, as the man’s smirk only grew wider, witnessing Sakura’s unexpected shift in demeanor.
“Yeah,” The man replied confidently, “If you’ll want to leave after this song, you can go.” He concluded calmly.
‘Ahh… That old man really screwed up my dinner plans…’ Minoru fumed internally as he meandered through the lively streets, almost letting out an audible sigh of irritation before he even left the house.
Minoru had a loose shirt placed on him lazily, his build was slender… He was actually quite the heartthrob, as he stole the attention from most people as he walked through the districts… Especially of the women.
… And some of the men, too.
“Oh wow! Check him out, he’s hot!”
“Is that silver hair for real?!”
“Does he model or something…!?”
“I’m totally falling for him… I need his digits…”
These were just a few of the whispers floating around as various women ogled the visibly annoyed Minoru ambling along with his hands shoved deep in his pockets.
“Ah… Hello…” he muttered half-heartedly, only to be met with a chorus of delighted screams.
‘Jesus, desperate much? As if I’d ever go for old hags like you! Try again when you’re at least Shiori’s size,’ Minoru scoffed to himself, brushing off their advances with a blend of disdain and haste.
He had a type, clearly: young, petite, definitely closer to his age… Well, more like his sister’s age. But right now, his only mission, albeit reluctantly accepted, was to track down his sister, not navigate through an unwanted admirer minefield.
As Minoru waddled through the bustling city streets, a whimsical thought crossed his mind, ‘Ahh… Shiori, so young and naive, yet possessing a heart so pure it could mend this battlefield of a heart, strewn with the shards of countless defeats. If only you weren’t my sister, and maybe just a tad older, I’d have no doubt in winning over your heart,’ The young man shamelessly thought as he walked through the crowded streets of the big city.
Eager anticipation tugged at him, the thought of returning to her warm smile a comforting beacon. Yet, the reality that she’d likely be asleep by the time he returned cast a shadow over his spirits. This meant he’d be welcomed not by her gentle presence but by the disdainful sight of him… that detestable old man.
‘You miserable excuse for a father… How I loathe you. Just disappear already… Well, since Shiori likes you, disappear only for me, somehow.’ he silently cursed, his frustration boiling over into a silent plea to the skies above.
Deciding he had aimlessly wandered the streets long enough, Minoru resolved it was time to track down Sakura. But then, a critical snag hit him —
‘Now, what was that address she mentioned over the phone? 46-Root Beer-something…?’ he wracked his brain. ‘Ahhhh…! It’s completely slipped my mind… Now I’m doomed to check every ’46th’ street around here!!! Aaaahh…. I should have run after her, I thought I had the address completely figured-ouuttttttttt…. Why is my life like this…? Kill my self already…’ The realization sank in as he lost strength in his knees.
Meanwhile, at the oh so illusive mixer…
“Aniki’s brother! She ended up calling me! She said she wanted to come after all! I told you, I have some great charms!” Gon exclaimed with pride to Yuuno.
“Aha… I told you I wasn’t interested in that girl,” Yuuno replied nonchalantly.
“What..? Why? She’s one of the most popular girls in school,” Gon argued.
“If she agreed so easily,” Yuuno said aloud, then thinking to himself ‘To an ape like you,’ “She probably isn’t worth all that much. Just a closeted slut or something. Not my style. Be more mindful of who you invite… Gon,” he muttered, visibly reluctant as he uttered his name.
“Ah… I see… But isn’t her being slutty a good thing!? We’re here to have fun, and since you’re aniki’s brother, we’re gonna make sure you have the best time of your life here!” Gon said enthusiastically, signaling Konro to agree.
“Y-yeah…” Konro reluctantly agreed.
Yuuno mentally sighed, “…As I pointed out already, I’m not interested. I’m going elsewhere. But since you insist on her and the other chicks you invite being slutty, you don’t mind if I invite my friends to this, right? They also want to have their fun, after all,” Yuuno said uninterestedly as he pulled out his phone, typing.
“Uh… N-no… But we really wanted to hang out with you! Since you’re aniki’s brother and all—”
“One more thing,” Yuuno interjected abruptly, startling Gon and Konro.
“W-what is it…?” Gon asked nervously.
“My name is Yuuno. Not ‘Aniki’s brother.’ If you really respect my older brother that much, and in turn, ME, address me as Aniki as well,” Yuuno demanded firmly.
“W-what…? But we call Sendo-kun just Sendo-kun and he doesn’t min—” Gon started, his expression confused.
“Do I look like him? Do I resemble my younger… sibling for you to extend the same lousy courtesy you do him, to ME?” Yuuno interrupted, his voice laced with disdain as he raised his voice, clearly annoyed at the mention of Sendo’s name.
“A-Ani… B-bro… We didn’t mean it like that!! It’s just that Aniki said that—”
“You’re still arguing. I told you to do something, and you’re still arguing…” Yuuno menaced, his demeanor becoming imposing as he began towering over the two.
