MIKEY barely lifted his gaze to acknowledge the subordinate, lazily chewing on his snack as he gestured to the desk. “Leave it there.”
“Yessir.” The subordinate bowed, approaching urgently only to stop shortly after upon getting a closer look at the platinum blonde, seeing something rather unusual. “Oh. Uh, Boss? You got a little…something.”
His low gaze cut to him like an unsheathed blade. “Er…N-Nevermind.”
Mikey stared up until he stiffly marched out without another word. His eyebrow raised up a tick. Weird. Brushing it off, he merely refocused on the task at hand. The important one. The one that mattered most.
“Papa, blue one,” his daughter held up her hand, expectant. Mikey didn’t miss a beat, handing over the crayon. He watched as she scribbled all over the top half of the page, “Sky, Papa.”
“Mm. Clouds, too?”
“Mm!” She nodded, making sure to leave gaps to represent the fluffy mounds. Her tongue poked out in concentration, stopping and holding it up to the light to assess her work, then setting it back down to resume scribbling. Mikey felt the corner of his mouth lift.
It drops instantly at the sound of the door opening. “Boss.”
“Someone better be dead or dying.” Mikey coldly muttered, reaching over to gently nudge the crayon from the little one’s mouth, followed by a soft, “Don’t eat that.” He handed her the rest of the snack he’d been munching on before looking over to his approaching advisors.
Kakucho paused. As did Ran, who fought back a snort.
Mikey looked between them. “What.”
The former cleared his throat, while the latter struggled to hold it together. “Have you seen yourself recently?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“I mean…” His eyes flit over to the child happily coloring, then back at him. “She’s certainly tapped into her creative side as of late. Drawing on the walls, handprints all on the windows, and…” Kakucho vaguely gestured. Mikey’s brow twitched, irritation simmering.
“Spit it out.”
“The world is her canvas, s’all I’m saying."
"Including your face.” Kakucho side-eyed the lavender-haired man for the comment before shaking his head.
The platinum blonde blinked. His face? He slowly reached up to feel around the skin, and sure enough. Stickers. Several, in fact. Two on the cheek, one near his eyebrow, forehead and his chin. He peeled one off and looked at it, the word ‘Super!’ staring back at him. “Oh.”
Looking at his daughter, she continued to color without much care for the conversation happening. Much like her father, her selective hearing was strong. Mikey sighed, “Little menace. Must’ve got me when I was–I mean we were napping. Oi.”
She looked up at him upon his call, head tilted curiously. All three executives felt a pang in their chest at the devastatingly adorable sight. Mikey steeled himself, attempting to look stern as he presented the sticker. “Wanna explain?”
Her little brows scrunched in thought. After a brief moment, she beamed as she pointed at him, “Papa, super! Gave stickers, like Mama!”
Confusion colored his expression until it dawned on him. You’re a school teacher, or were one. Currently you are on maternity leave, cooking her up a baby brother. However, your teaching persona would come out at home, disciplining or rewarding with the same methods, such as stickers. You had a whole tub of school supplies, overflowing with those in particular. And evidently, the little troublemaker had been snooping around in it.
Unable to hold the stern facade any longer, Mikey offered a small, but rare–Well, rare for his colleague–smile. With a huff, he leaned forward to kiss her forehead before placing the star sticker to the spot, earning him a gleeful giggle in return; the best reward. Ruffling her hair, Mikey spoke with warmth, “I think you’re super.”
“No, you are!”
“No, you are,” he parroted, poking her nose. It scrunched up immediately, sending another dreadful pang in his chest. Good thing you were already pregnant with baby number two, otherwise there would be nothing stopping him from ditching work to get on that ASAP.
The third-in-command cleared his throat. Mikey's smile drops for the second time. “Apologies. We have our meeting with the shareholders in twenty. Sanzu is ready with the car, and the Haitanis agreed to watch over the young miss while we’re gone.”
“Wouldn’t say we agreed, but beats sitting in on that bullshit.”
“Watch your mouth.” Mikey warned. “She repeats any of that at home, I’m telling [____] it’s your fault.”
“Snitching on me to the teacher? That’s low, Boss.”
“Please don’t take advantage of his good mood.” Kakucho exasperated, rubbing his temple. Ran conceded with a shrug, lowering to level with the little one.
“Alright, mini Boss, you're comin' with uncle Ran. Let’s go make uncle Rin your next masterpiece.”
Her eyes light up brighter than before, if possible. “Mm!” Dropping her crayons, she pushed herself off the ground to toddle over to the eldest Haitani. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks. Turning to Mikey, she rushes to him and falls into his arms for a hug. “Buh-bye, Papa! Wub you!”
Mikey startled a little but soon relaxed, still getting used to the onslaught of affection she was so full of; seeing so much of you in her everyday. He patted her head, “Me too, sweetheart.”
“Stickers stay on?” She peered at him, hopeful.
He stiffened. Opening his mouth to protest, the words turn to ash in his mouth at her pleading gaze. With a sigh, he gave a resigned nod. “I’ll keep them on all day. Promise.”
Ran and Kakucho exchanged a glance.
—
Murderers, traffickers, scum of the earth alike couldn’t believe their eyes.
Colorful stickers, some big and some small, littered across the lethal leader’s face like the inside of a child’s school book. And he sat there. Unperturbed. Unbothered. Unashamed.
Because who’s gonna check a crashout who loves his kid?
The first time you met Manjiro Sano, you had no idea who he was.
Well, correction: you knew he was someone. The guy had swagger, an aura of danger, white hair that looked too pretty for his attitude, and an expression like the world bored him to death.
What you didn’t know was that he was that Manjiro Sano. Bonten’s leader. Japan’s most dangerous crime boss. Someone who could literally blink and make people disappear.
And you? You were a barista. Working the morning shift, half-asleep, armed with nothing but caffeine and sarcasm.
So when the man strutted in, cut the entire line, and leaned against the counter with an arrogant tilt of his head—you didn’t even flinch.
"You gonna pay for that coffee? Or are you just here to stand around and look mysterious?"
The room went dead silent.
You didn’t notice the flinch from the guy in the suit behind him. Or how the woman next to you suddenly ducked.
Mikey, however, blinked.
His head tilted. Just slightly. He looked you over. And for the first time in years, his lips twitched.
"What if I like standing around?"
You squinted. "Then stand over there. After you pay."
He paid. Silently. Didn’t say another word. But he came back the next day. And the next. And the one after that.
Sometimes he ordered the same drink. Sometimes he just stared at you, sat in a booth, arms crossed, like you were a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve.
You ignored him. Mostly. Gave him nicknames like "pouty gremlin" or "white-haired menace" under your breath.
Until one day, you saw him again. Not in the café. Not in his fancy coat.
He was bleeding.
It was a rainy night, and you were walking home when you found him slouched in an alley, breathing heavy, eyes sharp even through the pain.
"Oh my god—are you okay?"
He looked up. Recognized you. Still tried to play it cool.
"It's nothing."
"Nothing?! You look like you got run over by a truck. Twice."
You dragged him to your apartment. Cleaned him up. Forced him to sit still.
"You know, for someone who looks like a villain, you bleed like everyone else."
He snorted. "You talk too much."
"And you sulk too much."
He didn’t leave for a while. Slept on your couch. Ate your instant ramen. Watched movies with a permanent scowl, until he started actually laughing.
And one day, out of nowhere, he just—
"You’re mine now."
You looked up from your cereal. "Huh?"
Mikey didn’t even blink. "You’re mine. Don’t make me repeat it."
"Is that your version of a proposal or a threat?"
"Yes."
And somehow, from that moment on, he just... never left.
The Bonten execs were horrified. Some were in denial. Sanzu needed a week to recover.
But Mikey? Mikey was obsessed. Protective. Clingy.
He dragged you into his world, but made sure you were untouchable.
The first time someone called you "Mrs. Sano," you almost spit out your drink.
But Mikey just nodded proudly. Arm around your waist. Dead serious.
Synopsis: You disappeared years ago. No goodbye, no explanation just the echo of their name on your lips and a secret you carried with you.
A child.
Their child.
Mikey (Sano Manjiro):
At first, when he heard the news, Mikey’s expression hardly changed. As the head of one of the most feared gangs in Tokyo, he had trained himself never to let emotions slip. A child, in his world, could only mean weakness — risk.
But then his gaze fell on the photograph lying on his desk.
You were in it, a small boy cradled in your arms. Suddenly, the silence around him grew heavier. In that moment, he understood why you had disappeared without a word.
The picture captured you perfectly, as if fate had framed it just for him. The fluorescent lights of a grocery store cast a soft glow along your profile. Illuminating you in the same way he remembered from the last time he saw you. You looked just as beautiful — maybe even more. A gentle smile touched your lips as your eyes focused on the food in front of you.
His dark eyes lowered to the boy in your arms. The child had his hair, but your eyes. The resemblance was undeniable, and it made his chest tighten.
He lingered on the image, tracing every detail with his gaze. You were still you — still beautiful, still living, still moving forward. Judging by the uniform you wore, you had probably just come back from work. Ordinary, quiet… a life far from his.
And yet, the photograph bound you to him more than ever.
“What do we do?” Sanzu interrupted Mikey’s thoughts. He stood right behind him, not looking directly at Mikey, his eyes fixed instead on the picture on the table.
Mikey stayed silent for a while, still trying to process this information. Even now, when you had your peaceful life with his son, the truth was undeniable. The baby looked far too much like him. And that made you a target as well.
He wanted you safe — by his side. But he couldn’t rush it. It would only scare you, especially with his face plastered across the news everywhere.
“Protect her from the shadows. I don’t want to risk anything.”
Mikey’s voice finally cut through the room.
Without a word, Sanzu pulled his phone from his pocket as he moved toward the door, leaving the room quietly.
Meanwhile, the eyes of the head of Bonten softened for just a second as he looked at the photo once more.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
In the last couple of days, you had felt followed constantly. The sensation worried you to the point where you grew paranoid, convinced something could happen at any second of your day.
What unsettled you even more was the thought of your son — the son of the head of Bonten, the most feared criminal organization.
When you first found out you were pregnant, fear consumed you, both for yourself and for your baby. So you left him in silence — without a single word. You knew it was for the best. You didn’t want a life for your child where the risk of being killed could loom over him at any moment.
But now…
Now you could finally feel his presence looming in the dark somewhere, and it worried you. Had he finally found out? Was he angry? What would happen next?
Fear crawled through your bones. You looked over at your son lying in his bed, sleeping peacefully as if the world were the safest place. His blond hair was scattered across the pillow. A small, fleeting smile touched your face as you made sure he was still deep asleep.
You sighed.
You knew something was coming your way — and that this peace would probably be over soon.
And how right you were.
A knock.
It was clear as day. You turned toward the door, your heart pounding as if the devil himself were standing right behind it. You knew it was him. There was no running, no escaping — not from this.
You were trapped with the feeling, the fear of what was about to happen. Especially because there was no escaping someone like him.
::::::::::::::::::::
You opened the door slowly. For a moment, you hoped it was just your neighbor needing something from you. But that fragile hope shattered the instant you saw him. Tthe short white hair, the black coat, and that tired smile lingering on his lips.
He stood in front of you, eyes scanning every detail of your appearance. As if searching for something — a sign, a meaning, perhaps even an answer to the question of why you had left. Though deep down, you knew he had already found that answer for himself.
You wanted to run. To slam the door in his face and scream at him to leave. But you also knew he wouldn’t.
So instead, with your heart hammering, you stepped aside.
Letting him in once more.
His eyes followed you as the two of you moved into the kitchen. Their weight burned into your soul, and when you finally turned to face him, his voice cut through the silence.
“You should not have left.”
It was the first thing he said to you after what felt like an eternity.
“I know,” you replied immediately, your gaze fixed anywhere but his eyes.
You turned away, unwilling to see what would happen next.
His silence lingered after your words, heavy and suffocating. You could hear the faint ticking of the clock on the wall, each second stretching longer than the last.
Then, footsteps.
Mikey closed the distance between you until you could feel the weight of his presence at your back. You didn’t have to turn around to know his eyes were fixed on you, sharp as a blade yet unreadable.
“You think I didn’t look for you?” His voice was calm, but there was something raw underneath. A dangerous mix of hurt and control. “Every day, I knew you were out there. And every day, I waited for you to come back.”
Your fingers curled against the countertop, your body stiff. You wanted to answer, to explain, but your throat tightened.
A few seconds passed before you felt the faintest brush of warmth — his hand on the counter beside yours, close but not touching.
“I saw the picture,” Mikey continued, softer now. “He looks like me. Too much like me.” A pause. “You know what that means, don’t you?”
You froze, staring at the floor.
