A/N: I've been waiting for this pun since I decided on the theme for this arc's titles. At long last, it's here. 

I'm curious how the pacing feels to you readers. If you don't mind giving feedback, do you think scenes are longer than necessary, Blake monologues too long and/or too often, etc? Conversely, would you prefer a bit more fluff that doesn't necessarily contribute to the plot? Any comments, positive or negative, are appreciated.

"Ah, you're that girl that I heard came yesterday, aren't you? I see that the Boss didn't assault you—that's the best invitation he can offer, so welcome in."

After a prolonged stare at the smiling boy holding the door open to me, I shrugged, wiped my shoes at the doormat, and stepped into the Shibas' house with a muttered "sorry to intrude."

Despite the sun shining through the cracks of the cloud-covered sky, bestowing much-needed warmth after the morning's onslaught of rain, the house remained cool. I balanced my unused umbrella against the shoe rack and buttoned up my jacket. The house was silent aside from the faint din of a television from one of the rooms along the hallway. "Is Taiju-san not home?"

"He just left," Kokonoi Hajime replied, his arms linked behind his white coat. "But his siblings are still home, to your luck. The little lady's in the living room, and the young master's in his room. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to work." I politely thanked him and watched as he left into the first room on the right, his overcoat swaying behind him.

I followed the path Yuzuha had escorted me along yesterday, ascending the stairs and taking the corridor along the right. The first room was not Hakkai's; above a dresser hung a framed picture of a smiling woman hugging the bob-cut, preschooler look-alike in her lap, the white wallpaper sparse in any other furnishings—I looked away and continued to the next room.

Hakkai sat on his bed, its sheets neatly done, and stared at nothing discernable. When I tapped his open door with a knuckle, his head spun towards me, and he jumped to his feet. "Frank, thanks for...coming back. You didn't have to, but you did."

"I wanted to talk with you, but I'll come over every now and then," I said.

His face lit up. "Thank you, I really mean it. Thank you."

Somehow, he felt...younger from yesterday. At least today he didn't refuse my visit, but this contrasting eagerness felt further removed from the boy I'd known as the 2nd Division's Vice-Captain.

It was an uncomfortable mood.

I switched topics. "Can you see anything with your telescope at night, from here?"

"Oh, yeah." He walked over to his telescope, its silver tripod glinting in sunlight, and delicately picked up from a velvet case beside it a clear, cap-sized lens. "There are some light pollution filters that are pretty decent. I also have some others that help increase contrast—" He pulled out a lens tinted red, and I came closer to watch him explain. "And a bunch of other filters depending on what I wanna look at, and—" He opened another case and presented a stout, cylindrical scope, one end covered by a grooved knob. "—some eyepieces for different magnifications."

I chuckled. "You seem really passionate about astronomy."

His eyes seemed to sparkle. "I've always wanted to go to the moon since I was little. It's just always there—except when it's the new moon or cloudy, of course—this little white spot in the night sky. Aren't you curious what it'd look like there, what kinda sights you can see in the galaxy?"

I'd never been too interested in astronomy, but even I had heard about some of the fantastic discoveries that would occur in the next decade. "I'm sure they'll be stunning, with new technology permitting deeper exploration of the universe. By the time we enter the workforce, there'll be expanding opportunities," I said. "Do you plan to be an astronaut?"

He paused before closing both boxes, his back to me. "I did. But with the way things are now, I don't think I can."

His voice was calm, as if in resigned acceptance of his future. But Hakkai was his own, independent person, and no one, his brother included, should bar him from pursuing his aspirations. By the same logic, Hakkai shouldn't feel coerced to comply with his brother's unreasonable demands.

The real fight laid there.

"You're not your—" / "But Taiju wasn't—"

Hm? I shut up and beckoned for him to continue, and he did so with a small smile and downcast eyes. "Taiju wasn't always like this. Y'know, when we were kids, he saved up his allowance for half a year to give me my first telescope on my birthday." As if he could see my raised eyebrow, he said, "Surprising, isn't it? Really, it wasn't very expensive—it's chump change compared to my current one, which he bought me a year ago, but I loved it at the time. I thought he was the best brother in the world.

"But now, I see him for what he really is. I think you know that I've been lying—I hate Taiju, I want him gone, but it's so frustrating that I just. Can't. Do. Anything. You saw me yesterday, all pathetic in front of him. If you hadn't come, Frank, I'd probably snap and do something inexcusable...like what Pah-chin almost did." His voice quieted. "Of all the guys from Toman, I'm glad that it's you who came—you're...easier to talk to."

I stood in silence as I processed his words. Hakkai trusted me enough to confide in to me. Or probably, after his cool, composed guise had been broken yesterday by Taiju, he no longer tried to hide himself from me. There was little point in continuing to pretend he had no issue with his current circumstances.

Regardless of the cause, this was convenient.

"Hey, how about we take a walk outside?" I asked. "The sun's finally out. I saw a rainbow on the way here; perhaps it's still there." It'd be best to talk about his home situation away from his house.

"Outside...?" He bit his lip. "Taiju might get angry that I didn't tell him."

"You can call—" I stopped. No, asking Hakkai to talk to his brother at this stage was insensitive. If he was worried about permission, then perhaps asking a different member of the Black Dragons would ease his concerns. He'd not been afraid around Inui, so his discomfort didn't appear to extend to the gang. "We can ask his representative officer, the boy downstairs," I said. "He doesn't seem very strict. Is that fine?"

"...okay." His voice wavered, but he nodded.

Despite shortening my strides, Hakkai lagged behind me as we headed downstairs. The temperature declined with each step down, a natural consequence to air convection. I padded across the wood paneling and entered the room I'd seen Kokonoi leave into. Hakkai followed me until the entrance, where he rested his shoulder against the cased doorway.

In the wide room, minimalistic in furniture, Yuzuha sat with her legs crossed on the couch across from the wide-screen television, watching a nature documentary at medium volume. On the couch perpendicular, Kokonoi typed away on his laptop, focused on his work despite the chicks cheeping incessantly on the TV.

The Black Dragons member noticed us first, his fingers coming to a stop. "Something you need?" Yuzuha turned around as I stopped beside her, across from Kokonoi.

"Hakkai-kun and I would like to walk outside for a bit. We won't go out too far—just around the block."

"No can do, sorry." Immediately resuming typing, he didn't look very sorry.

"Is there a reason why?" I asked.

Yuzuha shut off the TV and left without a word.

Kokonoi's eyes didn't leave his laptop. "The Boss didn't explicitly ban leaving the house, but I've seen how worked up he gets over his siblings. I told him I was busy, but he still put me on babysitting duty. I'm not going to risk incurring his wrath."

Kind of him to lay his motivations bare to me. If I could frame my request in a way such that it benefited him... "I doubt Taiju-kun intends to keep his brother locked inside all-day. It's unhealthy to stay indoors and immobile for too long, especially for his—for our age."

He shrugged, typed something, then responded: "Tell the Boss that yourself. Otherwise, walk around the house. Open a window. Eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep, pick up a hobby—"

I flinched as Yuzuha glided past me like a ghost, her footsteps having been inaudible, and stalked over to him to drop a wad of cash onto his hands. It slipped off his fingers and onto his keyboard, the bundle clacking across his keys. "That's what you want, isn't it?"

Kokonoi finally looked up. Impervious to Yuzuha's annoyed scowl, he picked up her offering, curled the bills in his left hand, and began counting, his right thumb speedily flicking through each note. The light flipping of paper persisted for several seconds, after which he rested his hands on his laptop and smirked.

