While Hinata is still caught in that restless confusion-wanting to go find Kisaki despite her little brother's desperate attempts to stop her-Kazutora appears out of nowhere.

In truth, he has been there the whole time, ever since Hinata and Chifuyu started talking. He is also the one who gives Hinata Chifuyu's phone number in the first place.

He thinks that maybe, through this, he will finally overhear the secret both Baji and Chifuyu keep from him.

But it seems the two of them are far too good at keeping quiet. Even when Hinata asks, she gets nothing.

"Kisaki is far more dangerous than you think, Hinata-chan," Kazutora says at last. "He once manipulated me into turning against Takemichi. So if you want to keep yourself safe-and Takemichi safe too-you shouldn't try to approach him."

He leaves only that warning behind before walking away.

He knows Hinata will be terribly disappointed. But the truth remains-this is not something she should involve herself in, and there is nothing she can do about it anyway.

For a long time now, Kazutora vaguely senses that something exists between Baji, Chifuyu, and Takemichi-some secret they never tell him. Back then, however, he carried the weight of his own guilt for hurting the three of them. So he keeps silent. He does not pry.

But Takemichi's condition worsening during the Tenjiku battle-along with the abnormal level of self-reproach and torment from both Baji and Chifuyu-makes it impossible for Kazutora to sit still any longer.

Still... how can he make them talk?

Those two are unbelievably tight-lipped about this.

He is certain everyone notices something is wrong. Yet whatever Takemichi hides seems to act like the fragile counterweight holding his already-cracking mind together. And so everyone chooses silence, no matter how many doubts and tangled questions churn inside them.

Because what if it is a secret so enormous that, once exposed, this fragile illusion of peace and happiness collapses back into the chaos it once is?

Everything feels as though it hangs by a single thread.

The longer the questions and suspicions are suppressed, the more they resemble ticking bombs.

And...

I never like the feeling of being left behind.

It feels too much like betrayal.

And that is the one feeling I hate the most.

Why doesn't Takemichi tell me?

Is it because I hurt him before... so I don't deserve his trust?

Amid the silent storm raging in his mind, Hinata suddenly comes into view again. She is investigating the matter. And everyone knows-if there is one person in the world who always understands Takemichi and the troubles he faces, it is Chifuyu.

After all, Hinata is Takemichi's girlfriend. Maybe Chifuyu will speak out of respect for her.

So Kazutora simply gives fate a little push.

And it amounts to absolutely nothing.

But even Hinata cannot make Chifuyu talk... could it mean this has something to do with her?

Hinata and Kisaki were once close friends.

Why does Kazutora feel like that detail is trying to tell him something?

Could they be connected?

Huh...?

Kazutora suddenly stiffens, a realization striking him out of nowhere.

Kisaki acts like he understands Takemichi better than anyone. And according to Takemichi himself, Kisaki has been watching him for a long, long time. There's no way he doesn't know that Hinata is his girlfriend.

So then why-when he forces Takemichi to join Tenjiku-does he choose to kidnap Takemichi's close friends instead of Hinata?

It's almost as if he deliberately leaves her out of his plan altogether.

If he knows about their relationship, then even an idiot can see it-wouldn't using Hinata as leverage be far easier? And yet someone as calculating as Kisaki never lays a hand on her. Takemichi is even confident that Kisaki won't hurt his girlfriend.

Strange.

Why?

With those questions piling up in his mind, Kazutora feels that he has to be the one to dig for the truth. And this time, he goes to find someone who can give him a real answer-

Not Chifuyu.

Not Baji.

Takemichi is completely caught off guard when he gets home. It's already close to nine at night, yet Kazutora is standing there, waiting in front of his house.

The sight makes something twist in his chest. He remembers once standing in front of Kazutora's place just like this-waiting in the rain, waiting until it's late and Kazutora finally comes home.

This time, Kazutora is the one waiting for him.

"Kazutora-kun?"

The weather is getting warmer, but the temperature still drops at night, and a chilly wind keeps slipping through the air. Takemichi has no idea how long Kazutora has been waiting. Seeing him shove both hands into his pockets and hunch his shoulders like that... he has to be freezing.