“S-sorry..!! Aniki… We’re sorry!!” Gon and Konro apologized hastily, their voices trembling.
Yuuno breathed deeply, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. “At least you’re willing to learn… Even if it takes a while,” he muttered, his words hanging heavy in the air.
Silence greeted his statement, neither Gon nor Konro offering any response.
“Well, I’ll be off,” Yuuno announced, turning around and exiting the mixer room, closing the door behind him with a definitive click.
“What’s his problem!? He was about to beat us up for nothing!!” Konro exclaimed immediately, his voice edged with confusion and frustration.
“Dumbass! Don’t you know?! Aniki’s brother was apparently in a juvenile facility for his entire high school until this point. We have to be patient with him, he was in a very troubled environment,” Gon explained, his tone tinged with exasperation.
Konro’s face contorted in disbelief at Gon’s revelation, his expression bordering on cartoonish.
“HUUUUH!?” Konro exclaimed loudly, startling Gon.
“W-what!?” Gon responded, taken aback by Konro’s outburst.
“Since when do you care about someone’s environment if they act like an ass around you?!!” Konro retorted, his frustration evident.
“Since this is Aniki’s brother!! Don’t start with me now over basic knowledge, Kon! The girls are about to show up! Be mature for once?” Gon shot back, his patience wearing thin.
“Oh, here they are! This is your chance to actually get some, Kon,” Gon added, attempting to divert the conversation.
“*I* need to be mature…?” Konro muttered to himself, his frustration evident as he clenched his fist, a vein throbbing on his forehead as he forced a strained smile. ‘Coming from a gorrila like you!?’
He then sighed, “Whatever…”
Konro reluctantly opened the doors as two girls and four more guys arrived.
“Takagi-chan isn’t here… Well, she did call late, so it would take a while until she’s here…” Gon remarked, his attention shifting to the newcomers.
‘Wait. Aniki’s brother also said that his friends are also coming… He invited girls, right? Just girls, right…!?’ Gon realized a little too late, a flicker of concern crossing his mind about this potential ‘issue’.
Amid the bustling city vibes, another figure was weaving through the eventful evening.
“Aight! Time ta’ hit up this mixer an’ see if she’s alright!” Sendo blurted out, his steps echoing on the concrete as he made his way through the city maze.
“If only I knew which mixer Takagi-senpai hit up, it’d be a whole lot easier,” he mumbled to himself, brows knitted in thought.
—–FLASHBACK——
“…So yes, Sendo. I need your help.. Please,” Yuuto’s voice came through the phone, laced with an urgency that was out of character.
‘Please? Ain’t like senpai to play nice. Must be big. Are dey a thing?’ Sendo pondered, tuning in more closely.
“Sure, senpai. Any idea where she might be, tho?” Sendo asked, curiosity sparked.
“…Nope. She mentioned she’s at a karaoke spot, so probably some mixer in the city,” Yuuto offered, his words veiled in mystery.
Yuuto (Thinking): ‘Can’t spill I went through her profile and Gon’s to draft a list of spots. That’d be spilling too much tea, even for Sendo.’
“Ah, cool. I’ll sniff her out. Laters, senpai,” Sendo wrapped up the call, cutting off Yuuto’s attempt to add, “Wait, Sendo, try checkin’ mixers near the Water—”
“Shoot, battery’s ’bout to kick it. Better shut this down ‘fore it does,” Sendo muttered, ending the call prematurely, missing Yuuto’s parting advice.
——-END—————-
“Aw well,” Sendo exhaled, steeling himself for the challenge as he set off to comb the city for that elusive mixer.
Weaving through the crowd, Sendo’s adventure took a sudden turn as he bumped into someone leaned against a wall, deep in thought. He stumbled but managed to save himself from a fall, arms outstretched.
“Hey, little kid!! Eyes on the road… Can’t this poor, troubled soul, pick out the perfect building to jump off from in peace?” the stranger retorted lazily, hardly bothered by the bump.
‘…A homeless dude?’ Sendo wondered briefly, taking in the stranger’s silver locks, his lazily-put clothes and his loose sandals. His mission momentarily forgotten.
The journey was enveloped in silence, broken only by the soft hum of the minivan’s engine as it navigated the road. Yuuto gazed out the window, lost in thought as landscapes blurred past, a silent observer to the world’s constant change.
“Uh…” Shiyon began, casting a glance towards Yuuto, who was seated nearby. He pondered the quiet tension that filled the space between them since they’d dropped Sakura off at her home, and how Yuuto’s silence seemed to deepen after their departure.
“Rejection’s tough, Saku-chun… But it’s how you handle it that really defines you—”
“Harvester.” Yuuto’s voice cut in, gentle yet firm, his attention still fixed on the world outside the window.