"The amount missing from the last deal, down ten thousand yen? Surely, this can't be it." Kokonoi shut his laptop and placed it on the stout table in-between the two couches. The money slipped into an inner pocket of his double-breasted coat. "I'll grant you permission to take your walk, although I'll be coming with you. Some call me a buccaneer in business, but I'm not a fool enough to place a quick buck over my survival. The Boss won't be back until an hour or so—that's your time limit. Don't worry about anyone else spotting us, they're not foolish enough to rat on me."

"I'm coming, too," Yuzuha said.

Kokonoi's presence was fortunate compared to Inui's, who'd likely be stubborn about upholding Taiju's wishes. In the story, Kokonoi appeared self-serving, and rather than a motive as abstract as loyalty, greed was simple and unambiguous. Yuzuha's interference, a second time no least, was surprising but not unappreciated. I met her eyes. "Thanks."

"It's for Hakkai," she said. "Not you." Judging from her nonchalant tone, it was a statement and not an insult. I nodded back.

Hakkai quietly waited at the doorway during the entire exchange, his face a complicated mix of emotions. I smiled at him and tapped the back of my hand against his, hanging slack at his sides. His skin was as cold as last time—some sun would do him some good. "Shall we go?"

He watched me for several seconds with that indiscernible expression, his gaze wandering over my face, before his lips parted. "...okay."

---

I hadn't been expecting two tagalongs, but I couldn't back out now.

The puddles trapped along the sidewalk joints glowed gold under the rays peering out of the clouds. Petrichor hung in the air, and the streets were quiet aside from the rhythmic dripping of rainwater. I wiped my hand on my cardigan after we passed under a rude tree, whose bare branches offered me a bony middle finger.

For five minutes and counting, no one had spoken. On the residential sidewalk, wide enough to accommodate two people side-by-side, Yuzuha walked at the front, Hakkai a step behind her. I followed a comfortable distance behind, and our overseer brought up the rear.

How the heck am I supposed to talk to Hakkai now?

Regardless of if Yuzuha recognized 'Frank' (or even remembered when Hakkai had called me such in front of her), I couldn't allow Kokonoi to realize that I was from Toman at risk of defying the pact.

It was a dumb condition. Barring Hakkai off from his previous friends? Why would Taiju wish that: was Hakkai's membership in the Black Dragons not sufficient? Then there was isolating Hakkai from both his friends and society, using violence to threaten them into obedience, and simultaneously believing—excusing his actions by claiming they were for Hakkai's sake.

But we're finally outside. Even if there are unnecessary spectators, this is the best time to talk: I need to help him recover his self-worth and individuality so that he can resolve this abuse in a healthy manner—at best case, maybe they can somehow reconcile. I'll have to remain discreet as "Hakkai-kun's classmate," but in the short intervals I've met him as such, I've already seen plenty.

Hakkai seemed nervous, scanning the streets as he trailed close behind his sister. Looking for Taiju, perhaps. Quickening my pace, I caught up to Hakkai's side. His blue eyes dipped down to mine. "There's little reason for that boy to lie that Taiju won't return for an hour," I whispered. "He's tied his fate to ours—if we get in trouble, so will he."

"For the record, I'm not lying." I shot a deadpan stare at said boy ambling behind us.

Hakkai's mouth twitched upwards in a ghost of a smile, but his jaw remained tight. "I know, but it's...nothing." At the sound of footsteps from the other end of the street, his gaze flickered over my head but came back to meet mine, his expression almost guilty. I looked behind. It was only an elderly pedestrian, although she kept her head down, possibly after having spotted Kokonoi's distinctive uniform.

I tried to not let pity leak into my voice. "It's alright. I can't say I understand, but you've got a lot going on at home." Good transition. I watched the thick clouds extending to the horizon, still and unmoving, as I organized my thoughts. Despite the patches of sunlight shining through, the sky remained dark.

"Taiju-kun...is unreasonably harsh on you and your sister. Regardless of what he says, you're entitled to choose who you befriend or where you go—within reasonable limits, naturally. It's brave of you to endure it for so long, and you don't deserve to be treated like this, but his behavior will continue if he doesn't face any consequences. It might be scary," I acknowledged, "but if you make clear to him how he's hurting you, then maybe—"

"Can we...stop talking about this?" At his interruption, I looked back down to Hakkai, bearing that same, unreadable expression as when I'd secured permission for this excursion: his face looked relatively relaxed, with his lips resting in a neutral frown and brow uncreased. But now, combined with his avoidance of eye contact and the context of the conversation...

I fucked up.

He'd confessed his troubles to me in trust, and I'd squandered it twice: forcing him to leave the house and forcing him to talk about Taiju despite his clear discomfort to both. Too focused on instigating him to stand up for himself, I neglected to adequately consider his feelings. While he still found some respite in my presence—I hoped—I doubted he'd as easily open up to me again, not after experiencing my subsequent reactions. I'd probably gained his initial trust by patiently listening while indecisive over whether to prioritize Hakkai or the pact. Hakkai's wellbeing, of course, remained priority, but it'd not be a simple task.

"I'm sorry, you're still...no, I shouldn't have brought it up." I paused to swallow. "It was insensitive of me to tell you what to do."

Yuzuha halted at the head of our procession, and we were forced to stop behind her. Her long hair flared out as she turned around, and her sharp eyes fell on me. "Hey, talk with me for a bit."

This matter also concerned her: both a recipient of Taiju's abuse and a sibling to Hakkai, whom I'd just overstepped the boundaries of. I sighed quietly. "Alright."

"The little lady, speaking up again? The young master should grow some backbone," Kokonoi quipped, watching from the back with his hands in his pockets. Hakkai's head fell further down.

A car plowed through a puddle at the opposite side of the street, its wheels spitting out water as it streaked through the residential area.

"Shut up," Yuzuha said. "You're not a part of this conversation."

He shrugged, but his smirk persisted. "I guess not. Let's wait for the girls together, young master."

Yuzuha scowled, but she said nothing further as she beckoned for me to follow. We crossed the two-lane road. Hakkai's eyes met mine as I glanced back from the curb, but he immediately looked down. Trust was not easily regained.

Yuzuha watched our exchange of glances with crossed arms. "You're more than just his classmate, aren't you? You know what's going on with Taiju, and Hakkai's not shy at all to talk to you, unlike every girl his age."

I ran a hand down my hair and readjusted my beret. If she thought I was a girl (and I was), then she didn't know I was from Toman. While I doubted Yuzuha would intentionally expose to the Black Dragons my allegiances, trust took time to earn. "I lied. I don't attend his school, but...I'm just a friend. A concerned one."

She nodded. "Thank you for that, for supporting him. But don't try to guilt him into fighting back against Taiju." Her hands fell to her sides as she straightened up, her full height surpassing mine by several centimeters. "You don't know what you're doing."

"I didn't guilt—" I stopped. My intention had been to inspire him to confess to Taiju his struggles in hopes of reconciliation, but there was no point in getting defensive. "I don't know what I'm doing," I admitted. "I...wished your family could come back together, without considering your or Hakkai's feelings."

Just like with Hina's father, I'd imposed my ideals of family onto others with arrogant ignorance.

The 15-year-old girl gave a bitter laugh, the grating quality to her voice resemblant of a sob. "Yeah, I wished that, too. I told him he was hurting us so, so many times. But he never changed. Now, at best, I just want him to leave us alone."

