A/N: I have not made any major edits to the first scene, but I recommend you reread the latter half for context. I also want to note that I've tweaked Taiju's personality and backstory more than I have with other characters, which will become more evident when Yuzuha confronts Taiju in this chapter. 

I appreciate the support despite having not updated for two months. It's been a mix of real-life stuff and low motivation, and while I do intend to finish this story (or bare minimum, finish this arc), I'm not sure if I can maintain monthly updates. I know I will be busier after transferring to another university and taking upper-division courses in fall, but I write a lot when procrastinating on schoolwork, so let's see lol. There are four more chapters (excluding this one) in this arc, and the pace will pick up quick by the end of this chapter.

"Wow, that was bru-tal. What'd you get for the last question? I got like, one pi."

"Yeah, one pi."

"Huh, I got one-point-three-three-three with a bunch of threes. Did you guys—oh. I left my calculator in degrees mode the entire time..."

"Myers-chan, how about you? What answer to the last question?"

I looked up from my desk and lowered my hand from my cheek to rest beside my pencils on the tabletop. The dark-haired girl who sat in front of me leaned against the back of her chair as she waited for my reply. Beside her, Hina patted the back of a sulking classmate. "...two pi," I said. "But I might have simplified incorrectly."

"Eh, you'll be fine, you always do well. What about the one before that? I got sine-squared over three."

Hina looked back at us. "Yeah, I remember seeing that problem in the homework. One-third sine-squared."

I said nothing.

Performing poorly on the final exams would wreck my grades, but that was a trivial matter compared to Taiju's death or fighting between Toman and the Black Dragons, whether Kisaki or Baji acted first, respectively. I had time to study, ample time after my recent visit to the Shibas' household, but no concentration.

I unzipped my school bag and took out my phone. No new messages, no missed calls. I opened my most recently sent message and whispered it to myself with a clarity absent from during the exam, the words ingrained into my mind:

I apologize for my behavior last week. I realize that I acted callously towards Hakkai and you, and that was unacceptable. However, I still believe that Hakkai must...

"Blake-chan?"

"Huh?" I looked up from the screen. Hina and the group of girls involved in the conversation watched me, and after the silence dragged on, I shut my phone and shook my head. "I'm sorry, I wasn't listening."

Hina waved her hands. "It's no big deal. I was just talking about how we were planning to go to the aquarium with Emma-chan."

"Oh, that. I'm looking forward to it tomorrow." I gave them the best smile I currently could. "I'm a little tired right now, so I'm going to the bathroom to freshen up."

"That freezing-cold water will totes wake you up," the girl in front of me said. "Just make sure to come back before next period." I nodded as I stood up and slipped my phone into my blazer pocket.

The corridor was barren for break time. Most students were either hunched over their desks with their textbooks open or with their heads in their hands, a glance through the windows of the classrooms I passed showed. The hall was awash with pale light, the cloudy sky unusually bright. My shadow kept me company, almost tangible in its stark darkness.

A group of shadows passed mine and merged into one, confused mass. Two shadows split off without pause, but the third remained entangled.

"Hey, I know you." I looked up from the tiled floor and behind me, my eyes widening at the familiar voice.

Kazutora watched me several steps away, his hands in the pockets of his gakuran. Behind him, two tall boys also in our school's uniform halted and looked back at us, but their feet remained pointed forward. Both sported flamboyant hairstyles and the classic, antisocial scowl, but the boy on the right's face evoked a recent memory.

He tried to shoplift cigarettes last weekend, didn't he?

I averted my gaze from him before it became obvious I was staring and nodded at Kazutora. Both of my identities had met him on multiple occasions, but acting secretively to obstruct him from drawing the connection would only be suspicious. "We may have met."

He smiled, and his bell earring chimed as he straightened out of his slouch. "Heh, I thought you looked familiar. I met you in school that one time, right?"

I paused. "With Hanagaki-kun and his friends, yes."

"Mhm. Sorry for being rude back then, I wasn't—"

"We're going ahead," the boy to his left said. Kazutora eyed him without any overt reaction to being interrupted. "You've changed, Kazutora. You never used to study, never used to bow your head to civvies. You've become boring." The other boy crossed his arms, and without waiting for a response, they trudged away.

"Maybe I have," Kazutora muttered. He sighed and turned back to me with a smile, albeit strained. "Sorry about that. Just ignore my...old friends."

Rehabilitating from his mental illness had probably thrown his life in flux, as his entire identity since leaving juvenile detention had revolved around enacting revenge on Mikey. Not all the friends he made in that period may have incited him, but I'd wager quite a few of his closest had, especially considering his upfront disposition towards it. People could be friends despite their differences, but Kazutora's obsession with murder would have deterred all but the most dangerous of individuals. Perhaps his separation from them was a good sign of recovery, although even if he realized they were bad influences, I doubted losing his old friends was pleasant.

"I don't mind," I said. "I'm not bothered at all."

He chuckled. "You're pretty chill towards delinquents. Calling out to a random thug at night in an empty street—I guess we wouldn't have met otherwise, but you really shouldn't, especially since...you don't look like you're from around here."

"I transferred here for the school year as part of a study abroad program." Multiple members from Toman already knew I'd arrived during the summer as a transfer student, even though I hadn't specified the duration of my stay or which school I was enrolled in, but I couldn't get away with lying to Kazutora about such a basic part of my identity. Now that he was attending school again, he'd eventually discover my transfer student status.

This amiable attitude towards 'Blake' was rather unusual, however.

"Where from?"

"L—California, in the US."

"And blue shoes, so you're a 2nd year."

"Yes."

His hand came up to his chin, and his gaze drifted towards the corridor windows. A pair of students passed us as he remained silent, their footsteps as constant as the ticking of a clock.

"Hmm, I could be totally wrong, but do you know Baji Keisuke? He told me his tutor was an American transfer a year younger than him. Goes to this same school, too."

"I...." My fingers twiddled my skirt, but I forced them to stop. Were there any consequences to verifying that? Months ago, I would've lied that we were strangers to conceal my connection with an infamous gang member, and I still remained careful to not disclose his identity. Kazutora could compromise that secrecy without malicious intent—actually, getting involved with Kazutora himself was equally undesirable. However, Kazutora would likely deduce it himself whether after discovering that there were no other students that fit the criteria or after one day catching me at Baji's apartment. "I do know him, yes."

"Oh man, you're Baji's tutor!" He laughed. "So you're responsible for giving that idiot half a brain."

"I...guess."

His mirth seemed to fade as his grin and shoulders fell, and his dark eyes trailed downward to the side. The drastic mood swing could've been comical if not for the topic of our conversation. Had I hesitated too long in my response? Had he realized some arbitrary similarity between me and that foreigner in Toman?

"Is something wrong?" As his gaze rose to meet mine, I pushed my glasses' thick frames further up my face. "You seem distracted."

Kazutora's smile returned. "Did I come off like that? Sorry. I've been...I've been trying to be more aware of what I say, after I said some pretty hurtful things to a friend. Baji's reputation probably doesn't make him look like the most civil of people, right? Let's not talk about him."

Had I really thought everything was fixed after stopping Kazutora from murder and hearing of him attending therapy? Recovery's not a simple process; it takes considerable time, steady effort, and copious self-reflection. For his age, that's a lot to deal with.

"I'm alright with talking about Baji-san. His infamy belies his willingness to learn, and I've seen firsthand that he's still a middle-schooler like me. I was simply surprised that you were familiar with him. Don't fret over it; you've said nothing wrong."

His facial expression loosened to a more natural state. "...it's more complicated than—"

My phone rang.

My breath hitched as my hands twitched at my sides, but I didn't otherwise move. The ringtone cycled back, muffled by my blazer pocket but loud enough to echo in the corridor. As Kazutora remained silent, perhaps reconsidering his words, I peeked at the lit screen.

A call from Yuzuha.

"I'm sorry, but I have to take this," I said, my thumb resting on the buttons.

He sighed and stepped back. "It's fine, I'll go. Oh yeah, I'm Hane—"

"Explain what you mean," Yuzuha hissed into my ear.

"I meant what I said in my text," I whispered with my hand cupped over my mouth and phone. With a quick wave at Kazutora, I strode past him and resumed speaking at a clearer volume. "Hakkai must confront his brother, whether he attempts to reason with Taiju or chooses to leave. I want to help him regain his confidence by empowering him to act. You know how terrified Hakkai is of him, but he'll have to overcome that fear eventually. Please, give me another chance to help."

"What if I don't?"

"I'll...continue anyway."