“Yes?” Shiyon responded, taken aback by the interruption.
“I… need to make a call. You have a phone I could use?” Yuuto asked, his voice low and unusually polite.
“Oh…~?” Shiyon couldn’t hide his surprise at Yuuto’s sudden courtesy.
Meanwhile, back at Sakura’s place…
The girl, with a mix of frustration and haste, made her way swiftly up the stairs, barely acknowledging her mother’s concerned gaze.
“My, Sakura? What’s happening? Is everything okay?” her mother asked, pausing in the midst of preparing dinner in the kitchen.
“It’s nothing. I’m fine,” Sakura replied, her tone brisk and tinged with irritation as she continued her march upstairs, soon out of sight.
“It’s probably about a boy again,” her father remarked from his position on the couch, glancing up from his newspaper while the TV hummed in the background.
“Even I noticed that… She had that same look as when Yahiko-kun broke things off… I’m worried it’s something to do with him again,” her mother voiced her concern, her brow furrowed.
“That boy was nothing but a young fool,” the father dismissed, a note of disdain in his voice. “Too self-centered to notice when a girl’s in pain. It’s for the best they ended things. He was never worthy of her.”
The mother let out a weary sigh. “In your eyes, dear, no one ever seems to be…”
“It’s just how it is. The boys at that school are nothing but troublemakers or cowards.”
“Another one…? Is she going to become one of those girls who change boyfriends like they’re changing clothes?” The silver-haired brother yawned, just waking up on the second couch, his words sharp and unforgiving.
The father’s gaze shifted from his newspaper to his son, a stern look quickly replacing any hint of amusement. “Watch how you speak about your sister. Show some respect, or we’ll have a problem,” he cautioned, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“Yes, sir…” Minoru conceded with a slight nod, recognizing the gravity in his father’s voice. “But, it might be true, especially if it’s that guy again. Sticking with him after what he did seems more tragic than anything,” he added thoughtfully, showing he took his father’s warning seriously, yet couldn’t shake off his concern.
“What are you talking about, Minoru-nii! Big sis was… Attacked,” she began, the words causing both parents to visibly flinch, “Yahiko-san was just as lost as anyone would be!” His younger sister interjected, her voice tinged with passion and a hint of frustration at her brother’s judgment.
“I just think she’d be better off with the person who helped her out of that mess. Then we wouldn’t have to hear you justify every mistake she or anyone around her makes by bringing up that incident. Too bad he kept his anonymity like some anime character,” Minoru retorted, turning his attention to his little sister.
“Now, now, you two… Quiet down,” the mother interjected, her voice weary as she let out a sigh.
“Minoru,” the father called out, his attention shifting from the newspaper to his son, commanding Minoru’s focus. “Go upstairs and check on your sister,” he instructed firmly.
“Eh…? But sir, you just said it’s just about a boy…”
“Go. Now,” he reiterated, his tone leaving no room for further discussion.
“Yeah, yeah…” Minoru huffed, dragging his feet as he made his way upstairs, albeit reluctantly.
“Why are you so tough on him?” the mother asked softly, her question hanging in the air like a delicate whisper.
The father remained silent, choosing not to respond.
“You need to forgive and forget. It wasn’t his fault. Since that incident, he’s been diligent, not missing a single day at the dojo to maintain his discipline… Nor has he skipped any cram school classes,” she continued, her voice steady and reassuring.
“Daddy… I’m okay! Look! See, no scars!” the little sister chimed in, eager to prove her point, lifting her shirt slightly to show her belly, free of any marks.
The father, wordless, simply reached out to gently stroke her head, acknowledging her in his quiet way. “Go start on your homework after dinner, okay, Shiori?” he suggested softly, offering a small smile as he patted her head.
As Minoru made his way upstairs, intent on checking on Sakura at their father’s behest, he prepared to announce his presence.
“Hey, Saku—” he began, his tone casual, bordering on disinterested. But before his hand could rap against the door, the muted sound of conversation reached his ears, halting him mid-motion.
“Yeah. It was cancelled… Now I can actually make it to that karaoke night! When’s it starting?” Sakura’s voice, full of anticipation, floated through the door.
“Karaoke…?” Minoru echoed under his breath, a mixture of resignation and disbelief in his sigh.
“1 hour? At Water Bottle Avenue, on the 46th? Count me in,” she continued, her voice brimming with eagerness, oblivious to the listener at her door.
With a shake of his head, Minoru retreated from Sakura’s doorway, descending back downstairs. “Ahh… Dad’s worrying too much. And here she is, all set for a night out…” he mumbled to himself, interpreting her plans as nothing more than the usual social gathering. “Thinks she’s getting into trouble, but she’s just living her life…”
“That was quick, Minoru. Is she alright?” the mother asked, noticing him descending the stairs much sooner than anticipated.