“That boy…” Mikey’s tone hardened, laced with something dangerous, “is my son. Which makes you mine too. Did you really think you could disappear and raise him on your own? Hide him from me?”
You swallowed, but no words came. His presence pressed down on you, cold and absolute.
Mikey stepped closer, his shadow engulfing you. “You don’t get to run anymore. Not with my blood in your arms.” His lips twitched into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “You and the boy… you belong at my side. Always.”
The urge to push him away, to scream, burned in your chest — but you knew it was useless. He wasn’t threatening you out of anger. He was stating a fact, one that would bind you tighter than chains ever could.
His fingers finally brushed against your wrist, deceptively gentle. “I’ll protect you. Both of you. But don’t ever think of leaving me again. Because next time… I’ll make sure you can’t.”
Sanzu never spoke about the time you had spent together. He would never, in his life, even consider saying that he loved you. Mikey was his priority, and he was glad it had stayed that way.
So why?
Why were you walking there with a child, his tiny hand wrapped around yours? Why?
Why did the child look like him?
What kind of twisted dream was he caught in this time?
He didn’t know what to feel. His heart whispered that he was happy to see you again. On the other hand, sadness clawed at him — sadness that he wasn’t the one walking beside you. But above all, there was anger. Anger that you had left him without a word. And even though he now understood why you did it, the fury still burned. How dare you.
Before he even realized it, his body was already moving. He was walking behind you, closing the distance, his hand shooting out to grab your wrist harshly, forcing you to stop.
Your eyes widened as you saw who it was. Those scars — you would recognize them anywhere.
“Good to see you here.”
His eyes burned into you.
You froze under his grip, your breath caught in your throat. The child tugged lightly on your other hand, confused, looking up at the man who held you so tightly.
Sanzu’s eyes followed the motion, dropping down to the small boy.
The world seemed to still around him. His chest tightened as he took in the details — the familiar line of the jaw. The messy strands of hair that matched his own. But then those eyes… your eyes, staring back at him from the face of a child.
His lips parted slightly, but no words came. For once, Sanzu was silent.
The boy tilted his head, innocent and unbothered. Before hiding shyly against your leg. That small movement snapped something inside him.
“You…” Sanzu’s voice cracked, caught between disbelief and fury. He tightened his hold on your wrist, dragging you a little closer. “You had my kid? And you ran?” His laugh was bitter. “Fuck, of course you did.”
You tried to calm your voice, whispering his name, but he didn’t let you speak. His eyes stayed glued to the child, his breathing heavy.
For the first time in years, he looked undone. Vulnerable. And yet, his next words were poison.
“You think you can just take him away from me? Live some quiet little life?” His gaze snapped back to you, wild and burning. “No. That’s not how this works. He’s mine. You’re mine. And I’m not letting you walk away again.”
The boy clutched your hand tighter, sensing the tension and Sanzu’s expression twitched. A flicker of something softer. But it was gone in an instant, buried under the storm in his eyes.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The boy peeked out from behind your leg, his small fingers still clutching your hand. His wide eyes — your eyes — blinked up at the scarred man holding your wrist.
“Mommy…” he said softly, tilting his head at Sanzu. “Who’s that?”
The sound of his voice hit Sanzu harder than any bullet. His grip faltered just slightly, his knuckles losing a fraction of their tension. Those words — that innocent question — made something apear across his face.
He crouched down slowly, bringing himself to the boy’s height, his smile twisted but faintly trembling at the edges. “Me?” His voice came out lower, rougher. “I’m… someone you should’ve known a long time ago, kid.”
The boy tilted his head again, curiosity overriding fear. “Why are you holding Mommy like that? Are you angry?”
For a heartbeat, Sanzu actually looked stunned. His lips parted, but nothing came out. His eyes softened, glassy for a second, before the storm returned. He straightened, dragging you a step closer to him by your wrist, his breath hot against your ear.
“We’re going to talk,” he murmured darkly, his voice only for you now. “You and me. No more running.”
Before you could pull away, he tilted your chin up with his free hand, his thumb brushing your cheek in a touch far gentler than his grip on your wrist. And then, as if to stake his claim in front of the child and himself, he stole a kiss — possessive.
The boy frowned, confusion knitting his tiny brow. “Mommy… why is he kissing you?”
Sanzu pulled back just enough to smirk down at you, eyes still burning but now holding that faint, dangerous tremor. “Because she shouldn’t have left,” he said simply, before looking back at the child. “And because we’ve got a lot to talk about, don’t we?”
He crouched once more, his scarred face inches from the boy’s, but his voice was quieter, almost fragile. “Don’t worry, kid. I’m not here to hurt either of you. I’m here to take back what’s mine.”
Ran wasn’t paying much attention to where he was walking phone in one hand, music in his ears until something small and solid bumped into his leg.
He looked down, one brow arching.
A little boy stumbled back, blinking up at him with wide eyes. “S-sorry, mister!”
Ran chuckled, crouching down so he was eye level with the kid. “Whoa there, little man. You okay?”
The boy nodded quickly, clutching a small toy car in his hand. Ran’s grin widened but then froze halfway.
Black hair. Light eyes that were a mirror of his own. The same mischievous tilt of the mouth.
Ran blinked once, then twice, leaning in slightly. “Huh… you got a dad who looks like me or somethin’?” he asked, tone teasing but uncertain.
The boy tilted his head. “No… Mommy says my daddy’s gone.”
Ran’s smirk faltered for a split second before returning, a little tighter this time. He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing around. “Right. Okay. So where’s Mommy, then? You runnin’ away or what?”
“She was buying food,” the boy said earnestly. “I lost her.”
“Well, can’t have you wanderin’ off, huh?” Ran straightened, brushing off his coat. “Guess I’ll be the hero for today. Let’s find your mom before she panics.”
He held out a hand. The boy hesitated, then took it. Ran couldn’t help but chuckle under his breath. The kid even walked like him.
They turned the corner into a quieter street, and that’s when he heard a familiar voice calling out a name. His smirk returned instantly.
You.
The same voice that had haunted his memories. The same face that had disappeared without a word.
“Mommy!” The boy let go of Ran’s hand and ran to you.
You froze mid-step, eyes locking onto the man standing a few feet away. His expression was a mix of disbelief and amusement.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Ran said, laughing softly. “Out of all the people in Tokyo, I bump into your kid. What are the odds?”
You opened your mouth, but no sound came out.
He strolled closer, hands in his pockets, smirk playing at his lips. “Y’know, I was just thinking how much he looks like me. Turns out I was right.” His voice dropped a little, playful but edged. “You really went and made a mini Ran, huh?”
You sighed quietly. “Ran—”
“Relax,” he interrupted with a grin. “I’m not mad. Just surprised. Maybe a little offended you didn’t even call.”
His eyes softened for a brief second before that teasing smirk returned. “Guess I should say thanks for keeping him outta trouble. Though, with my blood, that might be a full-time job.”
He winked, and you couldn’t help the faint smile tugging at your lips — the same reaction he’d always been able to pull out of you.
“Damn,” Ran said quietly, gaze flicking between you and the boy. “Didn’t think I’d ever get to see something this… real.”
Then he smirked again, as if to shake off the weight of the moment. “So, how about we skip the awkward part and grab coffee? You can tell me all about how you managed to hide my mini-me from me.”
It was already dark when Rindou turned down the side street, his hands shoved in his pockets. Tokyo was loud as always — but the muffled sound of a sniffle broke through the noise.
He stopped.
There, sitting on a bench under a flickering streetlight, was a kid — maybe seven or eight — clutching a scraped knee and a bruised cheek. His uniform was messy, his backpack dumped beside him, and his expression screamed defiance even through the tears.
Rindou pulled one earbud out. “Oi,” he called, his tone casual but not unkind. “Rough day, huh?”
The boy looked up, startled, and tried to wipe his face quickly. “Leave me alone.”
Rindou smirked. Attitude. Great.
“Relax, tough guy. I’m not here to steal your lunch money.” He stepped closer, crouching down in front of him. “What happened?”
The kid shrugged. “Some older kids. Said I talk too much.”
Rindou studied him — the sharp eyes, his dark hair, the little scar at the corner of his lip. He froze for a second.
“...Huh.” His voice softened, almost to himself. “You look kinda familiar, you know that?”
The boy frowned. “You’re weird.”
Rindou couldn’t help but laugh — a short, disbelieving sound. “Yeah, that’s fair.” He straightened, offering his hand. “C’mon. You shouldn’t be sitting out here alone. Where do you live?”
The kid hesitated but finally took it. “Down the block.”
They walked in silence, the boy limping slightly. Rindou kept glancing down, that uneasy realization growing heavier in his chest. The resemblance wasn’t just in the face — it was in the way the kid moved, the way he glared at the world like it owed him something.
When they reached the small apartment building, the boy pointed up. “That’s my place.”
Rindou was about to let go of his hand when the door opened — and you stepped out, panic on your face until your eyes landed on the two of them.
“(Child’s name)! I’ve been worried sick—” You stopped dead when you saw who was standing beside him.
Rindou’s eyes met yours, disbelief flashing across his features before settling into something softer. “...You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
You opened your mouth, but no words came. He looked back at the boy, then at you again. “So that’s why you disappeared,” he said quietly, a crooked smile tugging at his lips. “Damn. You really didn’t waste any time, huh?”
You stepped closer, instinctively pulling your son to your side. “Rindou… it’s not—”
He lifted a hand, cutting you off, his usual lazy grin dimmed by something raw in his eyes. “No, I get it. You wanted out. Didn’t wanna raise him in my mess.” He looked down at the boy again, and this time, the smirk returned — soft but genuine. “Guess the universe couldn’t resist giving me a mini version of myself anyway.”
Your son frowned up at him. “You talk funny.”
Rindou snorted. “Yeah? You should hear me when I’m angry.”
You exhaled, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing toward you again. “He’s a good kid. Little troublemaker, though — reminds me of someone I used to know.” His tone was teasing now, familiar. “You could’ve told me, you know.”
“I know,” you whispered. “I just… didn’t want him growing up in that world.”
Rindou’s gaze softened. “Yeah. I get that.” He paused, then smirked again. “Still, kinda messed up to let me find out by bumping into my own clone on a park bench.”
He turned toward the boy, crouching down again. “Hey, kid. Be careful next time, alright? You’ve got your mom worried.”
“’Kay,” the boy mumbled.
Rindou stood, shoving his hands back into his pockets. “Guess I’ll see you around, huh?”
You met his eyes and saw the faintest glint of something bittersweet there. “You will,” you said softly.
As he walked away, he glanced over his shoulder one last time, smirking to himself.
He leaned against the side of his car, cigarette between his lips, half-listening to the city hum around him. Tokyo was loud, but there was one sound that cut through it, the laughter of a child.
He’d heard it before.
More than once.
He’d made sure of it.
From a distance, he’d watched them — your kid — running through the park, chasing pigeons, smiling like the world had never known pain. He’d told himself he didn’t care. Told himself he was just curious.
But every time, that lie got harder to swallow.
Tonight, though, he didn’t expect the kid to wander straight into his world.
A small figure darted across the street, tripping over the curb and almost colliding with him. Hanma caught the kid by the collar before he hit the ground.
“Whoa there, little girl,” he drawled, steadying him. “You tryin’ to die this young? ‘Cause that’s kinda my thing.”
The girl blinked up at him, wide-eyed but unafraid. “Sorry, mister!”
Hanma chuckled, crouching down so they were eye level. “You’ve got guts. Or no sense of danger. Hard to tell.”
And then he saw it.
The same eyes.
Your eyes.
His smirk faltered for half a second before returning, sharper this time. “Well, shit,” he murmured, flicking the cigarette away. “Ain’t this a surprise.”
“You said a bad word,” your kid said seriously.
Hanma barked out a laugh. “You sound just like your mom.”
The girl frowned. “You know my mom?”
He tilted his head, grin curling wider. “Oh, I know her real well.”
The child tilted his head back, studying him. “You’re weird.”
“Yeah,” Hanma said with a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Been told that before.”
:::::::::::::
By the time you opened your apartment door, your heart nearly stopped — Hanma Shuji stood there, tall, dangerous, and smiling lazily. Your daughter standing next to him with a popsicle in hand.
“Surprise,” he said, voice dripping amusement. “Found this little girl playin’ in traffic. Thought I’d bring her home before someone else did.”
Your throat went dry. “Hanma… what are you doing here?”
He stepped inside without waiting for permission, gaze sliding from you to the child. “You know, I always figured you’d run off somewhere quiet. But this?” He looked around the cozy apartment, whistling softly. “Didn’t think you’d go for the domestic vibe.”
You moved between him and your daughter instinctively. “Don’t.”
