A/N: Hi again.

Dear Ms. Myers,

Thank you for sending an application to us. After careful consideration of our 21,040 applicants, we deeply regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you admission. Your academic and extracurricular achievements demonstrate remarkable talent, but because we receive many more applications than the size of our 1,000 student incoming class, we must decline the majority of them.

We wish you the best of luck in your college education.

Sincerely,

John Doe

Dean of Admission

The paper crumples in my hands, but I don't care.

'Sincerely,' my ass. Just tell me upfront: what wasn't good enough? My grades? My essay? Of course there're applicants better than me in both regards—at least a thousand of them. No, more than a thousand. With bleary eyes—I refuse to cry—I count the stack of opened letters on the dining table. Nine thousand applicants, all more remarkable and worthy than me.

I should've worked harder. I should've taken harder classes, participated in more extracurriculars, or done anything to be a better student.

"Another rejection?" Dad puts down the envelope he's holding and watches me with a weary smile. "It's okay, Blake. These are prestigious universities, and they're going to be competitive. But hey, you got into this one." He slides his letter across the table, and I'm already reading it before it reaches me.

I can't even remember where this college is located.

My disappointment must be obvious, for he says, "What's more important is the knowledge you gain there. And it's still a pretty good college, too, with a tuition that's less blatant of a scam." He snorts. "But don't worry about money. You can go wherever you want."

"All—" I cough to clear my clogged throat, but my voice still sounds hoarse. "All my friends are going to these." My hand falls on the stack of rejections. "I won't know anyone there."

"You can make new friends there."

Can I? You say it so easily, but it's not so simple. You don't understand. But I say nothing, knowing he's just trying to help, and look down at my lap. My eyes dangerously wander over to the stack of letters again.

Dad sighs. "You're a smart student, Blake, as good as your brother. Don't let this weigh you down. You did the best you could, but sometimes it—"

"Frank." Mom's voice cuts through the conversation, and from the other end of the kitchen, she switches off the stove. "Give her some time to digest it first. And Blake..." Her gaze softens, but my chest remains tight. "I'll cook some of your favorites tonight when you come back. Go take a break."

I stand up sluggishly. My feet feel as if they're made of concrete, and I stop at the doorway.

"I don't feel like dancing today," I say, and I instead trudge to my room and shut the door behind me.

---

I awoke to three raps on my door. "Blake, are you awake?" Youko's voice was muffled. "It's 10 o'clock already."

Sweat left my skin sticky underneath my blankets. With my eyes half-closed, I heaved myself upright in bed and slipped a foot out onto the floor. The wooden floorboards were ice to my bare skin. I hissed but continued hobbling to my door, where I twisted the cold, metal handle.

Youko waited before the entrance, resting her hand against a nearby cabinet. Her face brightened upon seeing me, the aged wrinkles around her eyes crinkling. "We didn't wake you up earlier because you returned late last night, so we wanted to let you sleep in a bit on the weekend. I'll warm up breakfast for you, so come down when you're ready."

"Thank you." My head bobbed up and down under gravity's influence as I lazily nodded back. "I'll be downstairs shortly."

"Don't rush. And if you're going out, make sure to wear some layers." She chuckled as she gestured at my T-shirt. "I don't want you to catch a cold."

"I'll dress warm." I nodded again, and she ambled down the hall.

I went to the bathroom to wash my face, then returned to my room to open the blinds. Pale white covered the sky, illuminating the street below in muted, monochromatic hues. I took a dark sweater out of my wardrobe and tugged it over my head. My eyes wandered to the full-length mirror as I straightened the sleeves, and for some reason, I stopped to look. My 14-year-old self peeked back past her blond, wavy hair with a small frown.

What was this tightness brewing in my chest? I'd woken up only a few minutes ago and had little reason to feel discontent over anything—aside from the temperature, but rather than plain annoyance at how cold it was outside my bed, this felt more complex, nostalgia blooming akin to an ink droplet in water. Did I dream about the past? I watched myself in the mirror, but after my mind remained blank for a minute, I shrugged and reached over my desk for my glasses.

Once I ate and thanked Youko for the meal, I returned to my room and checked the digital clock on my nightstand. 10:13. I'd best leave soon.

I removed my glasses, snatched a clip and bottle of hair gel, and strode to the bathroom sink. After dampening my hair, I uncapped the bottle and used my fingers to comb some gel into my hair and shape it, the routine familiar enough for me to close my eyes in front of the mirror. After returning to my room and dressing in my red jacket, I slipped my phone and wallet into my pocket on the way out.

I crept down the stairs and peeked across the hallway. Upon seeing no one, I approached the front door and slipped my feet into my sneakers. "I'm going out! I'll be back by lunch," I called. Youko replied in acknowledgement, and I opened the door with a sigh of relief.

My host father turned to stare at me from across the yard, midway through cutting a branch of a leafless maple tree with a pair of shears. The sleeves of his tracksuit were rolled up, exposing corded muscle.

How do you always catch me leaving as 'Frank'?

"Uh, I'll return by lunch," I said. "Bye."

"Stay warm," he rumbled.

"I will." He resumed pruning the tree, and I walked out the gate of our house and towards the shopping district, keeping my hands deep in my pockets and my jacket buttoned up to my neck. The city remained bustling despite the winter climate, yet pedestrians dressed in thick clothing of dull shades, rendered even paler by the sky's ambient, white haze. I crossed the street and walked along a less busy sidewalk until I arrived at my destination.

Through the storefront window, two groups of boys had gathered on opposite sides of the family restaurant to glower at each other. I eased open the door to quietly slip inside. The store's interior was temperate compared to outside, with orange light illuminating the booths on the other end from the storefront, but I rubbed my nose after smelling smoke.

"—doesn't ban smoking, but we do fucking ban causing trouble in public!" Peh-yan was yelling at the other group.

Whether on purpose of not, the ten or so boys smoking at the other end of the restaurant lounged at the tables underneath the 'No Smoking' sign plastered onto the wall. A pair of aproned waiters spied on the fight from the doorway of the backroom.

One of the smokers exhaled and looked at the fuming boy. "We don't take orders from you. And you're the one making a fuss, yelling in public like this." He dug a finger in his ear and flicked whatever he'd found in Peh-yan's direction. "Don't try and pretend you're upholders of justice, hypocrite. We're all the same—troublemakers."