Her snort whistled through the speaker. "I told you, it's not your business."

"It's not my business to interfere with Taiju-san's behavior, but it is my business to support a friend." Yuzuha had never explicitly mentioned murder to me, but she'd at minimum be in the headspace to consider it. "You told me you would protect Hakkai through any means, but attacking Taiju-san won't help Hakkai, especially if you get indicted for assault, or worse. I hope you reconsider the consequences before you commit to—"

"Who said I was doing this for Hakkai? Can't I do something for myself?" Her snarl crackled with static.

I halted in the shadow of a pair of adjacent windows, and my gaze fell to the tiled floor. I'd almost forgotten that Yuzuha herself was also a victim of Taiju's abuse. Unlike Hakkai, she retained a strong sense of self that Taiju had failed to erode, but of course her motives would extend beyond protecting Hakkai to protecting herself. To shield Hakkai, she'd endured Taiju's punishments, but who wouldn't grow frustrated and desire change?

Yet, even still...

"Of course you can, and I can't stop you." I licked my lips and swallowed. "But Hakkai'll be affected, whatever you do. Act rashly, and you may hurt him."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a warning. That's why you called me back, isn't it?"

A rattling breath carried over the connection, and Yuzuha spoke no words for almost a minute. Was it excessive to remind her of the responsibilities that caused her current situation? Had Yuzuha had no other siblings, I didn't doubt she would've left or resisted the abuse. In that sense, Hakkai was a liability.

"...I don't want to fight you," I said. "You're right; this is your family's business, and I have no place in it. But when your solution will place my friend and yourself in danger, I can't allow you—"

I flinched as the bell blared over the intercom installed right above me, but I exhaled before pivoting on my foot to stride toward the bathroom. I'd get caught outside of class eventually, but it'd buy me a few more minutes to talk. I ducked underneath a classroom's windows and spun into a side corridor.

"You're still at school?"

"We have finals today. It's our last day before winter break, but that's irrelevant right now. I'm warning you against committing to a decision you may regret." My shoes tapped against the tiles.

"Fine. I'll talk to Taiju one last time. Stop pressuring Hakkai."

"Please wait!" I hissed, hearing the finality in her voice. It was that same resolve which had led her to murder, and if she failed to get through to him, she'd only be affirmed that Taiju was better off gone. I didn't yet hear the telltale click of a call disconnecting, and I hurried to speak. "Let—let me attend that meeting, and I won't meddle with Hakkai. I can't promise I'll be entirely quiet, but I won't speak out of turn."

She didn't respond immediately, and I slowed to a halt with my hands cradling my phone, straining my ear as she remained silent.

"...when are you free tomorrow?"

"I'm free all day." My head bobbed up and down. "Whenever works for you."

"Then tomorrow, at 1. Come to my house by then."

My eyes widened. "T-thank you. I mean it."

"I'm not doing this for you." Click.

I lowered my phone from my ear and took a deep breath. Tension I'd not felt during the adrenaline rush seeped out of my body, and I leaned against a plastered wall, cool and firm against my back.

It wasn't my ideal solution, but Yuzuha had a right to act as much as Hakkai did, and she conceded to a nonviolent method of confrontation. By no means was it a bad outcome.

I sighed.

If I wanted to keep my word, then this would be my last chance.

---

Kokonoi smirked as he stared back at me, and I lowered my head as I averted my gaze to the flat-screen TV behind him and Inui. My reflection from the noontime sun was hazy, but I could distinguish my braided hair and short dress. Their living room's furniture had not changed since the last time I visited, nor had my girlish disguise, but the atmosphere was like night and day, and the tension seemed to affect only me.

"You wanted to talk? What's she here for, then?" The hairs on my neck tingled as Taiju's scowl focused on me. His red coat bunched up underneath his large frame as he leaned back into the couch. A button at his collar dazzled with sunlight, and I leaned back while blinking the spot out of my vision.

"What're they here for, then?" Yuzuha flicked a long-sleeved arm at the pair of boys standing behind Taiju. I saw only the crown of her head as she sat on the couch in front of me, but even without seeing her expression towards Taiju, I could hear the disdain in her voice.

"...Boss, we can leave." Taiju raised an eyebrow as he looked back after his most loyal follower's timid proposal. Inui's face remained neutral, identical to when he'd chaperoned Hakkai under Taiju's orders, but something must've changed for him to interrupt Taiju and acknowledge Yuzuha. Good to know he was more than a mindless devotee.

To Inui's left, Kokonoi remained silent. How far did his cooperation with Kisaki extend beyond disclosing Baji's encounter with Hakkai? His silence implied his indifference as to whether he stayed to overhear Yuzuha's talk with Taiju, but it'd be ideal if he weren't present....

"Fine. Leave." I watched in surprise as his subordinates filed out the room. Taiju reclined into the cushions. "And what about your friend?" I flinched as his serpentine stare rose back to me, but I took a deep breath.

"I'm just—"

"What? Scared of two girls?"

"Don't make that tone with me, Yuzuha."

"I'm just here to mediate," I continued. "I won't interfere as long as we stay civil." Under both their gazes, I sat at the edge of Yuzuha's couch, keeping my calves flush against the leather and my back straight. Yuzuha uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, her knees sliding under the glass table separating her and her brother.

She'd volunteered to talk to Taiju, but what were her objectives? Direct confrontation, judging from her pettiness, but to achieve what? It was the better outlet for her frustration than fratricide, but she wouldn't keep calm and rational, if this antagonism between them was an omen. My hands curled up over my stockings.

Yuzuha spoke first. "You've been abusing Hakkai and I before you left, and you've been abusing us ever since coming back. Stop it." I winced.

But Taiju showed little visible anger as he huffed and remained relaxed. "It's not abuse, it's discipline. It's my responsibility to discipline, as the oldest sibling. You need to learn to respect your elders and superiors more, else you'll lose your standing when you enter the real world. I am giving punishment, but it's for your sakes."

It sounded like a well-worn excuse.

"'For our sake'?" Yuzuha scoffed. "Are you blind to what you're doing to Hakkai?"

"He's just as weak as before I left. All he does is rely on you to fix his problems."

"No shit he can't stand up against you. You go too far."

Taiju scowled. "You don't go far enough. I even gave you a chance, Yuzuha. I left because you told me to, and what have you done in my absence? Nothing." The couch creaked as he sat upright, the tattoos across his abs rippling.

Yuzuha slid her feet back. Her thighs were tense past her black skirt. "He'd been the happiest I'd ever seen him—until you came back from your business trip. Don't pretend like you left because I simply asked you to."

Of course Yuzuha had tried to negotiate beforehand other than simply accept Hakkai's share of punishment. Murder had been her last resort: undesired, hence her passivity in the series prior to her attempt, but necessary to resolve Taiju's continued abuse, as Taiju refused to believe he was anything but reasonable and justified.

If Kisaki had reached out to Yuzuha before I had, it might've been impossible to stop her with words alone....

Yuzuha must not fail at convincing Taiju of his wrongdoings. I could not let her enact that expedient.

"So nothing changed. Even right now, you're holding his hand because he's too much of a pussy to speak for himself. He never faces any consequences and learns."

I felt the springs underneath me creak milliseconds before Yuzuha jumped to her feet and swatted aside my outstretched hand. "Because of you!" she yelled. Her palms banged the table. The inch-thick glass held. "All you've taught him is that dissent brings punishment. I'm protecting him from you!"

"From me?" My eyes shot to Taiju as he snarled. "Protecting my own brother from me? Am I the problem here, Yuzuha? I'm working my ass off for your sakes, but why can't my family be the way I want it? Why must my sister treat me with hostility and my brother cower from his problems?"

"We're not 'your' family. You're not the only person in it!" Yuzuha's arm swung out sideways and knocked my beret askew, but her glare remained fixated on him.

"Yeah, I'm not. Mom's dead, God bless her soul. Dad's off to whoever-the-fuck-knows-where. Me, you, and Hakkai are all that's left."

"At least Dad doesn't beat us up whenever he feels—"

I flinched as Taiju's fist struck the table. Cracks rippled across the laminated glass like spiderwebs, but it stayed intact. Yuzuha's hands jerked back. "Dad doesn't give a shit about us, and he never did!" he roared. "I've not heard a word from him since mom's death, and I doubt you have, either. For all I care, he's dead! Who do you think is supporting this family? Paying for your needs, keeping you safe, and giving you shelter?"

Yuzuha gritted her teeth and didn't respond.

Ah, so that's how it is with this family.

"Answer me, Yuzuha."