And, with Kisaki's coaxing, murder was your answer, just as it was Hakkai's.

"I'm worried you'll do something impulsive and dangerous," I said. "Don't. You shouldn't—"

"Then what can I do?" Composure abandoned, Yuzuha surged toward me, her eyes blazing. I instinctively stepped back, and my hands rose in front of me. "All Taiju has done has hurt us, and that's all he's still doing. I'm not just going to let this continue forever—Hakkai's my little brother, and I will protect him, no matter what I have to do."

"But there are other options." I kept myself from flinching as her gaze resharpened. "Domestic abuse is a serious issue in Japan, and there are resources, government and privately owned, that exist for that reason. Maybe you're worried that you'll be caught for living without a legal guardian, but it's—"

"He told you that?" Surprise flitted across her expression.

Oops. "Not directly, but I inferred it. He...doesn't talk about his family much. But there are other options," I repeated. "Options that'll keep both you and Hakkai safe from him."

She was silent for a moment as she stepped out of my personal space and took a deep breath with her eyes closed. Upon reopening, her eyebrows drew back down into a glare, her face calm and resolute. "I'm not going to run anymore with Hakkai. I'm his older sister, and I'll take care of this myself."

Even after Takemichi saved Taiju's life, the Toman he saw in the future had remained corrupt—from what I'd read of it, at least. Taiju's death may have somehow been a factor to Toman's downfall, but it was not the root cause.

Regardless, I wouldn't let Taiju die. I wouldn't let anyone die, irrespective of whether their death benefited my goals, because I'd made a vow to myself months ago, and while no one else would know if I broke it, I would, and I wouldn't let myself ever forget.

"It's not 'running.' Running is escaping from your problems without ever addressing them, like you've both been doing until now—and there's nothing wrong with that. It's smarter than charging headfirst into a pointless battle that'll leave you scarred. Cutting ties with Taiju isn't running—cutting ties is taking a stand, and that takes significant courage."

She paused again, this time with a downcast smile. "You've got a way with words, making it sound like that. I appreciate you're trying to help, but this isn't your business to interfere in. This is within our family." Her hazel eyes locked onto mine and held steady, as if daring me to challenge her.

I didn't. I was an outsider, and if one of the victims was so opposed to me, by what right could I act? I had imposed my intrusive ideals of wanting the family to reconcile, and neither Yuzuha nor Hakkai wanted to reason with Taiju anymore. What could I do, if I wanted to respect the siblings' wishes but end Taiju's violence in a nonlethal way?

A flash of black from the other side of the street drew me out of my thoughts. My eyes widened as I looked over.

Crossing the road to where Hakkai and Kokonoi waited, was Baji, his long, black hair and confident gait unmistakable.

By the pact's conditions, Toman couldn't meet with Hakkai. For that reason, I'd disguised myself as a girl (apart from myself) because Toman had no girls. In contrast, Baji was a prominent member whose reputation likely extended beyond his rank in Toman, considering his belligerent inclinations.

"What're you looking at?" Yuzuha looked sideways to follow my stare, then with a sharp inhale, strode back across the street to intercept him.

I grabbed her wrist. "He won't harm Hakkai. It's alright."

"How would you know?"

She yanked her arm free and chased after him, not even bothering to check the road for cars. Luckily, there were none. I held onto my beret as I ran behind her, no longer trying to stop her. My short dress flared out behind me, but my stockings kept my legs warm.

Influenced by monetary gain and not loyalty, Kokonoi was the safest member of the Black Dragons to witness this. Perhaps he wouldn't report it: the resulting battle would be a waste of resources, including the profits they would have otherwise earned from their contracted violence. Perhaps squabbling with a smaller, younger gang would hurt their reputation with their clients, who'd question if the Black Dragons were mature enough to deal in business.

Or, perhaps absorbing Toman would strengthen the Black Dragons. Perhaps the defeat of Shibuya's top gang would prove the Black Dragon's power and boost their reputation with their clients and other gangs. The battle would be a public showcase of their otherwise secretive business, to attract interested customers and aspiring members.

I couldn't allow the truce to be broken. Not like this.

But neither could I let Baji discover my disguise...

Baji didn't bother to pay attention to our approaching footsteps. The loosened tie of his school uniform swung to a stop as he halted in front of Hakkai. Hakkai looked down on the Captain with wide eyes, his mouth open but nothing coming out, but when Yuzuha interjected herself between him and Baji, he regained a little composure. "Yuzuha, it's...fine," he said quietly. She acknowledged his words by retreating a step to stand beside Hakkai, which he didn't object to.

"You're breaking the pact, y'know?" Kokonoi teased. Upon Baji's scowl at him, he shrugged. "I won't say anything, though—that's not my responsibility."

Baji glared at the unfazed boy for another second, then refocused on Hakkai, whom Baji had so-assertively approached, and asked in his blunt, husky voice:

"Are you fine with this?"

Despite the vagueness of his wording, his meaning was clear. Hakkai shrunk back under Baji's fierce stare, but he kept his eyes on Baji's as he responded:

"Y-yes."

What did Baji think of that answer as he continued to watch the former Vice-Captain? He'd defied the pact to ask Hakkai how he fared. What were Takemichi, Chifuyu, and Baji doing? Although Hakkai had said Takemichi never approached him, that wouldn't stop them from being concerned about Hakkai's state—more so Baji, who wasn't afraid to act on impulse. Would they end up challenging the Black Dragons, just as Takemichi had in the story?

At this rate, nothing would change.

"Stop it." Yuzuha opposed Baji with a glare of her own. "You're just being rude now. Is that all you wanted to say?"

Baji broke eye contact and nodded, then turned around to leave as abruptly as he'd come. Yet upon noticing me, he faltered, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

Perhaps he'd been startled because I was standing in his blindspot, but Baji shouldn't be able to recognize me. Hakkai hadn't, and although Baji also knew me as 'Blake,' being outed as myself wasn't a serious issue; it was undesired but insignificant compared to Baji realizing that 'Frank' looked rather feminine. We were either tutor-and-student or complete strangers. I kept my mouth shut and tilted my head to the side as his stare extended for several seconds. But he remained silent as well when he looked away and returned the way he'd come.

Kokonoi pocketed the phone he'd played with after Baji's arrival. "It's almost been half-an-hour. Let's head back before the Boss returns. As you said," he glanced at me with a smirk, "I don't fancy getting in trouble either."

No one protested as we went back to the house, Kokonoi strolling at the front and Yuzuha walking behind him with Hakkai. From the end of our procession, I only saw the siblings' backs, heading unfalteringly down the path they'd chosen. There was an occasional pause, an occasional misstep, but they never once looked back.

I left as soon as we returned.

The delicate rainbow I'd seen arcing across the sky an hour ago was no longer.

---

With a happy jingle, the automatic doors of the convenience welcomed another customer.

Takemichi's legs were beginning to ache, but he fought back the temptation to sit down on the bench beside him, rainwater pooling in the curve of its seat. The pants of his school uniform were unfortunately not waterproof, and he'd rather stand for another hour than sit and let his balls shrivel up and die in that puddle.

Surely, he'd have found someone after an hour. He was supposedly smack-dab in the middle of Black Dragons territory, and with how distinctive their uniforms were, there was no way he'd miss them...if they were wearing their uniforms. After that painfully-obvious-in-hindsight realization, he'd asked every boy who he thought looked menacing if they were in the Black Dragons, and all ten of them had said 'no' in varying degrees of politeness.