The former Vice-Captain stalked towards them despite Hayato's attempt to grab the sleeve of his jacket, and a few members I recognized followed Peh-yan, their faces dark. In response, several boys from the other side began to stand up.

No more.

I raised my voice: "Could we calm down and talk this out peacefully?" Everyone's attention fell on me, watching as I strode from the entrance to stand in-between the opposing groups, and I tried to smile to present myself as unthreatening. "It'd be detrimental to all of us if the police became involved because we started a fight here."

The boy standing across from Peh-yan scoffed. "Who says we care if the cops come? And who are you to boss us around?" He sauntered over to stand a meter away and sneered into my face. Despite my body warning me to defend myself, I kept my arms loose at my sides.

Peh-yan took my side to glower back at the boy. "Frank, they don't listen to just words. If you want them to learn, you have to teach them a lesson the hard way."

"No." I shook my head. "There's no need to fight among—"

Peh-yan yanked me back by my collar as he caught the boy's fist on his forearm. I stumbled but remained standing to see my attacker retract his punch and spit his cigarette onto the floor. The former Vice-Captain surged forward and broke past a hasty block to crash his fist into the boy's cheek, and he cocked his other arm back to offload another—

"Stop!"

We all froze and watched Mitsuya pant on his knees at the restaurant's entrance, the pair of headphones around his neck swinging. The door slammed shut behind him, rustling the pages of the nearby calendar.

The Captain collected himself to bark out orders. "Peh-yan, don't start a fight. Don't cause a scene in the middle of the city." The accused boy pursed his lips, but he lowered his fist and stepped away from his opponent, who clutched his cheek with a hand. "And the new members, if you're going to smoke, then do it outside." His stern gaze fell on them. They grumbled among themselves but stood up and filed out the door without complaint. The member who'd attacked us glared at Peh-yan but followed his allies.

Only five of the twenty remained.

Mitsuya frowned, but he then strode toward the pair of restaurant staff nervously watching and bowed his head to them. "I apologize for the fuss my friends have caused. If necessary, we can leave." I blinked in surprise as the boys around me also lowered their heads, but I joined them.

"N-no, it's fine," a waiter said. "You've not caused trouble previously, and this is just, um, an accident. Please, just try not to let it happen again."

"I'll make sure of that," Mitsuya said. He came to us with an apologetic smile. "Sorry for being a bit late. You guys ordered yet?"

"Yeah, and we already paid, too." Hayato pointed at the nearby table where a few glasses remained. "Some soda and juice. Grab whatever you want. You too, Frank."

Everyone else had already claimed their own drinks, including the ex-Valhalla members (who'd left theirs at their tables), but refrained from drinking yet. Mitsuya selected a soda, and feeling the Division's eyes on me, I quickly took a glass of orange juice.

Mitsuya cleared his throat, and the boys grabbed their drinks and huddled in front of him, and by extension, in front of me. The ice cubes clinked in my cup. "To the new Vice-Captain of our Division!" He raised his glass.

"Cheers!"

I lifted mine, and as if under spell, the glasses of the members around me gravitated towards mine to tap against it in a series of discordant clinking. I brought the cup to my lips and drank a mouthful. The carbonated soda mixed in fizzled merrily, contributing a kick to the otherwise saccharine orange juice.

To think I'd become Vice-Captain...how bizarre. Perhaps I'd never considered it because ascending the ranks meant replacing the named characters of the series. From one perspective, I was an intruder, depriving them of their otherwise earned power, but in this specific case, Hakkai had relinquished his role to me. I hadn't stolen his position: he'd given it to me.

My drink went flat.

I lowered my glass and waited for most members to do the same. "Thank you for calling a party for this," I said. It was entirely extra, but voicing so would undermine their effort. "But I request that we also toast to Hakkai."

Mitsuya exchanged glances with me and nodded while raising his glass again. "And to Hakkai, for having been a great Vice-Captain and amazing friend!"

"Cheers!" The new mouthful fizzled.

Mitsuya continued speaking after sipping his drink. "I made a deal with Taiju-kun yesterday to help Hakkai protect his sister and prevent a war between our gangs, but it cost him his membership in Toman. Additionally, we're to leave him alone. I can't stop you from meeting with him, but I request that you follow it." The latter term matched with what Hakkai had told me.

Choruses of agreement resounded among the Division. "We'll respect it for him," one boy said.

Announcements finished, the Division fragmented into smaller circles. An old friend approached me with a wide grin. "Congrats on the promotion." Hayato offered his glass to me, and I tapped mine against it before we finished our drinks. "I guess you're technically my superior now. Ya grew up so fast..." He dabbed at an eye with his sleeve.

I chuckled. "Thanks."

The boy with the vibrant green mohawk beside us smirked. "Still a midget, though."

Hayato lowered his voice to stage-whisper: "We're not supposed to talk about that. 'Can't fight the genes,' Frank always says."

"When did I ever say that?"

"A minute ago, in my imagination."

"That doesn't count."

The green-haired boy scratched his head. "But it'll be tough to spot our new Vice-Captain in the crowd when he's this short."

"If you're having trouble finding me, then grow taller yourself," I said. "I'm not having any problems spotting your mohawk sprouting out of the crowd."

He opened his mouth to retort, then closed it. "I'll let you have this one 'cause it's your celebration." He left to talk with the others.

Hayato laughed. "I didn't know you could be this sharp! You used to be hella polite."

Well, compared to the first time I'd met the Division in this same restaurant, I had been more reserved. "I guess I've changed," I said, shrugging. "I've acclimated to Toman."

"It's nice to see you more relaxed. Imma go hang out with Jo."

I waved him goodbye before scanning the faces of the present members, scattered around one half of the restaurant. Takemichi wasn't present. Could he not make it due to a trivial issue, or was he busy with something else? I checked again, but I couldn't find him. Perhaps panicking over his absence would be an overreaction: I'd done such throughout the entirety of Valhalla's presence, and the battle had been resolved without death and Takemichi's interference—or at least, noticeable interference.

I instead headed to a table with a group of members whose faces I recognized but had never conversed with. "Hey, I don't think we've talked much," I said. "How are you all?"

They looked up at me from their seats. "Good," one boy replied.

"Congrats on becoming Vice-Captain."

"Yeah, congrats."

Their smiles were polite: no more and no less. I met theirs with my own. "Thanks. See you around."