"You," she bit out. "I can't deny that. But for everything else you've given us, I'd rather you weren't in our family." My eyes widened. Yuzuha remained stationary with her hands curled into fists at her sides, but her scowl had subsided into a frown as she stared at him with unblinking eyes.

Resolve.

Her expression persisted even after Taiju's arm shot over the table and grabbed her by the collar of her sailor uniform. The dark fabric threatened to tear as he wrenched her sideways—

I slapped his arm. Taiju's furious glower shifted to me. Yuzuha caught herself against the arm of the couch, but as she stood upright, she remained unfazed other than her disheveled hair and shallow breathing. My legs quivered as I stood up to meet Taiju and our height difference became plain, but I swallowed and met his eyes with the calmest face I could muster.

Keeping this confrontation peaceful was the best chance at a logical argument; a shouting match of heightened emotions was no more than a tantrum in which neither side wanted to listen, agree, or concede. However, taking Yuzuha's side would escalate tensions and, if Taiju remained stubborn, further encourage murder.

"L-let's not fight," I said. "Aside from the principal cause, you both agree that Hakkai-kun is too dependent, right?"

Taiju made no aggressive motion to my interruption. Good start. "Because she keeps sheltering him."

"From you," Yuzuha muttered behind me. Taiju growled and reached for her again, this time slower after having already demonstrated his threat, but I cut in front of her.

"Stop it, both of you." I glanced back at Yuzuha for good measure. "I also agree—Hakkai-kun needs to learn to take care of himself. Depriving him of the opportunity to think for himself will only foster further reliance, and dictating his life for him will only lower his—"

"You're saying you want me to leave Hakkai alone?" I spun around at Yuzuha's clipped tone. She glared at me. "Is that what you're saying? Leave Hakkai alone with him, and he'll naturally grow out of it?"

"I told you, you're preventing him from learning the consequences," Taiju butted in. I frowned as I turned back to face him.

Yuzuha and I agreed that Taiju's abuse must stop, but our means differed, hence our repeated arguments: Yuzuha wanted to protect Hakkai by any means, including speaking up for him in his inability to defend himself. I wanted him to become independent and challenge his problems head-on. Our goals were not the same.

Similarly, Taiju and Yuzuha did not share equal responsibility for Hakkai's continued passivity, and implying they did, even if I'd done so to appease and consequently pacify Taiju, was more harmful than escalation to violence. Failure to confront him would positively reinforce his behavior.

"No, I'm not denying that Hakkai-kun needs help as he is now—he won't help himself. In a way, we're all part of the problem, including me, for trying to control his life. But..." I bit my lip. "But I can't deny that Taiju-san's control over him is excessive and detrimental."

Taiju's betrayal came quick. "Don't tell me what to do with my family. Who do you think you are?"

"I'm an outsider," I said. My braided bangs tickled my ears as I stepped forward and raised my head to meet Taiju's narrowed eyes. "But I'm also the daughter of a loving family, even if I may not be able to meet them for however long it takes me to return home. It's that upbringing that tells me an apathetic, distant father has failed his responsibilities, and likewise a domineering, violent one. Being the breadwinner doesn't entitle him to treat his family with disdain and disrespect."

I skipped back as Taiju lunged at me, his massive frame hurtling forward with surprising momentum, but my calves hit the couch, and a flash of red speared toward my neck. He yanked me forward by my scarf. I toppled over, and the world regressed into a blur. The table crashed into my midsection and swept my legs off the ground, and I gasped—

"Taiju." The pull on my neck stopped at Yuzuha's cold voice, and my beret landed lopsided on the glass beside me. I panted as I propped my chest off the table, which miraculously remained intact despite the prior damage from Taiju's fist. One more hit, and it would shatter. "This is your last chance. I'm warning you."

Warning him about what...?

A shard of glass clattered on the wooden floorboards. Taiju released my scarf, and I rose to my feet and nudged my hat off the table, careful to not apply any pressure onto the glass.

"Fine. I'll give you another chance," Taiju said. He crossed his arms and glowered down on us. "You say you want Hakkai to make his own choices?"

"I want your abuse to stop."

Taiju clicked his tongue. "I'll let him choose between the Black Dragons and Toman, since he's so determined to be miserable in my gang. Might as well bring him along to church tomorrow to shape up. I have one condition—you're not allowed to tell him beforehand. Else, you'll influence him."

"What the hell?" Yuzuha scoffed. "Your abuse is 'influencing' him. You still don't realize that you're the problem?"

I grabbed her shoulder before the argument could escalate again or worse, Yuzuha decided that Taiju couldn't be reasoned with. "Isn't this a good start?" I said. "This is probably the most he can concede to now, and Hakkai'll have moral support from the gang, like he's had for years."

Fulfilling Taiju's demands granted him continued authority, but stopping Yuzuha from murder was right now more critical than stopping Taiju's abuse. Furthermore, with encouragement from Toman, Hakkai could gather the courage needed to confront his brother, and regardless of whether Taiju amended his ways, Hakkai would have healed from the damage of Taiju's abuse.

Yuzuha's brow remained furrowed as she stared back at me for several silent seconds, but she then nudged my hand off and refaced her elder brother. "...prove to me you're not just a narcissist."

"Hah?" A vein pulsed on his temple, and his hands fell to his hips. "You dare call me that, even after what I sacrifice for this family?"

"Then sacrifice your pride and show me you can give a damn about someone other than yourself. Else, we're walking out."

My lips parted. Her threat had been to leave. Even if Taiju didn't keep his word, Yuzuha and Hakkai would leave without violence. I'd been the hasty one, assuming she'd kill Taiju if he didn't listen. I let myself smile with a small sigh.

A multitude of emotions flashed over Taiju's face: surprise as his head recoiled, followed by anger as his eyebrows plunged so low that they melded into his lashes, and in his prolonged inability to speak or move, I daresay...

Panic.

"You...want to leave, after everything I've done for you?" His words picked up tempo, and he leaned forward. "Where would you go? This is your home."

Yuzuha did not waver. "Anywhere besides here."

Her hand tugged on the sleeve of my cardigan, and I let myself be led away from the table. Yuzuha refused to look back as we approached the room's doorway, her brown hair swaying with her steady pace, but I glanced at Taiju before we left.

He remained still as he watched us leave, his body powerless to stop us.

---

Yuzuha closed the front door behind us and leaned back against it. No guards stood in front of the house today. "You know a lot about Hakkai. You're more than just his classmate, aren't you?"

"Well, I know more than what he's told me." I adjusted my beret but halted before I could straighten my dress. At the edge of the porch, pale sunlight warmed my calves.

I don't need this disguise anymore, and I do owe an apology.

"...I might not look it, but I'm from his division of Toman," I said. "A friend dressed me up."

"A girl in his division? He never told me."

"That's because I'm not a girl. My name's Frank, although I recall Hakkai calling my name in front of you almost a week ago." Yuzuha hummed as her eyes scanned over my face, but her gaze lingered longer than I liked.

"Regardless, I'm sorry for intruding on your meeting with Taiju." I closed my eyes and bowed my head. "I worried you might abandon peaceful means if you failed to convince him, but you had it and yourself under control."

"You weren't necessary." I raised my head as she replied. Her eyes glinted, but they softened as she stood up from the wall. "But it helped to have someone finally agree with me, after Taiju would keep telling me I was wrong."

"He's wrong, as much as he denies it. You made him listen, and as a result, Hakkai can now return to Toman."

"Can he...?" Yuzuha murmured.

"You know him better than I do, but I think Taiju will uphold his promise," I said. "He looked more fearful than angry when you declared you'd leave. If he genuinely cares for you as family, then he'll reflect over his actions. Else...there's no point in staying with him any longer. I'm unsure if my host parents could provide temporary shelter, but I'll help in what other ways I can."

Her mouth opened, but she closed it without a word and sighed. "I'll go with Hakkai tomorrow, whether Taiju likes it or not."

"That's probably best." The sunlight shining on the edge of the porch faded, and I turned around with a hand on the railing.

Opaque, white droplets fell from the cloudy sky, slower than rain or hail. Some flecks deviated from linear trajectories, stirred up by cool currents and forming miniature eddies in the air, but the overall mass drifted downwards. Much of it seemed to vanish as it touched earth, but indistinct, white clumps began to form on the street and rooftops of the neighboring houses.

"It's...snowing?"

"The forecast said it'd pick up by early afternoon. Tomorrow, too." Yuzuha joined me at the railing and extended her hand past the overhang. A flake melted on her fingertip. "You should leave before it gets heavier."