Hanma chuckled. “Relax, doll. I ain’t here to hurt anyone.” His voice dropped, that teasing edge fading into something low, almost sincere. “If I wanted to, you’d never have seen me coming.”
You hated that it was true.
He looked at the girl again and for the first time there was something unreadable in his mismatched eyes. “She’s got your smile,” Hanma said softly. “But the attitude? That’s all me.”
You swallowed hard. “You knew.”
He grinned faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Of course I knew. I’m a lot of things, sweetheart, but I ain’t blind.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything?”
Hanma shrugged, walking past you, fingertips brushing along the counter. “What was I supposed to do? Show up with flowers and diapers? Please.” He smirked, but his tone cracked just slightly. “Besides, you looked happy. Didn’t wanna ruin that.”
You stared at him, stunned. “You… cared?”
He turned, that dangerous grin curling again. Though there was something raw behind it. “Don’t get it twisted. I don’t do the daddy routine.” Then, quieter: “But if anyone ever lays a hand on that kid, I’ll make sure they’re unrecognizable. Got it?”
The way he said it — like a promise, not a threat — sent a shiver through you.
Your daughter tugged at your sleeve. “Mommy, is he my friend?”
Hanma crouched down, tapping the kid’s forehead lightly. “Something like that, darling. Let’s just say I’m the guy who keeps the monsters away.”
The child grinned. “You look like a monster.”
Hanma laughed, full and genuine this time. “Smart kid.”
He stood again, moving toward the door, voice lazy once more. “Guess I’ll be seein’ you around, doll. And don’t worry—” he shot you a look over his shoulder, that old smirk back in place, “—I’ll keep my distance. Mostly.”
But as he left, you could feel it — the invisible promise hanging between you.
Hanma might’ve walked away, but now that he’d seen his daughter — really seen her — you knew he’d never disappear again.
The first bank transfer came on a random Tuesday — an absurd amount of money, more than your entire monthly salary. The sender was anonymous, the note field empty.
You ignored it, assuming it was some glitch.
But then it came again.
And again.
Every month, on the same day, the same amount. Clean. Consistent.
You didn’t spend it at first — fear wrapped tight around your chest. But when your rent rose, when your girl needed school supplies, when the winter came and the bills doubled… you gave in.
Still, the question gnawed at you. Why? Who?
You didn’t find out until much later.
:::::::::::::::::
It was raining that day.
You were walking home with your daughter, umbrella trembling under the wind, when a familiar car pulled up beside you. Sleek, black, the kind that didn’t belong in your neighborhood.
The window rolled down.
And there he was.
Kokonoi Hajime.
Same polished suit, same calm sharp eyes that had once seen straight through you. The years hadn’t softened him — if anything, they’d made him colder, more expensive.
You froze. “Koko…”
He smiled faintly, a practiced thing. “Get in. You’ll catch a cold.”
Your daughter looked up at you, confused, clutching your hand.
“Kokonoi, what are you—”
“I said, get in.” His tone wasn’t loud, but it left no room for argument.
You hesitated only a moment before sliding into the car, the girl beside you.
Inside, everything smelled faintly of leather and money.
Kokonoi leaned back in his seat, glancing at the child through the reflection of the window. “She grown,” he murmured. “Has your eyes. But… my hair, huh?”
Your breath caught. “So you knew.”
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Of course I knew. You think I wouldn’t keep track of what’s mine?”
The words hit like a stone dropped into your chest.
You frowned. “You’ve been sending me the money?”
“Consider it… maintenance,” he said easily. “A way to make sure you don’t struggle. You didn’t want me in your life, fine. But I wasn’t about to let my daughter live without the best of everything.”
Your voice trembled with a mix of anger and disbelief. “You think money fixes everything?”
Kokonoi’s gaze finally turned from the window to you. “No. But it’s the only thing I know how to give without breaking something.”
For a moment, the car was silent except for the sound of the rain.
Your daughter broke it softly. “Mom… who’s this man?”
Kokonoi looked down at her and, for the briefest second, his expression cracked. He smiled faintly, gentle in a way you’d never seen before. “Just someone who wanted to make sure you were safe,” he said quietly.
Then, to you, his voice low: “I’m not asking for anything. Just… let me keep doing what I do. Let me protect you from a distance, if that’s what you want.”
You swallowed hard, unsure if it was a promise or a plea.
He opened the car door for you, rain spilling in like cold mist. “Take care of her,” he said softly. “And if you ever need more—” his lips curved into a faint, knowing smirk “—you already know the account.”
You stepped out, heart twisting as the car pulled away, taillights bleeding red through the rain.
Your daughter tugged your sleeve. “Mom… he seemed sad.”
You forced a smile, watching the road long after he was gone. “Yeah,” you whispered. “He always was.”
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
You stood there for a heartbeat, watching his taillights blur in the downpour, something inside you twisting until you couldn’t breathe.
He was just going to vanish again.
Like he always did — leaving silence, money, and questions behind.
Your chest tightened. No.
You grabbed your umbrella and ran.
“Mom!” your daughter called, but you were already sprinting through the puddles, heart pounding.
“Kokonoi!”
The car braked sharply, tires splashing against the wet pavement. He turned his head, eyes widening just slightly as you came up to the window, drenched and breathless.
You yanked the door open before he could speak. “You can’t just walk away again,” you said, voice trembling but firm.
He blinked, momentarily thrown off — Kokonoi Hajime always in control, now frozen as water dripped from your hair onto his expensive suit.
“I’m not asking for money,” you said. “I’m asking for you. She deserves that much.”
He opened his mouth, but you cut him off — leaning in and kissing him.
When you pulled back, he just stared at you breath uneven, eyes flickering with something.
“You better come to her birthday,” you said, shaky smile breaking through. “She keeps asking who keeps sending the ‘magic money.’ You can tell her yourself.”
Kokonoi’s lips curved, slow and disbelieving. “You’re serious?”
You nodded. “Completely.”
For the first time in years, his smile reached his eyes. “Then I guess I’ll need to find a present worthy of her, huh?”
You sighed, half-laughing. “Just bring yourself. That’s enough.”
He reached out, fingers brushing a raindrop from your cheek, his voice low. “You always knew how to make expensive things sound cheap.”
You smiled. “That’s because you never understood what actually matters.”
He stared at you a moment longer, then leaned in just a ghost of a kiss against your forehead. “I’ll be there,” he promised. And this time, when he drove away, it didn’t feel like a goodbye — just the start of something quietly real.
you were minding your own business. headphones pulled over your ears to drown out the voices 'nd chatter of classmates.
that is until the volume picks up, somehow louder than your music.
what now?
another fight break out?
you pull one side of your headphones slightly off one ear to eavesdrop.
"didja hear what happened?" you hear someone, yamamoto you think, shouting as he stomps into the room.
"no," another guy replies.
"apparently..." yamamoto starts, glancing around the room, voice lowering, "the invincible mikey got his ass handed to 'im."
a hush falls over the room. then barks of laughter and denials, because in everyone's opinion, that simply isn't possible.
i mean, he's called invincible mikey for a reason after all.
"where'd ya hear that crap?"
"from a reliable source." comes the answer, hesitant, like he can smell blood in the water.
more laughter, more forced. less playful.
you shake your head, unnoticed, in your seat at the front of the class. it's ridiculous the way they glaze this guy.
"did this... source of yours have any proof?" another guy asks, "or just spouting bullshit?"
by this time you're done listening, you fix your headphones and stare out the window. letting your mind slip back into daydreams.
you head to the rooftop, it's usually deserted during free period, perfect for you.
pushing open the rusting metal door, stepping out onto the fenced in, definitely off-limits and restricted space, excited to be free of people.
your smile falls so fast when you spot someone up here. sitting in your seat no less.
well, it's not actually yours. it's the only bench up here. that's besides the point, right now you're determined to fight this guy over stealing your quiet, people free place.
no one ever comes up here
except apparently today.
you inhale, ready to unleash a mountain of sharp words at the... invader.
then he turns, like he sensed a disturbance in the force, dark eyes finding yours.
every insult dies on your tongue, instead you dumbly blurt out, "you're bleeding."
his lips twitch, almost into a smile, "i tripped."
"and fell on your face?" you question, doubtful.
there's tiny cuts along his jaw with a matching busted lip, plus undeniably the bruising of what will become the world's ugliest black eye.
"and fell onto someone's fist. repeatedly." he corrects. the way he says it, so carefree, uncaring. this is an average tuesday for him.
you can't imagine being so nonchalant about that.
your feet move before your mind does.
nudging him with your leg until he gets the jist, scooching over to give you room to sit. in your bag is a small first-aid kit, you pull it out, stealing a glance at the boy beside you.
he eyes you with a bored, skeptical expression.
sighing you pop a band-aid on his jaw, catching the way his eyes widen then soften.
"are you always this reckless?" you can't help but mutter as you calculate every injury, tallying up how many bandages it would take to fix him up.
he hums, tapping his foot against the floor, "always."
something about that look, that particular glint in his eyes that gives you pause. dots connecting. slower than you wanted to admit.
"what's your name?" aiming for casual, but it comes out probing.
he tilts his head, giving the impression of a puppy dog — a golden retriever with it's droopy ears, "it's mikey."
yeah... you should've realized sooner. only someone like him, with a reputation that proceeds him would behave in such a manner. a feared gang leader. people usually avoid meeting him face-to-face, less chance to wind up on his bad side and incur his wrath.
"and yours is?"
you give him your name, keeping your eyes downcast onto his hands as you wrap his knuckles. pretty. even with all the residual scars evident from previous fights. strong and a bit rough, but stupidly decent looking hands for a delinquent.
"aren't ya gonna kiss it better?" mikey teases, leaning in and puckering his lips.
"hell no." you snap. pushing at his shoulder. squashing down the tiny flip your heart does.
he deflates, pouting at your quick dismissal.
"but i'm in paaaain." he whines.
stubbornly you ignore his complaints. but he's as persistent as you are stubborn. mikey gets louder, to the point of wailing and dropping his weight against you. his head is on your shoulder, breath heavy in your ear.
it makes your face heat in frustration. a bubbling of emotions you don't wish to name.
you cave.
"for crying out loud." you mutter.
exhaling sharply, you grab his collar, barely resisting shaking him like the pest he is. planting a kiss directly onto his swollen lips.
the kiss is tainted with the taste of metal.
yet neither of you is pulling away. letting the golden sun rays warm you inside and out. melting and sliding your lips along his. none of it is sure, just silent exploration.
your first-aid kit clatters to the ground, shattering the moment. breaking the kiss.
mikey looks positively stunned, fingers pressed to his mouth, memorizing the feel of yours.
when you finally look up he's beaming, smiling so wide that he split the scab and is now bleeding again.
you wipe at the blood, pressing a cotton ball to the spot.
"oh, i meant my hands by the way." he murmurs.
you feel like an idiot for misreading the situation. you had thought that's what he was getting at. mikey puts his hand up in defense when you swat at his arm, "not that i'm complaining about the kiss."
"you're such a dickhead."
"oi, c'mon don't run away now!" he calls out as you speed walk towards the door.
you flip him off, playing up the dramatics. you're not actually mad. just flustered.
"you know you can't hide from me." mikey says, both a threat and a promise.
when mikey wants something he gets it. period.
"counting on it." you laugh, waving as the door swings shut behind you. heart beating too fast. giddy grin plastered onto your face as you descend the steps.
mikey waits exactly two minutes before chasing after you.
꒰ author's note ꒱ — quick fluff of my favorite delinquent. ignore any errors 'nd bad spelling, i wrote this in like an hour. not proofread ♡
in one timeline, you died before you could tell mikey you loved him, but in this one, you just might live long enough to try
tags: angst and fluff, slow burn, friends to lovers, kidnapping, takemichi time travel
a/n: omg bestie, the other night I was looking at someone's else ko-fi page full of commissions and I was like "I wish it was me" and then I woke up and saw your commission T.T I almost cried lmao, made me so happy!!! thank you a lot for it!!!! I worked on this no-stop, day and night. it's the first time I write about mikey tho, so I hope I did a good job with it and that you will like it! let me know please o((>ω< ))o
words count: 7.3k
anime m.list || ao3 || ko-fi
“Why are you always here?” Mikey asks, but his tone isn’t annoyed. It’s lazy, soft, like he already knows the answer.
You’re sitting on the sidewalk next to his bike, a popsicle in hand, watching him scroll through his phone. The sun’s setting, painting the street orange and pink.
You shrug “Because you never go anywhere without me.”
He looks up at you, one eyebrow raised, a small grin forming “That so?”
“Yeah.” You take a bite of the popsicle “You’d forget to eat if I didn’t follow you around.”