"Bye." With that, they resumed chatting among themselves. I observed their relaxing faces and more animated movement while I walked away.

"Give them time to get used to you." I turned around as Peh-yan spoke up from the adjacent table, having apparently overheard the exchange while he looked at his phone. "They're your seniors, after all. You have to first earn their respect to be worth listening to."

"I figured so." Mitsuya had earlier dispersed the fight with just words, but he held the influence and respect from both his allies and the former Valhalla members needed for them to listen. In contrast, I was still relatively new in Toman and unknown outside of it. "Is there anything you suggest I do?"

"Nothing in particular. Just...don't back down. Fight for what you believe in, and don't half-ass things."

'Fight for what I believed in,' huh. I had goals and plans, but I'd grown increasingly uncertain if I truly wanted them. "What if I realize I've made a mistake?" I asked.

"I'm not saying to be perfect and do everything right." His eyes remained locked on mine. "But if you do fuck up, apologize and make reparations. The worst thing you can do is stay silent and do nothing. No one respects a person like that."

Blunt as always, but honest and earnest. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks."

I pulled out a chair to sit across from Peh-yan and talk with him. Mitsuya almost looked a little lonely at his table despite the boys chattering around him, but I didn't approach him until several minutes later.

---

"The person you have called is currently unavailable. Please try—" Chifuyu shut his phone, and the two boys sat on the park bench in silence.

Takemichi sighed as he fiddled with the buttons on his gakuran, his fingers restless. Maybe Baji really hadn't noticed, but based on the abrupt interval between the first ring and the prerecorded message, a cynical part of himself was saying that Baji had deliberately rejected their call a second time. "You can just tell Baji-kun whenever you see him. You two live in the same apartment block, right?"

"Yeah, we also go to the same school. But I tried to tell him earlier today what we found out over the weekend, and he didn't really listen—and then he started avoiding me after that." Chifuyu fell back on the bench and groaned. "He's totally doing something on his own again. It's probably the Black Dragons. I just know it."

How could they get Baji to work with them? They'd somehow managed to convince him out of recklessly attacking Kisaki, but now he was charging after another threat and being even more stubborn about it. Takemichi's success at recruiting a powerful ally was short-lived.

However, the Black Dragons had captured his interest in the past few days, with the new information he gleaned from the meeting. Maybe Takemichi was the hasty one, ignoring this new gang to focus solely on Kisaki.

"Oh, wait." Chifuyu hopped to his feet. "It's Tuesday and..." He checked his phone. "Yeah, he'll be home! Takemitchy, let's go."

"Eh?" But he stood up and strode beside Chifuyu through the small park. "Even so, what if he doesn't answer you?"

"Don't worry." Chifuyu stared straight ahead. "He'll open the door, a hundred percent. I just need to stick my foot in fast enough." Takemichi had no idea where this mysterious confidence had arisen from, but Chifuyu would know Baji best.

Resuming on his prior thoughts, the Black Dragons could be worth investigating: the two boys accompanying Taiju would end up as Toman admins; Hakkai was Taiju's brother and didn't seem to share good relations; Baji nearly lost to Taiju and looked determined to get revenge; and Kisaki spoke out to prevent Toman from fighting the Black Dragons. He wasn't so dense as to not notice how likely the Black Dragons played some role in Baji and Hakkai's deaths. Chifuyu had assured him that Kisaki couldn't be controlling them, but when it came to all matters Kisaki, Takemichi had learned to never get complacent.

"About the Black Dragons...who are they?" Takemichi asked as they crossed the street. "Does Toman have some sort of connection to them?"

"A huge one. Their previous generation attacked Kazutora, and Toman was created in response to beat them down. You could say we wouldn't be here if it weren't for them."

The Black Dragons had been that vital to Toman's formation? "Is that why Baji-kun's so supportive of a fight? Not just revenge on Taiju-kun for himself, but for Kazutora-kun, too?"

"Probably. But I dunno...." Chifuyu removed a hand from his blazer pockets to tap his chin thoughtfully. "Y'know how Hakkai said Taiju was doing this to get him, right? Maybe Baji-san also wants to help Hakkai. He's that kinda guy." A smile broke out on his face but immediately faded. "But they showed up at a bad time, with this Kisaki stuff still not taken care of."

They were quiet for a good minute. Takemichi followed Chifuyu into the apartment complex, and they stepped out onto the open-air stairwell. They climbed in silence until Takemichi voiced the doubt that had been beleaguering him the entire afternoon:

"Hey, Osanai-kun looked as terrified of Kisaki as he did last time, but even if he agrees to talk to Mikey-kun, would Mikey-kun listen to him and the others? They're just strangers."

"Yeah, they are," Chifuyu admitted. "But Mikey-kun's a reasonable leader. Hm, maybe if...wait!" His eyes widened. "Maybe Pah-chin can help us prove Kisaki's responsibility with the Moebius mess! We can write a letter to him. Mikey-kun'll surely listen to him, yeah?"

"Probably." Mikey would likely be more receptive to a friend, but... Takemichi didn't know; he still didn't feel like they could persuade Mikey, considering Kisaki's current popularity in Toman. But it was a start and better than doing nothing.

They walked out from the landing and passed the row of doors until Chifuyu halted at a particular one, yet the Vice-Captain didn't ring the doorbell. He just stood in-place and waited with his hands in his pockets.

"You're not ringing it?" Takemichi asked after a half-minute.

"Just wait five minutes or so, Takemitchy. He'll open the door soon."

Takemichi grew increasingly doubtful as five minutes passed without the door budging an inch, but he said nothing and played with his phone to pass time. When the door did open ten minutes later, he almost dropped his phone.

Beside the bespectacled, neatly dressed boy holding the door open was Blake Myers, dressed in her school uniform.

Everyone froze.

"Baji-san!" / "Chifuyu?" / "M-myers-san?!" / "Hanagaki...kun?"

Takemichi processed Chifuyu's outburst. "Wait, Baji-kun?!"

The black-haired boy's glasses slipped down his nose, revealing a familiar, cat-like glare. "What?"

"Oh, uh, nothing."

"Do you and Myers-san know each other, Takemitchy?" Chifuyu looked between them.

Yeah, she was the 2nd Division's new Vice-Captain under the secret identity of 'Frank.'