The temperature didn't feel below the freezing point, but despite its curious appearance, the snow would probably give me a cold, just like other forms of precipitation. Emma's coordinated outfit was rather snug, but it wasn't intended for sub-zero conditions. I walked to the stairs leading down to the street. "I'll go. If anything happens, feel free to talk to me."

"Yeah." She gave me a tight-lipped smile. "Bye."

Yuzuha remained outside even after I reached the end of the block, her arms resting on the railing and her gaze distant. I turned past a tall condominium, avoided a well-dressed businessman as he climbed its marble steps, and strode in the direction of home. The paved sidewalk transitioned into a painted white line separating the road from the walkway. The growing white piles in my path were obvious against the dark asphalt. A fleck of cold blew past my scarf, and I cringed.

My hands bumped into my phone in my cardigan pocket.

Now that Hakkai could return to Toman, I should immediately contact Baji to stop him from initiating a fight on Hakkai's behalf. He could declare a battle independent of Toman, as his previous encounters with the Black Dragons exemplified, and while its unpredictable timing was also detrimental to Kisaki because his plans required precision, deaths were possible even without Kisaki's manipulation: Baji's side would stop short of murder, but the Black Dragons were renowned for their brutality, and while he was powerful, Baji could overestimate his abilities, his death in the series proved.

Kisaki's plans would differ from in the story because of Baji's loud and reckless presence, but keeping Kisaki ignorant of the recent developments offered the best chance at negating his schemes, whatever they were, as it'd be too late to revise his plans. Although Kisaki could attempt another murder plot, Taiju would be better defended after Christmas and against actors outside his family.

I checked the quiet road for cars before taking out my phone and scrolling through my contacts.

Hm?

Hanagaki Takemichi, Ito Shigeru and Youko, Kawata Souya, Kisaki Tetta, Mitsuya Takashi.... My thumb paused at my Captain's name, but I kept scrolling. ...Sano Manjirou, Tachibana Hinata. The screen rebounded as I hit the bottom of the list. I thought I had Baji's number on this card.

Luckily, I always carried both my cards. I lifted my phone's back cover off and removed the battery pack to tease out the SIM card underneath with a fingernail. I swapped in my personal card, tucked away 'Frank's' in the external casing, and reassembled my phone. I still had Kisaki's group text summoning the admins to a meeting last weekend, and although unidentified, Baji's phone number should be displayed in the participants. I only needed to remember the first few digits to distinguish his number among them and directly call him.

Two unread messages from Hina popped up after it rebooted. Sidetracked, I opened them.

2:20—Hinata

We're waiting at the main entrance, the side with the big fish statue. my dad wanted to talk to you for some reason after I told him I was going out, so he came too...sorry

2:29—Hinata

Where are u at?

The characters slipped through my consciousness like water in a sieve, and I halted as I reread them. Was I supposed to be somewhere?

Yes, at the aquarium halfway across Shibuya, ten minutes ago. You invited them.

My stomach dropped. That was a ten-minute walk, and I was already late. I still owed them, and no matter what, I would not break this promise.

I sprinted down the road, the upscale residential area devoid of pedestrians, as I dialed Hina. Snow struck my face as cold confetti and my hat tumbled off my head, but I caught it in midair and ran with it clutched to my chest. My feet skidded on the wet asphalt as I stopped before an approaching car, but they yielded to me, and I raised an arm as I ran across the street and continued to the commercial district.

The call connected with a click. "Blake-chan, did something happen?"

"I'm sorry for—being late!" My cadence broke as my shoes struck the ground. "I'll—be there in—"

"It's too windy on your side. I can barely hear you."

I tucked my beret into my arm and cupped a hand over the mic. "Something came up—last minute. I'll be there in—five more minutes!"

"It's alright." Her voice remained mellow. My chest burned from the cold air. "We're waiting inside the lobby. Don't worry about it too much, just get here safely."

I slowed to a fast walk. "Thanks, I'll arrive soon." After the call ended, I took off running again.

Baji's number, Baji's number, where was it? My thumb flicked through the menus and selected his listing in my contacts. I chanted the first half of his number under my breath as I swapped back to my Toman SIM, taking a moment of respite at the red traffic light to reassemble my phone. It wasn't urgent that I contacted Baji at this very moment, but excusing myself to call him after already being fifteen minutes late to the aquarium was unacceptable, as was waiting several hours until our outing ended.

I ducked past umbrellas and maneuvered around one woman's massive haul of Christmas Eve shopping as I navigated to Kisaki's text and selected Baji's number from among the recipients. After five rings, it went to voicemail. I growled and redialed.

He picked up this time. "Look, I don't care what the fuck you're selling, but I don't—"

"This is Frank. I got your number from a friend." I weaved around pedestrians, who, while not numerous, crowded the sidewalk enough to render running a futile effort. "I must talk to you about the Black Dragons, right now."

"...oh, it's you. What?"

Well, he seemed nicer than the first time we talked and the two times he whacked me with a pipe. Although I'd made my opposition to conflict clear at Kisaki's meeting, hopefully Baji would listen with an open mind. Spreading their private family talk was a violation of their privacy, so I'd keep the details minimal: "I talked with Ta—Hakkai's sister, who told me Taiju agreed to allow Hakkai the choice to return to Toman. There's no need—no immediate need, at least—to fight the Black Dragons."

"Taiju did? Seriously?" He snorted. "But even so, and maybe you've noticed, Hakkai won't stand up for himself. What makes you think he will, now?"

"He has been submissive thus far under his brother's abuse," I admitted. "However, it's obvious Hakkai wants to return to Toman. If Taiju is willing to let him leave without repercussions, he'll assert himself."

"People don't change that easily."

"But they can change. Haven't you noticed changes in the people around you?" In his resulting silence, I tucked my arms into my chest to slip through the crowd waiting before a large department store.

"...fine. Maybe there isn't a need to fight them. But you should be cautious of whose atten—"

A tall girl emerged from the edge of the block, so close that her shoulder-length hair brushed my cheek as she recoiled. I grinded my heels into the pavement and shot out a hand to catch myself against the building corner. My phone clacked against the flat of the wall. I winced but bowed my head. "I'm sorry, I was at fault for rushing..."

My voice trailed off as I looked up at the 5th Division Vice-Captain, his black facemask hiding his mouth as he swept his long hair back and straightened his fleece jacket.

"Fu—what happened?" Baji's voice blared out on speaker. Sanzu's eyes narrowed. "Do you—"

I snapped my phone shut and ducked my head. "Sorry," I muttered, my face hot. My breath streamed out as pale vapor as I sped away.

He may have recognized Baji's voice, but that alone was insufficient to conclude I was from Toman. Furthermore, I'd never interacted with the 5th Division leaders, and among the admins, they were thus the least likely to recognize me. So why did I run from him?

Of course I wasn't in the mindset for rational thought right now, trying to multitask on a tight schedule. I craned my neck to view the street name before sprinting down the near-vacant street. Cold air blasted my eyes, and I squinted to retain their moisture. Although my conversation with Baji ended abruptly, he'd decided not to pursue a battle with the Black Dragons.

No battle, no casualties, no murder, no deaths.

Taiju would reflect over his abuse, Yuzuha would leave instead of kill, and Hakkai would make his own decisions.

Wasn't this the optimal outcome?

The five-meter-tall obsidian clownfish popped into my consciousness as I passed its pedestal, and I snorted as I turned around to run back to the entrance of the aquarium.

The building was a concrete prison with sparse windows and minimal external decorations other than the statue and signboards beside the glass door, but the entrance hall was more akin to a hotel lounge. Model shoals of fish hung interspersed with crystal lights from the ceiling, and the tile floor glittered with their golden radiance. Tall, colorful tapestries indicated the directions to different sections of the building, including the reception desk and ticket kiosks at the back of the hall. Various benches sat around a square fountain, but most visitors either stood in line to buy tickets or took pictures of the miniature exhibits at the entrance. I loosened my scarf after warm air greeted me at the door.

"Blake! That you?" Emma called as she stood up from a bench. Behind her, Hina ducked past Emma and waved after a short pause, and behind Hina...

Hina's father sat with his hands folded on his lap, his black hair neatly parted and glasses glinting as he watched me approach.

The glass wall illuminated the cafeteria in pale tones, but the airfield beyond and echoing announcement faded as I stared down at the suited man sitting across the table, who continued to look out the window with his chopsticks immobile. "Then why don't you see her yourself and not ask a complete stranger to in your stead? She'd clearly be happier for one more than the other."