Despite controlling the area, the Black Dragons weren't very well-liked or respected.

A white blur in his periphery drew him out of his thoughts. He chuckled as he caught himself swiveling towards some random pedestrian dressed in white on the other side of the street.

—a random pedestrian with a pink scar across his brow and a white, double-breasted coat.

Ignoring his knees' death screams, Takemichi sprinted down the block to the crosswalk, where he jabbed at the button until the light changed and charged across like there was no tomorrow for his legs.

(Takemichi would regret that in the morning as he rolled off his bed in his panic to get ready for school and painfully discovered his legs refused to cooperate.)

Inui warily watched as Takemichi ran at him, but he waited as the time-leaper wobbled over to lean against a storefront.

"You're...Inui...-kun...right?" he wheezed. Short-distance running had never been his forte. "I'm...Hana...gaki Takemichi. I'm sorry...about the fight...last time."

"Last time? Ah, you were there, too." Inui remained tense with his hands curled up at his sides, but his voice was not unkind. "It's not your fault—it's entirely Baji's."

Takemichi couldn't agree less. He scratched his head and chuckled. "Yeah, I...guess so. But I wanted to ask you..." He took a deep breath not only to recover from his sprint but to relieve his suddenly tight stomach.

Toman and the Black Dragons were under truce now, but that fact calmed him little when he knew that the Black Dragons were likely in some part responsible for Baji and Hakkai's deaths, even if Kazutora had told him Kisaki was the culprit. "Do you know Kisaki? Tetta Kisaki."

"That's your 3rd Division Captain, isn't it? Not really."

Takemichi pumped a fist behind his back. "Good—that's good. He's really dangerous, so watch out around him."

Inui raised an eyebrow but said nothing to his abrupt warning about a supposed ally. While taciturn, at least the boy wasn't hostile.

Despite nearly two weeks having passed since returning to the past, Takemichi knew little about how Kisaki would kill the two boys.

Currently, the Black Dragons seemed like the more obvious suspect. Baji had remained obstinate to Chifuyu's pleas to leave the Black Dragons alone, and while Takemichi hadn't seen or heard from the Captain since they'd caught him at his apartment, he knew with complete confidence that Baji was still pursuing them. He always acted reckless with a near-complete disregard of his safety, and that was probably how he'd get in trouble.

But Takemichi knew nothing about how Hakkai would die.

"Also, I wanted to ask how Hakkai-kun and Taiju-kun get along." Takemichi winced under Inui's sharpening eyes. "At our last Toman meeting, Hakkai-kun didn't seem to do well with him."

Maybe it was obtrusive of him to ask, but what was the worst that could happen? Kisaki excelled at manipulating people by targeting their weak spots—he'd done it with Akkun, Naoto, Osanai, Pah-chin, and many others. Even Mikey, with his noble and compassionate personality, had warped in each future Takemichi experienced. To target Hakkai by capitalizing on his strained relationship with his brother—it sounded like something Kisaki would do.

What would Kisaki gain from killing Hakkai, though? Baji kinda made sense: he threatened to ruin Kisaki's plans, like when Baji had argued at the recent meetings against a truce. As for Hakkai, Naoto and Kazutora had implied Myers would end up incriminated for it. Maybe Kisaki's goal was Myers, with Hakkai's death just the means...but it didn't make sense for him to target one of his supporters. Oh heck, he was only confusing himself more with these disorganized thoughts. He rubbed his temples and groaned.

He came back to reality to see Inui leaving, already halfway down the block.

"Ah! I'm sorry I spaced out!" Takemichi tried to chase after him, but his legs decided they'd done enough work today. He dipped forward, his feet slipping off the wet asphalt, but miraculously saved himself from colliding with the ground by instead toppling onto a bench along the sidewalk.

Takemichi whimpered as cold rainwater seeped through his pants and boxers.

Inui impassively watched him. "If you're not going to listen, I'm not going to bother talking."

"I-I'm sorry. I'm l-listening." His teeth chattered as he rose from the bench. "Could you p-please tell me again?"

The boy went silent, his thoughts hidden behind a blank expression. Asking about Hakkai shouldn't have been as sensitive as talking about Kisaki.... Was he onto something?

"The Boss...wants to help him mature, but his methods are sometimes a little harsh." Inui's eyes were downcast. "They're not on too great terms as a result."

"'Methods'? Like what?"

Inui didn't answer.

So, Taiju actually didn't get along with his brother. Having met—having been attacked by Taiju earlier for his own entertainment, Takemichi wasn't surprised. Taiju had mentioned Hakkai in a condescending manner, and at the time, Takemichi didn't even realize they were related.

Wait, what if...no, even if Taiju didn't get along with his siblings, surely he wouldn't.... "Is...is Taiju-kun mistreating them?"

"The Boss isn't hurting them." Inui's response came immediate and clipped. "He's not doing anything wrong. He's doing what's necessary to help his family, and he doesn't delight in it. He makes sure they have enough money to live comfortably and raises them to succeed."

"But even so, it doesn't sound right to—"

"The Boss has their best interests at heart. He came back home to look after his younger siblings, who aren't grateful for what he sacrifices for them. Sometimes, a bit of..." He struggled over his words. "...discipline is necessary when words aren't enough. They rarely listen to him, and he's left with no other choice. But he only goes to the necessary extent, and no further. Beneath it all, he cares for them deeply."

In retrospect, Takemichi's own parents had been overly lax on him, even when he'd one night come down for dinner with his hair suddenly blond or when he'd run away from home. Although they did grill him whenever he returned injured or stayed out late, it'd never been enough for him to listen. Really, a bit of discipline was warranted at times.

"I guess," Takemichi said. "But thanks for telling me. I was...just a little worried about Hakkai-kun, with the Pact and everything going on. You seem passionate about this." He offered the unusually talkative boy a grim smile.

If what Inui-kun says is true, then the Black Dragons can't be responsible for Hakkai-kun's death, even if they don't get along a little.

Now what? He still needed to convince Baji out of chasing the Black Dragons before it was too late, but he had zero ideas again about how Kisaki would kill Hakkai. If he didn't know what to do, then how could he stop it?

He'd just have to keep investigating Kisaki with Chifuyu. Even while unaware of Takemichi's mission, Chifuyu was right—Takemichi'd gotten distracted by the Black Dragons. Of their group formed to stop Kisaki, it was hard not to feel like the most useless member.

He sighed inwardly. "Have a good day, Inui-kun."

They split ways, but Inui lingered a little longer before leaving.

---

Baji patted his school uniform down as he stepped off the pile of defeated Black Dragons members, his scowl as deep as the claimed meaning of human life. Really, it wasn't healthy to be so angry—coiled up like a spring being squeezed together in a hydraulic press, only a slight disbalance necessary for it to fly free into someone's eyeball.

Baji needed to get laid.

Or at least find something to destress. It'd be a waste for that sleek, dark hair to be beset with premature whitening. Tresses like that should be treasured.

The Toman Captain bent down to haul the least-injured one up by the collar of his white uniform. "The fuck was all that for?" he growled at the trembling boy. "Y'all wanna die?"

"These are the exploitable idiots who'll stake everything on any remotely sizable sum, or so our broker says. If they reveal that they were bribed to initiate the fight, they know Taiju'll murder them. That fear drives their obedience to him—when he's watching, at least. Not that it matters whether they or we reveal the bribe."