He snorts “You sound like Draken.”
“I sound like someone who cares.” you say, pretending to be serious.
Mikey laughs, a short and quiet sound. Then, without looking at you, he reaches out and gently pulls the popsicle stick from your hand. He takes a bite from the other end like it’s the most normal thing ever.
“Hey!” you protest “Get your own!”
“You didn’t finish it.” he says simply, still chewing.
“That’s not the point!”
“It is now.” He smirks, handing the stick back. His fingers brush yours, warm and careless, but your heart still jumps.
You try to hide your face by looking away “You’re impossible.”
“Mm,” he hums, leaning back on his hands, eyes half-closed “That’s what you like about me.”
You freeze. He said it so easily. Like he knows. And he does, because Mikey always knows.
He opens one eye when you don’t reply “You okay?”
“Yeah,” you say quickly “Just… thinking.”
“’Bout me?” His grin widens.
You groan “Don’t flatter yourself.”
But he only laughs again, that soft, honest laugh you’ve learned is rare.
Across the street, Draken and Mitsuya are watching the two of you talk, exchanging knowing looks. Draken shakes his head. Mitsuya smiles.
“Should we say something?” Mitsuya asks quietly.
Draken smirks “Nah. Let ‘em figure it out themselves.”
You have no idea they’re watching. Mikey leans closer, voice low “Hey, Y/N.”
“Hm?”
“Don’t ever stop coming around, okay?”
You blink “Why would I?”
He shrugs, eyes on the sky now “Just… don’t.”
The way he says it makes your chest feel warm and heavy at the same time.
You smile, small and shy “Okay.”
And just like that, you stay there… two people who aren’t dating, but definitely something.
It’s late when you arrive at the parking lot. Toman meetings always start this way, loud voices, laughter, the sound of engines cooling down. But you’re only looking for one person.
You find Mikey sitting on his bike, half-listening to Draken and smiling at something Baji said. The second he sees you, though, that lazy grin softens, just for you.
“You’re late.” he says, kicking the ground lightly.
“You didn’t even tell me we were meeting.”
“I don’t have to,” he replies, tilting his head “You always come.”
You roll your eyes, but can’t stop smiling “You sound too sure of yourself.”
“I am.” he says simply.
You’re about to answer when Pah-chin throws an arm around you “Oi, Y/N! You came! Now we can start!”
Mikey gives him a look, and Pah quickly lets go with an awkward laugh.
You laugh too “Relax, he’s just being nice.”
Mikey doesn’t say anything. He just looks away, pretending to check his phone, but his jaw tightens slightly.
Draken notices and sighs “Man, you’re obvious.”
“What?” Mikey mutters.
“Nothing.” Draken says, smirking.
Later that night, everyone’s talking about the recent fights with a rival gang. You stay quiet, listening. You don’t like this part, the bruises, the blood, the way Mikey’s eyes change when he talks about it.
“Mikey,” you say softly when everyone else drifts away, “maybe you should rest. You look tired.”
“I’m fine.”
“You always say that.”
“’Cause it’s true.”
You frown “You can’t keep fighting every day.”
He leans closer, a teasing smile on his lips “You worried about me?”
“Of course I am!” The words come out faster than you meant “You guys are always getting hurt—”
Before you finish, he reaches out and flicks your forehead gently “Don’t make that face, dummy.”
You pout, rubbing your forehead “You’re impossible.”
He smiles, but there’s something sad in it “If something ever happens to you,” he murmurs, “I think I’d go crazy, you know that?”
You freeze. He said it quietly, almost like to himself, but you heard it. He meets your eyes then, serious for a moment… too serious.
“Nothing’s gonna happen to me.” you say, trying to sound light.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
He finally smiles again, but his hand stays on your shoulder longer than usual.
That night, Takemichi catches up to you as you walk home.
“Hey, Y/N… you’re close with Mikey, right?”
“Yeah, why?”
He hesitates “Just… stay careful, okay? I’ve got a bad feeling about the next fight.”
You laugh nervously “You sound like an old man.”
He doesn’t laugh back “I mean it. Please.”
Something in his tone makes you stop walking. His eyes, usually soft, are full of fear.
“Takemichi…”
He shakes his head “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
You nod slowly “Okay.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. And as you walk away, the night feels a little colder.
Days earlier, when Takemichi opens his eyes, the world is bright again.
The future, his future, is supposed to be fixed. Toman was saved. Everyone was supposed to be happy.
He’s sitting in a small café, blinking as he adjusts to the light. He touches his face, his clothes, his phone. Everything feels… normal.
“Did it work?” he whispers to himself.
He pulls out his phone, hands trembling, and scrolls through his contacts. Mikey’s number, saved. Draken, alive. Everyone seems fine.
Takemichi smiles, tears welling up “I did it…?”
But before he can even finish the thought, his phone buzzes.
Naoto: We need to talk. Now.
Naoto looks tired when Takemichi meets him. Dark circles under his eyes, a stiffness in his shoulders that wasn’t there before.
Naoto sets a thin folder on the table. Inside are photos, newspaper clippings, police reports.
“Toman fell apart years ago,” Naoto says quietly “Mikey disappeared after that. No one knows where he went.”
Takemichi’s stomach drops “That can’t be…! I fixed everything!”
Naoto doesn’t answer right away. He takes a breath and slides one of the papers toward him “It started after someone died.”
Takemichi frowns “Who?”
Naoto’s expression darkens “A girl. She was close to Mikey. Everyone said she was always with him.”
He flips the paper around. There’s a photo, your school picture. Smiling, unaware.
Takemichi’s breath catches “Y/N…?”
Naoto nods slowly “Twelve years ago. She died in a gang-related fight. The case went cold, no one was ever arrested for it. Her parents are still fighting for it.”
Takemichi stares at the article.
‘Giirl found dead after suspected gang violence.’
A short paragraph. A few lines about an “unidentified conflict”. Nothing about Toman. Nothing about who was responsible.
“They never found out who exactly killed her?” he whispers.
Naoto shakes his head “No. There were signs of a fight, but… no witnesses.”
Takemichi feels the air leave his lungs. He remembers you, the way you smiled when Mikey teased you, how you always stayed near him, the way you laughed at the worst times just to make him smile.
“She was always with him,” he says quietly “Always.”
Naoto watches him “You knew her?”
Takemichi nods “She’s… one of us.”
They go to find Chifuyu next. He’s older now, hair shorter, eyes dimmer, but his small smile is still there when he sees Takemichi.
“Takemichi. It’s been a while.”
Takemichi doesn’t waste time “Chifuyu, what happened to Y/N?”
The smile fades.
For a moment, Chifuyu doesn’t answer. Then he leans back in his chair, sighing softly “You really don’t remember, huh? Guess it’s complicated when you keep changing things.”
Takemichi waits.
“She was taken hostage,” Chifuyu says finally “By a rival gang. They knew how close she was to Mikey. They wanted to break him.”
Takemichi’s eyes widen “What…?”
“They thought killing her would stop the fight,” Chifuyu continues “But it did the opposite. Mikey lost it. We all did. He went after them alone. After that day, he wasn’t the same.”
Silence.
Takemichi swallows hard “So that’s what broke him.”
Chifuyu nods “Yeah. Mikey blamed himself. We all did, in a way. She was always around us, always trying to keep him smiling. They were—” He stops, a sad smile pulling at his lips “—they were both idiots. Too obvious, too stubborn to just say they liked each other.”
Takemichi looks down, his hands shaking. He can almost see it now, Mikey laughing with you, your voice teasing him, the warmth that used to fill the room when you were both there.
“She didn’t deserve that.” he whispers.
“No,” Chifuyu agrees “She didn’t.”
Naoto glances at Takemichi “You know what this means, right?”
Takemichi nods, gripping the edge of the table “This time… it’s not just about Toman. I have to save her. If she dies, Mikey falls apart. Everything falls apart.”
Naoto looks at him for a long moment before slowly nodding.
Takemichi closes his eyes, whispering to himself: “I’ll fix it. I’ll save her this time.”
After your last conversation with Takemichi, he starts showing up everywhere.
At first, you don’t think much of it. He’s nice, a bit awkward, always polite. He’s one of Mikey’s friends, after all.
But then he’s at the convenience store when you grab snacks. He’s waiting outside your classroom when you finish class. He even follows you to the Toman hangouts, always keeping a few steps behind.
You try to laugh it off. Maybe it’s just coincidence. Maybe he just likes being around people.
But it’s… weird. You didn't even talk that much before.
One afternoon, you find him standing near the river where you and Mikey usually meet. You stop a few meters away, crossing your arms “Okay, seriously, are you following me?”
Takemichi freezes “H-huh? No! I just—uh—I was passing by!”
“Passing by the same spot three times in one day every day?”
He opens and closes his mouth like he wants to explain, but can’t. His eyes dart around, desperate “I just… wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“Okay?” you repeat, confused “Why wouldn’t I be?”
He hesitates, then smiles nervously “No reason! Just… y’know… being careful.”
You tilt your head “You’re weird, Takemichi.”
He laughs too quickly “Weird? Me? No way!”
You stare at him for a long moment, then sigh “Fine. Just don’t creep around like that, alright? You’re starting to scare me.”
He nods fast “Right! Got it! Sorry!”
You walk away, shaking your head.
That evening, you’re sitting with Mikey outside the shop, sharing a bag of chips. He’s quieter than usual, staring at the empty street.
“You’re thinking again,” you tease “That’s dangerous for you.”
He doesn’t smile “That guy. Takemichi. Why’s he always around you lately?”
You blink “I don’t know. Maybe he’s lonely?”
Mikey frowns “He’s lonely and follows you? Not his girlfriend, no Draken or anyone else?”
You laugh “Jealous?”
He looks at you, half-smirking, half-serious “Should I be?”
You throw a chip at him “Stop that.”
He catches it in his mouth and grins “You didn’t say no.”
You roll your eyes, but your heart beats a little faster.
Still, you can tell he’s bothered. Every time Takemichi shows up after that, Mikey’s expression tightens slightly, his jaw set, his smile thinner.
A few days later, you’re walking to the meeting spot again when Takemichi appears out of nowhere “Y/N!”
You jump “Takemichi! You scared me!”
“Sorry! I just… wanted to walk with you!”
You squint at him “You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Being weird.”
He opens his mouth, closes it, then sighs “I’m sorry. I can’t explain right now, but… please, just be careful, okay? Don’t go anywhere alone.”
You laugh “You sound like Mikey.”
“Good,” he says softly “Then maybe I’m doing something right.”
You frown, ready to ask more, but he suddenly spots someone behind you and stiffens.
It’s Mikey.
He walks toward the two of you, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.
“Oi, Takemichi,” Mikey says casually, but his voice carries an edge “You planning to steal my best friend or something?”
Takemichi laughs awkwardly “No! Of course not! I was just… making sure she got here safe!”
“She’s been getting here fine for years,” Mikey says, stepping closer “You can relax.”
The silence stretches. You look between them, unsure what’s going on.
Then Mikey suddenly grins, breaking the tension “C’mon, let’s go. Toman’s waiting.”
You follow him, but as you glance back, Takemichi is still standing there, his face pale.
You don’t understand his fear, his strange protectiveness, but you feel a chill crawl up your spine anyway.
Later, while the others are laughing and talking, Mikey leans close enough for only you to hear.
“You don’t have to talk to him if he bothers you.”
“He doesn’t bother me,” you say, though you’re not sure if that’s true “He just… acts like something’s wrong.”
Mikey hums quietly “Then if something is wrong, I’ll handle it.”
You smile faintly “Always the hero, huh?”
He shrugs “Only for you.”
You laugh, but deep down, you know he means it. And maybe that’s why the look in Takemichi’s eyes keeps haunting you, because whatever he knows, it’s something that scares even him.
Something that might hurt you.
The trouble starts on an ordinary afternoon.
You’re walking home when someone calls your name “Y/N? Hey!”
It’s a classmate, one of the quiet ones who always sits near the window. You stop, smiling “Oh, hey!”
You talk for a bit about teachers and boring homework, nothing important. The wind picks up and blows dust into your face.
“Hold on,” he says, leaning closer “You’ve got something here.”
He reaches out, thumb brushing your cheek.
Before you can even blink, a voice shouts “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!”
Takemichi bursts out from behind a parked car, eyes wide and wild. He grabs the guy’s wrist and shoves it away from you, stepping between you like a shield.
“Don’t touch her!”
Your classmate stumbles back, shocked “W-what’s your problem, man? I was just—”
“Back off!” Takemichi snaps, his voice shaking but firm.
You grab his arm “Takemichi, stop! He’s my classmate!”
