The tailor

by Reemus-Senpai

Years have passed since the Investigation Team had taken down Adachi and saved the world. Just when Kanji thought it couldn't get any worse, disaster strikes again. Yu and Naoto are getting married? Laughs are had, sinister plots ensue, and all this is occurring while Kanji is still figuring his life out. [Teddie is referred to as Kuma, adult language and adult themes]

1. The Tailor

My name is Kanji Tatsumi. Once, I was your everyday run of the mill punk. Then, two years ago, everything in my life changed. Senpai and the gang came into my life. Ever since then, life has been relatively fun and easy. Everyone's getting their start in life. Yu and Naoto, and Chie are in Tokyo. Naoto and Yu actually got engaged a couple of weeks ago. As much as it stung, I was able to get through it. Yeah, like a real man-

Who am I kidding? I got upset, and I'm still upset about the whole ordeal. I still think it's way too early for Naoto to marry. I think it's even more than that. I can't help but feel this overwhelming amount of Jealousy about the whole thing. I can't help it. I liked her for waaaay too damn long. I knew that I should've made my move, but I was so scared, that the one man I admire most swept her away from me before I grew the balls. Of course I tried to act like it didn't bother me. That didn't last too long. See, the people who are still here in Inaba know me real well. Especially a certain nosy Idol.

Rise guessed what was bothering me, she then decided to rub salt in the wound and grind me about it. Not only did she grind me about it, but that damn bear also got all up in my face and was all like "I kan-jecture, that you're going to be a lonely old hermit." That pissed me off, but much to my surprise, it wasn't me who yelled or scolded Kuma. It was Rise. That girl genuinely confuses me. One minute, she's teasing me, the next she's defending me. It was genuinely nice of her to do it. Honestly, she's an odd one for me to follow. I don't know why, but she keeps sticking around. That girl is honestly a mystery sometimes. She gives me a load of crap, then will be the first one to come to my defense. Though, her coming to my defense is a relatively new thing. When I first met her, she used to tease the ever loving crap out of me. I know why she did it too. I was rude to her when she first joined our group. She reminded me of every girl who made fun of me. At some point she even called my doll's "weird". Only confirming to me that she was like every other girl. Yet, when I announced that I would be teaching a class, she was the first one who signed up. For all her teases, and for how much of a brat she can be, she still sticks around me. I honestly don't know how to feel about it.

An even weirder thing to think about is the fact that Naoto and Senpai were in Tokyo. Same with Chie-senpai. They were all so far from home, that he wondered what had happened to them. He and Chie hadn't really talked that much, but Yukiko said that she had been doing fine. Yu every now and then would text him and then he would give status updates. In fact, Kanji was the first one Yu told about his engagement. Which the tailor found slightly odd, he would've guessed that Yu would tell Yosuke or someone like that first, but he would not have guessed that he was the first choice. Kanji was definitely mixed for it, he liked the fact that his Senpai was so happy, but there was something slightly annoying about why he was happy.

---

The boy looked quietly outside his window. It was winter in Inaba once again. White fluffy snow coated the ground, in an immaculate swirl of being twisted by people passing. Gently the snow fell from the sky, and gently it became one mass with its brothers and sisters on the ground. It was peaceful. The sun had just begun to rise, and shine on the white sheet that was Winter. Christmas had passed, and brought in with it a peace in the form of frozen condensation.

"Kanji, you have a visitor!" The voice of Mrs. Tatsumi came echoing up the stairs. Kanji frowned. Today was his day off from the shop, and though it seems cruel, he didn't want this one to be interrupted. He had been helping out around the shop throughout all winter, and every week, he got one day off. Last week on his day off, Yosuke and Kuma came by and insisted that they get to stay the entire day at his place. He didn't necessarily hate the idea of his friends coming over to visit. Yet he certainly did mind that they kept searching his home for dirty magazines. He had tried telling them that they were wasting their time. They didn't listen.

If it was those two numbskulls, he'd have to just politely "convince" them that they needed to leave. As he headed down the stairs, he heard something he hadn't expected.

"You are very kind Mrs. Tatsumi, but I really can't stay long."

That voice could only belong to one person. One of Kanji's closest friends. Naoki Konishi. Throughout the last year he was one of the best friends he could've asked for. Since his senpai's had graduated, and Naoto had taken an exam to get out of highschool early, most of Kanji's friend group was no longer there. Naoki was an exception. The two of them actually met at Aiya and since then, they became great friends. Naoki was gently rubbing his hands together to keep them warm. When Kanji finally descended from the stairs to see his friend, Naoki gave a big smile.

The heir to Konishi Liquors used to not smile very much, but the longer the two of them were friends, the easier it was for Naoki to smile. After all, Kanji was very stupid, and that made him very funny. Naoki may have poked and prodded the tailor, but he meant it in the most affectionate way he possibly could. Naoki knew, that for as dumb as he could be, Kanji was still rather wise in the moments he needed to be. Even more than that, he was someone who he could trust.

"Yo." Kanji greeted.

"Yo." Naoki returned.

"So what's up?" Kanji asked bluntly.

Naoki was used to Kanji's bluntness and "get to the point damn it" attitude. So, while ordinary people would have flinched at Kanji's attitude, Naoki just continued to his point. "Yosuke wanted me to stop by. Apparently, he's planning some kind of joint deal with Konishi Liquors, Tatsumi Textiles, and Junes."

Yosuke had been adamant support for the shopping district. It appeared that this was another one of his schemes to provide unity with the shopping district.

Mrs. Tatsumi smiled and spoke gently, "That boy really does care about the shopping district."

"You got that right." Kanji said proudly. "So, what's his plan?"

Naoki paused, and his face slightly twisted in confusion. "Well, he didn't really say. He wanted to meet up in the shopping district. I think at Souzai Daigaku"

Well there went his day off. Kanji let out a tired sigh.

"Well, when does he want to meet up?" The tailor asked quietly, slightly annoyed at the fact he had to do something today.

"In about four hours." Naoki said lazily, checking his watch to make sure he was right.

"Right, see you in four." Kanji returned.

Naoki excused himself and let himself out. He let out a gentle, yet genuine smile. It was good to see him in high spirits, Kanji thought.

"Kanji you do surprise me." Mrs. Tatsumi said with a little smile. "I know how much you value your day off. Heaven knows how much you nag when you don't get them. So I never would've thought that you'd volunteer for this kind of thing."

"Hey now don't get me wrong ya old bag-" Kanji was interrupted by the glare his mother gave him. He sometimes forgot how much she despised names like that. "Sorry-ma" He corrected. "I just thought that someone needed to watch over the store, and it'd be a pain if I got stuck with watching it. So, I just picked the lesser of two evils." He finished, a definite radiant red hugh emanated from his face. He lied about the last part. He honestly didn't care if he had to watch the store. He figured he could just do something nice for his mother.

Kanji's mother knew that he meant nothing by the later half of his statement. Instead she smiled and insisted on how proud she was of her son. Kanji blushed slightly. Some things never changed, Kanji was still rather easy to make embarrassed.

Those four hours passed quickly. Kanji paused, and began the walk to Souzai Daigaku. He stepped outside, and walked into the white fluffy snow. Each footstep produced an oddly satisfying crunch beneath his feet. He truly loved the snow. Winter was cold, but there was something weirdly warming about all that he saw. Inaba in winter. Children playing in the snow. All these things were rather calming. At least in regard to how things were with the fog. A cold chill fell down Kanji's spine as he remembered everything. How everyone had been acting. It was enough to make him slightly recoil. Though, he would never admit that to anyone.

Souzai Daigaku was just in front of him, and there sat Yosuke and Naoki. They already had ordered food and started eating it. Naoki noticed Kanji first, and he gave a reassuring smile and wave. Kanji waved back. "Yo." He greeted them.

Naoki sniggered slightly, "You really need to get a new greeting Kanji."

Yosuke let out a chuckle, "Too true, I always hear you start with that." Yosuke paused slightly, then a devilish grin appeared across his face. "Yo." He said, in a fakely deep voice.
The two at the table laughed heartily, perhaps a little too much so for Kanji's liking. He offered them a glare. Yosuke, much to Kanji's relief, stopped, but Naoki continued laughing as though nothing was wrong in the slightest. "He always does that, he won't follow through on anything" He continuously laughed. "Get bent," Kanji said a little exacerbated.

He forgot, unlike everyone else, glares did nothing to Naoki. He was an odd one, but something about his actions and continuous smiles and laughs (mostly at Kanji's expense) made the tailor feel more at ease. Kanji couldn't help but laugh slightly at the situation. It was just a word, that was all. There were times when Kanji had forgotten that he didn't need to rely on his "tough guy" act every time there was a situation he didn't like. He slyly (what he thought was sly) smiled.

"Tch, get bent asshole."

This however made Naoki double over, and even Yosuke couldn't help but laugh along. Afterall, the idea of Kanji trying to act cool, only to backfire was rather funny to both of them.

"We really do need to find him some new phrases, that was the second time he used 'get bent'." Yosuke blemished. To which Kanji grumbled something inaudible and took his seat. Kanji ordered some steak skewers later on, and when Naoki had finally calmed down enough, it was to business.

Kanji's mind floated somewhere else as Yosuke and Naoki had begun discussing Yosuke's plan. What could he say? That steak skewer was rather tasty, and from what he had gathered, this was waaaay less interesting than a murder investigation. A lot had happened. Kanji remembered all the times they went into the TV world. It all came back to him like a flash. Him and Naoto coming up with a combo attack, or him and Chie tag teaming that one large shadow. For as horrible as the situation was, he still found himself able to look back on his time spent there fondly.

"-Alright Kanji?" Yosuke asked, some enthusiasm entering his voice.

The boy paused. He hadn't been paying attention this entire time. His eyes went wide with relative surprise and he looked desperately at Naoki, who nodded and understood.

"You really should start paying attention to these kinds of conversations more. Isn't this why you were in supplementary courses last year?" Naoki lightheartedly teased.

"S-sorry" Kanji fumbled slightly. He knew he was right, but it still stung.

Yosuke let out a slight sigh. Obviously frustrated at his friends lack of interest. "Alright." The brunette said, "We were thinking that we could sell a new line of perfume. We wanted it to feel like a 'Inaba special'." He paused once more, ensuring that he had Kanji's attention. The tailor merely stared back, a slight glare forming, he didn't appreciate that kind of treatment. That glare caused Yosuke to stumble slightly, yet he continued. "S-so, while Konishi Liquors created a new type of perfume, they don't have anything special to contain it in. That's where you come into play Kanji."

The way Yosuke spoke reminded Kanji heavily of when the Investigation Team would meet up and discuss their latest theory. Kanji couldn't help but be slightly impressed. The way Yosuke was conducting himself was similar to those movies about businessmen. Yet, there was something weird with what Yosuke was proposing. Why would a textile shop have to come into play with a container for perfume? "Uh…" Kanji started. "So what do you want me to do? Like, make a crochet or something to wrap around the container?" He asked dumbly.

Yosuke looked more excited than before. "Something like that." He said confidently.

Naoki then spoke up. "Well, Konishi Liquors has enough perfume to run a test drive of it. We have enough for at least two-hundred bottles."

"T-two hundred? That's way more than my stash's worth. That would be expensive." Kanji thought. His worry was visible for the others at the table to see. It was as though Yosuke could read his thoughts. Again, the brunette spoke with confidence, "Don't worry about materials. Junes can provide them. But for the start of it, You'll need to put in the man-hours."

It was clear that Kanji was relieved, he didn't mind putting a little elbow grease in. So, Yosuke proposed the rest of his deal. Kanji didn't pay much attention again, but he was able to get the general jist of the situation. They were going to run a trail run for now, to see how popular it would be. Junes would be showcasing it, and would be advertising it. They would split the profits evenly between the three. If the perfume was popular enough, there was a possibility that it could be mass produced by Junes, not just in Inaba, but by other nearby Junes. Though Yosuke did say to not give up their hopes that it would go that far.

In Kanji's eyes, it was a good idea, and he had little to no incentive to refuse. Naoki also saw it that way. Either way, it was a solid idea to revamp their image. Naoki had spent the last two years developing this perfume, and he was finally ready to send it out. Kanji grimaced as he remembered the process Naoki underwent to make it. Kanji was his tester. There had been one particularly bad instance where Naoki had too much alcohol and made Kanji feel light headed and smell like booze. Honestly, if Mrs. Tatsumi didn't know what was going on, she probably would've reacted much more sternly, but she only chuckled. Even Kanji had been doing things to revamp business. He made dolls that were sold at the store, and he taught lesions on the basics of sowing. In his first lesson, Kanji had been so nervous, he must've stabbed himself with his needles at least four times. That was mostly because everyone from the Investigation team showed up, and his silent fear that they would make fun of him (even at that point) was still prevalent. Which they did, Yosuke was especially merciless. However, after two years of doing it, he was actually a rather competent teacher. Mrs. Tatsumi (much to her son's embarrassment) would often brag loudly to the other moms about how proud she was of her boy.

With Yosuke's full support, the shopping district had new life breathed into it. The three boys all said their goodbyes and headed their separate ways. Naoki and Kanji stopped at Tatsumi textiles briefly. "See you later." Naoki called warmly to his tailor friend.

"Later" Kanji replicated, and once again he was inside his store. On a table in the corner, his dolls were laid out on full display. Throughout the store were other such things, scarfs, and other clothing items made out of all sorts of fabrics. His mother sat patiently as he entered. She smiled warmly at her son. She asked the boy how it went, and Kanji recapped the events as best as he could. She smiled even more warmly than before as he described the meeting between the three boys.

"My, two-hundred is quite the order. Would you like any help with it?" She asked quietly.

"Naw, I think I can handle it ma" Kanji replied, an embarrassed smile across his face. Crochet wasn't something the talor practiced often, but he knew the basics well enough.

"With you working on a new venture like this, it might bring in even more business than your dolls." Mrs. Tatsumi said warmly. "Who knows? in a couple of years, you might be able to inherit the shop from me."