“Yeah, she’s in a good mood, actually. No worries… Just like you mentioned, sir.” Minoru replied, directing a glance towards his father as he made his way down, choosing to settle back on the couch.
The father remained silent, offering no response.
As time slipped by, 50 minutes to be exact, the family gathered around the table for dinner. Just as the father was on the verge of asking Minoru to call Sakura down for the meal, she appeared, dressed up with makeup on, a scent of perfume trailing after her.
“My, Sakura. Are you heading out?” the mother inquired, pausing in her dinner preparations to look at her.
“Yeah, got a call from friends for a karaoke night. Sorry, can’t join you for dinner tonight. Please save me some!” Sakura announced, her voice quick with excitement as she darted out the door.
“Sis seemed in a hurry…” the little sister Shiori observed, taking her seat at the table.
“See? Told you, she’s fine… Now, let’s eat,” Minoru commented, ready to enjoy the meal laid out before him.
“Minoru,” the father commanded with authority, just as Minoru began to enjoy his meal, “Go after your sister. Ensure she’s safe,” he stated firmly, his gaze fixed on his plate.
The tension at the table was palpable; the mother looked notably distressed by the directive, while Minoru let out a resigned sigh.
“…Can’t it wait till after dinner, at least? Sir?” Minoru responded, barely masking his reluctance with a quick roll of his eyes.
“Now,” came the unwavering reply from the father.
With a frustrated grip on his fork, Minoru set it down with deliberate calmness, stood, and left the house without another word.
The door had barely clicked shut when the mother’s frustration boiled over.
“Shiori, honey, head to your room for a bit. Your father and I need to discuss—”
“Shiemi, let’s eat,” the father interjected smoothly, his voice gentle yet firm, halting her mid-sentence.
“I’ll help you make another batch later, for Minoru,” he added quietly as his gaze was still fixed on his meal.
“No, dear,” she retorted sharply, rising from her seat. In a swift motion, she gathered the dishes and discarded the meal in the trash, her actions swift and decisive.
“H-hey… Shiemi..?” the father started, concern lacing his voice as he witnessed the dinner being tossed away. “That’s also Sakura’s meal you’re throwing away…”
Shiori, caught between confusion and alarm, could only watch the unfolding drama.
“Great news, Shiori! We’re off to Burger’s Royale for dinner,” her mother announced with a forced cheerfulness. “And your daddy here will prepare a fresh meal for Sakura, Minoru, and himself. Isn’t that nice of him?”
Shiori swallowed hard, the tension not lost on her. “Daddy is in trouble…” she whispered, an astute observation for someone her age, as she followed her mother out, leaving the father alone to ponder the evening.
“You’re not one to talk about others being brutes, bridge troll,” Yuuto casually remarked, still gazing outside at Sakura, Gon, and Konro.
“What the hell was that, Sakurai!?!” She snapped, a vein nearly bursting from her forehead.
Chiyoko sighed, voicing her concern, “Takagi-senpai has it so rough… If she and Masaru-senpai were still together, it wouldn’t have happened. No one would’ve dared even to look at her!” Hiyori sighed deeply, her tension easing, “Yeah… That just sucks. Those two are just tactless monkeys that think with their members… Especially that Gon. I guess being popular has its downsides,” she concluded.
‘Heh,’ Yuuto internally chuckled, amused by Sakura’s discomfort. ‘Tough shit, smartass. Good luck…’
Meanwhile, Shiyon furrowed his brow. “My, my… How distasteful, these juniors of mine..” Shiyon remarked with a sigh. “Shiyocchi, can’t you go out and save the poor girl from those senseless primates?” Hiyori inquired, slight urgency in her voice.
Shiyon then calmly explained, “It isn’t like they’re forcing themselves on her. Knowing Taka-chun, she should handle that herself,” he said, turning everyone’s heads toward him. “If I interrupted everything that seemed slightly uncomfortable for everyone, no one would learn or grow. Besides, those two…” He explained, leaning his head on his elbow on his seat, his eyes momentarily devoid of emotion.
“…Wouldn’t dare step out of line. I can guarantee that,” he said, his voice carrying a promise tinged with the blood of the past, causing everyone but Yuuto to recall his earlier days and freeze.
“So, don’t worry <3,” he added with a smile, his voice returning to normal. Sato glanced at Shiyon, his face showing slight disagreement with his words, but choosing to trust him and remain silent.
Yuuto observed the ongoing exchange with growing irritation.
‘Psche, that’s what you get for talking to me like a know-it all…’
Sakura was in a relentless debate with Gon, her words laced with polite refusal. “I’ve already explained, Tsubasa-senpai… I simply can’t. My homework is piling up, and—” “But why not?” Gon interjected with a grin, “A short break never hurt anyone! Constantly buried in schoolwork must be so tiring. Join us for karaoke; we’ll have a couple more girls there, so you won’t feel out of place. You can even leave early if you want. Plus, you wouldn’t want to miss my spectacular singing!”