Takemichi freezes. You can see the realization dawn on his face, followed by pure embarrassment “I…I thought—”
“Yeah, clearly you didn’t think.” you cut him off, cheeks burning.
You turn to your classmate and apologize to him “I’m really sorry. I’ll see you in class, okay?”
Your classmate looks between you two, confused and wary “Y/N, are you sure it’s okay to leave you with… him?”
You force a small smile “It’s fine. Sorry about that. Really.”
He hesitates, then nods and walks away.
As soon as he’s out of sight, you turn on Takemichi, anger bubbling up “What the hell is wrong with you?”
He opens his mouth to explain, but you don’t let him.
“Don’t you have a girlfriend already? Why don’t you just go to her instead of following me around like a stalker? It’s damn creepy!”
He flinches “I didn’t mean—”
“And you’re friends with Mikey,” you continue sharply “I don’t want to tell him and make you fight, so please just stop. Leave me alone.”
You don’t wait for his answer. You just walk away, heart pounding, still half-angry and half-confused.
After that day, you start avoiding everyone. No more late-night hangouts. No texts. No waiting by Mikey’s bike.
At first, you tell yourself you just need space, but the truth is, you’re scared of what you saw in Takemichi’s eyes: that mix of fear and desperation that made no sense at all.
You can’t explain it, so you hide it.
Mikey notices immediately. You dodge his calls, show up late and leave fast, laugh less.
He tries to play it cool, but it eats at him. He’s used to you always being there, your voice beside him, your hand tugging at his sleeve when he forgets to eat.
Now there’s only silence.
One evening he finds you near the vending machines.
“You’re hard to find lately.” he says, voice light but eyes sharp.
“Just busy…” you murmur.
He leans over your shoulder, stealing a sip from your can “Busy avoiding me?”
You turn, startled “It’s not like that.”
“Then what’s it like?”
You hesitate, words stuck in your throat “Please… don’t ask right now…” you whisper, brushing past him.
He watches you go, jaw tight.
And that night he corners Takemichi instead.
“Since you kept following Y/N,” Mikey says, tone deceptively calm, “you know what happened to her?”
Takemichi freezes “W-what do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb. She’s avoiding everyone… even me.”
Takemichi stammers, “I didn’t mean to mess things up.”
“Then why won’t you tell me what’s going on?”
“Because I can’t explain it!” Takemichi blurts “Not yet.”
Mikey’s patience cracks “That’s not good enough.”
“It’s my fault,” Takemichi says quietly “I thought she was in danger. I was just trying to protect her. I never wanted to come between you two.”
Mikey studies him for a long, silent moment. Then he exhales through his nose, eyes cold “If she’s in danger, I’ll handle it. You stay out of it.”
Takemichi nods, guilt flickering across his face “I know that… but this time it’s different.”
Mikey narrows his eyes “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Takemichi shakes his head “Nothing. Just… don’t let her walk home alone anymore.”
The next day, Mikey finds you sitting alone on the sidewalk, knees tucked close, lost in thought. He drops down beside you “You hiding something from me?”
You force a smile “No.”
“Then stop running away.”
“I’m not—”
“You are.” he says softly “Whatever it is, I want to know. I can handle it.”
You look at him, the concern written all over his face, and your chest aches. You want to tell him everything, but you can’t.
“I’m fine, Mikey.”
He stares at you for a long time, then sighs “You’re a terrible liar.”
You laugh weakly “Guess I am.”
He smiles back, but his eyes stay troubled. Neither of you notice Takemichi watching from across the street, whispering under his breath, “Please… don’t let it happen again.”
The next day, Mikey changes.
He doesn’t say anything about it, because he never does, but you notice. He’s there when you leave school. He’s there when you grab lunch. He’s even there when you stop by the convenience store, leaning against his bike like he owns the place.
The funniest part? He doesn’t even try to hide it. He wants people to see.
At first, you think he’s joking “Mikey, are you seriously following me?”
He grins, holding up a bag of taiyaki “Nah. Just happened to be going the same way.”
“For the fifth time today?”
He shrugs “Guess we have the same schedule.”
You roll your eyes, but you’re smiling too.
Somehow, it becomes routine. Wherever you go, Mikey’s a few steps behind. When you’re with your girl friends after class, they whisper and giggle the moment they spot him standing near the school gate.
“Y/N,” one of them says, grinning “Your boyfriend’s here again.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.” you protest automatically.
They all laugh “Right. Sure he isn’t.”
You look over your shoulder. Mikey’s leaning on his bike, eating an ice cream and watching you with that lazy smile that always melts you a little.
“Fine,” you mumble, cheeks warm “I’ll go see what he wants.”
Your friends giggle again as you wave goodbye and walk over.
“You’re scaring my classmates.” you tell him.
He looks completely unbothered “They’ll live.”
You sigh, but the truth is, you don’t hate it. You actually like how easy it feels with him, how you don’t have to pretend around him.
When he walks beside you, you always feel safe. When he’s near, everything feels lighter.
So even if he’s clearly following you, you let him.
Takemichi watches from afar, hands buried in his pockets. He still worries, he always will, but seeing Mikey there beside you, calm and smiling, gives him a small flicker of hope.
He checks the date on his phone and thinks “The day she’s supposed to die is near…”
But you’re right there. Laughing. Alive.
For the first time in weeks, he lets himself breathe. Maybe, he changed it.
Still, until the day ends, he stays alert. Because Takemichi Hanagaki has learned that fate doesn’t give up easily.
Later that week, Draken corners Mikey “So you’re just gonna keep following her around like a lost puppy?”
Mikey looks up from his snack “Not following. Protecting.”
Draken smirks “Right. Protecting. You realize everyone at her school thinks you’re dating now?”
Mikey shrugs, but there’s a small smile tugging at his lips “Let ‘em think what they want.”
“Even Y/N?”
“She can think whatever she wants too.”
Draken shakes his head, laughing “You’re hopeless.”
Mikey just leans back, eyes half-closed, remembering the way you smiled earlier that day when you caught him waiting for you again.
Hopeless? Maybe. But he doesn’t care.
By the end of the week, it’s like the whole city knows. You and Mikey walking side by side, sharing snacks, him dropping you off at school, it’s impossible to miss.
Everywhere you go, people whisper:
“Are they dating?”
“They look perfect together.”
“They always have been, haven’t they?”
And yet, somehow, you and Mikey are the only ones who don’t realize it.
To you, it just feels normal, like breathing. To him, it feels like peace, something he hasn’t felt in a long time.
And somewhere in the distance, Takemichi watches the sunset, whispering to himself, “Just a little longer… please stay safe, Y/N.”
Mikey waits where he always does, leaning against his bike outside your school gates, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a popsicle he doesn’t even taste.
The final bell rings, and the crowd of students spills out. Laughter, chatter, the sound of shoes on pavement.
He scans the faces automatically. You always come out last, usually smiling when you spot him, waving like you’re still surprised he’s there.
But this time, you don’t appear.
He stays there as the group thins. Minutes stretch.
Finally he walks toward a cluster of your classmates still talking near the gate. They quiet immediately when they see him.
“Where’s Y/N?” he asks.
No one answers at first. He isn’t angry, but his presence is heavy, calm and sharp.
One girl finally speaks, voice small “Uh… she was called out by her family during class. She took her things and left.”
Mikey’s stomach twists “When?”
“About two hours ago.”
He doesn’t reply. The popsicle drops from his hand, forgotten.
He turns, already running for his bike.
The ride to your house feels endless. His thoughts spiral. Maybe she’s fine. Maybe her family really called. Maybe she’s home right now, safe and laughing at how dramatic he’s being.
Still, his grip tightens on the throttle.
When he stops in front of your gate, he barely kills the engine before knocking.
Your mom opens the door, surprised but smiling warmly “Oh—hello! You’re Mikey, right? Y/N’s always talking about you.”
Normally that would make him grin, maybe tease you about it later, but now his pulse is too loud in his ears “I’m sorry, ma’am, but is Y/N here?”
She looks puzzled “No, she probably just finished school. She should be home any minute. Do you want to wait inside?”
For a heartbeat, everything goes still. If she left school two hours ago…
His heart stutters.
“No,” he says quickly “It’s fine. I’ll see her later. Excuse me.”
Before she can answer, he’s already turning back, running to his bike.
The engine roars, echoing down the street as he speeds away, the unease in his chest growing heavier with every turn.
He drives through every place he knows you love, the park where you always stop for taiyaki, the arcade, the small bridge near the river where you like to sit and watch the water.
Nothing.
Every street feels emptier than before. Every minute, heavier. He parks for a second, breathing hard.
Where are you?
If you’re not at any of your favorite spots, then there’s only one person who might know what’s happening.
Takemichi.
The Toman hangout is loud when he gets there. Laughter, voices, the usual noise of boys pretending life isn’t as messy as it really is.
The door slams open.
Everyone turns.
Mikey walks in fast and doesn’t answer any of the greetings. Draken, sitting on the couch, frowns immediately.
Takemichi stands near Chifuyu, halfway through a sentence, when Mikey grabs him by the arm.
“What happened to Y/N?”
The whole room freezes.
Takemichi blinks, confused “What… what do you mean?”
“She’s gone.” Mikey snaps “You followed her for days saying she was in danger, and now she’s gone! What the hell is going on?”
His voice cracks at the end. Not anger this time, but fear.
Takemichi goes pale. His throat feels dry. The world starts spinning because he knows. He knows this is how it started before.
“M-Mikey, I—”
“Don’t play dumb!” Mikey shouts, grabbing him by the collar, pulling him close. The room is so quiet now that everyone can hear Mikey’s breathing.
Takemichi stammers, eyes wide “She… she got taken.”
The words hit like a punch.
“What?” Mikey’s voice drops, deadly calm.
Takemichi forces himself to continue, each word trembling “By that gang we were planning to fight. They want to hurt you. They think if they have her… Toman could stop fighting.”
No one moves.
Mikey’s fingers tighten on Takemichi’s collar “Anythink else?”
“I don’t know exactly…” Takemichi says quickly “Just, please, we have to go now.”
Mikey lets him go, turning toward the door “Then move.”
Chifuyu’s already grabbing his jacket “I’m coming.”
Draken stands too “You’re not going alone.”
Within seconds, half of Toman is following. No one needs orders. Everyone knows Y/N. Everyone knows what she means to their leader.
Outside, engines roar to life. Mikey’s already ahead, eyes cold, knuckles white on the handlebar.
Takemichi rides behind him, his chest tight with guilt. He leans toward Chifuyu, voice barely a whisper over the wind “We have to find her today, before it’s too late.”
Chifuyu glances at him, understanding everything he can’t say.
“I know,” he replies, serious now “We won’t let it happen again.”
Takemichi stares at the road ahead, the fear burning in his chest. He thought he’d fixed it. He thought this time would be different. But fate, it seems, still wants to test them.
The smell of smoke and metal fills the air as Toman storms the rival gang’s hideout. Engines fade, replaced by the crash of fists and the echo of shouting.
Mikey is already in the middle of it, fast, ruthless, eyes darker than anyone has ever seen them. Every hit he throws is fueled by fear, by the image of you somewhere inside this place, alone, scared.
Takemichi and Chifuyu fight their way through behind him, yelling to each other between punches.
“She has to be here!” Chifuyu calls.
“She is!” Takemichi shouts back, breathless “We just have to get to her before—”
Before he can finish, a voice cuts through the chaos “STOP! OR I’LL KILL HER!”
Everything freezes and the noise dies like someone hit mute.
Mikey’s chest rises and falls fast. Slowly, he turns toward the sound.
At the far end of the hall, under a flickering light, the rival boss is standing. His grip is tight around your arm. Your arms and feet are tied, your mouth covered with a piece of cloth.
Your eyes are red and wet. When they meet Mikey’s, you shake your head desperately, silently begging him not to move.
The boss presses a knife to your cheek, grinning “Take another step, and she dies.”
Mikey’s body goes rigid. The silence burns.
Draken moves slightly forward, but Mikey lifts a hand, just one small gesture that means don’t.
“Let her go.” Mikey says, voice low and deadly calm “She has nothing to do with this.”
The man laughs “Nothing to do with it? She’s everything to do with it. You care about her, right? That’s why this works.”
Mikey’s fingers twitch. His heart pounds so loud it hurts. He can feel the edges of that dark impulse creeping up, the same one he’s been fighting for years.
Takemichi sees it too.
“Mikey,” he whispers, “wait, don’t.”
But Mikey’s already stepping forward.
The man presses the knife closer “One more step!”
You shake your head again, eyes wide, tears streaming down your face.
“Mikey, please—” Takemichi grabs his arm, voice cracking “If you lose it now, she dies. That’s what they want!”