Kanji paused. He hadn't thought that far. Though he loved sewing, and he loved the shop. However, he didn't know if he would be ready for something like that. In reply, he only mutely nodded his head, offering a small smile.

"You came back at just the right time, dinner's almost ready." Mrs. Tatsumi beamed.

Dinner was something of a blur. The boy's thoughts flashed to the future. He was no longer in highschool, so he had to start becoming an adult. Would he go to college? Would he really inherit the shop from his ma? Or would he try striking it out on his own? These were questions that he hadn't really thought of before. Of course he filled out his career plan in high school, but really that was more because he was forced to. He really had the ability to go wherever he wanted to. Do whatever he wanted to. Something about that train of thought was oddly liberating Yet at the same time oddly terrifying. The day had ended with dinner, and the boy had gone back to his room. It wasn't an eventful day, yet he couldn't help but feel his body become increasingly heavy as he lay in his bed. Soon, he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer and was fast asleep. The snow freshly laying down a new coat in the night, getting ready for a new day.

---

Kanji sat on his stool as he watched over the shop the next day. Still, he couldn't but help feeling anxious. Yu and Naoto were going to come down to Inaba a week from now… together.

Together, he still didn't like that word. Sure, they were engaged now. Sure, they were adorable. Sure, Narukami-Senpai had gotten Naoto to be more true to herself. All those things were true, and yet…

He didn't have much time to think about much of anything else. At that exact moment, a certain idol entered the store.

She's been coming here a lot more often recently. I mean, whenever she wants to go somewhere without people bothering her too much, she'll bring me around. Now though? She's really been hanging around me a lot, I don't mind too much. At first she was pretty annoying, but now she's actually pretty cool. The former punk was slightly lost in thought.

Kanji's mother was showing Rise around the plushies. She had been showing interest in them recently. Kanji found this slightly odd, he remembered how when he first started making them, how the idol had made fun of him. It stung when she did, but it wasn't too horrible. Now here she was, inspecting them. Almost daily at this point. He couldn't put a finger on it, but the way she ogled over them was weird. It wasn't like Rise to give such open praise to the tailor. Not like her at all. Yet, it was hardly a bad feeling. It reminded him of when that kid was giving him compliments over the plushies he had made him. Kanji smiled briefly, he didn't know why, but being acknowledged by Rise made him very happy.

"Kanji, I have to step out for a bit. The Amagi's need something- something about a new staff member. I'll be back shortly." Mrs. Tatsumi's voice rang through the small store.

"Got it ma." Kanji said lazily back to his mother.

Rise was still in the store, she was observing a particular plushie. It was one of Kanji's newer works, a medium sized pink bunny doll. He got the idea, watching a small kid in an anime. He was a cute kid, real badass ninja too.

"You watch Host Club?" Rise asked, turning to Kanji.

"Oh, uh, no- but how'd you-"

"I read the manga when it first came out" Rise said, her usual bubbly smile across her face. "So, is this supposed to be Usa-Chan?"

That didn't sit well with him. "Why? Does it not look like him?" He asked tentatively.

"Wha- yeah! I was honestly a little impressed, you even got the badge on him and everything." Rise said, fidgeting slightly.

"Oh- uh, yeah." Kanji paused, he needed to work on his tendency to jump to someone not liking something he did. "Good", he finished awkwardly.

"Jeez Kanji, we need to work on your social skills" Rise laughed a little too heartily. That annoyed Kanji, but he was used to her antics. So, he was willing to let it slide this time.

Some small talk later, and Kanji was actually enjoying himself quite a bit. Rise was a bit more of a nerd than she let on, and the fact that both of them had common taste in manga was at first a little off-putting. He was expecting to be ruthlessly teased by Rise like she usually did. After all, they were pretty girly comics. Yet, against all his expectations, she was actually getting excited. Like somehow it was the best thing in the world. Then, suddenly…

BAM!

"KANJI! I'm pregnant, and you're the father!" The hyperactive blonde blur known as Kuma ran past the idol, with some speed, and went directly to Kanji.

Both Kanji and Rise were at a loss of words. The group was used to Kuma's antics, yet he had always spontaneously avoided the dreaded topic. Something came to both of their minds "Did he not know how babies are actually made?"

Yet, almost being spurred on by their confused, more akin to horrified, silence. The blonde continued, somehow becoming more giddy.

"Last year Kanji, I was but an innocent bear. Yet, you took away my chastity-"

"How does he know that word?"

"And laid it all Bear for everyone to see-"

He didn't know why, but the fact that he was going through his monologue with a bear pun made him snap back into reality. Kanji quickly interjected, stopping the blonde before he said something irreversible.

"Kuma!"

Much to Kanji's surprise, Kuma stopped. Without thinking too hard about it Kanji simply asked, "Do you know how babies are ma- oof"

Rise quickly took her elbow and rammed it into Kanji's side. Kanji briefly flared up, but soon realized why she had done it. If Kuma learned what that was, the whole group would have no peace. Yet, even though she had caught him before too much damage could be done, Kuma actually replied.

"Of course I know. Babies are made when people kiss right?" Kuma asked, slightly tipping his head.

Memories of the "King's Game" escapade came flooding back to him. A indescribable look of dred came over the tailor. Why did all the embarrassing things happen to him?

"Am I cursed? Did I insult a jypsy or somethin'?" Kanji thought momentarily. He had almost completely forgotten what happened at that club, almost completely had it driven out of his brain, yet now it still came back to haunt him. "Wait a damn minute! T-that was two years ago. Does he not realize that it's only nine months?" Kanji thought of asking that question to the bear, yet he decided against it. There were some conversations he'd rather avoid if he could.

Rise, rightfully, observed that the tailor wasn't going to be of any assistance. Someone with her talents would have to take over.

"Kanji, it might be better to, um, let me handle this", the idol said, trying to see if he was still able to hear her.

Kanji only gave a slight grunt and went over back to his stool.

Rise had led the bear a little more into the shop, away from Kanji.

"Now Kuma, it is as you fear, you are pregnant with Kanji's child" Rise said theatrically, matching Kuma's monologue from earlier.

The bear in response let out a quick gasp, almost like the kind you see in soap operas, and quickly covered his mouth with his hands.

"Yes!" Rise said, getting more into her acting, "It's true, but fear not my bear-y important friend, I have a solution!" She felt like a bear pun would get him to buy into the act even more. Much to her relief, it did.

"W-what is it? What should I do? I'm too young to be a single parent!" Kuma said, becoming more and more concerned.

"You eat spicy food. A lot of it, till you feel your tongue on fire." Rise said confidently, that sounded good enough for this escapade, mission accomplished.

"Oh! Is that why you love spicy food so much Rise-Chan?" Kuma asked, suddenly connecting the dots.

Mission failed.

"That's…" Rise trailed off. There was no way she could recover from that.

"Hee hee, don't worry Rise-chan! I won't tell anyone about it. It'll be our little secret." Kuma gave Rise a small Yosuke-esk wink and trodded off. Leaving a speechless Rise to herself. She walked back to the store area, she knew this wasn't the last time she was hearing about this. If there was one thing you could count on Kuma for, it was his big mouth.

Mrs. Tatsumi was back from her errand, and was sitting pleasantly on the ground observing her fabrics. "My, did Kanji invite you in to stay for a bit longer?" She asked sweetly.

Rise, looked inquisitively at Kanji, he shrugged his shoulders. In the language of the tailor, that roughly translated to "yes".

The brunette quickly said "Yes he did."

The two of them sat quietly in Kanji's room. Rise had been reading manga that was in Kanji's room, and Kanji was practicing his crochet. The idol looked up from her manga, and observed Kanji. It was rare for her to see him put this much effort into anything he did. She couldn't help but be gently impressed with the way that Kanji was focusing.

"He always tries so hard when he wants to." She thought to herself.

Rise remembered their time in the TV world. Kanji had been the group's bruiser, and he had always been a good asset to the team. There had been one particular fight where the party had mostly been downed by a large group of shadows. Kanji stood in front of the group and fought them all with a ferocity and focus, that for that brief moment, he was cool. Cooler than Yu-senpai. The look the tailor had as he worked on his crochet currently was similar to the look he had back then. Except, the ferocity had been replaced with a gentle, and calm look. Two years really did change him. He was still Kanji, and sometimes an idiot, but he had really changed in this time. There was something about the way he looked recently. It reminded her of how Yu looked sometimes during conversations. He looked really cool.

The tailor looked up momentarily, only to see Rise looking at him. Her face was flushed as her eyes pierced his. Her brown looking into his gray. Then, as brief as their eyes had met, Rise quickly retreated back into her manga. Kanji had never seen that kind of look from her before, and it stirred something in him. Why was he only now so suddenly aware of how small she looked? How he could easily wrap both of her tiny hands with only one of his? How she could look so unbelievably cute?

The two said nothing to each other. Instead, deciding to look at opposite corners of the room. Rise figitted uncomfortably as she attempted to desperately focus on her manga. Kanji was similar as he also attempted to focus on his crochet. For some odd reason, the room had become increasingly stuffy and warm, and Kanji could feel a bead of sweat come down his head. He continuously felt this something but he couldn't figure out what it was. He felt increasingly warm, and he could feel blood rushing to his face. In any case, he had to calm down and be able to think about this something rationally. He couldn't do that currently, it was so damn hot in the room. It was unbearable to him.

"W-want some water?" He finally mustered.

"H-huh?" Rise blemished slightly. "Oh, yeah, sure! That sounds great!" She finished somewhat awkwardly.

"Great!" Kanji responded. Much more awkwardly.

Kanji hurriedly left the room. Leaving Rise to herself.

"What the hell was that?" The idol thought to herself.

In truth, she hadn't felt something like that since Yu and Naoto had become a couple. Yet, she couldn't understand how on earth she could feel something like that for Kanji. It was Kanji afterall. Of course she spent a lot of time with him, and he did have his moments where he was charming… but how on earth could she feel like that towards him? It didn't make sense to the idol at all. She would have to wait on this feeling longer, investigate it more thoroughly.

It had been a few more minutes until Kanji returned. His face was no longer flushed, but he still didn't make direct eye contact with Rise. He handed her a glass of water. The ice inside it formed with the air on the outside of it, resulting in dripping condensation to run across the outside of the glass. It slowly reached the idol's fingers as she took slow, steady, drinks from it. Kanji had returned to his crochet, occasionally stopping to take a drink of water of his own. Rise continued to observe him, and as that same calm focus returned to his face, she once again couldn't help but notice that her heart had begun to beat a little bit faster. A fluttering feeling of gentle love began to, once again, overcome her. There was no mistaking it, it was exactly like it was two years ago when she fell in love with Yu. She had to do something about this. For now, something that would give him the opportunity to close the distance between them. Even after all this time, they still were somewhat distant.

What on earth could do that? All he was currently interested in at the moment was his crochet. What could she use to help her get closer to him? They had to have a common interest. Something that the both of them could do together, and therefore bring them closer than they were before. Yet, what on earth could do that. All he had been doing since she had been in his room was crochet. There had to be something she could use. Maybe she could use the manga she was reading currently, that would be something they could both be familiar with. She excitedly looked up at Kanji again, but it was no good. He was too focused on what he was doing currently. She would feel bad if she distracted him from it.

That's when it hit her. She could use crochet! She could ask him to teach her how to do it. That could definitely work.

"H-hey Kanji?" She asked somewhat shakily.

"Mm?" He replied, his focus on his work never dwindling.

"Do you think you could teach me how to do that?" Her voice now had a little more confidence.

Kanji paused. Once again distracted from his work, to once again look at the idol. She had a determined look on her face. Kanji had no clue why, but it was apparent that she really wanted to learn how to do this. Which was weird, generally, Rise showed no interest in sewing or any of the craft-like things that Kanji had. Now she wanted to learn. The contrast was strange to him, but with that determined look in her eye, how could he say no?

"Sure, but I'm not too good at it myself" He responded.

His instructions were somewhat broad and sloppy, but eventually, she began to get a feel for it. The day turned into evening, and eventually it turned into night. By the time the two had finished their task, they had built a large blanket. It was somewhat sloppy, and the squares were uneven, but they both couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. By the time it had become finished, the sun had left the sky. Only to leave a very bright moon in its wake.

Kanji was closely observing their work, sometimes frowning at the squares that were a little too large. Rise had been watching him for most of the day, still trying to get an idea on how she felt. Working together for most of the day, and being taught by him didn't give her the same feeling she had before. She didn't feel the same way she had felt before. Those feelings didn't emerge again, not even once. Suddenly she felt very foolish. This was just Kanji. She was just tired, that was it. Kanji was just a friend, that was all.

It was getting late, and Rise was unexpectedly tired from her work on the blanket.

"Hey Kanji?"

"What's up?" He responded.

"I need to head home. It's getting late you know."

"Oh right, um, do you…" He paused for a minute. Once again observing the blanket. "Ya' want this?" He asked, holding the blanket they spent the day on toward her.

Rise gratefully accepted it, said her goodbyes. Kanji saw her out the door and went back to his room. He still felt that something around her. This feeling was familiar, like he felt it before, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. That blanket was sub-par, and on another day he'd have scrapped it for spare material, but he couldn't figure out why he was compelled to give it to her. When she accepted it, she looked really happy.

So why does it make me so happy when she's happy?

He still couldn't figure out what this was, but he knew that it was good. So, what was the harm of feeling it?

---

The week had passed on, and soon Yu and Naoto were back in Inaba. Chie had to stay back in Tokyo for her training, so Yu and Naoto went on ahead without her. The gang decided to meet them at Yaso-Inaba station. There were several nervous, crunching, footsteps in the snow. Each of them were mentally preparing themselves. With the exception of Rise. Yosuke attempted to lighten the atmosphere with a joke, but it fell flat. Kuma was giddy and was making a lot of remarks. Stuff like "I wonder how Nao-chan developed." Everyone in the group was slightly disgusted with the snide look on his face, but Kanji couldn't help but think about the same thing. Although he attempted to hide the anticipation on his face, Rise saw him and quietly jabbed him in the ribs. "Perv", she said quietly. Kanji thought about correcting her, until he realized that would grab everyone's attention. So, instead he stood quietly in defeat. Then there was Yukiko. Yukiko was calm and serene, the very model of how everyone wanted to be. Little did the group know that Yukiko had developed an extreme poker face since training to become the next manager at the Amagi Inn. Thus, this gave her the ability to appear calm. However, on the inside, she was very much freaking out. It had been a long time since any of them had seen the two after all. They had spent a year away from the group. How could they have changed? Did they even change at all? So many questions to answer, that she didn't know if even wanted the answer at all.