"Yeah, we're classmates. I was just, um, very surprised to see you here, Myers-san." This was his first time talking to her since he'd returned from the recent future. Maybe it was lucky that they'd never been very close, because Takemichi doubted he could continuously act 'normal' around her.

She fidgeted with her glasses. He'd been around her enough to recognize it as a nervous habit. "I do some tutoring on the side."

"Hey, if you don't mind me asking, do you have a brother?" Chifuyu asked.

Myers blinked. "Hm? Yeah, I do."

"Is his name 'Frank'?"

Takemichi froze. Crap, he'd forgotten that Chifuyu still suspected that Frank was Kisaki's ally, as Chifuyu wouldn't have the benefit of Takemichi's future knowledge! He might've continued trying to investigate 'Frank' and stumbled upon Myers as a potential key.

Myers clammed up, but to her credit, she regained her composure quickly. "No. He lives back in America, so I doubt you've ever met him."

"Really?" Chifuyu crossed his arms. "There's this guy who—"

"Myers-san, you're, uh, done tutoring, right?" Takemichi said. "We shouldn't hold you too long."

Her silver eyes flickered to him, and he tried to remain relaxed under her observant gaze. Eventually, she nodded. "I have some plans later today, so I can't stay too long. And Matsuno-san, you may be misunderstanding something, but I came to Japan on my own as an exchange student. I don't have any family here."

Chifuyu also glanced at Takemichi before responding with a chuckle and scratching his head. "Yeah, maybe I made a mistake. Sorry to hold you up."

"It's no big deal. Bye." She left for the stairs.

Once she'd disappeared past the landing, Chifuyu nudged Takemichi's elbow. "You see the physical resemblance, right? She's gotta be related to Frank."

He couldn't internally disagree after having seen the two identities in question on multiple occasions. However, he'd decided he would respect her secret—at least until hiding it proved detrimental to his quest. "Yeah, I kinda see what you mean, but...I can't explain why, but Frank-kun's not on Kisaki's side. Please, just trust me. There's no need to keep looking into him."

Chifuyu stared into his eyes, but Takemichi kept his gaze firm, and Chifuyu was the first to look away. "If you're so convinced, partner. I'll drop it." Takemichi exhaled and gave him a small smile.

"Takemichi, you sound like you know something about her."

"Huh?" Takemichi looked over to Baji, who'd taken off his glasses and untied his long hair while keeping the door open with his knee. Now, even if he was still in a matching school uniform as Chifuyu, Baji looked more like himself. "No, we're classmates—I guess we're more of just acquaintances. She doesn't talk much, but..."

Myers would risk her life and die in multiple futures while trying to save Hina and fight Kisaki. And even in the past during the times he'd seen her as 'Frank,' in that almost dance-like manner, she'd fight at full strength and stand up for what she believed in. She deserved her position as the 2nd Division's new Vice-Captain.

Takemichi guiltily felt jealous, but he'd done nothing to earn a promotion.

"...she's hardworking and noble, and I respect her."

"You sound pretty close, instead," Chifuyu said.

Takemichi shook his head. "We're just classmates."

Baji hummed and let his front door fall shut behind him, then cocked his head back to peer down on them, his eyes narrowing. "Okay, then. Now, why the fuck are you here?"

Unlike Takemichi, Chifuyu was unfazed by the shift in demeanor. "We've been investigating Kisaki and trying to find evidence to expel him. We managed to find a few guys who he slighted and were willing to come with us to talk with Mikey about it—"

"Okay."

"—and Takemitchy and I were also thinking of getting Pah-chin-kun's side of it to really convince Mikey that Kisaki's more harm than good!"

"Okay."

Chifuyu looked like he wanted to say more about their efforts, but his shoulders slumped, and his face fell in defeat. "Baji-san, you've been going after the Black Dragons instead, haven't you? And you've been avoiding us since the meeting."

Baji kept his arms crossed as he leaned back against the door. "You were calling me in the middle of tutoring. Of course I hung up." But he didn't deny Chifuyu's first accusation, and everyone saw the implication.

"The truce is in place—and this isn't the 9th Gen anymore. They've done nothing wrong to Kazutora."

The 1st Division Captain scoffed. "Who said I was doing this for Kazutora? He can take revenge without my help."

"Then is it for Hakkai?" Chifuyu advanced a step toward Baji, who didn't react. "Hakkai mustered the courage to propose this deal, so please don't ruin it for him. The Black Dragons aren't our enemy—Kisaki is! Don't get distracted by them—we have to get Kisaki out of Toman immediately. That's what you wanted before they showed up, right? That's why you joined Valhalla, wasn't it?"

Baji remained silent for several seconds, and Takemichi held his breath with anticipatory hope.

"You two, keep looking into Kisaki. I've got things to do on my own." Baji took out his key, and Takemichi's spirits plummeted as the black-haired boy opened his door and stepped inside.

"Wait—" Chifuyu grabbed the door but jerked back his hand before Baji could slam it shut on his fingers.

They stared at the unmoving, closed door to Baji's apartment.

"Shit!" Chifuyu angrily kicked the door and panted. "He's so stubborn sometimes. Why can't he just listen and work with us?"

The question sounded more rhetorical than genuine, but Takemichi still answered: "Maybe he's found something. Maybe...Kisaki's involved with the Black Dragons somehow, and he wants to go after him on his own again."

"Kisaki can't be controlling them. I told you, they're a huge, old gang with probably more reach than Kisaki himself. Moebius was nothing compared to them. And there's no point in picking a fight with the Black Dragons—Kisaki should be our only focus."

Even if Kisaki didn't control the Black Dragons, that gang was just too suspicious based on what Takemichi had seen since returning to the past. Would ignoring them in favor of Kisaki prevent Baji and Hakkai's deaths? Were the Black Dragons really irrelevant to that future?

"Yeah, we should...work together, whatever we do."

Was he on the right path?

---

What were Takemichi, Chifuyu, and Baji doing?

Nothing to break the pact, I hope. I need them to not interfere with the Black Dragons.

My schoolbag swung at my side as I strode down the street of the residential district, my house a few blocks away. I tugged my skirt lower to cover my reddening knees before stuffing my hands back in my blazer pockets.

Takemichi had looked as surprised seeing me as I had upon seeing him, but his awkward mannerisms didn't necessarily belie a serious, underlying issue. He didn't appear to act very differently around me since returning from the future, but that instance at the emergency meeting where he'd watched the developments with a curious but largely indifferent face...was that a good sign for this arc?

