'...am I running away again?' That was what Takemitchi was thinking as he stared at the doorknob to the Tachibana Family apartment. He had thought about it—if he can go back, then he wouldn't have to face Kiyomasa! He can just live that old life of apologizing endlessly and just live on like normal!

...but did he really want that?

When was the last time he had even heard from the rest of Mizo Middle? Did Akkun become a hairdresser like he wanted? Did Takuya pass the mock exams so he can get into medical school? Was Yamagishi still studying in law school? Did Makoto manage to find what he wanted to be when he graduated from high school?

And what about his parents who were overseas? His aunt and uncle who took him in? His older cousin who basically taught him how to throw a punch and kick? How was everyone after he just went... radio silent for twelve years? Takemitchi didn't bother in contacting them in the present and he probably blocked their numbers.

Did he really want to run away again?

"Eh? Hanagaki-kun?" Takemitchi turns to see Hinata, and a split second, he felt something heavy weighing off his shoulders by just seeing her. "Tachibana? Why are you here?" He asks, and Hinata just scratches her head. "Uh... why? Because that's my house...?" She answers, pointing to the name plate that was above the mailbox.

The realization hits him pretty quickly and he wanted to mentally slap himself for asking the question. "...oh, yeah." He scratches his head in embarrassment. "My bad—" "Did you get into another fight again?" Hinata asks suddenly, her face close to his. "...the injuries look pretty bad this time..." she added, her tone and expression showing concern. "Are you okay?"

"Uhm, yeah." Takemitchi replies, his eyes averting to the ground before giving Hinata a closed-eye smile and a thumbs up. "Really, I'm okay."

A sigh comes out of Hinata's lips as she walks to the other side. "Why do boys always get into fights?" She asks as she leans against the wall. "If only I were a boy too." She says and she lets out a grin. "And then... Hiyah!" She punches the air, then retracts her fist and gives Takemitchi the same closed-eye smile. "I'd protect you, Hanagaki-kun! I trained in karate, so if I were a boy I'd be pretty strong already!" She exclaims.

Takemitchi's gaze softens at her before looking straight ahead. "In that case..." He punches the air as well, letting out a confident smile. "I'll also protect you, Hina." There was a bit of a silence before he blinks in realization.

Did he just call her "Hina"?

"Ah, sorry." Takemitchi scratches the back of his head. "I got caught up in the moment..."

"It's okay." Hinata reassures, and she smiles again. "I like it better that way."

Takemitchi lets out a laugh at that, and Hinata does too. "But I'd be better at protecting," Hinata adds, her gaze averting to the side. "Because Takemitchi-kun's a big crybaby. If I was a boy, I'd definitely be stronger than you." She adds.

"Eh? C'mon, that ain't true!" Takemitchi defended, a tinge of red blush also appearing on his face. "When you say 'crybaby', it's referring to that one time, aren't you?"

"Was it that one time?"

"Forget about it!"

"No, I won't~"

They had their laugh again before Hinata says her goodbyes and goes back inside the apartment. The smile on Takemitchi's face becomes... a bit more determined now. She's the reason why he came back in the first place.

As he exits the building, he glances up and finds that Hinata was outside again on the balcony. And though Takemitchi couldn't see it, her face was slightly red as she waves goodbye with a soft smile.

Takemitchi smiles a little at that and waves back, before heading off into the other direction.

The streets of Shibuya were quiet that night. 'In twelve years... back in my timeline...' Takemitchi thinks to himself as he crosses the road. 'Hina and I aren't together anymore, and I haven't heard from her in years after I left here.' He stops walking as this thought occurs.

Takemitchi didn't have any obligation to save Tachibana Hinata, and yet...

"I'd protect you, Hanagaki-kun!"

Tears started to stream down his face again. Seeing Hinata smile like that and saying that to him...

"She shouldn't die..." Takemitchi says to himself. "I can't let her die...!"

(July 07, 2005)

"Takemitchi!"

It was already the next day and Takemitchi and the rest of Mizo Mid were already back in school. As soon as he hears his name, he looks behind him to see Takuya running towards him. Once he did catch up, they both start walking. "Why'd you lose to a guy like him? That's not like you." Takuya tells him. "I've seen you punch before, you can handle those kinds of punches! I don't want you complaining about Hiyori-san nagging about you when she hears about you losing against that guy!" He added, sounding exasperated with the event that transpired yesterday.

"Listen up, Mitchi! I'm gonna show you how to do a left hook!"
"Hiyori-san, you said you were going to teach me math...?"
"Well, I'll change it to Gym!"

'Hiyori-san...' The last Takemitchi ever heard from his older cousin in the present timeline was that she started living in a house with a bunch of other people somewhere in a town that was near to Yokohama. He remembered that day where they both packed up, sitting on the bus as it was going to be their last ride together.

"Try and call if you're able to, Takemitchi." Were the last words she said to him before the bus rode away, leaving Takemitchi in the city.

He never called her.

"Hey, are you even listening?" Takemitchi snaps out of his thoughts when Takuya waves his hand in front of him.

"H-Huh? Oh, uh—" Takemitchi cleared his throat. "I was! And if you're going to tell Hiyori-san about the fight, don't bother!"

"So you're concerned about that rather than getting beat up again!?" Takuya exclaims, looking at Takemitchi as if he was insane.

"Takuya, you've seen her get mad!" Takemitchi says in defense. "Did you remember when you accidentally ate her chocolate and I had to cover for you so you wouldn't get hit?"

