It's been two days since the incident. You stayed home for two to commit to the promise you made to Mikey and Draken regarding rest. Your mind was in a swirl of confusion not from the traumatic experience, but the fact that someone likes you. And as you stand in the mirror drying your hair in a daze, you reminisce about the night Mikey professed his feelings, or so you assumed. You weren't sure what to make of it. Romance has never been something you considered. Work was all that filled your mind having a dream to accomplish. Now it seems your moral compass has diverged into an impasse.

'He likes me?' You thought. 'Seriously? How? He never shows up to class and I only know him when were kids. Even then we didn't talk much, right?' You tried to remember the times you've actually hung out with Mikey. There have been a few accounts where you two were buddies having to share everything. The kid seemed to forget his stuff like it was no big deal so you would practically provide for the both of you. "Maybe I'm miscalculating his idea of "like"? Maybe he means he likes me as a friend. Even so, that doesn't make sense as to why he would like me. All I did was be nice to him." You shut off the hairdryer and take a seat at your desk lost in thought. Your mind flashes back unexpected moments, repeating them as if they meant something. The way he spoke to you that night, his gentle touch, and the way he smiled as if you told a hilarious joke. Your eyes shift to his jacket neatly folded on your bed. You had washed it earlier in the day. The words in kanji lettering "Tokyo Manjirou". The surname belongs to Mikey. You wondered what it meant. An image of Mikey reappears making you blush. You shake your head refusing to think of the guy.

"What the hell. Why is he suddenly bombarding my thoughts? You whined. You spin forward and type in the meaning of liking someone. You needed to weigh out which of the two Mikey insinuated. The more you read about the difference between the context the more it felt as though Mikey meant it romantically. "You've got to be kidding me. Please don't let it be romantic." You begged as you proceed to do a deep dive behind the meaning. One of the questions in mind had to do with the meaning of someone lending one's jacket a sign of chivalry and love. It was still unclear for friends could do the same thing, but the diagram displayed on the website showed the statistics leaning more onto couples. This only drove you further into madness. You ruffled your hair letting out weird noise of annoyance. "What the hell does he mean by "I like you" and why the hell am I panicking over this crap? Who cares if he does it's not like I'm gonna say yes." You huffed flopping on the bed exhaustedly. "Damn it, Mikey...what did you do to me? Why did you have to say something stupid?" You hide your flustered face into your pillow squeezing it tightly as a source of stress relief. Before you knew it, you doze off.

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The next day, you consulted your teachers about retrieving homework missed from your absence. During the break, you overhear a group of boys dressed in baggy clothing and weird hairstyles down the hall. One of them named, Aakun asked the blonde-haired boy with a fohawk about Mikey. At first, you weren't sure if he referred to the same one you've been thinking about until he mentioned Draken. There is no one else with such a unique name around the area. "Lucky you, Takemichi. You seem to be having way too much fun with Mikey like skipping school."

"It's not like I want to. Hina is so chill about it but I know she wants me to focus on schoolwork." He said. You step out of the shadows with one thought,

'Maybe he's close to Mikey?'

"Excuse me." You pipped up turning all the boy's heads around. They all seemed surprised, drooling as they beheld your beauty. You instantly regretted approaching them, but somehow your curiosity overcame logic so you shrugged them off and focused on the target. "You're Takemichi. You're in the same class as I am right? My name is (Y/n)." You bow to him and he returns the gesture. "Oh hello. Yes, that's me." The air around the boy didn't seem as creepy as the rest of his friends. "I was wondering if I may have a word in private regarding Mikey?" It was then that the boys grew skeptical as if you now became a suspect. "Um...sure." The boy named Takemichi turns to his friends, "I'll be a minute" and walks alongside you to an empty classroom.

"Before we start, may I ask who you're working for?" You blink at the standoffish boy perplexed. So far everyone is on edge over the name coming out of your mouth. "What do you mean? I'm not working for anybody." You replied. "Then why are you asking about Mikey?" Your face suddenly grows a rosy color. "Because I want to know if he likes me romantically or platonically." You admitted feeling more embarrassed. It was at that point Takemichi also felt embarrassed to learn something unexpected. His shoulders drop discombobulated. "O-oh...well...Mikey isn't the type of guy who seems interested in romance." He sheepishly rubs his head. "So he's gay? I knew I shouldn't have taken it so seriously." The blonde jolts at your conclusion, "What? No, no, not like that. I just mean he's never shown any interest in anybody so I'm not sure about him having a love life." You hang your head slightly disappointed. "I didn't know anybody here has a crush on Mikey." You sigh heavily trying to act unfazed. "No, I think he has a crush on me." There is an awkward pause. You stare at the blonde dead in the eye but he seemed rather confused as if wanting to laugh. "That can't be right."