Chifuyu, on the other hand, was a menace that came too close to deducing my identity, or if his question had merely been a veiled facade, might have already done so. From that meeting a while back where he'd confronted me in private, he seemed to believe I worked with Kisaki. In Chifuyu's perspective, he was holding classified information regarding one of his enemies. If he knew, then I couldn't allow him to reveal it to anyone else. But if he still didn't know, confronting him would expose myself. And how would I convince him to keep my secret if he thought I was a threat?

I stopped in front of my house.

Waiting to see what would happen was unideal, but I had to focus on the Black Dragons now.

"I'm home," I called as I stepped into the foyer and pocketed my keys.

Shigeru emerged from the kitchen, a half-peeled potato in his hands. "Welcome back," he said.

I nodded and slipped off my shoes at the doormat. After hurrying up to my room to deposit my school bag on my chair, I returned to the front door to put on my shoes.

"Are you going back out?"

"Yeah. I only returned to drop my bag off along the way to meet a friend," I said back to my host father.

"Wait for a minute." Shigeru disappeared back into the kitchen, and I stayed at the foyer until he soon reemerged with a few slips of paper in his large hands, which he offered to me. I accepted them.

Three tickets to the aquarium on Christmas Eve. The cartoon turtle wearing a Santa hat smiled back at me.

"Youko just won them from the supermarket lottery, but we have an annual health check-up that day," Shigeru said. "We want you to go with your friends instead."

Christmas Eve could be inopportune for me, too, but I'd make an honest attempt to attend. "Thank you, I'll see if they're available." I slipped them into my wallet. "I'll be going, now."

"Take care." I waved back at him before I left the house.

---

It took me ten minutes to reach the center of the city at a moderate pace. I passed skyscrapers and digital billboards on my way to the cafe, whose interior lighting remained off with sufficient sunlight through the glass storefront. I pushed open the door.

"—not? Something you don't want us to see in there?" Emma grinned at the barista from her barstool as he fiddled with a coffee maker behind the bar, the sleeves of her collared blouse rolled up.

"Not really. And hey, your friend's here."

"Ah, Blake!" Her pale hair rolled off her shoulder as she waved at me. Some nearby customers turned to look, then returned to their business.

"Hey." I joined her at the bar counter and sat on the stool to her left, her right occupied by a paper bag the size of a small suitcase. I eyed it warily.

"Blake-chan, is there anything you'd like to drink?" The owner, a middle-aged man with graying hair, walked over from the cash register.

"Oh, I'd also like a hazelnut mocha, warm." I gestured at Emma's cup before taking out my wallet. "520 yen, was it?"

"Mhm."

The smiling turtle with the Santa hat popped out. I stared at it for a moment before reaching into my change to hand to the owner the fee.

"Emma, are you busy on Christmas Eve?"

She sipped her drink before responding. "Probably not. Why?"

I placed a ticket on the varnished wood counter, and she picked it up to examine. "My parents handed me some tickets to the aquarium for that day. Would you be interested in going?"

"Definitely!" Emma smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear. "I've only been there once, with my older brother and Mikey, but I remember it being really pretty."

Well, if Emma wants to go, I might as well ask Hina, too. I haven't fully repaid her yet, either.

"That's good to hear," I said. "I was...also thinking of inviting Hina-chan. Is that alright with you?"

"Yup. And now that I think of it, we've never all hung out together."

The barista leaned over to lower a glass in front of me, whipped cream floating upon the tawny drink and drizzled in dark fudge, and I thanked him before taking a sip. Emma pocketed the ticket in the meanwhile.

"But for the reason you called me..." I looked up and froze as Emma patted the bag beside her with a dull thump. "I have a bunch of clothes that I never ended up wearing very much. They've courteously allowed us to use their staff restroom, so let's go after you're done."

"But if I gotta piss, you better get out, alright?" the barista turned around from the bar cabinet to say.

The owner chuckled beside him. "Just use the normal restrooms, then."

I leaned away from the counter to better view the huge bag sitting on the stool beside her. "Um, Emma, are those all clothes?"

"Yup. Wanna see?" Curiosity winning over trepidation, I slid off my chair and peeked into the bag.

A sweater of sequins glittering in all colors of the rainbow stared back, the frills around the collar as delicate as strands of hair.

"...I did ask a favor, and I'm in your hands, but please don't go overboard."

Emma laughed and patted my back. "You said you wanna be a girl who's not you, and the opposite of mature is cute. Don't worry, Blake. I've got a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career, skills that, uh..." Her face scrunched up in concentration. "...make me a nightmare for people like you."

I stared back at her with a deadpan face.

"C'mon Blake, I'll give you a makeover! Just lemme dress you up cute."

Her ulterior motive was shining through, but Emma was helping me at my request, and this technically was what I'd asked for.

"...okay."

---

"How do you think Hakkai's faring?"

The glass storefront behind Mitsuya's booth cast his face in shadow, leaving his expression unreadable.

"I don't know," he said.

Such had he answered me at the congratulatory party. The condition for Toman to not contact Hakkai was more severe than in the story, but Taiju couldn't feasibly stop every correspondence with his brother, especially online, short of confining him to the house and denying him of the internet. Yet even his sister could pass along messages for him.

But I'd erred on the side of caution to text him with 'Blake's' number and kept my message indiscreet. Surprisingly enough, he'd blocked me: an unknown number.

Asking Toman what school he attended would expose my intentions, thus I could only rely on what information I already knew about places to contact him...

...I thought to myself for the third time as I peeked at the other end of the block, where several white-garbed boys stood beneath the raised, stone foundation of a modern house, about double the building area of my own. This was a wealthier neighborhood, with pruned trees lining the level street and condominiums and similarly wide houses across the block, all of which made the idling gang members more conspicuous.

Perhaps I was unlucky to have his home address, because I failed to conceive of any other avenue to talk with Hakkai besides this most obvious one. Leaving him alone was out of the question: I had to check in on him and if necessary, convince him and Yuzuha out of killing their brother.

"Hey, you!" I froze as one member pointed in my direction, and the others' stares followed his finger. "You've been peeping at us from there for several minutes. Come out, or we'll make you come out!"

I looked behind me, and upon seeing the street devoid of anyone else, stepped away from the gatepost I'd been hiding behind and slinked to them, along the way adjusting my beret while careful to not untidy my braided bangs.

