That woman was gone. While Shinichiro was physically weak, he still remained the leader of a fairly powerful gang; strong enough to get that woman out of there. You didn't know if she was dead or not. 

The living room scared you, so you and Tetta threw out that cursed coffee table, and found the softest, brightest rug to cover the floors. You take Tetta's drawings out your shared room and hang it onto the walls. Heck, you even got a cactus to decorate the area. 

It feels more like home. Plus, you won't have to worry for the rent. While your father was a cheating asshole who left you and Tetta, he paid for the apartment as his 'child care'. At the very least, you could be thankful for that.

And another part.. couldn't truly fault him for leaving. You could blame him for leaving Tetta, and before you took over this body, the sister likely hated Tetta's father. But seeing how that woman acted?

You could maybe understand it.

(Feeling abandoned wouldn't make sense, because it wasn't you who was abandoned.)

It didn't really matter. He paid the rent, you never saw him, and that meant you could continue living in this apartment until the unforeseeable future. Which is ironic, because you technically could see the future via Takemichi.

For now, you moved your things to what was that woman's bedroom after airing the room out of the smell of alcohol. Her old clothes are okay, so you keep the ones that fit you and the ones that don't, you pack into a box to either sell or donate. There's not much to be done, and in reality it feels much safer in this apartment now. Now, it feels like home without a threat looming over your shoulders.

In the morning (after the hectic weekend you had, the resolve of it all-), you cook and pack lunch for Tetta and you as per usual. You drift through school, and when the teacher calls on you, you're almost too out of it to answer. After school, you pick Tetta up, but since Hinata won't be at the park today, you instead take him with you to (Miss) Suki's Cafe. He sits in one of the tables in the back doing his homework while you bake.

The only thing different from this day is Miss Suki asking if everything is alright, to which you smile and say, "It's getting better." 

She grins at that, and you're glad when her brow smoothens out. 

The day is exactly like every other day, like nothing has changed. It's- strange. Realizing how little this affects everyone else.

And realizing how much this affects you. 

Your entire day has been feeling off; something weird and new. Trying to settle into this new environment of relative safety and feeling alright. 

Your entire day is mostly normal until two customers enter the store; two customers you hadn't been expecting.

A young Manjiro Sano and his brother.

--

Shinichiro knew this was...possibly risky? Well, not in the matters of which this act is dangerous, but rather that he had no clue how you would react. At the very least, you liked children, from all those times you'd gone what he calls 'big sister mode' on random kids in the park. At the same time, it was confusing. Were you two even close enough for Shinichiro to meet you at your workplace?

There is a bond there, but it's weak and fragile. Your friendship has only just started, a small sprout from the moment Shinichiro saved you. There's still the phantom-feeling of your tears on his shirt and your shaking form in his arms, the slight bruise on his arms from that woman. 

Shinichiro hesitates at the entrance, but Mikey is impatient and drags him inside.

You're there at the counter, cute apron on, adding more sweets to the display window that Mikey is already eyeing. Shinichiro reminds himself to make sure there's still sweets to give to Emma later, meaning he has to make sure Mikey doesn't eat them all.

"Sano-san..?" you say once you rise up to see him and Mikey. As per usual, your facial expressions are mostly blank, but he can see the slight confusion in your eyes and the question in your shoulders. You're surprisingly expressive considering how poker-face-like you can be, and Shinichiro doesn't want to think about how he only knows that because even when crying, nothing in your face twists, but your eyes are truly the window to your sorrow.

"Ah, hello Y/N-san," he says, awkwardly waving his hand up. You hadn't protested the change of formalities to first names, so he figured it was okay, and that you were blunt enough to tell him if you didn't like it.

You seem to hesitate in what you say next, "What are you doing here...Shinichiro-san?"
.
.
.
.
.
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Shinichiro raised his hand to cover the furious blush on his face. Who knew his own name could make him so flustered. 

Meanwhile, Mikey stared at his older brother in disgust, thinking of him as a loser.

You merely tilt your head slightly, eyes glancing down to Mikey.

Awkwardly coughing, Shinichiro answers your question, "My little brother, Mikey, really likes snacks, so. Um. I brought him here."