"N-no, please have m-mercy—" He fell to the concrete with a grunt and gasped for air.

Baji stared down at him, his long hair tumbling down his shoulders. "You attacked me out of nowhere. Fuck that. Are you trying to break Mitsuya's pact?"

"No, I need the pact. .... You thought I was bluffing at the meeting? Admittedly, I was annoyed by Baji spontaneously initiating a war with the Black Dragons; I planned to deal with them covertly. This won't disturb the pact—after we reveal the corruption among the Black Dragons, Taiju's ire will be focused inwards, not on Toman. Our broker will deny his involvement and consequently, ours."

The interrogee refused to speak. Honor among thieves? Appreciated, but it made no difference here.

"Who would Taiju trust more: one of his aides or his lowest thugs?"

Maybe it was just self-preservation. There wasn't much logic in provoking someone stronger than you. But that was boring. Logic be damned: who'd read a boring ol' textbook when you could watch an action-packed movie?

More so when you could be in the movie.

"Do not act without my orders. Become a hindrance, and I will remove you, even if I can't compare to your strength directly. Understood?"

"Yes, yessir," he whispered to himself. "I'll hold myself back this time. You promised me an even better spectacle, and you've never been one to disappoint."

Baji stormed away from the venue, and from a shadowed alleyway, Hanma watched him go, his fingers quivering with barely suppressed excitement.

---

"Not sure if I said it before, but you can dress however you're comfortable with around me. If you're comfortable like this, that's fine too, of course."

"Thanks, Hayato. I think I'd rather wear this around the gang, though."

"Gotcha. Anyways, see ya later."

I waved at the bald boy, who shot me a final grin before crossing the street.

Since discovering he knew my 'identity,' I'd not bothered to change into Frank's attire for our tutoring sessions. The awkwardness at being seen by Hayato's parents while dressed up never faded even if their initial staring had, and I'd harm my hair by applying gel often. Furthermore, we'd meet in the privacy of his house, so I didn't need to worry about anyone else from Toman seeing me as myself. For every other occasion with Hayato, I'd dress as 'Frank.' I needed to keep my identities separate.

I shivered and propped up my collar to shield my nape from the wind, but my stomach remained warm and full, my lips tasting of the savory tang of miso. The sun shone down from directly overhead in the clear sky, tinting the shade cast by the overpass a cool blue. Pedestrians wore coats and jackets befitting of the winter, their colors dull compared to the mid-rise buildings at the heart of Shibuya. Advertisements played on its digital billboards, and vibrant decorations hung from its storefronts. Red, green, white. I walked past a cafe playing carols, but despite the tune dying out under the sounds of the city, the song haunted me, nonetheless.

The overpass came back into view as I looped around the block. I didn't have any plans after having lunch with Hayato, yet a nagging sense of restlessness pulled at my fingers, and I fiddled with the buttons of my red jacket as I continued to wander about.

A small crowd had gathered around a commotion at the other end of the street. Several civilians peeked at the cause before ducking away and scurrying elsewhere. I could hear yelling—a low-pitched voice with an adolescent ring. I rose to the tips of my toes as I approached.

"—from my Pa's store, dammit! If you wanna have it, then pay for it—Jesus Christ." A teenage boy in an apron branded with the logo of the corner store behind him stabbed his finger into the chest of another boy. What caught my attention was the dyed hair of the one caught presumably shoplifting, and most of all, his white bomber jacket with Valhalla's angel emblazoned on its back. And while the shop worker didn't sport a perm of his own, most people wouldn't have the audacity to confront an evident delinquent.

Moebius, at least, had acclimated to Toman's rules, possibly because they were under Kisaki's direct control. A small fraction of Valhalla hadn't followed Hanma into Toman, but I knew practically none of the 300 faces that'd joined, and this boy could be among them. Regardless of his current affiliation, the now-dissolved Valhalla continued to cause trouble in the instances I'd encountered them in public.

After Emma played dress-up on me a few days ago, we'd strolled through the city, my hands then occupied carrying a large bag that weighed more than I'd expected for a bag full of clothes. Although she'd picked out only a handful for my disguise, she confessed she wanted me to take everything because her wardrobe was full. I'd thanked her, then outright told her I'd pick what I liked and donate the rest to charity because a fair portion was...too avant-garde for me.

It'd been on a smaller street than this one and right before the weekday evening rush. Few pedestrians were around, with only two visible talking at the end of the sidewalk.

The hooded figure drew close to the businessman before streaking away.

Emma stopped mid-conversation to bolt after them, her heeled boots pounding against the pavement.

"Emma?!" I tried to run after her, but the bag's straps dug into my fingers as it bounced, and I faltered long enough for her to dash further than I could reasonably catch up with. My pace slowed, and I halted beside the man in a business suit, who took a few steps in the direction of the fleeing pair but ultimately remained stationary.

"Miss, do...do you know that girl?" He turned towards me, but his eyes remained on them, his brow creased. "Tell her it's fine. It's dangerous to—"

Emma swung her school bag by its strap and slung it at the boy. It beaned him, and he tumbled onto the sidewalk. The man and I sprinted towards them at that moment, but his longer stride pulled him ahead of me. If he'd chased after the boy from the start, he'd probably have been able to overtake him.

But I agreed: not reacting was the better choice.

Compared to the time those as-of-then hostile Valhalla members had chased us down, this was more reckless despite Emma's combat skills. Then, she'd not had much choice because they were targeting her, but her response now would unnecessarily place her in danger.

She tussled with the downed boy and secured him in a submission hold, her arms locked under his armpit and head. His free arm and legs lashed out to push her off him and his hood fell off in his thrashing, but she weathered his blows and yelled: "Hey! Don't take what's not yours! Did no one teach you—wait, you're from Toman, aren't you? One of the new guys from Valhalla."

"Let go, bitch!"

She snorted. "This 'bitch' is Mikey's sister, so if you wanna stay in Toman, you better behave. Give back what you stole!"

I reached the scene, where the businessman had hesitated a meter away from the scuffle. "Miss, it's alright."

"No, it's not," she said. The boy gasped as her grip tightened. "Stealing's never alright."

"M-my right pants pocket!" he bit out. "His fucking phone's in there."

"Hm, really? Blake, can you check?"

Having Emma loosen her hold to check could place her in danger. I set down my bag and watched his body for any aggressive movement as I crept to his side, but he remained stationary, glowering at me past Emma's arm. I lowered my exposed knees onto the sidewalk and slipped a hand into the pocket of his baggy trousers. A cool, angular object met my fingers, and I pulled out a brick-shaped phone. "I have it."

"Okay, now let go!"

"I'm warning ya—do this again, and I'll get you kicked, if I don't kick your ass myself first." Emma released him. He shot to his feet, dusted his clothes off, and without any verbal response, stomped away.

She stood up while arranging her tousled hair and patting down her skirt. "God, I hope I didn't accidentally flash that guy, that'd be the—oh, thanks." Emma accepted her school bag from the businessman, who'd retrieved it from the curb. I handed him back his phone, and he took it with a nod.

"Thank you for getting it back to me," he said. "But... you shouldn't do that next time. It's dangerous."

I took the opportunity to voice my concerns: "Lost possessions are inconsequential to getting hurt. Even if you knew you could subdue him, it's not worth the risk."

Surprise flitted across her face. "It was a little dangerous," she admitted, "but he would've continued doing that if he didn't get any repercussions, maybe even doing worse things."