Despite my initial concerns, Emma's constructed outfit kept me warm, a snug, knit cardigan over a thin black dress that flowed to my thighs. The dress was more accessory than practical, its neckline curving over imaginary breasts, but a circle scarf and dark stockings kept my otherwise exposed skin covered.

Damn, I'm wearing these stockings to school from now on.

I saw their eyes scan me from head to toe and linger a little too long on my legs. The shortest member whistled. Rather, Emma's outfit seemed to be working too well.

The tallest boy took charge and went to business: "What's your purpose for spying on the Boss's home?" he demanded.

I didn't have to feign my nervous fidgeting. "I didn't intend to spy, I was just shy. I'm...Hakkai-kun's classmate, and I wanted to check up on him." Some schools took winter break early, hence my vague and open-ended lie. As I didn't know his school, I couldn't research for a more fleshed out and believable facade.

There was a flash of movement from an upper-story window of the Shibas' house. My eyes lingered on it, but no further sign came.

"So you're Hakkai's girl? Tch."

I frowned as I looked back to the shortest, now-scowling member, the other boys similarly discontent. "I'm his friend, not his girlfriend," I stated. "I'm here, of my own volition, to see how my classmate's faring."

Their presumed leader spoke up again. "We won't let any outsiders in without the Boss's permission. If you're so determined to enter, then wait for him to return."

So, I wouldn't be able to avoid Taiju. The members standing guard didn't recognize I was from Toman, so I assumed Taiju wouldn't, either, but even if he failed to see through my disguise, he had the strength to effortlessly snap my bones if I triggered his short temper, and then I'd do more harm to Hakkai's conscience than good.

But if I had to face him to reach Hakkai, then so be it.

"I'll wait," I said. "How long do you—"

The front door to the Shibas' house opened with a quiet click.

"What's the problem?" A girl in a black sailor uniform strolled out and looked down at us over the railing, her brown hair flowing down her shoulders. Shiba Yuzuha's sharp eyes roamed over the Black Dragons members then me. She observed my face.

Crap. Yuzuha could blow my cover, even unintentionally. I can't use the guise of Hakkai's friend around her—his sister should otherwise know a friend whom he's close enough to disclose his address to, i.e. me.

I stepped up. "As Hakkai-kun's classmate, I got his address from the teacher and wanted to check-in with him—"

"We won't let any outsiders in without the Boss's permission," the tallest member repeated himself.

Yuzuha flicked her hair back and placed a hand on her hip. "She's my friend, not an outsider. I don't care what Taiju says, let her in."

Huh? I met her hazel eyes again and cocked my head, but she simply nodded.

"You're not even part of our gang anymore!" one boy yelled. "You think you can oppose the Boss?"

"So what? This is my house, too. I'm free to have a say. Let her in, or I'll kick you all into the dirt and let her in anyway."

It must've been a testament to her strength that the assembled Black Dragons members shut their mouths. Yuzuha beckoned for me to join her, and I crept toward the end of the lot, where a short flight of stairs led up the house's foundation, while glancing back at the boys. They glowered at me but otherwise did nothing.

The brunette waited for me at the porch, formed by the overhanging second floor. She tugged open the door as I reached her, and after her nod, I stepped inside the house.

The interior of the house wasn't much warmer compared to outside, and I pulled up my scarf to keep it close to my neck. White light streamed through the windows, illuminating the wide corridor and its adjacent rooms in pale tones. I stopped looking around to watch Yuzuha shut the door behind us.

"Thank you for the save," I said.

"Sorry you had to face that." She began taking her shoes off, and I copied her, bending down to stow my loafers in the bottom row of the shoe rack. "I don't know if you've known before, but Hakkai's had to experience this recently, so don't let this change your perceptions of him."

I followed her across the wooden floorboards to the end of the expansive hallway, where a stairwell led up to the next floor. "Yeah, I can imagine he's got a lot going on for him. But..." Hakkai wasn't the only person I had to be concerned about. "...how are you faring with this?"

"Fine."

We climbed the stairs in silence. Yuzuha might've aided me, but we were just strangers. Ordinarily, I'd have no business in her home situation, yet Yuzuha's motive for murder stemmed from her desire to protect her brother—if I could coax Hakkai into not hating his time in the Black Dragons and provide him adequate support and company, it could be enough to prevent Yuzuha from deciding to kill Taiju.

Yuzuha halted in front of an open doorway. "Hakkai, your classmate came to visit."

You have a mission. Fulfill it.

Mattress springs creaked. "Who is it?" Hakkai's voice grew louder as he approached, and he emerged from the room with quiet footsteps.

Hakkai looked little different from the last time I'd seen him, his face and body unharmed from what I could see past his long-sleeved shirt, but he seemed...tired. His quiet voice carried a breathy quality, and he'd slouched back to rest an arm against the doorway.

He froze upon seeing me. "Um...who are you?"

If even he couldn't recognize me in this attire, then I didn't need to worry about anyone else doing so. Ignoring Yuzuha's sharpened stare, I took off my beret and tucked my braided bangs behind my ears. "Not a classmate, but a friend. Emma had a little too much fun giving me a makeover." Emma's name should be enough to nudge him in the right direction, and there was only one American in Toman.

His stare intensified. His jaw dropped five seconds later. "F-Frank? Is that you?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Yuzuha nod and stalk away. Whether she recognized the name or not, I could at least trust her to not reveal my identity to the Black Dragons.

"Yeah." I chuckled. "I thought I'd just—"

He grabbed me by the shoulders to glare at me with a fierce scowl, but his hands trembled. "You can't be here!" he hissed. "You're breaking the pact—if he finds you here, he'll hurt you. I'm serious, Frank! Leave!"

"But you didn't recognize me, and neither will he as long as you say nothing about it." I kept my face calm to reassure him as I put my beret back on. "I'm not here with any malicious intent. I just wanted to hang out with you."

He scanned both ends of the hallway before grabbing my sleeve, tugging me along into the room, and shutting the door. Judging from the bed in the nearby corner and the half-open closet with a Black Dragons uniform peeking out, this was his personal space. The furniture was devoid of dust and the ground of debris—he must've cleaned his room recently.

A silver telescope sat on a shelf, angled up on its tripod to peer out the window. I pointed at it. "Do you like astrology?"