Mikey’s breathing is uneven, wild “I can’t just stand here—”
“You can,” Takemichi says, louder this time “Because she’s still alive. We can save her.”
Mikey’s jaw tightens. He’s shaking, torn between rage and fear.
Takemichi takes a deep breath, stepping forward slowly, hands raised “Listen,” he says to the boss, forcing his voice steady “You think you’re winning right now, but you’re not. You’re surrounded. You hurt her, and you’re done.”
The man laughs, louder now, but his grip falters just a little “Big words for someone shaking.”
Takemichi keeps going “You wanted to prove something, right? That you could beat Mikey? Then fight him. One on one. Leave her out of it.”
That makes the guy hesitate “What?”
“Fight him,” Takemichi repeats “If you really think you’re strong, you don’t need a hostage.”
For a second, the man actually thinks about it. Then he scoffs “You think I’m stupid?”
Takemichi’s eyes narrow “No. I think you’re scared.”
The insult lands. The man’s pride snaps. He pushes you roughly toward one of his men to hold you while he steps forward, knife still raised.
The instant the knife leaves your skin, Mikey moves. Fast. Silent. Precise.
He’s on the boss in a blink. One kick. Two. The man collapses before he even knows what hit him.
Toman swarms forward. Draken grabs the man holding you, knocking him out in one swing. Chifuyu rushes to untie you.
Takemichi stumbles toward you, shaking but smiling with relief.
You fall into Mikey’s arms before your knees can give out, sobbing against his shoulder.
He wraps you up tight, like he’s afraid you’ll vanish if he lets go. His voice is low, trembling “You’re okay… you’re okay.”
Takemichi watches, heart pounding, whispering to himself. Not again. Not this time.
He did it. You’re alive.
The first thing you see when you open your eyes is a white ceiling and the soft beeping of machines. Then voices.
“Sweetheart? Y/N?”
Your parents.
You blink until their faces come into focus. Your mom’s eyes are teary and your dad’s hand is already holding yours.
“You scared us to death…” your mom says, smiling through the tears.
“I’m okay” you whisper, throat dry. Then, almost without thinking, “Where’s Mikey?”
Both your parents look at each other, then laugh softly. Heat rushes to your cheeks.
Your mom points to the other side of the room “Right there.”
You turn your head and there he is, standing quietly near the wall, hands in his pockets, as if he didn’t want to interrupt. His eyes meet yours for a second, and the tension in his shoulders melts.
Your mom clears her throat “He never left your side. Not even for a second.”
You blink fast “He… didn’t?”
“Nope,” she says with a wink “Your dad and I are going to tell the doctor and your friends that you’re awake, okay?”
Your dad starts, “I’ll stay—”
But your mom tugs his arm “No, you won’t. Give them some privacy.”
The door closes behind them, leaving you and Mikey in the quiet hum of the hospital room.
You glance at him, cheeks warm “Sorry about them.”
He gives that lazy smile you missed so much “They’re cool. Your mom told me a lot of things you said about me.”
“Like what?” you ask cautiously.
He smirks “Didn’t know you fangirl over my hair.”
Your face goes red immediately “Wha— I don’t!” You hide under the blanket “Leave!”
He laughs, a real, soft laugh, and gently pulls the blanket down from your face. His hand is warm against the fabric.
When he sees you pout, his smile fades into something gentler “I’m glad you’re okay now.”
You sit up, still flustered, and pat the bed beside you “Sit.”
He hesitates, then sits where you motion.
“Thank you for saving me.” you say quietly.
He looks away “It was my fault you were in danger. No need to thank me.”
You frown “Mikey?”
He turns and you lean forward, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek.
He freezes, eyes wide.
“Thank you.” you repeat softly.
He blinks, speechless, then turns away again, ears red “...Yeah.”
To change the subject, he points at the cabinet near your bed “I brought you some food. You should eat something.”
You nod, smiling, and start eating. After a minute you notice the flowers on the cabinet “Who brought those?”
“The boys.” he answers simply.
You nod again “And that cutie?” you ask, pointing at a small plush toy sitting beside the vase.
Mikey looks away, embarrassed “…Me.”
You giggle “Pass it to me. I wanna cuddle it.”
He gets up, grabs the plush, and hands it to you. You hug it tightly, eyes closing, smiling like a child. Something in his chest stirs, a strange mix of warmth and panic at how much he loves seeing you like that.
But when you open your eyes again, you notice his expression has turned sad.
“What happened to that man?” you ask quietly.
He doesn’t meet your gaze “He got arrested.”
You nod, even though he’s not looking. Then, without warning, you move and hug him, hard enough to pull him halfway onto the bed.
“Hey—!” he starts, trying to free himself, but his hands barely push. He’s not really trying.
You just keep hugging him until…
Ahem.
You both freeze.
At the door stand Draken, Takemichi, Chifuyu, Mitsuya… and Emma, right in front of them. All of them staring, eyes wide.
For a long second, no one speaks. Then Emma recovers first, turns to the boys, and says, “She’s awake, we saw her. Let’s go.”
They start to protest.
“Out!” she insists, pushing them all back through the doorway.
“Wait, Emma!” you call, but she just winks and closes the door.
Silence. Again.
You and Mikey sit side by side, both red to the ears.
After a few seconds, Mikey breaks it first, voice low “I really thought I lost you.”
You look at him, smiling softly “But you didn’t.”
He turns his head toward you, eyes serious “Do you want to go on a date with me once you’re out of here?”
You freeze.
He just said—wait—he actually said…
Mikey… asked you on a date.
Mikey. Asked. You. On. A. Date.
Your brain stops working.
He’s still watching you, waiting “So?”
You open your mouth, no sound coming out, then finally manage to whisper, “...Yeah.”
A tiny grin appears on his face “Good.”
He leans back in the chair beside your bed, arms folded, pretending to look relaxed. But his ears are still red.
You hide your face in the plush toy again, heart racing, and the world feels peaceful again.
The air smells like spring again. It’s been a week since the hospital, a week of your phone constantly buzzing with messages from everyone making sure you’re okay. But today is quiet. Just a knock at the door, gentle and careful.
You already know who it is.
When you open it, Mikey’s standing there, hands in his jacket pockets, hair a little messy from the wind. He doesn’t look like Toman’s leader right now. He looks… like the boy you’ve always known.
“You ready?” he asks.
You nod, even though your heart’s already racing “Yeah.”
He takes you to the park you always used to hang out in, the one with the creaky swings and the vending machines that always eat your coins. You both walk slowly, side by side, and for the first time in forever, neither of you really knows what to say.
He’s thinking: She’s really here. Alive. Breathing. Smiling. With me.
Every glance he sneaks at you feels like proof that the world hasn’t stolen you away.
You’re thinking: Is this really a date?
Because everything feels exactly the same, comfortable and familiar, but your chest won’t stop fluttering every time your shoulders brush.
You sit on the swings. The metal chains squeak softly. Mikey drops a small paper bag in your lap “Brought you something.”
You peek inside and see taiyaki “You remembered.”
He grins “’Course. Can’t have a date without it.”
You bite into one, still warm, and he watches you with a quiet smile. The silence stretches, but it’s not awkward anymore. It’s peaceful.
He kicks the ground lightly, swinging a little “You know,” he says, “this feels weird.”
“What does?”
He looks at you “Calling it a date. We’ve done this a hundred times.”
You laugh, the sound light “Yeah, but this time it counts as a date.”
That earns a small smile from him, the kind that reaches his eyes, the kind you didn’t realize you missed so much.
The sun’s low now, throwing gold across the park. You watch the light catch in his hair and think about how close you came to never seeing it again. You grip the swing’s chain tighter.
“Mikey” you say softly.
He hums, eyes still on the sky.
“I’m glad it’s you.”
He turns, confused “What do you mean?”
You shake your head “Nothing. Just… glad.”
He doesn’t answer, but the small curve of his lips says everything.
After a while, you both get up and walk to the vending machine. He buys two sodas, your fav for you, lemon for him, and hands yours over without asking what you want. He always remembers.
You sit on the low stone wall nearby, close enough for your knees to touch. It’s quiet except for the sound of the can opening.
You look at him from the corner of your eye. He’s pretending to look relaxed, but you can see how his fingers twitch a little, like he’s nervous.
He’s thinking: If I reach for her hand now, will she pull away?
You’re thinking: If he takes my hand, I might actually forget how to breathe.
And then, finally, his hand brushes yours, slowly and testing. When you don’t move, his fingers slide between yours, and it just feels… right.
You glance up at him “Smooth move” you tease.
He grins, but his ears are red “Took me long enough.”
You laugh softly “Yeah, maybe a year or two… or three.”
You start walking again, not really knowing where you’re going. You talk about random things, how Draken nearly broke his bike again, how Mitsuya’s making Emma a new outfit after she begged him for weeks, how Takemichi cried after seeing you in the hospital but pretended he didn’t. You’re laughing so hard by the end that your stomach hurts.
And then it hits you: This is it. This is love.
It’s not dramatic or loud. It’s just this… walking beside him, your hands brushing, feeling safe.
You stop.
He turns, confused “What?”
You step closer “Nothing. Just…”
Before you can overthink it, you lean in and kiss him. It’s soft and short, just a heartbeat, but it feels like time stops.
When you pull back, you’re both blushing, both smiling like idiots.
He clears his throat “Guess that makes it official, huh?”
You nod, still smiling “Yeah. Finally.”
He squeezes your hand “Then we better not waste time anymore.”
“Deal.”
Across the street, Takemichi watches quietly. He doesn’t move, doesn’t interrupt. Just stands there, hands in his pockets, smiling.
He can feel it, the air around you is different now. The tension that haunted the future is gone, replaced by something lighter.
“You did it,” he murmurs “You really changed it.”
He turns away, letting the two of you walk off together under the orange sky.
And for once, the world feels like it might finally stay kind.
EPILOGUE
The news spreads faster than anyone expects. It’s been two days since the date, and apparently someone saw you and Mikey holding hands at the park. By morning, all of Toman knows.
When you and Mikey arrive at the hangout, everyone’s already there and waiting. That’s your first warning. The second is the collective smirks.
Draken’s leaning against his bike, arms crossed, looking way too calm. Chifuyu’s whispering something to Mitsuya, who looks like he’s trying not to laugh. Takemichi, of course, looks guilty, like he accidentally started this.
And Emma’s standing front and center, grinning like she’s been waiting for this moment all her life.
You stop at Mikey’s side, suddenly unsure “Why are they all smiling like that?”
Mikey shrugs, pretending not to notice “Dunno. Maybe they finally lost it.”
Emma gasps dramatically “Oh my god, did you just say that?”
She marches right up to her brother and pokes him in the chest “You, the king of pretending-not-to-have-feelings, finally got a girlfriend!”
“Emma.” he warns.
She ignores him completely and turns to you with a huge smile “Y/N, I’m so proud of you! You managed to do the impossible!”
The rest of Toman bursts into laughter.
Mikey groans “You’re all acting like it’s a national event.”
Draken smirks “Well, it is. We’ve been waiting for this longer than the next bike race.”
Chifuyu adds, “Man, I was starting to think I’d have to lock you both in a room until you confessed.”
Takemichi raises his hands defensively “They were so cute holding hands…”
Everyone looks at him.
He sweats. Mikey sighs, clearly trying to look annoyed but failing because the corners of his mouth are twitching upward. Then Emma crosses her arms, tilting her head “So? When’s the wedding?”
You choke on air “Wha—?! We literally just started dating!”
“Details, details,” she waves you off with a grin “Just saying, I call maid of honor!”
Draken chuckles “Slow down, Em.”
Mitsuya smirks “Nah, she’s just planning ahead.”
You hide your face in your hands “You’re all impossible.”
Mikey puts an arm around your shoulders, pulling you a little closer. He looks around at the group and says calmly, “You done?”
“Nope.” Chifuyu says immediately.
Draken smirks “Not even close.”
Emma beams “Never.”
Mikey sighs again but doesn’t push you away. In fact, his hand stays on your shoulder, steady and soft. When you glance at him, he’s smiling, not his usual cocky grin, but something smaller, lighter. Real.
“Guess they’re happy for us.” you whisper.
He nods “Yeah. Annoying, but… kinda nice.”
You laugh quietly “Yeah. Kinda.”
Later that evening, when everyone finally stops teasing you long enough to eat, the whole group ends up sitting around, telling stories. You’re between Emma and Mikey as she keeps nudging you every time he looks your way. At some point, you lean your head against his shoulder without thinking.
He looks down at you, a soft smile tugging at his lips.
Draken notices but doesn’t say anything. Chifuyu notices and definitely says something under his breath, to Mitsuya, who just grins. And Takemichi, sitting quietly across the room, just watches.