Sakura sighed internally, wishing for any escape. ‘Why won’t they just leave me be? If only Yahiko-san were here, they might back off,’ she thought.
Gon, sensing victory, pushed further. “Look, the exams are ages away. A student as great as you can easily secure an A+ without extra study time. The reason I insist is because we’re short one girl since Misuri-chan can’t make it. Without a replacement, we’ll have to cancel. And besides, it’s the weekend! It works out for all of us!”
‘Hehe… All she has to do is accept once and be there. I arranged everything with Kon and that guy in a way that she will sit next TO ME! Once she’s there, I’ll seduce her. She’ll be mine! That fucking Pillow doesn’t deserve even sniffing the air around Takagi-chan. I’ll make her my personal toy!’
“So, what do you say? Just for today. You’ll be surrounded by friends.” “Those guys are being too persistent. It pisses me off,” Hiyori remarked with growing irritation. “How awful!” Chiyoko called in agreement.
As Sakura’s wavering resolve became evident in her expression, Yuuto’s mind wandered. While he gazed at her, he couldn’t shake off a sense of annoyance. Yes, she was the same girl who had dared to challenge him in the hallway. Yet, witnessing her succumb slowly to Gon’s advances sparked a stirring irritation within him. He observed her discomfort as she repeatedly rebuffed Gon’s persistence.
Yuuto: ‘…Why does it even matter? She’s not in any real danger. Just another unwanted advance. I shouldn’t care. I don’t. Especially after the trouble she caused me in the hallway,’ he reasoned with himself.
As Sakura reluctantly muttered her acceptance, “Fine… I’ll join, but just for a bit,” an air of hesitation enveloped the surroundings.
Though Yuuto couldn’t hear her words, he could discern her sigh and the subtle relaxation in her shoulders. She was relenting, agreeing. He noted Gon’s concealed leering expression.
Yuuto had no genuine interest in Sakura. He had no intentions of making advances towards her. She was merely a project he undertook to sharpen his skills—a target for his practice, so to speak.
And in this scenario, there was no necessity for his intervention. She didn’t have a boyfriend or any romantic entanglements, thus requiring no action on his part.
…But despite his rationalizations, a click of irritation lingered on Yuuto’s tongue, unable to keep himself entirely still.
As Sato, unable to contain his restlessness, began to speak, “Wait up, everyone! I’m heading out to—” his words trailed off when he noticed Yuuto briskly making his way towards the minivan door.
“Sakurai..?” Shun called, confusion hung in the air as he watched Yuuto’s unexpected move. “Senpai? What are you…?” Sato asked as he saw Yuuto walking outside the minivan abruptly. Shiyon’s eyes sparkled with mischief, “Ara~?” His grin spread wide, sensing the shift in the atmosphere as he laid his gaze on Yuuto.
Then came Yuuto’s shout, “Hey, Sakura!!!” His voice, rough and unpolished, cut through the tension. It wasn’t smooth or courteous, but it grabbed everyone’s attention—Sakura, Gon, Konro—all eyes on him. “What’s the hold-up!!? If you keep dancing around, we’ll be leaving without you!! Come on!!” Yuuto, called as he leaned out of the minivan.
Sakura’s face transformed with his call, her worries melting into a bright smile. “Oh! It totally slipped my mind!” She began as she scratched her head to Gon and Konro, “Sato-kun asked me to join his club for the weekend trip, and I said yes! So sorry!” She added with a bow, “Some other time, alright?” she beamed, her voice bubbling with newfound energy.
She spun around, her steps light as she headed towards the minivan, leaving Gon and Konro stunned.
“…So, they were probably sorting out the trip details earlier in the hallway,” Kon reasoned, piecing together what the two saw earlier. “Y-yeah… Forget her…” Gon grumbled in agreement, his frustration thinly veiled. Together, they turned their backs, distancing themselves from the unfolding scene as Sakura approached the minivan with renewed purpose.
Yuuto, barely audible, let out a disdainful “Tsch,”. He pivoted, catching a glimpse of Sakura’s approach, and slipped back into the minivan’s shadows.
“Just leave her by her house or something,” he said, his voice laced with forced indifference as he made his way back to his seat. The words lingered, casting a spell of silence over the culture club members. Their eyes followed him intently – Sato’s lips curled into a soft chuckle, Shun wore a smile tinged with pride. Chiyoko’s eyes sparkled with admiration, while Hiyori was left agape. The driver, catching the undercurrents, offered a knowing smile and a nod.
“Heya, Sato-kun!” Sakura called out in confusion and warmth. Chiyoko immediately rose to her feet and clasped Sakura’s hand. “Are you alright, Takagi-senpai!? That was so awful~!” Hiyori shook her head in agreement. “Yeah… It must’ve been terrible being surrounded by those apes like that…”
“Well, take a seat, Takagi-san. We’ll drop you off at your house,” Sato said, gesturing for her to sit in the minivan.