"Astronomy, not astrology. They're completely different. But seriously..." He rubbed his forehead and groaned. "I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want anyone in Toman to get hurt. You can't be found by Taiju."

I straightened my cardigan as I watched him. "I don't want Toman to get involved, either. I'm not here as Toman—I'm here as myself."

"Good! Keep it that way."

I paused as he threw his hands up in exasperation. "I don't want to be a bother, Hakkai. I can..."

I can't leave him alone to stew in resentment.

"...come back another time," I finished.

He shut his indigo eyes and gave a long sigh, tension seeping out of his shoulders. "You're not a bother, but Taiju willhurt you for no real reason, even if you're dressed up like a girl—"

Even through his closed door, we both heard the house's front door open and shut.

I winced as Hakkai clutched my arm, his fingers biting through my sleeve into my skin. "Frank, I'm not kidding, he'll really hurt you! Just—" His eyes shot around the room. "Hide somewhere and don't do anything!"

"I don't want to meet him either, but he's probably seen my shoes in the foyer—"

"Just please hide!"

I clasped his hand and tugged it loose from my arm. His palm was cold and sweaty. "I promise I won't anger him, Hakkai, but whatever happens, it's my own fault, not—"

"Hakkai, I keep telling you to not close your door. And who're you talking to?" a low voice rumbled through the door, and we froze as the doorknob turned.

Tousled hair streaked with white and blue, an overcoat the color of blood, and dark tattoos writhing over his neck and chiseled abs. Shiba Taiju strode into the room, his serpentine eyes darting toward me and narrowing.

I released Hakkai's hand and bowed at the waist. "I'm sorry to intrude, Shiba-san. I just wanted to talk to Hakkai-kun as his classmate." After holding my position for several seconds, I arose while readjusting my beret.

Hakkai's shoulder bumped into mine. "Sorry," he mumbled and backed away from me.

Taiju observed the interaction and scowled. "You, come talk with me in private." His glare at me made the recipient obvious. Not the ideal outcome, but at least he hadn't resorted to violence yet. I'd try to keep it that way. I patted down my dress and tucked my arms behind my back as I stepped toward him.

Hakkai's hand grabbed mine. "You...you don't have to. It's—" He cringed as Taiju's attention fell on him, and his fingers twitched. He was quite...timid. It was as if the boy holding my hand were a different person, even if I knew beforehand from the series that he'd cower in the presence of Taiju. I'd come here to convince him to stay in the Black Dragons and trap him with his abusive brother—no.

I'd simply come here to ensure the pact remained intact.

"It's alright." I eased my hand free from Hakkai's. "I'll talk with your brother."

His brow furrowed, but he made no further interruption as I followed Taiju into the hallway. I kept my steps light compared to his heavy tread, but my heartbeat rose in pace and volume the further we walked. He halted at the stairwell and turned around to peer down on me with a stormy scowl akin to a king's at a disloyal subject. White light from the balcony draped over him, and I stood in the shadow of his gargantuan build. I fingered the knit patterns of my cardigan as I craned my head back to meet his eyes.

Now that I was alone and had somehow annoyed him, I could better empathize with Hakkai's fear.

"You've got something going on with my brother, but if you ever hurt him, with words or violence, you're dead. You hear me?" he said.

Whatever you say, just don't piss him off.

"I won't do anything untoward to my classmate, Shiba-san." I gave him a polite smile.

I flinched back as he bent down to impose his face in front of mine, so close that I could see the vein on his forehead bulge and smell his breath. "I'm not fucking around. Do you understand?"

I stopped smiling. "I do."

He rose back up. "Good."

This was the guy who, in the story, accused Mitsuya of manipulating Hakkai. In addition, whether he'd been the one to propose Hakkai's complete isolation from Toman or not, he accepted it as a sufficient concession for the pact. Perhaps Taiju believed Toman was a bad influence on his brother, but if he controlled Hakkai's relationships with people outside Toman in a similar manner...

That wasn't a family. That was a prison.

"You're very protective of your brother," I said.

"I am." My eyes widened at his blunt acknowledgement. His brow relaxed, but his eyes remained stern. "He trusts people too easily, and they take advantage of him. You better not, too." With that, he walked down the corridor.

I loosened my scarf as I watched him leave, my body less cold after the confrontation, and let myself openly frown. Does he really believe he's helping? He's either hypocritical or full of himself.

But it was these kinds of thoughts that would get me punched. I shook my head and began heading back to Hakkai's room. My goal didn't involve fixing his family situation, if I even had the right to as an outsider, if Taiju could even be changed. Regarding Taiju, I only needed to not irritate him, and avoiding him was the most straightforward method to achieve that.

Hakkai jumped to his feet when I returned. "Are you—oh, you're okay." His shoulders fell, but his face remained pale. "I'm...sorry about that. My brother's kinda heavy-handed at times."

I padded across the floorboards to stand beside him. "You did nothing wrong," I said. "You don't need to apologize for anything."

He smiled with downcast eyes. "You're too nice, Frank. I yelled at you earlier, but really, thanks for coming to visit. It's a little...lonely in the Black Dragons."

I peeked out the doorway to confirm Taiju was absent before responding: "Even if your brother prohibited contact with Toman, you could still talk to them through calls or messages. He can't

detect every online correspondence, especially if you use anonymity or fake identities. The internet has countless methods for you to communicate."

"I've thought about that—I know what you mean, and I think it'd work, but I just don't want to risk angering him. If he catches even just one, then it's all...yeah."

While I understood his hesitance in defying the pact, Hakkai, scared of upsetting his brother in any way, seemed like he'd follow Taiju's orders in their intended meaning. And he had good reason to—Taiju wouldn't hesitate to punish disobedience with violence, and impulsive defiance was foolish. Hypothetically, loosening the pact's terms to at least allow communication with Toman would imply that Taiju granted Hakkai permission to do so, but Hakkai might continue to abstain, knowing his brother had previously disapproved. In the series, Hakkai's forced membership in the Black Dragons had been the final straw to a lifetime of abuse. It wasn't as simple as modifying the pact or informing him about practical options to escape Taiju.

Why does that matter? I'm here to ensure the pact remains intact. I can't allow Toman and the Black Dragons to fight at the risk of unpredictable casualties and deaths, even if it requires Hakkai to suffer.

His face fell in my silence. "Sorry to show you this uncool side of me. It's pathetic, isn't it?" He gave a derisive laugh.