"Takemichi. You're back."

Kazutora's face lights up the second he sees him, the same bright smile he wears on the mornings Takemichi waits to walk to school together. His eyes are gentle, tender even-but there's something burning in them too, something intense enough to melt ice.

"Why didn't you go inside or call me, you idiot? How long have you been out here?"

"Not that long."

Not that long? His body is trembling faintly, his face pale, and he still says that. Takemichi presses his palm against Kazutora's cheek. It's ice-cold.

"'Not that long,' my ass."

He scolds him under his breath and rubs his hands against Kazutora's face, trying to warm him up.

Kazutora really is just a little cold. Really. It's nothing compared to the time Takemichi waits for him in the pouring rain for hours-soaked to the bone, freezing, his legs so numb he can barely stand, and still stubbornly staying there until Kazutora comes home.

And that day... Kazutora lets him down.

Kazutora closes his hands over Takemichi's, those strangely warm hands that pull him out of the dark. He rubs them gently, greedily clinging to the warmth and the care.

Without a word, he wraps his arms around Takemichi's back and pulls him close. He rests his chin on Takemichi's shoulder, breathing in the quiet peace of the moment. His nose brushes against soft hair, and he inhales deeply-the familiar scent of mint mixed with sunshine.

His chest slowly warms.

Every time he holds Takemichi like this, every time he gets to have him in his arms, Kazutora wishes the moment would last forever.

"I just... want to know what it feels like. That day, I mean." His voice is low. "I still haven't really apologized to you for it. Takemichi... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for making you wait."

Kazutora waits for him from the fading glow of dusk until night completely swallows the sky. The streetlights flicker on, replacing the last streaks of sunlight. The sun gives way to stars.

It's not a long time. Not short either.

But it's enough.

Enough for him to understand what it means to wait for someone.

The anticipation. The restless hope. The nervous excitement.

Then the exhaustion. The brush of disappointment creeping close-

And then, the moment that person finally appears.

Joy bursts inside him like a spring breaking through dry earth, reviving everything it touches. When that person shows up, it feels almost miraculous.

Takemichi can tell Kazutora is more emotional than usual tonight. He knows Kazutora still carries that day with him, but he doesn't realize just how deeply it's buried in his heart.

He pats Kazutora's back gently.

"It's okay, Kazutora. That's in the past now. Let's go inside, yeah?"

It takes Kazutora a moment before he nods, letting Takemichi pull him into the house.

Takemichi's parents are clearly surprised by a guest this late, but they let the two of them be. They even suggest that if Kazutora doesn't mind, he can stay the night-apparently his house isn't exactly close.

"Not exactly close" is a polite way to put it. Back then, Takemichi used to walk the opposite direction every morning just to wait for Kazutora so they could go to school together. His commute is almost twice as long because of it.

In Mrs. Hanagaki's eyes, they're still just kids who need to stay safe and shouldn't be out past ten at night.

(Though in reality, they stay out all night more often than not.)

Hearing that, Takemichi immediately perks up and excitedly urges Kazutora to stay.

Kazutora hesitates, shy about the idea-

...but in the end, he agrees.

The two of them eat dinner together and talk about their day.

When Kazutora asks why he gets home so late, Takemichi tells him about everything that happens. He complains a little-Black Dragon has been insanely busy lately. There are internal issues to settle, then clients to meet. Now that Takemichi becomes a well-known captain, he can't just let Kokonoi handle those meetings like before. These days, he has to show up in person if he wants people to trust them.

Sometimes he honestly doesn't get it-what about this baby-faced look of his makes anyone feel reassured? Back then, he worries that this face won't command enough respect at the negotiation table, so he always lets Kokonoi-with his sky-full of experience-deal with that kind of thing. Takemichi only joins in certain matters, like mediating disputes between gangs.

Even when he first becomes captain, things aren't smooth. Some of his own men don't accept him, and outside gangs openly look down on him. Still, Takemichi has every right to feel proud-he handles everything peacefully in the end.

Kazutora only nods as he listens.

He doesn't know if Takemichi realizes it or not, but that period is when Takemichi starts to change-drastically. So drastically that sometimes they feel like he's turning into a stranger.