Five minutes passed. Five agonizing minutes. In addition to the build of anticipation from the rest of the group, the devastating winter in Inaba made it more unbearable to deal with. Even Kuma's hyperactive mood was rapidly being gnawed at by the biting winds of the cold.

Ten minutes passed. Yukiko had a sneezing fit, and Yosuke cracked a joke about it. Little did the boy expect her to smack him into submission. Due to the extreme stress of the situation, Yukiko could not control her rage. She apologized profusely to an almost unconscious Yosuke.

Fifteen minutes passed. There was a murderous mutiny in the air. Kuma somehow looked more farrell, Yosuke had barely recovered from Yukiko's assault, Rise was now shivering looking miserable, and Kanji's face had automatically reverted back to his "punk" face. Almost all of them had the same thought. "What's taking so long, damn it?"

After twenty minutes the train finally arrived. The group crowded inside. It was much warmer in there and they all were extremely grateful for the old building. Then suddenly, Kanji and Naoto came out of the train. Naoto was in her full winter garb. Complete with her signature detective's hat. Even though it was faint, there was a basic layer of foundation on her. Her hair had grown out, similar to all the girls. She didn't do anything special with it, but most of the guys in the group gave a momentary glance to one another and gave a brief nod of approval.

Yu had hardly changed. His hair was around the same length. His piercing silver eyes almost seemed to have the same calming presence behind them. The only thing that made him look even slightly different was that now, he had chin stubble.

The group made their warm welcomes. Rise gave Naoto a big hug, and Yukiko followed. Kuma attempted to also give Naoto a hug, aiming for her chest. Only to get a ruthless smack fest from Yukiko. Similar to what happened to Yosuke, Yukiko almost instantly started apologizing to the bear. Everyone started mingling, and everyone began to partake in small talk. It was nice in Kanji's eyes. He had taken his chance to talk to Naoto. Though, he couldn't enjoy it very much, due to Rise's snide stares. After the brief conversation with Naoto, Kanji then exchanged his focus to Yu.

"Yo Senpai." Kanji greeted. Letting out a natural friendliness.

"So you still start with that?" Yu asked curiously.

"What? Senpai not you too!" Kanji blemished.

There was a hearty laughter from Yosuke, who explained to Yu that he had made fun of Kanji for the same reason. Yu chuckled slightly and gave a peaceful smile. Due to Yu's overwhelming Expression. He knew exactly what to say.

"It's hardly a bad thing, isn't it? I don't know about you Yosuke, but I like it." He said casually.

There was a brief moment of silence from Kanji. Then he erupted. "Hell yeah! You da' man Senpai!"

It was at this moment that Kanji realized… He was very loud. Everyone was silent and was looking at the boy. Kanji went bright red and hardly moved. He attempted speaking, but only could manage brief sounds.

"Well, he's hardly wrong. He's most certainly 'da man' in my book." Naoto said with a genuine smile. Her face blushing slightly.

"My goddess!" Kanji thought silently. It did make his heart hurt that she didn't say that about him, but it was something he could live with.

"Awww what the heck Naoto, that was sooo cute!" Rise chimed in.

To this Yu smiled slightly, and awkwardly scratched the back of his head. His eyes seemed to be a little more bright than they usually were. When most eyes were on him, he finally spoke. "I-uh. I don't know what to say, it's a little embarrassing to hear that in public… but it makes me really happy."

Everyone saw a good sight that day.

Finally, after some more small talk, Kuma spoke up and held himself pompously.

"Ta-daaa, Kuma has a plan!" He said excitedly.

"Dude, they've been here for ten minutes." Kanji said, exacerbated.

"Silly Kanji- this will be fun!" He said, gaining more excitement. He looked around the table for approval.

"Okay… just as long as it's reasonable." Yosuke said cautiously. Kuma's 'plans' usually left him watching the bear be a womanizer.

"We should have a guys day out, and the girls should have a girls day out."

The group paused, everyone contemplating it.

"That sounds like a good idea Kuma." Yukiko said.

"Yuki-chan is so nice, is this my chance to sc-" Kuma was cut off by a murderous glance from the Amagi heiress. Yukiko had finally started cracking down on the usage of the word "score".

"Best you don't finish that sentence Kuma." Yosuke said, glancing cautiously towards Yukiko. "Honestly though, I'm down" She finished.

"I get enough girl time hanging around Kanji, but it sounds like fun" Rise said simply, giving a mischievous wink to the tailor in question.

Kanji momentarily blushed, "Shut up!" He said embarrassed. The group got a good chuckle out of it.

All eyes were now on Naoto. "I'll have to decline for now, I am quite tired from my trip. I'd like to rest up for the time being."

All the guys came to the same conclusion pretty quickly. The girls decided that they'd stay at the Amagi inn (Yosuke teased that this was to be expected), and the guys made the jaring choice to stay over at Kanji's house. Kanji had video games at his place, and they all decided that it would be better than barging in on the Dojima residence.

The two groups said their farewells to the detective and made their ways to their appropriate hangout.

*At the Tatsumi residence*

"It's been a while since I've had a guys day out." Yosuke said, looking around Kanji's room.

"Kanji, your room is so clean! It's not like Yosuke's." Kuma said, looking around in admiration.

"Shut it you!" Yosuke said, slightly annoyed. His annoyance quickly turned into a mischievous grin. "So, where do you keep the goods?"

"Goods?" Kanji repeated, slightly confused.

"Do you ask this question every time you enter someone's home Yosuke?" Yu said, slightly concerned.

"Senpai what does he mean by 'goods'?" Kanji asked Yu.

"Adult magazines, silly Kanji." Kuma said, his eyes seemed to sparkle.

The group looked at the bear, then Yu and Kanji looked, accusingly, at Yosuke.

"Hey, don't look at me! I have no idea where he learned about it either." Yosuke said defensively.

"Dude- he learned it from you. At the summer festival!" Kanji said, staring the boy down. His voice became slightly loud.

"How fricken' good is that memory of yours? It's like you keep a document of all the events of the group or something." Yosuke retorted.

"Yosuke's a pervert! Yosuke's a pervert!" Kuma started chanting.

"Shut up you stupid bear!" Yosuke snapped at the blonde.

With Yu's insurmountable amount of understanding he was able to calm the boys down again.

"Besides, I don' have any of those. We've been through this already." Kanji said simply, a murderous glare forming on his face.

Yosuke came deadly close to teasing Kanji over this, but decided against it. One of these times, the tailor might actually make good on his threat to pummel the boy.

At was at this time when Yu saw Kanji's game collection. It was an old Nintendo 64, cartridges for it were laid across the floor.

"Old school Kanji." Yu said, bringing attention to it.

"Yeah, I know, but I have all the good games. Mario party, Mario Kart, Smash bros…" Kanji continued to list off his impressive game collection.

The group decided that they would start with something easier, to ease Kuma into games. Kuma had never actually played a video game, Yosuke wouldn't let him. Mostly out of fear that he'd delete his save files. For the first game, they decided to go with Mario Party.

Soon after they had been playing however, the boys had discovered that Kuma was an unholy monster. He was playing Peach (because she was pretty) and was somehow in the lead. Kanji, who knew the game inside and out, was barely able to keep up with the Blonde terror. Yu wasn't doing bad, 3erd place was hardly terrible. Yosuke though… Yosuke was a different story. Kuma had been unintentionally sabotaging the boy throughout the entire session. At the end, he was losing miserably to the rest of the group. Yosuke had complained heavily throughout the experience, but he was secretly happy that Kuma was catching on so quickly.

It was a different story however when the group changed to Smash Bros. Yosuke was the unchallenged king of fighting games. At first, the group let Kanji and Kuma deck it out, allowing Kuma to get used to the game first. Then, as Kuma had done the game previously, Yosuke soon became a terror amongst the group. None of them were particularly bad at the game, it was the simple fact that Yosuke was simply that good. During one particularly exciting match, Yu had actually taken Yosuke's crown. It was only that match, however, that Yosuke wasn't first place. The rest of the group swapped 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.

At this point three hours had passed. They were having fun, but they had to take a break from all the gaming. They all sprawled around Kanji's room.

"Hey Sensei?" Kuma's voice came ringing across the room. It lacked it's usual high-energy luster.

"What's up Kuma?" Yu said, turning to face the bear.

"I need you to do an intervention." Kuma said, his tone becoming increasingly serious.

This got the attention of everyone in the room. Kuma was rarely ever serious.

"Rise-chan is going through a constant cycle of getting pregnant. I want her to stop, but I lack the stuffing of our fearless leader. So please, stop her." Kuma said, formally bowing to Yu on his hands and knees.

Kanji, who had the misfortune to be drinking water at this time, instantly regurgitated said water through his nostrils. Yosuke was shocked beyond a retort.

There was a brief uncomfortable silence, during which Kanji was cleaning up his spill.

Yu had to mentally process what the blonde had just told him and simply asked him to elaborate. Kuma recounted the story of Rise's "pregnant" problem, his head still to the ground.

"Huh? That's what went down?" Kanji said, almost unable to believe the enginuity of his idol friend.

"Yes, please, I know I said that I wouldn't tell anyone else, but I know this can't be healthy. That amount of spicy food is simply dangerous." Kuma's voice had a hint of desperation in it.

"That's why he was eating peppers straight out of the produce aisle." Yosuke thought, holding back his laughter from his remembrance of the scene.

Fortunately, due to Yu's unwavering amount of Knowledge, he was able to tell Kuma where babies really came from. However, in doing so, Kuma was now a terror on a whole new level. Even more so than in Mario Party, because Mario Party at least had an end.

The night became a very long one after this point.

*At the Amagi inn, in the hot springs*

"I wonder what the boys are doing." Yukiko said, calmly. These springs always made her relax an almost unnatural amount.

"Knowing Kanji, they're probably learning how to make a plush version of themselves." Rise said, equally as relaxed.

"Oh, I've been meaning to ask about that. Rise-chan, do you-"

A sudden knock came at the door. "You're time's up"

It was almost too convenient how Yukiko had been interrupted, but she didn't let it bother her too much. The two girls quickly got out of the springs and changed into their kimono. The Amagi inn's hospitality always made sure that any guest had one. They went to Yukiko's room, exchanging small topics of gossip amongst themselves.

Their evening had been much more subdued and less octine-packed than the boys. The two were just simply enjoying their time together. It was a pleasant, lighthearted no boys around, they engaged in simple girl talk. Who had the best butt out of the group, who secretly had a thing for sweets.

Overall, their time together was well spent, if a little short.

*At the Shirogane estate*

3:30pm. The escapades of Catherine the Great. Senpai said this was his next obsession, he usually had great taste in books, so the detective naturally checked it out.

7:00pm. This book, in addition to being historically incorrect, was incredibly dull. The detective resolved that this had been a waste of time, and that she would have to point out the inconsistencies riddled throughout the book.

That… however would require her to open the book and read it over again. There were some tasks that not even she was willing to commit to. Being sucked back into the void of dull, inconsistent history telling was one of those things. Her critique would have to wait for another day.

8:00pm. It had bothered her. For example the cause of her death was wrong, she had died of a heart attack. Nothing else. That was one of the many inconsistencies laid throughout the book. She must take action, she must begin to-

No…

She couldn't open that drab book back up. She could not allow herself to document the wrong-doings of the author, for fear of being sucked back into that infernal book.

10:00pm. It lay there on her desk, unshifted since she last set it down. Perhaps she could just look at the perpetrators. She remembered mostly the pages that the inconsistencies occurred. She was going through the checklist in her head, "Page 5, page 26, page 87, page…" It was no use. She couldn't remember the rest of them in the 700 page thick book. There were too many historical inaccuracies to count offhand. Damn. She opened the book.

1:00am. That infernal book is not allowing me to sleep, it is taunting me with a challenge. It shall rue the day that it went against Naoto Shirogane. Naoto had taken out a notebook and began to document each and every inconsistency she could find. Mostly due to her stubbornness, she wouldn't allow any inconsistency to slip past her. She began to write them down, she was onto her second notebook.

4:00am. Two full notebooks later and the detective had become fully satisfied with her work. She closed the book, and began rubbing her eyes heavily. She would show Yu-senpai tomorrow. Surely he would enjoy learning the actual history of this historical figure…

Right?

She glanced over her vast quantity of notes. Perhaps she had gone overboard…

Her eyelids were heavy. She would just put her head down on the desk and rest for a minute, Only a minute.

Naoto had fallen asleep on her desk and woke up the next morning to find that the book had somehow opened itself. Naoto would never admit it, but she thought the spirit of Catherine the Great had begun to haunt her.

---

Kanji awoke to the boys passed out on his floor. They stayed the night. He didn't know whether or not to wake any of them up. He glanced at his clock. It was nine in the morning, a semi-late start for him. Usually, when he worked he got up several hours earlier. He got up to stretch his legs and found his glasses, which were unceremoniously in Kuma's clutches. Kanji did think it was annoying, but he found that annoyance quietly went away. He went to his door and was about to open it when he saw a note written in his mother's handwriting. It read:

Kanji,

I'll be out for the day. I'm going to see Baba-san in Okina. I noticed that Yu fellow was back from Tokyo. I know you'd like to spend more time with him, so you don't have to worry about the shop. I'll be back later tonight.

Love,

Mom

"Baba-san…" Kanji thought, reading the note again, looking for anything he potentially missed.