"Huh? You went from weirdly happy to weirdly red. See something you like?" Emma smirked as she ran a hand through her pale hair and tugged her scarf down to reveal her neck.

I gave her a deadpan stare. "No, but I'm sorry for being late after inviting you two here." My gaze shifted to Masato. "I'm also sorry for possibly holding you up from work. Hina-chan mentioned in her text that you'd like to talk...?"

He straightened his suit jacket and sighed. "I took a few days off early to spend time with family, but I'll keep this brief to not interrupt your time together." He pulled an envelope out of his pocket and offered it to me. "I owe you this amount from the time we met."

I had slammed down some money in front of him and stormed off after finishing the lunch he bought me at the airport, hadn't I? He probably wanted to return the change, although with how overpriced the food there was, I doubted there was enough change to be worth the hassle to return to me, more so return in person.

I didn't take it. "You originally paid for my lunch, so you don't owe me anything. Also, I acted immaturely back then."

"Then consider this as thanks for inviting my daughter here."

"Dad," Hina whined and nudged his arm.

I chuckled. "I invited her to spend time together. I can't accept your thanks."

He paused before slipping the envelope back into his pocket. "Is that so? You've changed since then."

Emma had told me the same around the time we'd accepted Valhalla's declaration of war. After committing myself to saving everyone instead of continuing to accept that some deaths were inevitable, I wouldn't be surprised if parts of my personality had changed enough for people to notice. "Perhaps I have."

His glasses flashed as he stood up and picked up his umbrella. "I'll leave now. Hina, don't stay out too late afterwards."

"I know, just go already," she muttered and pushed his back. Her cheeks were as pink as her coat.

Masato acted closer to his children than in the series, whether I'd caused that effect or I'd simply remembered wrong. I watched as Hina continued to shoo her father away, to Emma's growing mirth. Perhaps I could hope he no longer opposed Hina's relationship with Takemichi or would at least discuss it with her rather than force her boyfriend to break up. Masato might remain concerned about Takemichi's delinquency, but he'd grant her feelings merit and accept their relationship, like he had after seeing her perseverance in the story.

"What're you both smiling at?" Hina turned back to us with beady eyes.

"Nothing," Emma sang. "But anyways, Blake..." She teased the beret out of my tense fingers and plopped it on my head. "You even went the extra step to braid your hair! Who'd you meet with today, hm?"

"Eh?" Hina's entire demeanor shifted. "You went on a date? With who? Where? Do we know them?"

Somehow, with all the excitement over the past half-hour, I'd forgotten that I was wearing this

youthful outfit. Was this outfit why Masato commented that I'd changed? Upon coming to this world, I would never have imagined myself wearing these styles of clothing for either pleasure or practical purposes. It was a less effective disguise than pretending to be a boy, hence why Hina had probably seen through it, but it'd successfully hid 'Frank's' identity when I visited Hakkai. There was no harm in continuing to wear this disguise for a final day, after which I'd stuff it in the back of my closet, never again to see the light of day.

"It's not for a date, but uh...work. It's work-related."

"But you told me you wanted to look cute and girly!"

"I didn't word it that way..."

---

I averted my eyes from the silhouette of a pair of visitors giggling and leaning into each other's faces, lost in their own world under the dim lighting. "There's quite a lot of couples here."

Hina looked in the same direction before swiveling back around and gluing her forehead to the glass, but Emma's eyes didn't leave the translucent, pulsating jellyfish drifting through the cylindrical tank we were clustered around. The small, bell-shaped animals glowed cyan under the tank's faint LED. "'cause it's Christmas Eve," Emma said.

"I expected more families because it's Christmas Eve, but perhaps it's a cultural difference."

"It's a romantic holiday here," Hina said with her gaze affixed to the bottom of the tank. "We celebrate New Years' with family. I'm meeting with Takemichi-kun tonight."

"And I've got Draken to go on an obligatory date. No way he's getting out of this one." Emma flipped her hair over her shoulder and stepped away from the tank. "Let's move on, if you guys are ready."

We walked out of the dark room and into the hallway. A glance through the square window showed that the concrete below was more white than gray. The branches of the trees lining the entrance to the aquarium, bare an hour ago, now poked out from under a snowy blanket. The city skyline was a hazy white.

"So...wanna continue to the tunnel? Or should we go down now?" Emma's voice echoed from ahead. I looked over to see the girls reading the signs at the intersection in the hallway. A stairwell on the left led to the floor below, and the path on the right continued several meters until it reached the encased doorway of a room glowing blue.

"We've almost covered all the exhibits on this floor, so we could finish up before heading downstairs," I said. "There's also a bihourly, Christmas-themed feeding show at the kelp forest tank there in..." I checked the time on my phone. "90 minutes. 20 minutes should be sufficient to pass through the tunnel and remaining area, then an hour around the ground floor."

"That sounds good, although have you been here before? You've seemed pretty familiar." Hina tilted her head.

"I did a little research on their website beforehand." This trip was my repayment to them, and I wanted it to proceed as smoothly as possible. A rigid itinerary would dampen their enjoyment, but I had a rough schedule and map in my mind. "Just a little."

"You sure came prepared, didn't cha?" Emma laughed. "But whether we take longer, shorter, it's all good. Why not go more with the flow?" She grabbed my hand and set off for the next exhibit, and I let her drag me along. "Alright! Let's go."

The aquarium tunnel was more crowded than the previous room but empty enough for us to enter uninhibited. Most guests remained stationary to watch the fish swim around them through the cylindrical, glass wall. A school of minnows frolicked among the colorful coral sprouting out of porous rock, disturbing a clownfish foraging in the sand. A pair of flounder swam overhead to the other side of the glass, momentarily becoming silhouettes as they passed the pale lights above.

"Woah, it feels like we're underwater." Hina's head swiveled as she looked around the tunnel, her eyes shining with blue light. "I wonder which fish they have here."

"Anything in particular?" Emma leaned against a bench and placed a finger on the glass, and a curious, pink fish swam to greet her.

"Sea turtles. I know that some species live in the reefs."

Sea turtles.... I had seen images of them while browsing the aquarium's website, but I couldn't recall which exhibits displayed them. However, there were other coral reef exhibits on the floor below. I'd best remember to keep an eye out for any sea turtles.

"Oh, you like them?" The fish darted away when Emma looked back.

"I guess they kinda remind me of Takemichi-kun." She smiled and continued to search around. "They're often slow swimmers compared to other marine animals their size, but they have hard shells and enduring lifespans. Sometimes they look like they're crying, but they're persevering and wise creatures."

Emma hummed. "Yup, that's Takemitchy—he's certainly slow on the uptake but stubborn. I wonder how he'd react to being called a sea turtle."

"Emma-chan!" Hina's face flushed red in mortification. "Don't you dare."

"Just kidding, just kidding. I won't tell him, but he'll live on as a sea turtle in my head." Hina made a tortured sound as she slunk further into the tunnel, to Emma's laughter.

"Man, Hina's always so easy to tease," Emma said as she plopped down on the bench and straightened her long coat. "But anyway, you're dressed up today and arrived late, Blake. Did something happen?"

"I did not go on a date," I said.

"Aw, I was just teasing! I mean like, really, did anything bad happen with Toman?"

I hadn't disclosed my reason for needing a feminine disguise to her, but given that she already knew my alternate identity in Toman and probably deduced from my personality that I wouldn't dress up for fun, it was logical to conclude that I used it for a Toman-related issue.

But again, this outfit has fulfilled its purpose, and Emma helped me coordinate it. Some explanation is warranted even if she'd figure it out herself when Hakkai returned.

"You attended the last meeting, so you know that Hakkai joined the Black Dragons to establish a truce, right?" I waited for her to nod. "After some recent discussion among his family, Hakkai's brother will now allow him to return to Toman."

"Eh? Really?" Her eyebrows rose. "Cool. Good job, Blake."

"I was not involved whatsoever."

"Totally." She winked. "Honestly, I don't know much about the situation, but that's good that he got his brother on board."

"Well..." I paused. "His sister made the deal with Taiju, the Black Dragon's leader. Hakkai doesn't know of it, yet."

"Oh, so he didn't decide on it himself." Emma tilted her head, and her pale hair, cerulean in the light of the tunnel, rolled down her shoulders. "I don't know him that well, but he's a good kid. Since he chose to leave earlier to protect Toman, might he continue to remain in the Black Dragons?"