After dinner, they clean up together. Takemichi finds some potato chips downstairs and brings them up to his room. He stuffs a set of pajamas into Kazutora's hands, then promptly shoves him into the bathroom while Kazutora stands there blankly staring at the clothes.

Holding the T-shirt with a cartoon bear printed on it, Kazutora can't help but laugh. Everyone in Toman knows Takemichi has terrible fashion sense. When he starts living with his "other personalities," his style changes-simpler, a little more tasteful. But his home clothes? Still pure Takemichi.

At least they smell like him, so Kazutora doesn't hate them. Actually, this is Takemichi's "territory," so everywhere smells like him. From the body wash to the shampoo, the scent feels stronger than ever-almost like he's holding Takemichi in his arms. Kazutora can feel his face burning as indecent thoughts start creeping in.

When he comes out of the shower, it's even worse. He's wearing Takemichi's clothes, and yeah-they're way too cute compared to his sharp, undeniably yankee face. The tiger tattoo on his neck clashes horribly with the little bear on the shirt.

Takemichi laughs like he hits the jackpot. At this point, Kazutora bets one hundred percent that Takemichi deliberately picks the cutest shirt he owns-so cute he probably doesn't even dare wear it much himself-just to mess with him.

"Takemichi, you do this on purpose, don't you?"

His half-hearted denial falls apart because he can't stop laughing.

But at least it makes him laugh. It's been a long time since Kazutora sees Takemichi laugh that freely. Takemichi with a smile is still the warmest, softest thing in the world.

Takemichi finally holds back his laughter and goes to shower. Kazutora wanders around the room. It looks the same as the last time he comes here, which is quite a while ago.

This is the first time he stays over at Takemichi's place.

He feels strangely nervous.

Kazutora can't help thinking-why does he feel like some teenage girl sleeping over at her boyfriend's house for the first time?

The room is familiar, and yet he finds himself growing curious.

The first time he comes here, he teases Takemichi, asking if he hides any dirty magazines in his room. Takemichi answers calmly, without even blinking, that he doesn't.

Of course Kazutora knows there aren't any. One look at the way Hinata and Takemichi love each other says it all. Even holding hands makes them blush, shy and awkward, and it takes them forever to act natural about it. Their love tastes like vanilla-sweet, gentle, unmistakably teenage.

In Japan, a place where thirteen is already the legal age of consent, the two of them are almost absurdly pure. Kazutora feels a flicker of jealousy, yet he can't help admiring the love they share.

Absentmindedly looking around, Kazutora somehow ends up opening Takemichi's desk drawer. Inside, he finds a black notebook.

He freezes.

A diary? Takemichi keeps a diary?

The thought comes to him instantly-what if the answers he's been searching for are inside? But invading someone's privacy isn't right.

And yet... it might hold his secrets.

Kazutora hesitates.

Then suddenly, an arm sweeps past his face and snatches the notebook away.

He startles and whips around to look at Takemichi.

Kazutora almost forgets how to breathe when he meets his eyes.

They aren't the cold, detached eyes of any personality he has seen before.

They are Takemichi's own.

Sharp. Frigid.

Kazutora goes rigid, staring at him in stunned silence.

"Don't touch it."

The tone is dry to the point of cutting. The attitude is rough-borderline angry.

Kazutora can't get a single word out. Shame crashes over him, and above all, fear. Takemichi has never spoken to him like this.

Takemichi puts the notebook back where it belongs without sparing Kazutora a glance. The lighthearted atmosphere from just moments ago turns heavy, bitter on the tongue.

I need to explain.

I need to apologize.

He's going to hate me.

He's going to hate me.

He's going to hate me.

Before Takemichi can walk away, Kazutora dazedly grabs the hem of his shirt. His voice trembles as he calls his name.

"Takemichi..."

Takemichi doesn't answer. He stands there, trying to steady his breathing. He's irritated-at himself more than anything.

Why do I act like that?

Why can't I just smooth things over?

Why do I always end up so harsh and unpleasant?

The sedatives he takes don't help at all. If anything, they only leave his head foggy and heavy. He can't regulate his emotions. When is this ever going to end? A familiar ache begins to throb at his temples.