"If you even think about getting my food again, I'LL WHIP THE WILL OUT OF YOU!"

Takuya shuddered at the memory. "I will never look at chocolates the same way ever again..."

"Oi," Both turn their heads to see Makoto, Yamagishi, and Akkun just outside of the boys' bathroom. "Get in."

Once they were inside, Yamagishi was already using the toilet. Makoto was giving him a disgusted look. "You could've taken a piss earlier?"

"I did try to ask, okay!? Let's see you try holding in piss for thirty minutes!" Yamagishi says in defense. "And don't look at my dick, you pervert!"

Makoto just rolls his eyes at that, but his expression changes when he realizes the mood became tense. Takuya was leaning against the wall, eyes closed and hands in his pockets. "Kiyomasa-kun just called me," Akkun starts, his voice solemn. "They said that they'll be doing another underground fight today."

"They've been doing it nearly everyday," Makoto pointed out.

"And he said the fighter today is Takuya," Akkun continued.

"Hah!?" Both Makoto and Yamagishi look at Akkun in horror, with Yamagishi quickly fumbling for his pants and belt. Takemitchi looked at Takuya, who just stayed silent as he opened his eyes at the mention of his name.

"Hey... hey, is Yamamoto okay?"
"He's not moving! And I paid all my savings for this fight!"
"Guys, I think he's gonna die at this rate!"
"Hah!? They're just being idiots and—HEY! YOU LITTLE FUCKERS!"

"Hurry! He'll collapse!" Takemitchi, Makoto, Yamagishi, and Akkun ran down to where Takuya was, who was already standing still and was on the verge of collapsing. Takemitchi was the first to get to him, slinging his arm around his shoulders. "It's gonna be okay, Takuya! We're going to call an ambu—!" His sentence was cut off when Akaishi punches him square in the face, causing Takemitchi to let go of Takuya and he falls to the ground. His mouth was bleeding and it looked like he wasn't going to move any time soon. "You get your asses back up the crowd and stay there!" Akaishi grabs Takemitchi by his hair. "When will you and your friends get it!? We own you! We call the damn shots, and all you have to do is FOLLOW OUR ORDERS!"

"TAKUYA...!" Takemitchi throws a right hook to Akaishi's face and he falls down. "Takuya! Takuya!" Takemitchi holds him in his arms, already crying at the sight of his childhood friend.

Takuya only coughs up blood. "Ta...ke...mit...chi..."

Yamamoto Takuya was one of the weakest fighters in their gang of five, since he had a weak body. Takemitchi remembered the incident all too well, since he could never forget how Takuya's parents were crying, hoping that their child would manage to survive.

The only saving grace that Kiyomasa gave was that Takuya wasn't going to be in any fights, but was delegated to being an errand boy like Masaru.

"Takuya can't do it!" Yamagishi tells him.

"He's not good at fighting, he'll fall face down!" Makoto added.

"Say that to Kiyomasa-kun," Akkun says, his voice showing both anger and worry. "If I could take his place, I would." He added. It was then Takemitchi noticed a purple bruise on Akkun's right cheek, just below his eye. 'Akkun... he tried to cover up for Takuya...' Takemitchi thinks to himself, and Akkun looks away once he notices Takemitchi and Takuya staring at the bruise. "They won't listen to what everyone says."

"Akkun..." Yamagishi's fear just turned into worry.

"Thank you, Akkun." Takuya speaks up after a while, smiling a little.

"I couldn't do anything," Akkun says, looking at Takuya.

Takuya then looks at Takemitchi. "Takemitchi," He calls out, and he lets out a grin. "Watch my fight!" He puts his fist to Takemitchi's chest. "I'm gonna get revenge for you. Treat me for some gyudon if I win." He added.

"Takuya..." Takemitchi looks at him in a new light now, seeing that Takuya wasn't giving up in this despite knowing the consequences.

The other three stay silent, before Makoto lets out a scoff. "Dammit..." He shakes his head, then looks at Takuya. "Anyway, keep your spirit up." He tells him. "You can't lose when it comes to determination!"

"Yeah, I know." Takuya says as he looks at his fist.

"Do you best, Takuya—!" Yamagishi was about to say and tries to pat his shoulders, but Takuya grabs his wrist before doing so, giving him a bit of a disgusted look. "Wash your hands first, Gishi." He says, and Yamagishi looks at him, bewildered.

Makoto laughs. "Aww man, don't tell me you don't wash your hands when you finish taking a dump!"

"Gross." Akkun covers his nose and backs away, though it was evident that he had a smirk on his face.

"Fuck off!" Yamagishi gives them the middle finger, his face red with embarassment.

'I had thought they were so lame...' Takemitchi thinks to himself. He had thought that his gang, Mizo Middle, was just a stupid thing to be in. But looking back now... he realizes that it was the opposite. 'But they're actually pretty cool.'

"Hey, why's Takemitchi looking relieved?" Makoto asks suddenly.

Yamagishi smirks. "Maybe I'll touch his face with this hand!"

"Eh? Ah!? What the—Oi, Yamagishi!" Takemitchi backs away when Yamagishi tries to touch his face. "Get your piss-smelling hand away from me! Takuya, Akkun! Help me here!"

The other three were just laughing but eventually Akkun did grab Yamagishi's wrist to stop of what was going to be one of their grossest fights yet, and Yamagishi washes his hands soon after.

'I had such great friends when I was in middle school...'