I crossed my arms. "Taiju implied that the pact would remain active even if Hakkai chose to leave. Taiju might not be happy, but from what I've seen of him, I think he'll respect Hakkai's decision." If Taiju wanted his family to remain with him, he'd have no choice but to adapt. When Yuzuha threatened to leave, if the cause for his alarm was his broken power over them, he would've attempted to reassert his authority, likely with anger and violence. However, he'd stood paralyzed when we walked away: he hadn't known how to react, recognizing that continued abuse would drive his family apart.

Whether he amended his behavior or not, I did not doubt that Taiju would somehow change.

"Maybe so, but would Hakkai know that there's no consequence?"

"He could ask..."

"Actually, lemme rephrase." She cleared her throat. "Ahem. His brother might assure him there's no strings attached, but would Hakkai be willing to trust him? From what I've heard of this gen's leader, he's not a great guy. I'd be pretty doubtful if he suddenly seemed to change his tune."

Baji had voiced similar concerns to me, but, perhaps in my excitement of Taiju showing positive change, I'd assumed Hakkai would express his honest thoughts. However, Emma was right—even if Taiju hypothetically apologized and took responsibility for his abuse, its effects would remain: Hakkai still hadn't gathered the courage to talk about being abused, much less talk back to his abuser.

I let my gaze wander around the tunnel.

The reason I'd wanted Hakkai to confront his brother was for Hakkai to overcome his fear and restore his self-confidence, but in the end, Yuzuha confronted their brother in Hakkai's stead. She succeeded in asserting her ultimatum, and that was good. Fantastic, even: Taiju had listened, and they would leave if he failed to reform. I'd wanted a solution that addressed both Hakkai's inaction and the abuse, yet extracting the siblings from under Taiju's power was more critical. However, I'd thought Toman could help him heal and urged Yuzuha to accept Taiju's offer, and in order to rejoin Toman, Hakkai would first have to express a courage that he still lacked...

The distant murmuring washed over, and fish continued to swim undisturbed over the top of the tank. Past the weathered rock of the ocean floor, the blue waters continued indefinitely to places where light failed to reach, a navy abyss concealing unknown mysteries. The sole light source rippled from above, hazy in its distance and growing ever darker as the abyss engulfed it.

Cold, tranquil, and alone.

Something bumped into my back, and I spun around—

"Wanna sit down?"

Emma looked up at me with a small smile and lowered her hand from my back. "You look a bit dizzy. It's kinda disorienting to look up, isn't it? It's like we're at the bottom of the ocean."

The darkness licking at the edge of my vision faded away as I took a deep breath and sat beside Emma. The stone bench, anchored to the ground, remained steady under our weight. She hummed and rested her head on her hand as she watched Hina continue to roam around the exhibit.

I kept my focus on the floor and loosened my scarf from my damp neck. The ceiling's reflection was hazy across the tiles, insufficient to retrigger that reaction, and my heartbeat calmed down. Perhaps motion sickness caused part of it, but that'd been an unusually intense dizzy spell. Or, given its severity, perhaps a panic attack. I never had issues with being underwater in my own world nor history of recurring panic disorders, and it was probably nothing to worry about.

In my peripheral vision, the silhouette of a turtle glided over the tank.

---

"That whale plushie was so cute, but oh my god, it's such a rip-off." Emma shoved the back door open and stomped out, snow crackling under her boots. A cold breeze penetrated the building. "Who the heck would buy that? I could get a new coat for that amount!"

"Even without our free tickets, the admission fee is relatively cheap for an aquarium this popular." I caught the door and held it open for Hina before I joined them outside in the snowy sunset. "They offset costs in other venues, and I assume there are plenty of people who want souvenirs for sentimental value rather than monetary."

"Sometimes the memories are more valuable than the money," Hina said. "Although, those items were pretty overpriced."

Emma sighed and tapped her umbrella against a patch of exposed asphalt, and her long shadow against the wall mimicked her. "Forget it. The experience was worth way more, anyway—"

"Emma!" I froze at the familiar masculine voice.

From the shadow of the neighboring building, Draken strolled toward us and adopted the orange glow of the fading sun. His umbrella dripped with slush, and white flecks clung to the broad shoulders of his thick hoodie. "What took you so long? I've been waiting out here."

I made to push up my glasses, but after my fingers tapped my cheek unhindered, I instead lowered my beret. Draken closed his umbrella when he joined us at the overhang, and his cranky scowl remained fixated on Emma, who walked over to stand beside him.

"Sorry, sorry, I lost track of time." Emma laughed. Her gaze shifted to Hina and me. "But I had fun today. Thanks for inviting us out."

Hina joined in. "I did, too. Thank you."

With Draken present in my peripheral vision, I nodded and hummed to them, but Draken wasn't content with leaving with Emma just yet:

"Hey, Hina-chan. And who's this? A friend?" His tone was polite, his words enunciated and pitch fluid, unlike the casual drawl he used with Toman.

I'd passed the initial appearance check, but would my voice or speech mannerisms be too risky to reveal? Whereas Sanzu and Frank were complete strangers, Draken was well-acquainted with my Toman identity after multiple incidents together. However, a secretive attitude would instead attract suspicion, so acting meek—

"This is Blake-chan, Blake Myers," Hina said. "She's a transfer student at my school from America."

My hands clenched behind my back, but I kept my voice quiet and my head lowered. "Hello."

"Draken, are you interested in her or stalling? We're supposed to be going on a date, a date! You promised you'd take me out tonight." Emma pouted and placed her hands on her hips.

Draken's response was immediate. "Hah? Who's stalling? I promised a date, so let's go already." He popped open his umbrella and walked away from the aquarium, albeit at a snail's pace. Her annoyed expression gone, Emma winked at us—or perhaps at just me—before catching up to Draken's side and huddling under his umbrella. Snow dusted his opposite shoulder as he positioned it between them. Her own remained closed.

"Draken-kun is one of the leaders of Takemichi-kun's gang and might look intimidating, but he's really kind." Hina smiled as she watched them leave onto the main street. "There's no need to worry."

Convenient excuse. "Yeah, I was...startled by him. I'll keep that in mind."

"The people I've met in his gang have been nice, but maybe it's because I'm his girlfriend." Hina chuckled. "Anyway, do you have any plans after this? Wanna walk around together for a bit?"

Baji had agreed to not fight the Black Dragons over Hakkai, but in light of my recent realizations, I'd need to think more about if Hakkai could speak honestly to Taiju. However, hanging out with Hina had become a rare occasion; I'd been busy and distant towards her since Valhalla's appearance. A couple of minutes couldn't hurt.

"I have half-an-hour free. I don't mind," I said. "When is your date with Hanagaki-kun?"

Hina waved her hand. "Don't worry, I've got at least fifteen minutes until I need to leave. I even set an alarm." She opened her umbrella and beckoned at me. "Let's walk together."

"Oh, thanks."

The snow had been heaviest when we toured the aquarium and still continued to fall, but it was negligible enough to not obstruct the orange sunset, which colored the scattered clouds pink and dazzled the tall storefronts above the crowd. Pale purple shadows hugged the sloping piles of snow atop any horizontal surface. The roads were only covered by a dusting of snow, whether they'd been chemically treated or manually plowed. This major intersection below us was, ironically enough, almost devoid of cars and busier with pedestrians.

My foot slipped on half-melted ice, but I steadied myself against the railing of the pedestrian bridge and muttered an apology to the person climbing the steps behind me.

Man, driving in the snow sounded awful. It'd better melt before the next Toman meeting.

"For how long does it typically snow in Tokyo?"

"Here?" Hina looked at the sky through her clear umbrella. "It's pretty mild compared to up North. We usually get a few days like this—several centimeters of snowfall, but it melts quickly once the snow stops. How much do you get?"

"It's never cold enough in Los Angeles. I haven't seen snow since traveling out-of-state as a tee—toddler," I corrected.

"Enjoy the snow while you can, then." Hina laughed. Her face then loosened into a wistful smile, her eyes downcast on the busy street below us. Her short hair glowed orange under the departing sun, which bestowed its final warmth and light as the horizon eclipsed it. "You'll be gone in a few more months, so I hope you enjoy everything you can until then."

I had a deadline to oust Kisaki. It was easy to forget that while preoccupied averting the casualties and victims of his schemes. Disrupting his plans was good progress, but I'd need to take decisive initiative at some point...

I shook my head. Not right now.

"I've enjoyed my time here. Although I miss my family, I would be sad to leave," I admitted. "I've made many friends here, and I would miss not being able to meet them again. We...won't be able to talk like this anymore."

"You could still call or text. Maybe even visit us again later."

I wish I could.

"You're right," I said. "Leaving here isn't the end of the world."