For the first time in a long time, he sees Mikey laughing without that heavy shadow behind his eyes. You’re there beside him safe, smiling, real.
And in that small, noisy, love-filled room, he thinks to himself: This is how it was always meant to be.
Emma stretches and says loudly, “So when’s your next date? I’ll come spy!”
Mikey throws a cushion at her. Everyone bursts out laughing again.
And in the middle of it all, you and Mikey exchange a glance that says it all: Home isn’t a place anymore. It’s this. It’s us.
Summary: You often feel overlooked compared to your best friend, Emma. Little do you know there's someone who does notice you quite a lot. | Genre: Fluff | Warning: none| Words: 5.4K
‘Hey, Y/L/N-san.’
You were in the process of packing your things into your school bag. The classes were finally over, and you couldn’t wait to ditch the stuffy classroom once and for all and dive into a nice peaceful weekend.
You didn’t recognize the boy in front of you, but unfortunately, you knew what he wanted even before he started to talk.
‘You’re friends with Sano-san, right?’ he asked smiling with a glow of confidence in his eyes probably thinking he came up with a pretty decent plan when he chose to approach you.
Sadly, for him, this wasn’t unusual. Despite her unfortunate reputation and the scary rumors that circled around her persona. Your best friend, Sano Emma, was a cute and attractive-looking girl who often caught the attention of boys around your schools and guys passing on the streets. Whether on purpose or not being subtle enough, it was very easy to overhear or notice some of the peaking or openly staring at her. At times you compare them to animals in the zoo watching their caretakers bring them their scheduled food. Sometimes, they were merely excited or happy. Other times, they were drooling and looking like they would run to snatch it before they were ever even allowed to.
‘Yes, what about it?’ you asked. If you were a snarkier person, you would probably tell him flat out to back off because it was pointless to even try anything on Emma, but being yourself, conflict was usually your last resort. If it didn’t happen so often it started to really annoy you, you would even appreciate those guys for having the guts to try something on their crush in the first place.
‘Say, do you know if she’s seeing someone?’
Mentally, you took a deep breath and sighed, but, on the outside, you merely politely said, ‘No, but she likes someone else.’
You thought that was all that needed to be said and returned to packing your stuff. You really wanted to go already. Emma had to head to the teacher’s office to discuss her dropping grades.
She’ll probably ask me to help her study later, you thought to yourself.
Personally, if you approached someone because you were crushing on their friend and found out they liked someone else, you would thank them and never mention it ever again, but apparently, this guy was wired differently.
‘Huh, really?’
You shot your back and turned to leave but the boy sort of cut into your path, ‘Do you think I could take him? What’s he like?’
Take him? You wondered mentally. As in a fight?!
You imagined this guy going against 185 cm tall Ryuguji Ken.
You imagined this guy going against Toman’s vice president, Draken.
You imagined this guy going against the boy you once saw taking down ten Toman members with three punches without breaking a sweat because they were being disrespectful.
You chuckled. It was rude. You would be the first to admit, it was really rude, but you just couldn’t help it because imagining anyone let alone this guy going against Draken was seriously funny.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ he asked. Obviously, he didn’t appreciate your reaction, and honestly, you didn’t blame him for that.
You cleared your throat, ‘Sorry. Uh,’ despite knowing a great deal about Emma’s brother’s not-so-little gang, Toman, you were around when it was founded and all, you still didn’t feel too comfortable to talk about it so openly with strangers. In school, nevertheless.
‘Her crush is friends with her brother,’ you said purposely underlining friends and brother, so he and anyone with a good pair of eyes and brain would understand. Everyone and their mother knew that Sano Manjiro was in a gang. Skipping school only to ride a bike wearing his black gang jacket was a dead giveaway. Seeing other members around the city getting into fights, vandalism and other forms of delinquency would convince anyone.
-or so you thought.
‘So? What? It’s not like she has to date her brother’s friends, is it? If so, who is he? I can be his friend or whatever,’ he said, and you openly stared at him like he was insane. You couldn’t help but wonder. If he didn’t even know Emma’s brother, Mikey, was the leader of Toman, what did he even know about her? Or was it really only because of her looks?
You sighed out loud now. You were already in a faulty mood looking forward to leaving the school premises only for this guy to constantly stall you. You were trying to be polite. Really, you weren’t a mean person. It wasn’t your style to flat-out be rude to someone upon meeting them. And you did your absolute best to make it quick with this boy but apparently, he wasn’t the sharpest pencil in the toolbox to figure it out.
‘Look, Emma likes someone else, and her brother isn’t someone to mess with. Trust me, if you don’t want problems just let it go, alright?’ Maybe you should have worded it better or maybe you should have told him to just go ask Emma herself if he wanted to so much. If you really thought about it, was this even your problem to begin with?
The boy frowned, ‘Seriously? Why would you say that? What’s wrong with you?’
Your eyes widened while you stood there puzzled wondering what the heck was this guy talking about. You were perfectly clear. Did he seriously want you to spell it out for him that her brother would crack his skull with a single kick and tell his gang to harass him until his dying days?
‘You know jealousy only makes you look uglier,’ he said and turned around stomping away pretty much like a child that apparently, he was.
You were left standing at your spot motionless for a few moments trying to get over the shock of the situation before you breathed out, ‘Whoa.’
It wasn’t like the words didn’t hurt.
They did.
A lot.
So much.
What an asshole!
But you always did your very best not to cry in school or because of some jerk who you didn’t even know.
After three deep breaths just to make sure you wouldn’t start sobbing, you started to walk out of the classroom. You knew that guy was just an upset jerk which was why he was lashing out like that, but it still stung a little. No one wanted to be called ugly or accused of being jealous of their friend. What should you be jealous of anyway? A guy like that coming to you trying to win you over only to be an ass to your friends? No, thank you!
You walked down the stairs only to find Emma waiting for you with a sour look on her face, ‘I need to get my grades up or they’ll tell gramps about it.’
You figured as much and patted her shoulder, ‘I’ll help you study tomorrow.’
‘Really?’ she beamed looking brighter than a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, ‘Yup, let’s go.’
On the walk home, you only partly listened to Emma’s ramble about how unfair the teacher was. Untrue, but you didn’t have the energy to argue with her. Not to mention, your mind kept on drifting to the boy from the classroom.
Uglier
Uglier~
Uglieeeeer~
‘You’re the ugly one, you ass,’ you mumbled to yourself quietly.
‘Hm?’
‘Nothing,’ you quickly dismissed her interest and glanced around. It was Friday with many people on their way home from work or on a break before they had to return to their offices. Some didn’t even spare you two a single look, but others were openly staring at Emma.
It happened a lot. You weren’t certain when it started, but one day you noticed she was getting a lot of attention from men and boys passing by. Some were flat-out creepy while others looked rather cute. Some tried to strike up a conversation, but Emma was usually too much in her own world to notice or too into Draken to care.
‘Hey, do you want to go join me for karaoke? We’re missing a girl.’
‘I’m with my friend. Bye.’
‘Pretty girl, would you like to go to dinner.’
‘Beat it, old man!’
‘You’re so cute. Want me to buy you something sweet in that coffee house?’
She didn’t even acknowledge the existence of that last boy. Being her best friend came with the privilege of knowing she already had her heart set on someone else.
Honestly, from creeps who tried to follow her and you on the streets to boys who thought they were cute when they couldn’t even shutter out their names, you came to the conclusion that there was really nothing to envy your friend and often offered her your sympathy or changed the subject to ease her annoyance.
Jealousy
It wasn't like it was true. Why would you be jealous of the attention Emma got?
Maybe.
Sometimes.
A little.
You glanced at her hair, ever so perfectly blowing in the wind as you walked. It wasn't like she asked for all that attention. To be frank, most of the time she didn't even notice, or she found it annoying. Besides her were eyes set on Draken for as long as you knew her.
Still, yeah, maybe sometimes you were a little jealous of that attention. If only because compared to her you felt so damn invisible, you might as well not be there at all when those guys approached her. It was rude really. You didn’t want them to hit on you or anything, but straight out being pushed aside so they could get close to Emma without them so much as looking at you if you didn’t end up in traffic thanks to them seemed rude.
You would surely hate it if you were in Emma’s shoes, but you couldn’t say it was all that better to be in your own. Constantly being overlooked and ignored really sucked too.
Passing nearby windshields you caught your reflection. Maybe you should do something about the way you look. Nothing too radical just something to make you stand out a bit? Look cuter?
‘I can’t believe sensei’s being so unfair-’
‘Do you think I should change my hairstyle or do something about makeup?’ (A.N: adding or changing depending on you).
Your eyes moved to your school uniform. It couldn’t be helped on the weekday but maybe during the weekend and after school? ‘Maybe I could do something about my clothing,’ you said to yourself, ‘Maybe I would catch someone’s attention better that way-’
‘But you’re perfect!’ cut in Emma before you could think about that guy from class and pray not to catch the attention of someone like him.
You smiled at your friend, Yeah, yeah.’
‘No really!’ Assured you Emma and taking her best friend’s responsibilities seriously like they were life or death began to praise everything from your hair to your face and body gaining unwanted attention from people passing by. Definitely, not what you meant.
A little bit self-conscious and embarrassed, you tried to calm her down when you and she heard the familiar sounds of two bikes approaching. It wasn’t like you were an expert, but being around Toman so often, CB250T’s roar was definitely imprinted into your brain forever. You were pretty decent in recognizing all the captain’s bikes, even if you didn’t always guess the right one, but their leader’s bike you managed to get right every time. Not something you needed to brag about, but you still took pride in it.
You turned around and waved just as Emma raised her hand and called for her brother only to discover he was followed by Draken too. It wasn’t all that unusual, but your friend still snatched your arm looking at you like it was a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
‘Follow my lead, Y/N!’
Emma greeted her brother and crush, while you waited beside her hoping whatever she had planned wouldn’t backfire too much. You were always there to pick up the pieces after all. Sure, Draken would never deliberately hurt Emma, but he was known to be harsh and speak his truth not realizing Emma was trying to flirt with him or get him to go on a date with her.
‘Hey, do you guys think Y/N should change something about herself?’ she asked suddenly cutting through your thoughts. You froze on the spot before shooting her a wide-eyed look. No way! Stop! You thought desperately as you listened to her make out some half-baked story about how you wanted to appear more interesting to someone.
Falling into traffic doesn’t sound so bad right about now, you thought to yourself and put a hand over your friends. You knew both Mikey and Draken were asking themselves why the hell was Emma asking them about this.
‘Men don’t care about that stuff,’ said Draken, and you uncovered your face only to ask, ‘Can we talk about something else please?’
‘Mitsuya-kun does,’ cut in Mikey, and you were tempted to die on the spot. The two started to discuss the captain of the Second Division and his keen eye for fashion before Draken admitted, That might work. So, if you want, go ask him.’
You couldn’t bear to look either of them in the eye for a moment.
‘Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind,’ you said and mentally sent Emma a message never to do that to you again. The message must not have reached her though because, in the next moment, she rushed to Draken’s side and said, ‘Hey, can you guys give us a ride? Y/N twisted her ankle in the gym and it’s really far from her house.’
Seriously?! You thought looking at Emma and it had to show, but when they all looked at you, you sighed and without any emotion whatsoever said, ‘Yes, I twisted my ankle. In gym. Can you give me a ride home? Please?’
Draken looked at you bizarrely while Mikey lowered his face and cleared his throat into his fist. He knew what Emma was doing. Despite being a little bit childish at times and in general acting like he was carefree and oblivious, he knew about Emma’s feelings for his friend, and given how often he let Emma, and you come along, he must have approved of them too.
‘No problem,’ he finally said grinning widely at you before waving you over like a dog, ‘Come on, Y/N-chan. I’ll take you home. Poor baby with a twisted ankle,’ he mocked you as you walked toward him. You knew it was in good nature. Mikey was never purposely mean to you.
You refused to limp, but you at least had the decency to walk slowly not to completely out Emma’s lie. Seriously, you were beginning to question just how good this friendship was to you.
You sighed and got behind the blond as he passed you his spare helmet. It wasn’t the first time you rode with him. After all, Emma took every opportunity she could get to be close to Draken, and because you so often tagged along you had to get somehow home too. Still, to say you were used to the feeling would be a total lie. You still felt nervous and knew everyone with a pair of eyes could see it.
‘Ah, my bad, I should have picked you up, huh?’ he turned around and grinned at you, clearly enjoying this too much, so you repaid him by putting your arms around his middle and squeezing, hard.
He let out a small, startled noise, but you knew that was mostly for your benefit. No way, you actually hurt the invincible Mikey after all. At times it was easy to deal with Mikey. You knew him for as long as Emma, and since he often went on board with Emma’s little attempts to get closer to Draken, you had something like an understanding between you two. Also, his bratty personality helped you forget you were about to once again ride on his beloved death trap.