"We could've gone to the police," I said. "You recognized him. If you provided his information, it shouldn't be difficult for them to find him."

"...maybe that could've worked in the States, I don't know. But here, all he'll get is a scolding and slap on the wrist. No way that'll change his mind." She smiled wryly. "If you want people to listen, you need some kinda incentive. People might not like admitting it, but violence is the easiest way to do that."

"—n!" A shout brought me back to the present, where a small but growing crowd had gathered to watch the shop worker confront a delinquent.

The aproned boy stared directly at me, amongst the crowd. "Frank-san!" he repeated. Heads turned as the people around me tried to locate whom he called to, but his eyes remained fixated on mine.

I don't even know you. Is it because I'm now a Vice-Captain?

Now that he'd spotted me, I couldn't walk away on risk of harming my reputation. I sighed but slipped through the crowd, and people gave me a wide berth, eyeing me cautiously as I passed them.

In the center of the assembled onlookers, I stopped beside the boy who'd called me. The former Valhalla member raised an eyebrow at me. I'd faced the attention of a crowd as 'Frank' before, including the Toman meeting I'd defended Kisaki at and my rash brawl with Kazutora, but those occasions were necessary. This spat, with the added fame from my rank, wasn't.

"Hi. Do I know you?" I asked the shop worker.

He shook his head. "I'm from the 3rd Division—didn't join that long ago with Moebius—but anyway, Frank-san—this bastard tried stealing from my Pa's shop!"

"It's just a pack of cigs, seriously. You don't need to make such a fuss about it."

"I don't care what'cha took—you're not taking anything!"

With an inward sigh, I stepped in front of the bristling shop worker, and the previous Valhalla member's glare fell on me. "You got caught shoplifting. If it's 'just a pack' of cigarettes, can you pay?"

"And why should you boss me around?" He squared his shoulders and raised his chin, capitalizing on his tall height.

"I'm not 'bossing you around.' I'm stating the obvious."

"Then obviously, why bother making such a fuss over this? No one else cares to stop me."

"Bastard—you've been stealing from other places?! How much have you stolen?"

The shoplifter smirked. "More than just a pack of cigs, from you alone. Your dad spends too much time away from the register—"

A fist shot past me and crashed into his cheek. I recoiled. The Toman member lunged forward to continue his assault, but he ducked to avoid the blow the other boy sent back. His unsteady footing placed him at the mercy of a second punch, and he pulled out of the fight, caressing his jaw and panting.

His opponent surged on regardless.

I slammed into his side, my weight insufficient for a proper tackle but enough to knock him off-balance. He stumbled and stepped back, and his gaze refocused on me. My lunch churned in my stomach as I hopped away.

The boy behind me charged in once again.

I blocked his way. "Stop!" I yelled. "There's no—" My eyes widened at an incoming fist from the side, and I raised my forearms in a hasty block. My arms jarred as I accepted the full weight of the attack, but I bit back a growl and dove past his follow-up punch to—

1—

"STOP!"

We all froze at the booming voice, mixed with the piercing squeal of a loudspeaker. My head spun towards the source—the onlookers equally shocked—as a pair of capped police officers pushed their way to us. The shoplifter cursed and ran, shoving past startled civilians and escaping down the other end of the sidewalk. By unspoken agreement, one officer retreated out of the crowd to chase him, and the other reached toward me, grabbing for my sleeve. I didn't resist.

"Wait, wait—Frank-san didn't do nothing!" The 3rd Division member inserted himself between us, his arms spread wide. "That guy who ran off—he stole from my shop!"

The policeman stopped. "That boy...? Even so, you'll need to both come with me." His eyes were stern, but he didn't make any movement to enforce his words.

"But he's the one who—"

"Let's just obey," I said. "We shouldn't have escalated to fighting. No one got hurt, so I doubt we're in much trouble, and we can provide information about that shoplifter if they can't catch him."

The Toman member watched me with his mouth ajar, but he sighed, and we walked to the police box in silence.

---

"Why're we the ones getting chewed out—it's that bastard who did wrong..."

"We weren't reprimanded, just scolded. Despite us being gang members, he was rather lenient."

"Yeah, but even—never mind. Sorry for getting you mixed up in this, Frank-san. I gotta get back to the shop before anyone else tries anything."

"It wasn't your intention. Good luck with your business."

I waved at the aproned boy before checking the time on my phone. One in the afternoon. We'd been lectured for only a minute to not fight on the street, then spent ten minutes identifying the shoplifter. Despite the hour's action, my body remained restless, and I wandered down the unfamiliar street, empty except for a handful of pedestrians.

In my annoyance to be summoned to their dispute, I'd almost fought back with the intent to injure.

Like Taiju's use of violence to control his siblings and his gang.

I wasn't the skittish fighter I'd been upon waking in this world—if I tried to hurt someone, I could probably deal drastic damage. I had fought people, often in self-defense, and injured them. So had Toman.

I've not cared to this extent since the festival fight. We never initiate violence; we only fight when provoked, whether another gang declares war or commits an immoral injustice against us. We don't fight civilians, and violence isn't always our answer: the truce with the Black Dragons proves that. I fight to prevent greater harm when there isn't any other method.

Yet, Emma in forcing that thief to submit, felt different. Perhaps it was my own self-centered morality that made the distinguishment. Even if she'd not hurt him upon subduing him, he'd not attempted any physical harm prior to her attack, merely swiping his target's phone before sprinting away. In what way were her actions different to those of an officer restraining a criminal?

There was no difference, but Emma wasn't an officer.

However, she was right that they'd face little-to-no legal repercussions, as I'd just experienced. Japan's juvenile law followed a philosophy that emphasized reform, not punishment, and while researching methods to help Hakkai and Yuzuha escape Taiju's domestic violence, I'd found many instances of the law's gentle handling of delinquency, from the relaxed court hearings to the maintained privacy of offenders. I didn't know how it compared to the States, but was it too lenient for juvenile offenders to not suffer the consequences of their crimes?

Yet, was it really our responsibility to enforce in place of the law?

The law was often for the better of society, but even the unjust or outdated aspects of it shouldn't be flaunted with violence. Civil disobedience, through protests, boycotts, and other peaceful means, were appropriate in the instances that legal methods failed to correct such legislation, and they'd garner enough support to show the people in control that continued ignorance would cost them their power. Even if the opposition reacted with violence, responding with such would only be used to the protestors' own detriment, when the powerful controlled the media and could depict the events in a story of their own concoction.

I snorted. This was only about a couple of delinquents committing petty theft. However, there was still the Shiba family.... Yuzuha was right: I was an outsider, and I should gain her approval before interfering anymore. I'd give it at least another day before—

"Hey...you're from Toman, right?"

I spun around after hearing the familiar voice, his tone unfamiliarly hesitant.

His bell earring twinkling, Kazutora walked up to me and stopped a meter away. Rather than the dead, emotionless smile I'd always seen him wear, his eyes were lidded and his lips parted, and his current expression looked more genuine despite its foreignness. I hadn't seen him for a month, but he was almost a different person despite his identical tousled hairstyle and dark eyes. He wore a loose parka in place of Valhalla's jacket.

Regardless, I stayed tense as I nodded. "Kazutora, wasn't it? I go by Frank. What's up?"

His gaze fell downcast. "I'm sorry for...trying to kill you. I wasn't thinking right, and you were trying to help. Sorry."