And so she did, settling close to Hiyori and Chiyoko. The ride was smooth, and soon the driver pulled up near her household.
“There it is, girly. Off you go!” the driver announced, opening the door.
“Thanks!” “Take care, Takacchi,” Hiyori said with a smile.
“Please stay at home so they won’t find out, Takagi-senpai!” Chiyoko pleaded with concern.
“Have a great weekend now, Taka-chun~” Shiyon chimed in with a wave.
“I need to talk to you… Uhm… About the notes we exchanged, it won’t take long…” Sakura said, her cheeks flushing as the club members exchanged knowing glances. Shiyon almost smiled sadistically.
Yuuto sighed as he rose from his seat. “Don’t get any funny ideas…”
“Take your time~…” Shiyon said with a mischievous smile as Yuuto passed him on the way out of the minivan, followed by Sakura.
“Ahh… Youth,” the minivan driver remarked.
Hiyori then chimed in, “I had no idea they were a thing. Who would’ve thought…?”
Chiyoko’s eyes glistened with excitement. “Forbidden love~!!!” she blurted out, watching Sakura and Yuuto standing outside.
“Sakurai and Sakura… Haha, that sounds cute,” Sato commented.
Meanwhile, Shun scratched his head as he observed the two outside. ‘I don’t know… Something’s off… Sakurai just ain’t the type to get down like that…’
Meanwhile, Sakura and Yuuto stood outside, preparing for their conversation.
Sakura looked down, her cheeks burning, words of gratitude teetering on the edge of spilling out. “Look… Sakurai… I wanted to—”
“You piss me off,” Yuuto snapped, cutting her off sharply.
“Pissed you off…? Seeing me… Being hit on?” she queried, her head tilting slightly, a hint of hesitation in her voice.
“Don’t get your head full. You’re not even my type,” he shot back, his voice cold and blunt. “What pissed me off was seeing you cave after that idiot pressured you enough, despite your obvious reluctance. You act weak and pathetic, yet you dared to talk to me as if we’re equals back in the hallway?”
Sakura’s expression soured, her gratitude swiftly replaced by a deep frustration. “WHAT is your problem!? What’s wrong with calling you out for being an idiot in public!!?”
“You’re bringing that up again? It won’t work twice, Sakura. At least I behave how I want to, instead of bending over backwards like a good little slut when someone guilt-trips me. That’s exactly what happened with you back there.”
“Then why the hell did you help? You obviously have an issue with me, the way you’ve been avoiding me, keeping whatever you did a secret like some delusional teen. What do you want from me?!!”
“I promised I’d be nicer,” Sakurai said almost immediately, his response swift to Sakura’s emotional turmoil.
“What…!?”
“This was me being nice, because of our deal. That’s all,” he stated plainly, an air of nonchalance in his tone.
Sakura’s face contorted further, a mix of disbelief and confusion marking her features.
“…Do you think you’re being cool or something?” she asked, squinting at Yuuto, who met her gaze casually, his expression flickering briefly, lost for words.
“…”
“Ugh… I feel like an idiot trying to reason with you. Forget it. Thanks, I guess, for ‘saving me’ again from those oh-so-terrible brutes who were definitely going to assault me like that teacher. Clearly, I couldn’t have managed on my own. You’re SO noble, Sakurai-senpai, helping the weak, useless and pathetic ol’ me. Don’t bother talking to me anymore, please. I won’t spill your “secret”, so just do whatever you want, and keep me out of it.” she spat out sarcastically, her voice dripping with disdain, before turning on her heel and walking away into her house.
“That… Did not seem like a lover’s quarrel, I daresay,” Shiyon commented, puzzled from his spot inside the minivan – as Yuuto stood still, looking at Sakura walk into her house. His expression unreadable.
“Uh… Sakurai..? Everything okay..?” Shun inquired, leaning out from the minivan, concern etched in his voice.
As he watched Yuuto’s retreating figure, Shun couldn’t shake off a sense of unease. ‘I couldn’t catch their conversation, but that didn’t seem friendly…’ he mused, observing the tension in Yuuto’s posture.
Silence hung heavy between them for a moment longer.
“I’m heading back,” Yuuto finally spoke, his tone nonchalant as he pivoted towards the minivan.
“H-hey… Everything alright with you?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” Yuuto replied, his gaze shifting away as he climbed into the vehicle, making his way to his seat. The minivan, usually alive with chatter, fell into an uncommon hush, even Shiyon refraining from his usual banter.
The driver, catching the subdued mood, started the engine with a slight shake of his head. “Ah, youth…” he mused under his breath,
“This kind of thing, is also a big part of it,” a reflective note in his voice that reached only the ears in the front row. With that, he steered the minivan onto the road, bound for Atami Onsen Resort, leaving the day’s tensions gradually behind them.