Baba Nowizawa was an old acquaintance of the Tatsumi's. She carried much more stalk of rare textile items you couldn't generally find in Inaba. Kanji visited her every so often because of her ability. She went way beyond what even he could do. Her skill with a needle and thread was practically the most professional that Kanji had ever really seen.

It was slightly off-putting to Kanji that his mother completely closed down the shop today and dropped everything to see Baba. Kanji couldn't think of a reason for this, but he didn't mind. Today was another one of his rare days off.

Slowly all the guys began waking up, Kuma being the last one of the bunch to open his eyes. Yosuke and Kuma had to go back to Junes and Yu wanted to check up on Naoto. Kanji saw them out the door and was alone in his house. He briefly looked around his house in mild comfort. Last night had been a pretty good experience in his book, it was fun. Really fun. Each of them contributed something to the experience, and it was a good thing in his book. He even learned about the lengths that Rise went to in order to help him out, what with the whole "spicy food" incident. As he quietly prepared for breakfast, his mind couldn't help but go back to two years ago. He would've never had those kinds of opportunities at that time. People were not so understanding. Yet again...

You weren't that understanding of other people.

It was hardly a bad thing either. It was because of his experiences that he was able to understand people more. It was also because of his experiences that he was able to meet his friends. He momentarily took his eyes off the stove, he had a little time to wait for the egg on it to cook properly. He went to his side bathroom and looked into the mirror. His black hair was longer now, and was slightly messy. His glasses were also apparent on his face as they reflected off of the surface of his mirror. This was him now. Kanji Tatsumi, former punk. The scar above his eye was still visible, but that was alright. He wore it like a badge of honor.

He went back to the stove and finished cooking his egg. Slowly eating it as time passed.

Inaba appeared differently to him. Now, more than ever. It was still that sleepy town where nothing of major importance happens. Now there was a different, maybe new, quality about the town.

No.

Not new. Just unknown. At one point, Kanji cursed this town for its small and restricting nature. Leading everyone to point their fingers at him, and providing little to no escape for him. Yet, now it seemed that smallness was a blessing. Kanji didn't mind that everyone here knew him. He definitely didn't mind so much that people would sometimes stare. He had learned how to take all that crap in stride. Like a real man. His Senpai revealed the truth about what it meant to be a real man, and now that was out of the way, he could finally move on with his life.

In fact, that's what he had been doing. All was going well until…

What do you want to do now?

Sure, he was satisfied with the way things were going right now. Yet, there was something troubling him. A thought that he pushed back into his mind, only for it to force its way out again.

What do you want to do now?

He had so many options in front of him. Would he really inherit the shop from his mother? Or would he try to set up his own shop? Maybe he could even try going to college and get a degree in something. Would he be able to tackle all that life had to offer to him? Would he be able to find love again?

After all, the one person you thought-

No. It's best not to go there. Not right now, at least. If he was meant to find someone, he would in the future. She was engaged and was soon going to be married. For now, he just had to be happy for them.

The answers to his questions would have to wait. He had an extra day off, which meant he had a lot of free time to do whatever he wanted. Surely he could find something that could distract him from his current troubles.

He got ready for the day. Wearing his signature leather jacket and wearing a red scarf he soon found himself outside of his home. Making sure to be extra careful and lock up behind him, he set out. He would stop by the bookstore first. There was a new comic he wanted to pick up. As he made his way through the snow, which had flash freezed the night before making it extra hard to walk in today, the chef at Aiya greeted him.

"Hello Kan-chan!" He called out cheerfully.

Kanji, who had given up on correcting him, merely returned his greeting. "Sup?"

"Oh nothing much, just clearing the snow out of the way so people will be able to come in easier today." He exclaimed, just as he took a large hunk of the frozen snow out of the ground with a shovel.

The two talked a little more before Kanji said his goodbyes.

As he continued his now troubling trek through the snow, he noticed a small kitten outside of Sozai Daigaku. It looked very cold and miserable. Kanji couldn't help but feel a deep sympathy for the animal, and picked it up. Holding it close to his chest, attempting to warm it.

"There ya go little fella', how's that for ya?" Kanji asked kindly to the kitten as it purred. Now slightly warmer than before.

The attendant behind the counter would never admit this, but she was deeply moved by this gesture she just so happened to see. This was mostly because she was still slightly scared of the boy. So, when the kitten got warm enough to Kanji's satisfaction he let it go. When he left, the attendant immediately grabbed the poor creature and allowed it to stay in with her.

Again, Kanji departed into the freezing depths of the shopping center. He was so close to the bookstore now, so close yet… so cold. He sneezed once. Weird. He sneezed twice. Really weird. He sneezed for the third time. Alright, maybe I should squeeze into somewhere warm. It was just the boy's luck that he was right next to Didara's. Where the forge was always warm. He stepped in momentarily, and was greeted to the warm silence of a crackling fire. The old, scarred, man behind the counter gave an intense look to the boy's direction. As if it was his way of saying, "Welcome". Kanji instantly regretted his decision of entering Diadara's. He couldn't just stand there, it would be incredibly rude. So, he reluctantly began to look around the shop, pretending to be observing the armour and weapons that were around. It wasn't long before he went around the entire store. His eye's guiltily met with Diadara's. He knew that it would be incredibly rude to just simply stay in the man's store, only for the glorious warmth that his forge provided.

"Say my boy…" Diadara started.

"Y-yes?" Kanji answered, his body stiffening slightly.

"I was wondering about something…" Diadara continued, his stare becoming more intense.

"W-what could that be… sir?"

Suddenly, Didara's still and foreboding personality melted and his face instantly became much more light. "Could you make me an 'Usa-chan' doll? Just like the one in your shop."

"Totally unexpected!" Kanji could barely hide the shock on his face.

Old man Diadara's voice suddenly became much more high pitched. Even worse, it became somewhat… Feminine? What he could pass off as feminine anyway. "It's not like I really like it or anything. I just want to appreciate another artist's work, is all."

"He's a tsundere!" Kanji once again could barely hide his shock. Yet, this time he had to speak. The last thing he wanted was to leave Didara open for more of his weird performance. "Uh… yeah. Sure, I can do that. I'm really excited to show you my art." He said, lacking any enthusiasm at all.

It was on that day that Kanji saw a side of Didara he wished he could never see again. Truely, when the boy left the building that day, he could never quite approach it the same way ever again.

Finally it was to the bookstore. After his perilous journey had finally come to a finish, he looked around inside. Seeing his comic almost immediately. Much to his surprise, he learned that he was not the only one in the store. Both Naoki and Rise were in there as well, and both were actually buying the same comic as Kanji. All three of them gave brief eye contact with each other before giving a simultaneous "thumbs up" to each other. Each of them, particularly proud of the fact they all thought of buying the same comic. They all walked out of the store, all with the same bag in their hand, and all exchanging small talk.

"Say, here's an idea. Want to read this at my place?" Naoki asked suddenly, becoming slightly excited.

"Um, who are you talking to?" Rise asked, her head slightly tilting.

"Both of you, of course." He replied, a brief smile across his face.

"I'm down." Kanji said simply.

"Just as long as you don't try anything weird. I know I'm tempting since I'm an idol and all, but-" Rise was cut off.

"You're tempting? Really?" Kanji asked, in a moment of sincerity that both shocked Naoki and Rise.

Rise went bright red and elbowed him sharply in the ribs. "Of course I am, you dummy!"

Kanji had a brief exhale and crippled slightly to the ground. For a small girl, she could really pack a punch with those elbows. "Noted." He said dully, getting up again after the physical assault he just suffered. Naoki had been chuckling musingly at the situation.

"When are those two going to get together?" The heir to Konishi Liquors thought briefly. "They honestly act like they're already married."

Kanji and Rise had both begun to argue when Naoki noticed something odd. There was someone on the side of the road. He had bright red hair and looked like a major delinquent. He was surrounded by others. Each of them looked more mean than the other. They definitely got up to something bad, but what was even worse was that they were staring at them. No. Not at them, at Kanji. The group had a look of almost murderous intent while they were looking at Kanji. It made Naoki feel cold, much more than the snow or the wind. His skin prickled and he could sense his senses be heightened. They had a clear objective. He now had to find out why they were looking at him that way.

In any case, it was clear that Kanji couldn't stay here.

"You two head up to my place. I forgot something at the bookstore. I'll be back in a bit." Naoki called out to the two.

They agreed to the idea and went on their way. Both of them were still bickering too much to notice that they were being watched. That actually might be good. He wasn't worried about Rise doing anything, but Kanji wasn't afraid to get physical. If they threatened him, especially now that Rise was with him, he would definitely resort to violence. He would probably feel the urge to "protect" the girl.

Swiftly Naoki went back to the bookstore. He calmly explained the situation to the shop keep, and almost as quickly as he had finished the shop keep got up from his stool. "Let's get going then, we have to stop those punks right?" He asked Naoki momentarily. Naoki nodded, and both of them went out the door.

Their next stop was Didara. They had barely even finished explaining before he was in.

The group then stopped by Sozai Digaku, thinking of who to ask for help next. As they sat around discussing it, the attendant overheard their conversation. Almost instantaneously, she left her stand, and was right next to Naoki. "Lead the way." She said quietly, her determination apparent on her face. The bookstore keeper was about to protest, yet decided against it.

Old man Aiya had stopped shoveling snow, because his back had begun to hurt. The small group stopped in front of him. Naoki only needed to say that Kanji was in trouble for the owner to grab his shovel. His usually docile and gentle look was replaced with the appearance of a Yakuza tough getting ready to kill. They now were on their way.

Old lady Shiroku had a stomach cramp that morning from drinking too much last night. So she hadn't opened her shop yet. The group swiftly passed it without even stopping to ask for her aid. It was like they somehow knew that she wasn't there.

Soon, they were nearly at Konishi Liquors. Right in time for a confrontation.

---

Kanji and Rise were right outside the door of Naoki's house. Both of them were still bickering, going back and forth and pointing out each other's flaws. Rise was winning this fight, but Kanji still wasn't going to take it down. Just as they were about to walk to the door…

"Hey, shithead!"

Kanji turned, only to see a flash of red. He had barely enough time to react before his face was completely engulfed in the young punk's fist. Kanji, who was hardly expecting a punch, went the other way, and stuttered until he hit the ground. To this the punks began cackling like crazy.

"Aw man, did you see the way he just crumpled?" One particularly mean and short one said as he observed their leader.

The boy with red hair, just let out a self-sustaining grin. Obviously pleased he got the first blow in. "So, is that all?" He taunted. "That's all from the legendary Tatsumi? The fear of Inaba?" He taunted as he walked over to a pair of glasses in the snow. "Or, did you really lose your balls?"

Kanji's glasses had flown off his face. His vision was blurry. He took a wayward glance to Rise. She was so shocked, she was frozen in place. The other punks took notice of her, one of them sticking out his tongue in a menacing way. The others were following suit, one making rude gestures. That made Kanji angry.

The other punk was laughing hysterically now, he picked up Kanji's glasses. Spewing taunts. Finally, he dropped them, and crushed them with his foot. That made Kanji angry.

Slowly the boy got up, his anger boiling venomously. He thought of taking on the leader first, generally these kind of punks back down if the head's gone. Yet, another wayward glance towards Rise and the other thugs told him that he couldn't do that just yet. He moved in front of her. His frame towering hers and thus hiding her well behind him. She was physically shaking, and her fear was taking over her. Her breathing was ragged and heavy. She desperately held the back of Kanji's coat. Kanji couldn't afford to take his eyes off of the gang in front of him, with his vision blurry now, he had to keep extreme focus on the people ahead of him. His eyes not hiding his glare. Had it been anyone else, that glare may have scared them away, but these were not ordinary people.

One of the thugs cackles rang out. "Oh don't worry, we won't do anything to your bitch."

"Yeah, we got an honor code." Another said.

"We won't touch her… until after we beat you." The tallest of them taunted. "Then we can have all sorts of fun with her. She's an idol yeah? We'll make her into our toy, once we're finished with you."

All the gang members started making inappropriate gestures, they had even started talking about her body. Going into details that were nothing more than disgusting. All of this was in-between sickening cackles and howls.

Their leader, even though Kanji couldn't see his face, had a satisfied grin on his face. Kanji's anger reached new heights. The veins in his forehead were pulsing outwards, his jaw was shut so tight that he couldn't even open it. He didn't feel the cold, or the bruise on his face. All he could feel was a deep, red hot, seething rage. It was one thing to taunt him, he could take that. It was another to sneak up behind him and punch him, then destroying his glasses. Yet, it was another thing entirely when you mess with one of his friends. Just as he was about to go for it, and clobber them, Rise grabbed more of his jacket. He could feel her shaking, and what he heard made his heart sink. She was crying. Tears of fear beamed down her face as she hid it in the back of his Jacket. One thing was clear now, no matter how angry he was, he couldn't move from his spot. Kanji stood, rooted in place, and if looks could kill… the entire block would've been gone by now.

"What the hell is that?" The leader taunted, though his voice was much less enthused than it had been. Clearly he was not amused by Kanj's action. "We gave you our word, now come on! Beat us up! Show us why your Kanji Tatsumi! Or are you not a real man?"

That's when all Kanji's anger turned briefly into shock. How many times had he called himself that? How many times did he use that exact same taunt? How many times did he call himself a real man? These punks, no matter how vulgar, were just like he was in the past. He had been wrong about what made a real man all those years ago. He had learned from his mistakes because of a momentary kindness that was shown to him. It wouldn't make up for the slug to the face, or the terrible things they insinuated doing to Rise, but in that moment, Kanji knew that he had to try saving them. The same way he had been saved.

"Winning fights…" Kanji started, any trace of anger almost completely gone from his voice. He had the rapt attention of the gang in front of him. Subconsciously they had forgotten about their fight, and they were instead listening to what Kanji said. "Let me ask you something. Is that what makes you a real man?"

"What are you talking about, of course it is!" The leader spoke, outrage apparent in his voice.