Compared to the cold and vengeful personality of the boy struggling to cope with murder, he'd grown considerably if he could recognize and apologize for his mistakes. I relaxed my curled fingers. Saying 'you failed, so it's alright' would be tactless despite being honest. "You seemed to have a lot going on at the time," I instead said. "You're recovering well."

"I've been going to therapy. It's kinda cringe, but it's helped. A lot."

"It's nothing to be embarrassed by; many people attend therapy. Rather, I think it's admirable you've gathered the resolve to seek help to recover. Not...not many people have that courage." I smiled at him, even if his eyes remained lowered.

"...thanks."

The silence between us dragged on to an awkward length, and I broke it by chuckling. "Well, maybe I'll see you around. Stay well."

"You too."

I left, and despite the lack of footsteps from behind me, I didn't look back.

He changed. You almost thought he was too far gone, but look at him now. He learned from his mistakes and grew because you helped save him.

Giving myself a pep-talk? Honestly, I needed it. With less than a week until Christmas, I was dodging the family issue by procrastinating on speaking with Yuzuha. While I could possibly stall Yuzuha's murder attempt, there would be a Christmas deadline regardless: Taiju's annual visit occurred irrespective of plot, and Kisaki would undoubtedly capitalize on his weakest moment whether or not through instigating Yuzuha, whose frustration I'd seen could not be assuaged while Hakkai was at risk. Furthermore, Baji's concern for Hakkai could erupt into a battle as long as Hakkai remained in the Black Dragons.

I knew what would happen if I did nothing, but the future was not the only concern—they were suffering now, and they had been suffering since Taiju's abuse began. I'd decided to help Hakkai, and I would, with my best effort. If I tried to directly intervene by confronting Taiju, in addition to the callousness of inserting myself into their affairs, it'd do nothing to help Hakkai regain his self-respect: he had to be the one to take charge and thereby realize that his opinions and actions mattered.

However, was I just being subjective, like Taiju's 'guidance' of his siblings, and crusading on their dilemma? I'd tried and failed with Hakkai to make their family reconcile despite the siblings' wishes to no longer have him in their lives.

From my prior knowledge and the resolve she'd expressed at our confrontation, Yuzuha wouldn't hesitate to act on that wish in its most literal sense. Even if I was an outsider, I knew they'd hurt themselves and others—therefore, it was my responsibility to step in and stop them. Of course it was; I knew that from the start, but I'd always hesitate and wallow in self-doubt before committing, questioning if I was making the 'right' decision, because there wasn't a second chance in the alternate timelines created through Takemichi's leaping.

There wasn't a second chance in life, either.

What did my future selves do in their doomed timelines, knowing they'd never return home? Give up and live their rest of their lives in this world in peace? Attempt and fail to save Hina from a corrupted Toman regardless? Considering Takemichi's shifting behavior toward me whenever he returned from the future, I'd probably live through twelve years of hopelessness and endeavor to achieve something, but for what purpose?

Well, I wouldn't wait twelve years to find out. All I'd found in passivity was regret.

I halted at the curb and turned back, my strides gaining confidence with a destination now in mind.

I'd ask Yuzuha once more, and regardless of if she denied me, I'd persuade Hakkai into acting against Taiju's abuse, whether he chose to leave or attempt to reconcile, while preventing them from attacking Taiju. It'd break their trust in me and might not even be the 'right' decision, but I'd hate myself more for doing nothing to interfere with a present doomed for failure. And I refused to use violence other than for self-defense.

"If you want people to listen, you need some kinda incentive."

"You have to first earn their respect to be worth listening to."

A smile tugged at my lips. Emma and Peh-yan both had stronger resolve than me despite them being over ten years younger.

Respect, huh. Building that takes time, time that's running scarce. I must resolve this by Christmas, with or without her approval.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I finished crossing the street before slipping it out—

I halted at the edge of the sidewalk, my blood ice despite the comforting embrace of my jacket.

A text from Kisaki.

Although I wanted to befriend him to better grasp his motives and personality, he'd reached out first by asking for my number, and I'd assumed he would follow it with further contact. In the silence from him over the following month and the recent affairs with the Black Dragons, I'd forgotten to initiate conversation in his stead. What purpose necessitated his contact now?

I stepped to the inner end of the sidewalk to not obstruct other pedestrians. Perhaps I was panicking; this could be that first message from him that I'd been awaiting. My thumb hesitated over the keypad, but I opened the text. Seeing ten other phone numbers listed in the participants, including Mikey, Draken, and Mitsuya's, dispelled the hope of a friendly, 1-on-1 chat between Kisaki and me, although I'd probably be more terrified to see Kisaki using net slang and emojis than blackmail. My eyes flickered to the text itself.

13:12—Kisaki

I apologize for the abrupt message, but I have urgent news to discuss regarding the Black Dragons. Please come to the base within the hour.

A complication with the Black Dragons.... I swallowed.

I could only hope it wouldn't further strain relations between our gangs and within the Shiba family.

---

"You think you're hot stuff, calling a meeting whenever you feel like it? We're busy, y'know! I was busy kicking Angry's ass at the arcade until you interfered."

"I only let you win once because you kept wanting a rematch." The twin leaders of the 4th Division descended into bickering, their voices echoing in the stout warehouse. While the single-story building wasn't small by any means, construction materials occupied the back half of its floor space.

I'd never entered Toman's 'base': a hideout for only the admins, used sparingly for important business. A few dilapidated couches and tables furnished one end of the building, and sunlight from the barred windows illuminated the warehouse's pale walls, scratched and smudged with dirt. I remained standing beside Mitsuya, who, in his parka, hadn't hesitated to lean against a pile of wooden stakes.

Despite his crossed arms and the topic at hand, Mitsuya's face remained calm. We hadn't spoken since having dinner together several days ago, and although we'd rarely hung out prior to my nomination, he conversely now seemed a little withdrawn, a little hesitant around me.

Hakkai was more suited as his Vice-Captain than me, if only I could help him back into Toman.

"You've been acting rather highly lately, Kisaki," the 5th Division Captain said from beside a concrete column. He made no movement and neither did his masked Vice-Captain, but his words carried his threat well enough.

"Let him talk, first. It better be important to summon us all here." Draken nodded at Kisaki from Mikey's other side. Kisaki didn't dare position himself right beside the stack of steel construction beams Mikey perched on, but he stood the closest to the President after Draken, and I doubted anyone missed the implications.

Baji sure didn't, unabashedly sneering at the bespectacled boy from his couch. Resting against his armrest, Chifuyu also glowered, but with less evident hostility.

With a raised eyebrow, Kisaki acknowledged the antagonistic stares directed at him before he spoke: "Just today, I learned from an unamused member of the Black Dragons about how yesterday, our 1st Division Captain assaulted several of the Black Dra—"

"Those assholes attacked me," Baji growled. "Don't you fucking lie."

Please tell me you're joking, Kisaki...

"Oh?" Kisaki adjusted his glasses, the frame glinting gold. "I also heard that you'd charged onto their territory to meet Hakkai despite the pact's conditions. Was that a lie, too?"

Baji opened his mouth then shut it, grinding his teeth and uncrossing his legs. Chifuyu's face, however, mirrored the other admins' expressions of surprise directed at Baji.

I'd thought Baji, Chifuyu, and Takemichi were working together against Kisaki, but perhaps I assumed wrong, and Baji continued to act individually since Valhalla. With no one to dissuade him, he'd charge into danger, whether aware or ignorant of the consequences.