"Yep." Her expression brightened, and she stood straight. "But even so, we can make unforgettable memories that'll last a lifetime. Are you still up for visiting the shrine on New Year's?"

She'd proposed attending the New Year's celebrations together a while back, after I rejected her invitation to the festival where Draken would get stabbed, and I'd...agreed, if I remembered right. I had the time to: the battle was averted, the siblings' conflict mitigated, and Kisaki's plan disrupted, but visiting with Hina increased the likelihood of meeting Toman as myself. My identity should remain concealed if I kept my distance, but should I risk it?

"I'm...I'd love to go," I said. "I'm worried about the crowds and may not stay for long, but I'd love to."

"That works. I'll be meeting up with Takemichi-kun there shortly after, anyway. It'll be fun, I promise!"

I chuckled. "I look forward to it."

The sun vanished behind the skyline, and streetlamps flickered on, flooding the bridge and street below with white light. It was under one such streetlamp that a boy in a black boiler suit caught my attention, his glasses gleaming and dark skin bleached under the spotlight.

"Hm? What's wrong?" Hina halted and backpedaled to reoffer the cover of her umbrella.

"It's...nothing." Pedestrians walked past him in the plaza at the end of the bridge, but he remained transfixed by his phone, his face lit in the screen's pale glow. Why was he in uniform? What was he doing?

It's been several months, and I still know almost nothing about him. I'll have to change that eventually.

Wait, with Hina present, could I...? I'd learned from mentioning her name to him in Toman that he didn't bear any apparent grudge towards her. If I could find out how that developed into an obsession with killing her, then I could prevent it from taking root. Kisaki would still continue hunting for power, but at least it'd avert Hina's death. Perhaps after later learning of his crimes in the future, Hina would oppose her former classmate, and the crime boss would kill her as an obstacle. Or perhaps there was some convoluted connection between the two that caused Kisaki to seek her out without any prompting from her. Either way, depending on how Kisaki and Hina reacted to each other, I could better predict the cause of Kisaki's motive for murder.

Or, by having them meet, you could provoke that motive to form early...

"Blake-chan?"

But if you sit back and wait, it might take months for anything to happen.

"Hey..." My arm turned to stone as I hauled it up, my hand wavering as I pointed at Kisaki. "Isn't that the uniform of Hanagaki-kun's gang?"

Hina followed the direction of my finger, and I held my breath as she remained silent. "...you mean the boy on his phone? Yeah, that's Toman's uniform. I'm surprised you could tell."

She didn't recognize him. He had undergone a liberal image change, and we were too far away to distinguish his natural facial features. Who'd associate that blonde, tanned delinquent with a pasty, timid classmate?

Last chance to back out. Although you may never again find the opportunity to see them talk, you can learn more about their relationship by continuing to talk to them individually.

But what have I learned so far? I shut my eyes and sighed.

"It's Kisaki Tetta," I said. "I overheard Hanagaki-kun mention his name to his friends. I thought you knew him, too." If asked, Takemichi would have no recollection of discussing Kisaki nearby me, and he'd probably assume I heard his past self instead.

"Eh? Kisaki-kun?" Hina sounded incredulous. "I mean, I do know him from a while back, but I'm not sure that's him..." Her umbrella bobbed as she descended the steps toward him, and I followed her down into the plaza. A few meters away from him, her face lit up with a smile. "Huh, I think it really is him! Mind if I talk to him for a few minutes? I haven't seen him in years."

"Take your time. I'll wait here." At the edge of earshot and outside immediate attention.

"Let's meet him together. I feel like you'd have a lot in common." Before I could react, Hina covered the remaining distance and called over the crowd: "Kisaki-kun, it's been a while!"

Kisaki flinched, his gaze shooting up from his phone and leg sliding back until it bumped against a stone planter. I lowered my head and hurried to Hina's side. His eyes were wide and restless behind his glasses in contrast to his tense form. Why was he so shocked? When I'd asked him about Hina during a Toman meeting, he only displayed a brief lapse in speech. Here, he looked any second from bolting or striking out. I raised my hands to my chest.

"Ah, sorry if I scared you," Hina continued. "But how are you? You look so different!"

"I'm...I'm doing well." Kisaki found his voice, but his tempo remained slow and inconsistent, as if he considered each word before he spoke them. "What brings you here, Tachibana? Hanging...spending time with a friend?" His gaze flicked to me before returning to Hina.

All his attention was on Hina. Kisaki and I had only spoken a handful of times, so I doubted he would recognize my face or voice. Draken posed the higher risk, but he failed to realize my identity. Perhaps my worry was excessive. If not for Hina's assertive invitation, I would have watched the conversation from afar, piecing together its general contents from exaggerated body language and snippets of dialogue.

"We're just wandering around," Hina said. "This is Blake Myers, an exchange student at my school."

He paused. "A middle school exchange student? That's quite rare." He seemed to regain some of his usual composure as the topic shifted away from himself, and he extended his right hand to me, palm perpendicular to the ground and fingers outstretched. "It's nice to meet you, Myers-san."

I was always the one to initiate handshakes since arriving in Japan as an adolescent, which was why I stared at his hand for several awkward seconds before accepting it. His bronze skin was cold, but I returned his firm shake. "Likewise," I said while watching his face, but he again gave me little attention, his gaze lowered to our connected hands.

Hina peered at the embroidery on his sleeves after we disengaged. "So, you're the 3rd Division Captain of Toman?" Kisaki nodded and straightened his uniform. "I never thought that you'd join a gang, but that's amazing! You must be strong, then."

"No, I'm not much of a fighter." Kisaki retained his calm even as the conversation returned to him. Perhaps Hina had just startled him, and his shock wore off. "My Division handles the labor, whereas I specialize in strategy."

"Like a tactician? With your smarts, that suits you. I'm sure you're a great comfort to your allies, but a terrifying enemy to have." She laughed.

Kisaki's lips twitched upward before resettling in a neutral line. "Thank you. It requires street smarts rather than academics, but an academic background does help in certain areas."

I hid my frown in my scarf. The Kisaki I knew in Toman was cold, callous, and quiet towards anyone he had no interest in, and I would've thought this was trivial talk that bored him. It was not. Draken demonstrated earlier that Toman would be polite towards nondelinquents, but I'd experienced Kisaki's annoyance toward random strangers asking him for directions. Even though they were former classmates and Kisaki didn't yet hold a grudge against her, he was acting...for lack of better words, weirdly nice towards Hina.

The more I listen, the more confused I become.

Then again, I'd never seen him talk with someone this nice. Hina tended to draw out the best in people.

"Since you're in Toman, do you know Hanagaki Takemichi?"

Kisaki's chin lowered. "I...I do know him, yes. What about him?"

"He's my boyfriend!" Hina said. "I'm not sure if you remember, but we met him once on our way back from cram school. I feel like you two would get along."

"Perhaps we would. I'll keep that in mind." He checked his phone. "Excuse me, but I should leave."

"Ah, it's fine. It was nice seeing you, Kisaki-kun."

"Likewise." Kisaki pocketed his phone and headed away from the plaza center, slipping into the crowd. Hina seemed oblivious to his changed demeanor, waving at him while continuing to smile. She had no reason to suspect that he wouldn't want to speak about Takemichi.

His reaction to the topic of Takemichi was, however, closer to my expectations. The two boys shared some connection from childhood that left Kisaki with lingering resentment, regardless of whether Takemichi punching him had amplified it. Kisaki was courteous enough around Hina to leave rather than voice his displeasure about Takemichi, wherein lay the irony that Kisaki would kill her and ignore Takemichi. Was their shared past irrelevant to their fates?

Hina peeked at me past the handle of her umbrella. "Sorry for getting carried away. Should we keep going?"

I shook my head. "It's alright; I'm good for today. He...you two acted familiar with each other. I'm not sure if he recognized me, but I met him once while asking for directions a few months ago, when I was still unused to the city, and he was quite aloof. How does he normally act?"

"'Aloof'? I guess that's one way to describe him." Hina shrugged. "I only knew him back in elementary school, but he used to be super quiet—I'd even say shy, rather than aloof. Brilliant kid, but he rarely put himself out there. But he's trying hard to grow. I gotta keep up with him!" She pumped her free fist.

Kisaki discarded that past self to chase power in the delinquent sphere, but why maintain his connection with Hina?

I chuckled politely. "He looked happy to see you after so long. Did you two have any special relationship?"

"Uh...we weren't dating, if that's what you meant."