‘Hey, wouldn’t it make more sense if Y/L/N went with me? Aren’t you heading home, Mikey?’ asked Draken suddenly causing the rest of you to freeze because, after all, he wasn’t wrong. It made very little sense for Mikey to drive you and then go home afterward.
‘Uhmm, but I’m…cooking for Mikey-kun,’ you said quickly surprising everyone including you because cooking?!
‘Right, you still owe me for beating up that punk who made you cry,’ he said sounding quite delighted while you were left puzzled about what he meant. You didn’t really think anyone made you cry recently. Distantly, you recalled he punched someone for your benefit like four years ago, but the details were hazy.
However, the answer seemed to satisfy Draken, who didn’t say anything else just wished his leader and you farewell.
Mentally, you rolled your eyes at how excited Emma looked while holding onto him, but you still offered her a smile and a wave.
‘Yare yare,’ said Mikey and shook his head while starting this bike, ‘Could she be any more desperate?’
Taking your role as Emma’s best friend seriously, you pinched his arm, ‘Hey, that’s my best friend you’re talking about.’
He made a little distressed noise which again had to only be for your benefit, but you still appreciated it. The ride was mostly silent and fast, but not dangerously so. Maybe you were getting used to it though because unlike other times when you were holding onto the blond for dear life, now you were falling into your thoughts thinking about what happened after class and in general about how invisible you felt at times.
It wasn’t even that you lacked strangers noticing you really. It was that you lacked that one person who would.
Even if Emma didn’t care for the attention, Draken seemed to be playing hard to get. You knew the tall blond liked her. It was painfully obvious; they would be one of those couples who would marry soon after her graduation and first among their friends to have kids.
However, when you tried to picture yourself in the future you couldn’t imagine ever having someone to come home to, spend time with, or have a family. You wanted to, but you couldn’t really see it happening. Guys didn’t really pay attention to you whether you were with Emma or not. You couldn’t really tell why it was, but it always felt like you had to try hard and put yourself really out there to even be noticed, and even then, it felt like more often than not people didn’t even care about what you had to say. Apart from Emma, you always felt like you said the wrong thing or annoyed people when you spoke. You couldn’t explain it, but it just felt like that.
Your thoughts came to a halt as Mikey stopped at a red light. You were too busy daydreaming or maybe he finally took your complaints to heart and drove slower, but the ride felt strangely nice and relaxing. Almost like you were sightseeing or on a nice ride around town to kill time.
While you waited for the light to go green, you noticed a few high school girls looking in your direction.
It made you feel self-conscious and try to shrink into yourself before you realized they couldn’t see you looking at them with the helmet on. Were they staring at Mikey? It wouldn’t be anything new since whenever someone noticed he was wearing his gang uniform they stared a lot. But the Toman’s kanji on his back was hidden by your body while you were holding him. Sure, even if you could never admit it out loud, Mikey was a really handsome guy, so it made sense if they were eyeing him, but he was wearing a helmet too, so they couldn’t see his face.
It’s not like they're romanticizing us and think we’re a cute couple on a ride through town, right?You asked yourself. Surely, not. Why would they even think that?
You glanced ahead. You were pressed against Mikey’s back quite a lot, and you were holding him really tightly, but that was only because it was safer that way.
You felt your face heat up even if you told yourself you were being silly for making up stuff like that.
Ridiculous.
Anyone thinking you and Mikey were a couple was being ridiculous.
Still, having the day you had and facing the insecurities that haunted you for so long it wasn’t the worst thing in the world to know someone could think you would be worthy of someone like Mikey. Of anyone really.
Finally, the light turned green, and the bike came to life again and moved away from those girls. Unfortunately, you couldn’t escape your thoughts. You felt stupidly proud at the idea someone might envy you even if there really wasn’t anything to envy in the first place. You and Mikey weren’t dating. You were barely friends. You were mostly friendly because of Emma and maybe mutual respect?
‘Hey,’ you heard him call out when he slowed down a bit, ‘Any tighter and I’ll think you like me.’
You let out a startled noise from the back of your throat and immediately eased up on your hold. Seriously, you didn’t even really start to hold him so tight.
You felt him pat your palm though and laugh, It’s fine. Relax.’ Easy for him to say.
By the time, he got you home, you did your best to chase all the unnecessary thoughts out of your mind. You were already struggling thinking you were destined to be alone, gaining an unrequited crush on your best friend’s brother would do you absolutely no good.
You got off the bike stumbling a bit because of course you did, but Mikey easily snatched your elbow somewhat helping you find your balance, ‘Thanks!’
He nodded and let you go also getting off the bike, ‘So will you make me some taiyaki?’
You weren’t surprised he actually wanted food. If there was one thing you knew about the blond apart from how protective he was of his sister and how he could take down anyone who challenged him then it was that he was always hungry. Most of the time for taiyaki.
You sighed. You didn’t want to bring him down, but you knew better than to promise something that you couldn’t really deliver on. You had never made taiyaki before, and overall you weren’t the best cook around.
‘I’ve never made it before. But I can make dinner if you like. Nothing extra!' you hurried to add, 'Just something quick?’
‘Man,’ his shoulders and face fell a bit, and his face twisted with a light pout, ‘Mean. And to think I drove you all the way here.’
You were about to tell him off when he started walking toward your home not waiting for your remarks.
When he was by your door he turned back looking at you with that same bored and calm expression he often had but with the addition of his lazy smile, 'You coming?'
Although his visit was unexpected and new, you still did your best to be a polite host. You kinda thought he would stick around the living room and watch TV or go play something on your computer, but instead, he followed you into the kitchen and glued to a chair facing your back, he watched you work. It was a bit strange and unnerving, but you did your best to ignore it.
When he came to stand beside you, you couldn’t help but think something was on his mind. After all, Manjiro Sano was known to doze off during gang meetings or act like he owned the place wherever he went so sticking to your side seemed oddly too polite from him.
‘Do you really want to change your hair and style?’ he asked after a moment eyeing you.
You glanced at him. His usually cheerful or bored dark eyes carried a more sober almost serious look behind them. It almost made you feel like you were in trouble.
‘Oh, that? That’s just something Emma and I talked about before,’ you said embarrassed at the idea that Mikey or anyone would know about what was bothering you. It sounded stupid, and weird to say it out loud, and you were sure you would get looked at weirdly if anyone knew just like you often did when you said something that felt like the wrong thing to say in the first place.
However, even when you return to cooking, you feel the blond’s eyes on you, ‘Are you…,’ his voice dropped a bit further adding to his oddly and atypically serious appearance, ‘trying to get someone’s attention?’
Your eyes glanced at Mikey, and you were surprised to find him looking at you so dangerously. You couldn’t really explain it any other way. It wasn’t like he was planning to fight you or anything like that, but it was like he was weighing your words and debating on their importance for some reason.
‘Uhm, just in general,’ you found yourself saying before you could stop yourself. Once again you felt hot embarrassment settle across your face in the form of a blush, ‘I’m a pretty invisible person most of the time. Sometimes I wouldn’t mind to be noticed, you know?’ You cringed at how pathetic that sounded and seriously wondered what was wrong with you to talk with Mikey about this. He was more than a little dense. Not by being stupid just too carefree and not fixated on stuff like you to were.
Out of the corner of your eyes, you saw his back pressed against your counter and he looked ahead, in the opposite direction from you, ‘Well, don’t.’
You properly looked at him again and found him still looking ahead but this time he crossed his arms and pouted again the way he sometimes did which made him look really young, ‘Don’t try to gain anyone else’s attention. I won’t like that if too many people stare at you.’
You blinked and then you blinked again and again as you painfully slowly took his words in, ‘W-what?!’
‘You’re burning the food,’ he said casually and nodded toward the stove in front of you where you really were burning your dinner. You quickly tried to save it somehow by doing a half-decent job although you were still tempted to call it a day and go buy something.
Still, you had more pressing matters at hand. Surely, you didn’t hear him right or you misunderstood him completely. Yet mistake or not your heart was beating far too quickly, and your voice shook when you asked, ‘Mikey-kun,’ you started to whisper, ‘what did you mean by that?’
He took a plate without asking and gave it to you so you could put the food on it, ‘Hm? Oh, that?’
You waited.
‘Don’t worry about it,’ he said, and you were left staring at him and his empty plate. Mechanically, you took it after a moment and put the food on it all the while glancing at the blond boy wondering if he was pulling your leg or something.
He started to eat without you, ‘It’s not the best.’
You forgot about your previous conversation as your face grew hotter from embarrassment again, ‘Then don’t eat it. I’ll get us something else.’
You tried to walk toward him and grab the plate, but he blocked you, ‘Nope, this is fine.’
You frowned a bit feeling even more humiliated, ‘No, it’s not. You just said so yourself.’
‘It’s fine,’ he said and continued to eat. You wanted to be touched, and you were, but a part of you was seriously horrified that you made something bad and had someone, a guest, eat it.
You sat down opposite of Mikey and dug in. It really wasn’t the best. It wasn’t the worst, it just wasn’t overly delicious either, ‘Come on! Drop that face. It’s fine.’
You shook your head, ‘It’s not, but thanks for trying. I haven’t really had much practice, but I’ll do my best to get better and make it up to you next time.’
Mikey’s face inexplicably softened and a cute smile came across it reminding you that all in all, he was a very handsome guy, ‘Really, next time, Y/N-chan? So, it’ll be a weekly date?’
That question knocked the wind out of your lungs and made you choke on your bite a little although that might have been the food itself. It took you a hot minute to actually manage to speak again, ‘D-date?’
Mikey grinned at you like he knew something you didn’t before he continued to eat as if he didn’t say anything at all. You wanted to ask what he meant, but you weren’t sure how, and felt that if you did as he refused to answer, you would feel ridiculous. You started to small talk at least, but not the way strangers were but how two future friends would. It wasn’t as intimate and quick as a heartbeat like it was with Emma, but it was still a nice and cozy chat, so you couldn’t complain.
By the time he finished and prepared to leave you had to tell yourself it was a very strange day. Although maybe not the worst.
You walked Mikey to his bike. It felt like the least you could do. After all, he drove you home, you had no taiyaki for him, and you cooked him mediocre food at best. Although he brushed it off, what he said, didn’t leave your mind throughout the whole time you were together.
‘Thanks for the food, I’ll be holding you up on your promise to get better,’ he said with a semi-pretend serious look that made you chuckle, ‘Yeah, just don’t get your hopes up. It might take a while.’
He turned toward his bike, and you felt a little bit disappointed in yourself. If you were a different more confident person, you would surely ask him about what happened back there.
Suddenly, just as you glanced back at your house you felt Mikey’s hand rest on your waist.
Your eyes widened, and you looked back only to find him in front of you again so close you might as well be hugging, ‘Huh?’
His palm on your waist was warm, but not uncomfortable. He wasn’t being forceful, just present enough that you knew with every thought and cell inside your body that he was touching you there. It sounded silly. You touched him plenty when you held onto him while you rode and yet now it felt different. In those times, it was a necessity to touch each other, now it was a desire.
You couldn’t see his face when he leaned forward but his voice sounded quiet and serious again, ‘It’s fine if you really want to change, Y/N-chan,’ your heart speeded up and your breathing grew louder than his words yet you still heard the rest of what he had to say, ‘Just know that I always pay attention to you. Even as you are now.’
Something soft and damp pressed against your temple, but when your shy self finally gained the courage to look, Mikey was already letting go of you and getting on his bike.
His cheeks were dusted with the lightest shades of pink, but you still noticed it, while he grinned at you, ‘Maybe just your cooking.’
You were still taking it all in so it took you a moment to realize what he meant. Your own face was burning hot as you tried to process what happened, your emotions and make up a good comeback only to stutter, ‘Y-yeah, like…like you can d-do better?’
The blond looked as carefree as ever, ‘Come tomorrow and find out. I’ll ask Emma for pointers.’
‘That’s cheating,’ you replied but still found yourself grinning as well. You couldn’t help it. It seemed that the corners of your mouth had lives of their own.
‘Bye, Y/N-chan,’ he said smiling, so you wished him goodbye as well as a safe trip home and remained standing there for a little longer after the sound of his bike could no longer be heard in the distance.
As you walked home, your hands covered your face, and you couldn’t stop smiling and wondering what the hell just happened all the while your heart was beating with a newfound rhythm of knowing there was someone whose attention belonged to you after all.
Koniec
A.N: Thank you for taking the time to read this.😊 English isn’t my first language, so I apologize for grammatical mistakes. I hope you and your loved ones are safe. Have a lovely day 💙💛