“Sakurai, you good? You’ve been silent for a while now…” Shun said, his voice tinged with curiosity as he recalls Sakura and how she wanted to talk to him earlier that day.
Yuuto glanced at him, as he raised his eyebrow in annoyance. “Does that imply I talk a lot?”
“No… Just… Nevermind,” Shun replied, shaking his head as the two walked toward the minivan during the second school break.
“Anyway, Sato-kun fooled us… I came here rushing, thinking the minivan would be here at 13:25. To think we had to wait 2 extra hours… It means we’ll have to sleep the moment we get there since we’ll arrive really late! We’ll have no time for anything!” Shun said in frustration.
“I told you; That manipulator of a club president of ours planned this. The ‘If you’re already here, let’s work on the festival’s decorations. I’ll get a permit from your teachers’ Technique. B Grade. More than anything, it ain’t a coincidence. He wanted us to spend our time on this nonsense alongside him all along,” Yuuto remarked with a sigh as they walked.
“Well… He could’ve just told us! We’d have come right away anyway!” Shun replied enthusiastically.
“Speak for yourself, puppy cuck. I wasn’t here a month, I need to catch up with my studies.”
“Oh… So he wanted you to also be there’s why he did it… He really does plan ahead, that Sato-kun,” Shun said with a squint of his eyes.
Yuuto clicked his tongue in annoyance. “Come on, guys, hurry it up!” Hiyori called from near the minivan outside.
“Right, right..” Shun called back, picking up his pace alongside Yuuto.
As Yuuno stepped outside of the school building during the second break, his eyes caught sight of the minivan parked nearby.
“What’s this thing doing here?” He inquired, turning to a nearby student for answers.
“Oh, Yuuno-senpai! That’s the culture club’s minivan. They’re going on a trip to Atami’s Onsen Resort,” the student explained.
“Hooh? That’s pretty far. A trip just for a club? And during the weekend, nonetheless?” Yuuno remarked, intrigued by the information.
“It isn’t really a trip, per se. The club president, Shizume-kun, is a perfectionist. There’s a school trip to Atami in a few weeks, and since the culture club is responsible for leading the school and showing us around, Shizume-kun asked for and got a permit to scout and get familiar there first,” the student elaborated.
“That’s quite a lot of responsibility for a kid his age,” Yuuno mused, impressed by Sato’s initiative.
“Well, Shizume-kun is responsible, so they gave him the permit. Lucky… I also want to be in the club now,” the student sighed wistfully.
“Hmm…” Yuuno hummed thoughtfully, observing Hiyori and Chiyoko waiting by the minivan, with Yuuto and Shun on their way.
“Who are those two walking over to the van?” He asked, discreetly pointing towards Yuuto and Shun.
“Oh, that’s Shun-senpai! He’s harmless and quite friendly!” the student replied.
“And… The other one, with the reading glasses?” Yuuno inquired, noticing the student’s deliberate omission.
“Ugh. That’s… Uh… I don’t really know his name. I just know people here call him anime pillow and that he sells doujins,” he said with an obvious sneer, his disdain evident in his tone.
‘So, a pussy and an otaku recluse… Alongside their weak-looking club president…’
He thought to himself as he examined the culture club, a small grin stretching on the side of his lip.
‘Perfect.’
“I see. Thank you,” he said as he turned around and went away.
“Uh, you already know the other two girls over there?” the student asked in confusion.
“Ah, right, I thought I’d asked you about them,” he said, forcing a smile. “What’s their names?”
“Chiyoko-chan and Hiyori-senpai, they’re—”
“Thanks again,” Yuuno cut him off as he walked away, leaving the student scratching his head in confusion.
Yuuno, in his solitude, opened his phone and made a call.
“Yeah. I’ve secured two new test subjects. They’re en route to Atami’s Onsen Resort as we speak, traveling in a minivan with license plate XXXXX-XXX. One goes by the name Chiyoko, and the tall, blonde one is Hiyori…” Yuuno called, taking a glance at the two, Hiyori though; kept his intrigue a little longer, “They’re quite the lookers.” He continued, “But remember, use smaller doses this time. Record everything.”
“What?” Yuuno questioned, his tone incredulous, as he spoke into the phone.
“No,” He answered in a casual tone,
“There’s no one you should be wary of. Go ham.”
He ended the call and stepped away from the schoolyard.
“Alright! Everyone ready?” Sato asked, turning to face his club members.
“Yeah, Sato-kun. We’re all set!” Shun replied, securing his spot at the front.
‘Finally, some time to rest…’ Yuuto thought, hoping for a quiet moment.
“Just a sec before we head out—”
“Wait, wait ~ Sa-chyun <3,” interrupted a familiar voice, causing Yuuto’s heart to skip a beat.