Not only fear of his brother, but possibly low self-confidence and self-hatred about being abused.

"You've done nothing wrong," I said, and in his resulting silence, I hesitated over what to say next.

"I learned it was better to let people make their own decisions rather than decide for them. Hakkai knows what he wants best." Peh-yan's words from the meeting rang in my head.

"To be honest, he's always been violent to my family, especially my sister. I...need to protect her this time," Hakkai had confessed to me afterwards.

Did Hakkai really know what he wanted? Or rather, would his decisions be free of outside influence, his choices 'best' in relation to himself rather than the people around him? Would he act on his own wants rather than what he thought Taiju, Mitsuya, Toman, and even I wanted of him?

By that same logic, what did I want?

I want to save Hina and reach the 'end' so that I can return to my world. To best utilize my knowledge, I want to keep events similar, except for averting any fatalities. I want the pact to continue, but I also want Hakkai to be safe—I want both, and I can't have both.

"Hakkai...do you want the pact? Is this what you wanted?"

"'Want' is a strong word. More like, I'm okay with it. I'm not angry at Taiju, and it'll let me help my sister. And if not for it, I'd have never been able to see you like this." He chuckled as he patted my beret, and for once, I didn't lean away. "Weirdly enough, you look cute. Emma-chan knows her stuff."

It resembled the story. It avoided conflict. It had his verbal consent. Yet I still couldn't accept it with conviction.

Would you risk war? Would you risk destroying the storyline for the sake of one boy who's ultimately a side character in the context of the series? If you allow the pact to continue, he's not doomed to die. The best, logical choice is obvious.

But upon examining the blatant liar in front of me, the ends of his smile pulled too taunt and the hand on my head quivering, my heart—emotional, irrational, nonsensical—refused to be oppressed any longer.

I want to help Hakkai. Even if it costs a war, even if it's the harder task: helping Hakkai not only against Taiju, but against himself. I have no tangible plan or goals, only a desire to see him happy.

What I'd told Mikey wasn't a lie after all.

His golden earring twinkled as he removed his hand and tilted his head. "What're you lost in thought about?"

For this first meeting, simply keeping him company was enough. "I'm curious why you nominated me as your successor," I said. "I'm still a recent addition to Toman compared to the other members."

He plopped down on his bed and crossed his legs. Over a topic besides his brother, he seemed more relaxed. "You are, but I still think you're the best-suited to help Taka-chan lead. I dunno how to say this, but I guess you feel the most responsible to me. Like, you think before you speak—usually. Mature?"

"Thanks?" As an adult, I sure hoped I did compared to the 14-year-olds around me. "But I shouldn't stay too long and push your brother's patience," I said. His face fell, and I hurried to add: "I'll meet you again sometime soon. Are there any good places or times I can do so?"

He was quiet for a few seconds. "The past few days, I've either been home or with the Black Dragons. I'm never really alone outside home, and he doesn't want me to go out too much."

"How about school? Or does your school start winter break early?" His silence said enough. "I'll meet you tomorrow at this time, then. How about that?"

"Okay. ...thank you."

---

"Welcome—ah, Mitsuya-kun."

"Good evening," the boy replied as we ducked into the curtain of the ramen shop. I waved at the chef, a bandanna to cover his hair, before he returned to cooking behind the bar counter. The last time I'd come here was several months ago with Hina, after Mitsuya had introduced me to this place by hauling my unconscious ass here to have a meal together after I'd lost three fights in succession to him. Good times.

I followed Mitsuya past the line of tables against the storefront, but he abruptly stopped and looked back at me. "Is there anywhere you'd prefer to sit?"

"Anywhere's fine."

He hummed in response and continued walking to the table for two at the back corner. I sat at the seat across from him and unbuttoned my red jacket, the air warm closer to the kitchen area. I examined the paper menu laid on the table while Mitsuya used his phone, the sole finger he used to type slow and precise. A waitress set down glasses of water on our table.

She returned a minute later. "Have you decided your orders yet?"

I first glanced at Mitsuya, who shut his phone and nodded, before speaking: "I'd like a Tokyo-style ramen. No extra toppings needed."

Mitsuya waited for her to jot it down on a notepad. "Tonkotsu ramen with extra pork. Also, a chicken karaage, separately as to-go."

"To-go?" I asked once the waitress left to another customer.

"Since I'm eating out, I sometimes get my sisters something, too." He shrugged. "Tastes better than what I could cook for them."

I chuckled. "That's nice of you."

"They'd complain to me otherwise." He snorted and took a sip of water. "But let's talk Toman before we eat." I nodded. He'd called me out to dinner for that reason, and before I helped Hakkai return to Toman, I'd need to act as Vice-Captain in his place.

"As Vice-Captain, you have a few responsibilities. First, you should keep in mind that you're now a representative of Toman. I don't think it'll be an issue for you, but try to consider the consequences before you act, and don't cause unnecessary trouble with other gangs."

1. Don't be stupid.

"Second, you now have authority over our Division. Use it to moderate disagreements or manage them whenever you feel necessary—I'm leaving that up to your discretion—but still listen to and respect their thoughts. You're still one of them, first and foremost."

2. Don't get conceited.

"Third, you should..." He trailed off.

"Mitsuya?"

"Sorry." He closed his eyes and sighed. "I just realized it might be much to acclimate to since you just got the position a few days ago. Hakkai's been with me for over a year, so I've forgotten it could be overwhelming. If there's ever anything you need help with, just ask."

I shook my head. "It's alright, I can handle it. Don't worry about me. I might not have Hakkai's experience, but I can learn."

He met my eyes and thought for a moment behind an impassive face. "...you asked me earlier how I thought Hakkai was doing, and to give a better answer, he's probably struggling, but he's doing his best he can for his family. Honestly, I'm sad to see him go, but I won't stand in his way."

I hesitated to voice my inner thoughts. "Hakkai...didn't seem to be on good terms with his brother. Even if he's trying to protect his sister, I think that staying with his older brother might be a bit much."

"Of course, in an ideal world, they'd be safe from Taiju and Hakkai would still be in Toman. But this is the best I can do for him."

Ideally, Taiju wouldn't abuse his siblings and our gangs would be at peace with one another. Kisaki wouldn't corrupt Toman, and Hina would live to old age. But daydreaming of what could've happened accomplished nothing—to change the future, I had to change the world.

I'd free Hakkai.