A guffaw escaped me before I could stifle it. I pressed my fist tight against my lips and held my breath, but a few snorts leaked out. Several people glanced at me.

Hina watched me with flat eyes. "Blake-chan, I have never heard you laugh like that. Is imagining my love life that funny?"

"I o-only thought you two would've made an interesting couple." Kisaki being a jealous lover was less plausible than the world ending. He never even talked with her during middle school in the series, and his pursuit of power was too roundabout for a scheme to win her love. Maybe I was overthinking his politeness towards Hina—I had only ever seen the person he portrayed himself as in Toman, but he still was an adolescent and likely retained vestiges of his childhood self in private. He was not yet that cold-hearted crime boss of the future, even if his schemes demonstrated his lack of empathy. "I suppose you got along and were just happy to reuni—"

Hina's phone rang.

"It's been fifteen minutes already?" she said after silencing her alarm. "Sorry, I need to go. But, um, you've seemed interested in Kisaki-kun. I can help you get in contact with him if you want, later."

"No, it's alright." 'Blake' shouldn't get involved with Kisaki. "I hope you have a memorable date. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas! See you on New Year's, but don't catch a cold under the snow." Hina smiled as she rested her umbrella on her shoulder and hopped away, her boots leaving footprints on the shallow snow. Alone in the small plaza, where the snow-topped branches of the surrounding trees snaked through the purple sky, I pulled my cardigan tighter and rubbed my hands, but I continued watching her copper hair recede into the crowd until I could no longer see her. It was cold without her presence, but not as cold as walking here alone would've been.

I needed to return home for dinner and then reconsider if Hakkai could speak to his brother. Perhaps I could hope Taiju would be more empathetic and allow Hakkai to return to Toman regardless of how Hakkai responded. Taiju himself had admitted that Hakkai disliked being in the Black Dragons. Worst case, Yuzuha would be present and know best how to act, now that she no longer considered murder.

Overall, today...was a good day.

Something tapped my shoulder. Before I could turn around, a voice hissed into my ear, as chilling as the winter wind:

"Blake. Frank. Whatever name you go by—stay out of my business."

The air turned to ice against my skin as I peered over my shoulder at Kisaki, and I froze under his frigid silver eyes. My mind went blank.

"...your 'business'? What do you mean?" I bluffed. "Do you mean Hin—Tachibana-san?"

He remained unfazed. "Her, Draken, Kazutora, and Taiju. I'll admit that I'm unsure how you knew about each, but interfere again, and I will expose you."

I had caught his attention multiple times in Toman, a few occasions on purpose, but in the series, Kisaki had never confronted Takemichi upfront, taking his losses in stride rather than threatening Takemichi to get out of his way. But I wasn't Takemichi: I was nobody. A mere obstacle to be disposed of, like Draken, Osanai, and Baji.

"S-since when? How did you find out?" Who else knows?

"You made city headlines, even if your name remained anonymous: 'American transfer student from Mizo Middle School stops gang rape,' or something along those lines. They practically gave me your name, as you're the sole transfer in that school. Only an idiot wouldn't draw the connections between that girl and the newly arrived foreigner who refuses to disclose his background and possesses an irritating sense of justice." He scanned over my face and clothes. "You don't resemble him—I'll give you credit for that."

He'd known for that long, and I hadn't even suspected.

Kisaki patted snow off his dark uniform. "Moving on, I was writing a message to Mitsuya and you until you intruded, but in this state, you're not very useful."

"For what...?"

He raised an arching eyebrow. "You don't know? I suppose it is a sudden development. Baji called a meeting in twenty minutes at the diner across from the street." He gestured backwards with head, and I followed the indicated direction down the pedestrian bridge and to the lit storefront of a two-story chain restaurant. "I meant to invite you, but Mitsuya is sufficient. However, you can come watch and interfere at your own risk."

"Why would—why are you still inviting me, even though you know I'm untrustworthy?"

"Curious much?" A smug smirk creeped onto his face. My hands curled into fists. "I thought I've made it obvious enough. Your goals align with mine to a certain extent, and you would've sided with me despite your misgivings. Now, you're no help, but you're no harm, either. If you wish to know more, then I recommend taking a seat adjacent to the center aisle, the optimal location for a party of...seven, excluding any uninvited guests. See you there."

Kisaki walked away. Only after he vanished into the crowd did I brush off the snow on a stone bench, my fingers too numb to register the cold, and sit. White flecks stained my stockings and loafers, and I did nothing but watch as snow continued to accumulate.

Waiting out here accomplishes nothing. Go to the meeting, or go home.

My mind puttered to life like an engine in cold weather.

Kisaki invited...Kisaki goaded me to attend the meeting. He was right I'd think twice before interfering in the meeting, but why did he want me to watch? The story had implied he lured Takemichi and Chifuyu to the church for his own amusement; did he provoke me simply for his own sadistic delight?

He'd said his original purpose for inviting Mitsuya and I involved a shared goal: likely averting a battle with the Black Dragons. All three of us had advocated respecting the truce, and according to Kisaki, Baji had not invited us. I rebooted my phone under my Toman number and checked for any messages or missed calls. None.

Baji must have called the meeting to discuss attacking the Black Dragons. Kisaki was obviously unwelcome, Mitsuya had arranged the truce, and I was Mitsuya's Vice-Captain. Certainly, I would have supported Kisaki in retaining the peace. He wanted to avoid a battle with the Black Dragons, and so did I.

Regardless, he wanted me to attend, so I would attend. If he planned on exposing my identity before the admins—seven attendees, so a few ranked members including Kisaki, Mitsuya, and myself were also uninvited—then he could do so without my presence. The small pile of snow tumbled off my shoes as I pushed myself off the bench. It crackled under my slow steps.

Hakkai might surrender his chance to return to Toman.

Baji lied to me about abandoning fighting the Black Dragons.

Kisaki knew my identity and ordered my passivity.

I stopped halfway up the bridge's stairs, the snow beneath me downtrodden and scarred with footprints. Pedestrians continued to walk, cars continued to roll, and flakes continued to fall. Even if I stood still, the city would not halt. The world kept spinning and time kept ticking, with or without my existence.

What now?

---

Hakkai felt sick.

Knowing his brother sold his violence to rich dignitaries was one thing, but participating in it himself was another. His skin itched under his white uniform as if the dark flecks on his sleeves were a swarm of ants, and he almost wanted to rip his coat off and tromp back bare-chested in the snow. He scratched at his neck under his collar. The first thing he'd do after getting home was shower.

No guards sneered at him as he climbed the steps to his porch. Maybe that was lucky, because if there had been any, he would've thrown a good punch or two. Part of it to distract himself from the itchiness, part of it to reciprocate the harm they'd inflicted onto surrendering victims for their own amusement.

But then, he'd be no better than them.

The house was cold as always, but at least he was out of the snow. Hakkai quietly closed the door. In the faint light from down the hallway, he arranged his boots on the shoe rack. Only Taiju and Yuzuha were home today, with no interlopers from the Black Dragons. He stepped onto the wooden deck and crept towards the stairs.

"Hakkai!" His brother's voice echoed from the end of the hall. He froze.

Taiju didn't sound angry, but Taiju only ever called him when Hakkai had messed up. Had he already heard about what Hakkai did at the Black Dragon's contracted job? Even if the place they'd been sent to wreck had looked shadier than his brother's 'business,' no one had to be hurt—neither the inhabitants of the building, nor the Black Dragons member he'd socked to protect them.

Taiju emerged from the room, scowling as always whenever he saw Hakkai, and Hakkai forced himself to stand straight and maintain eye contact as his brother turned on the hallway light and stopped in front of him.

"I heard you did a poor job today."

Hakkai swallowed.

"You protected the target, knocked unconscious one of my men, and threatened the rest into calling off the attack. I could not have expected worse. I'm very disappointed in you, Hakkai."

Hakkai shut his eyes and clenched his teeth.

Nothing happened.

After counting to ten, Hakkai cracked open an eye.

Taiju stared down at him with a disgusted expression, his teeth visible past his drawn-back lips. Hakkai stood paralyzed as a shock of adrenaline ran through him. He'd really screwed up this time, if Taiju was angry beyond blows.

"Your sister wants us to all talk, so be ready after dinner tomorrow to visit the church." Taiju turned around and flicked off the lights as he left, covering the hall in darkness. "Don't waste my time."

"But you're going to challenge him about that, right?" Mitsuya warmly smiled and patted his back.

"It might be scary," Frank said while looking up at him in concern, "but if you make clear to him how he's hurting you, then maybe—"

Hakkai ducked his head and retreated to his room.