“Huh?” Sato turned, surprised to find the blonde-haired Shiyon joining them on the minivan.
“Hello, my cute juniors~,” Shiyon greeted with a cheerful wave.
“S-SHIYON-SAN!?” echoed through the group, a mix of confusion and astonishment filling the air.
‘The Organ Harvester himself? What’s he doing here…?’ Yuuto pondered, wary of Shiyon’s sudden appearance.
“W-well, this is a tad awkward, but I’ve got no plans for the weekend. Yuu-chun and Sen-chun are tied up with their own things… So I thought, why not tag along? ❤ I’ll cover my own expenses, of course…”
“Ara~ Saku-chun, you’re here too? What a coincidence~….” Shiyon remarked, his gaze landing on Yuuto.
‘Yeah, “coincidence,”‘ Yuuto thought sarcastically.
“But… I’ll only join if the club president agrees,” Shiyon continued, turning his attention to Sato, while the others looked on in silence.
“If it’s Shiyon-san, then there’s no issue at all. I’ll speak with the principal about it. He’ll likely be more than happy to accommodate you, even provide a room on the school’s budget, just like for the rest of us!” Sato responded, clearly thrilled at the idea.
“I’d really rather you didn’t, Sa-chun,” Shiyon said with a nervous laugh.
Yuuto raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Shiyon’s reluctance.
“Huh? Why not? It would make things easier for you!” Sato responded, his eyes shining with excitement.
“Yeah, yeah! Don’t overexert yourself, Shiyon-san,” Chiyoko chimed in, her enthusiasm fading into a blush. “You’ve done so much for the school, he’ll be excited!”
“I have to agree with them,” Hiyori interjected, “It would be foolish not to at least discuss it with the principal,”
“Ha… Haha… Well, you see~…” Shiyon glanced at Yuuto, who gave him a blank stare, eyebrow still raised. “I think I’ll just head out~…”
“No! Please don’t go, Shiyon-san!” Chiyoko almost pleaded, “It’s not often we have someone as mature, dependable, and strong as you with us…” She threw a look of disappointment towards Yuuto and Shun.
Shun: ‘?’
Yuuto: ‘Oi.’
“Please stay! If it matters to you, the president won’t mention it to the principal, right, Shizume-senpai?” she said, turning to Sato with hope.
“HEY! Chiyokocchi, what are you doing!?” Hiyori exclaimed, blushing, “Don’t put Shiyocchi and Sakkun in an awkward spot like that!”
“But I want him to commmmme!!!! What’s so wrong with that, Hiyoricchi!?” Chiyoko retorted, her face flushed with intensity.
Hiyori quickly responded, “We all feel the same! But you can’t just blurt that out and make it awkward!”
Sato then intervened, “Okay, okay… Shiyon-san,” he said, turning to Shiyon, “If it matters to you, I won’t mention to the principal that you’re joining us. However, you’ll need to cover your own expenses. Is that okay with you?”
“Yes, of course~,” Shiyon replied, gently placing his hand on Chiyoko’s head.
“Thank you, Chiyo-chun… That was very kind of you to say<3,” he said softly, giving her a warm smile.
“Doki…~” Chiyoko was startled, her head steamed under his palm as she curled into a ball.
‘Oh my goddddd~ An Onsen Trip with Shiyon-samaaaaaaaaaa ❤ No, NO! Chiyoko, your heart belongs to Shizume-senpai… But… BUT…. He’s SO HOTTTT’
‘Just imagine…’
———–
Shiyon: “Ara~ Chiyo-chun… You’re all alone here?”
Chiyoko: “Kyaa~ Shiyon-san… This is the women’s onsen!”
Shiyon: “True… But I don’t care about that right now,”
Chiyoko: “S-so close… Doki..”
Shiyon: “Chiyo-chun…” He called softly as he pinned her against a nearby rock.
Chiyoko: “Shiyon-s…an…”
He put a finger on her lips,
Shiyon: “Shhh… Call me Shiyon.”
————
‘And then… And THEN!’
———
Sato whispered, noticing Chiyoko shiver, “Are you cold?” as he draped a soft mattress over them in the resort’s tranquil room.
Sato leaned in, whispering tenderly, “Chiyoko… You’re the one I truly love. Let’s spend the night together…”
———–
Chiyoko’s face steamed at the thought, and she nearly fainted with a smile.
“Well, with that out of the way, pick a spot, Shiyon-san!” Sato said with a smile.
“Okay~” As Shiyon searched for a seat in the minivan, Yuuto noticed something unfolding outside.
“Huh…? It’s Gon and Konro,” Shun observed, “They’re conversing with Takagi-san. I wasn’t aware they were acquainted,” he added, also catching sight of what Yuuto observed through the window.
“They’re not,” Hiyori replied, “Those brutes are making advances on her, it’s obvious from the looks on their faces and how uncomfortable Takacchi appears,”
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