"So, let me get this straight you little shits." Kanji spoke again, his intensity of his voice was not due to anger, but instead because of genuine concern. "You, a bunch of delinquents, bully the weak, and make your way with your fists? The empty shell of trying to look cool, and seem like real badasses who shouldn't be messed with?! That's what makes you a real man?" He spat out, his voice had cracked a little bit. Kanji had hardly noticed that Rise had stopped shaking, or that she had stopped crying. Instead she was listening to him with rapt attention.

Some of the gang members were slightly shaken, and looked around nervously. Yet, their leader was still on the offensive. His fists lay forgotten, instead he fought with his voice. "What the hell would you know? Huh? You're just like the rest of them, putting labels on me and judging me and shit. What the fuck would you kno-"

"Because I've been there idot!" Kanji interrupted. "I know more about what you're going through right now than anyone in this town. I know that, because I thought that if I was 'tough' and that I could rough up anybody, that I would be acknowledged! I thought that if I bleached my hair that someone would think I was hot shit! Then I found out that they acknowledged me. Oh boy did they acknowledge me… By doing the stuff I did I scared everyone. I made my mom worry about me, I caused a bunch of hassles for everyone. Just because I had the wrong definition of what I 'Real man' was, I had done so many things wrong."

Everyone was silent. Only the gang's leader was still making noise. His anger had reached tenfold, and his breathing had become slightly heavy. Kanji's words may have touched the other members of the gang, but they fell short when he was talking to their leader.

"STOP ACTING LIKE YOU KNOW ME!" He screamed, charging Kanji. Kanji widened his stance and stood at the ready. He knew that he had tried to save the young boy, but he also knew that he failed. Perhaps he would understand what Kanji was talking about in the future, but right now, he just needed to be put down. Just as Kanji was readying himself for the punch he was about to deliver to the red haired punk, he heard a sudden scream. He couldn't recogonize the voice at first.

"Ayiaaaaaaaa!"

Then there was a sickening pang against the young thugs head. Old man Ayia stood at the ready, his shovel still extended and his eyes narrowed. If Kanji could see him correctly, he would've seen the clear anger in the normally gentle man's face. Even Kanji would have cowered. Kanji could see the fuzzy outlines of several other people, but he couldn't tell who they were at that distance. Then they started to speak. Starting with Naoki.

"Sorry boys, but if you want a piece of him, you have to get through us." The heir of Konishi Liquors said, his voice lacking any jovialness.

"Same here, as a fellow artist, I have to make sure that his future is a safe one." Old man Didara said, his original gruff voice came out as he flexed his muscles impressively.

"I once thought that boy was very scary, but today, and repeatedly throughout the past year, he has shown me his kindness again and again." The shopkeeper at Sozai Daigaku said fervently.

"This boy is part of the future of the shopping district! So, I will use every power available to me to make sure that he is safe. A shovel will be the least of your concerns if you attempt to harm him!" Old man Ayia spoke, still wielding the shove as a weapon.

Kanji could hardly believe what he was hearing. After so many years, after so long of thinking that he was a nuisance to everyone there, there they were. Defending him. For lack of a better word, the tailor was stunned. He didn't know what to stay or do, instead, he retracted his fighting stance and stood there. Speechless at the current change of events. Rise was still desperately clinging to his back. He gently turned to her, the idol's grip on the back of his jacket was loosened. She completely let go as he turned to her. Rise didn't look up to look at him, instead keeping her head down, her bangs obscuring her face.

The shopkeepers must've spooked the gang of boys, because they quickly grabbed their leader and ran away. Mr. Aiya chased them part way, still wielding his shovel like a maniac.

Rise was silent as she stood there. Not saying a single word as she continued to look downward. Kanji paused momentarily. She looked so small at that moment. This girl so full of energy and life, just stood there. Only minutes before, shaking and crying desperately into his back. Now just a silent husk of her normally cheerful self. Kanji knew that she wasn't holding up very well, after something like that, not many would be fine. He was used to trash talk and loud people. He was used to watching people get punched and getting hurt. She wasn't.

"Hey Naoki, can we take a raincheck on reading that comic together?" Kanji asked momentarily. Turning back to his friend. Naoki nodded, and slowly corralled the other members of the shopkeepers back to their shops. Leaving Kanji and Rise, alone.

"Want me to walk you home?" Kanji finally asked Rise after a few moments of awkward silence.

"No." Rise said, still not looking up. "My grandmother isn't home, and I don't want me to be alone right now."

"Oh." Kanji paused. "Wanna come over to my place then? It's not too far from here, plus it would be a little warmer than standin' out here."

The idol nodded her head, and they started walking.

The familiar crunch of snow from under their feet was something a little comforting to the boy. Rise was walking particularly close to Kanji, which on a normal day would've embarrassed him. However, Kanji had to make sure that she was safe for now.

They both traveled quietly in the snow. About halfway through, Rise turned to Kanji, finally looking up to him. As she turned, she stopped suddenly, causing the tailor to stop with her. Kanji could see her face for the first time in their journey to his house. Though his vision was slightly blurry he could the streaks of mascara falling down her face, how flushed it looked, how her foundation had blemished slightly, and finally how red her eyes were.

"Kanji…" She started, almost at a loss.

Kanji remained silent. He had almost a psychic understanding, this was a moment where he didn't need to talk. Instead, he just needed to listen.

"That wasn't the first time I've heard people say stuff like that about me. I'm an idol, and sometimes Idol's wear really revealing clothes and act all cute on stage. It's understandable that people would see me in that kind of light." She continued, looking down once more at the snow. The snow reflecting her long bronze hair. "But what those boys did back there… It made me feel gross. I always knew that people would say stuff like that about me, and I honestly kinda laughed when I saw some of the fantasies about me online; but what just happened was completely different. In that moment, all I was to those boys was a play thing. Not an idol… Not even a woman. Just a toy that they wanted to break."

Kanji still sat quiet. He could feel his fist tighten. This optimist, who was always so cheerful, in this moment looked so frail. This girl who tackled everything with a "can do" attitude, looked so weak. Yet, as difficult as it was to listen to her, and to see her like this, the boy knew that he had to listen to her.

Rise took a deep breath and continued. "Its almost funny, how meaningless our powers are in the real world. If we were in the TV world, I would've scanned their weakness and then… Bam. They're done. I hated the fact that I froze, or really the fact that I hid behind you. I hated how I showed those slimeballs that I was scared, to the point of tears. But I am really grateful for one thing…" She broke off, looking Kanji directly in the eyes. Almost all of her weariness and strain had vanished in an instant. "You were there. You protected me." She finished. A look of deep, unrestrained gratitude and something else that Kanji couldn't quite place.

In that moment, for some reason, all Kanji could think about was all of his interactions with Rise. How hostile he was to her in the beginning, how she started hanging out with him more and more. He had become accustomed to her, and at times was secretly grateful for her company. Even at times grateful for her teases. She was the one who convinced Kanji to dye his hair back to its original color, and the only reason he really went back to it was because of her constant nagging. She had practically forced her way into his life, and yet, he didn't mind so much. With each memory he went through, the boy continuously felt this something. The same warmth that he felt previously, swarmed over him and he couldn't help but smile gently.

To the tailor's smile, Rise also smiled. For a brief moment, time stood still. It felt like it was her first smile in ages, and though it could've been because it was blurry, Kanji could've sworn that her smile made her appear more bright.

Slowly, Rise's smile faded, and her face (still somewhat smeared with mascara) returned to how it normally looked. Not frail or weak, but emitting her natural strength. "Thank you Kanji. I mean it."

Finally sensing it to be okay to do so, Kanji responded "Anytime" He said simply.

The rest of the journey was spent in a comfortable silence.

---

The two sat in Kanji's room, Rise once again reading manga, and Kanji once again picking up crochet. This time, he was working on the bottles for Naoki's perfume. He had picked up the materials from Junes a few days ago, and Yosuke had been more than generous. He more than doubled Kanji's rough estimate of how much he needed, and said that the boy could keep whatever was left. Kanji thought it was a generous gift. A few hours had gone by, and Kanji was about half-way done with his project. Rise had finished an entire manga series. Borem had overtaken her, as she looked around for something else to do. Her eyes went to the N64 that was stationed in the corner of Kanji's room. She thought of asking him to play with her, but on another glance she decided against it. Instead, looking around for a game she could play on her own. Once she decided on one, she started playing it.

Kanji briefly looked up to the sudden increase of noise, and let out a satisfied smile. He couldn't help but admire the strength of the girl in front of him. Not more than a few hours ago, she had been crying and clinging to his back. Now, here she was. Calm as ever, playing video games. Though Kanji mused to himself that she wasn't very good at playing them. He looked at her more, and as she played the game more, she lit up. Like a child often would at Christmas.

It then struck him, how she often looked doll-like. Whenever she didn't smile, at least. She generally had foundation, eye-liner, and all other sorts of makeup. So, whenever she didn't smile, like the brief moments of her silent contemplation, she sometimes looked like a doll to him. It was a saddening thought to Kanji. He didn't like the idea of her being a lonely doll. Or worse… Someone's plaything. It then occurred to him, and the weight of who Rise was hit him like a dead weight in his chest. She was popular nationwide, and had a growing fanbase. There wasn't a single place she could go in the country where she could truly be at peace. As that thought slowly sunk into him, he continued to observe her, her long silky bronze hair shaking slightly. She was bobbing side to side, and she actually was humming. Even though she was terrible, she was having so much fun with the game. It made the tailor think about her childhood. What exactly did she do when she was a kid?

Kanji remembered the first time she came over to read manga. She had become completely engrossed, and almost read an entire series by herself. Kanji practically had to pry her away from it, and nearly forced her out of the door. She had the same giddy, child-like, look on her face then too. It was almost like she let loose a side of herself here, that she ordinarily didn't show to anyone else. Yet again, Kanji got hit with another revelation.

Maybe this is her safe space.

Perhaps this was the place she could feel safe. The place she felt like she could just be herself. Where she could let loose, kick back, and just be a normal girl. Even amongst the others in the group, Kanji could tell that she would hold herself back.

So why is she more "loose" with me?

Maybe because she could relate to him? Or maybe she felt comfortable around him in a way that she didn't with the others? Perhaps, for some reason, she only felt comfortable showing this side of her to only him. A childlike innocence that was gentle, and calm. To some, that might be a weakness. Yet, the boy could only think of it as a strength.

What is this "something" that she keeps making me feel?

It was a warm feeling. Like her in this current moment, it was gentle and calm. A warm… nostalgia washed over him. He had felt this before, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't place what he was feeling. Whenever he felt it, he couldn't help but notice things that he hadn't before. Like how much shorter she was than him, or how skinny and beautiful she was. How easy it would be for him to fit both of her hands in one of his, or how nice she smelled.

As Kanji was thinking about all of these things, he had begun to work on the perfume bottles. Subconsciously, of course. He went from halfway finished, to fully finished with his project. When he realized this, he checked the clock. A full hour had passed by. His fingers were sore, but it was manageable. He quietly went across the room to where his idol friend was, and plopped down next to her.

"Hey you." She said warmly. "Finished?" She asked, looking back to Kanji's makeshift workstation. On it was a glorious sight of all the bottles of perfume, all two hundred bottles lay across it.

"Yeah, made my fingers hurt like hell." He chuckled slightly.

"Sissy." Rise said loudly, after a gentle smack on the back.

"Huh? The hell? Now listen here-"

"But!" Rise interrupted. She paused the game and looked at him, a grave look of seriousness across her face. "Your my sissy." Her look of severity dropped and she gave a genuine smile.

For some reason, Kanji could feel his face go very red. He didn't say anything, and Rise seemed to just go back to playing her game, almost like she had just said something trivial.

I wouldn't mind being her sissy.

---

Kanji had allowed Rise to play for a while. By this point, half the day had passed. The idol had stopped playing just long enough for the two of them to grab a meal, but either than that, the two had spent a quiet day together. On behalf of Rise, Kanji didn't say what had happened to them to anyone. In her own words, "It's embarrassing, and the public would have a field day if anyone found out." So, as much as it disgruntled him, he kept quiet about the whole ordeal.

Soon, Rise began to get tired of playing the game. She found a save point, and gently put down the controller. The pair exchanged small talk, and Kanji got a phone call. He looked at the caller ID, and found it was his mother.

"Hey ma" He greeted casually.

After about five minutes of talking to her, he hung up the phone and looked at Rise.

"What's up Kanji?" She asked quietly, slightly tilting her head out of curiosity.

"The old bag is staying the night over at Baba-san's." Kanji said, slightly annoyed. "Apparently, it's been a while since she had a girls day and she lost track of time."

"So, she doesn't know I'm here right?" The idol asked, a small smile appearing over her face.

"Nope, no clue." Kanji said confidently.

"Then…"

Rise had trailed off. She looked nervously around the room, looking at anything besides the boy beside her.

"You okay?" The tailor asked, wondering what she was trying to find.

"Oh, right! Um…" The idol once again trailed off.

Picking up her confidence, she looked at the tailor, directly in his eyes. "Can I stay here for tonight?"

"Sure." Kanji answered almost instantaneously.

If it had been any other girl, it probably would've bothered him. However, this was Rise. Rise wasn't any other girl.

"Huh?" Rise asked. She was shocked at Kanji answering without a moment of hesitation.

"Uh, did I say the wrong thing?" Kanji asked, suddenly looking unsure of himself.

Rise suddenly saw weakness in the boy and took full advantage of it. A mischievous grin came across her face, and it looked so sheepish that it would've put a sheep to shame.

"Well, do you like doing 'night activities' with people who stay over?" She asked shamelessly.

"Night activities?" Kanji asked, slightly confused. "What, like pillow fights? Cuz' I think I'd have the advantage in that one." The tailor had walked over to his bed and pulled over one of his pillows.

Rise squealed slightly, and got pelted with a pillow. Enraged, she quickly grabbed the pillow away from her face and rushed the boy. Which was a pure disadvantage for her.

See, taller people tend to have an advantage in pillow fights.

They both fought with their pillows until they were tired, and both laid down on the ground. They exchanged heavy breathing.