It feels like something is forcing me into madness.

When Takemichi doesn't respond the way he usually does, Kazutora's body suddenly trembles. Panic seeps in. He clutches him tighter.

"I'm sorry, Takemichi, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry, I just-"

His thoughts are in chaos. He wants to explain, but nothing coherent comes out. Fear and helplessness well up so fiercely he feels like he's about to cry.

"Please... don't hate me."

His throat closes up. His chest aches. The plea spills out in a broken whisper.

Kazutora is afraid.

Afraid of making mistakes again. Afraid of being hated. The fear runs deep.

Even now, living in the warmth of having Baji, Chifuyu, Takemichi-and Toman-by his side, his soul still belongs to a wounded child who carries scars too deep to heal easily. He lives with inferiority, shame, and quiet sorrow coiled inside him, always bracing for something to go wrong.

These peaceful days only make him more timid. He's terrified that one day he will be the one to ruin this happiness again. He grows sensitive to every shift in tone, every glance, constantly careful, constantly on edge.

A child raised in domestic violence. A child so pitiful he once lets himself be deceived just to avoid feeling alone. A child who, after finally finding his hero, ends up killing that hero's older brother with his own hands.

A twisted psyche inside a shattered heart.

How long does it take for a child like that to truly heal?

Kazutora keeps his head bowed, staring at nothing but his own hands clutching the hem of Takemichi's shirt. He is terrified-terrified of seeing that cold, distant look on his face.

When the tears almost spill, Takemichi's hand suddenly closes around his. Kazutora looks up at once-then freezes. Tears are streaming down Takemichi's cheeks.

Takemichi cries because he suppresses himself. He knows he shouldn't act like that. As if he is the only one here who is hurting-then turning that hurt into a blade to wound someone else.

Why is he like this?

Since when does he-someone who always wants everyone around him to smile, to be happy-become the one who makes his friend suffer like this? First he makes them worry. Then he makes them hurt.

I'm such a hateful person. They should yell at me. They should tell me to stop acting like I'm the only one the world ever wounds. If I'm like this, I don't deserve their care. I truly hate who I am right now.

Kazutora panics, fumbles for a moment, and in the end can only pull him into his arms. Takemichi buries his face against his chest and sobs.

Hearing him cry only makes Kazutora tighten his hold. His nose burns, his vision blurs, and he can't hold back anymore. Tears fall endlessly from his own eyes as well.

Two teenage boys-each carrying a wounded child inside their hearts-search for comfort in the warmth of each other's embrace.

===

Author's notes:

In 2023, Japan changes its law, raising the age of consent from thirteen to sixteen.

Kazutora is a victim of domestic abuse.

Takemichi is a victim of school bullying.

Invading someone's privacy is never okay. Even if you're young, getting angry over that is completely understandable.

For people who are mentally unstable, even the smallest thing can send their mood crashing from happiness straight down to the bottom.

In the Bonten future, after Takemichi dies, Kazutora definitely feels overwhelming guilt. He tortures himself with it. He might even fall back into psychological wounds that feel just like they do twelve years ago. It's not just that he struggles to face Hinata - once again, he struggles to face Chifuyu too.

I really want to read a fanfic that drops romantic hints yet still manages to fully portray everyone's pain after Mikey and Takemichi die together in that future. I'd probably cry myself unconscious.

But do you guys think Sanzu would go that far because of it? Kill Hinata? Slaughter all the former Touman members? And then take his own life afterward? Honestly... it's not impossible at all.

===

My notes:

Sorry, everyone, for the late update. I actually planned to upload on the 28th, but for some reason I couldn't get into Wattpad at all. The following days got really busy, and I didn't have time to post until now.

I'm truly sorry, and thank you so much, my darlings, for continuing to support this story :333 It really means a lot.

Oh, and by the way - does anyone want to help make our author's dream come true? She's been hoping for a story about what happens after Takemichi and Mikey both... you know... pass away. If there's a talented soul out there who'd like to take on that idea, please feel free to step up~

I've even been wondering whether I should try writing one myself to fulfill her wish... but honestly, I'm not sure if I could do it justice, haha.