"Well, it's true, alright?" You growled offended once again by a total stranger. "He told me so himself two days ago when he walked me home. Draken is a witness. If you don't believe me go ask him yourself. I just wanted to know what the hell he sees in me or if he's pulling a prank on me." You plop down into a random seat saddened by the cruel idea. "Maybe it is a prank." Takemichi looks at you sincerely with remorse about his own skepticism. "Look, I'm sure it's not a prank. If Mikey says he likes you then he likes you. There is no lie in his words. I'm not quite sure if he means it romantically or not, but he took a liking to me and drags me around. The fact that he tells you himself means you're someone special to him." His kind words restore some hope in your eyes enough to make your heartthrob. An unusual feeling you've never had until now. "I'm guessing since he drags you around, you're close to Mikey?" You asked. "Ah, sort of." You furrow your brows and tilt your head. "He doesn't tell me everything but I do know a few things about him than most of his followers." Again you tilt your head. "His followers?" Before you could respond, the bell rings, and students begin to take their respective seats. "Awe shoot, we'll talk later, (Y/n)." He moves back to his seat leaving you with more questions than answers.

'What does he mean by followers?'

At the same time, Takemichi turns the corner only to be spooked by his girlfriend. "Gah! H-Hina?" Said girl stares daggers at the boy. "Who was that girl? Are you cheating, mister?" She pokes at his chest. "N-no, of course not. The girl I was talking to had a question of whether or not Mikey has a crush on her, I swear." Like an instant mood changer, Hina's eyes light up with excitement. "Awe, Mikey has a secret admirer? That is adorable. I am rooting for her." Takemichi sighs and cautiously follows her lead.

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After school, you waltz out of the building and bump into someone with an "oof" sound. Once you raise your head, you lock eyes with your worst nightmare. The thugs that nearly raped you. Your entire body jolts back, frozen like a deer in headlights, but what's most unexpected is the fact that the squad mirrored your expression. "Oh, sh-shit....I'm so sorry. Please don't tell Mikey anything. We didn't see you there." The group bows and takes off into who knows where. You blink your eyes a couple of times before breathing. "They ran away from me? Why are they afraid of Mikey when he's not here?" You think back to the evening of your attack and remember Mikey standing tall in the center of the field. "Maybe Mikey's ass-kicking did a number?" You mumbled.

Your attention diverts to Takemichi walking down the lane in the distance. You make sure to catch up with the boy. "Hey, Takemichi!" You halt in your advances. "Wait...what the hell am I doing? Why do I want to see Mikey so badly?" You stare at the jacket in your hands. "Oh that's right...it's just to return his jacket and nothing more." You told yourself. "Miss (Y/n)?" You snap at the blonde who had heard your call from afar. "Did you need something?" You trot to his side, "Y-yeah, do you know where Mikey lives or at least know where I can meet him?"

"I don't know where he resides but where I'm heading is where he will be. I can't exactly take you there since it's private." You step in asserting yourself. "Please, let me go with you. I have something of his I have to return." You reveal Mikey's jacket in your hands. "Is that his jacket?" He looks at you baffled at the fact that you were actually telling the truth. "Yeah." You admitted. "I can take it off your hands and return it." He reaches for the fabric but something inside you screams at you to refuse. "No!" He jolts back startled by your yelp. "I-I have to be the one to give it back as a way of saying thank you." You embrace the jacket close to your chest as you look down with softened eyes. It's evident to Takemichi that you weren't going to stand down, and in some way understood why Mikey has taken a liking. "Alright then let's go." He progresses causing you to look up to him grateful to accept your request.

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The sun sets fast and the streets light up the night. For a while now you've followed the blonde which felt like the longest trip ever. It made you wonder if he was even taking you anywhere. However, there is nothing you could do but trust for the moment. To spare the awkward silence, you decided to continue by asking questions about Mikey. "Hey Takemichi, why were you wary when I asked for Mikey?"

"I thought you were an enemy." You tilt your head. "Enemy? You make it sound like he causes a lot of trouble." The blonde sweat drops, "you could say that. He tends to do whatever he wants." He explained. "That's no surprise. He's barely in school." Takemichi chuckles nervously in agreement. "Still, you mentioned he has followers. What is he an influencer?" The blonde leads you up the stairs of an old shrine surrounded by motorcycles of sorts.

'Is there some sort of conference going on for bikers?'

"Do you seriously not know who Mikey is?" He stops halfway up the stairs concerned about your knowledge. "No, I don't. As I said, I know nothing about Mikey. He's the one who found interest in me." The blonde scratches his head starting to realize the situation is becoming precarious. Still, he proceeds up the stairs. "Mikey isn't an influencer per se. He's more of a commander." He revealed. "Commander? Commander in what exactly? A gang?" You scoffed hoping to laugh away the jitters. He looks at you awkwardly then presents you to a crowd full of men in uniform with the same lettering as the one Mikey gave you. Up ahead stood Draken and standing on top of the shrine is Mikey. "Well...yes. The Tokyo Manjiro gang." Your eyes widen in total surprise. Your legs shake, buckling at the weight of the news. What's more, is that Mikey is casually giving a speech setting ablaze the entire organization now cheering for their commander. It was all too much to take in and suddenly, you faint.