"I'm… glad… you're so dense." Rise said in between pants.

"What?" Kanji asked quietly.

"Nothing." Rise said quickly in response.

The two spent the rest of the day, and night together. Aside from some altercations, it had been a relatively good day.

---

A week had passed since the red haired punk and his gang had assaulted Kanji and Rise. Inaba had buried that incident with another fresh coat of snow.

Naoki's perfume sold like wildfire, almost completely selling out completely. Plus, when people found out Kanji was involved, almost everyone was stopping by Tatsumi Textiles. Almost all of his stock of plushies were sold out, and he had to work like crazy to fill his inventory back to something close to normal. As promised, Mr. Diadara got an Usa-chan plush, and many others got a lot of others. Kanji gave each of his plushies names, and they were all different. It was honestly refreshing to him that he was able to make a completely new batch of them.

Even the investigation team stopped by to congratulate him on his success. Each of them getting a personalized stuffed animal. Kanji wanted to give it to them as a gift, but they insisted on paying him for it.

"It is a service after all, Tatsumi-san." Naoto said politely, gently holding her stuffed animal. "I hardly think it adequate to not pay someone for a service they provide." She finished with a warm smile, quietly observing his craft.

"I-if you say so," Kanji said, slightly flustered. It was nice that she gave a compliment to his work, and he was very pleased with himself.

Why are you getting flustered? It's not you she's marrying.

Kanji paused, his smile dropping slightly. The rest of the investigation team were giving him praise and appload for his work. Yosuke made fun of him slightly, and Kuma joined in, to which Rise scolded them. Yukiko made a pun afterwords, and Yu laughed. Naoto followed suit.

She looks happy.

His smile wavered slightly. It was like time was slowing in front of him. Yu and Naoto were laughing and Naoto had a slight flush to her face. Her usually calm face was erupting into a look of childlike glee. She had on a skirt with leggings, and was wearing some very girly clothing. She had grown out her hair as well. She had changed so much from the last time he saw her, and he knew that it was for the better. She might've changed because of the investigation team, but Kanji knew deep down that she changed because of his Senpai. She loved Yu, and that was the reason why she was so happy now. The girl in front of her, had carved out her change, mostly on her own. Yet, it wasn't entirely on her own. She had some help with her friends and from the man she loved.

I know I can't be the man she loves, but I at least know that I can be happy for her.

After a while, the investigation team left Kanji back for him to focus on his work. With a clear mind, and a rekindled smile, Kanji got back to work at his shop.

Little did he know that a distance away, a certain red haired punk was watching him.

"I'm going to get you, one way or the other Kanji. Just you wait." He said quietly to himself, bitter and angry. "If I can't do something to you, then I'll do something to the people around you." He finished, laughing bitterly to himself.

---

Once again it was Kanji's free day. A momentary peace washed over him. Everything was peaceful, the end of January was coming closer, and so was Naoto and Yu's visit to Inaba. Everyone had spent time with them, the exception being Kanji. It was finally his day to interact with them. Ordinarily, this would have bothered him. Naoto was still something of a sore spot for him, but he was now willing to face this.

She's happy.

A peaceful smile went across his face. For once, he didn't need to let anyone else resolve his problem. He did it by himself.

"Yeah, like a real man." He said quietly to himself.

Rise, who thought that Kanji still was struggling with the whole situation, asked Kanji to call her and tell her about how it went. Kanji, not realizing that Rise was worried about him, agreed to it. Although he was still confused why she was asking him to call her and "tell her how it went".

A ring on the doorbell signaled that his friends had arrived. Kanji went to his door, opened it, and with a smile greeted them.

"Yo." He started.

"Yo." Yu followed.

"Hello," Naoto said, also giving Kanji a smile.

Yu and Kanji exchanged looks, both somewhat disappointed. Naoto looked slightly confused as the two boys exchanged their looks.

"What? I was cordial with my greeting." She asked, slightly annoyed.

"Yeah, but you said the wrong one." Yu smiled, clearly amused at her annoyment.

"O-oh, right. Um…" Naoto trailed off, a moment in contemplation. "Salutations!" She finally said, brightly.

"Bzzt, wrong again." Kanji said, now getting into the game.

"Well what sort of greeting am I supposed to say?" Naoto asked, slightly stamping her foot on the ground.

"The correct greeting my dear, is yo" Yu said, letting out a Yosuke-esk grin.

Naoto, now understanding what to say, looked around slightly. She offered weak protest, but finally caved in.

"Y-yo." She said, clearly embarrassed. She seemed to try hiding behind Yu, but failed slightly.

Everyone saw a good sight that day.

After some brief small talk, Kanji started a new conversation. Despite his confidence earlier, he was still somewhat nervous about this meeting. After the small talk, he felt pretty good.

"So, what do you want to do today?" He asked, now fully comfortable.

"Well," Naoto started. Shifting somewhat embarrassed. "We would like to enlist your expertise."

"Okay?" Kanji replied, somewhat confused at the way she fidgeted

"Well, we'd like to request your services in regard to the sizing of a dress." Naoto said, once again shifting, somewhat awkwardly.

"Dress? Like what kinda dress we talking about here?"

Naoto looked down, once again doing a slight shuffle, and looked at Yu. She sent out a silent plea for him to fill in the gaps, which he understood, nodding in affirmation.

"Kanji, we're talking about our wedding dress." Yu said calmly, gingerly placing his arm around his fiancé. "We want you to size the dress for the wedding." He finished with a smile.

"Oh." Kanji said, suddenly connecting the dots, his eyes suddenly widening. "Ohhhhhh, I getcha. Yeah I can do that but…" He looked at the two briefly. "Isn't that kinda stuff done when you buy it?"

"Well, this dress is a bit of a special circumstance." Yu said first, Naoto nodding in agreement.

As it turned out, when the couple had been preparing to look for a dress for their eventual wedding, Naoto's Grandfather surprised the both of them. He went up to visit their apartment in Tokyo, and spent the day with them. In the middle of the evening, he sat both of them down and looked at them gravely. Then, he showed it to them. As white as the snow in Inaba, and just as pretty. The dress had belonged to Naoto's mother, and Mr. Shirogane had claimed it after her death. He had waited for when Naoto would become married, and would give it to her. Well, as she was engaged, and the couple were looking for a dress they could afford, Mr. Shirogane decided that now would be a wonderful time to pass down the dress to his granddaughter.

So, there Kanji was, making sure the dress would be able to fit the woman to eventually dawn it. The dress itself was quite well made, it was beautiful. It was white, white as the snow that cascaded off the trees. It was long, but not frilly. The lower half of the dress seamlessly transitioned to the top, where there was a see through mesh that was from the bust and neck, and stretched all the way to the wrists.

The beautiful piece of art was across his work table, a list of Naoto's measurements next to it. Kanji made the adjustments necessary after measuring the dress in all sorts of manors. The detective next to him watching his laser focused work, mildly impressed with the level of focus he gave.

Yu had left the room for a brief moment, saying that he needed to grab some water. He left Kanji and Naoto in the room by themselves. Kanji was making an adjustment to the lower half of Naoto's dress, when he got caught off guard by the detective in question.

"Is it weird that I don't necessarily feel sad that my parents won't see me wear this dress?" She started, looking somewhat distant.

Kanji paused, taking his eyes away from a stitch he had been working on, and looked to the detective. "I, uh… how'd ya mean?" He asked, feeling somewhat stupid.

"Oh, I mean… I never really knew my parents very well." She confessed. "Grandpa had always done such a wonderful job of looking after me, that I don't really feel that sad about their deaths. That makes me 'wrong' doesn't it?"

Kanji still kept his eyes on the detective. He paused, this wasn't a question that he could answer confidently. It was generally his senpai who could answer these kinds of questions. Not him. "Have you talked to Yu about this?"

"I wanted to, but something is limiting me. I can't figure out why I can't bring myself to talk to him about this, it's infuriating." She said, her brows folding slightly inwards, agitation present throughout her entire body. "You've always been someone I could trust, so I thought maybe I could talk to you about this… plus" She paused, her agitation slowly fading into momentary sadness. "You've lost someone important to you, so maybe you can help me."

It was true, Kanji had lost his father. Yet, his circumstances were slightly different. He had lost his dad at a young age. He knew his fathers love, he knew what his dad was like. Kanji thought about all the things he knew about his dad. About how sometimes he would fake a laugh at one of the bad jokes on television, and that made the joke infinitely more funny. When he thought about losing him, it made him sad, but the thought of never even knowing what that's like, made him even more sad.

Kanji paused, still keeping eye contact with the detective. She never even knew a mothers love. She didn't know a fathers reprimand. She didn't know any of those feelings. For as much as he racked his brain for a response, he couldn't.

Memories flooded back to him. He, Naoto, and the rest of the investigation team were waiting in a hospital. Nanako had just been rescued and placed in the hospital. Everyone had been blaming themselves for the events that unfolded, and Naoto had been especially hard on herself.

Kanji remembered his words then. "Get it together Naoto!"

Just like that time, she appeared to be lothesome of herself. Exactly like that time, she was beating herself up over a detail that she could not help. This time, she looked pitiful. Not a strong willed, smart was now just a small, sad, and scared woman. Just like she was back then.

So, in using the same words as he did back then, perhaps he could jolt something in her now. It was a longshot, but it was something the boy was willing to try.

"Get it together Naoto!"

Her eyes went from narrow slits of loathing, to wide with surprise. She looked at the tailor, and a slightly awkward smile appeared from her. Until she let out a chuckle. Almost from an instant, she went from sad and frustrated, to almost giddy. Kanji was surprised at her transformation, and to be truthful he honestly had no clue what he did to make her act the way she was acting.

After a few minutes, she looked at the tailor once more. An innocent childlike smile stretched from ear to ear.

"You saved me once again." She said, a look of clarity etched into her.

"Huh?"

"Ah yes, I don't believe I ever told you how thankful I am." Naoto said, her smile wide and calm.

"I don't understan-"

"Yu told me about how you lead the charge to save me. When I was in the TV world, I mean."

Kanji was about to say something, but Naoto continued. "When I was in denial about my true self, I believe it was you who said to "let it all out". If I had not, I fear I would still be wearing a boy's uniform and still be scared of allowing myself to be myself."

"Yeah, I can get how that can save you, but what about what I had just said? I don't get how that helped at all."

"It's because, my dear Kanji, you helped her out of her slump once more" Yu's voice came from behind them, causing both of them to jump.

"How long-" Naoto started, but was interrupted by her future husband.

"Pretty much the whole time, grabbing water doesn't take that long, you know." He said, with a warm and soothing smile.

The room was silent, and Yu's expression turned serious for a moment as he took his seat next to the two of them. Yu looked at Kanji, then to Naoto. "Kanji," he said, giving his attention to the tailor again. "Either you've realized this or not, you are a source of strength. Not just in the physical sense, but in a mental one as well." Yu paused, looking the refined punk in the eye, and giving him a broad smile. "It's only a guess, but I think your words elevated Naoto higher than she felt. In a sense, it's like, because you hold her in a higher sense than she did in that moment, you elevated her to who you think Naoto is."

Yu quickly turned to Naoto, "Am I even close?" he asked in a moment of genuine sincerity.

"Sometimes I wonder who the detective is." Naoto said, her smile very broad. "A perfect deduction."

"I learned from the best, you know." He said calmly. "And as for 'you feeling guilty', I'd like to add my two cents if I could."

Naoto nodded, her face twisted from her smile to a look of worry.

Kanji wished he had popcorn, this was better than any soap opera he had ever even heard of.

"I think it's something natural. You honestly never knew them, but I don't know if you don't feel sad. I think that you saying you feel nothing, is a form of denial." Yu said calmly.

"What are you-" Naoto quickly said, a flash of anger apparent.

"I think you're lying about not being sad." Yu once again said calmly. "When your grandpa came to visit us, there was a moment where you looked upset. It was a brief moment, something that you masked as slight embarrassment, but now that I've heard the conversation between you and Kanji. Now I know better."

Naoto's anger died down, and she looked defeated.

"You know what moment I'm talking about, right?" He said, planting himself in front of her.

"When Grandpa presented the dress." Naoto humbly mused. "I thought it was sad that my mother would never get to see me wear it."

Naoto looked at Yu, and Kanji could swear that he saw a momentary tear pass down her cheek. The two embraced. "I really do wonder who the detective is sometimes." Naoto chuckled weakly.

"As much as I hate to admit it, these two are perfect for eachother." Kanji thought to himself. Yet it wasn't a bitter thought, nor was he angry about what was happening.

"Hey love birds, you guys gonna help me with this dress?" Kanji teased slightly.

---

The day had passed, and with all said and done, it was a pleasant day. All this time Kanji had been worrying, and yet it all passed so simply. Naoto made Yu happy, and vise versa. Much to his enjoyment, the couple actually helped him with resizing the dress. It made him feel warm that they actually took his lesions to heart. The day had passed, and the dress was completed. The work on it was minimal, Kanji was, well, impressed with the level that it was maintained.

After the couple left, Kanji had enjoyed some dinner with his mother. The dinner was amazing, and it was clear that Mrs. Tatsumi went all out on it. Kanji gave his compliments to his mother, and couldn't help but compare her cooking to Yu's. Perhaps he was a little biased, but he could swear that his mother's cooking was a little better than his. He'd have to get them in a cook off some day. He felt tired, as all good meals should make you feel, and went up to his room. He sat on his bed, and for as tired as he was, he couldn't fall asleep. It was like he was forgetting something. Though, for the life of him, he couldn't remember.

"Oh well, I'll think of it tomorrow." He said haphazardly.

Then without thinking about much thought, he added "Rise would tease me if she were here."

Then he remembered,

Rise.

He suddenly remembered that he was supposed to talk to Rise about how today went. He thought about just pushing it off until tomorrow, but then the thought of how vicious her teases would be made him reconsider.

Kanji couldn't help but scoff at the idol's worry. There was honestly no reason for her to worry about him, he was old enough to worry about his own problems.