Like he had in picking a fight with the Black Dragons not once, but thrice. Even if he disapproved of the pact, provoking them would not only break the truce but spark a full-on conflict.... Perhaps Baji relished in combat, but he could be sensitive when needed: his brash entry into Valhalla belied his goals of supporting Kazutora and investigating Kisaki, neither of which became public knowledge. But would he, now? Perceptive as he was, he should know the obvious consequence, yet he continued regardless.

Judging from their overall outward reactions, if Toman hadn't prior heard of the latest incidents Kisaki was recounting, then they probably hadn't impacted the Black Dragons much. This was Taiju, however. Would he revoke the truce, angered by this defiance to his rule, or would he tolerate these misdemeanors to respect his brother's wishes? Did Taiju genuinely care for his siblings? I wanted to answer 'yes'...

I shook my head. Right now, at this meeting, that wasn't an issue I should be focused on.

How had Kisaki known of the encounter with Hakkai? I eyed the 3rd Division Captain from my corner of the warehouse, his arms resting limp at the sides of his fleece jacket. The siblings wouldn't have discussed it near potential eavesdroppers, and no one should have seen the event unfold on the streets aside from the people in the immediate vicinity: Hakkai, Yuzuha, Kokonoi, Baji, and me.

Perhaps Kokonoi told Kisaki. Any qualms he had about revealing his defiance of Taiju's unspoken orders could probably be assuaged with some financial incentive. My eyes narrowed as Kisaki continued speaking, but I forced my face to relax.

"You've knowingly provoked the Black Dragons multiple times, defying Mikey's orders. Hakkai's final request was for the current truce between our gangs, yet you've exerted repeated strain on it, attacking their members and—"

"I told you, they attacked me—" Baji sprung to his feet and stomped toward him, shoving Chifuyu aside after his Vice-Captain tried to block his path. Kisaki stepped back, but excluding the brief widening of his eyes, his expression remained aloof. "—and you better stop spewing shit before I shove your head through your—"

"Enough!" Mikey commanded.

"Yeah, I've had e-fucking-nough of your—"

"Enough, Baji."

Kisaki kept cool, but Baji glared at Mikey atop his steel throne, impervious to the rank of his childhood friend, until he shot a middle finger at Kisaki and trudged back to his chair.

Mikey sat up from the stack of beams. "Mitsuya, it's your agreement. Do you want to say anything?"

Mitsuya remained silent as all eyes turned to him, including a scowling Baji's. He readjusted his posture and kept a largely neutral face, but because I stood beside him, perhaps only I saw the downward twitch of his lips. "...I'll trust that you didn't attack them first, but please be careful in the future."

"Sanzu heard a rumor that Taiju recently ousted several of his members for accepting bribes," Mucho said. The mentioned Vice-Captain remained quiet, and his mask hid his expression. "Maybe it's related."

"Could be. I don't think Baji'd do this on purpose either," Draken said. "Kisaki, do you think this'll risk the truce?"

After the explicit permission, Kisaki cleared his throat. "It may. To my understanding, few know of Baji's unsanctioned meeting with Hakkai, so it'd be best to keep it private. However, we can't feasibly cover up the other incident. Taiju's short temper is infamous, and it had to be Baji to cause trouble.... The Black Dragons may initiate violence, but we shouldn't respond to it. We should adhere to Hakkai's truce, even if they do not." He gave a pointed stare at Baji, who snarled back.

I crossed my arms as I watched them. Kisaki and Baji would always clash during the meetings, when Kisaki would take advantage of Baji's culpability to weaken his credibility. If Kisaki's plan to deal with Baji was to tarnish his image until Toman no longer listened to him, then Kisaki was making alarming progress.

Although, rather than relying on chance, perhaps Kisaki instigated Baji's fights with the Black Dragons—with Kokonoi's cooperation, the task was easy. ...no, Kisaki shouldn't want Toman to fight the Black Dragons. Taiju's gang posed a genuine threat to Toman, and I doubted Kisaki would risk Toman losing—in the story, he'd tried to neutralize the Black Dragons through underhanded but efficient tactics. Toman had been uninvolved: all he did was provoke Yuzuha; stringing Takemichi and Chifuyu along was for his own amusement.

The more plausible scenario was that Baji decided to go to war with the Black Dragons over Hakkai. He'd shown concern for Hakkai's situation when he encountered us walking around the neighborhood, and he certainly possessed the audacity to challenge a gang on his own. He might've not attacked first in this recent clash, but he may have provoked it regardless. Baji's motives best explained the current developments, unless I was missing something—

"Frank, what're you thinking?"

I snapped back to attention to see everyone's eyes on me after Mikey's question. What did I think? Rather, what did I want them to think? My gaze drifted to Baji, who rested his head on his palm as he stared back. "I think...angering the Black Dragons risks repercussions on Hakkai. If we're dissatisfied with the pact's conditions, then we should renegotiate."

"I agree." I blinked as Kisaki spoke. "Responding with violence will only make Taiju less receptive to us. It might feel cathartic in the short-term, but by satiating your desires, you're only complicating the situation." Baji continued to scowl at Kisaki, but Chifuyu shot me a glare.

Thanks, Kisaki. Much appreciated.

Draken nodded. "It'll make it harder for Hakkai to keep his truce."

Toman remained unaware of Taiju's domestic violence, if their only interpretation of repercussions was the truce breaking. Had they known, I doubted they'd be complacent to Hakkai's decision to live under his brother's reign. Based on his recent actions, Baji had deduced the reality of Hakkai's home situation, and while Mitsuya likely knew beforehand, he now tried to support Hakkai's endeavors.

If I told Toman, would...no. It wasn't my secret to tell.

"We'll preserve the pact," Mikey declared. "Baji, you might disagree—nah, you always do—but this is Mitsuya and Hakkai's business. Respect it. The meeting's over." He hopped off his perch and landed on his feet, his sandals smacking the concrete. No one objected, and everyone began to disperse.

Baji and Kisaki would deal with the Black Dragons both in undesirable ways. The Shibas' family situation had to be resolved before either boy went too far, but that was a hard enough hurdle even without the time limit. I'd have to be intrusively aggressive in convincing Hakkai to act, or if that failed, confronting Taiju myself. Neither were ideal; Hakkai should decide his own life without my interference except when he requested it, but if it became necessary....

There's another method I haven't considered—directly stopping Baji's and Kisaki's actions while allowing Hakkai to reach a decision at his own pace. But it's riskier and harder: I don't know the specifics of Kisaki's plans after the recent deviations from the story, nor do I know how Baji'll act. That's two different plans to devise, and while Kisaki has higher priority, Baji could spark a messy battle, with ample opportunities for injury.

And Hakkai wasn't the only target of Taiju's abuse. Kisaki could very much still use her to kill Taiju.

"Mitsuya...by any chance, do you have Yuzuha's phone number?" I asked.

Last to leave, the Captain halted amidst a glittering cloud of dust conjured by the departing boys, and he seemed to deliberate before he turned back to watch me, his face cast in shadow. His eyes glinted with reflected light. "You're up to something relating to Hakkai, aren't you?"

"I am." Denial was pointless.

The light in his eyes flickered as he blinked, but he sighed and took out his phone. "I trust you won't do anything that'll hurt Hakkai. I'll give you her number."

'Trust,' huh. They all trusted me more than they should. "I...promise I don't intend to endanger him."

He nodded and told me each digit, but it wasn't until after I'd visited the Shibas' house and found it vacant that I slipped out my phone.

She didn't even pick up.