Mikey, like the brat he is, says, "That's not what you said earlier. You said we were going to surprise your cru-"

Swiftly covering Mikey's mouth with his hand, Shinichiro turns back to you, "What treats would you suggest?"

Your eyes flit over to the display case, and for a few seconds you don't respond.

"Maybe the pudding? It's one of the best choices for kids..." you suggest, "And Tetta really likes it. Oh, actually, let me go grab him."

You leave to the back, and when you reappear, Tetta's holding your hand and looking around curiously. He perks up upon seeing Shinichiro, giving a bright grin and wave. Shinichiro obviously responds in kind.

It still amazes him how much adoration is in your eyes when you look at your younger brother. Shinichiro won't call himself the perfect sibling, but..you truly do seem like you are.

"I'll get.. two servings of pudding for here, then," Shinichiro decides, "and three servings to go."

"Alright, that'll be.." you proceed to list out the price, and then direct Tetta to sit with Shinichiro and Mikey in a table for four in the corner, handing over containers of pudding and some servings. "I'll go on break in a few minutes."

"What's your name?" Kisaki asks, ever the sociable kid. 

Mikey's a jerk and hesitates, but Shinichiro nudges him gently, to which Mikey says, "I'm Mikey. You?"

"Kisaki Tetta," Kisaki responds easily, "Are you Shinichiro-kun's brother?"

"Yup," Mikey takes a spoonful of pudding, humming in delight.

Kisaki turns to address Shinichiro, "Why're you here?"

"Because I missed you, duh," Shinichiro says.

"Liar," Mikey says between bites of pudding, "You came here to see that Y/n-"

"SHH-" Shinichiro squeaked out as you came to the table, apron off. You have a blue-colored cake-pop in hands, and you hand it to Kisaki.

"Thank you, nee-chan," Kisaki says, eyes sparkling. Upon closer inspection, the cake-pop is shark-themed. That kid really does love his sharks...

Before he knows it, you fall into a nice conversation between the two of you. Kisaki's a rather smart kid, so he can understand most things you all talk about, and he likes listening, too. Mikey's.. well, he's Mikey, so he rambles on without much care for the other people in the conversation. You seem fond already, though, perfectly fine to let the two ramble. Mikey seems to like you, too, especially when you offer him another serving of pudding.

Shinichiro wants to stay there until closing, but the two of them do have to get back home.

He really does have to talk to you about his gang, though. As innocent as your interactions have been, Black Dragon is a fairly powerful gang. Despite how many allies Shinichiro has, he also has enemies.

Shinichiro doesn't want to allow you to become a target.

He almost wants to distance himself, but-

Wouldn't it be okay to be a bit selfish? Just a bit-?

Just for now.

For now, he would be selfish.

While he can.

Who knows how you'll react when he tells you- you, who treasures your little brother's safety over everything else, you, who will do anything for Kisaki Tetta.

What will you do, when you discover that being close to him could be a threat to your precious little brother? Shinichiro can only hope for the best, selfishly.

--

You sigh, which you seem to be doing a lot of. It was surprising, seeing Shinichiro at work, but he seemed fairly clingy so it wasn't too unexpected. Plus, you got to meet Mikey..! He was one of your favorite characters in the manga, and you'd already decided on something, now that you'd met him.

There was no turning back. No matter what happened, this was..different. 

Seeing a bright, happy Mikey..with light in his eyes.

You'd sworn to protect Kisaki Tetta already, but maybe it'd be okay if you spread a little of that protection over to Manjiro Sano as well. To the boy who loved his brother enough to destroy himself.

A new resolve grew in your chest for that. You'd always been protective over children, because they are kids. They deserve to live, it's so easy, such a fundamental part of you. Protect the young. Keep them safe.

You didn't know how, didn't know what you could do while still weak and, well, you. Terrified you.

But you would-

You would try becoming stronger. 

a bit of a longer chap!! here is where the largest of yn's character development begins- her adjusting her goals!

also, dramatic irony ehe! shinichiro thinks yn doesnt know abt black dragon, and maybe she doesnt know the full extent of it, but yknow. ehe