However, it was nice that she was worried about him. Deep down, there was a part of Kanji that was secretly glad that Rise was so concerned about him. It made him feel this incredible Something.

"Argh, this is so damn frustrating! What the hell is this?" Kanji said, frustrated at his inability to detect what this emotion was. It was so familiar, yet just as much foreign to him. The more he felt it, the closer he came to figuring it out. He was so close to guessing what thing was, but the answer seemed to elude him. Only slightly.

As the almost nostalgic warmth swept over him, his phone began to ring. Kanji quickly glanced over to the device, and picked it up. The caller ID read:

Rise Kujikawa

"Speak of the devil, here she is." Kanji said to himself. "Maybe I'll knock out two birds with one stone. I'll tell Rise that I'm fine, and then I'll ask her about this feeling." The tailor thought to himself as he answered the phone.

"Yo, Rise?" He questioned.

"Not quite" A sinister voice replied back.

Kanji recognized this voice almost instantly. It was the red-haired punk.

As alarm bells exploded in Kanji's mind, the punk continued. His voice was calm, almost unreasonably calm.

"Listen, before you start asking any questions, I want to speak." He said, in a dull, condescending voice. "The girl is safe." Then, with a twist of darkness in his otherwise monotone voice, "For now."

"For now."

Those two words echoed in Kanji's mind, on repeat. He could feel his jaw tighten, and his clench on his phone made it creek.

"I don't even know your name, but I'll say one thing. If you hurt her-" Kanji's voice became a menacing growl.

"Oh don't worry, if you do as I say, she'll be safe. As for my name, my name is Jin. Jin Takeo." The boy interrupted, a musing voice taking over.

"What do you want?" Kanji said, still maintaining his growl, while at the same time trying to force a calm on himself.
"Oh, that's simple. I want you. I want you to show me what a real man is. Since you claimed to know soooo much about me, I want to test it out." Jin said, and while he said this, Kanji nearly dropped his phone. Behind the dull amusement, and darkness in his voice. There was something else. Something he hadn't heard in a person's voice since the team took down Namatame. In Jin's voice, there was a hint of madness.

"Look, if that's what you want, then you should come for me directly. Leave Rise out of this." Kanji said, his growl had slightly subsided. There was too much he didn't know, Rise could be in serious danger, for now he had to keep himself in check.

"Oh, I thought about that, but honestly, it'd be hard for me if you went and talked to a group of people. With the paparazzi from last time, my job was a little difficult. I want a one on one, just me and you. So, with that out of the way, let me tell you something." There was a tense pause. "If you get anyone else involved, well lets just say that you'll never get to see your bitch again."

Kanji didn't respond. The air seemed heavy and stagnant, almost as though it was stale. He could feel it come in through his nose, and could feel it leave a bitter taste in the back of his throat. His head throbbed and pulsed with righteous anger. He had to maintain his calm, he couldn't lose his temper. This guy was using Rise, he was using her to get what he wanted.

That bastard!

Kanji could feel his breathing get heavy, he could feel his anger. Like a leopard wanting to pounce.

"I want to speak to her." Kanji demanded, his voice seeped in danger.

"Oh? Who are you to make demands here?" Jin chastised.

"I. Want. To. Speak. With. Her." Kanji's voice once again bellowed.

"Listen here Kanji-"

"You wanted a fight. You got it. Now, you'll let me speak to her, or I'll smash your vocal cords."

The threat was quick, but very effective.

"Alright, but don't take too long, I still have to give you directions for our meet up." Jin chuckled slightly. "Friend" He added nastily at the end.

Another silence, and soon Rise's voice came over the phone.

"Kanji?"

Once he heard her voice, the world stopped. This was real, this was really happening. Rise was right there. It wasn't some sick joke or prank, she was in real danger. What could he say? What would make her feel at ease. After a second of silence, he couldn't think of anything.

"Yeah, it's me." He said simply.

Rise took a deep breath, and spoke very calmly, almost too calmly. Kanji soon recognized that she was forcing it. "Don't come. This dickhead can do whatever he wants to me, get Naoto, get Dojima. We're at-"

There was a defining crack, followed by Jin's voice "Shut up you stupid bitch!"

Kanji was silent, he was too angry to speak properly. He didn't know what Jin just did, but from the sounds of it, it wasn't pleasant. He wanted to scream, and it took everything in him not to. His rage met new highs, and he wanted more than anything to use it all up.

"Well, you spoke to her. Happy?" Jin's voice once again hit Kanji's ear.

...Vile...

Kanji didn't speak, he was far past the point of words.

"Right, I'm at an abandoned building in Okina. It's an old hotel at the corner of Junske street. Meet me at the roof. You have an hour before I toss your girl over the building. Oh- and as I said before, don't get anyone involved with this. You won't like the results if you do." Jin's voice seeped in madness and darkness. "Chao." He finished.

With that, the call ended, leaving Kanji alone in his room.

THAT VILE SON OF A BITCH!

Almost instantly, Kanji went out of his room. Then he stopped almost as soon as he started. His mother was downstairs. For now, he had to get past her. Getting her involved, would put Rise at too much of a risk. He took a step forward, then stopped again. The way past her wasn't through the front door. He went back to his room, and opened his window. Then, after gauging how high it was, he carefully went out his window. Grabbing onto his windowsill for an extra level of safety. After a brief minute of debate, he let go, and was on the ground. The snow made for good shock absorption. He was in some jeans and a hoodie, not the greatest clothes to go mobile in, but he'd have to make it work.

The trains were a no-go, the last one had already left by now, so he'd have to find some other kind of method.

His senpai had his scooter license, and he would make frequent trips to Okina with that.

Kanji cursed under his breath, he was too lazy and didn't get his license. Which only meant one thing, he'd have to go for it on his bike. If he pushed it, he could get to Okina in roughly 30 minutes. As soon as he retrieved his bike from it's stand, he flipped open his phone to check the time.

8:32

Kanji also noticed one other thing. His phone was on low battery. He gritted his teeth, and began to ride his bike into the howling winds of winter. It was cold, but Kanji couldn't feel it.

As Kanji rode on, he could feel himself become tired. He hadn't worked himself like this in a long time, and the muscles that he used for these kinds of exercises, while still present, were much more soft then they had been. He quickly checked the time again.

8:47

He was close to halfway there. Petalling in this brutally cold winter was murder on the boy, but he had to make it through. Rise was in danger, and Jin was deranged.

"Keep *huff* petelling *huff* asshole." Kanji mocked himself.

"You have to protect Rise!" He howled.

And, as cold as the winter winds were, Kanji suddenly felt warm. His tired muscles felt rejuvenated, and a new burst of energy covered him. He felt this incredible something, and as he kept petelling, he could feel it increase in him. He knew this feeling, this gentle warmth in his body. He felt this feeling give him strength once before.

He was so close to identifying what it was, he knew he felt it before. With someone else. It was relatively recently too-

He was getting distracted from his peddling. At this moment, he couldn't think about what this feeling was.

9:10

He finally made it to Okina, the feeling of his entire body on fire was quite clearly making itself known. He was tired, very tired. His phone was almost completely out of battery, and his battery was on its last legs. Throughout the entire bike ride to Okina, Kanji contemplated on calling Naoto or Dojima, or anyone for help. Two things prevented him from doing so, one was the threat of the phone dying, and thus preventing the boy from having any way of keeping track of the time. The other was the threat of what Jin would do to Rise if he found out. The mental image of Rise being thrown from a building made Kanji bolt back into action. Yes, he was tired, but he was running out of time. Only twenty minutes to go.

Kanji could feel his limbs going numb, and he could feel each sharp and short breath as he inhaled, yet he refused to stop moving. Luckily for him, Junske street was a straight line shot from where he was. He'd have to hurry but he could definitely make it.

The rest of Okina became a flash. Kanji's vision seemed to narrow, but he didn't pay it any mind. He ran. He nearly knocked down an older woman on his way, which he hastily apologized for, and he kept running. He could feel a sharp pain in the center of his head, which made him slightly woozy, but he couldn't stop. He was so close to his goal.

Kanji didn't dare stop to check the time, he kept running. Finally, he came to his destination.

The hotel was shrouded in the dark, and it loomed over the boy with a sort of twisted grimness. A chain-link fence, adorned with a green canvas surrounded the building. The front gate of the chain-link fence had a small white sign that said, "deconstruction workers only".

There were the remains of an old chain, and a broken lock, that kept the gate closed from the public. Kanji didn't have time to think about how Jin managed to get in here, or with what tool, he quickly opened the gate and went through. He hastily ran through the deconstruction grounds and burst into the hotel.

Two things stood out to him. How creepy the inside of the hotel looked, now that there was nothing inside the building, and how there was a pungent smell of gasoline. Kanji quickly concluded that the gasoline smell was from the deconstruction of the building.

He quickly ran to the end of the first floor and started going up the stairs.

Please be okay, please be okay. Please dear god let her be okay.

Kanji's muscles were almost at their limit as he ran up the three stories of the building. He could feel the accumulated sweat on his forehead, as he hastily took the edge of his hoodie and whipped it off.

First story of the building. His legs nearly gave out on him. Kanji, with a grunt, punched them with his fists.

Second story of the building.

Third story of the building.

Finally, the roof.

---

Kanji nearly knocked down the door to the roof, and nearly collapsed from the exhaustion.

There he was, Jin Takeo. His red hair seemed to be slightly more dull in the moonlight, there were defined bruises under his eyes, and his skin had become pale and baggy. His eyes seemed to shine in the moonlight as a broad, almost sickening, smile came across his face. Rise was in a chair next to him, a large bruise across her cheek was nearly covered by her bronze hair. She was tied to the bottom half of the chair, with her arms behind her back.

"Ah, here he is, the legendary King Tatsumi." Jin called out agonizingly.

Kanji was too tired to give a response, and his previously tense muscles relaxed slightly. Rise was safe.

"Kanji!" Rise called out to him.

Again, he was too tired to speak. He merely gave Rise a tired grin.

Jin took annoyance at being ignored by his foe, and stepped in front of Rise. Kanji's smile quickly turned into a primal anger.

Moonlight bathed the entire roof. The only sounds that could be heard from there was Kanji's rapidly decreasing heavy breathing.

"So, this is it? The legend himself is already tired from just the trip here? Weren't you supposed to be some powerful warrior? The biker gang you beat up called you 'an emissary of hell', I fail to see the resemblance." Jin taunted, his eyes widened almost unnaturally, as did his smile. "Oh well, I'll give you a little bit to rest up before we fight. I want a challenge after all." Jin's smile retracted, and his previously mad excitement went to a dull drawl.

So, Kanji took his que. He sat on the cold ground of the roof, never taking his eyes off of his opponent. Jin maintained his eye contact, his eyes were cold and reflecting.

Soon, Kanji's breathing went back to normal. His body felt back going back to its standard. Without a word, he stood up. His fists clenched angrily, and he could feel his eyes narrow. To this, Jin looked amused. Almost like he had a new toy to play with.

"Before we begin." Kanji started.

Jin looked somewhat curious at the boy.

Kanji took a deep breath, "I like cute shit. Like, I really like it. My favorite characters in shows are the cute ones, and I enjoy arts and crafts." Kanji said seriously, maintaining his glare at his opponent. "I'll show you how that makes me a real man, and how you're lacking."

Jin's eyes reflected a deep seated madness in him. "Oh? Will you?"

"I will." Kanji said quietly.

Without hesitation, Jin launched himself at Kanji. He managed to get the first punch in, once again across Kanji's face. Instead of Kanji falling to the ground, he only stumbled slightly before launching a punch of his own at Jin's gut. The blow connected with the punk, and Kanji didn't waste any time with his next punch. While his right fist delivered it's blow, he took his left elbow and slammed it into Jin's left side of his face.

Jin also staggered, but soon recovered. He attacked again, swinging wide at Kanji's liver. Kanji was able to dodge it, but he didn't realize that was only a fake. Jin let out a cocky smirk as the tailor dodged, and lifted up his leg. Jin slammed it against Kanji's chest, and Kanji could feel the wind get knocked out of him. He stumbled back slightly, trying to restabilize himself as Jin pressed his advantage. With a strong war cry, Kanji forced himself to dodge Jin's left hook. The tailor ducked, and counterpunch with a strong uppercut, which hit the bottom of Jin's chin. Kanji's punch had been so hard that Jin actually flew back slightly.

Jin's fall onto the roof, made a very distinct thud. He tried getting back up, but he stopped slightly. Both of his legs were shaking heavily, and Jin looked up at him. His cocky smile and brash attitude had been replaced with a cold calculating stare.

"I don't understand you." Jin said quietly.

Kanji said nothing, maintaining his distinse and his battle stance.

"You were at the peak of your game, then you just gave it up. Even now that you haven't gotten into a brawl in so long, you can still beat me. I don't understand why." Jin attempted getting up, but failed slightly. "I don't understand you at all."

Kanji paused, debating in his mind what to say to this. He couldn't think of anything, so he maintained his silence.

"People who are born without school smarts, like me. They only have one way of carving out respect for themselves. With their fists. When we're weak, people leave us behind. Just like my crew left me behind."

He was just like you.

Almost instinctively, Kanji walked towards the punk. Forgetting that he was in the middle of a fight, he walked toward the boy with his hand outstretched, "Jin-"

Rise shouted something, but it was too late. From behind Jin's back, the redheaded punk made a large swiping motion that Kanji barely dodged by jumping backward. Outstretched in Jin's hand was a large knife.

"So, Kanji, I just have to be stronger than you! That will make people respect me!" Jin laughed, completely unhinged. With a newfound energy, Jin got back to his feet and made a bunch of wild swinging motions with his knife.

Kanji gritted his teeth, and stepped forward. He brought his shoulder down, and slammed his shoulder into Jin's chest. "It's not respect, it's fear!" Kanji bellowed. Jin wouldn't have it, and attempted stabbing the knife deep into Kanji's shoulder. The tailor just barely managed to grab Jin's wrist and hold back the knife. Kanji was surprised at how clammy his skin felt, but he was even more surprised that he was able to hold back the boy relatively easily. That was because, as the same as the punch, the knife was just a ruse. Jin took his free fist and slammed deep into Kanji's stomach, causing the tailor to stumble backwards slightly, with a wheeze, yet Kanji still maintained his grip on Jin's wrist. The redhead, sensing weakness, used his knee to deliver a blow to the recovering punk, in exactly the same spot. This caused Kanji to lose his grip completely on his wrists and he barely managed to step back. Kanji held his gut to the spot he received the blows.

That bastard, he used his little monologue to recover from the chin blow. Plus, he had no intention of making the knife connect, only to distract me for a defining blow. He's acting deranged on purpose, so that I don't go all out.

In spite of his anger, Kanji found himself smiling. The last time he had such a difficult encounter with someone was in the TV world. The last time he had ever been able to go all out with no hesitation was so long ago, that in spite of the dire situation, he was enjoying himself.

"With all the planning you put into your fighting, if you diverted some of that attention to other things. You'd be pretty damn good at it." Kanji said, halfway through a groan.

"Oh, I'll take that compliment. It's so good of you to tell me that." Jin said, fully mocking the tailor.

Keep him talking, use the time to recover.

"You should, you're so close to knowing what a real man is Jin. So close, if you'd listen to me, I could help you. I could-"

"Shut up!" Jin spat out angrily, holding out the knife menacingly. "Only the strong get to make any kind of decision in this world. The only way to earn strength is through your fists."

"What if I told you that I knew someone who's words had more strength than anyone's fists." Kanji said sincerely. If he could only tell him about Yu, and how his senpai had changed his life.

"You really don't get it do you?" Jin asked through his annoyance, and began to slowly walk towards Rise. "There's only one way to settle who's stronger. Not through words, through action! If you keep trying to talk your way out of our fight…" Jin was directly behind Rise at this point. Then without hesitation he placed the knife directly on Rise's throat. "I'll cut her, and you'll watch her bleed out."

Rise's eyes widened with shock as tears of fear came out of her eyes. Her breathing became rapid and shallow. She looked like she wanted to scream, but her mouth merely was open. No sound coming out of her.

Kanji felt no pain in his gut. He felt no compassion in him anymore.

He's an animal, and he needs to be put down.

Kanji merely walked forward, and hunched slightly. His eyes reflected in the moonlight, and they seemed to be glowing. A slight shadow cast across his face. At that very moment, Kanji had lost all senses. His head was pumping hard, and he could feel a wave of adrenaline flow across his body. He couldn't hear Jin's words, he only saw that he put the knife down and walked towards him. Kanji didn't get into his usual stance, in fact he didn't raise his fists at all. Merely stared down Jin as he walked toward him. Jin's amused face, turned quickly into anger, and he punched Kanji squarely in the jaw. Only, Kanji didn't recoil. Besides the now present bruise on his face, there was almost no indication that the boy had been hit.

That's when Kanji saw it, though only briefly. Jin's eyes momentarily reflected fear.

Now was his moment to strike.

To say the barrage of blows to Jin were horrific, would be a vast understatement. Jin of course fought back, but it was almost like Kanji didn't feel any of Jin's punches or kicks. Each of them traded blows, one after the other. A barrage of fists, kicks, elbows, knees, and even heads coincided in random order. It was chaos, yet there was almost an artistic harmony to it. Neither of them stopped. Not when Jin's face had swollen, nor when Kanji's eyes had been momentarily covered in his own blood. Little by little, with each consecutive blow, Jin was faltering. Kanji couldn't hear, and he didn't even feel his fist make impact with Jin's side. He wasn't even sure if he was seeing anymore.

Maybe I'm losing…

Yeah, it would make sense…

Everything is numb. I don't even feel any pain, and it's all going black.

Just as these thoughts entered his head, the smell of gasoline protruded his senses. He could suddenly see the rooftop again, while it was bathed in moonlight. He could warbly hear Rise's voice, and he could feel his achy body pressed against the cold floor of the roof.

Kanji was prone on the ground, and as he looked around, he could see Jin laying prone right next to him. Kanji turned his head painfully to look and see Rise. Her warbly voice was starting to become more focused. Kanji could see her crying, and could hear the faint outline of her voice.

"...please...don't….up…"

What is she saying?

"Please don't…up."

I can almost hear it!

"Please don't give up!" Rise shouted, tears falling freely from her cheeks and onto the ground. "Get up you stupid moron!"

Kanji could suddenly feel every impact of Jin's body. It hurt so badly, that it was hard to take in breath. Sharp pain emanated across his entire body. He gasped, desperately placing his hand on the floor of the roof and attempting to push himself upward. Jin made no movement, except for his chest rising and falling haphazardly.

Slowly, Kanji forced himself up. He could feel his body ache, and he could almost hear his bones creek. Everything on him hurt, everything was sore. Yet, somehow he compelled himself up. It took nearly everything he had, his head was spinning, and he nearly fell over. Yet he finally did it, he finally stood. His body towered over Jin. His legs shook like crazy, yet the boy forced himself to stand. Finally he looked over to Rise, and mustered a faint smile.

"...Stupid… and moron… mean the same thing." He said shakily.

There he stood, victorious.

---

Kanj nearly fell over from exhaustion. He had spent nearly everything in his body to get to this point, and he could feel it. He slowly stumbled his way over to Jin's knife and picked it up.

"Let's get you out of that." Kanji said, walking slowly over to Rise. As he walked behind her chair, he started sawing through the rope with the knife. It surprised him to know that the rope wasn't cutting easily. In fact, the knife was dull.

As he was working on the rope, he looked at Rise's bruise. "Does that hurt?" He asked sincerely, implying the lump on her cheek.

Rise laughed slightly, "You're worried about my bruise when you're having trouble standing?"

Kanji also laughed slightly, though he could feel pain in his chest when he did. His laughs turned into slight coughs. "Ngh, that guy knows how to throw a punch." Kanji said calmly, now looking over Jin's unconscious body.

"He's a monster." Rise said contemptuously.

"He is. Though, I'd be lying if I didn't say I was somewhat impressed."

"Impressed!? Kanji, he tried to cut you!" Rise angrily outbursted.

"No, the knife was a ruse so he could get some blows in. See, it's dull."

"I can't believe you're defending him!"

"I'm not Rise." Kanji said quietly. "All the crap he pulled tonight? That's not even close to being okay. But, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't impressed with his abilities. I mean, when was the last time you saw me like this?" Kanji asked, moving forward so that Rise would be able to see him.

Rise silently stared at him, and her stare hurt more than his current wounds. This made Kanji return to his work. He was nearly done.

That's when the both of them were in for a shock. They heard a gargled laughter. Then, they both saw what either of them considered impossible. Jin was standing once again.

Any and all look of civility was replaced with a wild and savage madness. He was bleeding out of the right corner of his mouth and was right next to the entrance door to the stairs.

His voice had become raspy and hollow, and he spoke very slowly. "I… am… stronger… than you."

"Jin, stop this! You've been beaten. There's still a way that you can become a better person!" Kanji pleaded.

In truth, Kanji knew that he couldn't last another fight with him. Maybe, just maybe his words would finally reach-

"I'm not finished yet." Jin said, his eyes widening once more. "You took everything from me. My gang, my respect, and my honor as a man. You burned me to the ground, and you still want to preach to me about how what I'm doing is wrong!"

Kanji remained silent.

I can't help him.

"Now, I'm only returning the favor. Just as you burned everything I cherished, I'll burn everything you love." He said, a maddeningly wide smile across his face.

With that he went down the stairs of the roof. Rise was nearly free, and he was in no condition to run after him. His words were worrying, but he'd have to worry about them later.

"I wonder what he meant by burning everything?" Rise asked, mildly concerned.

"I honestly don't-"

Then Kanji remembered something. The smell of gasoline covered the entire building. It wasn't from the deconstruction site, it was from the actual building!

Just as he was about to tell Rise his theory, the smell of smoke suddenly came through the air.

"Rise, he means it literally." Kanji said, only just managing to cut her ropes.

---

Kanji and Rise, as quickly as they could, got to the stairs. Just as Jin promised, the fire had spread quickly through the third level. The stairwell was encased in flame, and it's heat soon reached the both of them. Kanji managed to stumble his way forward slightly into the heat of the flame, Rise following just behind him. He had barely managed to make it down the first flight of stairs. He held desperately onto the guardrails as he took each step forward. He had spent everything he had, and he knew it. Just as he was about to reach the final step of the staircase, he tripped. He fell onto the ground, his body reminding him that he had just gotten the shit beat out of him.

Rise yelled his name and came to his side, as Kanji desperately held his stomach in pain. He attempted to get up, but only coughed up smoke and fell back down. Which in turn caused him even more pain. Kanji wheezed, and looked around him. His head was spinning, and he couldn't focus properly. The flames encroached ever closer to his body, and he knew he had to get up. Rise desperately held out her hand, and the boy took it. Almost instinctively. She pulled with all her might, and attempted with everything she had to get him up.

But she wasn't strong enough.

Kanji had no strength left, and he knew that he was to heavy for her to carry his full weight.

"Rise…" Kanji said faintly, it became hard for him to talk. The fire's smoke made him cough, and the more he coughed, the more he felt the pain come surging through his body.

"Kanji?"

"Please… get out of here."

"What? NO! I'm not gonna leave you here by yourself!"

"I'll catch up… I promise."

"Kanji you'll die!"

Kanji, then looked at her, and conjured up the last of his remaining strength to give her a smile.

"Maybe, but if you stay here with me… then you'll die too… I wouldn't be able to go to heaven with that kind of a guilty conscience."

Rise was shocked beyond words.

"But, I'll give everything I have left… to catch up with you. Please… go…" Kanji could feel himself losing consciousness, yet he forced his eyes open.

After moments of debate with herself, Rise finally nodded. A look of fierce determination in her eyes. "Fine, but you better catch up!" She said, as she descended the remaining stairs. Giving him one final long look before going.

I said I would give everything…

Sorry Rise, but I don't have anything left.

Kanji could feel the flame encroaching and coming closer. Yet, he couldn't properly see it. In fact, he lost the strength to open his eyes.

Ya know, I never thought I would go this way. Of all the ways to die… heh. It's honestly so dramatic.

Though, I guess it's kinda sad too. I'll never get to see Yu and Naoto's marriage. Or see what happens to the perfume Naoki and Yosuke are selling. I wonder what will happen to Inaba when I'm gone? Hopefully, Ma can still function when I'm gone. Though I know it'll be hard for her. The Amagi Inn will still be here, I know that much at least. Same with Junes… heh.

No way Junes is ever gonna close, Yosuke's too shrewd for that to happen.

It was at this moment in time where Kanji thought about his friends. How he desperately wanted to see them one last time.

Yukiko-senpai,

you were always so elegant and cool. Refined, but had a kiddish side to you as well. I always thought how cool it was, how'd you spend hours and hours working on your cooking. I remember the first tasty thing you ever gave me, that you'd made yourself. It was leagues better than anything before it.

Chie-senpai,

man, I hate to admit it. You always were stronger than me. Besides just recently, you were the only one I could go all out with. The only one I didn't have to be afraid of hurting whenever I tried my hardest. Either that be swimming, or anything else, I am so happy that I got to compete with you. The old me would've hated losing to a girl, but now? Now, I'm just happy to know there was someone I could always aspire to in strength.

Kuma,

Honestly bear, you can give me the biggest headaches. Beside's Yosuke, you've always managed to annoy the crap out of me. Though, I'd be lying if I said you didn't make me laugh. Whenever you're serious about something, either be chasing girls or chasing shadows. You always put 110% into it. Unless you slack off at Junes, which honestly, it's a miracle that you haven't gotten fired yet. At the end of the day, you may have annoyed me, but I'm still very happy I know you.

The fire encroached ever closer, but Kanji couldn't feel it anymore. His lips were dry, and he could feel his throat becoming dry too.

Yosuke-senpai,

I never thought that I'd be able to count on you. Not in a million years. Yet, you proved me wrong time and time again. You managed to do so much by yourself, when you were in the investigation team, or when you're working at Junes. The person who connected a lot of the dots in our investigation, that was you. You'd always poke or prod me, and that really bugged me. Yet, you always made up for it by showing your kindness. Taking in Kuma? Are you kidding? You've been doing community service man.

Rise,

To be honest, when I first met you… you scared me. I had just managed to find myself in a group of people who accepted me for me, and then you came in. You reminded me of every girl who ever made fun of me when I was growing up. But, there was always something different about you. Yes, you teased me, but you also tried to understand me. Before I even knew it, you became just as important to me as all my senpai. I'm sorry that I won't be able to keep my promise, you'll have to forgive me for it.

Everything was soon fading to black.

Naoto,

You made me question a lot about myself. Heh, at least you got it out of my system. When you told me that you were 'interested' in me, it made me think. I thought, "if someone is interested in me. Then, maybe I'm a worthwhile person too." I hate the fact I never faced you, or that I let Yu-senpai snatch you before I could. Yet, I'm so incredibly proud of your work. When I heard you got kidnapped by the killer all those years ago, I was so scared that the first person who ever acknowledged me would be gone. So, I desperately fought with everything I had to keep you safe. I think I felt that same feeling recently, but I can't quite place it.

Yu,

Thank you for saving me. So that I didn't turn into someone like Jin…

You better take care of Naoto while I'm gone, I'll haunt you if you don't.

The building was engulfed in flame. Fire spread magnificently across it.

Heh… so long Inaba. It was fun while it lasted.

---

A.N. : This story took... forever. When I first started writing fanfiction, this was one my first stories. It took me a year to draft and write the story, and in between balancing college, and work... yeah it took a while to finish. I might not ever be able to do this kinda story again, and I know that its not perfect.

There will be an epilogue, though it will be MUCH shorter. Now, just because there's an epilogue, doesn't mean Kanji is alive. I will neither confirm, nor deny if he is alive by the end of this story. *Evil laughter*

If you liked the story, give it a fav/follow/review (any of those) and let me know your feedback on it!